False Alarm?

Leonard reached for the drawer and pulled out a sleek black handgun. Skye's eyes widened at the sight of it, and before she could say anything, he spoke calmly.

"It's registered," he said, not even looking at her as he clicked the safety off.

Skye walked carefully to the window, and peeked out. Her heart was racing. Seven months pregnant and she was still getting dragged into this kind of madness.

Leonard reached the compound, eyes narrowed. Half his security team was crouched low, weapons raised, all aiming toward a small thicket near the far corner of the estate wall.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded.

One of the guards, jittery and sweating, turned to him and shouted, 

"Sir! We saw a massive snake that went into the bushes. I swear it looked like a python. I didn't want to take chances, so I opened fire."

Leonard smacked his palm hard against his forehead. "Jesus Christ. A snake?"