Great! This information really helps and that’s a good chart and info on the web page there. I literally have hundreds of pages of research.
The important thing here, for me, is that the reader believes that she can or will die at any minute – then we save her. I did work a little more on the plot/outline – the nurse (surgeon’s assistant) will actually be on the premise and so the time for her to actual help could be reduced. Protagonist #2 will need to kill two others in the room (one will need to be questioned quickly) before she can reach our heroine, Protagonist #1. With her skill set, it won’t take that long to make quick work of them. Probably reduce the time from gunshot to nurse in the 15/20 min range.
I don’t have to go into very much detail about the pistol – just a cursory explanation. It has to be a pistol though because firearms are the only thing that scares her due to the unknown factor – as mentioned in the first two books. But I also have to make believers of those who know a little something about firearms.
So – as you mention I think for now, a shot from the rear, an upwards angle (she is suspended by her hands with ropes) – striking the ribcage, bone breakage, and then exiting out the front side. Lots of blood, no bullet/lead poison, silk and cotton fragments to be removed, etc etc. Think I can work with that. Of course, if anyone else has some ideas – I welcome them!
Thanks Cliff!
