AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1
Sophie had just finishedher kendo class and was lowering the liftgate of her SUV after depositing her gear in the cargo area when she saw the masked man’s reflection in the vehicle’s window. She heard the pop of a gun and the plinking of shattering glass and vaguely registered a muzzle flash as she ducked. She grabbed her shinai, spun around, and charged, swinging the kendo stick at her assailant’s wrist as he squeezed the trigger again. The weapon discharged into the air and then flew out of the gunman’s hand, landing on the concrete with a clatter.
Shouting from the garage entrance drowned out the masked man’s howl of pain. For a brief moment, Sophie stared into her attacker’s eyes which were oozing hatred so pure they pinned her where she stood. He shouted angry words in a foreign language before spitting on the ground and taking off.
“Sophie-san!” her kendo instructor yelled as he rushed to her side. “Are you all right?”
Sophie nodded even as her hands shook. Her heart was galloping and she could barely catch her next breath.
“I’m…I’m fine…Sensei Jiro,” she stammered, but her legs suddenly felt like Jell-O. She took a deep breath and leaned on the open tailgate of her Honda Pilot. “I think.”
“Call 9-1-1!” one of her classmates shouted.
Sophie had developed a fascination for this Japanese martial art a year ago and had become a regular student of Sensei Jiro. The dojo was located in a questionable area of Washington DC, and leaving the kendo sessions by herself just to avoid mingling with other students was imprudent.
Someone offered her a newly opened bottle of water. She graciously accepted and took a hearty gulp.
“I saw him jump on a bike and race off,” another classmate said to the growing huddle around her.
“Sophie-san, are you in trouble, dear?” her sensei asked, his hand gently clasping her shoulder.
She shook her head. “No. I think he just wanted to mug me.”
The hand on her shoulder tightened.
Sophie glanced up at her sensei, his wise eyes telling her he did not believe her. The truth was, she had been receiving anonymous death threats, and it had everything to do with her work.
“Maybe a little,” she murmured.
Her sensei nodded and took his hand from her shoulder. He called one of his assistants to stay with her and disappeared into the dojo.
Sophie looked around. Her assailant’s gun lay where he had dropped it and her SUV had a bullet hole through the rear window. She still had a death grip on her kendo stick. Sophie released a shaky breath, realizing how close she’d come to having her head blown off. Whoever had grievances against her and her work were done with mere threats.
Her sensei reappeared holding a scrap of paper with a name and phone number. He jerked his chin at his assistant, signaling that he wanted some privacy. “Sophie-san, I know your work puts you at risk.”
“How…?”
“I just know,” he replied. “My friend can protect you. Remember Sophie-san, if you are fully prepared, you need not worry.”
A police cruiser squealed to a stop beside her SUV. As the cops emerged from their vehicles, Sensei Jiro clasped her hands in his and smiled before backing away.
Sophie looked at the name written on the paper: Viktor Baran.
* * *
McCord Defense Industrieswas located on the eighteenth floor of the Trident Building in downtown New Park. Derek Lockwood stepped out of the elevators just as the clock hit 9:00 a.m. Good, he wasn’t exactly late. His best friend and business partner, Jack McCord, had a thing about tardiness and for the most part, Derek was on time except the nights when the women in his life kept him up until dawn. He was getting tired of his bachelor life. Seeing Jack happily married to Maia had begun evoking some envious sentiments inside him.
He heard raised voices drifting from Jack’s office.Or not.
Laurie Stone, Jack’s personal assistant, briskly walked toward him and said, “You’re on time, but I think the meeting will be delayed.”
Derek’s brows shot up as he heard Maia’s angry voice clearly through the shut doors. “You’re dreaming, Jack, if you think I’m going to let this go. You’re an autocratic asshole, and I’ll be damned if this discussion is over.”
There was a low, calm baritone response. The door was wrenched open, and Maia Pierce McCord stormed out while muttering, “Manipulative bastard.” The angry flare in her eyes made Derek wince. “Derek, Laurie,” Maia said curtly before striding to the elevator, punching the down button impatiently.
Derek poked his head into Jack’s office and saw his friend perched on the side of his desk, his head slightly bowed, expression contemplative. “Ready for the meeting, my man?”
Jack glanced up and sighed. “Yes, might as well.” He returned to his chair behind the desk as Derek walked into the office, Laurie following behind him and shut the door.
