Lady Death by Brian Drake (good e books to read .TXT) 📕

aquarium was a tall cylinder of water on a platform supported by steel legs. Bright lights inside highlighted the blue water and the fish swimming within.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he called Clark Wilson in the US.

“I need some CCTV cameras scrubbed,” Raven said.

“What happened?”

“Schrader made a move. Sent three killers after me. I left the bodies at a construction site across the street from the hotel.”

“Which hotel?”

Raven gave him the name and the nearby streets.

“We’ll cover the cameras,” Wilson said. “It’s good you didn’t wait to call.”

“Not my first rodeo.”

“What else is happening?”

Raven filled him in on his meeting with Hannah Schrader and the party the following night.

“It is no longer safe to attend, Sam,” Wilson said.

“Meaning what?”

“Our hacking team managed to break through Schrader’s firewalls for exactly thirty seconds,” Wilson said. “We grabbed a little data, but who knows if it’s worth anything.”

“So far this doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“Now they’re erasing the servers.”

“Destroying evidence?”

“They’ll have a backup somewhere, but Schrader is covering his tracks. We won’t get anything from his computers. Which means he’ll have another surprise waiting for you at the party.”

“Which means,” Raven completed, “Hannah is in danger.”

“Do you think she has any information we can use; maybe details she hasn’t thought of?”

“We’ll have to ask.”

“Get her to a safe house. I have two other guys in the area who can back you up.”

“Who?”

“Macedo and Storey. You don’t know them but they’re good.”

Raven checked his watch. “We need to move fast. Have them meet me at Hannah’s address. I’m going there now.”

“Take it easy, Sam.”

“You get those CCTV cameras scrubbed and I’ll get Hannah to the safe house. The clock is ticking on Operation Triangle and if we don’t find a lead—”

“You don’t have to tell me, Sam. I’m well aware of the stakes.”

“Keep them in mind. Talk soon.”

Raven ended the call.

11

Raven called Hannah on his cell as he drove.

No answer. The call went to voicemail.

Raven dropped his phone into a cup holder and tried not to think the worst.

The point of his personal crusade against the world’s predators was not to create more victims. But sometimes, no matter his effort, the worst indeed happened, and he found himself standing above the bodies of those he tried to save.

The only course of action after each tragedy was scorching vengeance. Make the enemy pay. He didn’t want to add Hannah’s name to his list of failures.

Raven weaved through traffic and drove faster.

The elevator ride didn’t take long but felt like an eternity.

Raven stepped off on Hannah’s floor and listened. Only the muffled sounds behind locked doors greeted him.

Holding the Nighthawk .45 under his jacket, he advanced along the hall. Stopped at her door. No sign of forced entry. The outward appearance meant nothing. If she knew the crew her father sent, if he had sent anybody, they wouldn’t have to force their way inside.

He knocked hard. “Hannah, it’s Sam.”

He counted the passing seconds by the thumping of his pulse.

The lock clicked and the door opened, stopped by a chain. Hannah’s worried face filled the gap.

“What?”

Raven stepped closer. “We gotta get you out of here tonight.”

“But—”

“Your father is sending people, they’re on their way.”

Hannah shut the door, unhooked the chain, and let Raven inside.

Any relief he felt as she shut and locked the door didn’t last long. All it meant was he’d arrived first. Unless he was overreacting. Would the old man really send a kill team after his daughter?

Raven explained the attempt on his life as she packed, and the more he spoke, the faster she moved. Hannah filled a small suitcase with clothes and essentials. Wiping sweat from her brow, she said, “Where are we going?”

“CIA safe house. Then we get you out of the country.”

“For how—”

Raven’s phone rang. He held up a finger and answered.

“This is Greg Macedo,” the caller said. “Wilson sent me.”

“There’s supposed to be two of you.”

“Mitch Storey is in the car with me. Where are you?”

“Asset’s apartment. What’s your 20?”

“Parked outside.”

Raven described his car. “We’ll be out in two minutes.”

“We’re in a silver BMW.”

“I’ll stay on your six all the way.”

“Copy.”

Raven hung up. He said to Hannah, “I don’t know how long.”

Her excited eyes examined his face. But her expression also showed resolve.

“We better go,” she said, “and stop my father and sister from doing something terrible.”

Raven took her suitcase in his left hand. They exited the apartment.

Raven pushed a Bluetooth bud into his ear and dialed Macedo. The elevator descended quietly.

“Macedo.”

“It’s Raven, on our way down.”

“We have at least one carload of opposition. Four shooters. Just arrived.”

“Where?”

“West side of the building. They have a partially obstructed view of the main entrance.”

“Can you see the back of the building?”

“Storey is on foot checking it out, stand by.”

Raven mouthed, “It’s okay,” in response to Hannah’s concerned face. But he did ask her to hold the suitcase.

“Mitch is back,” Macedo reported in Raven’s ear. “Another car, two men, clear view of the back steps.”

“Get him back there. I’d rather face two than four.”

“He’s on the move.”

The elevator doors slid open. Raven and Hannah stepped into the lobby.

“Do we go together?” she said.

Raven grabbed her arm and led her across the lobby. They stepped near the rear doors leading to the courtyard. They had to cross the open space to reach the rear exit.

Two gunners waited on the other side.

Four in front.

Did any wait in between?

Raven paused to re-evaluate his choices. He faced a situation violating Rule One. No gunfights in public. He didn’t see a way to avoid a fight and it put people at risk.

Unless there was a way to use the public to his advantage.

He motioned Hannah into a corner.

“Macedo?”

“Yeah.”

“Backside is out. How can we distract the first car?”

“How about an accident and an argument?”

“Do it.”

“Stand by.”

“Have Storey meet us in the lobby.”

“Copy.”

“He’ll ride with us.”

“Copy all.”

Raven shielded Hannah’s body as he watched the front doors. A chatty couple entered, too involved in their conversation to notice them.

The rear lobby doors opened and