Vanessa Kane hit the floor hard, stunned by the uppercut that the mysterious, evil figure known as Kryigula had managed to deliver from an off balance position. Their furious battle had raged for almost a full minute and Vanessa felt she was gaining a slight advantage when the murderous madman had managed to lash out right on the mark.
Still, she did not acknowledge the pain, did not hesitate for a moment. She landed near her pistol that had been knocked out of her hand several moments before--
....
....
Kryigula had scored the first move when Kane entered the dark, empty club that had been sealed off by the police as a crime scene. Two nights earlier, Benny the Mouse had been knifed to death as he made his way through the crowd in a desperate bid to escape someone out to intercept the delivery of The Cobalt Medallion. But not before he may have found a clever hiding place to stash the coveted object, assuming he had it with him right then. It had remained undiscovered and was an item that Vanessa's gruff director had made clear was to be retrieved—no matter what the cost.
The secret agent's instincts told her The Medallion was somewhere in that club and Kryigula would go there to try and find it. Or perhaps he already knew where it was; had Benny contacted him before meeting The Reaper? The agency had scanned the regular call logs and found nothing significant. But it was entirely possible the high-priced mule was using an über-hybrid DSST device. No cell of any kind was found on the body—unusual. Had it been lifted by the assassin? Who was willing to go against Kryigula? Had this determined third party already found and taken the lethal prize?
All unknowns.
The plan was to wait and see if the egomaniacal Kryigula would risk making a move. The agency would give it three days—then, reluctantly but out of necessity, override the local law
and tear the building apart piece by piece.
....
and tear the building apart piece by piece.
....
It happened on the third night. Vanessa had surreptitiously watched the evildoer all evening at his favorite theatre, then stealthily followed him as he made his way in the late hour to the fateful arena; but the seasoned master criminal had detected her presence. He waited in the shadows, clipped her wrist with the forward handle of his tactical machine pistol, kicked her behind the knee and swung the weapon around to riddle her with bullets. Only a savage kick to the groin had saved her--
and his weapon too had went flying. The battle was on.
and his weapon too had went flying. The battle was on.
He staggered back but simultaneously lobbed a stun grenade at her with the skill of a soldier. Vanessa's speed was astounding. She flung herself behind some tables, hands clamped
over her ears. The exothermic reaction set some plastic decorative curtains, which contained
only a modicum of flame retardant additives, on fire. The blaze instantly raced into full bloom.
over her ears. The exothermic reaction set some plastic decorative curtains, which contained
only a modicum of flame retardant additives, on fire. The blaze instantly raced into full bloom.
Vanessa mused for a second about what the police were going to make of their crime scene
being burnt to the ground.
being burnt to the ground.
She jumped up and rushed the highly skilled madman.The deadly hand-to-hand continued
until she had been knocked down--
....
until she had been knocked down--
....
There, her gun. She rolled, grabbed and came up in a crouch with one leg stretched out--
in the time it would take a bolt of lightning to strike.
in the time it would take a bolt of lightning to strike.
Kryigula had already grabbed his machine pistol off the floor, bringing it up to bear. It was at that moment that Kane saw clearly hanging around her opponent's neck what she thought she had glimpsed during the fistfight—The Medallion, flashing a gold light—a threat that could
cost a million lives.
cost a million lives.
Vanessa's marksmanship was legendary at the agency—an agency so secret that
it didn't even have an acronym. She would have time for one shot.
....
it didn't even have an acronym. She would have time for one shot.
....
The next night her still gruff director, although mightily pleased with the recovery of
The Cobalt Medallion, told the secret agent that a week off in the Riviera was out of the question;
she could have three days.
The Cobalt Medallion, told the secret agent that a week off in the Riviera was out of the question;
she could have three days.
Vanessa Kane smiled to herself. The old softie, she thought.
Written Content G.A.M. cc
Agent Robert Byron
