At eleven, Lara caught a shuttle to the Battle arena, ignoring the other contestant in the van. He wasn’t her challenger in the first round, and she didn’t want to be distracted or discouraged. They pulled into the parking area at the north end of the property and she noted it was full of cars, many of them new expensive hybrids. The hand-to-hand combat would have in-house spectators, a thought that filled her with dread. What if they rooted against her? A disapproving crowd could be demoralizing.
A reporter rushed up when she entered the lobby. Lara recognized Jessie Stark from CNC Broadcasting, who’d interviewed her before the orientation. Jessie signaled to her cameraman to roll.
“We’re live with Lara Evans of Oregon, who’s about to enter the Battle arena for a round of combat with Sam Duggar of Texas. Lara, you’re five-five and 126 pounds. Sam is six-two and 205 pounds. Do you believe that was a random assignment?”
“Of course,” Lara lied. “There are only eleven other competitors left, and any of them would be tough to beat.” She felt strongly the tournament matchups were calculated, despite claims they were software generated. Both the director and the commissioner wanted her to go away.
“The internet is buzzing with the rumor that the director set you up to be eliminated, and our recent poll says the viewers are pissed off and rooting for you.”
The news pleased Lara, but voters couldn’t help or hurt her inside the Battle circle. It was pure competition with the loser of each round going home. But viewers could add significantly to her points if she won each round. “I hope to win and earn their support.”
“Do you have a strategy?”
“Stay low and wear him down.” Lara grinned. “What else can I say? I’m fighting for jobs for my state, and a lot of good people are counting on me. I’m not going down without giving Sam Duggar the battle of his life.”
“Good luck in there.”
Lara strode through the lobby, passing the wide entrance of the arena where hundreds of spectators filled the grandstands. The sight of all those faces looking down made her feel small and vulnerable. She sucked in oxygen in rapid breaths and focused on the match. She would fight as though her life depended on it. In some ways it did. This was her chance to made amends, to earn some peace of mind and maybe forgive herself.
Minda and her co-host were waiting in the small locker room. Lara stashed her shoulder bag in a locker, then endured another round of viewer-hype chat. She tried to keep her answers fresh and snappy for the audience, but she was tired of the camera in her face. She just wanted to compete.
At ten minutes before noon, they walked into the Battle arena. The crowd roared, filling her veins with adrenaline. Thank god they were supportive. She would need every advantage.
“Wait on this bench until you’re called, then walk out onto the platform.” Minda gave her instructions, then trotted off with her entourage. The group walked around the twenty-foot circular platform, keeping off the thick surrounding mat. The director headed for the adjacent locker room to speak with Sam Duggar.
Lara took a seat on the small bench and closed her eyes. To calm her nerves and empty her mind, she hummed a deep repetitive chant from her long-ago yoga days.
The crowd started clapping. She opened her eyes and watched Sam enter the arena. The cheer for her opponent faded quickly. Lara bounced on her toes, waiting to be called.
“Bring on the weapons!”
Two young men in black gear rushed out of the judges’ box, carrying jousting poles. One came toward her and placed the weapon in her hands. “Good luck.” His tone was solemn but he winked as he turned away.
The four-foot joust was made of gray pliable PVC, the ends padded with three inches of dense foam. On one end, the padding was long and narrow, shaped for jabbing. On the other, it was a small dense ball meant for an overhand strike. The joust wouldn’t have been her first choice, because it gave Sam too much reach, but it wasn’t a worst-case scenario either.
“Contestants, enter the Battle circle,” a male voice boomed.
A surge of hyper energy filled her body, starting in her legs and gushing into her torso. She jogged across the thick gray mat and entered the red battle ring. Sam strode toward her from the other side. Her opponent was built like Adonis—chiseled muscles, chiseled face. Lara had seen him in the lobby, but they hadn’t spoken. His size should have been intimidating but she felt pumped and more ready than she’d ever been. She’d sparred with bigger men and beaten them. That’s how she ended up representing Oregon. She could do this.
The announcer was still speaking but Lara tuned him out. As the battle circle under her feet rose in the air, she focused on her opponent, memorizing the height of his targets: kidney, mid-sternum, and the carotid and vagus nerves in his neck. Lara had little hope of knocking him off the raised platform, so her strategy was to hit the spots that would cause pain, irregular heartbeat, or loss of blood to the brain. Slowing him down would buy her time and keep her on the platform. Speed and the ability to leap from a standstill were her only advantages. If she survived the seven-minute round and stayed on the platform, the judges would call the match. They were often swayed by the mood of the crowd.
“Let the battle begin!”
An electronic gong sounded and Sam rushed at her like an enraged bull, the jabbing end of his joust aimed at her head. Lara dropped to her knees just before his weapon came within striking distance. As she went down, she swung her joust like a bat, striking his left kneecap and rolling to get out of the way of his thundering body. Lara was surprised by his opening tactic. He either expected her to be easily overpowered or he had little training in martial arts.
She sprang to her feet and pivoted toward the center of the circle. Sam recovered from his miss, spun around and charged her again, his joust lower this time, aiming at her chest. Lara waited until the last second and jumped left. She twisted in the air and jabbed her weapon into his kidney. He moaned softly, a sound no one heard but her.
In the background, the commentator’s voice and the shouting of the audience blended into a muffled roar, like a train in the distance.
Switching tactics, Sam came at her more slowly, joust lengthwise across his chest. Knowing she would take a hit, Lara leapt and aimed for his carotid artery with the jabbing end of her weapon. She nailed him a split second before he broadsided her with his pole. Lara went down, chest aching from the blow and loss of air. She scrambled to the right, hoping to stay out of his reach.
The strike to his neck stunned him momentarily, but he was soon coming for her again. Lara scrambled to her feet but couldn’t get out of the way of his next blow. His joust hit her in the chest again, knocking her on her ass only a few feet from the edge of the platform. Lara tried to roll out of harm’s way, but he caught her with the jabbing end and pushed her to within inches of the edge.
She couldn’t scramble away without going over. Panicked and infuriated with herself, she swung her weapon at his, hoping to knock it from his hands. When her joust hit Sam’s, a shock of electricity zapped them both. Fuck! The crowd gasped, and she gritted her teeth against the intense and unexpected pain. The Battle had never used shock in the weapons before. Being on the ground, Lara took less of a charge. In the moment it took Sam to recover his bearings, she sprang from the mat and landed a jabbing blow to his sternum.
She spun and leapt again, ramming the round end of her weapon just under his jaw where the carotid sinus met the vagus nerves. The crowd roared in surprise and approval, and Lara sensed movement, as though spectators had sprung to their feet. She kept her eyes on her opponent. Sam’s arms dropped below his waist as blood drained from his brain and his heart rate slowed. He staggered forward, eyes glazed over in shock. The audience made gasping noises, then went silent. Lara willed the big man to faint or drop to his knees. If she had hit him with her fist instead of the padded joust, he’d be on the ground by now. Lara sucked in oxygen and waited.
She considered going in for another blow but it didn’t seem
sporting, and the crowd might hold it against her. All she needed was to still be standing when the gong sounded again. How much time was left?
Sam shook his head and gulped in air. Lara circled him to keep him off balance. After a moment, he charged at her, but with little speed, like a man who’d had too much to drink. She outmaneuvered his jabs and came in behind him. With a powerful thrust, Lara rammed her joust into the back of his left knee. He buckled and dropped forward just as the gong sounded.
Relief washed over her. She was still standing, and the big man was on the mat. Would the judges give her the match even though she’d been dominated for a moment and pushed to the edge? Audience members high in the bleachers began to shout her name. Lara turned and saw a group of young men standing. Joy flooded her like an intake of helium and she felt like she was floating. She smiled at the group of fans and gave a small wave. More spectators joined the chant.
After a minute, the announcer’s voice cut through the noise of the crowd. “That was a hell of an opening match! The electrical shock component is new to the tournament this year, and it kept underdog Lara Evans in the game. I think she’s a winner, but we’ll see what the judges say.”
The announcer kept up his chatter, but Lara couldn’t focus on it. Sam had climbed to his feet, and she approached him with a wary eye. Last year, the contestant from Idaho had attacked his opponent after the match was called against him. As she neared Sam, she held out her hand for a fist bump. He sportingly responded and the crowd cheered.
Lara backed away, pain spreading through her chest as the adrenaline wore off and the bruising began. She did her best to ignore it and kept smiling for the crowd as the platform lowered to the ground.
In silence, they waited for the judges’ decision. Lara’s joints felt stiff with tension, as if they would snap if she moved.
Finally, the announcer said, “The judges have unanimously called the match for Lara Evans of Oregon! She earns 50 points for winning and advances in the tournament. Now let’s see what the viewers have awarded her.”
After an unbearable wait, he said, “Another 22 points out of a possible 25 from the voters. Stunning! Congratulations, Lara, you’re in second place for now.”
Joy and pride overwhelmed her as Lara looked up at the scoreboard, now flashing her new total: 186. The young man in black rushed out of the judges’ box again. He took her weapon and raised her arm in victory. The thunder of the crowd and the sense of triumph were new to Lara. The moment engulfed her and made her uncomfortable. She wanted to take her victory and run.
When the attendant finally let go of her arm and left the circle, Lara bowed to the audience, then jogged toward the locker room. She knew she would face another round of camera interviews, but she was eager to get back to her hotel and make a few contacts. Jackson came to mind first, but then she realized she wanted to see Caden and share her joyous moment with him. He was just a one-night stand, she corrected. No point in thinking about him.
Lara passed through the empty locker room, grabbed her bag, and headed into the lobby. Minda and Serena were taping another session for the viewers, and a small crowd of contestants and spectators had gathered around them. The co-host signaled Lara to come over. As she approached, Minda made an announcement:
“After reviewing the footage of yesterday’s Puzzle rounds, our behind-the-scenes experts think Jodie Hansen may have received advance information, which is strictly forbidden.” She paused for dramatic effect. “So we’ve asked Jodie to complete the Puzzle again in a different cube. Without proof of wrongdoing, we’ll combine her times from the two efforts and credit her with the average. She’ll have to complete the second Puzzle before advancing to the Battle. We’ll update you soon with more information.”
The Puzzle winner had cheated! But who had given her the information? And why? Lara vibrated with excitement. If Jodie didn’t do as well in her second round, her average time would be longer and Lara might end up the winner. The extra points would put her in the lead.
Minda’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Here’s Lara Evans now, just emerging from an amazing victory over Sam Duggar of Texas. How did you pull that off?”
“I’m not sure. Speed and luck mostly.”
“What about the next round of the Battle? Do you think you’ll be one of the three contestants to enter the Obstacle?”
“Why not? I’ve made it this far.”
The interview went on, and Lara tried to say all the right things, sounding both humble and confident at the same time. She repeated the performance for two broadcast reporters and a writer from an online sports magazine. When she finally broke free of well-wishers, Lara strode out the main doors to catch a shuttle to the hotel.
Detective Caden Harper was parked out front, waiting for her.
Chapter 28
Caden reluctantly climbed out of Lara’s bed and dressed to leave. Every fiber in his body wanted to stay and keep her safe from the assailant, yet he knew the best way to protect both her and the commissioner was to find the perp. He couldn’t do that from a hotel room and he’d already spent too much time here.
“I’ll contact you tomorrow.” He leaned over and kissed Lara’s forehead.
“I’d like that, but I have no expectations.”
“I do have expectations, but we don’t have to talk about them…yet.” He strapped on his service weapon and jacket. “Put a chair in front of the door after I leave and don’t take any unnecessary chances.”
Lara laughed. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but I worry that you won’t.” He tried to convey his concern with his eyes. She wouldn’t appreciate hearing it.
“I intend to survive. I still have things to accomplish.” She stared back, unblinking.
“Bye for now.” Caden closed the door and walked away with mixed emotions. He had to go back to headquarters and finish a database search, grab a few hours’ sleep, then return to work at eight in the morning for a meeting. When he’d shown up at the arena earlier, he’d only planned to have dinner with Lara, then get right back to his investigation. But after he’d waited in her hotel room while she got ready, Lara had come out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel, her skin warm, wet, and inviting. It would have been rude not to accept.
Caden grinned as he boarded the hotel elevator. He was having a fling with Lara Evans! The development was still unreal to him. In the year he’d been following her blog, he often fantasized he might meet her if she made it into the Gauntlet.
She was even prettier in person than in photos and her body was amazing. He loved her lean tautness and defined muscles. And her vitality! She practically hummed with energy. Yep. The best sex of his life. He planned to see her every day that she was here in D.C. Maybe he could even persuade her to stay for a while after the competition.
Sleeping with a suspect could get him fired, but Caden had willingly taken the risk and there was no going back. Lara was a delicious drug and he was an addict. Her failure to report the crime at the commissioner’s house bothered him on some level, but when he put himself in her shoes, he thought he might have made the same choice.
Back at the D.C. Metro Department, Caden settled into his desk and turned on his NetCom. He’d already spent hours searching every database he had access to for the mysterious man with the shaggy blond hair. Now he was scanning the register of federal employees, based on a hunch.
Several months earlier, an agent with the FBI had contacted the D.C. Metro and asked about crimes involving federal employees. Caden had been assigned to run a search and had come up with nothing. Agent Franklin seemed almost relieved when Caden reported back to him, so he’d put the incident out of his mind. He had enough of his own unsolved cases to fill a closet.
Now someone had tried to kill the employment commissioner, a high-profile federal employee, and instinct told him the incidents could be related. Caden agonized about his promise to Lara to not include the commissioner in his notes or to question him
. It made solving Kirsten’s death nearly impossible…if the crimes were actually connected. Yet the promise also relieved him of the responsibility of involving the FBI and simultaneously pissing off the sponsors and viewers of the Gauntlet—the one thing in this country that still gave people something to cheer for.
Caden took a second look at the photos of the tech and HR people who had access to federal employee files, but didn’t find anyone who matched the facial features of the man in the camera footage. He’d already searched for information about the commissioner and came up with little. Thaddeus Morton had no criminal record, no investigations, no pending lawsuits. He was involved with a charity and well-respected by his peers. Some online gossip sites speculated about his bisexuality, but Caden didn’t see that as a crime.
Why would someone want the commissioner dead?
Caden had no idea how to determine that without talking to people close to Morton. He could only give this case another day or so before he was assigned new investigations. He read through the FBI request and a small piece of information caught his eye. Both people who’d complained about someone hacking their message center had been fired. Had that been the point of the attack?
After four hours of sleep, Caden bolted from bed and hit the treadmill for forty minutes. He dressed for work and made himself an omelet for breakfast. He and Lara had never bothered to have dinner the night before and he was starving. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t seen Lara eat anything since he’d met her. She hadn’t touched the sandwich he’d brought her in the interrogation room, and she hadn’t eaten that night in the restaurant. She was probably on a special training diet.
He drove to work early, pleased to be ahead of the rush-hour traffic and the heat he knew was coming later that day. The sky looked ominous and he worried that a wild storm would ruin the outdoor Obstacle competition. As long as Lara stayed safe, the Gauntlet didn’t matter, he realized. Caden parked behind headquarters and bought an iced coffee from the mobile vendor before clocking in.
The Arranger Page 18
