Termination Notice (Action Girl Thrillers)

by A. D. Phillips

  Tania leapt toward the fence, and kicked the planks to extend her jump by a good few inches. She grabbed the top, pressed her body up, and swung her legs over the pickets. Tania dropped into Adrian’s rear garden. She crept around the dark pool, and approached the rear of the house. The Taurus Strangler was adept at using shadows to conceal her approach, and keeping her balance on the iced-over paving stones.

  When Tania reached the patio, she took out her phone and re-established the connection to the bedroom camera feed. Lucy held Adrian in a tight, chest-crushing embrace. Her attention was fully devoted to him, and his to her. With the alarms deactivated, they’d receive no warning of any intrusion.

  Tania looked up at the bedroom balcony, dropped the switched-off phone in her pocket, and climbed the wall. As at Norris’ studio warehouse - where she’d claimed her first victim - there was no drainpipe, ladder or rope to assist her. The Taurus Strangler slotted her fingertips and boot soles into the smallest of gaps, and closed in on her unsuspecting prey.

  ***

  Adrian exhaled and rested his head against the bed frame. Lucy paused to recuperate from her exertion, then released her grip on his waist. The naked blonde dismounted Adrian, sat up, and reached over the bedside. Her shadow obscured his privates as she reclaimed her underwear.

  “Aren’t you going to untie me?” Adrian asked pleadingly.

  Lucy slipped on her shorts, fastened her bra strap, and shook her clammy hair behind her ears. She leant over in a cross-legged, seductive pose to tickle her lover’s chin.

  “No sleeping around this time,” she said. “Promise?”

  “I was stupid back then,” admitted Adrian. “Now I’m older and wiser.”

  Lucy unfastened the controller cord. The depressions it had left on Adrian’s wrists were deep red.

  “A lot older.” Lucy wrapped the wire around the control unit. “A little wiser. At least you haven’t run off yet. I’d better get myself cleaned up.”

  She placed the videogame controller beside the games console, and made for the landing.

  “What are you saying?” Adrian called out after her. “That I’m a dirty man?”

  Lucy replied with a joyful smile. After she’d left the bedroom, Adrian rolled onto his side, put his shorts back on, and moved his damp-haired legs into a more comfortable position.

  A leather-gloved hand rose above the exterior balcony, and closed round the lower rail. Tania lifted her head and shoulders up to peek through the window. Her eyes quickly surveyed the room: exhausted Adrian, empty body-shaped trough in the bed sheets, unlocked bolt on the window frame, discarded controller.

  “You lousy bastard!” Lucy yelled.

  Tania ducked just before Lucy stormed in and threw a soaked facecloth at Adrian. The missile flew across the bed, shedding soapy water on the sheets. It squelched as it hit the window and dropped less than three feet from Tania’s exposed hand. But Adrian had Lucy’s full, undivided attention, and the killer remained unseen.

  The mattress creaked as Adrian sat up. “What did I do?” He looked completely bewildered.

  “Quit playing games, Adrian,” Lucy said furiously. “I know she’s here. Where is she?”

  “Who?”

  Lucy sighed in resignation. “Fine. If you want her, you can have her. She plays games. You two are a perfect match for each other. Can’t believe I trusted you.”

  She marched over to her clothes, grabbed her trousers, and put them on. Lucy pulled her buttoned shirt over her head, letting it hang loose.

  “Who the hell are you talking about?” Adrian asked her.

  Lucy tied her shoelaces. “Your Chinese girlfriend,” she elaborated. “What was the plan? Do her after you’d finished with me?”

  “Tania?” exclaimed Adrian. “You think I’m screwing Tania?”

  Lucy didn’t answer him. She tucked her shirt into her pants, and pushed it down with quick, firm prods.

  “Wait a minute.” Adrian climbed off the bed, outrage turning to concern. “Why do you think Tania’s here?”

  “Game over, Adrian. And there’s no point in continuing. I saw her motorbike parked outside.”

  Adrian stiffened. Lucy’s eyes narrowed a little - as if she wasn’t sure whether to believe him. Neither of them looked at the window, or saw the masked killer vault over the balcony rails.

  “You said your partner called earlier,” Adrian said. “What did he want?”

  “He thought—”

  Lucy stopped to lift the mobile phone from her shirt pocket. She scrolled through the list of missed calls and selected the most recent.

  “Lucy, where are you? Pick up the God damn phone,” Ron’s recorded voice said.

  Tania slowly opened the balcony window, squeezed through the narrow gap, and closed the panel to shut out the draught. The strangler snook across the carpet, and stooped low to collect the controller. Her fingers deftly unwound the plastic cable, not making a sound.

  “Dawson’s not our guy,” Ron continued. “I found something on the recording of the Gallier murder. A reflection in the water. Vickers couldn’t enhance it, so I’ve gone to Taurus to see if Tan—”

  “Lucy!” Adrian yelled.

  Before she had chance to react, Tania garotted her from behind. Taken by complete surprise, Lucy accidentally knocked the chair over. Her weapon slid from its holster. Adrian wasted no time grabbing it.

  Lucy writhed about in the strangler’s grip. She stomped at Tania’s foot, but this time the killer expected the attack and skipped expertly aside. Tania pressed one knee into Lucy’s back and pulled her chin higher. The killer’s leather sleeve caught on the cable and slipped down, exposing light brown skin. The struggling Lucy elbowed Tania in the chest, but the strangler’s hold didn’t weaken.

  Adrian fumbled the gun. His hands shook uncontrollably. “Don’t move,” he warned, even though he didn’t have a clear shot.

  Lucy let her body relax. Her limp legs swung back like a toy doll’s and bumped weakly into Tania’s. Lucy gasped, face contorted in agony as she forced her head to tilt sideways. The strangler’s right eye slit came into view. She stared at Adrian with pure hatred.

  “Tania?” Adrian screamed, sounding only partly-convinced it was her behind the balaclava. “Why are you doing this?”

  The only response he got was a heavy, drawn-out breath. Lucy - choking badly - mouthed a voiceless instruction to Adrian. Shoot her.

  “Adrian can’t hear you,” Tania whispered. The strangler’s voice was distorted by the veil, but her lip movements showed through. “Or shoot. I think he genuinely cares about you.”

  “What do you want!?” Adrian demanded.

  Lucy - gasping continuously - started to struggle again. Tania dragged her slipping feet back, giving Adrian even less of a target to aim at. He remained rooted to the spot, and couldn’t bring himself to squeeze the trigger.

  “To watch you suffer,” Tania replied.

  “Do it!” mouthed Lucy. “Do it!”

  Adrian still wouldn’t take the shot. Lucy concentrated, and exercised her arms in readiness to try something. She grabbed Tania’s balaclava - one hand on each ear - and twisted. The leathery mask turned. Eye slits moved away from the killer’s irises, onto her hair and nose bridge.

  Blinded, Tania stumbled back. Lucy stamped on her foot - connecting this time - grabbed the controller cable, and pulled. It loosened a touch, then Tania’s glove came off. Free of the strangler’s deadly hold, Lucy pushed away and lashed at Tania’s face. The blow caught the killer on the chin.

  Lucy - still weak from the long, near-fatal struggle - landed a few feet away. “Shoot her!” she croaked.

  Tania ripped off her balaclava and threw it on the floor. Her jade ponytail clip came loose, and bounced off the window with a clink. Loose, messy hair dropped on Tania’s shoulders. Her eyes were wild with lunacy.

  “He can’t do it,” Tania dared Adrian, staring down the gun’s barrel. “He’s a bastard. But he’s no killer.”

  A
drian took aim. His earlier hesitation had gone. In its place was cold-eyed ruthlessness. The Taurus Strangler’s smile faded.

  “Didn’t you get Dawson’s memo?” Adrian asked her. “You’re fired.”

  Adrian squeezed the trigger. There was a loud bang, and a bullet hole appeared below Tania’s left breast. Fluff fell from her ripped-open leather jacket. She stumbled back. Adrian fired again. And a third time.

  The Taurus Strangler fell, eyes rolling up into their sockets. Tania’s body slammed onto the carpet. Her foot landed hard on the controller pad. It flipped up, and dropped next to Tania’s twitchy fingers. Adrian fired three more shots into her. After a brief spasm, the killer lay still. Hair dropped into her wide-open mouth.

  Adrian let go of the gun. His hand still shook as he ran to Lucy’s side. “I couldn’t…” he said. “I didn’t want to…”

  “It’s all right,” Lucy comforted him. She groaned as she stood up. “You did great.”

  “That’s twice I’ve saved you.”

  Lucy stumbled into his waiting arms. “It’s becoming a good habit. Make sure to keep it up.”

  Adrian kissed her, came up for air, then did so again. Lucy rubbed his naked back. His hands went to her shoulders.

  A gloved fist pummelled Adrian’s cheek. He fell face-forward, knocked unconscious with a single blow. Lucy instinctively dived for her weapon. Tania - very much alive - got there first, and kicked it under the bed. Another kick - to her victim’s stomach - and Lucy rolled onto her back.

  Tania opened her leather jacket and unstrapped a bulletproof vest. It was Philadelphia Police Department issue.

  “I got this from your partner.” Tania tossed it by Lucy’s side. “Ron didn’t need it any more.”

  Lucy clenched her fist, fingernails ripping bristles from the carpet. Shaking with anger, she forced herself into a sitting position. Tania reached under the bed and pulled out Lucy’s pistol. The killer was three feet away - a point black shot.

  “As an experienced gamer, Adrian should have known to go for a head shot,” Tania gloated, aiming between Lucy’s eyes. “But I’m smarter than him. And you.” She stepped onto the controller cable, pressing it beneath her boot.

  Lucy shifted weight onto her buttocks to free her hands. She reached discreetly for the bulletproof vest while she talked to distract Tania. “Why does the Taurus strangler need a gun?” she mocked. “Isn’t she strong enough?”

  Tania grinned, relishing her moment of victory. “I don’t need to prove it. Only a weak cop would get shot with her own weapon.”

  The killer stared down the iron sight. Her finger squeezed the trigger halfway. Lucy grabbed the vest and flung it before Tania’s face. The shot hit the Kevlar. A crushed bullet slid off the fibres.

  Tania kicked Lucy’s lifesaver away, spread her legs, and retook aim. Adrian stirred from his slumber. Quickly assessing the situation, he grabbed Tania’s ankle, and pulled it to unbalance her. The off-target bullet shattered a lampshade, showering the bed sheet with glass fragments.

  Balancing expertly on one leg, Tania wrestled loose from Adrian’s tired grip, and kicked him squarely in the face. The force of the blow knocked him out cold. Blood trickled from a nasty cut on his cheek.

  Lucy staggered to her feet, but Tania had already regained her balance. The killer had Lucy at her mercy once more. This time there was no escape, and Tania didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

  The gun clicked. Its magazine was empty.

  Hissing with fury, Tania threw the weapon at Lucy. The pistol handle whipped her chest, but that didn’t slow the detective’s forward lunge. She thumped Tania in the stomach - a strong, everything-she-had strike that made the killer step back. Lucy followed with a kick at Tania’s shin.

  Tania shook off Lucy’s attacks and grabbed her throat. The strangler’s gloved fingers pressed into Lucy’s neck. Stretched leather creaked under mounting pressure. Tania’s other - bare - hand squeezed from the opposite side.

  Lucy chopped at Tania’s arms, attempting to break the choke-hold, but the blows simply bounced off. Tania forced Lucy against the balcony window. Unable to stop - or even slow - the killer’s momentum, Lucy found herself trapped, with her cheek pressed against the glass.

  Tania slammed Lucy’s head against the pane, causing it to split down the middle. The strangler panted as she continued her relentless squeeze. More cracks appeared, branching from the first. A few tiny slivers of glass fell off.

  Lucy held the window handle for support, and lifted her knees. She launched both feet at Tania’s chest. Strained wrinkles appeared on Lucy’s face as she pushed harder. It was a contest of strength. The strangler had more muscle power, but Lucy had greater leverage. The killer’s iron grip loosened, thumbs snapping together. A final assertive kick, and Lucy was free.

  Lucy landed awkwardly on one leg and sprained her ankle. Tania - seeing her quarry was wounded - took a step back and kicked high. Her boot thrust into the gap under Lucy’s chin. The resulting impact was enough to shatter the window and send Lucy tumbling back. Her head banged the frosty upper balcony rail.

  Wind blew through the dazed woman’s hair. Snowflakes landed on her bruised neck. In the garden below, glass shards fell on paving stones. Most smashed into gravel-sized little pieces, but a few remained intact.

  Tania grabbed Lucy’s legs - unchallenged - and tipped her victim over the rail. There was a thump from below, then nothing but whistling wind. The killer leant over the balcony to look.

  Lucy was sprawled by the pool, three feet from the black water. Weak, condensed breaths revealed she’d survived the fall. But one leg was twisted back on itself, and her hair stained with sludgy, purple-red blood. The crippled woman was an easy target.

  Tania took her time removing her leather jacket. She dumped her trousers, and shook off her boots. The cream-vested killer vaulted over the balcony and leapt down to the garden. She threw the power lever under the patio roof to switch on the swimming pool’s underwater lights, but left the mist generator inactive. Thin, smooth-edged ice sheets bobbed on the water’s surface.

  Surrounded by precipitating snow, Tania had the stamina to stand in the open and not bat an eyelid. Without assistance, Lucy could well freeze to death, but the killer was determined to finish the job herself. It was obvious what fate she had planned: a cold, watery grave.

  Tania knelt down and grabbed Lucy’s shirt. The barely-conscious detective could just about move her arm, but she managed to snag a long, dagger-like glass shard with a lethally sharp point.

  “For such a cold hearted bitch…” Tania didn’t notice the fragment in Lucy’s hand. “This seems a fitting end.”

  The killer showed no sign of fatigue. Before Lucy could lift her arm to strike, Tania heaved, slid her victim across the ice-coated stones, and released.

  Lucy splashed into the pool. Water closed over her hand. The shard slipped from her numb fingers. It sank through a light beam, and disappeared into the black depths. Lucy coughed up a mouthful of water and grabbed a floating ice sheet. It cracked and broke in two. Lucy’s clothes rapidly took on water, and dragged her under.

  Tania lowered herself into the pool, arms pivoted back to hold the edge. Enduring the cold water with a triumphant smile, the Taurus Strangler pincered Lucy’s neck between her legs, and squeezed from both sides. Tania fished Lucy up, watched her weak struggles, and dunked her victim’s head back underwater. Buoyant blonde hair floated on the surface, air bubbles popping amid the strands.

  Lucy grabbed Tania’s legs, but against a much stronger woman, she did nothing but waste vital energy. Bubbles got bigger as Lucy’s mouth filled with water. Tania’s grip on the poolside slipped as the conditions began to have an effect. She released Lucy’s neck and pushed down on her shoulders, submerging her completely. The drowning woman had seemingly given up. Lucy’s prone body spun around, passed through a light beam, and floated into the darkness.

  Tania exhaled and let her legs swing back against the pool wall. Sh
e licked water from her lips, and stroked back her damp hair. Lucy surfaced right in front of her, bloody hands clutching the glass ‘dagger’ she’d retrieved from the water. The Taurus Strangler was caught completely off guard, and could do nothing to prevent Lucy plunging the razor-sharp shard into her heart.

  Blood diffused across Tania’s wet vest. She gulped and kicked, making a desperate grab for the paving stones. But the icy water slowed her movement and softened her blows, and Lucy kept a firm grip on the glass. Tania’s fingertips slipped to the pool edge. Now it was the intended victim who was confident, and the killer that shivered in fear.

  “Miss Chin,” Lucy said. “Consider your employment…”

  Lucy pushed the glass harder. Its bloody tip went all the way through, and pierced Tania’s vest at the back. The killer’s arms flopped into the water, and her kicking ceased.

  “Terminated.”

  Lucy let go, allowing the icy water to claim Tania’s lifeless body.

  Teeth chattering, Lucy swam to the poolside. She reached out and slapped her white fingers on the paving stones. Paralysing numbness set in, and Lucy slipped back. One hand fell in the water, and the second was about to when Adrian grabbed her wrist.

  He dragged Lucy from the pool, lay her down, and pumped her chest. Lucy opened her eyes and coughed. Adrian placed Tania’s leather jacket over her body to shield her from the falling snow.

  “This is third time I’ve saved you.”

  “I think we can call it even now,” panted Lucy.

  She forced herself up. Adrian moved to intercept her, but Lucy shook her head. She fell into his arms, and put weight on her good leg. Her other limped badly, but didn’t seem broken.

  Emergency sirens wailed in the distance. Lucy gave Adrian a querying glance.

  “Thought we’d let your police friends clean up,” he said. “Soon as we sort the money out, Taurus Studios can reopen for business.”