#2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Protect The Ones You Love

  Twenty-five minutes earlier...

  Before going up to the roof...

  The taxi pulled away, leaving Kat standing on the sidewalk across from Bes Hotel. She stared at Melissa Odin's safe house. She hoped she wasn't too late and then turned and looked to the tops of the buildings across the street. Kim could be up on any of those buildings taking aim. Kat stared a little longer, walked up the stairs to the stoop, and rang the buzzer.

  After a few seconds, Daniels answered. "What are you doing here?" He shook his head. "I'm not letting you in."

  "Come on!" she snapped, agitated, and feared time wasn't on their side then insisted, "I need to talk to Johnson."

  Defensive, he replied, "I think you need to leave." Daniels removed a gun. "It's been decided we don't need you."

  She tried not to raise her voice, noticing his apprehension. "Yes you do. I know who the Closer is. I know who has been sent to take out Melissa." Kat softened her tone, pleading, "Please, let me speak with Johnson."

  Daniels thought about it, then exhaled loudly, and said, "Fine, wait here."

  He entered the house and closed the door behind himself. She turned to Brownstone Street. A truck honked at what looked like a large dog as it darted across the road to Bes Hotel. Kat turned back to the door, waited about a minute, and Daniels returned with Johnson. Both men walked out to the stoop, and Daniels reclosed the door.

  Johnson glanced around, surveying the people using the sidewalks and going by in vehicles. He turned his attention to Chad's friend. "Daniels tells me you know who the Closer is."

  "Yes, the Phoenix."

  Johnson removed a H.H.C. and punched in the name Phoenix, and a file appeared with data collected by the Isis Corporation. "This isn't good." He scanned page after page. "The Phoenix is very good."

  "Yes, that's why you need me." Kat tried to convince him. "I've had dealings with the Phoenix in the past. I can help."

  "We can't let her in," Daniels protested. "We hardly know anything about her. All we really know is that she's the Pandora Project. It is what the Un-Men called her." He folded his arms. "Really, what does that mean? For all we know, it's a Closer's name."

  Johnson typed the Pandora Project. "No, there's no Closer by any version of that name."

  "It doesn't mean we should let her in."

  "I know there isn't any reason why you should trust me," Kat said. "But you've seen what I can do. I'll put my life out there for Chad, Melissa, and Bonnie. I won't let anything happened to them."

  "Johnson don't. Don't let her words sway you. You have to think of this family." Daniels insisted, "We have to protect them."

  She thought of something and asked, "Were you able to call in reinforcements?"

  "No," Johnson replied. "We're it. I guess the Isis Corporation believes Valhalla won't kill Ms. Odin. She's too valuable alive."

  "Then you need me."

  "You're right," Johnson said. "We have to protect this family no matter the cost. Kat welcome to the team." He stepped to the side to let her in. "Let's go talk to Ms. Odin."

  Later...

  Inside the kitchen...

  "You think it's a good idea to have her here?" Melissa looked exhausted.

  "Yes," Johnson answered.

  Daniels didn't seem so sure.

  "She did take out five Un-Men," Andrews spoke up.

  Melissa asked Andrews, "How are the children?"

  "Fine. Chad dragged his mattress into Bonnie's room and is resting on the floor. With him there, the little girl has fallen asleep and is taking a nap." Andrews walked over to a coffee pot. "I'm only in here to get some Java." He poured himself a cup.

  Johnson turned to Kat and asked her, "What's your plan?"

  "I know someone who might help with the Phoenix, if I can convince her. I'm going to go talk with her now." Kat removed her backpack and placed it on a stool.

  "You're leaving?" Daniels asked. "Can't you call this person?"

  She thought for a moment and then said, "I don't know her number. I'll have to talk with her face to face."

  "What if the Phoenix strikes while you're gone?" Daniels asked.

  Kat answered, "I'll hurry." She removed the Beretta from the pack and tucked it in the front of her pants. Kat zipped up her athletic jacket and pulled it over the gun to hide the weapon. "Whatever you do don't go outside. The Phoenix likes to attack from a distance."

  Kat went out the front door and crossed the street to the Bes Hotel, and in an alley down from her, she caught sight of the dog that had darted in front of the truck. She realized the animal wasn't a dog but a wolf. The Tundra observed her, raised its head, and howled a warning. Kat could have sworn she heard a raven return its call as she rushed inside the hotel and then to the roof.

  The present...

  The numbers above the elevator doors lit up as the cab passed each level. Kim dabbed the cut on her cheek with a white handkerchief from her knapsack. The knife cut was superficial, and the bleeding soon stopped.

  "Do you think they'll be waiting for us in the lobby?" Kat asked as she glanced at her.

  Kim answered her, "Even if they beat us to the bottom, they won't engage us with people around." She noticed the woman didn't look at her. "They're too professional. They'll wait for some secluded place."

  Unsure if she could kill to save Chad, Kat set the safety on the Beretta and tucked it back in the front of her pants. The doors opened to the lobby, and both of them walked out, scanning the crowd. They didn't see Nikolai and Natasha, so they started for the front when Kat noticed a lady's room.

  "Let's go to the bathroom." Kat pushed her in ahead of herself.

  "Now?" Kim protested. "Can't you wait?"

  Kat locked the main door and checked to see if any one else was in the bathroom; the stalls were empty. "Okay, all clear," Kat said. "Now we can talk."

  "Right." Kim made a I'd rather be some place else face.

  "Kimmie, how could you?" Kat slammed her palm on the sink. "You've taken a Closing! You're here to kill Melissa Odin!"

  Now Kim was angry and snapped at the woman, "I told you never to call me that! Only my mom called me that!" She jabbed her finger into that woman's shoulder. "And yes, I took a Life Closing! For Ares' sake, I'm an assassin! It's my job!"

  Kat folded her arms, sulking, "But you said you were going to take a break. Focus on finding Theresa's murderer and help me discover my past."

  "Fine. I did say that, but Voice wanted me to take one last job before my break. I couldn't say no."

  Kat paced the room and then she questioned, "Are the man and woman Closers? Who are they after?"

  "They're known as the Raven and the Wolf. They're here to kill me?"

  "Why?"

  "It's Guild business," Kim answered, not wanting to share.

  Someone knocked at the main door.

  Ignoring it, Kat yelled at her, "How many times do I have to say it? We're partners. I need to know why they're after you."

  Kim glared at her and then she stated, "Just so we're clear on this, we're only partners till we find my mom's killer."

  "Sheez... Are you going to keep things from me?" Kat turned and looked at herself in the mirror, noticing the cut on her chin bled. She grabbed a paper towel and dabbed it as she persisted. "Why are the Raven and the Wolf here to kill you?"

  "Fine!" Kim threw up her arms and gave in. "They're here because of my Closing in Moscow. It was my first failed attempt. After I missed the primary shot, I went to the second kill spot, but a second Closer was already there. One known as Maestro. The Closer accidentally killed the Mark's little girl. Somehow I got blamed for it. Even so... It was my first mistake and collateral damage happens a lot. I don't understand why Voice wants to eliminate me."

  "What can you do?" Kat stopped the bleeding and threw the paper towel away.

  S
omeone knocked again at the locked door, and they both ignored it.

  "You mean, besides killing the Closers? I can try to contact Thanatos, leader of the Assassins Union. I can plead my case to him, maybe find out why the Closing was ordered."

  "Okay, we'll hide out at Melissa's place till you can contact Thanatos."

  "Idiot! Are you that stupid?" Kim had to make her understand, so she said, "Just because these Closers are after me, doesn't mean I don't complete my assignment. For Ares' sake! Your best plan is to walk me into my Mark's safe house?" Kim asked, dying to know, "Why are you at Ms. Odin's anyway? If I have to, I'll kill everyone in that house to get my Mark."

  "No you won't!" Kat glared at her as her anger ignited the blue Ult L-E. She charged Kim, grabbed her by the shirt, and slammed her against the outside of the stalls. "Chad's in there! He's in there, and I'm going to protect him!"

  Kimberly's view...

  What's with my luck? Of all the people to be in that safe house, why did it have to be that boy, Chad? The odds of this happening are off the charts! I guess it really doesn't matter.

  With one quick motion, I pull my gun, place it against that woman's temple, and shout, "You're nuts!" I struggle against her, but I can't budge her.

  "Promise me, you'll hurt no one," she says as she angrily squeezes my shirt in her fists. "Promise me! No one else will die!"

  I cock the gun as I reply, "You know I can't."

  I won't hesitate to pull the trigger, but I would prefer to wait; I still need that woman.

  In a deadlock, I ask, "Now what?"

  For a third time, someone knocks at the bathroom door and we both yell, "Hold it! We're busy in here!"

  "Hurry," a woman groans. "I don't think I can wait that much longer."

  Katharine's view...

  I peer into my partner's face, and as I do, my anger lessens and I feel my eyes lose their glow. It wasn't that long ago that Kimberly was consoling me. I don't think I could hurt her. Kimberly's the one person who can understand me. If only she would be there for me like she was at the apartment. If only I could convince Kimberly that her way of life is wrong.

  I release Kimberly, walk back to the sink, and lean on it, and in a calm voice, I ask, "Can you at least promise me you won't kill Melissa until we've taken care of the Raven and the Wolf?"

  Kimberly's view...

  I'm surprised by how quickly she surrendered. I imagined our tumultuous partnership would have ended in this bathroom, but she gave in. I believe she thinks she can sway me, she can sway the gun of a Life Closer. Good thing for me. I can use her naivety.

  I uncock my gun and inquire, "Taken care of the Raven and the Wolf? Why are you worried about them?"

  "They're after you," that woman replies as she stares into the mirror, and I hear the sweet wholeheartedness of a tyke in her voice. She's vehemently asserts, "I have to save you."

  That woman again surprises me. I don't believe its an act, I honestly believe she's concerned about me.

  That woman turns to me and adds, "I also heard them say they would kill Melissa if you didn't."

  She's an idiot. A real honest-to-gods idiot! There has to be something wrong with her. She can't save everyone, and surely she knows that. That woman should also know she can't trust anyone. I thought I had at least taught her that, but she keeps putting her faith in me. I don't understand why she puts her faith in me, especially after what I've done to her. For Ares' sake! No one can be this stupid.

  I holster my weapon as I consider my other headache. This entire mess around my own Life Closing started in Moscow. I have such bad karma. I mean just look at the last three Closings I had in a row. They were all disasters.

  I consider once again the faith that woman has in me, and I tell her, "Fine, I promise."

  That woman will have to learn the hard way that people lie, and if it takes someone dying to get it across to her, well... I guess that's what it'll take.

  She walks over to me and reaches out her hand. "Shake on it."

  "Whatever you want," I tell her and shake her hand. "Can we get out of here now?"

  "Yes, just one thing before we leave." She walks over to the mirror and grabs a handful of peppermints from a bowl on the sink.

  "Got a sweet tooth?"

  "They're for the kids," she answers. "Aunt Kat and Aunt Kim are coming for a visit."

  "I know I'm really going to hate this," I say as I unlock the door, and a woman rushes in past me and pulls down her pants as she hurriedly heads into a stall. I wave for Pandora as I say, "Come on."