Coraset picked up a basket and looped the handles on her forearm. She went to the produce section and stared at the perfectly displayed fruits. Something as simple as picking out fruit became difficult. She was hungry, but she had no idea what she wanted to eat. Coraset huffed in aggravation, and decided to grab a pound bag of grapes, four apples, and four oranges. She knew the fruit alone wouldn’t hold her over. So, she went to the meat department. Coraset wasn’t much of a cook, considering everything else she was capable of, and it kind of bothered her that she couldn’t put together a simple meal for herself. She put the meat and fruit back. She exited out of the grocery store with an intention of going up to the penthouse restaurant to eat dinner.
She walked out of the store, hit the up button to the elevator and waited. Coraset noticed a brunette was sitting on a marble bench on the far end of the foyer. Coraset thought it was strange that someone would be just sitting outside of a grocery store in the basement level of the building. No one ever did that.
She took note of the woman. Her brunette hair was in a French roll. She wore black perfectly creased pants, a tight fitting double breasted jacket with an ivory blouse, and pointed toe high heel shoes. Coraset didn’t have a good feeling about her. She touched the elevator down button but moved on to the stairs to go up. She wasn’t about to climb 40 or more flight of steps, but Coraset didn’t want the woman to have advantage of her by using the elevator. She dashed up the steps.
Coraset stopped when she heard the door from the first level basement come open. She peered over the edge of the stairs to see if she could get a glimpse of who was coming. She heard murmuring, the door slammed shut, and then she heard the familiar sound of guns being cocked. Coraset started running up the steps, and the footsteps below her was quickening, as well. When she got to the 10th floor entry door, she listened and waited breathless. The pursuers were still coming up the steps, but they’d stop on every level opening doors, checking for Coraset. She continued going to the 15th floor and stepped into the hallway. She couldn’t hide nowhere on the floor. Every single door was locked, and there was no breaking in because all of the doors were steel. Coraset straightened and listened for the footsteps in the stairwell.
After she heard two sets of footsteps go pass, Coraset moved to the other side of the door so she wouldn’t be seen just in case someone peeped in. She peered up and down the hallway to see if anyone was coming out of an apartment. Slowly, the knob turned. Coraset held her breath.
The barrel of a gun began to appear. Coraset waited until she saw a hand. She positioned herself carefully, and she kicked the gun out of the assailant’s hand. He grunted and swung the door open meaning to hit Coraset with it. She jumped out of the way and with one swift motion, she kicked him square in the neck. He fell to the floor with a deep yell, and Coraset kicked him in the stomach and grabbed the gun. The man curled up in utter pain grabbing his sides and stomach, and she jumped passed him and started running down the steps. The other aggressors heard her, and they started running back down. Coraset got to the 11th floor landing and pulled out the magazine to make sure it was fully loaded and checked to see if there was one in the chamber. Seeing that the gun was set to be fired, Coraset knew they meant to kill her. Being taken as hostage was not a part of their plan. She took in a deep breath, and she continued down the stairs keeping close to the wall. She got to the lobby level, and a man busted through the door. She shot him in the chest. Coraset knew if she tried to make a break for the lobby entrance, she probably wouldn’t make it. She continued down two more flights to the first garage level.
Coraset entered cautiously, ducking as she walked behind Erato Federation vehicles. Every parking spot had a SUV, and she stealthily walked through them listening and watching. She heard the stairwell door slam open against the wall and orders being barked. Coraset made her way carefully to the exit and out onto the street.
She saw a man standing at her building entrance, but he didn’t see her. The trees and street décor blocked his view, and she managed to get across the street. She went three blocks and decided to hide in building three garage. Before she could get to the garage gates, someone pulled up right in front of her at the entryway. Coraset pointed the gun, and the window rolled down revealing a familiar but friendly face.
His name was Brochudo, a husky black man with dark eyes and a round bearded face. He was bald headed and smiling.
“Get in,” he stated as the glass slid back into place.
Coraset looked around one last time, and she opened the back door and got in. The man backed out onto the street, and he headed for the Barat Region outer exit. Their identification was scanned, and they were allowed to leave. Coraset looked out the back window at the closing gate.
“No one is crazy enough to follow this car,” Brochudo’s deep voice sounded from the front seat.
“Where is he?” Coraset asked as she slouched down in her seat.
“Bel Air,” Brochudo answered as he reached in the compartment next to his seat. He pulled out one CD, looked at the cover, and then put it back in. Then he pulled out another. He peered at the blonde posing beautifully on the cover, and he took the CD out of its cover. He pushed the disc into the player, and a song with an upbeat tune started playing. Brochudo started singing. His deep voice was a horrid contrast to the songbird singing from the speakers.
Coraset sat back and watched the scenery pass. She was glad to be in safety. She tried to find a reason why anyone would want her dead. She couldn’t picture the warden having enough power or reach to send someone after her, especially an entire team of killers. Maybe it could have been Lea Cassis who sent them in order to stay off revenge, but Coraset never thought about going after Lea, not even once.
Brochudo drove through hills filled with forests and empty mansions. Some gates were pried open, rusting off their hinges, or completely disconnected from the walls that surrounded once exclusive properties. Coraset kept her gun in hand, still unwilling to think the run for her life was over, but she saw no sign of the people that were chasing her. She wondered how many others were after her. Who did they work for? Why were they trying to kill her? She needed answers.
Finally, Brochudo turned into a driveway. It wound for half mile to a wrought iron gate. The car came to a screeching halt, and the gate remained closed. Coraset had that uneasy feeling again, but she hated to think that Brochudo was leading her into a trap. He’d always been a nice guy, never said a bad thing about anyone.
Coraset asked guardedly, “Brochudo, whose house is this?”
“Mr. Cassis,” he answered as he tapped on the steering wheel casually.
“What are we waiting for?” She gripped the gun tightly and started looking around.
The gate suddenly started opening slowly.
Brochudo stated, “For the gate to open. Jory isn’t paying attention or was in the toilet.”
Coraset sat back, still on edge. When the gate was fully open, Brochudo drove the broken brick driveway to the front door of a home completely covered with overgrown, untamed ivy. The house looked like it was built into the greenery itself.
Brochudo opened the car door for Coraset and remarked, “He’ll be in the first room to your right.”
She shifted the gun into her other hand and looked at Brochudo with doubt.
He understood her uncertainty and said, “It’ll be alright, Coraset. You can still trust Mr. Cassis.”
Without saying anything else, she went inside. She held the gun tight, aimed in the direction she was moving. The house was dark except for one room that was lit by a chandelier. Senator Xavier Cassis stood with his hands in his pants pockets, with a slight smile on his face. Coraset was glad to see him, but she was still tense. The room appeared empty, but there were dark corners and cascading shadows hiding the appearance of the walls. Coraset approached Xavier, and she stopped in front of him.
CHAPTER TEN
Senator Xavier Cassis was a middle aged man with brunette hair, brown eyes,
and lightly tanned skin. He was clean shaven, young looking for his age, tall, and slender. Xavier was driven and very intelligent. He was appointed a Senator for the Barat Region by Chancellor Katherine Erato when the Federation was first formed. Deep down, he did not like nor approve of the new society, but Xavier worked diligently to ensure his front of supporting the totalitarian system was never in doubt. He wanted change. Xavier knew if he voiced what he really felt, he would be ousted from his high profile government position, imprisoned for treason.
“You and I need to talk, Xavier.” Coraset stated calmly.
“I will answer any and all question you may have, but first there are other matters we need to discuss.”
“There is nothing else to consider other than why your wife set me up.”
Xavier pointed out, “There is more important-”
“Why was I framed, Xavier?” Coraset cut him off angrily. She didn’t want to hear anything else but the answer to her question.
He hesitated but eventually answered, “Lea thought I hired you to kill Lieutenant Donner.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“No, of course not,” he answered with a convincing stare. “She was seeing him. I found out. I did hire someone to take care of him. She thought it was you. So, she went to the police and told them.”
“I lost a year and a half of my life over a lie, Xavier.” Coraset stated with restrained anger.
“And I did everything in my power to ensure that’s all you lost. The judge was going to sentence you to death, but I convinced her that you did not kill the lieutenant.”
“But she sent me to jail, anyway.”
“She had no choice. Lea is my wife, and I am a Senator. With those facts alone, the judge could not disregard her accusation.”
“Ridiculous! Why didn’t you tell the judge who actually did it?”
“Because I had to protect the operative, Coraset,” Xavier explained.
“And what about me,” Coraset asked as she pointed a finger at herself.
“I took care of you. I made sure you were looked after while you were in there.”
“I was nearly raped twice, Xavier!” Coraset stepped away from him in disgust. “That’s a hell of a way to look after me!”
“I’m very sorry you had to go through that, but I worked hard to keep you alive. The warden wanted you dead. Lea wanted you dead, but I wouldn’t allow it. I saved you.”
She chuckled and remarked, “No, you didn’t.”
Xavier exhaled in aggravation. He wanted so much to move on from the subject. He remarked, “I know you’re mad, but there are more pressing matters. I need your help.”
“You got some nerve, Xavier.” Her voice shook from her anger, “I’m not going to help you.”
“Will you let me say my peace before you make your final decision?”
“No,” Coraset started for the exit.
“Then listen to me instead,” A feminine voice stated from a darkened corner.
Coraset turned back towards the unfamiliar voice. She glanced at Xavier with uncertainty as she gripped the gun tighter. A woman stepped from the shadows. She was statuesque and blonde. Coraset thought she looked familiar. She couldn’t place where she saw the woman before.
“Who are you?” Coraset asked as she kept her distance.
“Malie Levendro,” she answered.
Coraset finally recognized her. She was the woman from the elevator the day she was arrested. She’d seen her many times going home or going to work. They never spoke. Malie didn’t look so harsh this time. She presented herself with an easy smile and a welcoming demeanor.
“Coraset, Malie is my assistant.”
She stared at Xavier uncertain about the woman’s presence and intentions.
“Why don’t we all have a seat in the conference room?” Malie slim hands waved towards a door near the large fireplace.
“No,” Coraset plainly stated.
Malie’s voice was determined as she spoke, “Coraset-”
“I’m. Not. Interested.”
“Would you be interested if I said you helped spread the virus?”
“Malie,” Xavier exclaimed as he cut his eyes at her disapprovingly.
Coraset looked at her like she was losing her mind and asked, “What did you just say?”
“I didn’t stutter.” Malie answered smartly.
Coraset started for Malie, and Xavier blocked her by grabbing both of her arms. She pushed away and pointed the gun at Xavier’s head. At that moment Coraset heard numerous clicking of rifles coming from unseen places in the room. Laser lights appeared one at a time and were being aimed at her. Ten men in black combat uniforms were moving towards her at a fast pace. Her heart raced as she watched the men surround them all.
Several dark pupils focused directly on Coraset, and with a single motion, she spread her arms out letting the pistol hang on her fingers. One man approached her quickly and snatched the gun away.
“That’s all I want you to do is hear us out, Coraset, please.” Malie stated in a calm manner.
“Well, I guess I don’t have a choice now,” Coraset remarked.
Malie led Coraset and Xavier towards the door near the fireplace. Two members of the team followed behind them. They went down a short corridor, and Malie opened another door to a rectangular room. In the center was an empty oval wooden table and on the wall was a large flat screen television. Coraset sat down in the nearest chair, and the two men stood behind her on either side. They held their weapons diagonally across their bodies, with their feet shoulder width apart. Xavier sat on the long side of the table close to Coraset, and Malie remained standing. Malie pressed an invisible button on the bottom of the television.
Chancellor Katherine Erato appeared on the screen. She was a woman with white hair curled sensibly at ear length. She wore pink lipstick and soft blue eye shadow. Chancellor Erato didn’t smile. Her close up shot showed her as being proud with a faraway look.
Malie remarked, “You know who this is.” Malie picked up a remote from a small square table in the corner and pressed a button.
Another picture appeared, and it was a man in his fifties. He had dark hair. Signs of grey were beginning to show on the sides. The man was smiling, looking handsome and confident. Coraset saw the family resemblance between him and the Chancellor.
Malie looked at the picture and stated, “This is Dominic Erato. He is the youngest son of the deceased Chancellor.”
“Deceased Chancellor,” Coraset inquired making sure she heard correctly.
“Yes,” Xavier answered. “She died last week while she was in surgery.”
Malie continued, “When she appointed herself as Chancellor over Erato in 2025, she named Dominic Erato as her successor once she was dead or incapable of ruling. Unfortunately, Dominic will continue the political and social policies of our current state. We were hoping she would have chosen Sergei Erato. He is the oldest son, and he shares the same views as me, Xavier, and many others in Erato.”
Coraset asked impatiently, “What does this have to do with me spreading the virus?”
“We will get to that.” Malie remarked.
“No,” Coraset pointed to Malie and continued, “I want to hear why you think I’m responsible for spreading the virus. I could care less about who’s the Chancellor.”
“Tell her,” Xavier ordered.
Malie sighed and tentatively asked, “Do you remember when you were in charge of international aid at Erato?”
“Of course, I remember. That’s a ridiculous question.”
Malie continued, “The water supplies you used to help disaster victims were a means for Erato to spread the virus.”
Coraset didn’t believe it and snapped back, “You’re lying.”
“It is the truth,” Malie emphasized. “The N12 Virus was in the bottled water.”
She tried to read Malie’s expression, to see if her eyes would fall left or right. She did keep eye contact with Coraset, but still Co
raset wasn’t convinced of Malie’s accusation.
She continued, “Every single bottle that you and your staff handed out was infected.”
“Where is your proof?” Coraset asked angrily.
Malie looked away as an answer. Coraset looked to Xavier, but he simply stared at his hands
“That’s all I’m asking is for you to show me the proof.”
“We cannot provide proof.” Xavier responded.
Coraset shook her head, laughing angrily.
Malie spoke up, “The water was tested.”
“Then I want to see the results.”
Malie looked at Xavier and said quickly, “Coraset, that information is unavailable.”
Xavier pleaded, “We will provide it to you, but-”
“That’s enough, Xavier,” Coraset was on overload. Her brain was racing, and she couldn’t think straight. “I don’t want to hear anymore. You two are nothing but liars and manipulators, and I’m not falling for it. I want to go home.”
Malie looked at Xavier with an expectation for him to stop her.
He stuttered, “Just…just-”
Malie offered, “Why don’t we take a breather? We can talk about this later. Coraset, you’re more than welcome to stay here.”
She remarked, “I’m not going to stay here.”
“If you go back home, you’ll be dead. Did you forget about the assault team that’s trying to kill you?”
Coraset realized Malie was right. But then she asked herself how did Malie know? Was she responsible for sending the team?
“They are waiting for you as we speak.”
Coraset glared at Malie and asked, “You sent them after me?”
“We wouldn’t be having this discussion if I sent them.” Malie pointed out. “I have a private loft upstairs you are more than welcome to use.”
“Fine,” Coraset agreed.
“But I require you to hear us out afterwards.” Malie added.
Coraset didn’t answer.
“I’ll take you to your room.” Malie walked to the door and opened it. “That’ll be all, gentlemen. I believe Coraset will be fine.”
The Secret Weapon Page 6
