by Jon F. Merz
“I have some land in Romania that I’ve been under pressure to sell.”
“Pressure from whom?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really know, to be honest. I was contacted by real estate brokers operating as front men for a buyer who wishes to remain anonymous. But they’ve been quite insistent that I sell them the land. And at a most insulting price, as well. Of course, I refused.”
“Did you run a check on the brokerage house? Is it one of ours?”
Ava nodded. “It’s most definitely some of our people. But who is behind them, I don’t really know. They’ve been hounding me for months about the land and I finally reached my breaking point. I told them I wasn’t going to sell the land and that they should simply stop trying to get it. If they continued to harass me, I would personally see to it that they were investigated by the Council for improper business conduct.”
I had a sneaking suspicion I wasn’t going to like what came next. “And how did you deliver that message?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you call them up?”
Ava shook her head. “Of course not. I sent a courier abroad with a handwritten message.”
“And-?”
“And nothing. The courier delivered the message and returned here to my house as I’d directed him to do.”
If there was something shady going on behind the scenes, the brokers probably had the courier followed. No doubt that was how they found Ava’s address. Although if they had someone like Benny on their books, they could find her easily enough. Ava didn’t exactly keep her residence a secret. She needed the celebrity status her position afforded her. Vanity’s a real bitch sometimes.
C’est la vie. I reached into my gear bag and brought out the body armor. “I want you to wear this while I’m here.”
Ava eyed it like I’d suggested she gargle a test tube of Ebola. “What in the world is that?”
“It’s body armor with a trauma plate over the heart. It’ll stop a round from killing you.”
“You want me to wear that in my own house?”
I sighed. “There’s a professional assassin coming to kill you. So, yeah, I want you to wear that.”
Ava folded her arms across her chest. “I’ll do no such thing.”
I took a breath. Ava’s arrogance was legendary. I wasn’t going to convince her, so I simply shrugged and put the vest back in my bag. It was her funeral, after all. “I need a tour of the house so I can see what I’m dealing with here.”
Ava nodded and rose, making sure to take her drink with her. “Any concerns thus far?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know Frost’s style, so it makes it harder to know what to expect. From what I’ve been told, he’ll want to do the job up close. He’ll need to be a hundred percent certain you’re dead. That tends to rule out some sort of rocket attack or a bomb that would bury you under the rubble of the house here. From that perspective, the fact that you’re surrounded by woods that offer any number of firing positions isn’t as much of a concern.”
“So, I’m fairly secure?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out.”
Within an hour, I had a better picture of Ava’s home.
And it wasn’t a good one.
Ava had a security system, but it was about twenty years old. The contact strips on several basement windows were worn and not functioning properly. The series of motion detectors at the corners of the house had been set too high so they wouldn’t register false alarms with any animals that wandered across the property. And the simple fact was Ava lived on too many acres. She was wide open.
I had my gear stowed and wore my gun openly, along with three extra magazines on my belt. I’d told Ava to close all the drapes on the windows in case Frost decided to simply shoot her from a distance. I didn’t think he would, but I wanted to cancel out that opportunity.
She sat in the study nursing another drink. Frederick brought us in a few appetizers and I munched on some sort of expensive cheese and sliced fruit. When the butler left I nodded at Ava. “He been with you for a long time?”
“Frederick has been with my family for generations.”
“Does he like you?”
Ava frowned. “Does he like me?”
“Yeah, you know, does he like working here? Or are you insufferable, demanding, and a general pain in the ass the way you are at work?”
Ava clamped her mouth shut and then said slowly. “I would like to think that he likes me. I’ve always treated him fairly.”
I nodded. “Good. Then there’s less chance he’ll sell you out.”
“Frederick would never-“
“Let’s hope.”
Ava shut up and then said quietly. “Should I send him away?”
I glanced out of the drapes and saw that the snow was coming down much harder than the weatherman had predicted. Weathermen. I sighed. If ever there was a cushy job, that was it. Get the forecast wrong and you could blame it all on Mother Nature. Talk about having no accountability.
“Nah, it’s rough outside. And if he is dirty, then it won’t matter much. Frost will find a way to get to you regardless.”
Ava came closer to the drapes and looked out of the window. “Will he really come through this storm to get me?”
I nodded. “It’s how I’d do it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the last thing anyone expects.”
Ava eyed me and then turned away from the window. “You’re worried about him.”
“And you’re not?”
“Of course I am. I’m just surprised that you are. I didn’t think you rattled that easily.”
I smiled. “Ava, this isn’t me being rattled. This is just experience. I try not to discount anyone who poses a threat. That’s the quickest way to find yourself in a grave.” I let the drapes fall back into place and sat down on the edge of the sofa. “How come you live in this huge house? You could get a condo in the city.”
“I have a condo in the city,” said Ava matter-of-factly. “But I like coming here for the holidays. It reminds me of how it used to be back when my family was together.”
“What happened to them all?”
Ava sighed and sipped her drink. “They moved away. I fell out of love with my previous husbands. The family just sort of evaporated. I’ve only ever had one child and when they determined I could have no more, the men I loved chose to leave me.”
Harsh. I frowned. “Well, one child is better than none, I suppose.”
“Only if they embrace their heritage. Mine does not. So we rarely see each other.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t have to like you to know that your situation is pretty rough. But you could do things to change that. Start throwing some parties in this place, for one thing. It’s too much house for one person. Or two if you count Freddie.”
Ava smiled. “I do throw an amazing party.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Maybe I’d even invite you to one.”
I smiled. “Imagine that-“
But my ears had registered a sound that was out-of-place with the ambient noise of the house. I was already off of the sofa, drawing my gun. Ava slid closer to me.
“What’s the matter?”
I said nothing for a moment. The energy in the house had changed. I couldn’t say exactly what was different, but there was a charge in the air - like before a lightning strike in a rainstorm.
Frost was in the house.
“He’s here,” I said quietly.
Ava leaned forward and put her drink down. “You’re sure?”
I eased my USP out of its holster and made sure I had a round chambered. With the hammer back, I put the safety on and stood up. “You don’t have a panic room in this place, do you?”
“That never occurred to me,” said Ava. “Besides, what would stop him from putting some type of bomb on the wall and simply blowing me up?”
I smirk
ed. “Good thinking.”
Ava stood. “So, what now?”
I shrugged. “Couple of choices. We could make a run for it in my car, but there’s no guarantee we’d make it to the car. He may have already incapacitated it anyway. We could wait here knowing that he’ll eventually have to make a move against you.”
“That’s it?”
“Or we go hunting.”
I glanced at her. Ava’s eyes had blossomed wider. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not. Frost is in the house. He’ll be making his way to you. Most people will hunker down and take up some sort of defensive posture, maybe barricade themselves in a room and hope helps arrives.”
“But you’re not most people, are you, Lawson.”
I shook my head. “I prefer to go on the attack.”
Ava sighed. “I should have insisted on more security. Isn’t there an elite group of Fixers in the Service?”
“Yeah, STA-F. And you’re in luck: I’m on one of the teams.”
“But there’s only one of you. I should have asked for an entire team.”
The longer we waited, the less chance we’d have of getting the jump on Frost. “You’re not the head of the Council, Ava. Niles got you me. I think that’s all you’re going to get - regardless of what you think you’re entitled to. So we’ll just have to deal with this ourselves.” I reached down and lifted up the leg of my jeans and pulled my backup pistol from the ankle holster. I handed it to Ava. “You ever shoot before?”
“Clay pigeons,” said Ava.
Figured. I showed her how to take the safety off. “There’s a round in the chamber already. Just point and shoot and make sure it’s not me in front of you, okay?”
“Okay.”
The door to the study was still open. I brought the USP up and looked back at Ava. This was going to be interesting.
I stayed close to the walls and eased out of the study. Ava came out behind me, trying her best to hold the Beretta the way I gripped the USP. The stairs leading to the second floor ran to my right and I had a choice to make. Frost could be upstairs.
Waiting.
But I didn’t think he was.
We needed to know where Frederick was. Otherwise, he became a variable in a very fluid situation. And if he happened to poke his head out unexpectedly, he’d get two rounds for his trouble. So I steered us toward the kitchen, which was where I expected to find him.
Ava’s home was laid with thick carpets and stone floors, so there wasn’t much risk of making a lot of noise on squeaky wooden floors. That would also work against us because Frost could move as quietly as we could. But gradually, we made our way down the hallway to the kitchen, easing through the swinging door that didn’t even creak. No doubt Ava made sure Frederick kept all the hinges well oiled.
Frederick was standing at the sink, washing dishes. I glanced around. The kitchen had three doors leading out, including the one we’d come through. Too many egress points made the room a nightmare to defend. I backed up toward Frederick, keeping my eyes on the exits in case Frost came through one of the doors.
“Frederick,” I said quietly.
“Sir?” He started to turn to face us but I stopped him.
“Stay where you are. The killer is in the house.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
He paused. “Where is Madame?”
“Here. With us.”
Frederick lowered his voice. “What would you like me to do? Shall I take her and go hide?”
I kept my eyes on the kitchen exits. “No, we’re going to move through the house as a trio. We’ll put Ava between us.” I thought for a moment. “Have you ever handled a pistol before?”
In my peripheral vision, I saw Frederick dry his hands on a dish towel. “A very long time ago.”
I frowned. Better to keep the backup piece with Ava if Frederick hadn’t handled one in ages. But we needed to get out of the kitchen. I turned my head so I could whisper back to Frederick and Ava. “We’re heading out. Stay close.”
I brought us around to one of the other exits and paused, listening to the ambient noises of the house. It was an old manor house and there were creaks and groans from all over. I had to make sure I didn’t jump at a sound that wasn’t anything ominous. But the problem was, any one of those sounds could have been Frost.
Beyond the exit, I could see another hallway that would take us toward the dining room and the conservatory. I felt like I was playing a game of Clue. Mr. Frost did it in the conservatory with the Glock 9mm.
Yeah, right.
Creeping through the house was going to be a problem. It was dark. There were shadows everywhere. Frost could take his time. I couldn’t. I needed to accelerate this thing and get it over with.
From the study, the grandfather clock tolled twelve times.
Midnight.
Christmas Eve.
I could hear Ava breathing behind me. Frederick didn’t seem to need air, he was so quiet. My heartbeat drummed out a steady beat. And the house creaked some more.
Frost.
Where was he?
He’d be clearing rooms as he went from floor-to-floor, no doubt. And he would have had to come in presumably from the basement. Which meant he had to be on the same floor as we were. It was only by chance we hadn’t bumped into him yet.
But he’d be methodical.
Organized.
And he’d make his move as soon as we saw him.
Unless I saw him first.
“Lawson.”
I turned and saw Ava pushing her way past Frederick. “We can’t stay here. I feel trapped.”
Frederick had turned and was watching our rear. I watched him for a moment.
“Lawson…” Ava was getting insistent.
I made a decision. “Stay here.”
“You’re leaving me here? Are you crazy?”
I held my hand up. “Just for a moment so I can scout ahead. Frost could be waiting to ambush us. Once it’s clear, I’ll come back and get you.”
Ava looked furious.
I moved out of the kitchen. My gut ached. Something felt wrong. And I knew what it was. I paused and cut to my left instead of heading straight down the corridor. I felt lightheaded. Almost like I was suffocating. I wanted to rush but couldn’t afford to make any noise.
I came back around and reentered the kitchen the way Ava and I had the first time.
Turned the corner and saw Frederick and Ava waiting.
But they didn’t see me.
Frederick held a gun in his hand and was in the process of bringing it up.
“Down!”
To her credit, Ava dropped like a stone. Frederick vaulted to the side as I fired twice, both of my bullets flashing past him and embedding themselves in the wall opposite where he’d been standing.
I dove right, crashing into the tile floor as Frederick shot back. The sound of gunfire was outrageous in the close confines of the kitchen and I winced as the bullets came at me. Frederick wasn’t taking any chances, and unloaded his entire magazine.
I came up shooting and he ducked behind the granite island in the middle of the kitchen. I shot twice more and then heard the click as my gun jammed.
No time, I launched myself over the top of the island and crashed into Frederick as he was coming up. I knocked his gun away and he elbowed me in the face immediately. I grunted and shot a knee into his groin. Wind rushed out of his lungs as he tried to gouge my eyes out. I could hear him breathing hard, spittle flecked in my face.
I headbutted him hard over the brow and saw tears rush from his eyes as he winced in pain. But then he was pummeling me with jabs into my sternum. I brought my hands up to ward them off, drove my hands for his neck and we rolled back across the floor. Frederick came out of the roll and kicked me under the chin, snapping my head back. I saw stars and black rushing for me but somehow managed to hold on to consciousness.
Frederick reared back and put space between us.
I got my feet under me and launched myself at him, tackling him around the waist and driving him back into the stainless steel refrigerator. We slammed into it and dropped to the floor. I grabbed at the freezer door and yanked it out, slamming Frederick’s head with it in the process. His eyes started to roll back, but I wasn’t done yet. I let my hands go for his jaw and then jerked hard, trying to snap his neck.
But Frederick wouldn’t quit and went with the force of the attack, using the momentum to bring his elbow up into my temple. This time, the lights threatened to stay off.
I felt Frederick shove me away from him and I fell back, trying to keep my equilibrium.
Frederick got to his feet and kicked me hard in the ribs. I thought I heard one of them crack.
On the next kick, I caught the back of his heel and yanked up, causing him to fall on his ass.
“Lawson!”
I turned and saw the Beretta come flying through the air toward me. I reached up and felt it fall into my grasp.
Frederick threw himself on top of me and struggled for the gun. He lifted off and drove another elbow into my chest. I felt my lungs spasm.
I bucked my hips and threw him off, then rolled the opposite way, dinging my head off the edge of a counter in the process. I got to my knees slowly.
Tried to bring the gun up.
Frederick was six feet away, and already starting to drive at me again.
My vision blurred and Frederick looked like a mirage.
But I squeezed the trigger and heard the Beretta cough.
Once.
Twice.
Shell casings tinkled to the floor.
Frederick slumped back and over.
I was still on my knees and crawled to him.
His incisors had already extended and started to retract in death’s embrace. But I wasn’t done with him yet. I shoved his head to the side.
Felt around his jaw back by his ear.
Found an almost invisible seam.
Ripped.
And felt the latex mask come free in my hands.
I blinked. Frederick’s face was gone.
In its place, I saw the semblance of a man I’d seen in the surveillance picture Niles had shown me.
Frost.