by Alex Ander
Hardy arched his back. This isn’t exactly what I had in mind tonight. Peeling the smooth fingers from his backside, he picked up her phone and handed it to her. “You’ll have to excuse me,” he flashed a smile, “but I’m looking for someone.”
She watched him walk away, eyeing his physical qualities from behind. Dragging out her words, she said, “If you don’t find whoever it is you’re looking for, I’d be happy to take her place.”
Sayed’s picture was back in the forefront of Hardy’s mind, while he scanned the rest of the restaurant.
“What was that all about?” Charity had heard the exchange between Hardy and the woman. “Did you make a new friend?”
He ignored the question. “Have you found our man yet?”
“Still nothing,” she replied.
Hardy had made it to the other end of the restaurant—no Sayed. He walked down a short flight of stairs. “He’s not in the restaurant area. I’m going to check out the bathroom.”
Entering men’s room, he saw a man washing his hands. Hardy nodded his head and the man returned the gesture before drying his hands and leaving. Hardy peered under the stalls. They were empty, except for the last one. He unzipped his jacket and wrapped his fingers around his firearm; a Walther PPQ M2, chambered in nine millimeter.
Hardy pushed open the door to the first stall; it was empty. He repeated the process, until he came to the last one. The stall was occupied, but the door was ajar. His mental synapses were firing. A man doesn’t drop his pants without locking the door. He drew his pistol and put it behind his back. He slowly pushed the door inward. His eyebrows shot upward. Staring back at him was a man sitting on the toilet, fully clothed. The man’s head was down and cocked off to one side. Both of his hands were hanging at his sides. Hardy stretched out a hand and felt for a pulse under the man’s chin. He was dead. Hardy examined the body; two bullet wounds in the chest and the left eye was missing, the result of a third bullet.
Holstering his pistol, he searched the man and stepped back. What the hell happened here? A few seconds later, Charity’s high-pitched voice broke his concentration.
“Hardy, I’ve got him. Sayed is on the move again. He’s heading east on 12th Street.”
Hardy studied what was left of the man’s face. “That’s not possible. I’m looking at Sayed’s corpse right now. Somebody killed him.”
“I’m telling you his signal just appeared on my screen. He’s getting away.”
“All right, I’m on my way.” Hardy exited the stall and ran toward the door. “Have Jameson send some agents to clean this mess up.” He did not want this getting to the media, sending Sayed’s friends into hiding.
On the street, Hardy glanced up and down 12th Street. Realizing Sayed was dead, he did not know whom he was trying to find. “Charity, what am I looking for? Where’s the signal coming from?” Not getting a reply, he repeated the command. “Damn it, Charity, where the hell is it coming from?” His voice startled a couple who were entering the bar. The man hurried his female companion past Hardy and through the doors.
“It’s not moving. The signal is stationary at the corner of 12th and University—west side of the street.”
Hardy rushed to the corner of 12th Street and University, hoping his pace would not alert the person, or persons, who had taken Sayed’s phone. Standing at the corner, he searched in all directions. Nothing seemed out of place. A man stood near a trash receptacle, his back to Hardy and his head down, looking at something in his hand. Hardy whispered. “Charity, dial the number to Sayed’s phone. Let it ring once and hang up. Keep doing it until I say otherwise.”
“Dialing now…”
Directly in front of Hardy, a muffled ringtone sounded once. The man near the trash container looked around. Hardy rushed forward, hearing the cell phone emit a single ring two more times. The man fished around in the trash before pulling out a cell phone. The mobile rang one time. Closing the distance, Hardy snatched the device from the man’s hand.
“Hey, what the f—” the man noticed the pistol on Hardy’s belt.
Hardy’s eyes narrowed and his jaw muscles clenched. “Move along. This has nothing to do with you.”
The man took several steps backward before turning around and scurrying away.
The phone rang again. “Charity, you can stop dialing. I’ve got the phone.”
She had heard the verbal confrontation. “Is everything okay?”
He examined the phone. How did this get in the trashcan? He scanned the immediate area for anyone taking special interest in him. People were distracted by their cell phones, talking to others or rushing to their destination; nothing was suspicious. The person who had discarded the phone was gone.
“What happened? Hardy, are you okay?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.” He turned the phone over in his hand. “I need a ride. Have Jameson set it up for me.” Hardy took one more look around the area before walking back the way he had come. Had he glanced over his shoulder, he would have seen a figure slowly emerging from the shadows of a doorway, across University Place.
…………………………
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Did you love The President's Man? Then you should read Protect & Defend by Alex Ander!
A former Army Ranger is called upon to stop a Mafioso's plot to kill a witness scheduled to testify before a grand jury.
Jacob St. Christopher has proudly served his country on foreign and American soil.
Having seen action in some of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan, St. Christopher's résumé is impressive:
Member of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment.
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
Team leader for the FBI's famed Hostage Rescue Team.
Following a three-year hiatus from the HRT, the 35-year-old civilian is once more pressed into service.
His latest assignment, however, will be unlike any combat, or hostage situation, he's ever faced.
Challenging his skills.
Testing his resolve.
Striking at his heart.
If St. Christopher can accomplish the mission, he might just find the one thing that's been eluding him.
Redemption.
Read more at Alex Ander’s site.
Also by Alex Ander
Action & Adventure - Special Agent Cruz
Vengeance is Mine
Defense of Innocents
Plea For Justice
Jacob St. Christopher Action & Adventure
Protect & Defend
Word of Honor
A Vow to the Innocent
Above & Beyond
Patriotic Action & Adventure - Aaron Hardy
The Unsanctioned Patriot
American Influence
Deadly Assignment
Patriot Assassin
The Nemesis Protocol
Necessary Means
Foreign Soil
Of Patriots and Tyrants
Act of Justice
Standalone
The President's Man
The President's Man 2
Special Agent Cruz Crime Series
Against All Enemies
Watch for more at Alex Ander’s site.
About the Author
Living in the middle of Michigan, Alex Ander writes Action & Adventure/Thriller novels. He has three series in production, focusing on the exploits of the protagonists Aaron Hardy, Jacob St. Christopher and FBI Special Agent Raychel DelaCruz (Cruz to those who know her).
His writing style mixes fast-paced action scenes with suspense, humor and sharp dialogue. Each book is wrapped up at the end with
NO cliffhangers. Characters and relationships do develop and evolve over the course of the series, so it is best to read the books in order.
Mission Statement:
Write clean, fast-paced action that draws readers into the story, making them feel they are part of the adventure.
From the Author:
My goal is to craft stories that entertain and leave a positive, lasting impression on you. I seek to create protagonists with good character, and surround them with allies you’ll want to read about as much as you do the main character.
You won’t find any vulgarity in my work (F-bombs and the like). Yes, an occasional mild, cuss word is used; however, even those are kept to a bare minimum.
And what about graphic sex scenes that leave nothing to the imagination? Nope. Not in my books.
So if you enjoy clean, fast-paced action & adventure stories with humor, crisp dialogue and camaraderie among the characters, then pick up a copy of one of my books today.
Best Wishes,
Alex
Read more at Alex Ander’s site.