modified this skirt with pockets in which to carry the tools of my trade. In addition to the flashlight and the knife I’d taken from the kitchen, I carried a thin black cloth bag and my black leather gloves. I pulled on the gloves.
Sorry, no time to enjoy the painting. With one quick glance, I decided that ballet costumes were whimsical but impractical. I wondered if this ballet type of dancing was meant to tell a fairy tale. I hadn’t had much use for fairy tales in my life. I tossed the painting onto the bed and saw the door of the wall safe. This was a much more advanced model than I was used to. As quickly as possible, I entered the code. The safe didn’t open. I punched the “clear” button and tried again. I didn’t hear anyone yet, but I was certain the butler wouldn’t be distracted for long. This time, the safe opened. I emptied the contents into my bag and turned off the flashlight.
As I crouched down, I pocketed the flashlight and pulled out the knife. Would I be able to take out the butler without the element of surprise on my side?
Quiet as a whisper, I moved toward the open bedroom door, slid behind it and set down the bag. A large shape moved into view and turned on the light. His gun was already drawn. He immediately saw the painting on the bed and the open wall safe and pushed against the door to ensure that no one was hiding behind it. I pushed back as hard as I could.
As the door slammed into the butler, I dropped down with as much force as I could muster and stabbed the knife through his foot. He stumbled. A grimace of pain crossed his face. Quickly, he regained his balance and pointed the gun directly at me.
I stood slowly, with my hands out to my sides, my gaze locked with his. I took a step backward.
“Stop!” he ordered. Just then I saw another shadow move behind him in the hall. I dove to the side. A muffled shot sounded, and the butler fell.
“Scott?” I called out. No, it was Eberhardt who reached out and helped me up. “Nice gloves,” I said. They looked just like mine.
“Why did you call for Scott?” he asked.
“Not now. I should have known you wouldn’t wait in the car.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s go!”
“I haven’t finished the job.”
“And you won’t tonight. With him dead, it’s too hot. We need to get out now.”
I sighed and then removed my gloves and shoved them into my pocket. I followed Eberhardt to the front staircase. Fortunately, luck was on our side, for the moment. No one was in the front hall, and no one seemed to have noticed that the butler was missing, yet.
Eberhardt pocketed his gloves and his gun. He pointed toward himself and then to the front door. Then he pointed at me and in the direction of the servants’ entrance. I nodded. Eberhardt must have entered as a guest. I watched as he confidently strode into the night. Then I took a smaller side corridor to the servants’ entrance and successfully bypassed the busy kitchen.
During the drive home, I had time to mull over the events of the evening. Rick shouldn’t have sent in Eberhardt after I had specifically told him not to, but if he hadn’t, I had to admit that I probably would have been captured or worse.
I silently studied Eberhardt.
After a few minutes, he turned in irritation. “What?”
“Thank you.”
“It’s what I do.” He returned his attention to the road.
“Thank you just the same.”
He glanced at me again. “Backup is a good thing, you know.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“I guess.”
“Where did you learn how?”
“How to what?”
“Let’s see.” I began to tick off items on my fingers. “How to infiltrate. How to take out a trained bodyguard without flinching. How to be backup.”
“Oh, that.” His eyes clouded over. “The military.”
“Really? I didn’t think people could leave.”
“They can’t.”
“Rick?”
He looked at me. “Guy.”
“When?”
“Not too long ago. I guess it’s been about a year now.”
“Did you fight in the last war?”
“The one against Mediterra?”
“Yes, the one that caused the Divide. Did you?”
“Yes.”
A thought occurred to me. “Weren’t you afraid you’d be recognized at Ramsey’s party? There were a lot of soldiers there.”
“I didn’t mingle.”
“Oh.” Clearly, this conversation was over.
-Keira-
Scott Was There
When we arrived at Guy’s apartment, he turned off the teleview and stood up.
“It’s not over yet,” I said as I set the bag