Last Man Standing

CHAPTER NINE

Mano Kinimaka surveyed the new safe house, unable to shake the deep-rooted feeling that they weren’t secure. It might have something to do with what had happened to most of the previous safe houses the big Hawaiian had stayed in; it might have something to do with the fact that Kovalenko had always found them — and they were still trying to shake off that damned Blood Vendetta. And it might have something to do with the woman he loved being so fragile, so vulnerable at the moment that his heart stilled every time she missed a beat, every time she coughed.

His nerves rattled like skeleton bones.

When Smyth burst into the room to inform them that all was okay with the world, Kinimaka almost drew his weapon and shot him. In his mind Smyth was immediately a new killer, a new threat. Then he recognized the man and let out a deep, heavy breath. I need a break. We all do.

For so long now they had been constantly fighting.

When the telephone rang he caught the movement of his hand just before it reached his shoulder holster. Not that the piece of inanimate plastic would have minded being shot to pieces, but the caller might.

Robert Price — the new Secretary of Defense.

“I wanted to touch base,” the man said on speakerphone. “To tell you all that your country needs you, and that your country will wait for you. I do have plans, new plans, but I will not proceed without you.”

Kinimaka, feeling clumsy as ever, reached for the phone before remembering it was on speaker. “Thank you, sir. We’ll be ready.”

“And the rest of the team?”

“They will return in a few days.” Kinimaka said with a heavy heart. “Once the funeral is over.”

“The British Ninth Division has been destroyed. Did you know that?”

“Yes, sir. I heard.”

“A silly question, I imagine. Well, we’ll talk soon.”

The Secretary was gone, not even having asked about Hayden. Kinimaka stood up carefully and walked over to the window, staring down across DC. Their current safe house was at the very top of one of DC’s tallest buildings, with as many as seven escape routes at their disposal. Smyth was acquainted with every one. Kinimaka should have been, but could only remember five — Hayden had started coughing toward the end of the briefing.

Now the dying afternoon sun washed across the Capitol, sparkling off the roofs of cars and the windows that lined the sides of buildings. From up here, you could imagine a world at peace down there; a companionable, compatible environment that was not at all fake.

Kinimaka knew better. The true monsters of this world kept their claws and terrible hungers hidden far away from the eyes and ears of real men. They struck from the shadows into the backs of their mightiest opponents. They used wicked, powerless cohorts to do their dirty work. They crouched unseen, laughing among themselves at their horrific achievements, craving the next one and the one after that.

His eyes swept DC, from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial and further afield. Out there — monsters lay in wait. The world would never be safe and Kinimaka knew that a handful of heroes could never hope to keep up.

Hayden whispered his name. He turned to see her watching him, eyes as sharp as ever, a faint smile drifting around the edges of her mouth.

“Is Washington still safe?”

Kinimaka rolled his eyes a little. “For now.”

“Spring is coming.”

“And with it unsettled weather, I know.”

“Business as usual then.” Hayden’s smile grew broader.

“Business as usual.” Kinimaka crossed over to the bed and leaned in, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“Tell me what’s happening, Mano.”

The Hawaiian brought her up to date, knowing that Hayden thrived on new information and the act of moving forward. Becoming stagnant, she often told him, was what got you killed in the end, no matter who or what you were.

Hayden didn’t look happy. “And this girl, Grace? How do we know she’s not a damn assassin? A spy?”

Kinimaka shrugged. “That decision is on hold until Mai returns.”

“I see. Is Mai in charge now?”

“No. Of course not,” Kinimaka said. “I am… for now.”

“Then take charge. Find out who Grace is and why she’s here. If she’s above board then at least we’ll know.”

Kinimaka nodded. “I’ll have the Bureau step up the investigation.”

“And Lauren Fox? Yorgi? They won’t stay with us for long if we don’t give them something to do, Mano. Get them involved. As for Sarah,” Hayden closed her eyes briefly. “She should probably be allowed to drift away.”

“As soon as the vendetta is finished.”

“Which brings us full circle,” Hayden said. “To this odd tournament Drake and the others have been called to. I guess there were threats and ultimatums issued by this Coyote or the team would have found another way. So how do they all intend to complete it and still survive?”

“They’re our four best operatives,” Kinimaka said unassumingly. “And not without help. Karin and Komodo are close. Michael Crouch of the Ninth Division is also involved and mightily pissed off. The contestants going up against them will be formidable, but if anyone can come out of a tournament called Last Man Standing with four living contestants it’s Drake, Dahl, Alicia and Mai.”

“Good point,” Hayden conceded. “Is—”

At that moment, Smyth smashed through the door. Kinimaka stayed his hand as it reached rapidly for a weapon. But Smyth’s quick words made the hand reach again and froze the blood in his veins.

“Mercenaries!” he shouted. “Or assassins. They’re here now, coming fast. We need to get the hell out.”

“How?” Kinimaka cried in frustration. “How?”

Hayden reached up from her hospital bed. “Doesn’t matter,” she said. “Could be any of dozens of runt infiltrators or a man like SaBo, the computer genius that helped Kovalenko attack DC. Could be a chance sighting. Smyth’s whining heard through the walls. Text message tracing.”

“All right, all right,” Smyth snapped. “Stop yapping and start moving. Where to?”

“One of the seven escape routes.” Kinimaka started to unstrap a few of Hayden’s less important tubes.

“All compromised,” Smyth said.

Kinimaka stared at him, fear threatening to engulf his chest. “What?”

“Every one gone. Dozens of men are coming, man. First four are about a minute away. What’s your plan?”

Kinimaka looked around the room, fear for Hayden threatening to overwhelm his mind. “Draw weapons,” he said.

“We can’t make a stand,” Smyth bit at him. “There’re dozens of the bastards.”

“I don’t intend to,” Kinimaka said and fired.