Sigma Division

Chapter 29

Spicer was in the staircase, climbing steps two at the time. He wasn’t yet out of breath and credited adrenaline for keeping him going so strong at his age. He had once considered himself a world-class assassin but the perfect murder had always entailed more planning than acrobatics. He hadn’t had to escape from people in 20 years.

Over the echoing clang of his feet on the metal stairs, he heard another sound and looked up. A flight higher, Clara was standing there calmly, aiming a gun straight at him.

“Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.”

“So this is it,” Spicer said, finally realizing how tired he was. “This is where the hunting accident happens?”

“Car-jacking is much more believable these days.”

As inconspicuously as possible, Spicer patted his stomach, gently undoing a button of his shirt.

“What is that, a 40 caliber USP? Isn’t that a noisy bastard? I’m sure you have cover stories rehearsed up the fucking wazoo but a dead guy at the hotel of the new President never sounds good. The polls aren’t closed in California yet.”

She grinned and unhurriedly climbed down, all the while keeping her weapon trained on him.

“You’re a national security threat,” she said as if it was the most obvious statement in the world.

“That used to be my favorite motivation too.”

When she was three feet away, he leaped forward and succeeded in pushing her gun away from him. Caught off guard, she dropped the gun and it tumbled noisily down a flight.

Before Spicer could move for his own weapon, she kicked him in the chest. The impact was weak and he replied with a series of direct punches which she blocked with slick kung fu moves he hadn’t seen anyone use in years.

As she attempted another kick, he pulled her leg and it made her fall hard against the steps. She used the momentum to kick him with her other leg, knocking his breath away. She rolled up on herself to where he lied and pressed her knee into his groin.

“Ah!”

She pinned one of his arms down while she strived to choke him with the other. Spicer felt like he was drowning. She had attacked him on multiple fronts and he was struggling to stay afloat. He couldn’t do it.

Smiling at her success, she dragged his head a few inches to the side so that it got positioned under the railing.

He knew he would be dead if he didn’t fight back right this moment. She would snap his neck and get away with it. Why couldn’t he have trained more in hand-to-hand combat instead of relying on weapons?

He cycled through his options when he heard fast footsteps climbing up the stairs. He had a good idea who these people were and the renewed hope made him focus.

With his free hand, he tried going for his gun, which she hadn’t yet discovered, but her elbow was in the way. He used his last strength to reach up and yank her earring off.

“Ooohh fuck!”

Instinctively, she let go of his throat to check the damage. There was blood but not too much.

Spicer pushed her off and managed to get to his knees. With fury in her eyes, she charged back. But this time his position favored him. He grabbed her while he stood up and heaved her off.

She lost her balance and her body slid down the railing. The impetus carried her down the steps and past the two USSS agents who were climbing up. She landed on her back a flight lower.

It was exactly where her gun was.

The fight had completely worn Spicer out and the federal agents were on him before he could slid a hand inside his shirt and get his gun.

“Federal agents!”

“Secret Service!”

He couldn’t fight them. Not only did he have no energy left but he saw them as saviors. Unlike the CIA, they wouldn’t try to murder him.

While he was being restrained, Spicer locked eyes with Clara through the railing. She had her USP aimed at his head and pulling the trigger would make her day.

“Too many witnesses?” Spicer asked, amused for once.

She didn’t budge, keeping a bead on him.