The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2) (30 page)

"No, sir!" they shouted in unison.

* * *

I thought the evolution of the Black Guard would not
only encourage inter-service cooperation but also require it—like now. I
heard very little grumbling from the contestants or their guests. Most came
from the staff supporting the facility. And there were no instances leading up
to the second round of War Games.

"The situation appears stable," Ceder said at
the regular eight-hour meetings I had insisted on with Trapp and my two
lieutenants.

"Are all the Black Guard as paranoid as you,
Captain?" Trapp asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Gunny, you are only considered paranoid if you
think
people are out to get you. The
captain
knows
people are planning to
sabotage the games, so she's not paranoid." Elijah grinned. "And
every Guard knows she's never wrong."

"The real trouble will most likely occur as the
second round of the Games begins to identify the sixteen winners. The real
money is in determining who will be the top three. Disabling one of them at
this stage could have huge consequences."

Looking around the room, I saw that everyone's eyes were
downcast, thinking.

"Consider. Ms. X is scheduled to play against Ms. A
and then Mr. B and would best both. Given that, Ms. A would never be in the top
three. But if Ms. X is killed, then Ms. A survives to play Mr. B and one or
both could wind up in the top three—Mr. B could actually
win—whereas with Ms. X in the Game, Mr. B can at best place third—by
winning in a playoff between the two losers of round five."

"So as a contestant loses a game, they and their
guests are to be escorted out of the building immediately," Trapp said,
nodding.

"Exactly. I think there are potentially two types
of killers: Ones that were paid to kill a specific individual. Goebel is
assuming that the most likely are the eight contestants we were asked to guard
from the beginning. And those that were planted in case …"

"In case what?" Trapp asked.

"In case the right opportunity presented
itself."

"You're talking about the scenario with Ms. X, Ms. A,
and Mr. B. Eliminating Ms. X if it was in someone's financial interest that Ms.
A or Mr. B place in the top three," Elijah said, nodding.

"So potentially someone has a list of contestant combinations,"
Ceder said, frowning.

"No. That would be too complex. Gunny, I want a
search of the staff and their rooms. Any communication devices are to be
confiscated, to be returned when they leave."

"Of course, that is the only way for the employer
to identify the contestant he wants eliminated. The choice would depend upon how
he is betting, the odds, and possibly other factors we don't understand."
Trapp immediately got on his Mfi to begin organizing the search, and then
paused. "What about the contestants?"

"Them too, but the staff first, since they are
under the least surveillance."

"That is really going to ruin someone's day." Elijah
started laughing.

I certainly hoped so.

* * *

I spent my time checking in with each contestant. The
first day, they were nervous and reserved, but as the time for the second round
drew near their total attention turned to preparing for the upcoming contest.

"Captain, I'm in need of exercise. Would you like
to come along?" Zenaida asked, a small impish smile on her lips.

I nodded, having no pressing duties at the moment.

She retreated into her room and returned shortly with a
small sports bag.

When Zenaida, Peller, and I reached the workout area, it
was surprisingly busy. I didn't see any contestants, only guests and a few
staff providing towels and drinks. Zenaida found a treadmill, set up a program,
and began a slow run.

"That was an interesting strategy the other day. A misdirection—the
marines—and multiple surprises: the stars, your troops marksmanship, and
the second staircase," Zenaida said as she seemed to glide effortlessly on
the machine, although the machine had increased in both speed and elevation.
"You could have reduced your … casualties had you chosen to let the
marines' entrance provide the diversion."

Deaths
, I
lamented, although I said nothing.

"That makes you both dangerous and compassionate,
since the marines' casualties would have been substantial. Compassion is a
strange quality for a person in a killing profession."

"I'd prefer to think of it as a saving lives
profession." I said.
Client and Jax
lives,
I mentally added.

"You would lose against me," she said as the
machine slowed to a stop.

"Would I, if real people were involved?" I
asked.

"Hopefully, we will never know the answer. But compassion
is a weakness to be exploited."

Just then a young woman approached with a bottle of
water and a towel. "Ma'am, would you care for water or a towel?"

Zenaida smiled and reached for the water, but Peller
stepped in between them and took the water bottle, which she flipped to me, and
then snatched the towel from the girl's arm. I approved even though the girl
was in our database. I opened the bottle and poured about a third of a glass
full.

"Drink!" I said, extending the glass toward
her.

"I'm not thirsty, ma'am," she said, trying to
back away.

But Peller drew her laser.

"Drink!"

"It's just water, ma'am."

"Drink!"

Slowly, she took the glass and drank it. I wondered if
whatever was in the bottle of water was meant to kill or disable in some way.
"There. It's just water."

I waved to one of the two marines in the area.
"Corporal, monitor this young woman for an hour. If she feels all right
after that time, let her return to her duties. If not, bring her to me."

"Yes, ma'am." He nodded and directed her to a
chair and stood watching.

"What if it is just water?" Zenaida asked, a
small smile on her lips.

"Doesn't matter. No one was harmed."

Zenaida spent forty minutes in the pool before returning
to the room. "Well it's been an hour, so I assume the girl passed the
test?

"They've taken her to the hospital ward. She isn't
expected to live," I said. "Whatever was in the water caused her to
go into a coma. Her brain activity has stopped."

Zenaida smiled. "You're good at your
profession—saving lives."

* * *

I was thankful to see the second round approaching. Although
the danger would increase, I'd have fewer people to worry about. As each game
finished, two marines led the losing contestant to their room and promptly
escorted the contestant and guests out of the building. By the end of the third
day, we were down to sixteen contestants, forty-eight guests, and forty fewer
staff.

"Captain, the head chef has taken sick and been transported
to the hospital," Gunny said, accompanied by another cook and a marine
corporal. "This is Antonine, his assistant."

"Captain, I need to purchase more supplies. When
Vetter got sick, he ordered me to get rid of some of our stock. Said he didn't
know which was bad, but it had to be one of the items he had me destroy."

"Make a list of the items you need and the
quantities and I'll have Mr. Goebel take care of having them delivered."

"Thank you, Captain." Antonine bowed several
times before walking off with the corporal.

"You think it's the lack of communication
devices?" Trapp asked, grinning.

"I wouldn't be surprised. You sneak in an assassin
and then the damn Jax won't let you give him directions." I laughed. "Make
sure we inspect the shipment when it comes."

After the second round, the matches for round three were
announced, and the contestants were given another two days of rest and time to
prepare. My two non-critically wounded were returned marginally fit for duty,
which gave me two Guards for each contestant and two to work with the marines
patrolling the facility. The next day, the food shipment arrived, and Gunny, my
lieutenants, and I were there to inspect the delivery.

"Somewhere in these packages is a message to our
would-be assassin, unless high rollers have decided to play fair," I said,
eliciting snorts. "Our assignment is to find it."

An hour later, Ceder held up a plastic container.
"Says dietary supplement for Lady Wu. It's labeled
Alpha Lipoic Acid
. Anyone want to
bet?"

"Ceder, check her database and have the substance
checked, but I'm betting everything will check out. Our high rollers aren't
stupid. They are just letting our would-be killer know who. So do we withhold
the name or let the package stay and try and catch the assassin?" I asked,
curious as to what they would suggest.

 
"Let's
catch the killer," Trapp said.

Elijah gazed thoughtfully into the distance. "Too
dangerous. Catching the assassin isn't our duty. Keeping the contestants alive
is."

Ceder nodded agreement.

"Duty?" Trapp asked, looking puzzled.

"Yes, our captain frequently forces us to look at
why we are here—duty. It's often enlightening. For example in Halo, we
were asked to clear the building, not to kill the rebels occupying it. So, she
gave them the option of leaving rather than us having to evict them."

"It's easy to get confused," Trapp said after
some thought. "Here, the object is to keep the contestants alive, and our
assassin isn't dangerous if he doesn't know who to kill."

"The original eight have the highest priority,
because one or more undoubtedly has a price tag on their head. We know Zenaida
does. And we will keep a special eye on the cook, Antonine.

* * *

The third round went off with no problems. Six of the
original eight remained, and now the number of Guard and marines was almost
equal to the contestant, guests, and staff, which had been further reduced by
twenty. I offered to return the marines, but the stakes were high and Colonel
Wolfson said it was good training for them. I suspect he liked the idea of the
marines and Guard working together.

The matches for the next round were announced and two
days of rest designated.

"What do you think, Rivka?" Zenaida asked as
she prepared for her workouts.

I had been spending more time with her because she was a
known target and, according to Goebel, the odds-on favorite to win.

"This round will determine who is in the money and
who isn't, so it's high stakes for the high-rollers. Therefore, it's the most
likely time for any opportunist to act."

She nodded. "The next three rounds are where the
big money is made or lost, but this is the critical round. Who wins or loses
can make or destroy fortunes."

A thought flashed in my head. "Damn," I
muttered and clicked on Elijah and Ceder. "I want you to monitor the
networks. You're looking for an interview or news about the War Games. Someone
trying to get a message to their inside person could possibly do it in an
interview. Let me know if you hear anything that sounds suspicious. Consider
how you would send a message to me. Get your off duty personnel involved."

"If I were a high-roller, that's what I would do.
Give an interview or make some statement that would make the news,"
Zenaida said as she left the room with Peller and me following.

* * *

"I think you're right," I said after reviewing
the interview. The high roller from the Opal Queen system had stated he wouldn't
bet on Lady Wu or Zenaida as they were highly nervous individuals. They wouldn't
survive the pressure. It was a strange statement since both were the odds
favorites and the reason the woman's statement was broadcast on the local news.
"Let's change their rooms." My paranoia kicked into high gear.

The three exchanged glances and Cedar asked the question
on all of their minds. "Why, sir? How will that help?"

"To be honest, I have no idea if it will. But it
may confuse the assassin enough for us to catch him. I want the hallway locked
down when we do it, so only the contestants know they've been moved."

* * *

"You want me to change rooms, Captain?" Lady
Wu frowned.

"We have information that I believe makes you and
one other contestant the prime targets. Moving you may confuse any person …
attempting to harm you, hopefully enough for us to catch him. We'll move you when
no one can see and continue to treat this room as yours."

"You already have two Guards on me night and day
and a building full of marines. Even I feel safe."

"Consider me overly cautious or foolish, but it
would make me feel better," I said, trying not to scare her.

She gave me a motherly smile. "If it makes you feel
better, I'd be happy to move."

Zenaida on the other hand just smiled as if she could
read my mind. That night I notified the six other contestants that we'd had a
minor security breach and the rooms would be locked while we addressed the
issue. Then we separately moved Lady Wu and Zenaida to new rooms. With my mind
at ease, I went to bed.

My emergency alarm on my Mfi jerked me awake. When I
looked at the screen, I had two priority messages, one from Trapp and one from
Elijah. I dressed hurriedly and found Trapp and Elijah in the hallway, watching
as Corporal Reti examined a marine corporal lying on the ground. She knelt by
him, shaking her head.

"Knife to the ribs and another in the back into the
heart. He died within minutes." She picked up her medical bag and awaited
orders.

"How did he let anyone that close to him without defending
himself?"

"Did anyone check Lady Wu and Zenaida's
rooms?" I asked, wondering if our assassin had gotten the word and the
marine had interrupted him trying to enter one of the rooms.

Elijah shook her head.

"Reti, check rooms 211 and 220." I followed
her down the hallway. She was just about to open the door with our master key,
when I stopped her. "Do you have a gas mask in that bag?"