The Kazak Guardians (16 page)

***

I sort of remember the sirens, being wheeled on something with people running alongside, and lying in a bed with Sharer holding my hand.

I woke with a start, trying to reach for a gun which wasn't there. I relaxed back down when I realized I was in a hospital room, and Sharer was hanging on to my other hand. I felt like shit. I must, therefore, be alive.

"Good morning," Witton said. "We confiscated your guns to keep you from shooting one of the nurses. You'll be glad to know you didn't damage anything which would prevent me from giving you another assignment." He looked serious.

"I went to a lot of trouble to get some time off," I quipped.

Sharer shook her head. "You're all crazy." She squeezed my hand.

"Who else would do this job?" Witton interjected. "Lynn, I do wish you could get through an assignment without getting shot up. By the way, who did you shoot and why? The police would like to know. Me too."

"Three Assassins that abducted me on the way to Las Vegas: one Liar, one Illusionist, and one Ghost. The Liar approached intending to grab Sharer in order to freeze me. A Ghost was waiting for that and would have shot me. Then the Liar would have cut Sharer's throat. It was quite a nice plan. The problem with most plans is that you have to get the other side to cooperate."

"Oh, my God," Sharer breathed, her eyes wide. "Mr. Witton told me the Kazaks have a second name, which defines their strengths. If it's not a secret, what is Lynn's?" Sharer had tears in her eyes.

"Lynn's a Fox. It's fortunate, because she draws Assassins like vampire bats to blood."

"It was my fault," Sharer sobbed. "If it hadn't been for me-"

"Sharer, it's time you shared all of your work with the people you work with. Once they all know the details, there will be no reason to kill you. Now, your death would set back the program. You need to hurry, before Witton forgets about my convalescent leave. He has a very short memory."

"Are you up to it?" Witton asked. "I can find someone else."

"All I'm going to do is sit and watch."

I managed to leave the hospital the next day. It took Sharer only a week to share her project with several members of her team. I'm sure she hurried because she was afraid I would be killed protecting her. Actually, I'm not sure I could have protected her against a group of Girl Scouts. Afterward, Witton gave me time off to recover. I'm not sure if it wasn't because he just didn't have another assignment.

"Hi, Clare. I'm going to La Paz, Mexico. Want to come along? Free ticket there, but you may have to pay your way back." I'd called her from my condo, while packing my few non-work clothes in my new black twenty-four inch suitcase. I like black. Witton said the plane would be available the next day. I'll never get over the luxuries available to Kazaks. Of course, most people wouldn't want the life for three times our benefits. I would for half.

"Damn you, Lynn. You've gone and got yourself shot up again. I'd like to see you once when you were healthy, without any stories. Damn you. How many hours do I have to get ready and why La Paz? Is Gabe going?"

"Wounded is the only way Witton will give me a plane and time off. No, Gabe's not going. He doesn't have a passport and would have trouble getting time off on such short notice. La Paz looks secluded, and I've never been there. Between you and me, I could use a place to lie around and do nothing. You've twenty-four hours." I'd never felt as worn out as I did then. I had pushed myself with Sharer to get her done and out from under the threat from Assassins. She would never have rushed if not for me sitting in a chair watching. It was her personal creation, and she was reluctant to let it go.

"Damn you. I'll meet you at Concourse A."

***

"Welcome aboard, Miss Lynn. I see you're playing on Witton's sympathy again." It was Kathryn again. I didn't know if there were other flight attendants or whether she was the only one.

"I'm getting good at it."

"Do you want to keep your bag again?"

"No, I'm in no condition to fight anyone so there is no sense having weapons close to me." I grinned. "And yes, I'd like something to eat and drink after we're airborne. I think the doctor said something about eating."

I had just finished a filet mignon, creamed potatoes, assorted vegetables, and a chocolate something or other for dessert when the same middle-aged pilot I'd had on my last flight approached.

"Miss Lynn. That seems like a hard way to get a ride on the company plane, even as luxurious as it is." He pointed to my arm, which was in a sling.

"You know Mr. Witton: no injuries, no sympathy, no ride. Has Kathryn gotten better at landing?"

"With those injuries, I think I'll land the plane this time. Let us know if you need anything." He smiled and proceeded back to the cockpit.

I woke just in time to see the door open and Clare come flying through, drop her bag, and run down the aisle to where I was sitting.

"I knew the minute you said you'd pick me up that you were seriously injured. You need another job before
...
"

"And give up all these benefits: private plane, free condo, meals, medical? And I get paid for doing what I enjoy." I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You're crazy, but I love you anyway. All right, tell me how you managed to get in the way of whatever put you in the hospital. As pale as you are, you
were
in the hospital."

I explained, while Kathryn served us another meal. Usually I couldn't manage two meals in less than eight hours, but I guess I needed extra food to recover.

"Damn you, again. My career is doing fine. I don't need you to get shot up. Stop it!" She was genuinely upset and her eyes misty. I changed topics, so she would relax.

Between eating and talking, it seemed like we had only been in the air for a short time when the pilot announced our descent into La Paz. "Have you made reservations or are we sleeping on the beach?"

"Witton's secretary made reservations at the Hacienda Del Sol. Witton's paying for it." I nodded a
so there.

"Next time, I'd take the beach and no injuries."

It turned out that the Hacienda Del Sol was the number one hotel in La Paz, and Ann Marie had rented me a cabana. I was finding it hard to spend my very generous salary. I decided to pay all our expenses and to buy a few things. Clare complained but I threatened to shoot her. Since she'd said she could stay as long as I could, she no doubt expected me to be called back before too long. We spent ten glorious days.

What a life, sitting on the beach enjoying the beautiful sunsets, indulging in the delicious local cuisine, exploring historic museums, and shopping for authentic Mexican arts and crafts. We tried a scuba dive with hammerhead sharks and giant mantas, and kayaked alongside dolphins and whales. Lying on the beach next to Clare, feeling loved for the first time in my life, I realized I had needed this time away to renew my spirit.

On the eleventh day, Witton called. I put him on speakerphone. Clare gave a small giggle.

"Time for the Fox to come home. Clare, thank you for rejuvenating Lynn. If Lynn hadn't picked up all your expenses, I would've. I didn't offer because she needs to spend her money now and then. Your plane will arrive tomorrow." He clicked off.

"How does he know all that? And what's this calling you a fox?"

"I don't know how he knows. That's the reason he's the boss and I'm not. As for Fox, that's my Kazak name-Lynn the Fox. Drag out your tape recorder and we can finish your interview. It will justify your time away."

I sat in Witton's office with coffee, anxiously waiting for my next assignment.

"You look rested, Lynn. You never complain about your assignments or the extra time you have to spend when we're short-handed, which seems like always. But you need to get away now and then. In case you didn't know, the company does allow for vacations in addition to any time off recuperating." He inspected me like one would a racehorse before buying it. "I've a very rich bank executive who is being threatened because of the multimillion dollar bonuses he authorized after accepting government bailout money. People are justifiably angry; however, it's wrong to threaten him and his family. What are your thoughts about protecting them?"

"If they'll follow my rules, I'll let you worry about the appropriateness of the contract." I hadn't become a Kazak to judge people. It was the way of life I wanted. With a few exceptions, good and bad are subjective.

"Yes, the infamous
Lynn's Rules
. Of course, you realize the organization doesn't have rules for its Kazaks. But given that, even against Assassins, you haven't lost anyone who followed your rules, you may convince me to adopt at least some of them. I think General Sharer would agree that your rules were essential in keeping her alive. You're the Kazak. You set the rules necessary to ensure your client's safety."

***

Mr. Albert P. Gendel's waterfront estate was located in Newport, Rhode Island. The house looked big enough to be five or six houses, except it appeared to have only one entrance. A middle-aged Asian-looking woman, who could have been a model, opened the door shortly after I rang the doorbell. She wore a light-tan suit with a white blouse open at the neck. Her midnight-black hair hung to her shoulders.

"May I help you?"

"Yes, I'm Lynn, here to see Mr. Gendel." This woman definitely was not the housekeeper or cook. I concluded she functioned as a private secretary.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked with a frown. I assumed I didn't meet her idea of someone Gendel would normally deal with. I thought I was dressed all right. I wore a relatively new pair of black gym shoes, a new black shirt and pants, and a black jacket. Black tended to make me less noticeable and to hide lumps and bumps made by weapons.

"He's expecting me, Miss... ?"

"If you don't have an appointment, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Hendrix," she said in a
the servants' entrance is around back
tone.

Hendrix appeared to be a guard of some kind. Over six feet tall, he looked like he lifted weights and was good at barroom fights. I was getting bored and cranky.

"Lady, Miss Lihua has asked you to leave nicely. Now I'm telling you." He gave me one of those stares intended to intimidate. I laughed. He grabbed my shirt and pulled me toward him. I let him, driving my head into his face, kneeing him in his groin, and stomping down onto his foot. When he raised the foot I had just stomped on, I placed my foot behind his other foot and pushed. He fell on his back bent double, holding his foot, and bleeding from his nose. It wouldn't hurt to give Mr. Gendel an appropriate introduction.

"Now, Miss Lihua. I'd appreciate it if you would tell Mr. Gendel I'm here. Oh, if you have more guards, for their own safety please keep them away. Thanks." Looking around at what I could see of the house, it was impressive. A wide stairway led up to the second floor. It split into two halfway up, one going to the left and the other to the right side of the landing. It seemed stupid but looked impressive.

A few minutes later, a tall gray-haired man came striding down the hallway followed by two clones of the one on the floor. "I've called the police. They'll be here shortly. If you cause a scene, these two men will subdue you, and I'll press charges," he said in an authoritative voice. I guess he was used to getting his way.

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Gendel's two guards stepped forward, but didn't appear to be in a hurry to subdue me after a quick glance at Hendrix. Funny, since they were six to eight inches taller than me and each weighed at least twice what I did. "It's been fun but
...
If you'll have Miss Lihua call me a cab and tell Mr. Witton that you no longer require a Kazak, I'll leave."

"You're a Kazak?" he asked as if I hadn't already introduced myself. I nodded to Hendrix, who was on the floor looking pale. "I thought they were all men."

"Guess you were wrong." I assumed this would probably get me another complaint for Witton to do whatever he does with them.

"You're very arrogant."

"Me? I asked Miss Lihua to see you, told her you were expecting me. She called Hendrix, who assaulted me. Then you come down the hall threatening me with two more guards. Arrogant? I'd say my response to all this aggressiveness has been very reasonable. Wouldn't you?"

"I'm going to call Mr. Witton. I'm not sure I want a woman."

I turned and walked through the door and down the driveway. I called Ann Marie and asked her to get me a helicopter or something to get me home.

"Wait one moment, Lynn. Mr. Gendel is on the phone with Mr. Witton. This should be resolved in a minute. I think the conversation is going something like
she
is the best I have. If you don't want her, there are ten others who would be happy to get her. I will try to get you a male Kazak within the next year or two." I could almost see her grin from there. I kept walking. He had aggravated me.

A few minutes later I heard Miss Lihua trying to run on the white gravel driveway. I felt sorry for her and stopped.

"Miss Lynn. Please wait. Mr. Gendel apologizes for the mistake and wishes to speak with you." She must have been in good shape because when she caught up with me she wasn't breathing hard.

"I apologize to you, Lihua. This is Mr. Gendel's fault. He failed to inform you he expected a Kazak today or thought it was important enough to remember my name. Before you try to justify his actions, recognize that I'm a Kazak and call it the way I see it. I don't care whether a person is the richest or poorest in the country. If I'm going to risk my life for him and his family, he owes me the respect due any Kazak." I nodded toward the house. "Drop the
Miss
and call me Lynn."

"Lynn, Hendrix is going to be very mad at you."

"He should be thankful that I wasn't mad at him."

Mr. Gendel stood at the door watching Lihua and me walking back up the driveway. When I reached the doorway, he waved me in.

"Miss Lynn, I apologize for the confusion. Lihua will see you to the study and get you something to eat or drink. I'll join you shortly with my wife and daughter."