Seizure Page 20

  Watching Sonya lifting weights the size of chariot wheels with ease was unnerving enough. Kent watched as she fitted three of them on each side of the barbell. Kent estimated there was at least four hundred pounds on it. He told himself there was no way Sonya could lift that much, then watched as she effortlessly hoisted the barbells over her head and began a routine of tricep curls.

  Kent grew cold at the sight. Sonya Hawke looked strong enough to literally snap him like a twig. But Kent told himself again that there was no choice.

  Kent watched Sonya work out for a while, then walked back to the front of the building. Sitting on the wooden benches set up along the boardwalk, Kent began to wait.

  * * *

  It was two hours later when Sonya emerged from the gym, wearing the T-shirt, shorts, and skates she wore coming in. Kent waited until Sonya had rattled off down the sidewalk again before rising to follow.

  Kent weaved through the crowds, trying to keep up with Sonya as she zipped along, but also trying to avoid being seen by her. Secrecy didn't seem to be a problem. Sonya ignored everyone, including those in her path. Her reckless skating sent a few people diving to avoid being run over by her.

  When she reached the parking lot, Sonya came to a halt beside a red Porsche with the top down. Kent ducked beside a telephone pole to watch as she unlaced her skates and tossed them in the backseat. Then she vaulted over the door into the driver's seat. The car's shock absorbers squealed as she landed. Kent could hear her keys jingle as she fit them into the lock.

  Kent had to move. He walked out from behind the cover of the telephone pole, hoping his disguise was enough. Hurrying through the parking lot, his head ducked low, he watched Sonya through the corners of his eyes. She had already started her car and was backing out of her space by the time Kent reached his car. He unlocked it and climbed in as fast as he could, started the engine, and backed out as Sonya drove out of the lot. Kent let a few cars get between them, then followed.

  It was a short drive through the streets of Los Angeles, turning onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Kent followed Sonya's car down the winding coastal road, overlooking the ocean that rippled in the fiery light of the setting sun. By the time her car left the highway, it was already night.

  Sonya stopped at a Mario's Gourmet Pizza parlor for five minutes. Then she turned into the driveway of a gorgeous house mounted against a hillside overlooking Malibu Beach. Kent drove past the house for a block, then parked and walked back.

  The house was lit from inside and glowed like a beacon against the crashing surf of the beach. Kent avoided the front door. Instead, he skidded down the hillside to the back. A cool breeze came off the ocean that chilled his skin as he crept to the fence surrounding the house.

  It was an expensive place, leading Kent to believe that she got paid much more than she would as a normal bodyguard. It seemed obvious to him now that she was not Roland's bodyguard or chauffeur. She was an assassin.

  Through a pair of large glass sliding doors into the kitchen, Kent could see Sonya taking down a glass and plate from the cupboard. She rested them on the pizza box where a six-pack of beer already waited, then carried the entire thing like a tray to the living room.

  Kent started forward, then scurried back as Sonya reappeared in the doorway. She unlocked the doors with a click, then slid them open, unleashing a flood of jazz music that echoed off the cliffs. She pushed the screen door into place, then moved off into the living room.

  Kent mused that she didn't worry too much about security. She looked like she could reduce a potential mugger to hamburger.

  He opened his backpack and took out the bottle of chloroform and rag he had carried. He began to pour the chloroform onto the rag, soaking it until the bitter vapors oozed from the cloth.

  The chloroform was a general anesthetic that would cause unconsciousness. Kent had suspected he would need it after his first encounter with Sonya. He knew she would kill him in a direct fight, but he also knew she was unlikely to provide him with the information he needed willingly. His only hope was to knock her out with the chloroform, taking her by surprise. Once she was out, Kent was hoping she would be easier to control.

  Kent looked through the glass doors into the living room. Lying on the couch, eating slices of pizza, Sonya chuckled at the TV. He could see the screen, where it looked like a DVD of Monty Python's Flying Circus played. Kent closed his eyes, groaning softly to himself, steeling up his courage. He tucked the chloroform-soaked rag into his back pocket and moved.

  He slid down the hillside to the cast-iron fence surrounding the back porch. Vaulting over it to reach the open doors was an obvious choice, but Kent decided against it. Sonya was close enough to see and hear the door opening. Instead, Kent hung onto the fence as he walked himself along the ledge to the other side of the house, overlooking the beach.

  Kent shuffled along the rough concrete, forcing himself not to look back. He was soon on the side of the house where nothing stood between him and twenty-four feet to the sandy beach below but the ledge.

  He could see through one of the windows into a bathroom, slightly open. Kent sidled up to the window, releasing his grip long enough to slide his fingers into the crack. He pushed the window open as slowly as he could, but it still whined softly. Kent froze, waiting, listening. The sound of laughter rose up, but nothing more. Kent dared to raise the window a few more inches, then gripped the sill with both hands to haul himself through it.

  He toppled off onto the floor with a thud. The soft fibers of a bathroom mat tickled his cheek as he lay flat, inhaling the scent of perfume, listening again. The Monty Python theme song played in all its buoyancy, followed by more laughter from Sonya in the living room.

  Kent pushed himself up to his feet in the enclosed bathroom. The chloroform-soaked rag had dampened the pocket of his slacks. The smell of it made him dizzy as Kent positioned it in the palm of his hand. In the darkness, he could make out the outlines of a bathtub and toilet, which he used to navigate. Kent reached the door.

  A large display case mounted in the hallway faced the bathroom. On glass shelves, dozens of muscular bronze female figurines gazed back at Kent in various positions. All of them were mounted on wooden pedestals detailing various bodybuilding championships, and had the name "Sonya Hawke" engraved on them.

  Kent crept down the hallway towards a shaft of light coming from the living room. He approached it and pressed himself against the wall to wait. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and held it. He got down to his knees. Kent edged forward just enough to see into the room.

  He could see Sonya still lying on the couch. Her mouth worked on pizza as she grinned at the TV. She burst out laughing again as he watched, and reached for a glass of beer on her coffee table. The table blocked her view of the hallway just enough.

  Kent settled back against the wall, closing his eyes, trying not to think of what she would do to him if she found him in her house. He got down on his stomach and began to crawl towards the couch.

  He watched the hallway slide away from him as he moved into the living room. The carpet grazed his stomach, causing the still aching burns to flare up in protest. The coffee table stood between him and Sonya, who kept her eyes on the TV as she gnawed on another slice of pizza. The scent of pepperoni became stronger as Kent drew closer and closer. The laugh track from the TV set blended with Sonya's occasional snicker.

  Sonya stood up.

  Kent abandoned his crawl to dive forward. He landed behind the couch. His elbows burned as he scraped them against the carpet. Kent huddled into the far corner of the living room, crushing his knees against his chest. He could only hope that Sonya hadn't caught a glimpse of him. Kent listened to the soft creaks of footsteps on the carpet, moving closer. And farther. Sonya came into view, walking towards the living room, humming to herself.

  She hadn't seen him. But all she had to do was turn around, and she would see him behind the couch. Kent crawled to the far side, pressing himself down to keep from show
ing himself. The refrigerator in the kitchen hummed as its door opened. Metal clinked of metal as another six-pack of beer was taken out. The fridge door closed with a thump.

  "Man, I missed this," Sonya whispered as her footsteps approached the couch again.

  He waited until she came close enough, and slid around to the back of the couch again. The couch groaned as Sonya flopped back into it. A beer can popped and hissed as it opened.

  His mouth felt dry as he gripped the chloroform rag. Now was the time. All he had to do was stand up and press the rag to her face. She would inhale the fumes and go unconscious. Kent realized with horror that he had never asked Taylor how long it took for chloroform to take effect. He could only hope it was quick. If not, Kent knew he was as good as dead.

  He got into a squat. He slowly raised himself up, hoping Sonya wouldn't choose that moment to stand up again. Inch by inch, Kent rose until he could see over the back of the couch. Sonya still lay there, watching TV. She tipped her head back to guzzle beer from the can. He ducked again, then came back up carefully. She was watching TV again. She couldn't see him.

  Kent positioned the rag in his palm. The couch fell away as he stood again. He leaned over Sonya, who watched the TV, not him. She couldn't see him.

  Sonya laughed at two men on the screen. One danced back and forth while he slapped the other man's cheek with fish. She stopped laughing. Sonya froze. But Kent knew she couldn't have frozen because of him. She couldn't see him.

  He looked up. Kent saw the mirror on the wall in front of him. He saw the couch and Sonya. He saw himself standing over the couch. He saw Sonya's horrified expression.

  She bolted to her feet, towering over him. She dropped her beer to let it clatter on the floor. Her blond hair flew back as Sonya spun around to look at Kent with murderous eyes. Kent had only a second. He threw himself at her, pressing the rag over her face. His other hand grabbed the back of her neck.

  Sonya took hold of his left arm. Her grip felt like steel, so tight his bones threatened to break under her fingers. She pulled, hauling him forward, and swung him around. Kent could feel himself leave the ground to sail through the air, and collide with the wall. The mirror rammed into his back. The glass cracked in a loud bang. Kent slid down to the floor, gasping in pain.

  Sonya's shadow fell over him as she kissed her teeth. "Aw, you broke the mirror, Reynolds. Seven years bad luck. Good thing you won't live that long."

  He tried to get up, but felt fingers digging into his hair. Fingers lifted him off the ground, and his scalp felt like it came close to ripping off his skull.

  He screamed in pain as Sonya pulled him up to look into his eyes. "You got out of the fire, Kent. That's good. But you were stupid enough to come here. That's bad. Now I'm gonna have to kill you."

  Sonya clapped her other hand to his bruised ribs. Kent let out another gasp as the pain flashed through his body.

  Sonya grinned. "What's the matter, Kent? Still a little tender from last time? Huh? Guess you wouldn't want me to do this?"

  She began to squeeze her fingers like a vise. Pain shot through Kent's ribs as his lungs stopped expanding, cutting off his breathing.

  "I've been looking forward to this," Sonya hissed, "for a very long time."

  Kent struggled in her grip. He managed to bring up one hand to grasp the back of her neck. His other hand crammed the chloroform rag into her face.

  She let out a muffled grunt of surprise. Her hands loosened. Kent pulled his hair free, and threw himself at her again. He wrapped an arm around her neck. He wrapped his legs around her waist. He pushed the rag into her face, feeling the hardness of her nose against his palm.

  Sonya staggered back, grunting and puffing beneath his grip. Kent hung on as tight as he could.

  Sonya threw her arms around him in a bear hug that forced air out of his aching lungs. He couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe. She moved back, lost her balance, and fell over onto the coffee table. It collapsed beneath her in a crunch, followed by the thud of her body hitting the floor. Sonya tried to rise to her feet. The weight of Kent's body pinned her down.

  She tightened her hug until Kent saw stars floating in his eyes. The world seemed to drift away. Kent fought to keep the chloroform against her face, feeling her puffing against it. She coughed twice, then moved her hands up to Kent's neck. She pushed, bending his head back until his spine clicked. Kent elongated his arms as far as he could, keeping the chloroform rag against her face.

  Sonya's grip began to weaken. She coughed again, but softer this time. Kent rose and fell as she took a deep breath. Her chest expanded as she breathed out, slowly. Her hands slipped away from his neck. Her arms flopped down to her sides. Her head went limp, dropping to one side. Her eyes fluttered. They rolled up until all he could see were the whites.

  Kent waited. He kept the rag pressed against her nose for a few seconds longer, but didn't want to overdose. He drew it away cautiously, watching Sonya for the slightest movement or sign that she faked unconsciousness. Her eyes stayed closed. Her breathing came deep and slow.

  Kent rolled off her onto the floor. His ribs and back throbbed, crying out for attention, but he was alive. He had done it.

  Kent reached for the can of beer Sonya had left behind. Most of it had dribbled out, soaking the carpet, but a mouthful remained. Kent gulped it down. He really needed it.

  * * *

  Kent watched Sonya Hawke open her eyes. She looked around with confusion, probably taking in the fact that she was still in her living room. She could hear Monty Python still playing, but couldn't see the TV behind her. She faced the couch, where Kent Reynolds lay, eating a slice of pizza.

  Kent grinned at her. "Welcome back."

  Sonya tried to move, but realized she was tied up in her favorite armchair with one of her nylon jump ropes.

  Kent put down the beer can. "Hope you don't mind. I figured you wouldn't be too happy to see me again, so I tied you up with some rope I found in your closet. I also found this."

  Kent reached behind him and pulled out a .357 Magnum revolver.

  A grin spread across Sonya's face. "What's that supposed to do? Scare me? Gimme a break. You won't shoot me. You don't have it in you."

  "Interesting theory," Kent said. "But consider the fact that you and your employers are directly responsible for the deaths of two of my best friends, and the near-death of my only son. You also tried to kill me and probably killed Janet. I'm wanted for murder, I've got burns all over my arms and chest, cuts on my back, two of my ribs are bruised, and I haven't slept more than six hours in the last three days. Now don't you think that could change someone's mood--"

  Kent aimed the gun directly at Sonya's head. "...just a tad?"

  Kent watched Sonya's face as she stared at the gun, and looked up at him. He could see the glint in her eyes flicker just for a moment, but her veil of bravado returned.

  She managed to shrug under his ropes. "Okay, what do you want from me?"

  "A few things," Kent said. "Facts. Like who you're working for."

  "Roland Weaver."

  "I know that. I want to know who's behind Weaver, who he's working with."

  Sonya shrugged again. "Beats me."

  Kent tightened his finger around the trigger.

  Sonya rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. "Look, you can shoot me if that's what you want, but I honestly don't know anything. I'm just Weaver's employee. I do an occasional job for him, but that's it. He doesn't tell me anything but what I need to do for the jobs, and I don't ask."

  Kent narrowed his eyes.

  Sonya grinned. "You're wondering if you can trust me. Well, buddy, if you think I'm gonna risk my neck over a lousy paycheck, you got another thing coming. My loyalty to the little runt lasts about as long as it takes to cash a check. You got the gun. As far as I'm concerned, you make the rules."

  "Okay," Kent said. "Then answer this. Did you do something to Jan?"

  "You mean that chick you were with? Yeah, I knocked her out in the park
ing lot outside GameShop."

  Kent's finger tightened around the trigger again. His stomach clenched tightly. If the answer to his next question was yes, he was going to kill her. He just knew that he would. "Did you kill Jan?"

  "No," Sonya said.

  Kent tried not to let the relief he felt show on his face. Janet was alive. So far. "Why not?"

  Sonya shrugged as much as her bonds allowed. "It wasn't my decision. Weaver said to take her back to L.A., so I took her back to L.A. Dumped her in the Vulcan Compound so he could gloat at her."

  "She's still alive?"

  Sonya nodded, her eyes half-closed. "As far as I know."

  Kent put down his beer and stood up, keeping his gun aimed at her forehead. "Okay, you said I make the rules, so here's one for you. I'm gonna untie you, then you're going to drive me to the Vulcan compound. You try anything, you so much as flinch at me, I swear I'll blow your head off."

  "Whatever," Sonya murmured, but he could see that her eyes were focused intently on the gun.

  Kent circled around the wreckage of the coffee table to approach her. He kept his gun at her head at all times. He didn't trust her for a second. She followed him with her eyes as he moved behind her to the large knot in her ropes. Kent tugged at a loop which loosened the knot, sending the ropes rustling to the floor.

  Sonya rose to her feet. Kent immediately jammed the barrel of his gun into her spine.

  "Don't test me," Kent said. "I'm just looking for an excuse."

  Sonya turned her head slightly to look over her shoulder at him. "You won't get one from me."

  Kent prodded her in the back. "Move."

  Sonya walked towards the front door with Kent close behind, watching her hands for signs that she was going to reach for him. Instead, they unlocked her door. Kent and Sonya walked out into the night, the brisk breeze flowing out to sea.