aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) (21 page)

The
trip to Kimi’s house took almost half an hour. By the end of the journey Niail
didn’t care where they stopped, so long as they did. His head was pounding, and
his eyes were going in and out of focus. For the last fifteen minutes of the
trip he had held his head in his hands and used visualization techniques to
push the pain away. No interrogation had given him this much agony.

The
truck pulled up to Kimi’s house. The lights were out and everything was an inky
dark color. Niail jumped down and went to the passenger door. He clasped Kimi’s
waist and helped her out of the vehicle before turning to the house.

The
hair on the back of his neck stood up.

Everything
looked in place, but his senses told him something was wrong.

He
halted Kimi. “Let me go first.”

“What
now?” Kimi’s voice was weary. “I just want to call Ann and make sure the kids
are okay. Maybe we could stay here the night. I would love to fall asleep in my
own bed.”

“Not
going to happen.” Jake was pushing Mark in front of him. “After you check on
the kids and freshen up, I want you out of here.”

“But
you said they wouldn’t come back here.”

Jake
motioned to the house. “This place is too isolated, even with the superhero
taking care of you. Your truck is still at Grandfather’s, so you have no way of
leaving.”

Kimi
groaned. “Will I get any sleep tonight?”

“Sure,
as long as it’s some place where Kowal’s men can’t get you.” Jake moved Mark
toward the house. “Once I’ve got the police working on this, they’ll need to speak
to you.

Kimi
put her hand over a yawn. “I hate to think how Niail feels.”

“I
do not stop until the job is done.”

“Listen
to him. He knows what’s best.”

Niail
shook his head. “I will not go to the police. It is too dangerous for me.”

Eluwilussit
who had been walking behind them spoke now. “He must stay hidden.”

“He
can’t use the Star People as a defense.” Jake stopped and turned to face Niail.
“You killed people. Even if it’s in self-defence it must be reported.”

“It
is not wise for me to be involved.”

“You
just admitted the job isn’t done.”

“I
still have to kill Kowal.” Niail led Kimi forward.

“Let
the police handle it now.” Jake grabbed Niail’s arm and spun him around. “If
you take the law into your own hands, then I’ll have to arrest you.”

“You
can try.”

“Don’t
threaten me.” Jake almost spit his words. “This is not a joke. I don’t care
where you’re from, in my country you have to follow the rules.”

“I
follow the Sacred Code.”

Niail
had reached the door. He sniffed the air and then tensed. His stomach knotted
and he pushed Kimi behind him. All his senses warned him of danger.

There
was someone in the house.

He
wanted Kimi out of the line of fire. He pulled his pistol from his waistband
and readied for battle. He took the keys from Kimi and unlocked the door.

“Go
back to the truck.” His voice was a low whisper.

Jake
raised an eyebrow and then handed Mark over to Eluwilussit. He motioned his
grandfather to follow Kimi. When they had left Niail pushed the door open with
his foot and then moved to the side of the doorway. Jake followed his lead and
went to the other side.

Silence
greeted them.

Niail
nodded to Jake and then he stepped into the house. He crouched low. Jake ran
into the room, but before he had gone more than two feet an arm came out and
knocked him back to the floor.

Niail’s
hand that held his gun was hit from the side. His pistol was sent flying across
the floor. He grabbed the leg of his assailant but a deep chuckle stopped him.

Partlan.

He
was a fellow Hunter and his team leader.

Niail
sagged against the door jamb and grinned. “It’s about time you found me.”

“You
are the one who kept moving.” Partlan reached a hand down and pulled Niail up.

“It
was either that or be killed.” Niail motioned for Kimi and Eluwilussit to come
in. “Here is the woman who took me in.”

Kimi
moved to a propane light fixture beside the door. She turned the knob on the
light and held a match to it. Light flooded the area. Then she moved to stand
beside Niail.

“Kimi,
this is Partlan. He is an excellent warrior of the clan Obair.”

Kimi
shook Partlan’s hand and then turned to the rest of the men that he was
introducing her to. “This is Ranon, Turlo, Malac, and Gur.”

Niail
turned to Jake and Eluwilussit. “This is Kimi’s brother, Jake, and grandfather
Eluwilussit.”

Jake
was brushing himself off. “Where is Mark?”

“I
locked him in the car.” Eluwilussit spoke in an unhurried voice. “He tried to
run away so I tied him to the steering wheel.”

Partlan
turned to the older man. “He is your prisoner?”

When
Eluwilussit nodded, Partlan continued, “A wise move.”

They
moved into the kitchen where Kimi lit two more propane lights on the wall.
Light flooded the small room. The mugs from the previous day were on the sink
board and the table had a few napkins spread over it. Other than that, there
was no obvious evidence that Kowal’s men had almost killed them here the
previous night.

Ranon
pushed Niail into a chair. “You took Niail in?”

Kimi
nodded. “Bobby brought him to me when he was thrown from a truck. He had a huge
gash on his head and a concussion. That first night I didn’t think he would
make it.”

Partlan
crossed his arms over his chest. “He is the unit’s best shot and one of our
most experienced warriors.”

A
flicker of pride seared through Niail. Praise was seldom given or needed. Doing
one’s duty was praise enough, yet it was good to know his brothers thought him
useful. Ranon pulled out a small light and started flashing it at his eyes. He
blinked and tried to move away from its intense beam.

Then
Ranon started to examine him, stopping for a few seconds at the wound in his
side. He shook his head and then pulled out some dressings from his case.
Within seconds he had poured antiseptic onto his cuts and put a new dressing on
his side.

He
took longer with the fresh gash on his head. Niail inhaled as another cleansing
agent was poured over the area. He clenched his jaw in readiness as he watched
Ranon pull a suture kit from his bag. He felt the skin pulled together and the
sharp prick of the needle as each edge was sewn closed. When Ranon had finished
he covered it with a bandage. Then he stepped back.

“Well?”
Partlan’s voice was short. “Why can we not communicate?”

“He
still has the after effects of a concussion.” Ranon shook his head. “There is
no telling how long that will last. He may never be able to connect again.”

The
news hit Niail like a blow to his heart. To never mind connect with the others?
That was signing his death warrant. To be cut off from his brothers and to be
useless in a battle was not acceptable.

“There
must be something you can do.” Niail jerked back in the chair. “I have to get
better.”

“Time
and rest are the only things that will heal your head.” Ranon sighed.
“Unfortunately it does not look as if you have rested.”

“Kowal’s
men have been trying to kill us.” Jake cleared his throat. “What’s the problem
with communication? I know the cell phone connections aren’t reliable out here,
but when you’re closer to town there should be a signal.”

“Niail
is still having headaches.” A surge of warmth went through Niail as Kimi put
her hand on his shoulder. “He says his head feels foggy. Could that be part of
his problem?”

Ranon
pursed his lips. “It will not help him.”

“He
also can’t remember anything about his accident.” Kimi’s fingers soothed him.

“That
is not unusual with a concussion.” Ranon leaned toward him. “I am sorry my news
is not better.”

“I
appreciate you coming to help.” Niail gave Partlan a quick glance. “I did not
wish you to be concerned.”

Partlan
nodded. “Silence usually means death. We cannot lose any more brothers.”

“I
tried to find another way to contact, but things happened fast and this place
is remote. There is no Internet. By the time I reached a phone, the number was
disconnected.”

At
that moment there was a loud crash and then the door burst open. Mark stood in
the doorway, a gun in his hands. His eyes widened when he saw the other Hunters
and then he aimed his weapon toward Kimi.

“She’s
coming with me.” He waved the gun at her. “Move.”

Kimi
sighed. Before she could take a step Niail stood and pushed her behind him. At
the same time Partlan and Turlo moved on Mark. Partlan grabbed the hand that
held the weapon and pushed it into Mark’s ribs. The reflexive action of Mark’s
finger on the trigger fired the pistol.

Mark’s
eyes widened and then glazed over before he sagged against the wall. Partlan
held the man in place until the last breath passed through Mark. When death was
certain he moved the body outside.

Partlan
stepped back inside and closed the door behind him.

“You
just shot a police officer.” Jake’s voice wavered.

“He
threatened a woman.” Partlan eye’s locked with Jake’s. “We defend women and
children above all else. I do not ask questions when that happens. I act.”

“You
could have disarmed him.”

“Why?
He had no honor.” Partlan’s voice was devoid of emotion. “There is no point in
sparing such a person.”

“You
guys are seriously deranged.” Jake looked around at the other warriors. They
stood there with arms crossed and faces impassive.

Partlan
looked at Niail. “It is best if you do not come on this mission. We will return
once Kowal is dealt with.”

Niail
nodded. “Yes.”

“What
mission?” Jake stood in front of Partlan. “This is my jurisdiction here. These
men will be arrested. There will be no killing.”

“It
is beyond that.” Partlan motioned to Kimi. “They have threatened a woman,
injured a fellow Hunter, and lied about their purpose. Our rules are very
clear.”

“So
you think you can just kill people willy nilly?” Jake reached for his gun.
“I’ll arrest you then.”

Partlan
raised an eyebrow and then turned to Niail. “Does he not know?”

Niail
sighed. “He knows, but he still does not understand.”

“We
do not answer to your laws. We live by the code that we have followed since
time began.”

Jake
shook his head. “Mark said that you have a business of sorts, but that doesn’t
concern me. You’re breaking the law.”

Eluwilussit
put a restraining hand on Jake’s arm. “These are good men. You should not
interfere.”

“I
took an oath.” The gun wavered in Jake’s hand. “You can’t expect me to ignore
that.”

“They
are not your enemy.” Eluwilussit pointed to Partlan’s arm. “They wear the
symbols of the Star People and they defend. That is all you need to know.”

Jake
looked at his grandfather and then back at Partlan. “I don’t believe that
stuff.”

“That
is your right, but you should honor your heritage and traditions.”
Eluwilussit’s voice was sad. “You talk as if you only care about the laws of
this country. What about the sacred laws of your people?”

“Listen
to Grandfather.”

Kimi’s
came up to stand beside her brother. Niail moved a step closer to her and
readied himself for any attack. Even though Jake was her brother and probably
would not hurt her, he could not take the chance. If Jake moved on Kimi, he
would kill him, brother or not.

“Don’t
tell me you believe this stuff?”

“These
men are different.” Kimi looked back at Niail. “They are no threat to us. They
will not let you arrest them.”

“I
have to try.”

“No.”
Kimi reached her hand up and took the gun from Jake. “You have to trust.”

Niail
released the breath he had been holding and took the gun from Kimi. He sensed,
more than heard, a silent message going between Partlan and the others. He
tried to focus and hear the conversation. A searing pain behind his eyes was
his reward.

Ranon
touched his arm and shook his head. “You only make it worse. It will come back
in time.”

Niail
clenched his jaw and nodded. All he could do was wait. He had no control over
his healing. He would just have to learn to accept it. He turned away from the
others and went to the window. If he could not be part of the plans then what
good was he?

It
was a several seconds later when he heard someone approach. Partlan gripped his
shoulder. “We will work around this.”