The Kazak Guardians (14 page)

"I didn't. I told my boss you were too stupid to guard. He called your superiors, who are the ones insisting you need Kazaks."

"Who do you think you're talking to? I'll have you up on-"

"General, the only thing you can do is tell your superiors that they don't know what they're doing." I turned and headed for a corner, where I sat. She stood there for several minutes, her face turning a pretty purple. I thought it sort of gave it a bit more character. Eventually she turned and walked away.

The next two weeks went by like molasses. Jessie and I followed her by car from her home to the Pentagon, to Andrews AFB, and to contractor's offices where we stood outside the building in several cases. We flew to Texas. She sat in first class, while Jessie and I sat with the working-class folks. I decided I'd rather be fighting tanks with my Glock than following Miss Stupid around and being told where I could and couldn't stand. Most of the time, the medics would've reached her before I could. Once, I sat outside a hanger she had entered contemplating shooting her and claiming an Assassin had done it. It was a catch-22. If I was close enough to know an Assassin shot her, then I would've been close enough to protect her. Maybe I should've spent the time on my smartphone, tweeting Jessie, Witton, Clare, and Gabe-and maybe Sharer. At least, I would have been in virtual contact with her. Jessie may have been suffering worse than me. He was a Tiger and primed for action. I was a Fox and used to planning for action.

***

I had been on this assignment for two years-actually two months by the way society kept time. I sat in my usual place inside the Pentagon watching the morning rush to work. I watched knowing there were too many people for me to really assess each one. I hoped the Assassin would carry a sign saying
Ghost, Illusionist,
or other helpful hints.

Suddenly the line shifted back, and I saw Major General Sharer going through the checkpoint. I knew I'd been bored, but she hadn't left this building without me seeing her. I jumped up and drew my gun, looking to get a clear shot at the Assassin, but there were too many people walking or crossing behind him.

"Stop or we'll shoot!" Four guards had their guns out and pointing at me. I considered myself lucky they hadn't shot me by now. If I had been them, I would have.

"That isn't General Sharer. He's an Assassin." I lowered my gun, while pointing to the Assassin's retreating back.

"That's the General; I know her. Get on the floor before we shoot!" another guard shouted.

"Call upstairs to her office and check. Tell her security there's an Assassin on his way up." Two of the guards were approaching. If it hadn't been for the crowd of people in the foyer, they would have shot me by now. I gave up and went down of my knees, then lay down on my face.

They tied my hands behind my back with plastic restraints, picked me up, and steered me down a hallway into a small room. It was bare except for a steel table and two chairs. This was probably the most exciting thing that had happened to them-ever. One chubby man patted me down with a silly grin on his face. I stood still, shaking inside with rage. I could kill these four clowns without my hands, but then what?

"Strip her," a tall blond-haired man said. He was smiling. Two of them slowly removed my clothes.

"Oh, lookie what we have here," a plump man said with his hand in my crotch. "Another knife."

I could stand it no longer. "I'm a Kazak. The next one that touches me, I'll kill."

"What have you got in there, Kazak?" The big broad man reached for my breast.

Every man who had ever abused me flashed through my mind. Never again, I had promised myself. I drove my head into his face. He flew back against the table. I raised my leg and drove a foot into the face of the man behind me. While the other two were coming to grips with what had happened, I rolled onto the table and came off feet first into the third one's head. He slammed into the wall behind him. The last one was reaching for something when I used my shoulder to drive him into the opposite wall. The wind exploded out of him as he slammed into it. I swept his feet from under him and stomped my foot into his solar plexus as he lay there.

I went back to the table, picked up my knife, and cut the ties around my wrists. The first one was getting up so I broke his clavicle. Another began to rise until I drove a back kick into his chest. Something broke. I removed the barrel from each of their guns, broke a few assorted bones in one of the guards who was recovering as I dressed, and walked leisurely down the hall and out the building as alarms sounded.

***

Jessie and I sat in Witton's office drinking coffee.

"Lynn, you're going to get at least one complaint from the Pentagon officials-" he started, when I interrupted him.

"They should give me the Medal of Honor for tolerating their abuse and not killing them. If that happens again, I'll kill whoever it is." I meant it. Witton sat back and looked at me for a couple of minutes.

"I've reviewed the tapes from the security cameras scattered around the entrance and the interrogation room they took you to. It's clear you tried to stop the Assassin and only stopped because the guards were taking no action to verify your statement, or stop the man, and appeared ready to shoot. On the one hand, a woman with a gun did give them reason to threaten you. On the other hand, you had Pentagon permission to be there; therefore, they should've taken you seriously. The Pentagon has admitted the Kazaks did everything possible to protect General Sharer, given the restrictions she forced on you." He paused to take a sip of coffee. "They and I agree the guards' conduct was unacceptable and your reaction justified."

Witton continued. "The Pentagon assures me that the two soldiers will be court marshaled, and the two civilian guards charged with sexual assault. Although I believe you would've been justified, I'm glad you didn't kill them. The paperwork would have caused me weeks of work. Because of this incident, I'll never accept a contract where the customer believes they have the right to set conditions on our judgment."

Jessie turned to me. "I watched the tape with Witton. I loved it, Lynn. I don't think I could've done any better. No insult intended. After all, I'm the Tiger and you're a Fox. It was like you were in a chicken coop. I particularly like the way you slid across the table and kicked that one bastard in the head. Of course, ramming the other one into the wall wasn't bad. The best part was that your hands were tied behind your back. I don't know about the letter of complaint, but I'll bet you'll be a legend at the Pentagon." Jessie's grin went from ear to ear.

Witton gave a slight smile at Jessie's enthusiasm. "Alright, I enjoyed it too. They deserved every kick. Now, although I doubt either of you care, Major General Sharer survived the attack. By luck, the bullet intended for her heart hit a small steel case in her breast pocket. Something she had been working on. The case altered the bullet's trajectory enough to save her life. The Assassin assumed she was dead and fled the building. In total, he shot her four times. It will be a week or two before she's released from the hospital. She'd like to talk with you both at your convenience."

"She probably wants to tell us how we failed in our duty to protect her," I said in disgust. I had said she was stupid; since then I had revised it to mentally challenged.

"I had a similar thought, so I visited her. I was wrong. I'd like you to visit her, although I'll leave it up to you." Witton looked from Jessie to me. After several seconds, Jessie looked to me. I guess they thought I had suffered the most.

"Alright, if you don't mind another complaint to add to my board." I meant it. I wasn't going to take any shit from Miss Superior. To my surprise, Witton nodded in what I took to mean that he didn't mind.

***

At the desk, Jessie asked the nurse on duty where we could find Sharer. She gave him a hard time, saying Sharer wasn't in any condition for visitors, until he convinced her we were Kazaks and Sharer had asked to see us.

In her room, I had to admit she looked a mess. Her face was a pasty white. She had an oxygen tube attached to her nose and several monitors were recording heart rate, breathing, and heaven only knew what else. Even I felt sorry for her. She had paid for her stupidity.

"Thank you for coming," she croaked out between coughs. "I was a fool and paid for it." She coughed several times more before continuing. "I wouldn't let you do your job." It took several minutes before she could resume talking. "I heard of the indignities you had to suffer for trying to save-" She stopped, looking paler than before. The monitor showed her heart rate increasing. "When I heard you had identified the Assassin... when I found out what happened to those guards who stopped and abused you, I realized the difference between our security and Kazaks." Her breathing was labored and tears formed in her eyes. "I'm sorry. If you will forgive me, I'd like to try again."

"My rules," I said. I felt sorry for her, but either she wanted Kazak protection or she didn't. She gave a small nod. "You get Jessie and me passes to every place you have the authority to enter." She nodded after a few moments of hesitation. "We not only don't care about your secret project, but most likely wouldn't understand if we did. We'll stick to you like glue. We'll be in every room, restaurant, restroom, car, or any other place you go. We'll try to remain inconspicuous, but our main concern is your safety, not what others think."

I looked to Jessie. He smiled out of amusement rather than agreement. I guess I tend to be excessive. To my surprise, Sharer smiled and nodded. "Good," I said. "Now that we're clear on the rules, I'll take the first shift." Jessie tried to argue, but I waved him off. "The nurses and doctors are going to be real bitchy, and you'll be too nice to them." I sat in a chair in a corner. Sharer seemed to relax and Jessie went home.

Sure enough, the nurse who stopped in to check on Sharer began her
I'm in charge
routine.

"You can't stay here. General Sharer is too sick to have visitors, and it's past visiting hours. Please leave." She wagged her finger in my direction.

"I'm a Kazak. You do your business and I'll do mine."

"I don't care who you are. You can't stay. If you don't leave, I'll call security." She looked like she was going to stamp her foot for emphasis. I thought I heard Sharer give a small laugh before she started coughing.

"Lady, go get the head nurse, her boss, or the head of the hospital. You're boring me. When I'm bored, I get cranky, and then I'm a bitch to be around." She stomped out. Sometime later the head nurse showed up with two policemen.

"If you don't leave, these policemen will escort you out." She nodded defiantly.

"Gentlemen, do you know what a Kazak is?" I asked as politely as I'm capable. One looked to the other.

"I do," the older one of the two said. He looked a little apprehensive.

"General Sharer is here because someone wants her dead. As you can see, they almost succeeded. The Pentagon has hired Kazaks to protect her from any further attempts. I'm a Kazak. Do you really want to try and throw me out? I suggest you save yourselves a lot of grief and check with the hospital manager or the Pentagon, because I'll take any attempt to remove me as an attempt on General Sharer's life. That would give me cause to kill you."

"Aren't you going to make this woman go? She's obviously deranged," the head nurse hissed while pointing her finger in my direction.

"I'm beginning to think you're all Assassins here to kill General Sharer. Leave now." I stood, having run out of patience.

"Nurse, I think the patient said something," the older policeman said, looking toward the bed. The nurse moved in the direction of the bed. I shadowed her on the opposite side, while watching her and the two policemen. One false move and all three would die.

The nurse leaned over closer to Sharer. "Oh. General Sharer said that woman is authorized to stay." She blushed, pretending to read the monitors and check the IV before leaving with the policemen. I leaned over when I thought Sharer nodded at me.

"Yes?"

"Would you really have killed them?"

"Probably not, just disarmed the police and thrown them out with only minor injuries. Unless, of course, they made an aggressive move. Then they would be in the hospital looking like you look now."

"I hope the people I come in contact with every day survive you." She lay back and closed her eyes.

I idly wondered if this had earned me another complaint. I had lost count.

***

As Sharer finished dressing, she turned to face me. She looked much better than two weeks ago. Over the past several days she had undergone physical therapy but still appeared weak and shaky on her feet.

"You were serious about your rules. At the time, I had thought you were just being nasty because of the way I had treated you. Now I see you meant them for my benefit. The only time you or Jessie let me out of your sight is when I go to the latrine."

"That's because it holds only one person, has only one door, and no windows." I shrugged.

She shook her head. "I thought I'd mind, but I don't. You two are very unobtrusive, so long as no one gets between you and me. I felt terrified when I woke up in the hospital. The Assassin had penetrated military security and could again. You and Jessie have made me feel safe. Thank you."

Just then an orderly walked in with a wheelchair. He got Sharer settled and wheeled her to the hospital entrance where a captain and a limo were waiting. The captain delivered a snappy salute.

"Ma'am, General Anderson asked me to deliver these passes to you." He handed her three plastic cards, each on a cord. She turned and handed one to me.

"Lynn, this pass will authorize you to follow me everywhere I can go, including the latrine," she said with a grin. I wasn't sure if the grin was for the captain, who stood with his mouth open, or me. She started to get in the car, and then stopped. "Captain, always allow her to follow directly after me. You don't want to get between her and me."

When we entered the Pentagon, it was obvious the guards had seen the tape. They watched me like they would a lose rattlesnake. Sharer walked up to the checkpoint, swiped her card, and went through the scanner. I followed, swiping my card. As I stepped into the scanner alarms blared and guns came up with safeties off.