The Seattle Office

Dan looked away from the window, but saw movement out of the corner of his eye at the last second. He looked back out the window. Someone could have dashed up the driveway as the house door was opening and hid behind the car. It was probably a dog. He looked the area over again and glanced at Matty’s back as he was going in the door. Again, as he was looking away, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking at the door again in that split second, he saw someone else’s back side go in and close the door. “What the hell was that?” he said, in a whisper to himself. It was…a female body, not Matty’s. His next thought brought cold sweat from his pores. The bodyguard? The General’s female bodyguard? What…how…the General must need something real bad or…someone. Then things started to make sense. She was here for him. Dan knew what the General looked like. He was her target. Okay, he had to settle down and think rationally. He was being hunted. He would stealthily turn the tables, sneak in, line up a shot and kill her without saying a word. He checked his holstered gun. It was clean and loaded. But then another thought hit him which brought more scared, cold sweat. If the General wanted him, she would have to bring him back alive. And that’s what he needed, one shot face to face with the General. Dan closed his eyes. My God, that would be suicide. Even if he killed the General, he’d be dead, too. And he wanted to live. Especially now, since he had walked away from his treason and was given a second chance, he wanted to live. All of a sudden this second chance thing was as important as the others had said it was. And if he lived, he wanted to live with Chrissy. No…no, he had to keep his mind clear. Dan pulled his gun. He moved to the inside door of the garage and eased it open enough to peer out. He could just barely see into the kitchen. The bodyguard was smaller than Matty, but she had one arm around his middle and her hand had something in it. Her other hand had a gun pointed at everyone else. He couldn’t see who all was there, but Matty was frozen. It was a stand-off. She must be holding a grenade. The General’s bodyguard/assassin was speaking, “I am not afraid to die with you today. If I come back without him, I will die anyway. I will count to three and then shoot whoever I choose. If he does not come out, I will continue until all of you are dead and then I will be free to hunt him down…one…” “Why are you afraid of your third option?” Joe Cornish did what came naturally, offering a second chance at life. “What third option? Your tricks will not work…two…” A slight smile began on Jack’s face. He had gone through this before. He glanced at Tony. Tony was glancing at him with the same thought. “You’ll have to extend your count to five or I will not have a chance to explain,” Joe Cornish was cool, calm, and in charge. The bodyguard had her gun trained on Joe Cornish because he was the one doing the talking. Jack took a step toward her and said, “You’d better listen; you will never regret it.” “Three,” the bodyguard moved the gun slightly and pulled the trigger. Jack took the bullet in his chest.