Fang Shway in LA (10 page)

My back window exploded, but the shot missed me. I swung into traffic headed
toward Parker Center. I was only a couple of blocks from police headquarters. I screeched into the lot, burning rubber and ran inside. I gave a five-star performance to the sergeant and waited while someone took my statement and examined my car.

An hour later I called Traygen. He wasn’t happy but he agreed to pick
me
up. My car was impounded as evidence which left me without transportation. I advised Traygen to pull around behind the station and into the police lot. Flirting outrageously with a detective, I convinced him it wasn’t safe for me to use the front door. A stern looking Traygen picked me up and we drove home. “Would you care to fill me in?” He whispered.

Chapter 17

“I had a hunch the Russians were staying at a hotel or motel near the restaurant. So, I did a search and after twenty-two calls I got lucky. I used our dead Russians ID to get into their rooms. My fake LAPD badge paved my way with the clerk. I tossed their rooms and when I was about to give up I found a key.”

“What kind of key? To what?”

“Exactly, I guessed a bank, airport or train station. Next, I ruled out the airports, too much security since 9/11. I hadn’t decided where to look when you called. However, when you said Tokem was trailing a group headed south, I gambled on the train station.

“The man at the information desk didn’t recognize the key. However, he confirmed there were three separate sets of lockers. Since time was short, I tried the lockers closest to the tracks. Wrong one but, I got lucky on my second try.

“Traygen, the evil radiating from the spear is terrifying. The minute I opened that locker it chilled me to the bone and images of the horrors it has inflicted flashing through my mind. I had to struggle to contain it.

Reaching over to hold me, Traygen kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Afraid I’d be discovered, I quickly wrapped the spear in my coat.
Strolling from the room, I casually scanned the area, searching for any sign of the Russians. Several men in cheap suits were headed in my direction. Fortunately, they hadn’t spotted me. I did the only thing I could think of, I went to the ladies room, locked the door and frantically looked for a place to hide the spear. Luckily, I noticed a stained tile over my stall. I stood on the toilet seat
and reached up and shoved the tile. It moved easily upwards. Maintenance must have performed some recent repairs, leaving the damaged tile for another day. I shoved the spear inside above the pipes and headed for my car.

“I guess I was so grateful there were no tickets, I failed to see one of the Russians. I got in and started my car, but when I turned to back up, there was a gun pointed at my head. He signaled for me to roll down my window. When the window was about halfway down, he stuck his gun through the partially opened window, aiming it at my face. Mistake, big mistake. I jammed the window up and slammed my door into him, knocking the barely perceptible look of shock from his face. I released his hand and sped away. He got off a shot and took out my back window
motivating me
to drive directly to Parker Center to let the police handle it.”

“Smart thinking, those guys would have killed you if they had caught you. Do you think they know you have the spear?”

“Probably, which means you’ll have to recover it while I distract them.”

Shaking his head, Traygen said, “I’m almost afraid to ask. Why don’t you recover it and I’ll distract them?”

“Because silly, I want to see you in a skirt and heels.”

“Over my dead body, Tootsie I’m not. I never understood why American’s enjoyed watching Dustin Hoffman dressing up as a woman. In Ireland there are some Irish clans that wear kilts but, mine doesn’t.

“Traygen, I would pay to see you in a kilt.”

“Well it isn’t going to happen. You need another plan.”

Seriously, this is why you need to recover the spear. No one will be looking for a man. They’ll be looking for me. You can wear some maintenance coveralls, carry a ladder, put an out-of-order sign on the door and grab it.”

Grinning and shaking his head, Traygen’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “You wish, but what if someone comes in while I’m in there?”

“The out-of-order sign will keep them out, silly. Take me home handsome, I need a shower and a nap before we try this.”

I was going to shower first but I was so tired I fell into bed. Dreaming of happier times, I might have slept through until the next day. Alas, that was not to be. Traygen knocked and told me it was two
A.M.

Showered and dressed, I joined Tokem and Traygen in the kitchen. “That coffee smells good. I hope it’ll wake me up.” I took my coffee and a piece of Traygen’s toast and went to my office, Xena padding silently along behind me.

Setting my coffee on the desk, I went to my closet and started pulling items out. Where is that thing? It’s got to be in here or…under my bed. Yes, I found what I was looking for under my bed. In college I had taken Aikido and my sword case would work nicely. I took it back to my office and removed the swords, eying the case trying to get a sense of the size as compared to the spear.

I had to find a way to seal it. Patting Xena’s head, I let my mind wander. The case itself had sides but I didn’t want the spears power to leak out. After several minutes of puzzling over the conundrum, I remembered I had strands of silver cords, which I used in detaining vampires, demons and other baddies. They would work. Now where were they?

It took me a moment or two to find them and then I was ready. Taking the strands and the case I went back into the living room. “You guys ready to roll?”

“I’m so happy I could sing,” Tokem replied.

“Don’t listen to him. He gets grumpy when he doesn’t sleep. What’s the case for?”

“You’ll need it to put the spear in. The spear is wicked, vile, pulsing with dark magic and I don’t want its energy alerting any of our foes. To make sure the spear stays in the case, the silver strands will seal it. All you need to do place them around the case once you close it and they’ll lock it in place. That will seal the spear and its energy inside and Traygen, be careful the spear is deadly and limit your exposure to it.”

Traygen solemnly took the case and put the strands into his jumpsuit. He was wearing orange coveralls and caring a toolbox.

“Nice outfit. I think orange is your color,” I teased. “Are we ready?”

Placing a hand on my shoulder, Traygen said, “not so fast. What is your plan for distracting the Russians?”

“I’ll tell you in the car. We need to get going.”

Truth be told, I didn’t have one yet. I needed to keep the Russians on another floor and get them to chase me without seeming obvious. I would need Tokem to tell me when Traygen had the spear and was safely away. The trains would be running, but I doubted they would be busy.

“Come on, Lauren. How are you going to lead them away without getting caught or killed?” Traygen said.

“We need Tokem to watch you. Then he can let me know when you have safely removed the spear. I’ll let you where to pick
me
up. There’s a tennis bag in the trunk. I’m going to take out the racket and replace it with my staff and gun. Before I go into the terminal and buy a ticket for the gold line, toward Pasadena. It’ll be the least busy line because it is heading away from the downtown area. Lastly, I’ll go to the lockers on the first floor, pretending to recover the spear and head for the train.”

“That’s your plan?” Traygen asked.

“Yes, pull over. I’m getting out here, two-blocks from the train station. Tokem will let you know where I am, probably South Pasadena. Bye.” I jumped out before Traygen could protest and headed toward Union Station. I knew he wasn’t happy, but sometimes you just have to wing it.

I sure hoped this worked. I spotted the first Russian before I even got to the train station. Luckily, he hadn’t seen me. Ducking down behind a parked car, I watched the surrounding area. There were two men out
front and not enough protection to make it inside without being captured or killed. I would have to remove them the old fashioned way, moving from car to car I inched closer to the man on my right.
I guess not entirely the old fashioned way.

I took my staff out, aiming at the man nearest me, softly repeating the spell, which naturally worked like a charm. I created an image of myself walking toward the men, before turning and running in the opposite direction. It worked even better than I thought because both men gave chase and I sent my image down an alley across from me. I projected the doppelgänger toward the back of the alley. They didn’t even slowdown in their hurry to capture me, gauging from their response, there must have been a big reward for my capture.

I crept quietly along behind them. They were making so much noise I didn’t need to be too careful. Just as they reached my imaginary self, it dissolved. “Were you two looking for me?”

It was almost comical. They looked like they’d seen a ghost. “Put your arms up and don’t move. Drop your weapons and kick them away. Now get down on your faces and put your arms behind your backs. I didn’t know how good their English was but they followed my instructions. I left them handcuffed and gagged in the alley. Sorry guys, no extra spending cash for you, boo-hoo. It’s going to suck to be you when the boss sees this.

My way was clear to the station and I went straight to the desk and bought my ticket. Then I headed toward the first floor lockers. I heard him before I saw him. Tokem darted out and landed on my shoulder. “Bogey, inside on the right.”

I put my gun in my waistband and went to the locker. I opened it and pretended to fill the bag, zipping it closed before I started toward the hall.

“I’ll take that. Just drop the bag and step away,” a voice behind me advised.

I set down the bag and slid it backwards, waiting for him to reach for it before I landed a solid back kick to his nose. I turned and picked up his gun and motioned for him to get to his feet.

“Get back in the room with the lockers.” I ordered.
He shuffled back in the direction he had come. When I believed he went far enough not to be seen, I hit him hard on the head with his own gun, dropping like a rock he slid to the floor and didn’t move.

He would be out for a while. Needing to catch my train, I dropped his gun into the first trash can I passed. Following the signs for track two, I reached the platform just as the train’s doors were about to close. Lunging, I barely managed to wiggle through the closing doors. Looking around I didn’t notice anyone suspicious. However, I decided to check out the other cars. Damn these persistent Russians. There were two guys coming toward me from the last car. They’d probably jumped on at the last minute. Turning quickly around I retreated the way I’d come. I considered climbing up on the roof and running toward the rear of the train. Not really, too Hollywood and besides I might break a nail or worse. I had to make a quick decision because the train was slowing for its first stop.

Instead I got off the train, raced into the station and back out the end door, sprinted back down the tracks and jumped back on the train. I hoped I would at least get behind them. It worked, but only one of them got off. I decided to stay where I was, directly behind the engineer’s compartment. At least I was getting my cardio in. I found a seat and put the bag down, covering it with my coat, before I took a seat several rows behind it. I couldn’t safely use my gun or staff in such close quarters. I would have to rely on my self-defense skills, which were considerable. Since, I spent hours keeping them honed.

I picked up a newspaper from the seat across from me and pretended to read. The train slowed and made another stop. Several people got on and took the seats around me. Damn it, the Russian hadn’t come in. I would have to get off at the next stop if he didn’t show himself. Where was this guy, maybe he did get off? If only I was that lucky.

The train started up again and still no sign of my pursuer, this was starting to make me nervous. I took out my gun and made sure the safety was on. Then I put it on my lap and covered it with a section of the paper. I heard the door to the car open and then I heard someone enter. Holding my breath I waited for whoever it was to take a seat or grab me. The train lurched a little, and I felt a hand on the back of my seat, I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Pardon me, you’d think I’d be used to all this jostling after ten years,” the conductor said as he moved down the aisle. The train was starting to slow down again. I waited until the last possible minute to recover my coat and bag before dashing off the train.

I hurried along the platform and into the small station. I was in South Pasadena and the station was starting to fill with commuters. Slowing down, I went to the nearest rest room and called Traygen. “Did you get the spear?”

“Yes, where are you? Tokem and I will come get you. I don’t think anyone noticed us, but I’ll be careful.”

“I’m in South Pasadena, I’m staying put until you tell me you’ve arrived.”

Twenty minutes later my cell phone rang.

“We’re across the street. I don’t think anyone followed us and I don’t see anyone suspicious.”

“I’ll be right out.” I said as I snapped my cell closed.