CHAPTER 38
Saint Paul, MN
Laney relayed the information she had learned from her uncle to Jake while they sat in a little bohemian coffee shop not too far from campus.
It seemed incredible. The United States had often been belittled by other countries for its short history and lack of culture. The U.S.’s oldest historic sites were only a couple of hundreds of years old, compared to the sites thousands of years old found around the world.
If this site truly existed, all that would change. Even more critically, they might be able to find the missing men and Tom. Montana could answer all of their questions.
The sky was beginning to darken with rain as they left the shop. They decided to stay in Minnesota for the night and head to Montana the next day. If they left now, they wouldn’t arrive until well after dark anyway. And if Montana was as important as they thought, they were going to need to hit the ground running.
They checked into a two-room suite at the Redfield and ate at the hotel’s restaurant downstairs. The dining room was intimate, with fabric-covered booths, low lighting, and soft music piped in. It was romantic and delightful. For the first time since all this had begun, Laney felt safe, normal.
When they reached the room, Jake asked her if she wanted to join him for a workout in the gym.
“Normally I’d say yes. But I’m so sore, I think a workout would be torture.”
“It might help work out some of those kinks.”
“It probably would. But I’m thinking a really hot bubble bath might be equally helpful. And less strenuous.”
Jake looked at her for a long minute. “Maybe I'll skip my workout. I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”
“Jake, you’ll be one floor down. I promise to yell really loud if any one breaks in the room.”
“No. I’ll stay. Maybe we’ll rent a movie.”
At dinner, Laney had felt relaxed, but Jake had been like a coiled spring. He needed to work off some of that energy. She put her hand on his arm. “How about a compromise? A quick work-out and then a movie?
He smiled, taking out the key card. “Deal.
Before he could insert it, the door to their room swung open, a gun extending from the dark. Grabbing the gun barrel, Jake slammed the gunman’s hand against the door frame before launching himself at the attacker. The men crashed to the floor, the door swinging shut behind them.
It happened so fast Laney couldn’t even be sure the shooter had been male. She reached for the door handle to help when the door to the room next to her flew open. A second gunman. She aimed a sidekick for his stomach. He dodged the kick, grabbing her ankle and yanking her towards him, into the other room. She grabbed the gun with both hands, hopping as she balanced on one leg. She threw a right elbow at his chin.
He grunted and dropped her leg. He drew back to throw a punch, but she twisted out of the way, taking his gun hand with her. He yelped as his finger got pinned next to the trigger.
Forcefully twisting the gun from his hand, he screamed as his finger broke. Unfortunately, she yanked too hard and the gun went flying from her grasp, hitting the far wall. She turned to run for it, but was yanked back by the waist. She threw her head back, catching him under the chin.
“Bitch!"
He threw her away from him and she crashed into the desk. Paper, pens, the phone all crashed to the floor with her. He ran at her. She rolled to her feet, sidestepped his rush and aimed a round kick for his knee. It buckled and she caught a reflection on his belt from the moonlight streaming in through the window. She reached down and yanked the knife from his belt.
She sliced up in an arc starting at his waist and diagonally across his chest. He screamed and tried to grab her. She dodged his hands, bringing the knife around again and sliced across his neck. Blood poured from the wound. She stopped, staring in horror at the damage she’d inflicted.
The man turned, blood gurgling from his neck and mouth. He grabbed onto her, falling forward. They fell backwards, his blood now dripping onto her chest, neck and face. With a scream, she shoved him off her.
Scrambling quickly back from the body, she crashed into the wall behind her. She watched the man writhe, and then just as quickly become still.
Shaking, she stared at him, unable to believe what had just happened. She had just killed him. She hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t had any qualms about the actions. Was this who she’d become? Someone who could kill without thought?
Her head jerked up. What if he was one of them?
Heart pounding, she ran for the gun, lying beneath the window. She grabbed it and trained it on the man. She moved closer. He didn't move, not even his chest. She leaned down and quickly checked for a pulse. He was gone.
She fell back from the body, all her energy seeming to drain from her. “Not a superhuman,” she whispered.