Page 14 of End Game

The hairs on the back of his neck woke up, and his gut tightened. After a quick scan of the garden, he bent low, entered the structure, and turned in the direction of where the disembodied arm had disappeared.

Kayla sat huddled against the low wall, tears coating her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Aunt V-vicky—the governor.” She pointed a shaky finger toward the back of the gazebo. “Dead.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded. “Gunshot.”

His head snapped back to her. “Are you injured?”

“I’m fine.”

Tension he didn’t realize he’d been harboring eased its grip around his chest.

“Did you see the shooter?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t even hear the gunshot.”

Unlike in the movies, suppressors didn’t completely silence a gun’s report. However, if she’d never heard one before, the sound might not register.

“Do you have your phone?” he asked.

“I dropped it and haven’t been able to locate it in the dark.”

“Here.” He handed her his. “Call nine-one-one.”

When he pivoted on the balls of his feet, she grasped his arm. “Where are you going?”

“To check on the governor.”

“I told you. She’s g-gone.”

“I understand.” He motioned toward the phone. “Make the call. I’ll be back in a second.”

For a moment, her eyes pleaded with him to stay. Then she blinked, and some of her normal mettle returned.

Staying low, he rushed to where the governor’s body lay on its side. She looked almost peaceful, except for the vacant stare and the hole in her head. He checked her pulse to be sure.

Nothing.

Judging by the size of the entrance and exit wounds, the shooter had used a 9mm handgun or a pistol-caliber carbine rifle.

Making his way back to the lobbyist, he asked, “Are the police on their way?”

She nodded.

“Sure you’re okay?”

Another nod.

An electrical current buzzed in the back of his skull, urging him to sweep the garden, to make sure the threat was gone. But another part of him couldn’t leave her alone, unprotected.

Sirens blared in the distance.

“Did you see anything?” he asked, keeping his attention on their surroundings. “Hear anything out of the ordinary?”

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