Page 39 of Wired Strong

“I was used by Pim Wat to administer a poison to the doctors who did her surgical reconstruction. I know where she keeps her poison kit. She has many potions, but I know the one that will kill without a trace,” Kupa said.

“I understand the Master’s reason for wanting Sophie dead. He knows what she means to me. He wants to keep my loyalty and have me be his replacement, with no distractions.” A part of Connor throbbed with pain at the news; but another part wasn’t surprised at all. The Master was ruthless; his agenda was the only one that mattered.

“The solution is obvious,” Nine said. “They both must go.”

The four of them sat with the magnitude of what had just been said.

“I need that poison,” Connor said to Kupa. “Can you get it without endangering yourself?”

Kupa bowed her head. “I will try. I will see if I can remove a toxic dose from the bottle and replace it with something, so the loss is not discernible.”

Nam placed his hand upon her arm. “You don’t have to do this, my beloved. We can find some other way.”

“But how can both of them die and it not be suspicious?” Nine said. “The men will tear apart anyone who has harmed the Master.”

“I need time to plan,” Connor said. “Kupa, get me the poison. Only I will be responsible for what happens once I have it. I refuse to put any of you in danger, or make you responsible any further for what comes next.”

* * *

Connor loweredthe bar that locked the upper room behind his three co-conspirators as they left.

The revelations of their meeting still ricocheted around inside his head. That the Master would use him, and set him up this way, shocked him. Nine’s willingness to go along with this assassination plot had surprised Connor too; and so had his own deadly resolve.

How had the Master been so careless as to let Kupa overhear his conversation with Pim Wat? That seemed uncharacteristic. Of course, the Master knew about the servants’ passage. What if the Master had set Kupa up, and this whole thing was a test of Connor’s loyalty?

Connor’s heart thundered with fear.

Fear was the enemy. Fear must be dealt with.

Connor needed a break. He left the upper room to go to the Master’s garden.

Once he reached it, he mounted the tiger’s eye column with an easy leap, and settled himself into the lotus position to meditate.

Gradually, the stress of the upper room meeting fell away.

All he could hear was birdsong and the gentle sound of a warm breeze blowing through the leaves of the garden’s flowering and fruit trees.

What possible scenario would benefit the Master by setting up Kupa to overhear their plot? There was no benefit to be had that Connor could see, and if it were a test of loyalty, obviously Connor would fail, and that would not surprise the Master. Connor’s devotion to Sophie was why the Master wanted her gone.

Kupa’s overhearing must’ve been an accident, an oversight. Even the Master made those, on occasion.

They would proceed with the poisoning plan and look for an opportunity to implement it. He would figure out a way to flee the compound with Nine, Nam, and Kupa after the deed was done. He would reach out to Sophie to contact the investigation team to tell them that he would provide proof of death of both the Master and Pim Wat, in return for asylum in the United States. There had to be a safe place where they could hide from the revenge of the Yam Khûmk?n; without the Master or his Number One to lead, the organization would fall into disarray, at least long enough for Connor and his people to establish themselves in new identities.

He meditated until his white-hot anger had solidified into icy resolve.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sophie

After breakfast with her father,Sophie walked the dogs. She sped up as they made their way along the curving concrete path through Ala Moana Beach Park. She took a moment to look over the early morning beauty of the park: mynah birds hopped on the grass; the light morning breeze tossed the coconut palms. Gentle waves made white foam on the surf break outside of Waikiki Beach; children ran into the water while parents watched. A Tai Chi class moved gently and slowly in sync under one of the banyan trees.

Sophie pressed the number for Connor’s burner phone on her list of favorites before she could overthink it. After her ultimatum cutting him off, she didn’t expect him to answer right away. “Sophie, is this a secure line?”

“As good as I can make it,” she said. “I’m using my satellite phone out at the park.”

Connor’s voice seemed to relax, settling into the warmth that brought his smile to her mind.

“I didn’t expect to hear from you again, after your message.”

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