Page 59 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

Another full minute of hyper-awareness for movement or breathing or scents or anything to indicate she was not alone.

She sensed nothing.

Kim took a deep breath and raised her elbow to flip on the lights. Before she reached the switch, a woman’s calm, husky voice emerged from deep into the dark room.

“We’ve got a few options,” the woman said, with a hint of amusement. “We could stay as we are indefinitely. We could just shoot each other now and be done with it.”

She paused as if she expected Kim to respond. She said nothing.

After a few moments, the woman continued. “Or we can flip the lights on and have a civilized conversation.”

She waited again. Same non-response. “Before you decide, you should know that I have several advantages.”

“Such as?” Kim replied evenly.

“I could have killed you already, if I’d wanted to.”

“You think so?”

“You’re literally in the dark. I’m not. I can see you.”

“That so?”

“You’re standing against the wall just inside the door. You have a pistol gripped in your right hand. A Glock. Same as the one I have pointed toward you.” She laid things out plainly, as if to show Kim she was truthful and perhaps even trustworthy. “You’re alone. You’re wearing dark clothing but your pale skin is not covered.”

Kim had collected enough data. She’d placed the voice slightly to her right. Maybe twenty feet away.

She could shoot toward the voice and hit her dead on before the woman had a chance to return fire.

Probably.

“Okay. You can see me. But I know where you are. And, as you point out, I’m armed.”

“Me, too. That doesn’t make us evenly matched, though, does it?” The woman laughed. A small, quiet chuckle.

“Why not?” If Kim kept her talking a bit longer, she could confirm the target’s location with pinpoint accuracy. Even in the dark.

She’d trained for such situations. Her skills were excellent. She was also well aware of her limitations. Shooting into the dark without night vision was never anybody’s first choice.

“You don’t know me,” the woman said. “But I’ve been expecting you.”

The assertion jolted Kim, as it was no doubt meant to do. Her stomach was already churning. The woman’s words made her belly hurt. Sharp pain right in the center of her torso. Which she ignored.

Who was this woman?

Even if she’d seen Kim’s face as she entered the room, how could she know Kim’s identity?

Her thoughts zipped through her mind faster than a Formula One racer.

Only one person knew she was anywhere near Niagara-on-the-Lake. Russell. And there’s no way he’d have revealed anything to this woman.

But she quickly realized Russell wasn’t the only one who knew Kim was in Canada.

There were others.

Ashley Westwood. He’d talked to Kim on the phone. Invited her to his suite. Arranged to meet her on the Falls Observation Deck.

Westwood could have called this woman and read her in. He’d had plenty of time. Or reported to her if she was already more knowledgeable than he.

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