Chapter Eighteen of the Story

They ended their joy ride on the opposite side of Manhattan. Ditching the car, they disappeared underneath the city in the subway system. Yawning, Elliot ruffled Sherlock’s ears. The dog bumped her owner affectionately with her nose.
“Glad to see Jer took care of you, girl,” she said, yawning again.
Jerin smiled. “Of course I did.”
Zann shifted his foot. “It would be unwise to return to your apartment. If I can figure out where you live, so can Vang.”
“Hotel, then?”
Elliot sighed sleepily. “But rooms are so expensive.”
“The Agency will cover the expenses, if it’s that important to you, Elliot.”
She closed her eyes and put her head against the pole beside the bench they were occupying. “M’kay.”
Zann looked at her then at Jerin. “She hasn’t slept well for several days. She must be very tired.”
Jerin yawned. “She’s not the only one.”
Zann smiled and nodded in agreement. “I was woken up to shoot someone after I’d only been in bed for fifteen minutes. Not fun.”
Jerin snorted. “That’s nothing. I was woken up by some crazy lunatic who rang my doorbell at one in the morning.”
Dragging a half-asleep Elliot, they checked into the Hotel Whales on Madison Avenue. Jerin regretted it, but he had to pay for the two rooms with a credit card. He really hoped Vang wouldn’t think to track them through that. After making sure Elliot got into her room okay, the two men unlocked their own door. Jerin dropped into a chair and folded his arms as Zann sank onto one of the beds. Both men stared at each other in silence.
As the tension escalated, Zann broke the quiet. “I’m not going to shoot you while you’re asleep, Jerin.”
The other arched an eyebrow. “Are you expecting me to trust the word of an assassin?”
Zann shifted slightly. “I’m not an assassin anymore.”
Jerin raised both eyebrows and nodded in fake comprehension. “Ooooooh, okay.” Then, he narrowed his eyes. “Pardon me if I don’t believe you.”
The men stared at each other until Zann stood up and limped out. The man rode the elevator to lobby. He liked Jerin okay, but the other didn’t trust him. In the past, it wouldn’t have bothered him, but now, for some reason he was only beginning to understand, it did.
He slumped into a chair in front of the gas fire in the sitting area. Zann Kolzak, once one of the most wanted assassins, no longer was proud of who he had been and what he did. He just wished people would stop labeling him as a killer. He was different now, wasn’t he?
Mind wandering as he stared deep into the flames, he remembered how his heart beat had increased as he raised the gun at Elliot earlier that night. Even though he had known the first cartridge he had loaded in the magazine was a blank, he had felt the old thrill coming back.
He shook his head angrily and forced himself to remember how scared she had looked—how betrayed. That was the life of the assassin, he reminded himself. No friends, always living in secrecy and lies.
Zann Kolzak had a friend now, and possibility two—in time. Sighing happily, he smiled. He was no longer that man—that assassin. He had friends. He saved lives and fought evil.
His happiness was cut short y something cold and hard being pressed against the back of his head. He knew what it was without a doubt.
“Stand up slowly, Russian. No funny business or I’ll shoot your brains out.”
Zann stood up slowly, his hands raised in surrender. “What do you want, Mr. Smithy?”
The second in command of Serpant chuckled coldly. “You’re coming with me, Russian. Miss Clearwater wants a word with you.” The dark skinned man jabbed his gun into Zann’s back. “Walk casual,” he ordered.
Zann strode by the desk and looked desperately for the receptionist. She was nowhere to be seen. He could have easily over powered the man if he had had a weapon, but he left them all with Jerin to prove he wasn’t going to kill anyone. How had they been found? Suddenly, he remember Jerin wincing as he handed over the credit card. He closed his eyes in resignation and wondered what Lisa Clearwater would do with him. It couldn’t be good.
Frank Smithy shoved him into the waiting limo and followed after him. Smithy sat next to Zann, the gun poking in his ribs. Lisa and Dante Vang sat opposite of them. The woman grinned evilly at him, but Vang just looked annoyed.
“Hello, Kolzak.”
He turned his head and looked out the window, trying to ignore her.
“So, you betrayed us. Why?”
He turned his head and glared at her. “You were going to kill her.”
Lisa laughed. It was a cold, high pitched laugh. “Oh, don’t try to be noble, my dear assassin. Don’t pretend you did it out of the goodness of your heart.”
Zann turned back to the window.
She smirked. “Oh don’t think I don’t know. You did it to save your own skin, not because you cared about her. Oh, no.” She laughed again. “It was either die, or do what they wanted, wasn’t it? There’s not a single noble or good cell in your body. You did it to save yourself.”
“That’s not true!” He snapped.
Lisa smirked at him. “There’s no such thing as a good assassin. How many people have you killed? I bet it’s in the hundreds. But they finally caught you. Die or do as they say. Spy on us. You choose the coward’s way out.” Her ice blue eyes glinted with malice. “Because that’s all you really are—a coward!”
Zann ignored her jibes. “So, what do you want with me?”
The woman smirked. “Oh, you’ll find out. It’s won’t be pleasant, I can tell you that. You, my dear assassin, have helped me out a great deal.”

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Oh the drama! That Lisa Clearwater is so mean! I want to break her nose. Unfortunately, she surrounded by great-big, gun-toting goons,
(alliterations!!) and I rather like my head in one piece. Poooooooor Zann! Poor, poor conflicted assassin! I want to give him a hug! I wouldn't advise it, though, as he still has those assassin reflexes. Hehehe.
So, sorry, Foaly for ending this unconcluded. I know how you don't like my cliffhangers. But, you see, I have so much fun making you hang there until next week! It's great! I'm so evil. Fear Me!
So, I found this great hotel for them to stay in. It was relatively cheap, and they allowed dogs. I bounded up the stairs all excited to tell my dad, and he said, "What?! You sent your characters to West Broadway?! That is so mean!!" Apparently, West Broadway is not a very nice neighborhood. I spent another hour trying to find them a suitable hotel that was NOT near Times Square--as I could not have them stay close to the Agency headquarters for plot purposes--relatively cheap, and allowed pets. My dad was very adamant about it, haha.
I just had an "I'm stuuuuuuuuuuck!" session with mah Babs (aka, Holly), and she gave me some great ideas. She even laughed when I sat up straight with my index finger in the air and an "I got it!!" expression on my face after she said something. She even yelled "Ding!!" She is so brilliant she can take all the confusion I throw at her and throw it back into something that gives me an idea. She wanted pythons..... sooooo..... there will be some pythons.
Tune in next time, same bat-time, same bat-site!