Chapter 5 THE DARK VIPER

Lewis had a smug smile on his face, he was driving a red convertible. He had paid off all his debts, and he still had a large amount of money to spend, things were going his way. He stopped in front of Platinum Bar(the same Bar he was earlier; the one Angelina had just left).

He parked in the parking lot, got down, and pulled up a cigar to his mouth. He took a long drag before striding towards the bar. He was about 5'5 in height and was dressed in a brown suit. He opened the door, his friend; Kevin was attending to some customers who sat around the counter.

Kevin turned towards Lewis, a sly smile spread on his face.

"Lewey," he began. "You look different."

"More than just looks," Lewis grinned. "I feel different. I am rich!Give everyone here one round of whatever they having, bills on me," he grins as he took a seat close to the counter, he dropped a huge wad of dollar bills on the counter.

Kevin couldn't help but smile shyly at his friend, he whispered to one of the waitresses to take over.

"Mind if we take this outside, old friend?" Kevin asked.

"Sure," Lewis got to his feet.

The two has gotten outside, they were standing behind the bar.

"So Lewey," Kevin couldn't help but gleam excitedly. "What happened? How did you become this? I mean just a few hours ago, you couldn't even pay for a drink and now you are buying everyone's drinks. Talk about irony."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Lewis dropped the cigar from his mouth. "But I met this totally banging chick today, she wasn't from around here, and she looked really important. It was while I was doing my runs as a driver to make ends meet."

"Lemme guess," his friend laughed. "You conned the poor girl, and made her give you a briefcase of cash."

"Doubt I could, that chick was smarter than me."

"How is that chick related to your wealth? I doubt she paid extra cause she enjoyed the service."

"That's the amazing part," Lewis couldn't help but grin wildly. "She couldn't pay shit. I think the chick was broke or something."

"How the hell did she pay you then?"

"She told me the lottery winning numbers."

"Damn, that's a hell of a chick."

"I know," Lewis took a deep breath, he adopts a more solemn expression. "Been searching all over town for this girl, I just wanna thank her. She is about an inch taller than me, and she has got these ocean eyes. The way she looked at me, it was as if she was peering directly at my soul."

"What a coincidence!" Kevin exclaimed. "I could have sworn that the chick you mentioned seems so similar to one who dropped by an hour ago."

"No way, she didn't seem like the type who drinks. She struck as a busy body, she was always writing in this small blue notepad."

"That's the thing, she didn't buy a drink at all, though she did pay me. And what do you know, I remember her writing something in a blue notepad after she left. Is the chick you know brunette by any chance?"

"Yeah, she is!"

"Then we are talking about the same girl."

"Yeah, do you have any idea where she might have gone to?"

"I don't know, most customers aren't exactly fond of dropping their schedules with the bartenders," Kevin ends with a sarcastic grin.

"Come on, be serious. I need to give her a bit of what I have, she deserves that at least."

"Alright, but she didn't mention where she was going to."

"And you don't have a clue."

"I am afraid I do not."

"Okay," Lewis wore a sober expression, he turned away from his friend. "Can Becky take over Nellie's shift? I plan on giving Nellie a good time tonight, I noticed she has been giving me the eyes of recent."

"No can do, buddy. Becky went out, I think Rob called her again," Kevin replied, lines burrowed on his forehead, he was thinking more deeply. "Come to think of it, the blue-eyed chick didn't leave until Becky left. It was almost as if she came to the bar to watch Becky."

"Shit!" Lewis exclaimed. "Please, tell me she wasn't alone."

"She was," Kevin wore a grave expression. "And if it's what I think it is, then your blue-eyed angel is in some serious trouble. Becky is doing some sort of raw kinky sex with Rob's gang. Rob isn't known for his benevolence, if he catches her snooping around, he's going to kill her."

"We have to call the cops!"

"We both know the hands of the cops are tied when it's dealing with Rob and his gang."

"Then I am just gonna have to go myself," Lewis put on a more determined look, he took a stance as if readying to run.

"Lewey, are you stupid?! You wanna risk your life for a woman. What about your wife? Don't you think of her?"

"Had it with that bitch, you can marry her if you want," Lewis smiles childishly. "Right now, I gotta help my benefactor."

With that, he sprinted off. He got to his car, as fast as he could, inserts the key in, and within moments, he drove off.

***********************

Angelina had been staring at Rob for a moment, she realized something. When she suddenly showed up, there was no hint of surprise on Rob's face; it was almost as if he was expecting her.

"I can't be sure about that," she told herself. "I will probe him a bit, just to confirm my suspicions."

"Is it just me or you don't look surprised," Angelina begins sweetly. "Were you expecting another girl today?"

"Actually," Rob removed a cigarette from his breast pocket, inserting it into his mouth. He brought his lighter to the other end, and set it on fire. "I was expecting you."

With that, he took a long drag, before finally exhaling it into the atmosphere.

"Didn't know I was a celebrity around here."

"You aren't," Rob's face was getting tenser, this wasn't due to fear, he was angry. "But don't worry, once I am done with you, you'd be popular. After all, everyone knows death makes legends."

Just as he had spoken, several daggers were flung in Angelina's direction.

Angelina narrowly dodged, her left arm had been slit. She grimaced in pain as she rolled away.

She turned towards the part where she was sure she was attacked.

Standing before her was a man, he was dressed in a black three-piece suit with a white inner shirt, he wore a tall black hat, and his face was covered with some sort of mask. Angelina recognized this man; it was the same person who had tried to kill her today, he was the sniper.

Angelina felt sweat dripping from her forehead, she could feel her body going wobbly. The knife must have been draped with some sort of sedative liquid, and its effects were working fast.

"You are a strange woman, you know that," Rob took another drag from the cigarette he held. "Your facial expression is somewhat rigid, I don't know if you are surprised, worried, or excited. It's completely unreadable." He pointed towards the man who had just thrown daggers at her. "My associate is the Dark Viper, you should have heard about him before. He's currently the most renowned assassin in the world. Boss hired him, he intends to win the presidential election at all costs, and your dear big brother is the only one who can fuck it all up."

"How the hell is all these related to the Albrecht case?" Angelina kept panting, she had dropped to the ground, she was panting heavily. Her body would soon collapse.

"Come on, Angel," Rob began walking towards her. "You are considered the best private investigator in seven fucking countries. Think of all that happened, where do you think the relation could be?"

"There was never any Albrecht case, was there?" Angelina kept panting. "Your boss is Senator Klaus Mokovian, that's his identity."

"Simply splendid," Rob laughed almost hysterically. "About ten people are competing for the presidential post other than your brother. How were you able to narrow it down?"

"The Association of American Appraisals is considered the most prominent in the world. Their reputation precedes them, they have the best technical hands when it comes to analyzing anything of aesthetic value. Even if the necklace that had been in the museum was a fake, they would have easily noticed it. Even if they did keep quiet, they wouldn't have admitted their failure later, no one wants to look bad especially when one has attained such a level of fame, they know this event is going to make them look bad, practically defame them. Senator Klaus is different affiliated with Linda May who is amongst the association, they must have worked out a deal, one so good that the Association of American Appraisals couldn't possibly refuse even at the cost of their reputation. Also, Linda is extremely good at persuasion, with that done, the trap had been set, all that was left was to lure the prey in, and what better way to lure a prey than with a bait. Everyone knows how much I love an unsolvable mystery and a good amount of cash. With the right offer and a seemingly inconspicuous situation, you had made the perfect bait. Since the NYPD was in Klaus' pocket, they informed me about the case, and I rushed head-on to solve it, you knew I would bring my assistant along, of course, he always accompanied me on all my cases. That was why your boss had set a fake party for him earlier, he was oblivious to the situation he was in, and as a result, he could easily be entrapped. Then he came here, he was arrested but it didn't stop there, your boss has used his influence to ensure he was put in the most impenetrable prison in America cause you needed me to be alone so it would be easier for the boss to further his goals; I am guessing your boss wants to use me to push my brother out of the competition." Angelina looked up to Rob, he was standing a few inches from her. "That's the breakdown of all that's going on, isn't it?"

"Are you psychic or something?"

"I think I'd go with something," Angelina smiled at him. "I am just a good detective who has no equal when it comes to deductions, and I have to tell you, in exactly eight seconds, you are going to die."

"And how exactly will that happen?" Rob grins, bending his knees, he brought his face closer to her; exhaling smoke at her face.

"Like this," Angelina quickly raised her left arm and grabbed his hair tightly. Before Rob could react, Angelina slit his throat with the knife she was holding in her right arm. Rob wore a terrified face, blood spilled from his neck before he collapsed to the ground. "From the moment I realized he wasn't surprised to see me. I pieced everything that could have led up to the point of him not being bewildered in the slightest. When the assassin had gone back to Marilyn's house and realized I wasn't there, he must have contacted the boss, he had then told the boss that he realized the underling he sent was missing a phone, the assassin seemed like the thorough type; he diligently searched the two bodies. The boss had then called Rob to ask him about the person he sent, Rob had then informed the boss about who the underling was, and the message he sent. It was then obvious that I would be visiting him later in the night, the boss had then connected him to the assassin, that was how they were able to stage this pathetic ambush that was doomed to fail. I knew that the assassin was here with me, that was the only justification of Rob's lack of surprise, and the events leading up to this moment, that's why I kept my guard up, and Dark Viper is a very popular assassin, I have worked with the families of several of his victims, I knew he used different means to kill his victims but if he wasn't using a modern weapon like a gun or some sort, he was probably using a knife or a dagger that was laced with poison, and with what Rob had said, it wasn't a poison as that would be instant. That was why I could easily fake it, and they would believe it because they were expecting it, I had snagged a dagger earlier and deviously hid it behind me so that neither of them noticed. When he launched his dagger at me, I evaded them all but I expertly used the dagger I held to slit myself so they would think I had gotten hit. I knew Rob was the type who got stupidly arrogant when he felt he had the upper hand so I waited for him to come closer, and when I did, I slit his obnoxious throat. I have solved this mystery, and frankly, it was annoying. It's a good thing I tailed Michael to that party, he didn't know but I took pictures of Linda handing him the necklace when he was drunk, Klaus was also present at that event. I kept the pictures hidden with my source who wouldn't respond if I don't give a particular password. I would go and get it, then I would blackmail Klaus into releasing Michael. From there, I would go back to North Dakota, and continue those easy boring mysteries. I give less than a shit about politics."

It was impossible to tell the facial expression of the Dark Viper because of the mask he wore but he had been looking at Angelina for more than three minutes straight.

"You are an assassin right!" Angelina smiled at him. "I am pretty sure you guys have specific orders, and your identity is unknown. You can just call your boss, tell him the deed is done, he'd transfer your cash. I am pretty good at hypnosis, I took psychology as a course in college, I know how to hypnotize the young men here to tell the boss what he wants to hear."

The assassin brought out two pistols from his waist, he held them professionally. Angelina sighed tiredly. "Or we could just go with the second option where we both try to kill each other."

The assassin raised the two guns at her. Putting his two hands on the trigger, he began firing as fast as he could. Angelina had calculated the trajectory of the bullets, based on his position, the imaginary lines from the nozzles of the pistols, and the way the weapon was held.

As fast as she could, she dove behind a stack of crates; narrowly escaping the fury of several bullets.

"The weapon you carry in your hand is only capable of holding six rounds, and the other weapon is the same model. You fired four bullets simultaneously, I think you should know a little maths at least, you only have two bullets in each weapon," Angelina smugly grinned.

The assassin didn't respond, he began sprinting towards the stack of crates. Angelina smiled to herself, she expected him to do that. The assassin jumped towards the place that Angelina had hidden. Angelina had turned towards him, he pulled the trigger of his two weapons but before he fully pushed it. Angelina supported herself by holding the edge of the stack of crates, and with that support, She maneuvered her entire body to be thrown across the crate.

The bullets whizzed from the nozzle of the weapon; nearly touching Angelina's lower body.

As fast as she could, Angelina grabbed one of the crates, she flung it towards the direction of the assassin. The assassin saw the crate coming.

Carefully, he rolled on the ground away but before he could get back his balance, Angelina had closed the distance between both of them. With her right leg, she kicked the weapon he was holding out of his right arm.

Instinctively, he pulled the trigger with his other arm, Angelina knew that would happen but she miscalculated the exact time it would happen as the bullet ripped through her left elbow.

Angelina let out a little whimper as she staggered backward. She was bleeding profusely, and the pain was quite intense.

The assassin saw that, as quickly as he could, he threw a punch in her direction. Angelina evaded to her left but the assassin was expecting that, as he threw his left leg in the air, he connected it to her injured arm.

"AHRGH!!" She cried in pain but she couldn't let that pain wear her down, she had to find some way to survive. With her other arm, she counteracted by hitting his face vehemently. Angelina was shocked, she thought she had hit his face but it felt like she had hit nothing. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself being thrown in the air, she landed on the ground with a deafening sound.

THUD!

Angelina coughed out blood as she quickly got to her feet, he dashed at her. If he was relishing this moment, he didn't show it. He was willing to exploit her disadvantages to the maximum. Angelina got her shit together, as fast as she could, she swung her left leg at him, he bent his head; evading the attack. Her shoe came off, the assassin didn't seem to mind, he raised his two arms as he was directly beneath her. He connected his two arms to her lower jaw; sending her staggering backward, he took advantage by connecting rapid punches to her tummy. Angelina coughed out more blood but the assassin didn't relent, he flipped his body; connecting his right heel to her throat. Angelina was stunned for a moment, immediately, the assassin landed from his leap. He punched her face sending her flying backward.

She collapsed to the ground, she was spitting blood. She would have put up a better fight against him if not that her elbow had been grazed by the bullet.

The assassin removed a dagger, he was approaching her speedily, he intended to finish her off.

Angelina had a sly smile on her face, and just as the assassin was about to get to her position. White smoke filled the atmosphere, the assassin slashed the dagger he was holding but Angelina was no longer before him, she had vanished.

Angelina was running as fast as she could, she had left the warehouse. She was still bleeding from her elbow. 'The time when I kicked him, my aim wasn't to connect my leg to his body but rather to remove my shoe. I had a solution of hexachloroethane-zinc and granular aluminum embedded in a small bag which would explode if the right force could be applied. It's a little trump card I always kept under my feet should I ever need to get in a situation like this.'

Angelina could feel her eyes closing, she has lost too much blood. She would soon faint, the assassin was thorough, he would soon leave the warehouse and resume trying to kill her.

There was a red convertible coming towards her, she could recognize the driver, it seemed like someone she had seen earlier; it was then that it hit her, he was the driver that she didn't pay.

The man had highlighted from the vehicle, he looked really worried, he has begun sprinting towards her but just before he could get to her position.

Angelina fell to the ground and entered a state of unconsciousness.