C.R. Daems - Kazak 2 - The Unthinkable by C. R. Daems Page B

approaching us and another coming from behind. All three had their eyes glued to Karin. I drew my gun a second before they did. I swept Karin off her feet and fired twice, once into each man's chest. As she hit the sidewalk, I spun down into a snake stance, close to a sitting position. We fired simultaneously. He missed, I didn't. I fired again at his head. As I spun back and up, I felt a stabbing pain in my leg. A man across the street, that I hadn't seen, fired twice as I was uncoiling. He only missed my head or chest because he shot a second too late. I fired twice, driving him into a plate glass window, which shattered as he slammed into it. I turned and fell on Karin, who lay stunned from the impact of hitting the pavement. I lay there my face near her ear.
    "You heard shots and felt me push you down and fall on you. You don't remember what happened after that." I repeated it three times, until she mumbled something I took for an agreement. Several minutes later, the street came alive and her friends came rushing over to us. The girls were firing questions so fast I made no attempt to answer them.
    "Let's get out of here. It doesn't appear safe," I said as I helped Karin to her feet. "I think we should take Karin to the school's first aid. She might have a mild concussion."
    "You're bleeding," Karin's friend Dorothy screamed. I nodded and we made our way to the campus first aid building. My wound had distracted the questions. When we arrived, I used the bathroom to redistribute my weapons. The doctor concluded my injury was only a flesh wound but that I should go to the hospital to be safe. I declined. At my insistence, he cleaned, sutured, and bandaged it. He examined Karin and concluded she didn't have a concussion, just a good size lump on her head. When we finally exited the examining room, everyone rushed us.
    "Are you going to tell us what happened, Lana, or do we have to beat it out of you?" Dorothy demanded. The other girls nodded. Karin was or pretended to be dizzy, so I gave my version.
    "You had just entered Sally Brown's shop when the shooting started. I pushed Karin to the ground and fell on top of her."
    "That was brave of you, Lana," Dorothy replied, looking at me wide eyed.
    "I followed my natural instincts. My father's a warlord. In Afghanistan, you learn quickly it's best to hit the ground when you hear gunfire. I guess I didn't hit the ground fast enough." We talked a bit while returning to the dorm. Karin said little. I made the excuse that we needed rest and would see them tomorrow. As soon as we entered the room, I called Witton on his private line.
    "Boss, there was a shootout a few hours ago. I need for it to be considered an argument or a race issue. Two men attacked two others. I don't think anyone saw me shooting, but I don't want Karin or me to be involved." I outlined the specific details. Immediately afterward, he hung up. A man of few words would be an exaggeration.
    "How can you quiet the Newspapers and a police investigation?"
    "Self Interest 101. The newspaper is a business, which caters to the interests of the people in their area, so that they can make a profit. Fair and balanced doesn't enter into it. They will want to get the story in print before anyone else and put their spin on it. They will have to rely on the police report and witnesses, which will be very unreliable when bullets are flying. The police work for the government, whether it be City, State, or Federal, and can be directed what or what not to report and which details to withhold."
    "The professors never mentioned that course." She came over and put her arms around me. "Thank you. I hated you following me around, joined at the hip as you say. I managed to tolerate you when you seemed to fit in so easily. But I never believed I was in danger. I thought my father was being over protective of his little girl. And I didn't believe you when you said you were willing to risk your life for me. You were right to tell me I was