Chapter 6 - The Encounter
In close-quarters combat, hesitation is fatal.
As Colin swung the brass bowl, I ducked beneath the arc, letting his momentum carry him forward. I drove my palm upward into the base of his sternum, driving the wind out of his lungs with a sharp, explosive grunt.
He staggered back, crashing against the kitchen island, dropping the brass bowl with a deafening clatter.
Before he could recover Whitaker’s corporate composure, I swept my leg behind his ankle and shoved him forward. He went down hard, sprawling across the kitchen tile.
Before he could push himself back up, I dropped my knee onto the center of his back, pinning him to the floor, and twisted his arm behind his shoulder in a standard military compliance hold.
"Argh! Let go! You're breaking my arm!" Colin screamed, thrashing beneath my weight.
"Shut up," I hissed, pulling my satellite phone from my pocket with my free hand. I tapped the emergency law enforcement dispatch shortcut I had pre-programmed for federal jurisdiction. "This is Colonel Allison Carter, active military intelligence. I am calling in a priority breach, corporate embezzlement, and attempted poisoning at a private residence in Richmond. Send state troopers and county sheriff units immediately. Suspect is detained on-site."
"Allison, please! Don't do this! Think of Vanessa! Think of the family!" Colin wailed into the linoleum floor.
"My family is currently sleeping safely in a hospital room, recovering from poison that you brought into my home," I said coldly. "Your corporate partnership is officially dissolved."
Ten minutes later, the wail of sirens filled the suburban street. Red and blue strobe lights flashed through the kitchen windows, painting the walls in pulsing crimson and azure.
State troopers swarmed through the back door, weapons drawn, before securing Colin and lifting him into handcuffs.
As they led him out through the living room past the floating lavender balloons, my phone rang.
It was Michael calling from the hospital.
"Allison? Are you okay? The local police department just called my cell saying units were dispatched to our house—"
"I'm fine, Michael," I said, catching my breath as I closed my laptop on the kitchen island. "And we have our answer."
"What do you mean?"
"It was Colin," I said steadily. "And it wasn't just a random attack. It was connected to the financial discrepancies at Whitaker Foodservice Supply. They were trying to disable me before I presented the audit."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. When Michael spoke again, his voice was filled with grim resolution.
"How is Lucy?" I asked, cutting off his thoughts.
May you like
"She just woke up," Michael said, a wave of relief washing over his tone. "She’s asking for water, and she wants to know if she can still eat a piece of birthday cake when she gets home."
"Tell her yes," I whispered, tears finally breaking free and spilling down my cheeks. "Tell her Mommy is coming back right now."
