Page 4 of Warlord’s Empire

There was a pause and some rustling, then Havel, Jozef’s second-in-command, came on the line. “What’s going on?” His voice was grim. Like Jozef, Havel knew Saskia wouldn’t be calling for help unless she was in serious trouble.

“My boss was murdered. I just walked in on her body.” Her mind was flying faster than a jet plane, the words spilling from her mouth in a jumble. “I was meeting up with her for drinks, but when I didn’t hear from her, I went to her room.” She paused trying to decide what information they would need most. “We’re staying at the Silver Swan Hotel in Pretoria.”

“I know,” Havel said impatiently. “Keep talking.”

Of course they knew where she was staying. Saskia couldn’t sneeze without it being documented by the Kobas.

“She… she….” Oh god. There was so much blood. She forced herself to steady her voice, saying, “She was on her bed. I think someone cut her throat.”

“She was definitely dead?” he asked. “You checked?”

“Seriously?” she snarled. “I might not be an elite merc, but I do know what a dead body looks like. Eyes open. More blood on the outside than the inside. Gaping throat wound. Good enough for you?”

“I know you’re stressed, Saskia, but try to answer my questions with short answers so we can help you. Where are you now?”

She pushed open the door to the seventh floor and rushed down the hallway. “I’m heading to my room.”

She fought with the strap of her satchel, plunging her hand inside and feeling around until she came up with her room key. She flashed it, pushing the door open just as Havel shouted, “Don’t go to your room!”

Too late.

There were two men in her suite. One was sprawled on the sofa, his arms outstretched across the back while the other was going through the mini bar in the kitchenette. Her suite was a mess, her belongings everywhere.

Her eyes locked with couch guy’s.

Havel’s voice buzzed in her ear. “Whoever killed your boss might come looking for you.”

The guy on the couch started to rise, but Saskia was already in motion. She darted back into the hallway and raced for the stairs, glancing behind her as she rushed through the door to the stairwell. They weren’t out of the room yet, but it wouldn’t take them long to get moving.

“What’s going on?” Havel asked, his tone alarmed.

“There were two men in my room,” she said breathlessly, running down the stairs.

“You need to find a safe place to hide.” Havel’s voice was grim.

Master of the obvious. “Thanks for the advice, now if you could get me something more helpful. Like maybe a gun.”

“You don’t have your gun?” Havel snarled. “What the hell is wrong with you? You know you’re supposed to always carry.”

Saskia didn’t have time for this. Yes, she broke Jozef’s always-carry-a-gun rule, but she never felt it meshed well with the diplomacy involved in her job. Would she regret that choice? Yes, she definitely would, but later.

Above her, the door to the stairwell slammed open.

“What was that?” Havel demanded, panic in his voice.

“I’m okay,” she assured him. “But they’re right behind me. About two floors up.”

“Go straight out of the hotel. Lose yourself on the street. Jozef is sending backup.”

“What backup?” she demanded. “You guys are 9000 kilometers away.”

“We have people everywhere.”

His words reassured her. If she could get somewhere safe, she could wait for whoever Jozef sent to pick her up, make her way home, then never leave the house again without her gun. Lesson learned.

Her brain raced as she tried to figure out what to do. “There are too many people in the lobby and too much space for me to cross before I’m outside. If they shoot at me, they could hurt someone.”

Her feet thundered as loud as her heart as she staggered through the door leading to the lobby. The men were still two floors above but it was only a matter of time before they caught up with her.