Lazer Lightzest

Chapter 8: Vendetta's Vengeance

The restaurant that Major Robinson had selected - an Italian buffet by the name of Artusi - was situated in an awkward part of town, close enough that it could bear the title London in its name but simultaneously being a place that no one would choose to visit if they decided to take a vacation there. She knew that the CIA would be keeping tabs on all the leading restaurants in London so she chose one that would most likely fly into the radar. It also helped that she had visited there in the past and had a soft spot for authentic Italian food. It reminded her of the same dishes cooked by her maternal grandmother in her childhood, giving her a glimpse of what her life used to be. Especially since, for all she knew, her life could end in an instant.

After an hour and a half of pure bliss in the restaurant, Robinson was confronted with the prospect of a walk home in typical London rain - a downpour that didn't appear like ending anytime soon. While her instincts screamed at her that a walk would be much safer and that she would thank herself for it later, her desire soothingly narrated the calm drive home and a nice sleep without worrying about any damp clothes. But while she was inclined to trust her instincts, her desire added that it could be a perfect evening, the dinner followed by a relaxing sleep, without the need for a depressing walk home with only her fears and sorrows as company. That was enough for her as she hailed a cab, told the cab driver her address and they set off.

They were silent for the most part. While the driver had attempted to start a conversation with a few topics of interest and Robinson did her best to respond, it became clear to the both of them it wouldn't last for long. 20 unnervingly quiet minutes later, they were outside her apartment, and Robinson fiddled with her purse.

"How much?" She asked.

"On the house," the driver responded, in an oddly strained voice.

A press of a button and the doors clicked. Robinson fiddled with the handle but it was locked, as was the door opposite her.

"What are you playing at?" She demanded, fiddling with the lock.

"Major Robinson, yeah? Part of the CIA? Gone rogue a couple of months back?"

She suddenly froze, feeling her heart skip a beat. Shadows suddenly emerged, crowding around the car and beginning to take out what looked like guns. The cab driver turned and gave her a leery grin. "10 thousand dollars they're offering for your arrest. Dunno what makes you so important but hey. Ten grand, all for locking the door and keeping you in here until those fellas get their cuffs ready. What a beautiful day to be me."

It was then that the passenger door window smashed as a bullet embedded itself in the driver's head, killing him instantly. Robinson reached for her gun in the waistband of her trousers before cursing as she realised she'd forgotten it in her room. A hand broke its way through the smashed window, groping its way around until it unlocked and opened the door. A man dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie slipped in and closed the door behind him. A gun was poked around the seat and a cold, unemotional voice told her, "Unlock the other two doors."

As quickly as her hands would let her, she unlocked the other two doors and two other men, identically dressed, sat in the other two seats, squashing her in the middle. The man sat in the passenger seat unlocked the driver's side door, and gloved hands reached in, pulling the corpse of the cab driver out and tossing him on the road. The gloved hands gave way to strong, wiry arms which gave way to a broad torso and a head with short spiky hair.

"Hello Major Robinson," the figure sitting in the driver's seat said. "My name is Morzo. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Robinson's insides went cold as she realised who she was sitting with. When she had faced Vendetta in the prison facility, after he had murdered her entire team, he had beaten her with little to no effort. This was the man who had him scared. This was the man that was ruthlessly hunting a teenage boy to murder him. And he was sitting in an enclosed vehicle where she had no space to escape.