Guilty Eye

Chapter 5

"Don't worry,Mr Saka,it will be over soon."

That was what my would-be assassin's boss said.I knew exactly what it meant.They were going to make sure I died.

And I was going to make sure I stayed alive.

To do so I needed to find out who was pulling the strings.Which meant I had to contact Inspector Tsono and...wait a minute!

I had called Tsono and told her where I was and an hour later a killer had shown up.Not a coincidence!

Even as I thought that,a taxicab stopped a few metres away and who but the ugly(yes, I won't be charitable anymore by calling her plain)female cop alighted.

She had changed from her grey pantsuit into blue jeans and a pale blue shirt under a cream colored jacket. The jacket's front was half open and, from where I sat in the Audi's driver's seat,I could see the belt of her shoulder holster.

She walked a few steps towards the motel entrance before stopping abruptly and turning on her heels.She cocked to the side as stared at the silver sedan.

Oh,my God,I thought in desperation,she's looking at me.But she can't see me,can she?

As if in response, she smiled and made a beeline for the car. For me!

I did not stop to think. I opened the door and started running. Again.

"Wait!" Inspector Tsono shouted as I ran.She had been startled when I began running,which gave me a head start.

Crow Motel is one of the properties situated in Fern Valley,a low density area just ten kilometres to the south of Mutare. The road leading from it to the highway is a steep incline.

My thigh started throbbing in pain as I struggled to maintain the distance from my pursuer.

She was quickly gaining on me,despite her shoulder wound.

"Mr Saka,stop running!" She said,"I need to take you to PIB. "

I paid her no heed until I was forced to stop.My leg simply gave up under me and I tumbled head long onto the ground. I rolled over and, grimacing in pain,managed to get into a sitting position. I gasped in shock at the sight of the makeshift bandage saturated in blood.

Tsono hobbled over,a concerned look on her face.

"Are you okay,Mr Saka?Oh,God,what happened to you?" She knelt beside me,her hands automatically undoing the bandage."This is a stab wound, Mr Saka,who did this to you? "

"Like you don't know," I said through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean?"

"Shortly after telling you where I was, an assassin pays me a visit. Not a coincidence, I should think."

Tsono redid the bandage and got to her feet,all without uttering a word.

"What?" I asked.

"You need to have that wound treated as soon as possible." Her voice was grave,her face a mass of frowns.

I made no move."What?"

"I said," she said absentmindedly, as if she was somewhere else far away,"you need to have that wound treated ASAP. "