The Beautiful Guardian: Vengence

Chapter One: Rusk's Investigation

The large white SUV pulls up to the curb of a country road. The morning light begins to push through the leaves of the trees that surround the clearing by the road. The front passenger door opens and a man with salt and pepper hair exits the vehicle.

He looks about him at the scene as two other men exit the vehicle. He moves toward the center of the area and motions one of the men, the one with glasses, to come closer to him. He takes a folder that is handed to him and opens it.

"So, How did it happen?" he asks.

The man with glasses walks up and places his hands in his pockets, he squints his eyes as he looks about and begins to gesture to different areas.

"Over there was an overturned SUV with four dead occupants, bodyguards I'm guessing since they still had weapons, " he said as he nodded to a clearing.

"Now over here on that tree is where the limousine was found with two dead bodyguards in the front."

The man continues his slow walk to an unseen spot and stops and looks at his boss.

"And here, beside the limo, your brother was found, with both knees shot and one in the forehead."

"What do you think what happened?" The boss asked.

"Mob hit probably, at least that is what I figured happened, but for one small detail I saw in the content report of the deceased guards, the weapon count doesn't match the number of dead guards."

"So you are saying what, exactly?"

"This is only a guess Mr. Rusk, but I think that your brother was killed by one of his passengers with a dead guards pistol."

The boss looks with doubt on his mind, "Could it have been another gang?"

"They would have their weapons, they wouldn't need to take a dead man's gun," The speckled man reasons.

Rusk stands with his hands clasped behind him as he slowly walks to where his brother was found. With his head bowed, he seems to be contemplating some action.

"Do we know who he had with him?"

The underling adjusts his glasses, "No, whoever it was they, or he, left before the locals showed up."

Rusk bends down and grabs some of the soil on the ground.

"Well do we have a plan to find out who?"

"We do, we get ahold of one of your brother's former employees, I'm sure after his death, they would be rather upset over the loss of a paycheck and would be willing to talk about what may have led to the death of your brother sir."

The boss looks off into the distance as he squints his eyes. He looks down at the soil in his hand before dusting them off.

"Did any other events occur on the same day perhaps?" The boss inquires.

"Yes sir, in the folder, there are details of an incident at a local diner, something about a black woman taking on three men and giving them a beat down of some kind."

Rusk looks up with a surprised expression, "You think they could be related?"

"It's a strong possibility, but I'm not sure yet, it could lead to our target, but without some confirmation, I dare not say for certain that they are related."

The boss nods then kneel solemnly on the spot of his brother's death.

"I swear to you brother, I, Victor, will find who killed you and make them pay with their life."

Victor Rusk rises off the ground and turns toward the SUV. He puts his hand on his stomach and smiles.

"A diner you say? I am a little bit hungry, let's go there and eat yes?"

A little later on, the door to the diner opens with a little chime as Victor Rusk, and the two companions enter the dining area. The waitress looks over with a smile before she looks back to the notepad in her hand. The diner still had the country living feel inside of it with the depicting of country life.

The three men take a seat at the counter when the door chime rings again. A woman with shoulder-length black wavy hair enters. She walks briskly with a swinging motion in her hips. The burgundy-colored blouse and the close-fitting leather skirt attracted the looks of many of a man in the dining area. Victor turns and observes her approaching and taking a seat at the stool next to him. She crosses her legs as she turns the stool towards the counter.

"Maria, I thought I said to stay in the SUV," Victor chastised.

Maria leans forward on the counter, "Well I got bored just sitting there boss, Have you find anything out yet?"

"Not yet, was about to when.."

"Hey, can I get a menu, please?" Maria requests.

"Sure hon, Here you go," The waitress says as she hands out a menu.

Maria puts in her order for onion rings and a diet soda. She smiles when she receives her order. Victor rolls his eyes in irritation.

"Hey what's your name?" Maria asks the waitress.

"Francine."

"Francine, I have a question for you, do you remember what happened here about a month or so ago involving a black woman and some other people? You know some altercation of some kind?" Maria asks before taking a bite of an onion ring.

Francine gasps, "Yes! That was some time ago but I remember it like it was yesterday."

Maria looks over at Victor with a smug smile

"Can you recall the woman's name by chance?"

The waitress adopts a contemplative expression, "Maxine, yes it's Maxine, She was just dynamite, She took those three men like they were nothing but just school kids!"

Maria smiles, "Thanks Francine, you have been most helpful, Hey Victor, let's pay the nice lady and get out of here," She looks back to Francine, "Great onion rings!"

Francine waves as the visitors leave. When they go out of sight, she goes over to a phone that is mounted on the wall and lifts the headset as she dials a number.

"Hey let me talk to Chloe, it may be important."