Protector 9

    Cain watched in amazement as Rick moved to a third bookshelf. Still wrong, and getting more wrong. Were his directions that complex? He growled deep in his throat. Remember your blood pressure, he thought. No punk is worth a trip to the doc.

    At the edge of his scope's vision, a small floor vent shifted. A dark mound grew from the floor. It stretched higher and higher, like a monster's shadow from a nightmare. Then the horns sprouted.

    Cain realized he'd stopped breathing.

    The idiot punk was clueless, no surprise there. He kept fishing through the books, tossing them over his shoulder after barely glancing at their titles. The shadow slid closer, easily avoiding the flying hardbacks. One book flew at the horns. A dark arm shot from the shadow and stopped the book inches from its head.

    It was hard to say what caught Rick's attention. Maybe his ears missed the sound of the book smacking against the carpet. Maybe he felt the shadow's black eyes glaring at his back. Whatever it was, something froze the punk mid-throw. He turned, his movement slow and full of pauses, like he was fighting not to see what was behind him. His eyes bugged. His mouth gaped. His fingers lost all strength and the books in his hands plopped to the floor. He backed against the bookcase, his lips working frantically.

    Cain pressed the tiny button on the portable control panel beside him. He released the safety on his rifle and settled comfortably over the butt of the gun. Now to wait. Why didn't I install microphones in the office?

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    "Oh God," the man whispered, "oh God oh God oh God..."

    Panic worked in Batgirl's favor. It always had. This was the first time it told her things without help from her target. This punk wasn't in charge. He was too...puny to come up with this kind of plan alone. He worked for bigger...fish.

    "Who are you working for?" she kept her voice low...angry.

    "Not human...you're not human...," the man gasped. Wimp was...crying.

    "Answer."

    The punks mouth moved. He wanted to talk. Too scared. A...thought hit her like a bullet. Was he afraid of Batgirl or his boss?

    "Why are you here?'

    "B-Book. H-He w-w-w-wanted some...book..."

    "Who is he?"

    "Please don't kill me..."

    "What book?"

    "P-Please. Please! I-I don't wanna die..."

    Batgirl's eyes...narrowed. Something was wrong. This man was afraid of her, but he was more afraid of something else. SomeONE else? Her eyes darted around the room. No...cameras, no wires, no...microphones. The guy's...cell phone sat on the desk. It was normal. She scanned the dark rooftops through the large window that made up the west wall. Just rain. No one could see through that.

    Except...him...

    In only four...strides and two seconds, Batgirl...rushed the punk. She grabbed his collar and...shoved him against the...bookcase. He whimpered...spouted...nonsense. Growling, she drew her hand back and...

    SLAP

    The punk blinked, "Did you just...SLAP me?"

    "WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?!"

    "Cain! David Cain! It's Cain!"

    She threw the man away and dove for the open hatch. Green mist burst from the vent. Batgirl jerked away, scrambling to cover her mouth. Not good. She spun and flung her body at the office door. It didn't even crack. Really not good.

    "Bait," the punk mumbled, staring at the mist...advancing, "called me...Bait...Said he wouldn't kill me...if I didn't tell...God please..."

    "SHUT UP!" she screamed...whirling around to kick his head in. Her...reflection in the glass stopped her. He couldn't...reinforce glass. Not on so high a floor. She grabbed a potted plant and hurled it at the window. Bulls eye. The heavy pot shattered the glass and left a hole easily...big enough for two people. The mist kept growing.

    "Get up," she ordered and hauled the punk to his feet. He was...shaking...could barely stand. Grunting with the extra weight, Batgirl managed to pull him...across her shoulders. With a free hand, she yanked at her belt for her grapple. She...strode to the opening, aiming for the opposite building. Her feet hit the ledge.

    THK

    Batgirl froze. She blinked twice. Why was her... vision so...blurry? Her entire body had numbed. The grapple...dangled in her fingers for a...moment then fell away. Her fingers felt a long...tube sticking out of her...throat...Needle...Her...sigh blurred again...and she felt her body...fall...into the rain...as the...blackness...covered...her...