Book 1 of the H&K Series : Path of Knowledge

Chapter 6

The next day, Tess and Bob's children returned home from their grandparents. Tess had found the strength to overcome her frustration and finally stopped apologizing for her outburst the day before. She poured herself into researching comments about Doctor Martin's online blogs and other sources. Numerous patients and other women had posted about his behavior toward them. There were several articles of lawsuits filed by Doctor Martin for defamation of character that he had won against several women who had accused him of inappropriate actions. When the research got too much, she would step away from the computer and go to the garage where they had a punching bag and sparring dummy set up for when they had all taken karate and taekwondo. Tess had even taken kickboxing at one point, enjoying the intense workout it gave her.

When she was calmer, Tess returned to the computer room and started sending out e-mails, putting comments on the blogs under a fictional name. She was hoping to rally his victims into action. Katharine sat next to her, adding comments here and there, making suggestions. Hank sat at the kitchen table staring out the window. The children were playing in the pool. Bob had gone to work but due to the current issues pulled from his duties with the assistant DA's office to riding patrol in one of the worse areas of the city.

As Hank watched, the black Audi drove past the house slowly. A soft whirring sound came from above. Hank knew there was a drone in the area. He got up from the table to peer out the window better. There it was, a small four-propeller drone hovering over the front of the house, moving toward the backyard.

"I'll be back a little later," he called to Tess and Katharine. "I have to run to the office and pick up some files I forgot before I fly out in the morning."

"Be careful," Katharine called to him as she returned her attention to the computer screen with Tess.

Hank walked out to the Mustang, scanning the street in both directions. The Audi was parked several blocks down the street. He climbed into the Mustang. Hank drove down the street, pulling up behind the Audi. He stepped out of the Mustang, walked to the front of it, and leaned back against the hood of the Mustang. The neighborhood was quiet. No one was in sight. The whirring of the drone was coming closer.

The front passenger door opened, and a burly hulk of a man stepped out in a dark suit. He stood six feet three inches and had the appearance of a football linebacker. It was apparent that his nose had been broken several times. He slid his right hand into his suit jacket as he stopped a few feet in front of Hank. The earpiece was visible in his left ear.

"You have a problem?" the front passenger demanded.

"Now that you ask, I do. Tell your boss that it would be in his best interest to decline the contract," Hank told him.

The man looked back at the Audi.

"Better yet, let me tell him," Hank said, pushing away from the hood of the Mustang, making his way past the burly enforcer, and headed to the Audi.

The burly man followed him to the front passenger door. Hank opened the door.

"How are you today?" he asked just before he grabbed the burly man behind him.

Hank jerked the man off balance, forcing him into the front seat face first. A second later, the silenced H&K model 23 pistol appeared in Hank's hand from his shoulder holster. His baggy oversized shirt hid the fact he was carrying it from the occupants of the vehicle. The handgun belched out two messengers of death in rapid succession. The two men in the front seat were each hit in the forehead, spraying the dark tinted windows with blood, fragments of skull, and brain matter.