A Question of Will by Alex Albrinck Read Free Book Online

Baker would not allow him to shatter the glass of the Guard Station and enter the community in that manner; the building was now a crime scene. Will glanced at the roof, an idea forming.
    He couldn’t go through the building. But he could certainly try to go over the building. The guards had defenses to prevent such attempts, but the guards wouldn’t be stopping him from trying today.
    Will saw the opening he needed in the form of a downspout running from the roof. He seized the pipe, and, with a surge of adrenaline, shimmied his way up the side of the building, relieved that the plastic was supporting his weight. He reached up and gripped the gutter, which was now two feet behind him, with one hand, keeping his legs and the other hand gripping the downspout for leverage. Once he had a secure one-handed grip, he let go with his legs and swung out, dangling, until he got his second hand fixed on the gutter. He built some momentum, swinging his body, until he built enough speed, and then with a heave threw his legs up onto the roof, pushing with his hands to ensure he stayed there. He took a deep breath, and then turned himself around, facing toward the peak of the steep roof.
    Leaning forward, Will moved to the top. He passed the gaping hole and steeled himself not to look into the room below. He’d seen Baker’s reaction, and he couldn’t afford that kind of reaction himself right now, not when he needed to focus on getting to his house. Will reached the top, and shifted around so he was backing down the roof towards the inside of the community. When he reached the edge, he gripped the gutter, gently lowered himself down as far he could, and then dropped the remaining five feet to the ground. He knew that he needed to roll into the drop to avoid injuring himself, but the impact still staggered him, and he twisted his right ankle. Ignoring the pain, he took a deep breath, stood, and moved toward the fleet of golf carts, aware that a golf cart would get him to his house more quickly than he could on foot, with or without his injured ankle.
    But the golf carts were all in flames. The situation was becoming more ominous by the moment. He’d have to go as fast as he could on foot, with his injured ankle, while wearing the worst possible running shoes. Will ran down the central driveway until it forked five ways. He took the one to the far left and sprinted towards his house, which was a mile away.
    He prayed he was in time to save his wife and son from the fate suffered by the two security guards.
     

 
     
     
     
    IV
    Assassin
     
     
    Hope Stark sat in her living room, watching and waiting.
    It wasn’t the ideal method of preparing for a potential invasion force of killers, but it would have to do. It was the best approach available to her to meet her ultimate goal of keeping Josh safe. They could try to run or drive out of here, but they’d certainly be seen or heard by the killers. If the killers had already beaten Will’s security system at the gate, they’d be ready for one woman trying to run or drive away from a house while towing a young child. She silently thanked the security guard for sharing information about the killers. She feared he was dead, and hoped that if that were the case, that his death had been quick and painless. She was going to do everything she could to make sure it had not been in vain, and that meant making sure that her son survived whatever was out there. The gun was in her hand, loaded, safety off, a spare clip in her pocket.
    Only time would tell if that would be enough.
     
     
     
    The Assassin wove through the forest, staying off the main driveway. Thanks to the fool human guard, the Stark woman would know he was coming, and would apparently have a gun. He didn’t like that. There was a chance she could get off a shot while he was still some distance away, and that meant she would have a chance to hurt him. The Assassin didn’t like fair fights. He needed to disarm her