Killer of Killers by Mark M. DeRobertis Read Free Book Online Page B

Manoukian
admitted. “So tell me. Was there anything else?”
    “No,” Samantha answered with a sigh. “Nothing
that provided any information about who he is or who he works for.
I found no evidence of family. There were no albums or photos, no
papers, no files, nothing. It looked like he just moved in. There
was no computer and no telephone. His mail only had junk, and his
bed didn’t even have covers on it.” After finishing her statement,
Samantha wished she left that last part out.
    “So all we have is a name,” Manoukian said.
“You saw Stiles enter a restroom. You saw this Trent Smith enter
the same restroom. You saw Smith come out, and you found this thing in his home.” He nodded at the belt. “The official
report says Stiles died of natural causes. That means he could have
died before Smith entered or after Smith exited the restroom.”
    “The official report states he died from
natural causes, but my own investigation uncovered the real cause of Stiles’ death,” Samantha explained. “It was a lack of
oxygen to the brain due to crushed internal carotid arteries. A
martial arts master can kill like that. The report also failed to
mention that Stiles’ left shoulder was dislocated when he died.
That’s more evidence of—”
    “ Perhaps ,” Manoukian interrupted. “But
why? Did Soriah send him?”
    “He doesn’t fit the profile of a Soriah
Special,” Josh advised. “He must work for someone else.”
    Manoukian paused, but only for a moment.
“Interesting,” he said. “Is there any record of this man in the
police files?”
    “Mr. Manoukian, the police have nothing on
him,” Samantha replied. “We don’t even know where he’s from, or
where he was born.”
    “Samantha, please...”
    “Yes, I’m sorry. Karl.”
    “Thank you.”
    Samantha was eager to make her point. “Mr.
Manou... Karl... You wanted Stiles. Trent Smith killed Stiles. I
think that makes him right for the job.”
    “I can’t risk everything on what you think ,” Karl retorted. “I need to be sure. I was sure about
Benjamin Stiles, but I’m not sure about this Trent Smith.” He
glared alternately at Samantha and Josh. “Besides, you say he’s an
average-sized man. He’ll never get close enough. Soriah only
surrounds himself with athletes. Big ones.”
    “If Soriah knew this guy killed Stiles with
his bare hands, he might make an exception,” Josh surmised. “He’s
been known to do that.”
    “No,” Karl snapped. “Stiles was the man for
the job. He was already part of Soriah’s network. Now that he’s
gone, you will have to do it. You were one of them. They
want you back, anyway.”
    “I’m not a killer,” Josh argued. “It’s not
something I can do, even if I wanted to.”
    “And thanks to me the world still believes
that. It’s why you work for me, is it not?”
    “Josh quit working for Soriah,” Samantha
interjected, “because he found out what he’s really like, and he
doesn’t want any part of it.”
    “But he was a part of it!” Karl
shouted. He calmed himself and continued. “When Mr. Soriah became
my partner, I thought his resources would be a boon. I believed his
money and influence would make our product available worldwide.
Instead, we have a monster on our hands, and he has taken us in a
direction I had never dreamed possible. It’s why Josh and I defied
him. He must be stopped. We have to be sure.”
    Josh cleared his throat. “I am indebted to
you,” he said. “And I believe, as you do, in the betterment of
humanity. But how do we know it’s the real reason you want
Soriah dead?”
    “Josh!” Samantha cried.
    “Well, how do we know?”
    “I can’t believe you. Karl saved your life.
You should be grateful.”
    Despite Samantha’s response, Karl’s face
darkened and he shook his head. “You disappoint me,” he said to
Josh. “With one phone call I can put you in jail. Is that what you
want?” He lifted his desk phone.
    Josh lowered his gaze and answered,