The Gauntlet Assassin by LJ Sellers Read Free Book Online Page B

could do to train for it. I can only hope that thirteen years in law enforcement and seven as a paramedic prepared me somewhat.” The second phase of the competition tested the participants’ ability to quickly analyze a situation and solve a problem. It guaranteed that physical strength alone was not enough to win the overall competition. Most states gave their applicants an IQ test before letting them enter the finals.
    “The analysts put your chance of winning at fifty to one. What do you say to that?” Jessie looked a little smug.
    “I know the odds are against me, but sometimes the underdog will surprise you.” Lara recalled the time she’d chased down a plane on a runway to stop a murderer, but she kept it to herself. She was uncomfortable with the interview and wanted it to be over.
    “Which competitor are you hoping to be paired with in the Challenge?”
    Lara had given this some thought, but she couldn’t share her reasons. “At this level of physical fitness, it doesn’t matter. Every contestant will be equally hard to beat.”
    “Jason Copeland of Illinois said he wanted to compete against you in the first round. He says at forty-two, you’re the weakest link.”
    Lara gave a bright smile. “He must not be very confident.” The two-faced prick.
    Jessie leaned forward and her voice softened. “Some pundits say you might draw sympathy from older viewers and survive the Challenge only because of that. How do you feel about the sympathy vote?”
    Lara bit her tongue to keep from saying bullshit . “That’s nonsense. Viewer demographics are skewed young and are definitely not in my favor.”
    Jessie spotted the Adonis-like competitor from Texas and clicked off the mic. “Thanks for your time.” She signaled her cameraman and rushed after her next sound bite.
    Lara took long slow breaths to center herself. She couldn’t let anything personal or emotional distract her from competing at her best. She wished she knew what was in store for her beyond the elevated maze. The competition was different every year to keep states from copying the Gauntlet for their regional tryouts. The organizers wanted each phase to be a surprise for the participants and the viewers. That element kept the pay-per-view money coming.
    At ten o’clock, the employment commissioner strode onto the stage. Sizable and handsome in a charcoal suit, he seemed like a different man from the one she’d found on the floor two days ago, clad in black leather and bleeding from his shoulder. Lara couldn’t detect any sign he was favoring a gunshot wound. He must have injected a numbing agent around the wound before making the public appearance.
    The commissioner leaned into the mic. “Welcome, everyone, to the Gauntlet, now in its third year. Congratulations to each of you for being the best in your state. The grant-money prize is bigger than ever this year, thanks to our co-sponsor, AmGo, which plans to build a distribution center in the winner’s hometown.”
    The crowd interrupted with applause. Thaddeus Morton smiled for the viewers, showing perfect white teeth, and waited for the noise to settle down. “We’ve designed a whole new set of scenarios that we think will be both challenging and fun.”
    Lara suppressed a grunt. Fun for the viewers. For the contestants, the rounds were carefully planned versions of hell.
    The commissioner continued. “In the new spirit of national unity, we’ve added a teamwork component to the first section of the Challenge. To enter the main arena where you will compete against each other, you and your opponent must first work together. You’ll be given only five minutes to realize your challenge and work as a team to unlock the door. If you fail to enter the arena in the time given, neither contestant will earn any points for the Challenge, but the person who completes the courses first will proceed in the competition.”
    Groans filled the auditorium. Lara tried to visualize what they had in mind