Free A Necessary Kill by James P. Sumner Page A

so he just looks big and bulky. His jowls are dark with stubble, and his thick lips glisten with saliva.
    He turns his head slowly to look at me and smiles. “Hi.”
    His voice low and simple.
    I wave silently, trying to remain as calm as I can.
    Ruby steps forward, her hands on her face in fake surprise. “My God, it’s you! It’s really you! You’re here to save me, aren’t you? They told me you would come… the man who drinks tea and his friends—they said you’d rescue me.”
    Christ, she’s off again…
    The big guy looks at her. “I’m George,” he announces slowly. “Hi!”
    “George… George… you are the chosen one, are you not?”
    “Uh… Hi!”
    The mob outside starts banging on the door, urgently trying to break through. The big guy—George—looks oblivious and a little confused.
    “We’re going to have some fun,” continues Ruby. “We’re going to play a game of peekaboo with our new friends outside.” She moves in close to him and leans against his chest the way a daughter would with her father, her hand flat next to her face. “Behind that door, the demons come. No, don’t look! Don’t look at their eyes. We must put them to sleep. Let them rest.”
    George is completely unaware she’s next to him. He’s just staring at the door. There’s no emotion on his face. There’s… nothing. Just a Vacant sign hanging between his ears. But he’s a monster of a man. Maybe a gentle giant. Maybe a sleeping bear. Whatever he is, I hope Ruby knows what she’s doing…
    “De… mon…?” he mutters.
    Ruby smiles. “Yes! Yes! Demon! Right outside the door. They need to sleep. They need to rest. Help me, Chosen One. Help me!”
    He looks down at her slowly. “Sleep…”
    He pushes her away and walks toward the door. I hastily step aside, not wishing to anger ol’ Sloth here anymore than I want to piss off the crazy gang outside.
    I move to the back of the room and stand beside Ruby. “Good work.”
    “Thanks. Be ready to run.”
    With considerable ease, George moves the table using one hand. He yanks the door open, not bothering to unlock it first. The frame cracks and splinters as the lock breaks.
    Our view is mostly obscured by his hulking frame, but I hear the commotion outside cease almost immediately.
    “De… mon…?” he says again.
    He’s met with silence. Ignoring everything else, he strides into the corridor, smashing his enormous shovel-like fists into the first couple of lunatics he sees. I can just about see them hit the floor. The jaw of the one nearest to the door is hanging loose, and their eyes are open and blank. I’m guessing they’re dead.
    The noise restarts as everyone’s attention turns to George.
    I grab Ruby’s wrist. “Come on, we’re leaving.” We move to the door, waiting for a gap in the crowd. “Okay, now!”
    We slip out and set off back down the corridor, running as fast as we can. I have my hand around Ruby’s wrist. She’s doing her best to keep up with me.
    We make it back to the door that leads to the reception area. I glance quickly through the window and see the group of guards still standing there. A few of them are facing the main doors, talking among themselves.
    The FBI must be almost here, if they’re not already.
    “Is there any other way out of here?” I ask her.
    “I’m not sure. There’s a basement level, but I don’t know if there’s a back door or anything.”
    “Damn it. Well, we need to try—the front door’s not an option. And this place will be swarming with Feds any second.”
    “Okay, this way.”
    We set off down the corridor to the right. Halfway along is a metal door. I take the keys and start trying them in the lock.
    Ruby looks back the way we came, keeping watch. “Will you hurry up?”
    I try another key. “I’m going as fast as I—” The door unlocks. “Okay, I’m in.”
    I pull it open, holding it so she can go through. I follow her, locking it behind me.
    We’re in a maintenance area,