Menacing Eyes

By Sonya Lee

Katrina Castillo is getting her life back together when she is attacked by a mugger. Katrina and Allison fight off the mugger and a mysterious stranger gets security for them. The mysterious stranger ask Katrina on a date, she accepts but has some reservations. As she gets to know Michael she is unsure of his motives. She isn't exactly comfortable with him, he makes her wonder. Events in her life start to spiral out of control. The people that she loves the most are lost to her, no one seems safe while in Katrina's presence. Will Katrina survive long enough to see her twenty-fifth birthday? Can the guardian protect her or will he fail? Will Katrina learn the mystery behind the recent attacks on her life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sonya Lee
• Release date: Jul 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476345680

Sonya Lee

Sonya Lee grew up in Chicago, IL. She lived on the south side of the city. She taught at many Chicago Public Elementary schools before relocating to the south. Ms. Lee wrote as a child but the demands of school and work stopped her from writing for many years. Ms. Lee began writing again in December of 2011. Since that point she has published several short stories and two novellas. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Mississippi and will continue to write books and teach.

Book preview

Menacing Eyes

Sonya Lee

Published by Sonya Lee at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Sonya Lee

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to

Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

November

The day was crisp and cool with the sun slowly receding into the background. It was two weekends before the Thanksgiving Holiday and the parking structure was fairly full. The wind picked up blowing debris and hair all over the place.

Unperturbed by the winds of the windy city, laughter flowed through the structure as Katrina and Allison returned to their car from a fun filled day of shopping. Loaded down with bags from Express, Saks and Marshall Field's, it had been a long but productive day for the ladies.

Katrina was still replacing her clothing from last month's run in with a group of diamond thieves and Allison had come along for moral support. Katrina hadn't been out much since Kim's death and Allison knew her friend still felt a sense of loss. She also came along because she had a great sense of style and loved to shop.

They were engaged in conversation, laughing at the antics of a guy who had tried to pick Allison up, when the man stepped out from between two parked cars. They dropped their bags, startled by his sudden appearance in front of them.

He was wearing a ski mask. It was cold in Chicago but it wasn't cold enough to necessitate a ski mask thought Katrina. She sized him up in one quick glance. He stood about five feet ten inches tall, taller than both of them. He had a slender build with the exception of his shoulders, they were very broad.

The girls both bent down to pick up their bags, not thinking very much of his sudden appearance, when they noticed the huge knife he held in his hand. They immediately stood up and began backing away from their assailant. Neither said a word, they continued to stare at the knife he was brandishing at them as they tried to retreat.

Don't move! he yelled at them in slightly accented English. He raised the knife up and moved closer to the girls.

Time seemed nonexistent as they froze. Neither was capable of moving, so startled and intimidated were they by the presence of such a huge knife being brandished before them in a threatening manner.

Several agonizing seconds passed before he finally said, Give me your wallets out of your purse!

Katrina and Allison jumped at the sound of his deep voice and were propelled into action by his commanding tone, they handed him their purses.

I said give me your wallets, I don't want your purses, said their attacker in a menacing tone. The threat in his voice seemed to loom clearly over them.

They looked at one another, not quite sure of the sanity of their mugger, then they began looking through their purses in search of their wallets, nearly dropping them in their haste.

As they were searching for their wallets the mugger lunged at Katrina. She caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. Instinct took over, she dropped her purse and stepped to the side, the knife missed her by mere inches. She brought her elbow down on the knife arm. The mugger almost dropped the knife he was so startled by her counterattack but he regained his grip and swung again at Katrina. She was more prepared this time. She dodged the knife and grabbed his hand applying pressure so that he would release it. He had a death grip on the knife. Katrina realized she didn't possess enough upper body strength to force him to release it.

Allison was frozen in her spot. The attack on Katrina had startled her but she finally came out of her shocked state and joined Katrina in her fight with the mugger. She started kicking the attacker in the back. The double assault threw the attacker off guard and he finally dropped the knife as he snatched his hand away from Katrina. He blocked the last kick from Allison, pushing her to the ground, then he turned and ran down the parking lot ramp.

They watched him run away for several seconds before they heard footsteps pounding towards them from the opposite direction. Allison picked herself up off the ground. They turned in unison to meet the next threat. The guy running towards them stopped in his tracks.

Are you ladies okay? he asked breathing heavily.

We're fine, said Katrina trying to catch her breath.

I saw the guy attacking you, but you were so fast, you handled him before I even got down here to help. I called mall security, they should be here any second, he said.

Thanks, we appreciate that, said Allison a little winded from the incident.

Several seconds passed before they heard mall security come running towards them. One guard was short and stocky, the other was tall and full bodied. They weren't moving very fast. Allison and Katrina looked at one another with identical looks on their faces which said, I'm glad we were able to defend ourselves, if we had to depend on these two, we would probably be dead already.

The guy who called security looked at Katrina and Allison then said, It's a good thing you could defend yourselves, these guys probably wouldn't have been much help.

Katrina and Allison couldn't help themselves, they started laughing.

When the guards finally arrived to their location they were doubled over in laughter. The two guards were breathing hard and looking at one another, trying to determine what was so funny. Their mutual look said, I don't get paid enough for this.

The shorter guard finally said in between breaths, Is everything okay? Someone yelled for security.

The mysterious helper said, A guy just attacked them. He had a knife, but they managed to fight him off. He was wearing a ski mask with a black leather jacket, dark jeans and running shoes. He had a slender build but broad shoulders. He ran down the exit ramp.

The tall security guard wrote the information down as the other relayed the information over the radio. They didn't appear to want to pursue the attacker or they just didn't have the energy, thought the mystery man. He looked at the young ladies. Allison and Katrina had finally pulled themselves under control.

Katrina continued the tale of the attack. The guy was five ten and African. He had an accent similar to the tribal dialect of the Zuwuwa clan of Africa. I could tell by the way he spoke several words. He asked us to give him our wallets, said Katrina.

He didn't ask for your purses? asked the stranger.

Actually he only wanted our wallets, said Allison.

I thought it was strange too, he asked for our wallets. We tried to hand him our purses, but he said he didn't want our purses just the wallets out of them. As I was looking in my purse for my wallet he tried to stab me with his knife. I dropped my purse and defended myself, said Katrina.

When I saw Katrina and him fighting I dropped my purse and started kicking him, said Allison.

We were doing what he asked us to, why would he attack us? asked Katrina in consternation.

The security guards looked at the group and shook their heads in confusion. They were trained to deal with thieves, not assailants out to physically hurt anyone. This incident was beyond their realm of expertise. The police are on their way, they're better equipped to handle this situation than we are, we'll wait with you until they get here, said the short security guard. The crowd could hear sirens sounding in the distance. All heads moved in the direction of the sound, necks craning to see if they could see the police enter the parking structure.

There go the sirens, they should be rolling up any second now, said the mystery man.

Katrina looked at the young man who had come to their assistance. She hadn't paid much attention to him up until this point. He was rather attractive and had a nicely toned upper body by the look of the muscle shirt he was currently sporting underneath the black leather jacket. I'm sorry, we've been rude, thank you for calling security for us. I'm Katrina Castillo and this is Allison Kessing, she said holding her hand out to the handsome stranger.

No problem, I just wished I'd gotten here sooner and maybe helped you catch the guy. My name is Michael White, he said taking her hand in his. When he released her hand he began gathering their packages off of the ground.

Katrina and Allison finished picking up their packages with his help. As Michael was picking up a bag, he noticed a wallet underneath the rear bumper of one of the cars. He bent to pick up one of Katrina's bags and swiped the wallet in the process. He slid the wallet into his pants pocket before he handed Katrina her bags. The police patrol car pulled up as she was rearranging her items.

Two officers stepped out of the cruiser. An older Latina woman whom Katrina recognized as Officer Vasquez and a younger male officer whom she recognized named Timms. She had met them last month when her best friend Kim was murdered in a twisted plot by a couple of their classmates. Both officers were placed on her protection detail during the case. She smiled at them as they approached the group. Katrina spoke to them and introduced them to Allison and Michael.

We got a call about an attempted assault, Officer Timms addressed this question to mall security.

They can tell you what happened, said the taller of the security guards.

Officer Vasquez looked at Katrina and said, Katrina, what have you gotten yourself into this time?

Don't worry, it's not too complicated. It was just your run of the mill mugging gone bad, replied Katrina.

Officer Timms examined the group, then said to Katrina, You just can't seem to stay out of trouble, now can you?

Well, you know how I like to have fun. There's nothing like being attacked by a crazy mugger to brighten up your day, said Katrina jokingly.

This guy tried to mug all three of you? asked Timms incredulously.

No, just Allison and I. Michael came up later after calling security when he saw what was happening, said Katrina.

So what exactly did happen? asked Vasquez.

Katrina explained the mugging to the officers. Allison and Michael provided extra details to the incident as well. Katrina and Michael provided a description of the guys build and a general description of his clothing. She told the officers that the assailant was from the central part of Africa because of the way he pronounced his words in English.

I know you speak several languages, but how can you tell where this guy is from? asked Timms.

My major is linguistics, second language acquisition, and tribal languages. I study the way people speak and pronounce second language words based on their initial language. For instance, I know you were raised in a household where Italian, English, and German were all spoken, said Katrina.

Officer Timms looked at Katrina with new wonder in his eyes.

I could have told you the girl knows her stuff, said Vasquez as she looked at the surprised look on Timms' face. Can you think of anything else concerning your assailant? asked Vasquez. Allison and Katrina shook their heads no in response to her question.

Are you all done shopping for the day? asked Timms.

Yes, I need to put my feet up. Kicking mugger butt has hurt my toes. We were on our way home when he attacked us, said Allison.

Alright ladies, we have all the information we need for right now. We know where to reach you if something comes up, said Timms.

Thanks for your help. It was good seeing you all again, perhaps next time it will be under better circumstances, said Katrina.

We'll follow you out of the structure, said Vasquez as her and Timms walked back to their cruiser. Michael walked with the ladies the short distance to their car and assisted them in putting their things into the trunk.

Thanks again for alerting security and trying to help us, said Katrina to Michael.

Michael turned to Katrina, No problem. He looked around for a second. I uhh, I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee with me sometime?

Katrina noticed he appeared to be a little nervous about asking her out, his eyes were cast down as he spoke. Oh, said she still surprised by his proposition.

I know this is a strange time and place to be asking, but I might not ever see you again, said Michael.

Katrina caught Allison giving him the thumbs up sign from the other side of the car. Alright, let me give you my number, said Katrina a little hesitantly.

Michael removed a pen from his inside jacket pocket. He took out his wallet and removed a business card. Why don’t you take my number instead? This is my business card, my cell number's already listed along with my home and office numbers. You seem a little unsure right now, and considering the circumstances, I can understand why. You can call me if you decide you want to have coffee with me, he said.

She'll call, I'll make sure of it, said Allison.

They said goodbye to Michael and got into Katrina's car. Officers Vasquez and Timms sat in their cruiser. They had been patiently waiting on the ladies to end their conversation so that they could escort them out of the structure.

Michael watched both cars exit the parking structure. He walked to the other side of the building and got into his car. This was a close call, Katrina could have been killed today. He sat there for several minutes letting the anger he felt subside, before pulling out the wallet he had spotted underneath the car. He searched through the wallet and found a driver's license, some cash and a business card. He read the driver's license. He was familiar with the address of Katrina's would be attacker. He'd visited the area many times to gather information or to get extra work, America was expensive and his employers didn't realize just how expensive it was. The guy who attacked Katrina was a novice, it was evident by his clumsy attempt on Katrina’s life today. You don't carry ID on a job with you and you definitely don't lose ID during the commission of a crime. He read the name on the driver's license before he snapped it in two. This job is mine, he thought.

He decided he needed to send a message. But first, he needed to go home and do a little research. He needed to know who had hired the incompetent fool. He left the parking structure and headed straight to his condo. He needed to formulate a plan. He knew his planning was better when he worked out. He had to protect Katrina and eliminate the threat until all the pieces fell into place. The time was close at hand.

The Guardian

The Guardian has watched and waited for this day to come. He had been protecting Katrina for the last six years and it appeared that the time had finally arrived. He had seen the would be mugger hanging around the parking structure but didn't think much of it. But when he saw the young man approach the girls, he had the M-16 in position in a matter of seconds. He was looking through his scope when he saw him lunge at Katrina. He didn't have a good shot, the possibility of Katrina being hit was too great for him to chance, but he didn't have to worry about that. Katrina's renewed interest in Tae Kwon Do saved her life. She and Allison were able to fight off their assailant with no problem.

A smile had crossed his face watching the scene unfold. His Katrina was coming into her own he thought. He watched as the young man came racing towards them and their response to him. At first he thought the young man was just being helpful, but he had caught the stranger snatching up the wallet the mugger had dropped and placing it in his pocket. That action made him weary of the young man's motives. He snapped a couple of pictures of the young man and decided to check him out further. He watched the stranger hand Katrina a card and speak to her. So he was interested in her was he. He'd soon find out she wasn't for him, thought the Guardian.

The young man's actions peaked the Guardian's interest. Since when do Good Samaritan's keep wallets instead of handing them over to the police. He decided he needed to follow the young man to see what he was trying to accomplish. There was no reason for him to keep the wallet unless he had an ulterior motive thought the Guardian. He knew that as a Guardian, he could never be too careful with his charge's life.

The Guardian watched the stranger get into his car and drive away. He jotted down the license plate number. The Guardian followed the mystery man back to his home. He waited patiently in his car outside of the mystery man's home. He knew he needed to use his contacts to get an I.D. on the helpful stranger. He pulled out his phone and made a couple of calls.

Then he began to replay the rest of the scene over in his head. He was glad to have seen the two officers Vasquez and Timms. He remembered them from last month's situation with Kim. That particular situation with Kim was the reason for Katrina's exposure to the world and to her enemies as well. After speaking with Katrina, Allison and the mystery man, the police returned to their car and waited. The mystery man made his move on Katrina but he remembered she seemed hesitant. She eventually took his card and the girls climbed into Katrina's car and pulled out of the parking space. His system didn't calm down until Katrina and Allison drove out of the parking structure followed by the two officers.

The light went out and the TV came on at the mystery man's house drawing the Guardian's attention back to the situation at hand. It appeared that Mr. Mystery Man was in for the night. The Guardian drove to his safe house to check with his contacts. By the time he finished talking to his contacts, he wasn't happy with what he learned. The helpful stranger was named Michael White and his resume was a mixture of jobs not seen very often by many people. He decided he needed to keep a closer eye on Mr. Michael White. He packed his special bag and left his safe house. The Guardian headed back over to Michael White's residence. On the way to Michael's home he realized it was also time to call his employers. He was pretty sure that the players had landed in Chicago and the game was about to begin.

Chapter 2

Michael arrived at his condo thirty minutes after he left the mall. He decided to do a little research on his target before paying him a visit. He looked at the contents of the wallet again, the driver's license he had already snapped in two, there was about one hundred dollars in cash, and the business card. The business card was from a