Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 19

"You are a crazy old woman. Get out of my way."

"Yeah, you were cleared by the company, but you and I know different."

While Hedda reached up with her free hand to grasp her eyeglasses and wipe at her eyes, Herman snarled, "So what does it matter? Your husband was a loser … and so are you."

 In that instant Herman moved forward and raised his gun, an action which precipitated several nearly simultaneous events. Three shots rang out. Hedda stared at the staggering figure before her as it crumpled to the floor with a sigh. She dropped her gun, fell to her knees and clutched her thigh. A loud moan brought Adam racing to her from the base of the stairway.  A red stain oozed through her gown.

"Hedda. Are you all right? Were you hit?"

She slumped to the floor and curled up in a fetal position rocking back and forth. Her hands grasped a leg and were covered in blood. She tried to answer but could only breath out a groan.

Sirens approached. Then Adam heard a car, the limo, start up and screech away. He began to shake as the rush of adrenaline pulsed through his body. He had never fired a gun at anyone before. He ran over to inspect Herman's prostrate form, rolling it over. The overcoat opened to reveal a white cotton shirt with a large dark stain in the center. Herman had died instantly. He pocketed his gun and turned to return to Hedda. The smooth wooden floor was broken by a patch of upraised splinters surrounding a small round hole in the floor.

Was that Hedda's shot … or mine?

***

                  Officer Bloustein sipped at his Styrofoam cup yet again, apparently using the action to gather his thoughts. He carefully replaced it next to his keyboard, looked hard at the screen, and then at Adam seated across the desk. 

            "It looks like I have everything I need. I still don't get why Mr. Borman pulled his gun."

            "He seemed out of control … yelling something about an artifact and that Hedda better hand it over or else."

            "Yeah. You already told us that. Shooting at Hedda doesn't make sense."

            "He seemed very angry. Is she going to be okay?"

            "The EMT boys said it was a flesh wound. No major blood vessels, no bones."

            "Thank God. She was just trying to defend herself."

            "Yeah. You told us that too. We'll get her official statement at the hospital."

            "What about the fellows in the limo?"

            "We have an APB out on that limo. We know it well. It's just a matter of time."