THE ASSASSIN had left me a message on the tape. Looking directly into the camera, she had announced that she was going to San Francisco. All we could see of her was her penetrating eyes, which were the only thing the ninja uniform didn’t cover up. I had the video tech print out a picture of those eyes. My thinking was that maybe we could capture her by studying them, training ourselves to recognize them even if she used colored contact lenses. Using the computer, we were able to change the color of her eyes and print out pictures of them.
Director St. Clair dispatched four field agents to protect Savannah and Keyth, but it seemed inadequate, considering whom they were up against. The Assassin was a martial arts expert and a master of disguise. I would never feel comfortable with her still on the loose. She was prepared to do whatever she had to in any situation.
From what I had seen when Kelly and I had chased her, she was fearless and completely controlled. As far as I was concerned, we needed an army to track and corner her. And even then, we would have to shoot to kill. She wasn’t going to be taken easily. That much, I knew for sure. But of course, I could never say that aloud.
Michelson came in and asked me what Kelly and I were doing there. We were suspended, he reminded us. I told him that Director St. Clair had reinstated us that morning. He mumbled something that I couldn’t understand.
“Kelly,” I began, “I think we oughta look at the rest of those tapes from the Hyatt Regency. If I’m right, she had another room.”
“What good would that do?” Michelson asked. “Director St. Clair says she’s not even in town. She’s in San Francisco.”
“Why should we trust what she tells us, Lawrence?” I said, pressing my luck. “Besides, I wanna know who this Winston Keyes guy is. He could have gone to her room. And if he did, that would tell us a whole lot more than what we know right now.”
Director St. Clair came into the room and said, “Phoenix, Kelly, take my jet and get to San Francisco. The Assassin took out the whole squad and the Warrens.”
“But you had ten agents, plus Flynn and Ford, sir,” I said.
“I know, Phoenix,” St. Clair said. “I’m going to move your family to a safe house until this is over. Michelson, you see to it.”
“Yes, sir,” Michelson said, relieved that Phoenix and Kelly weren’t going to look at those videotapes that would show him going into the Assassin’s room. “I’m on top of it,” he told the Director.