Unable to move, Gilda lay sprawled on top of Yoshida and stared at Mick. Her breath came in short, frantic gasps. "If he's dead, you'll never leave prison alive."
"It no longer matters, does it?" Yoshida said. "I already got what I want. This school will close, and Mick Williams will never teach again."
"Gilda, what were you thinking?" Thayer asked. "Were you trying to get somebody killed?"
"Somebody call an ambulance and get Yoshida into the backseat of a car before I shoot him." Fabio directed traffic, trying to keep everyone away from Mick until someone grabbed Yoshida to snap on handcuffs.
Razi knelt next to Mick and rolled him onto his back. Beside his knee, the feathers on the blow dart fluttered from the breeze blowing in the back door, the tip embedded in the mat.
Gilda's jaw dropped and tears leaked from her eyes. "You missed?"
Yoshida cursed for the first time she'd ever heard when an officer pulled him to his feet. "No thanks to you."
"Is Gilda okay?" Mick asked.
"I thought you were dead." Gilda fought to rein in her tears. Mick was alive.
His gaze met hers as he struggled to his feet with Razi's help. "Me too, babe."
Fabio picked Gilda up and gave her a hug. "Lady, you're amazing. Did you see the way she flew out of the changing room, knocked him off balance, and saved your sorry neck. Didn't you see her in action?"
"No, I kind of had my eyes closed," Mick said. "I was a little worried about dying."
When Gilda blinked back tears and stumbled toward Mick, he caught her in a bear hug that nearly knocked them both to the floor. She pressed her head to his bare, sweaty chest in relief. He held her tight and didn't seem about to let her go.
"Miss Wright." Razi flashed a smile. "While I wish you were not here, I am glad to see you are okay."
She willed her hands to stop shaking. "Why weren't you here earlier?"
"Actually, he and I were here all night," Mick said. "Razi's the genius who set up the sensors in the vent and wired the doors. No one could get into this place without us knowing."
Gilda clenched her jaw. "Why couldn't you have done that a month ago and saved us some stress and trouble?"
"Forgive me, Miss Wright." Razi bowed. "I told you Sensei Mick knew all my secrets. I was a secret agent with the Israeli government until I was exiled. I am an expert at surveillance and infiltrating spy networks."
"Which is why you walked right into Jade's Levy's house," she said. "She thought you were her friend."
He smiled. "In truth, I have been her friend for many years. She gave me the information we needed to catch Yoshida. She is afraid of him and recorded every conversation they have had since Walter's death. He is one crazy dude."
Dude? She never thought she'd hear Razi, of all people, use that term.
"The good news is, we got Yoshida's full confession on tape." Thayer handed Fabio his phone. "There's no way he's getting away with anything."
As the police presence subsided, Gilda's heart rate gradually slowed until she sighed.
"Are you okay, Sherlock?" Mick sat next to her near the shrine and reached for his gi jacket while managing to keep one arm around her.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Gilda blinked furiously. "I was really afraid I'd lost you."
"Aww, you do care." He leaned over to kiss her. "Did you think about what I said earlier?"
"About spending some time alone together?" she asked. "I'm in."
Thayer snorted. "Oh, please. Save it. Everyone knows Mick Williams will never settle down for any woman. He'll dump you as soon as the next princess in distress comes along."
"Maybe," she said, "but that's a chance I'm ready to take."
Razi rolled his eyes and threw up his hands. "Thank goodness. It is about time."
Gilda met Mick's gaze and smiled. "Time."
"The last kanji actually was mine all along. Guess you just won twenty bucks, Razi."
Gilda's jaw dropped.