Prologue

 

The Knight’s mind clouded over, like fog settling over the local San Diego metro area. One thing was clear as he sat in his white, sparsely furnished living room: his goal. He must continue his quest to help damsels in distress, ones like Juanita. He hoped she’d listen to him, that she’d understand he only tried to protect her, that she’d appreciate his chivalry. But as he’d learned from experience, the women he chose to rescue might not always be cooperative. Being a knight in shining armor did not always prove an easy task.

The finger in the jar atop the entertainment center served as a reminder: death was far kinder than the fate Juanita could have suffered at the hands of that other man. No matter what society thought, the Knight had done the right thing.

He removed the latex gloves he’d used to handle the jar and hurried over to the stainless steel kitchen sink—spotless and sterile, the way he liked it. He used his foot to open the trashcan and tossed the gloves inside. With great care, three times he washed his hands with antibacterial soap, rubbed them against each other under the warm water, and grabbed a paper towel. Infernal germs lived everywhere. One could never be too careful. Just look at how pneumonia had killed Mom.

His thoughts raced. A bottle of pills sat in the distance. The medication would soothe him, but that could wait. He needed a clear mind for the task ahead.

He released a sigh, sat at his computer, and navigated to the Riversdale Community College website, where he clicked on a picture of the women’s basketball team. Using the mouse, he zoomed in closer on the team captain. The next woman he’d help.

Beautiful and helpless. Another fair lady in need of his assistance. Her eyes called out to him, begged him to rescue her.

He opened an image he’d taken of the woman and her wheelchair-bound male friend chatting in the middle of the campus quad. The Knight hit the print button and grabbed the finished page.

A second Internet browser tab allowed him to search the college’s website for clues pointing to the woman’s major of study: chemistry. So far, she sounded intelligent. Maybe he could help this one without having to resort to drastic measures. He eyed the ammo on the dining table. Still, it didn’t hurt to take precautions.