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Las Vegas
Lydia parked her bike in the parking garage near Twilight Towers. She took the elevator until she reached the 19th floor and exited. She entered the hallway, carrying her black helmet in one hand and a small backpack in the other. The plush beige carpet silenced her footsteps. Her stealth movements flowed without thought. Her eyes looked straight ahead, and when she reached room 1912, she stopped and faced the door.
She knocked.
***
Johanna was vacuuming the floor. Her long blonde ponytail was pulled tightly back. She wore Spandex shorts and a snug halter-top, neither of which hid her toned, muscular physique. She kept training and expanding her fitness routines and eventually formed her own trademarked clothing line and health food industries. And since her cable network workout program had gone into syndication, she was able to purchase a condo in Vegas and oversee most of her business from her home. She had more wealth than she ever imagined possible. Things were going phenomenally well for her.
She swayed to the retro music that pulsed through her headset while she pushed the vacuum back and forth across the lavender carpet. She jumped when someone pounded on the door. She set the vacuum upright and turned it off.
She hurried to the door, peered through the peephole, and gasped.
Lydia? Why was she here?
Johanna seldom had visitors, but Lydia was the last person on Earth that she expected to see.
Her heart beat harder. Her mind immediately reflected to Lydia’s clone trying to kill her in Pittsburgh. Even though several years had passed, Johanna continued having nightmares about the murderous, heartless clone stalking her in the dark halls and nearly killing her. It took Johanna a moment to remember that the clone was dead. This was the real Lydia.
Slowly, she pulled open the door and gave a nervous smile.
“Lydia?” Johanna looked both directions down the hall. “Where’s Lucas?”
“Called it quits.”
“Quits?” Lydia frowned. “Lucas adores you. He’d never—“
“I called it quits,” she replied coldly. “Mind if I come in? I’ve driven for hours.”
“Oh, sure,” Johanna said, stepping back and opening the door wider. “Sorry. Pardon the mess. Just trying to tidy up.”
Lydia brushed past and set her pack beside the couch. She faced Johanna with an even smile. “Care if I bunk on your couch? It’d only be for one night. I’ll be gone in the morning and won’t cause you any trouble.”
“Sure, that’s fine. How’d you know where I lived?”
“Your address was on the Christmas card you sent.”
Johanna nodded nervously. “Oh yeah, right. Where are you traveling to?”
“Not sure yet.”
“I hate to hear about you and Lucas. Really, I am.”
“It was bound to happen. He should have expected it.”
Johanna beamed a stage smile, trying to hide her nervousness. She picked up on Lydia’s cold tone and read the icy hardness in her eyes. She looked more like her evil clone than the woman that had helped Lucas bring down TransGenCorp.
“I hate to pry, but—”
“Then don’t.”
Johanna swallowed hard, fearful to remain in the apartment with Lydia. If she wasn’t in her own home, she’d have left, but as it was, she hoped to coax Lydia into a friendlier manner without further agitating her. She wasn’t certain why Lydia was so hostile and even though Johanna was much larger in size, she couldn’t possibly win any physical confrontation against Lydia. Luck had won Johanna’s battle against Lydia’s clone, and she had never credited the victory to herself.
Politely, Johanna asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just . . . very tired.”
“Let me make some tea. You like hot tea, don’t you?”
Lydia plopped down on the couch and gave a slight, tired nod. Her mind seemed elsewhere. “That would be nice.”
“Great!” Johanna said in a strained cheerful tone. She headed to the kitchen. “Give me a few minutes.”
“No hurry.”
“The remote for the television is on the end table if you’d like to watch anything.”
Johanna took a ceramic kettle, filled it with water, and placed it into the microwave. The television volume increased. Stations changed. The evening news came on.
After the microwave beeped, she removed the kettle and dropped teabags into the steaming water. She placed the kettle onto a tray with a teddy bear shaped bottle of honey, a few sweetener packets, and two teacups. Then she hurried to the living room and almost dropped the tray.
Lydia sat on the couch, watching the news. An ongoing manhunt for Matthews scrolled across the screen. The news reporter was interviewing the prison warden. Lydia’s eyes narrowed. She held a gun and pointed it at the picture of Matthews on the screen.
Johanna took a deep breath and braved steps to the coffee table. With her hands trembling, she set the tray down and smiled. She was thankful she had maintained enough balance not to shatter the ceramic tea set on the floor.
Johanna eyed the gun and forced a smile. “I brought honey and sweetener, whichever you prefer.”
Lydia never blinked, nor did she acknowledge that Johanna was even in the room. She aimed the gun with one eye closed, looking like he might squeeze the trigger at any moment.
Johanna stepped backwards and edged her way to the kitchen. Her heart raced. Her mouth became drier than cotton. She sat down at the kitchen table because her whole body quaked. Her muscled legs no longer held the strength to support her.
Despite Johanna’s muscular stature, she remained a timid person, especially whenever she thought about the dark days in Pittsburgh. One of the reasons she had distanced herself from Lucas after he married Lydia was because Johanna had great difficulty separating the Lydia clone memories from the real Lydia. Seeing Lydia made her think of the clone. Those nightmarish memories projected themselves onto the real Lydia, and now she wondered if that had somehow been the correct thing to do. Had her premonitions insisted the real Lydia was no different than the clone? Or perhaps she was worse than the clone?
Lydia’s gaze was filled with vengeful determination. The fact she had the gun out meant Johanna was in a volatile situation. Lydia might go into a rampage at any moment.
The worst thing about living on the nineteenth floor was only having one accessible exit. Her door linked to the hallway. Telling Lydia that she needed to excuse herself for a quick errand would, no doubt, arouse suspicion. Johanna wasn’t certain how Lydia might react or what Lydia might do should she flee.
Johanna thought about calling the police or Daniel, but she had left her cellphone in the living room.
Leaning back in her chair, she was able to see Lydia seated on the couch. Lydia never blinked when the newscaster said, “Matthews is considered armed and dangerous. His whereabouts are still unknown.”
“I’ll find you,” Lydia said.
Johanna had no idea who Matthews was or why Lydia was bent on finding him. She hadn’t talked to Julia or Daniel in months. Seeing Lydia in her current mental state, Johanna wondered if Lucas had recognized the assassin inside Lydia and if that was why they had gone their separate ways.
A ringtone played in the living room. Lydia answered her phone.
Johanna eased to the kitchen door and listened. Lydia whispered into the phone, making it impossible for Johanna to understand anything she said. Lydia’s demeanor changed while she talked. Her hostility faded and optimism broadened a smile across her face.
Johanna was puzzled. It was almost like watching someone suffer a complete mental breakdown. She returned to the table. Her mind raced on how she might return to the living room and strike up a conversation without revealing her true fear of Lydia or her suspicions. But the more she thought about it, the less she liked the idea of being in the same room with her. Especially when Lydia seemed overly trigger-happy.
***
Lydia’s grabbed her cell when the ringtone played.
“Yes?” she said.
“Lydia Ridale?”
“Who is this?”
“Boyd Grayson. You’re aware that Matthews has escaped?”
“Yes. I’ve been looking for him.”
Grayson chuckled. “I’d like to hire you.”
“To find him?”
“That and as my personal bodyguard. Could you kill Matthews if it becomes necessary?”
“Without hesitation.”
“I thought that would be your response.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Not yet. But we’re searching. With our technology, we can find him faster than you can. Where are you?”
“In Vegas.”
“I can have a team pick you up within the hour, provided you’re interested.”
“I’m interested. Find Matthews and he will die. I guarantee it.”
“Good. Meet at North Town Airport. Davis is the head of my security team. He will meet you and escort you to my jet.”
“On my way.”
Lydia picked up her pack and bike helmet. She eased to the door, quietly opened it, and exited. She hurried down the hall to the elevator. She found it interesting that Grayson would solicit her help when only a few hours earlier she had considered seeking him out. Together, she had no doubt that they’d locate Matthews, and when they did, his death wouldn’t be quick and easy. She had plans to make Matthews suffer in ways he had never imagined before his death. He’d probably beg her to end his life quickly. That was one request she’d deny.
An even smile crossed her lips. Her eyes stared deep in thought. She executed various scenarios in her mind. When the elevator opened to the parking garage, her adrenaline surged. For the first time she thought of murderous revenge without the slightest tinge of remorse. She was free from the bondage of guilt. What she truly was had emerged, and strangely she was excited about carrying out this mission. Although Grayson wanted to hire her, this mission was hers and hers alone. The only benefit of being on his team was quicker maneuvering with better weapons and the use of a jet.
Once Grayson’s team found Matthews’ location, she’d guarantee Matthews never escaped again. He’d die, and she’d make certain that he died slowly.
***
The television was the only noise Johanna detected coming from the living room. She crept to the door and peered in.
Lydia and her belongings were gone.
“Lydia?”
When no reply came, she walked boldly through the living room, to the door, and opened it. Lydia wasn’t in the hallway. She was gone.
Johanna grabbed her phone and dialed Daniel’s number with a shaky finger. She quaked all over and sat on her couch.
Daniel answered.
“Daniel, what’s going on?” she asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Lydia. She was here and just left.”
“Lydia visited you?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“What did she want?”
“She wanted to stay the night, and I told her that she could. But then she got a call and left without saying goodbye.”
“Any idea who called her?”
“No. I stayed in the kitchen. I didn’t want to be near her. She . . . she was very menacing. She had her gun out while watching the news. Who is this Matthews guy?”
“She mentioned him?”
“He was on the news and she said that she was going to find him.”
“Matthews was the one behind Lydia’s kidnapping a few months ago.”
Johanna crossed her legs, leaning back on the couch. “She was kidnapped?”
“Yeah.”
“No wonder she’s so angry.”
“I’m afraid it will go much further than anger. She’ll kill him.”
Johanna’s eyes widened. “You really believe she will.”
“Lucas called me early this morning after she left him.”
“How is he?”
“He wasn’t coping too well when I spoke with him. Do you think he was the one who called Lydia?”
Johanna twirled her ponytail around her finger. “I really don’t know. I tried to hear what she was saying but she didn’t talk loud enough. I was in a different room.”
“At least she’s gone and you’re safe.”
“Yes. I know. How is Julia?”
“Due to have our second child any day now,” Daniel said.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Daniel, that’s fantastic news! I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy and tied up with my marketing strategies that I’ve simply lost touch with you two.”
“It’s fine.”
“No. It’s not. I had gotten close to Julia and after all the mess with TransGenCorp, and after my producer was killed—”
“It’s okay,” Daniel said. “You needed to get your mind off everything. We understand.”
“I miss her,” she said. “And little Felicia. You call and let me know when Julia goes into labor.”
“I will.”
“Cause I’m going to be there. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I need to go, but I wanted you to know that Lydia came by.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you did. Make certain you lock your door.”
Lydia wiped tears from her eyes. “I’ll probably barricade it for a couple nights now.”
“I don’t think she’ll return. She’s after Matthews. She won’t stop until she finds him, either.”
“Thanks, Daniel. Tell Julia and Felicia that I love them.”
“I will.”
“Goodbye.”
“Bye, Johanna.”