Excerpt: The Sign

Violet proceeded calmly, ever aware of the watching cameras, and left the library. She headed toward the campus shuttle bus stop. A bus was loading so she picked up her pace. Ten feet from the bus a man cut in front of her and herded her away from the bus stop. He wore a long black overcoat, black sunglasses, and – was that an honest-to-god fedora? Do they even make those anymore? “Hey, what do you – “she began.
“Just keep walking,” he interrupted. He gripped her elbow with his left hand. Something hard jabbed her in the ribs. “Don’t make a scene,” he warned. “They may be watching.”
“Good!” Violet started. “I hope they are! There are never any police around when you need one.”
“Not the police. Did you find what you came for?” He asked. Violet could only look at him, not understanding. “If you did,” he continued, “you may be in danger. We have to get you out of here.” He frog-marched her to a black four door sedan parked illegally behind the library and opened the passenger door for her. “Get in.”
“Oh no. I know all about you people. If I get in this car no one will ever see me again.”
“Ms. Myles, please get in the car.”
Violet was taken aback. “How do you know my name?”
“Please - We can talk more as we drive. Believe me, time is of the essence.”
He took off his sunglasses and looked her in the eye. He was strikingly attractive. Large soulful brown eyes, clean-shaven with high cheekbones, long black hair brushed neatly into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Then Violet remembered where she had seen him. “You were at the mall!” She said. “At the café!”
“You remember,” he said. “Very observant.”
Who would forget a hunk like you, she thought. “What the heck is going on? Are you stalking me?”
“Not exactly. My name is Nick Stoykov. I’m your security detail.”
“My what?”
“Your bodyguard.”
“Why on earth would I need a bodyguard?” she said.
“Because of this,” he replied, and reached for her left hand. Before she could react he shoved her sweater sleeve up her arm and exposed the new tattoo. “Now will you please get in the car?”