First Strike

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The vase struck the woman on the chest. She staggered back, knocking into the heart monitor. The vase shattered on the floor and the flowers were strewn across the bed.

Colonel Shu advanced towards them, holding a scalpel. Jade and Rich backed away. Rich’s foot caught on something lying behind him. He looked down quickly to see what it was and saw the plain-clothes police guard—unconscious.

Colonel Shu turned away, just long enough to slice through the tubes and wires keeping Ralph alive. Then she advanced on the twins again.

Rich stepped over the policeman and edged round the far side of the bed. Ralph’s breathing was already becoming ragged and laboured. Without taking his eyes off Colonel Shu, Rich lunged for the emergency pull-cord at the head of the bed.

In the distance, a buzzer sounded.

Shu gave a grunt of anger and ran for the door. She swiped the scalpel at Jade as she passed, but Jade easily avoided it—and as she stepped back, Jade kicked out. Her foot connected with Shu’s wrist and the scalpel spun away, clattering to the floor.

With another shout of anger, Shu turned and ran.

“Get help,” Jade yelled at Rich. “Tell them what happened.”

“Where are you going?”

“After her.”

Rich opened his mouth to protest, but Jade was gone.

Then a hand seized Rich’s arm.