Shadow Steps (Closed for Asa)

[raiguy]

Ryan Morgan had used several resources to canvas this hit. He was tired of it. The man had a simple routine. Every day he woke up, swam, showered, then went to work. It was clockwork. He was at work for 5 hours, then drove home before doing investment work. Ryan had looked into his portfolio and found that he was doing surprisingly well, given the state of his company. After investments, the man went for a run, then ate dinner with his wife, sitting in the same place every night, drinking the same watered down whiskey. The man read the newspaper for an hour, then proceeded to go to sleep. The contract taken out on this man was for well over $12 million, although, from what Ryan could see, there was no reason that this man was worth that much to kill. He had a will giving his possessions to charities, leaving his wife with money and then some. No one would ever get to it. He dug deeper and found that the man was smuggling cocaine in through the Mexican-American border, but figured that would be for the DEA to take care of. Why then had someone taken out a hit on this man?

Ryan shook his head, pulling his backpack tighter. Ryan was 21 years old, and could have had the world. Instead, he chose to be a contract killer. That's what happens when your father puts you into every martial art known to man, teaches you how to shoot a gun better than special ops, and use other weapons to deadly effect. The military had made his dad into a cold, callous man, and it showed in the way Ryan grew up. He wasn't "Son", instead, he was "Little Shit" or "Bastard". When Ryan was 14, he killed his first man, his father. From then on, Ryan only got better. He learned chemistry, languages, physics, law, politics, botany, and anything else that would help him get his target. So far, he had never missed.

Ryan quickly checked to make sure his H&K Mk 23 was in place, as well as the 4 daggers and 3 throwing knives. His backpack actually housed an MSR chambered for a .338 Lapua with a custom built suppressor that would make sure no one knew where the shot that killed the target was from. He made enough enemies, no one would suspect an assassin.

As Ryan was walking away, his hand quickly slipped to his back as he saw a young woman walking around. He had seen her a few times while canvasing the house, trying to find the best way to kill the old bastard before deciding a long range shot was the best way. Hey, the buyer didn't say it had to be private, but he wanted results. The woman didn't bother him, and didn't pose a threat. The threat was the 2 men in black suits with gloves quietly following her. Ryan didn't know why, but suddenly he fell in behind them, waiting to see what this was all about.

 

[Asa]

Her cover had been a nice little fluff piece on the company and its alleged humanitarian work overseas... Her true assignment was anything but fluff. She had enough dirt on all 4 partners to bury this place in international courts till their grandchildren were grandparents. All she had to to was get her next report and pictures turned in. One of the partners was a little less than pleased with her for refusing his advances and that seemed to be a more drastic problem to him that she knew.

She was headed to her car on edge around this place anyways as she walked warily her hand on a knife she always kept on her. She had some Hwa Rang Do training when it came to simple self defense and a little knife work nothing major though. She was sure she heard steps behind her but her night black pathfinder was just 3 cars away from her and she was sure making it that far was not a problem as she already had the doors unlocked withthe keychain system.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan quickly saw that the girl would make it to her car, but that she would most likely be killed as soon as the car door was opened.

Working quickly, he pulled his pistol and screwed on the silencer. He took aim and shot both men through the head. Without letting the girl know, he dragged both bodies off without leaving a noticeable blood trail. Happy that he had done the right thing, he quickly made his way to the overlook where he had planned his shot.

After getting set up and sighting his MSR in, Ryan took stock and made sure everything was in order. He knew the bodyguards wouldn't disturb the meal, but were instead in the command room playing poker. As the target sat down to dinner, he lined up the shot and pulled the trigger. The good thing about having a machine shed was his ability to make an untraceable rifle. He quickly disassembled his rifle then made his way to an internet cafe.

After pulling his laptop out and logging onto a classified site, he made contract with the buyer, only to find that three more contracts were waiting for him. He flipped through each contract, seeing that each of the targets worked for the same company. He quickly agreed, and after making sure that he got the wire transfer into one of the many shells he used, he set about getting ready to recover intel on the three new targets.

 

[Asa]

She got to her car and sending in her next report she quickly turned to head for home for the night. by the time she was home she had received the next target she needed to get information on and as usual a new secured "email" to send the info to never using the same one twice. Falling fairly quickly to sleep she awoke to the radio alarm popping on with a breaking news report about what appears to be her former target and two of his people found dead. That was strange but she knew that each of the 4 heads of this company had far more enemies than friends so she could not really say she was all that surprised.

The phone then ringing as it was cleared for her to interview the youngest of the partners but not at the office he would be quite happy if she would agree to join him on the company yacht for a tour around the bay while she conducted her interview. Telling the secretary that was fine she would need to meet them yacht club in 2 hours. Quickly checking on her equipment and making sure that everything is ready to go she headed out and picked up a little breakfast and did a little shopping for more relaxed professional attire for the meeting and heading back home to change before heading to the club to meet the young Mr Baxfield.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan quickly got to work on scouting his targets. He gathered plenty of info through the night. He found out that the youngest partner was going to be on a yacht tomorrow. He ruled that man out for the time being, seeing as it would be too obvious that it was a hit if he didn't just blow the yacht up. He instead focused on the oldest member of of the partnership, knowing that it would be much easier, since the man rarely missed a public appearance, and those were daily. He set out make sure that the man didn't make his appearance as he rigged the sedan he would be driving in with a few explosives. As soon as that was completely, he set out to go to the public appearance place, a speech, to make sure the job was done if he switched cars.

It was a good thing he did go to the speech, as the man switched cars at the last moment. Ryan reacted quickly, switching instead to a knife. As the man was walking down after finishing his speech, he felt a sharp pain in his lower back as Ryan walked past him, never knowing that a knife had just left him with moments to live.

As Ryan was walking down the sidewalk, he saw the girl from yesterday. He started following her again as he saw several other men following her now. He dropped in line as he wanted to make sure that this girl made it safely home.

 

[Asa]

Young Mr Baxfield had arranged for a couple of his direct employees to see her to her car and then to her building she was not keen on them following her any further than that but he was rather insistent since someone had killed one of the partners he did not want anything happening to her. She didn't buy it but she had ways of throwing them off the real trail to her place. They stayed back at least and did not hit on her like their boss and his former partner. So far the old man the most senior partner had not tried to hit on her and had actually been fairly nice in comparison to the others so far.

Getting close to her building she turned looking to them and pointing out a cafe she turned walking it telling them they did not have to wait for her she might take a while she loved the food here.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan smiled as he saw what the girl was doing. He figured her eating would give him enough time to take care of the thugs. As soon as the girl disappeared, he quickly went to the closest man. He reached around and torqued the man's head, effectively snapping his neck. The other two men died the same way the senior partner had died only hours earlier. The bodies were left in a dumpster out of the way. After cleaning the knife with a special solution that got rid of blood but would never show up on a test, Ryan casually walked into the cafe and sat at a table not far from the girl. He decided that if 5 men were dead already, more would come, and he needed to know why she was being followed. After ordered a coffee and nothing else, Ryan sat there, taking notes, like he was researching something like a typical college student. After figuring out that the girl was actually delving into this partnership, he realized that she would end up being a casualty if he didn't act soon.

After paying for the coffee, Ryan made his way back to his apartment, punching in a code to unlock a weapons locker in a wall safe. He pulled out a collapsible .223 with built in silencer. He knew where the yacht docked, and knew that the partner would be there for some time later. After thinking for a minute, Ryan decided that it was time to send a message to the last partner so that he got the message to back off of everyone. Ryan grabbed two clips for his .45, then screwed the suppressor on before holstering it. He changed into a suit then proceeded down to the docks, assuming the air of a powerful business man.

After quietly removing the two door guards, Ryan stepped inside, looking every inch the hitman with his leather gloves, cold expression, and black suit. 15 guards later, Ryan had the young Baxfield strapped to a chair with a video camera pointed at him. He routed it into the corporate server at the company, knowing the last partner would still be at the office. As the camera started rolling, Baxfield read the cards like a good little boy, only to have his lights snuffed out. Ryan was sure that the last partner, the most powerful of the four, would get the message. One didn't send a clear cut message like that to Mr. Edmund without knowing how to get to him. Within a day, Ryan knew Edmund would be in hiding, but the girl would be a little safer.

 

[Asa]

She was called and told that her last to interviews one was dead and the other was far too busy to meet with her for now but would contact her when he was free to meet with her or if a more relaxed locations could be arranged. She politely hung up and grumbled and went through all of her research trying to figure out who of the enemies she had uncovered would be this adamant about terminating this company like this. She found a couple of possible guilty parties but now it was just figuring out how or why they would suddenly act this aggressively. Going back over all her notes and research and recordings she tried to piece it together and decided she would not be shoved aside and after waiting a day or two headed back to the building and demanded her way in threatening to change that cushy piece into an expose that no one in the building would survive from the late owners all the way down to the lowest cleaning crew member. That got her into the inner sanctum of the building as she was now meeting with the final partner who clearly was pissed at her actions but clearly knew something about her employers and her threat to be very careful about not angering her further.

 

[raiguy]

Apparently Edmund hadn't gotten the message.

Ryan stood over two bodies of men stationed outside the woman's apartment. He removed their weapons then put them back in the car they had been in. He made his way over to the girl's apartment, then sat so that he could see anyone moving around in the apartment, or trying to get in. The cameras at all of the windows and doors in or out of her apartment really helped make it easier.

Ryan knew that Edmund wouldn't stop now, clearly knowing that the information this woman possessed would spell the ruin of himself and at least 5 other corporations. He just hoped that Edmund wouldn't be stupid anymore and just leave. If he had to, Ryan would personally eliminate every member of his target's retinue to make sure this girl was safe and Edmund met his end.

 

[Asa]

Several more days of trying to get all the info she needed and getting irate with her contacts who she was turning the articles and photos over to about all the death around this and not getting any straight answers she finally gave up and decided to set up some of her her own "spying" tactics to see if she could find anything out about what was going on and who might have been behind this. It was getting annoying and rather stressful and she was not willing to deal with any more stress than the basic stress of this assignment.

Sitting back in her suite she decided to see if Edmund would be more willing to talk about who this could possibly be so she called his direct line and waited for an answer.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan heard the phone ring. He glanced back the way he came, seeing the bodies of the guards Edmund had hired. He gestured for Edmund to pick the phone up. As soon as he saw that the girl was on the line, he gestured for Edmund to tell her all information pertaining to the company, the partnerships with other corporations, and anything that might pertain to what the woman was looking into. He smiled as Edmund finally said that was enough, then hung up. He quickly walked towards Edmund, before patting him on the shoulder and severing his vertebrae with a knife. He walked out of the room, happy to have helped the girl, but realizing she would now need to be watched more closely.

 

[Asa]

She could not believe all this guy told her and luckily recorded it all but it did not tell her anything that would help her figure out who had killed the others. Maybe he was the one that had the others killed but why. None of it made much sense but on to the next corporation.

Calling her contact and getting everything set up for another fluff piece cover story she decided to head to the range. Her dad had taught her the basics of handguns and all that and when she made her first big time article he had bought her a Night Hawk Lady Hawk 9mm but she seldom used it except at the range to blow off steam.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan followed her, then found out she was going to a range. While the woman was at the range, he quietly broke into her apartment, finding her gun safe. He immediately deposited a Springfield Arms 1911 .45 with several clips containing the new hydrashock rounds for armor penetration and more damage. He knew her Lady Hawk wouldn't protect her if the guards of this next corporation got wind of what she was really up to.

Without skipping a beat, Ryan left a note next to the pistol and clips in plain sight.

"Be warned. The further you delve into this mess, the more dangerous it will be. That Night Hawk is a good backup gun, but this will pull your ass out of the fire more often and will keep you safer."

-Shadow Stepper

 

[Asa]

Once she got back from the range she found the other gun and blinked... reading the note she was not sure about this. She did not even touch the guns just in case this was some kind of set up with all the bead bodies turning up around her research investigation. After seeing that some one had been in her apartment she made a few calls and had a security system upgrade and informed the building owner as well so they could tighten the high rise security.

She also chose to keep her Nighthawk LadyHawk on her at all times now.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan shook his head then made his way home. He grabbed more clips and a few extra knives and throwing daggers. After waiting a few hours, he slipped back into her apartment, almost laughing at the security system. He was the one who designed it, so knew how to shut it down. He made his way to her bedside, and took her Lady Hawk, replacing it with the .45. He wrote another note, this time hoping to show her that she was being stupid.

"If I had wanted you dead, there would have been a multitude of times for it to happen. As it stands, you are the one person who can show this syndicate for what it really is. That will draw plenty of heat to you because they will know it's you collecting information. This .45 and the clips with it will be able to drop a bodyguard from the syndicate if you have to use it. It has the same recoil as the Lady Hawk, and same sight pattern. The gun isn't a setup, but I couldn't handle a woman dying while I could prevent it."

-Shadow Stepper

 

[Asa]

Liria was really starting to get freaked out by all of this. Should she move... or find someone to check into all of this... Get dogs... She was growing more panicked by this wondering who this was and why they were doing this. She began doing most of her work over the phone but did place a couple of calls to the people she worked for about what was going to see what they thought and what they could do about it.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan wanted to get closer to this woman, but didn't want to scare her more. He thought she got the message about safety, but couldn't be sure. He quietly backed off, but kept watch. He found out her name was Liria, and that sufficed for now. He wanted to make sure Liria was alive to finish this article, and because he was slowly becoming attracted to this mystery woman.

 

[Asa]

Liria eventually began leaving her apartment again and trying to get more face to face time with her targets for the article. Her manager in all honesty did not know the real reason for some of the people she was to interview he was sent a list and they followed it. She however suspected some of who was wanting the info figuring that out was easier than trying to figure out which enemy was killing off the corporate members.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan continued following Liria, now that he found out her name. He also found out as much as he could, deciding she was definitely worth his time. As time wore on and her search didn't always bear the results she wanted, Ryan decided to try and see if he could help.

After figuring out a way to anonymously send her a tip, Ryan gathered up some information that wouldn't be able to be found outside of his connections, and sent Liria a message, asking if she wanted some help or info on the next set of targets she was to interview.

 

[Asa]

Liria was getting past being fear and now moving towards anger at this person who was not willing to face her but all this notes and guns and stuff like that. It was grating her nerves... not an easy task with her family especially her father and his influence in her life she was well beyond calm and used to "strange" stuff but this was just about the last straw. She thought about calling her father or one of his Army associates in on investigating this for her while she tended to her job. She did not want to ask for an unofficial favor it was never good to get them involved she had to remind herself of that after she got to her boyfriends apartment in college and found him and one of her "Uncles" talking about how she was concerned about his actions with a fellow student, her rival for an internship. She was not willing to go through something like that again or risk being the one to get someone killed since there was already far too much death around this investigation.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan shook his head, then sent another reply saying he would gladly meet with Liria if she wanted this information. He included that he just thought it would be easier to meet in person. She didn't know he saw her response to his first message, so just included this as a follow-up, hoping to show that he just wanted to help, and if meeting was easier than being anonymous, he was all for it. He signed it with his first name, knowing that the first message didn't have a signature.

 

[Asa]

She agreed to meet with this Ryan opting for a very public place. She was not pleased still that this person had taken the custom Ladyhawk and was more than willing to return all the guns left with her to get it back.

Sitting at a table in what was always a fairly well packed little coffee shop she sat where she had vantage to see the whole place and no chance of any sneak ups. Sipping her chai she waited but was not planning on waiting long as she did have a job to do.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan laughed, bringing the Lady Hawk with him as he made his way to the meeting place with the dossier. After finding Liria, he sat down across from her, putting the Lady Hawk on top of the dossier.

"This is all the info I could find on your current investigation. I was going to return your Lady Hawk after the guys outside left you alone, but if you want it that badly, here it is," Ryan said, without looking over his shoulder as the bell rang, signalling the two hired guards walking into the store. He hoped that Liria would trust him if he needed to intervene.

 

[Asa]

Glancing past him to them she stood up.

Jacob I assume your boss has agreed to meet me here? I will meet him on the patio in 10 minutes.

She watched not only the two of them but the man at the table with her. While she was not a very military person she had grown up an army brat and knew how to take care of herself.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan smiled and decided that she was going to walk that road no matter what. He inclined his head, then got up and walked away. He figured that if she wanted to get herself into a mess, she could get out of it.

After getting into his apartment, Ryan checked his classified sight, only to see that there were no more contracts, but payments had been received. He sat back and watched a program he didn't really pay attention to. His mind couldn't stop worrying about her and hoping that she did indeed know what she was doing.