Dead Without Honor by Diane Bator

Author:Diane Bator
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: woman sleuth, small town mystery, intrigue with romance, martial arts mystery, mystery set in karate school, mystery set in new york state, mystery with serial killer, woman falls in love with boss, woman gaining inner strength
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

Chapter 20

Friday started off with some stretches then a smooth, uneventful jog. Uneventful meaning no signs of Thayer, Gary or Mick. After a long, hot shower and a breakfast of egg whites, turkey sausage, and whole grain toast, Gilda was both refreshed and buoyant.

She popped into Café Beanz for a low-fat latte then headed for work and unlocked the door. As she walked into the school, she thought about flicking the light switch in the semidarkness but wanted to set her belongings down first. She set the latte on the front desk then opened her purse to put away her keys.

Behind her, someone took a small shuffle step.

As she turned, a blur of color flashed seconds before something hit her in the head with tremendous force.

Gilda awoke to total silence. Her head ached and a kink pinched her neck. She sat up slowly and listened. Someone was already in the school when she arrived and had knocked her out.

Dizzy, she reached up and flipped the light switch to look for anything out of the ordinary. Beneath the shrine in the dojo, Erik lay face down on the mats with several small objects on his back. Ninja throwing stars. None of the throwing stars they used in class were real, merely rubber. Someone must have found a real set and honed them sharp enough to penetrate human flesh. Blood circled each one.

She gagged. More blood. Another body. She gagged and fell to her hands and knees, already starting to hyperventilate. Thayer would surely lock her up this time. He wouldn’t even bother to throw away the key, just solder the door shut.

Gilda crawled to her desk and took several deep breaths through her nose. Once she was no longer lightheaded, she dialed 9-1-1. “Marion, thank heavens. It’s Gilda. Can you send Thayer to the karate school? It’s important.”

“Gilda? What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Erik is badly injured.” She fought back tears. “I need the police and an ambulance.”

“Is he bleeding or having trouble breathing?” Marion asked.

“I don’t know. I just came to. I haven’t checked.” Gilda pulled herself up onto her chair and rubbed the sore spot on the back of her head. “I just saw him lying there. He’s bleeding and not moving.”

“Is there anyone else there with you?”

Gilda rubbed her head and groaned. “No, I think I’m alone now. Aside from Erik.”

“You think you’re alone?” Marion asked. “Do you need a lawyer?”

She closed her eyes. “Not yet. If you know a good one, keep him on speed dial for me.”

Her next call was to Mick.

“Are you at the school?” He sounded winded. “Please tell me there’s a water leak or the printer’s out of ink.”

Gilda choked back tears. “I think Erik’s dead.”

“Stay put. I’ll be right there.” He hung up.

She steeled herself to peer over her desk. No blood. Nothing out of place that she saw. Where Walter’s death had been so violent, Erik’s murder seemed more like a sneak attack. Like someone threw the ninja stars at him from behind.

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