Girl Takes Up Her Sword by Jacques Antoine

ambush in Taipei. Do we have any solid evidence she’s still alive?”
    Of course, Walker didn’t believe for a second that she was dead. And he knew the darkness in her heart too well: she couldn’t have been turned by Burzynski or Cardano. She’d turn up sooner or later, and when she did, he knew she’d answer his call. If she didn’t, the old man would have him terminate her.
    ~~~~~~~
    “Now, exactly who is that guy?” Emily asked, once they were alone. “I mean, the resemblance was striking. How weird was that?”
    Andie and Michael shrugged.
    “What do you mean?” Andie asked.
    “You mean Walker?” Michael asked. “It was pretty strange the way he fell. I’ve never seen him act that way.”
    “Well, that was a little odd. But that’s not what I mean. You guys really didn’t see it?”
    Just then, Yuki came running in to the room.
    “I can’t believe he brought him here. Are you okay, Chi-chan?”
    “I’m fine, Mom. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “Your father told me about him. That is one evil man, by George’s account.”
    “Did you see the resemblance, Mom?”
    “I couldn’t see his face all that clearly on the security feed. What did he look like?”
    Emily frowned at her. When she turned to the others, they shrugged again.
    “I can’t believe no one else saw it. He looks just like my father.”
    She was trembling, even a little teary.
    “Oh, no, sweetheart,” Andie said. “Your father was so kind and wonderful. Walker looks nothing like him.”
    “I suppose he’s about the same size,” said Michael. “They’re cousins, of course. But the face, the eyes, his nose, he’s not at all like George.”
    A look of panic flashed across her face, her eyes darkened.
    “So, he’s my uncle, or something?”
    “Technically, a cousin, but sort of like an uncle,” said Andie.
    “He’s nothing to you, Chi-chan. Your father hated him, never wanted anything to do with him.”
    “Who is he to Meacham, then?”
    “He’s an assassin,” Michael explained. “One of the most dangerous men who ever lived, I think. He’s Meacham’s main enforcer. Cold, ruthless, efficient. He probably enjoys killing. But here’s the part you may not like to hear: Connie was his assistant, his partner for years.”
    The room went silent for a moment.
    “I don’t like the sound of that,” Andie said finally. “I’m not sure I want to have her in my house anymore.”
    “I couldn’t have gotten the kids back without her help,” Emily reminded her. “It wasn’t just the Coast Guard cutter. She prepared me for the whole ordeal.”
    “Someday, you’ll have to tell us how you first met her,” Michael observed.
    “You know, after the attack on the estate last year, it was a pretty hairy time. I met a lot of ‘interesting’ people. Let’s just leave it at that, for now. But maybe you can tell us why Meacham and Walker were really here today.”
    From the look on Michael’s face, Emily could see this was going to be a difficult subject to hear.
    “He’s still looking for a way to get your mother, of course. And he knows she’s here. I’m sure he really is feeling some pressure from Burzynski. But all the old imperatives are still in play. Once he learns of the Koreans’ success with the clone, he won’t be able to let go of that idea. And if he doesn’t know about it already, he will soon. But I don’t think that’s why he brought Walker along.”
    They all stared at him, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    “He’s looking for me, isn’t he?”
    “Yes. I think so.”
    “But why now? Who does he think I am? He can’t know about the accident with the virus.”
    “He knows who your parents are. I think that’s what matters to him right now.”
    “You know, I could feel his presence, Walker’s, when they got here. His mind, or his heart, whatever it was, it felt like he was looking for me.”
    “Like telepathy, you mean?” asked Andie.
    “Nothing as spacey as that. Let’s see, how can I