Page 19 of Grizzly Sleuth
A knock at the door interrupted the harangue, and Ivan whirled to glare. “Mikhail, see who it is.”
A tall lanky agent went to the door—which lacked a peephole—and barked, “Who are you? What do you want?”
A muffled, “Room Service,” had Ivan frowning.
“Who ordered food?” Ivan asked as Mikhail opened the door. The last thing he ever did. A bear barreled into him with its clawsout. An eviscerated Mikhail died before he hit the floor, and the remaining agents panicked as they tried to pull their guns.
Only to have nothing to aim at. As quickly as Yuri attacked, he retreated into the hall.
The big dumb idiot had come for her. She couldn’t say it surprised. She’d have done the same.
Spittle flew as Ivan snapped, “What are you waiting for?”
“I’m out of darts.” One of them held up his tranquilizer gun.
“Then shoot it. I don’t care how you do it, but bring that bear down.”
The remaining men, only two of them armed with tranqs, vacated the room, stepping over the body of the dead agent wedging the door open.
Svetlana blurted out, “I’m confused. I thought you wanted Yuri alive.”
“I do.”
“Yet you just told your man he can use bullets.”
“Not ideal, I’ll admit, but a bear with a bullet won’t be able to easily run away, which gives the others time to put it to sleep.”
“You do realize an injured bear is more dangerous,” she pointed out.
“Do not question me, woman.” Ivan raised his hand, but before it could connect, someone gave him warning in English.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Idris stood in the doorway, big, broad, and grim-looking. Svetlana’s mouth rounded in surprise. Yuri must have convinced him to help rescue her. She couldn’t help a spurt of warmth. Maybe she wouldn’t die after all.
Ivan snapped in horrible English. “You. Go.”
“I don’t think so, asshole. You will release my friend.” Idris appeared unbothered as he stood there, unarmed, arms crossed.
Ivan must have thought he had the advantage because he smirked and pulled his pistol. “American idiot.”
“Canadian, actually.” Idris took a step closer. “But I’m not one of the nice ones.”
Svetlana doubted Ivan understood the words, but he did grasp the threatening tone.
Bang. Ivan fired, and while Idris leaned slightly so the bullet hit him in the shoulder, he didn’t flinch from the impact or pain. Instead, he shifted. Clothes ripped and hit the floor as he went from man to beast.
“Chto za khernya?” Ivan huffed in shock. In other words, what the fuck?
Or more specifically, what the bear?
Before Ivan could aim again, Idris rushed the man, head-butting him in the stomach and knocking him over. As Ivan fell, his head hit the edge of the low table he’d pushed aside to better slap Svetlana. The gash from it had blood spilling copiously, and even better, Ivan didn’t get up.
Svetlana leaned as far as she could and spat on Ivan’s prone body. “Asshole.” Her glance went next to the furry Idris, who stared with indecision at the downed agent, obviously unable to kill an unconscious man. She blamed his Canadian blood for being too nice. Since he seemed torn on what to do, she sent him on to another task. “Go help Yuri.”
He uttered a noise and cocked his head.
“I’ll be fine. Go.” Said just as gunfire crackled in the distance.
