Read Online The Lost Scroll of Fudo Shin by Jon F. Merz - Free Book Online Page B

but he couldn't tell if anyone was interested in him or not.
    At least not yet.
    He hobbled off the train and saw signs for the connecting blue line light rail.  Making his way down the concourse, he saw a number of high school kids lounging around.  Jimmy nodded to himself.  There had been times in his past when he'd hung around subway stations, too.  And even though it might have been dinnertime, none of the kids that he passed looked like they came from homes where they served three square meals each day.
    Jimmy felt a twinge in his gut as he thought about Derek and Jamal.  The only true friends he'd ever known.
    And now they were gone.
    Jimmy continued on toward the blue line and waited for the train to slide into the station.  As he stepped on, he heard the commotion behind him and saw the kids he'd passed come running into the train.
    The car was crowded, and Jimmy had to stand while the doors slid shut.  At the last moment, a man pushed his way onto the car.  His face was sweaty as if he'd been running hard.  For an instant, his eyes seemed to show relief and then they quickly grew cold as he calmly surveyed the passengers.  When his eyes passed over Jimmy, they stopped.
    Jimmy stared at him and saw the flicker of recognition.
    Uh oh.
    Jimmy gripped his hanbo tighter and kept his eyes on the man.  From where he stood, the man would have to come down the car to get at him.
    They slid through Compton and Artesia stations, disgorging most of the passengers on Jimmy's car, except for the teenagers and the assassin.  
    And Jimmy.
    Jimmy hadn't sat, preferring to stay on his feet in case the assassin made his move.  
    "Hey dude, why don't you sit down?"
    Jimmy glanced over.  One of the teens was pointing at an empty seat and then at Jimmy's leg.
    "Take a load off, y'know?"
    Jimmy smirked.  "Thanks, I'm cool standing."
    "Yeah?  How'd you hurt it anyway?"
    The kids were on the opposite end of the car and to look at them, Jimmy had to take his eyes off the assassin who so far hadn't moved an inch.  Jimmy glanced over.  "I fell."
    "You broke it?"
    "It was," said Jimmy.  "Now it's just got a limp."  He looked back and saw that the assassin had edged his way down part of the car.  He'd moved so fluidly that Jimmy hadn't even noticed.
    "You local?"
    Jimmy didn't look at the kid talking to him this time.  "No, I'm visiting my aunt."  He thought quickly.  "She's down in Long Beach."
    The assassin smiled at Jimmy and Jimmy saw the meaning clearly.  I'm going to kill you, kid.
    Jimmy took another breath.  The last thing he wanted was another fight, especially on a subway.
    "Hey man, you okay?"
    Jimmy looked at the teen that kept speaking to him.  He was a year or two older than Jimmy.  "I'm okay."
    Were they sizing him up?  Jimmy almost laughed out loud at that.  They'd have to wait in line until the assassin had finished.  Then they could take whatever they wanted.
    Del Amo, Wardlow, and Willow stations flew past them with no one new getting on the train.  The assassin hadn't moved, but Jimmy knew he'd have to make a move soon.  There were only a few stations left before they reached Long Beach.
    "What part of Long Beach does your aunt live in?"
    Another question!  Jimmy frowned.  This was getting annoying.  How could he be expected to keep an eye on the killer when these guys kept bothering him with questions?
    Then he had a thought.
    "I don't know."  He glanced up at the map overhead and then looked back at the kid.  "She's meeting me at Pacific station."
    "By yourself?"
    Jimmy shrugged.  "I'm old enough."
    "Yeah?  With that gimp leg?  Man, some of the people around here might take you for an easy jack, you know?"
    Jimmy hobbled over and sat down across from the kids.  "Good point, maybe I'd better hang out with you guys, huh?"
    That got a laugh out of the kids and Jimmy noticed the assassin making his way closer.  He paused about twenty feet away. The train whizzed through Pacific Coast