PRAY FOR DAWN

A lot of you probably know that all of my stories have taken a medical route. Not this one. This kind of story is actually my favorite to write. I really hope this develops into a truly suspenseful and maybe at times terrifying experience for readers.

Chapter 1

Zack Martin sighed as he looked up at the clock again. Another ten minutes until summer vacation started. Although his last period class was having an end of the year party, Zack was still stir crazy. He just wanted school to end. In two weeks, he and his brother and mother were going on a cruise to the Bahamas. London Tipton, the heiress to the Tipton Hotel fortune, was paying for the entire cruise and vacation in the Bahamas. Of course London was coming too. As was Maddie Fitzpatrick, the candy counter girl at the Tipton. The bell finally rang. The teacher said her last goodbye and then excused the class. Zack couldn't get to the bus fast enough. His brother, Cody, was waiting for him at the school entrance.

"You look like you just won the lottery," said Cody.

"It's been a tough year. I'm glad it's over. Not to mention the fact that we're two weeks away from a vacation in the Bahamas," said Zack, as he and Cody walked towards the bus.

"Don't forget. Mom has her big show tonight," said Cody.

"She has a big show every night," said Zack. The boys got on the bus, which was already filled with the excited chatter of kids anxious for a relaxing summer.

"A very famous lawyer and his family are staying at the Tipton. Mr. Moseby asked Mom to put on a special show for them. And we have to go," said Cody.

"Whatever," said Zack. He was in too good of a mood to argue. Two weeks and counting until an awesome vacation.

Detective Nick Miller walked into the lobby of the Tipton hotel. He sighed as he walked up to the front desk. The girl on duty smiled at him.

"Welcome to the Tipton. How may I help you?" asked the girl.

"Detective Nick Miller. I'm here to see Robert Harrison," said Nick.

"Is he expecting you?" asked the girl. "No one is to disturb Mr. Harrison."

"Yes, he's expecting me," said Nick.

"I'll have to call and check. I have strict orders from my boss and the police not to let anyone up there," said the girl. Nick sighed as the girl dialed Robert Harrison's room number. This security detail was starting to become a pain in the ass. Nick wasn't working on the security team assembled by the Boston Police Department to protect Prosecuting Attorney Robert Harrison. Nick was the lead detective on the murder case Harrison was working on. The fourteen and sixteen year old daughters of Massachusetts senator William Thorne had been kidnapped, raped, and murdered by the only son of oil tycoon Xavier Murdock. The police had arrested young Dennis Murdock after only a month of investigation. But Dennis' father was a man of extreme influence and had the first pieces of evidence thrown out through bribes. He also hired a huge defense team led by Paul Woodworth, a morally corrupt defense lawyer who was infamous for getting murderers and child molesters out of jail time. With their back against the walls, the Boston PD called in Nick to do some serious detective work and find evidence that would convict the sadistic and protected Dennis dead to rights. Senator Thorne and his wife had called in Harrison personally. Harrison had never lost a case. If anyone was going to prosecute Dennis Murdock it was Harrison.

After getting approval by the front desk girl, Nick headed for the 23rd floor, where Harrison and his family were staying. Harrison had cops around him at all times. The prosecuting team feared that Murdock would get desperate and hire a hit man. Harrison had come under attack from hit men before. Nick had experience with hit men. He had worked some pretty serious murder cases where a lot of people fearing prosecution turned to hired guns. It usually never worked out. Cases were usually too big for the deaths of key witnesses and players to go unnoticed.

Nick jumped as his cell phone rang as he was walking down the hall.

"Miller here," said Nick answering.

"It's Howard. We've got a serious development," said the caller. Nick felt his heart to pound as he listened to his captain, John Howard talk.

"The FBI are involved. Seems something new had developed. We think that someone on Murdock's side hired the Archangel," said Howard, his voice gruff and uneven. Nick felt his breath catch in his throat. He had only heard stories about the Archangel. He had seen crime scene photos of victims he supposedly killed. The Archangel was a legend. No one knew if he even existed. But the thought of him being hired by Murdock sent a chill up Nick's spine. The Archangel, if he even existed, was the best hit man in the world. He arrived in a city, did his jobs, and left before anyone knew what was happening. He was notorious for getting his jobs done and escaping in less then 24 hours.

The plane arrived on time. The 12:15 PM from Miami arrived at the Boston Logan Airport at exactly 3:00 PM. Vincent Lassiter calmly walked towards the airport exit. He was carrying only one bag with him, his suitcase. He wasn't staying in Boston long. He had a seven-thirty flight out of Boston the following morning. He had seventeen hours to get his jobs done. If all went well, the last job would be done at four-thirty. That would give Vincent two and a half hours to catch his plane. He would be flying out with an entirely different airline and a different name. At the moment his ticket said that his name was Keith Parsons. His next ticket would say his name was John Olsen. Vincent never used the name Vincent or Lassiter. He never bought round trip tickets and he almost never met his employers. To the world, Vincent basically didn't exist. There was no longer a record of Vincent Lassiter. His parents were long since dead and his only brother had died in Vietnam. Vincent was alone in the world. The only name he was known by was The Archangel.

Vincent hailed a cab and told the driver to take him to the Tipton. This job was going to be a little different. Vincent's employer was sending out a team of three men to take a family hostage at the Tipton in case Vincent needed some collateral over the police to make a quick exit. Vincent would be in charge as soon as he arrived. If the family obeyed and did everything they were told to, Vincent would leave at dawn and all their problems would go away. Vincent knew that the need for survival would kick in and the hostages would rebel. And Vincent would solve that with three bullets.

Zack and Cody found their mother rehearsing in the Tipton lounge.

"Hi, guys," said Carey, stepping off the stage.

"Are you ready for tonight?" asked Cody. Carey let out a deep, exhausted sigh.

"As ready as I can be," said Carey. She picked up a glass of water and gulped it down.

"Well, we'll be there to give you support," said Cody,

"As will the entire Tipton staff," said Moseby, walking into the room. "Carey, I must say. That last piece you did was amazing."

"Ah, thank you, Moseby," said Carey.

"So what's the deal with this lawyer guy?" asked Zack, losing interest in the conversation.

"He's one of the top prosecuting attorneys in the country. I want him to be treated like a king," said Moseby. "So please don't bother him."

"Don't worry. Cops wouldn't let the boys near him," said Carey. Moseby excused himself to go deal with other matters.

"Come on. Let's go eat an early dinner. I'm famished. We'll order room service. Something special," said Carey. She and the boys headed upstairs to their suite. Oddly the lights were off when they entered.

"I didn't leave these off," said Carey. She turned them on. Suddenly a hand went over her mouth. She watched in horror as two men jumped from behind the couch and grabbed Zack and Cody. Knives were held to their throats. Carey tried to scream.

"Don't bother," said the man holding Carey. Zack let out a cry of pain as a small cut was made on his neck.

"Now you either cooperate or those little boys jugulars are going to be cut open and you can watch them bleed to death."

I might as well say to be continued. Reviews are appreciated. Next chapter will be more exciting.