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I’m going to have a press conference on the White House lawn. I’m going to introduce you as the person running the show. The press is going to have many questions, and there will be lots of pressure on you, Phoenix. Can you handle it?”
    â€œCertainly, sir, but it’s always been the bureau’s policy to let someone from the public relations office handle the press.”
    â€œI know, but today is going to be different,” he said with determination. “A lot of people didn’t want Taylor on the court because she was black. Did you know that, Phoenix?”
    â€œNo, sir, I didn’t. But I’m not surprised.” I hadn’t meant to say that last part, but it had found its way out of my mouth.
    â€œThat’s another reason I requested you to work this case. I want the killer to know that I will not be thwarted.”
    Oh, great. Now I’m going to be put on parade for the cause.
    â€œI want a black woman right up there with me. I want them to see that this administration is going to find and promote well-qualified minorities and put them in positions where their strengths and talents can do the most good for this nation.”

CHAPTER 10
    C OCO N IMBURU of the notorious Nimburu clan had been conditioned and trained in the ninja fighting arts since she was five years old. The Nimburu clan had existed for five-hundred years. They were only one of a few sects that survived the 1581 ninja slaughter in feudal Japan. In those days, the Nimburus were so vicious that when it was known that a Nimburu was assigned to kill a particular person, the victim often killed himself to avoid the savage death that awaited him.
    Coco was a master of disguise and could speak many languages and dialects, including French, Russian, German, Vietnamese, Arabic, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese. Her unique talent with languages enabled her to travel the world, carrying out assassinations for whomever could afford to pay the hefty sum her special skills commanded. On this assignment, she had booked two rooms on different floors at the Capitol Hill Hyatt Regency.
    She finished practicing her deadly art and her stretching routine, showered, and turned on the television. She watched the FOX News channel to find out what the police were saying about the Taylor murders. Law enforcement officials could always be counted on to tip their hands about an investigation.
    President Davidson was shown standing behind a lectern that had the presidential seal on it. A barrage of lights flashed as he spoke. Coco turned up the sound to hear what he was saying. Davidson did not attempt toappear presidential. His anger gushed forth when he opened his mouth.
    â€œNo assassination, no intimidation, and no organization of any kind will discourage this White House from naming a nominee of my choosing to a seat on the Supreme Court!” Davidson said abruptly. “We are determined, I say we are determined, to apprehend everybody involved in the murder of Jennifer and Webster Taylor! There is no place you can run, no place you can hide. We will find you, whoever you are, and bring you to justice!” He paused and glanced at the press. “Your questions will be answered by one of the FBI’s best and brightest, Special Agent Phoenix Perry.”
    The name triggered something in Coco’s memory. Grabbing her laptop, she pulled up the hit-list file and scanned it for the name she had just heard. There it was. Sydney Drew of Drew Perry Investigative Firm. Coco wondered if it could be a coincidence. If it wasn’t, she might have to kill an FBI agent. In her line of work, innocent people were often killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The last thing she wanted was to murder an FBI agent, but if it was necessary, so be it. She pointed the remote control at the television and pushed the power button.
    Coco decided to get into her disguise. She would be meeting NSA Director Clayton