— “Stubborn. Alright, boys. Take her down.” All three moved at once. But this time, Eleanor didn’t wait. She moved first. Before Rick could even swing, she struck him in the throat with a palm strike. He collapsed, gasping for air.
Danny tried a kick, but Eleanor caught his leg and twisted. Danny hit the dirt with a scream: — “My leg! She broke my leg!” Bill’s eyes went wide: — “What the…?” Eleanor stood perfectly still, her eyes locked on Bill. The vibe was completely different now. She wasn’t defending; she was hunting.
Bill balled his fists: — “You were holding back yesterday.” Eleanor said quietly: — “I didn’t want to wreck Mike’s diner. He’s a good man. But out here? There’s nothing to break but you.” Bill laughed nervously: — “We’ll see about that!”
Bill charged. He threw a heavy punch, but Eleanor slipped it and countered with a lightning-fast strike to his ribs. Bill wheezed: — “Ugh!” He tried to grab her, but she used his momentum to throw him over her hip. Bill hit the ground hard: — “Damn it!”
Rick managed to get up and tried to tackle her from behind: — “I got her, Boss!” Without even looking, Eleanor delivered a back-elbow to his solar plexus. Rick folded like a lawn chair. Danny tried to crawl toward her, but she silenced him with a look. He stayed down.
It was just Bill now. He scrambled up, panting: — “Who are you? Really?” Eleanor didn’t answer. Bill screamed: — “Answer me!” He lunged again, desperate now. He threw a flurry of punches, but Eleanor parried them all with ease. She was faster, stronger, and far more disciplined.
Bill backed off, his chest heaving: — “Where did you learn this?” Eleanor finally spoke: — “Army Special Forces. Delta.” Bill’s face went pale: — “Delta? You’re kidding me.” Eleanor didn’t respond. Bill tried one last, desperate strike: — “I’ll kill you!”
He swung a wild haymaker. Eleanor caught his wrist, stepped in, and executed a perfect takedown. Bill hit the ground so hard the wind left him. Eleanor pinned his arm behind his back: — “Don’t move! I’ll snap it like a twig!” Bill groaned: — “Agh! Stop! I give up!”
Eleanor leaned in close: — “You’re going to leave Mike alone. You’re going to leave this town alone. If I ever hear your name again, I won’t be this nice. Do you understand?” Bill couldn’t even speak; he just nodded frantically. Eleanor released him and stood up.
Rick and Danny were still groaning on the ground. Eleanor picked up her bag and turned to leave. But Bill yelled after her: — “This isn’t over! I’ll find you!” Eleanor stopped and turned back: — “It is over, Bill. Look behind you.”
In the distance, the blue and red lights of State Trooper cruisers appeared, bouncing over the rough quarry road. Bill’s face fell: — “No… how?” Eleanor smiled: — “Mike’s a good man. He follows orders.” The Troopers swarmed the clearing, weapons drawn.
The lead Trooper approached: — “Nobody move! Hands in the air!” Bill started shouting: — “Officer! This woman attacked us! Look at my men!” The Trooper looked at the three battered thugs and then at Eleanor, who was standing calmly by her car. — “Is that right?”
Just then, Mike pulled up in his old truck: —
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