Katherine Harendt McGill became an athletic fashion pinup, a no-fear female defender of vulnerable beings with the strength of a trained fighter. First noticed as a teenage trick skater in Minnesota, Kate's mastery of martial arts, uncanny archery skills and bold self confidence made her a local star. As her skating routines became ever more spectacular virtually defying gravity she became a media sensation. Discovered by athletic gear designers GloryDays Kate eventually becomes their worldwide model. The company also discovers their GloryDays Girl, as Kate is known, has a darker, threatening side. She is not afraid to employ aggressive, physical punishment when confronting men who threaten innocent animals or women. Her public begins referring to Kate as the Nature Avenger and she is approached to remedy injustices. Even as she becomes a remarkable athletic model Kate also desires normalcy gradually finding companionship with a handsome boyfriend. By her late teens a family friend describes her as mysterious, unstoppable, scary, and gorgeous. But her risk taking produces constant threat of injury, numerous failures and eventually a confrontation with a brutal criminal in central America. Kate is introduced by her great grandmother, Queen Royal Elixir, to a bewildering and powerful mental technique. Passed down through the Harendt family the Romanian Cold Hand can supposedly "freeze" attackers. Kate finally realizes this legacy brings with it an upsetting gift for predicting events. Rumors generated by an accurate prediction make her a target for intelligence spooks and criminals alike. Kate's eventual mastery of the Cold Hand takes a shape no military person could imagine.
Kate McGill, Romanian Cold Hand
Minnesota renegade Femme Fighter seeks memorable encounter with animal abusersBy Michael Chechik SundayiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 Michael Chechik Sunday
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4502-4349-0 Contents
Foreword.........................................................................vii1. Kate's Grandmother at Age Thirteen Takes Revenge..............................12. Kate McGill Skates On the Paths...............................................53. Kate Age Sixteen Wearing Sarah's Seventies Era Dress..........................124. Litter Deposit................................................................175. Sarah's McGill's Upbringing...................................................206. Kate Visits Queen Royal in Las Vegas..........................................357. Kate Sees the Earthquake Coming...............................................428. Kate Meets Peter in Chicago...................................................519. Kate Meets The Mule...........................................................6110. Kate Saves The Animals.......................................................6711. Sarah and Kate On the Road Together..........................................7312. Cory Madigan Discovers Kate..................................................8013. Kate at the University of California, Berkeley...............................9214. Deposits.....................................................................10115. Kate and Peter Become An Item................................................10616. Hotel Job....................................................................11017. Cory Meets Kate at Ben Benson's Steak House..................................11518. Cory Visits Sarah in Minnesota...............................................12019. Kate's Premonition...........................................................13220. Kate Is Forced to Use Her Bow and Arrow......................................14221. Kate Takes the FBI For a Ride in the Mule....................................15422. Kate's New Fame and She Makes a TV Appearance................................16523. Greysuit Attacks in Beverly Hills............................................17424. Kate Alone in Berkeley.......................................................18025. Kate Meets Arnie at Mortons..................................................18626. Miriam Arrives from Israel...................................................19227. Kate & Miriam Return to Arnie's House........................................20428. Kate Returns Alone To Arnie's................................................21329. Kate Joins a Pick Up Volleyball Game in Central Park.........................21930. Going To Meet Bernie.........................................................22431. Preparing to Attack in El Salvador...........................................23332. Flying In To Lasola's Compound...............................................23833. Kate On Ice..................................................................24834. Kate Encounters Da Hij Silbi.................................................26235. Kate Traveling in France.....................................................27936. Kate Onstage In Paris and the Vanishing Sheik................................29437. Hunting The Hunters..........................................................310Author's acknowledgements for Kate McGill Romanian Cold Hand.....................318
Chapter One
KATE'S GRANDMOTHER AT AGE THIRTEEN TAKES REVENGE
Haganah Harendt as a young teen walked across Europe with her mother Haddassah attempting to survive the Nazi Holocaust. They began their journey in Romania where the Harendts lived for generations. Their family was unique because they were gypsies who were also Jewish. Many years later Haganah would become Kate McGill's grandmother. As you will see, they share an unwillingness to behave like obedient young women.
Spring was still weeks away, but the air felt warm and pleasant to former Adjutant General - now simply Herr - Heinrich Manfreid Massemel, as he set off for his Wednesday morning meeting at the Fleisbeisen town school dressed in well pressed dungarees, white dress shirt with brown tie and a heavy cordoroy jacket.
It had been almost a year since the Great War - World War II - ended with the betrayal of the Third Reich. The defeat still caused Massemel to burn with anger. He had volunteered early for service and rose quickly through the ranks, attaining his final office near the end of the war. Now he planned to live out his remaining days with the quiet pride of a German who had served his country loyally.
Some Americans and even a few Russians still passed through Fleisbeisen, but its lack of vital utilities and the absence of a former military base exempted it from close scrutiny by the American military. Nonetheless, rumors abounded about the prosecution of ex-Wehrmacht, Gestapo, and other patriots for their wartime activities.
Massemel, in keeping with the dignity associated with his family name for five generations, conducted himself as an upstanding citizen. He had resumed his duties in tax collection, served on two local school committees, and intended to continue his family's long history of serving the community.
His wife, Trude, knew that he had participated in certain activities concerning the Jews, referred to as der Juden, but who had not? Everyone had responsibilities to fulfill in a war. Yes, it had been distasteful; only a few twisted souls took any satisfaction from the job at hand. Who could enjoy such things? Certainly not her Heinrich.
Neither Massemel nor Trude took much notice of the elderly woman who shuffled past their house just as he set off on his 15-minute walk to the school. Nor did Massemel, sorting out his plans for the day, note the aging pre-war Volkswagen that passed him as he approached the school. He had also failed to notice the same car when it drove by him on the previous two days.
As the Volks pulled alongside him, the old woman in an raggedy rain coat and flowered hat overtook him. The beginning of a courteous smile crossed his face when he registered her presence, but it quickly froze when he saw the standard-issue Luger aimed at his head. He opened his mouth to cry out and felt the Luger jam against his teeth, breaking off part of one and lacerating his tongue.
The woman shoved him into the rear seat of the Volks with a strength that belied her appearance - clearly, she was no crone. As she climbed in alongside him, she kept the gun crammed into his mouth. Massemel realized this was no ordinary hold-up. Jammed up against the small rear seat in a position of supplication, he had a sudden flashback of uncomfortable memories. He attempted to speak, but the woman shoved the gun roughly, making him gag. She raised her left hand in a gesture that commanded silence.
Out of the corner of his right eye he could just barely see her hand, which was completely unwrinkled. She was relatively young. Massemel quickly calculated his options as he had so often done in his military role. He knew this was no ordinary crime; it wasn't money they wanted. They wanted him. And this woman, this girl, worried him because she was young. She might not understand mercy, as he had frequently exercised it when dealing with der Juden. Though it was true that there had been times when his staid burgher's sense of values had failed him, and he had experienced a certain...
