Beneath the grieving widow’s watch, a decent description of
the peak along the shores where one could look out to sea wishing to see their
loved one returning. Many have been lost
in the past, thus the peak being known for the grieving widows waiting for their
lost husbands. I had since closed the
restaurant, changed into something less recognizable, out of the white
button-down, black pants, and apron, and into a plain grey shirt, jeans, boots,
and long black coat. The wind was
whipping wildly and I was grateful that I had my hair cut short recently. I was also grateful that the tide was still
low, when it rises, any trace of my being here will be washed away. “My boy!
Good to see you again.” I straightened
from my position leaning against the cliff face to watch him. Mr. Wilkes held his hand out and I shook
it. “I take it that you read my letter,
lest you wouldn’t have shown.”
“Why do you want the Ghost? From what I read, you want an assassination of a local crime boss’s daughter, correct?”
“Indeed. You see,” his eyes turned toward the water, “I have tried to give this task to others, all have failed. This needs to be done and unfortunately, the Ghost is the only one that can break through the White’s defenses.” He held out another manila envelope. Taking it, I opened and began reading. It was a blueprint of a home, one with every type of security; electric fences, cameras with infrared, guards, reinforced walls, sensors in the floors, panic rooms, even went so far as to install a system to vent poison through the vents. “Can the Ghost get through?” I nodded. “Is he willing to take my offer?”
“Ten thousand up front, another ten thousand once the job is complete.” I slid the papers back in the envelope and tucked it away under my coat.
“I see. His talents are not cheap.” Fighting not to roll my eyes, I crossed my arms. “It’s a deal then. I expect results quickly.” His hand disappeared into his coat, only to pull out a white envelope. “I expected the price to rise. Here’s the first ten thousand.” I took it. “The other thousand, you keep. Consider it as a gift. When job is completed, I’ll find you.”
“Why do you want the Ghost? From what I read, you want an assassination of a local crime boss’s daughter, correct?”
“Indeed. You see,” his eyes turned toward the water, “I have tried to give this task to others, all have failed. This needs to be done and unfortunately, the Ghost is the only one that can break through the White’s defenses.” He held out another manila envelope. Taking it, I opened and began reading. It was a blueprint of a home, one with every type of security; electric fences, cameras with infrared, guards, reinforced walls, sensors in the floors, panic rooms, even went so far as to install a system to vent poison through the vents. “Can the Ghost get through?” I nodded. “Is he willing to take my offer?”
“Ten thousand up front, another ten thousand once the job is complete.” I slid the papers back in the envelope and tucked it away under my coat.
“I see. His talents are not cheap.” Fighting not to roll my eyes, I crossed my arms. “It’s a deal then. I expect results quickly.” His hand disappeared into his coat, only to pull out a white envelope. “I expected the price to rise. Here’s the first ten thousand.” I took it. “The other thousand, you keep. Consider it as a gift. When job is completed, I’ll find you.”
I didn’t like the looks of the building. Several hours of observation revealed enough,
but it was the past few days that gave me the crucial information. Around eight pm, the girl would return to the
house, her father arriving around an hour or two later. A code was used to get in through the front
gate as well as the front doors. There
was always someone on every corner and another between. Two men were in constant motion, circling the
compound. It was difficult to see
inside, but using the blueprints, I figured that I could enter through a side
door that had a five-second window where no one watched, provided I disable the
camera. The best plan, however, was not
entering the compound at all, but rather the vehicle the girl was in before
they arrived. Now, I sat hidden in the
tree’s leaves outside of the girl’s school.
Another few minutes and she would leave.
Two men were waiting for her, the driver and a guard. This was going to be easy. With the silencer on my pistol, I readied to
drop from the tree when the door to the school opened. The girl stepped out, laughing with another
girl who I would guess is her friend.
They said their goodbyes and she slid into the backseat of the car. As they drove away, I jumped out of the tree
and commandeered a nearby motorbike. The
helmet covered my face, perfect, so when I sped down the road and slowed next to
the car, the guard wouldn’t know who I was.
He had a second between noticing me and me pulling the trigger. The driver jumped, startled by my
attack. Quickly, I leapt from the bike
to the trunk of the car. Bashing out the
driver’s window, I held on as the car swerved.
A quick shot, I reached in, opened the door, pulled the driver out, and
took his place. One hand on the wheel, I
pointed my gun at the girl. Her hands
were covering her head and she appeared to be genuinely afraid. One shot, she would be dead, the job
completed. Instead of firing, I turned
around to drive. I wanted to know why
Wilkes wanted her dead. Curiosity, a
dangerous desire.
Stopping the car, I opened the back door, pulling the girl
out. By now, she was crying. Why wasn’t she fighting back? We were under a bridge, the water in the
drainage stream rushing by. Pointing my
gun at her, I readied the shot. Quick,
easy, hardly a challenge. Then her blue
eyes turned toward me. “Please, don’t
kill me. I don’t want to die.” My jaw tightened. If I wasn’t wearing the motorcycle helmet,
she would’ve noticed my reaction. I
froze. The wind around us blew the hair
around her face, whipping it across her skin.
This was no different from any other mission I’ve accepted. So why was I hesitating on pulling the
trigger? “Please…” Tears fell from her cheeks. Shit.
My finger moved from the trigger and I pointed the barrel upward before
holstering it. Grabbing her arm, I
dragged her up the embankment, toward the town.
Once in the first alley, I turned to her. Anna was still crying and I couldn’t stand
it. My hand clapped over her mouth and
she understood. Be quiet. What to do now? I couldn’t take her to my apartment, but I
couldn’t let her go anywhere else. Never
leave a witness. I should just kill her
and be done with it. Yet, something in
the back of my mind was screaming at me to take her away. After some mental kicking, I eventually wove
our way through the town, keeping ourselves hidden. We entered through the back door and I led
her upstairs. It was stupid of me to
bring her here, but my apartment was the only place that I could keep
secure. Locking the door behind us, I
watched her. She stood there, slowly
looking around before returning her gaze to me.
Only question I had was whether or not to remove the helmet. “Why bring me here?” Here came the questions. If I remembered anything, it was to never
answer. Never reveal anything. Keep all details hidden. There is a reason I am known as the Ghost and
this would be my undoing if I opened my mouth.
Then again, she was already in my apartment, if she left, Anna could
tell her father where to find me.
Instead of answering, I leaned against the door. When would Wilkes come back? If I kept Anna hidden, and quiet, I could
probably slip under the radar and leave this town. Great, it was time to leave again. It was a good thing that I had very few
belongings. Anna sat on my bed, twisting
her hands together, nervous. My fingers
tapped the handle of the pistol on my left hip.
Part of me wanted to get rid of her, part of me said we should run. Who am I to decide this girl’s fate? I’m just a hired gun, paid to do someone
else’s bidding. I’ve been paid, I should
kill her. I have no moral
obligations. A part of what makes the
idea of Ghost so dangerous. There was no
honor. It was no matter who the target
was, innocent or not, the Ghost would dispose of them. Morality was a detail that I shed years ago
while learning from my predecessor, the third Ghost. It was how we lived in this world. The acts we’ve committed would cause a normal
person to come to hate themselves. My
last kill before today was just over two years ago, then I decided to take some
time off, to hide while the fear of my actions lessened. “Excuse me?”
My attention broke from my thoughts, focusing on Anna. She seemed to have collected herself. “I’m guessing it’s pointless to ask if I may
leave, but can you at least tell me what you want?”
“Why would someone want you dead?” She cringed. The helmet had muffled my voice, but she had heard me clearly.
“Um…” Rubbing her arm, Anna looked uncomfortable. “My father is the head of the White family, one of the two major crime families in this town. I overheard my father talking to one of his men that a third family was going to try to overthrow us. If my family didn’t have a successor, it would be difficult for us to have any claim to power.” I see now. Wilkes was involved with this third family. From what I knew of the crime families, White was older, more engrained in this town’s history, and was primarily concerned with drug trade though recently expanding to include weapons.
“Why didn’t you fight me when I killed those men?”
“I didn’t have a weapon and the one the guard beside had jammed before I could fire it at you.” I frowned, even though she couldn’t see it, Anna felt the heat of my glare on her. Why would a guard’s weapon jam? “I didn’t know what to do.” There was luck on my side tonight as well. Amusing. Then I realized what I could do with her. My mentor took me in when I was a mere child, setting me free when I turned twenty. Anna needed the training, something more than knowing how to shoot a gun.
“I was hired to kill you.” There was the glimmer of fear in your eyes. “However, I am willing to hide you from them.” She brought her feet up to rest on my bed and wrapped her arms around her knees. “I’m more curious about this than I should be. So, if you want to live, you will do everything that I say, when I say it, understand?” Anna nodded, her eyes returning to me. “Do anything that I do not approve of,” I pulled out a pistol, aiming it at her. Anna immediately tensed, a wave of fear passing over her. One shot is all it will take.
“I understand!”
“Good.” Returning the pistol to its place, I decided to remove the helmet. I wouldn’t be able to work downstairs with it. As it slid over my head, I swore I heard Anna inhale sharply. My eyes narrowed on her. Anna’s feet had returned to the floor, but she looking down, cheeks reddening. It was going to be a long night. Hostage-taking was not something I have experience in.
“Why would someone want you dead?” She cringed. The helmet had muffled my voice, but she had heard me clearly.
“Um…” Rubbing her arm, Anna looked uncomfortable. “My father is the head of the White family, one of the two major crime families in this town. I overheard my father talking to one of his men that a third family was going to try to overthrow us. If my family didn’t have a successor, it would be difficult for us to have any claim to power.” I see now. Wilkes was involved with this third family. From what I knew of the crime families, White was older, more engrained in this town’s history, and was primarily concerned with drug trade though recently expanding to include weapons.
“Why didn’t you fight me when I killed those men?”
“I didn’t have a weapon and the one the guard beside had jammed before I could fire it at you.” I frowned, even though she couldn’t see it, Anna felt the heat of my glare on her. Why would a guard’s weapon jam? “I didn’t know what to do.” There was luck on my side tonight as well. Amusing. Then I realized what I could do with her. My mentor took me in when I was a mere child, setting me free when I turned twenty. Anna needed the training, something more than knowing how to shoot a gun.
“I was hired to kill you.” There was the glimmer of fear in your eyes. “However, I am willing to hide you from them.” She brought her feet up to rest on my bed and wrapped her arms around her knees. “I’m more curious about this than I should be. So, if you want to live, you will do everything that I say, when I say it, understand?” Anna nodded, her eyes returning to me. “Do anything that I do not approve of,” I pulled out a pistol, aiming it at her. Anna immediately tensed, a wave of fear passing over her. One shot is all it will take.
“I understand!”
“Good.” Returning the pistol to its place, I decided to remove the helmet. I wouldn’t be able to work downstairs with it. As it slid over my head, I swore I heard Anna inhale sharply. My eyes narrowed on her. Anna’s feet had returned to the floor, but she looking down, cheeks reddening. It was going to be a long night. Hostage-taking was not something I have experience in.
I had let Anna sleep in my bed while I slept in a rocking
chair that the apartment owner had left.
Despite it being an uncomfortable wooden form, I did manage to get some
sleep, every hour waking to check on Anna.
Come nine am, she was still asleep and I was taking advantage of the
still dark room. Working late then
observation since early morning wore me down.
Click. My eyes flew open as I
pulled my gun, aiming at the source of the noise. Anna stood frozen, eyes wide, hand moving
away from the door handle. She was
trying to run. Narrowing my eyes, I
pulled the hammer back. “Sorry!” She scurried back, her remaining in my
crosshairs. “I didn’t…”
“What?” I stood.
“I didn’t think that I’d wake you.”
“You were wrong. Sit.” Anna kept her eyes on me as she moved back to the bed. Before she sat, I brought my gun down. This girl was going to be a handful. Perhaps I should just tie her to the bed while I work? Not a bad idea actually, if I had handcuffs. There was rope downstairs.
“Before you do what you’re thinking, please let me explain.” What was there to explain? She was trying to leave. “When we came in last night, I noticed that we’re above a restaurant. There’s no food in here, so I thought I’d go find something and bring it up.” Food? That was her excuse? Good one since she was right, I had nothing to eat up here.
“Don’t move.” Tucking the gun behind my back, I grabbed a coat, and went out the door. If she wanted food, damnit, I was going to ensue she wouldn’t leave. My boss wouldn’t be happy with missing food, but I was low on options at the moment. Once I was down the stairs, I heard someone by the bar. Coming out of the back, I saw the bartender cleaning.
“Morning.”
“Morning. You’re early.”
Samuel shrugged. He was the bartender, but our boss had hired him as move of a guard. The body he possessed could easily throw out the rowdiest of patrons. I for one did not want to see his bad side or what brought him to this town. “Wife has some friends over and if you know women, a bar fight is where I would rather be.” He looked me over. “Rare to find you out of uniform, what’s the occasion?”
“I had to run out earlier for an errand.” I grabbed two glasses. Samuel raised an eyebrow. “I’ll return them before we open.” Returning to the back, I grabbed what I needed for sandwiches. Anna was in no position to be picky.
“What?” I stood.
“I didn’t think that I’d wake you.”
“You were wrong. Sit.” Anna kept her eyes on me as she moved back to the bed. Before she sat, I brought my gun down. This girl was going to be a handful. Perhaps I should just tie her to the bed while I work? Not a bad idea actually, if I had handcuffs. There was rope downstairs.
“Before you do what you’re thinking, please let me explain.” What was there to explain? She was trying to leave. “When we came in last night, I noticed that we’re above a restaurant. There’s no food in here, so I thought I’d go find something and bring it up.” Food? That was her excuse? Good one since she was right, I had nothing to eat up here.
“Don’t move.” Tucking the gun behind my back, I grabbed a coat, and went out the door. If she wanted food, damnit, I was going to ensue she wouldn’t leave. My boss wouldn’t be happy with missing food, but I was low on options at the moment. Once I was down the stairs, I heard someone by the bar. Coming out of the back, I saw the bartender cleaning.
“Morning.”
“Morning. You’re early.”
Samuel shrugged. He was the bartender, but our boss had hired him as move of a guard. The body he possessed could easily throw out the rowdiest of patrons. I for one did not want to see his bad side or what brought him to this town. “Wife has some friends over and if you know women, a bar fight is where I would rather be.” He looked me over. “Rare to find you out of uniform, what’s the occasion?”
“I had to run out earlier for an errand.” I grabbed two glasses. Samuel raised an eyebrow. “I’ll return them before we open.” Returning to the back, I grabbed what I needed for sandwiches. Anna was in no position to be picky.
“I am.” Tying the apron, I turned to the table. It would be difficult to conceal my weapons, but I would rather have them with me than near her. “Stay here. Do not leave, do not open the windows. You will wait until I return.”
She pouted. Clearly she did not like rules. “Fine.”
“Remember, if I disapprove of─”
“Anything, I know, you’ll kill me. I get it.” While straightening my tie, I watched her. Anna was bored, that much was obvious. I didn’t know if I could leave her for the next eight hours alone. Living on my own, I’ve seen no desire for relationships. Each day I woke, read, worked, then slept. Here, Anna was reaching out to me. She was one who communicated. Constantly pressuring me to open. To be honest, the thought of shooting her to get some peace has crossed my mind, multiple times. She kept asking for my name, what I do, where I lived, what places I’ve seen. Now, she knew the answer to one, what I do, I’m a waiter. “Can I go downstairs to get dinner?” My glare leveled on her. “So, no?”
“No.”
“Can you bring me something?”
Sighing, I pinched my brow. This is what I get for sparing her. This girl is my own personal demon. Is this what I get as punishment for my deeds? If God is real, He has a cruel sense of humor. “If my employer sees you, you and I will both be dead.” She sat back on the bed. “I’m expecting him soon, once I discover his intentions, I will decide what to do with you.” Anna’s arms folded across her chest. The look on her face, it was a mixture of fear, anxiety, and hope, as slight as it may be. There was this voice in the back of my mind, nagging me. My instinct had become one where I was to kill to protect myself. I was only concerned with myself. Kill, hide, and kill again. That’s what my life became. Emotions shed, primal reactions risen only to be molded into a weapon. This stupid girl, I didn’t shoot her when I should have, I brought her here, now, I’m standing in front of her, my finger under her chin forcing her to look at me. “Behave for me, Anna.” Something flashed in her eyes, something I didn’t recognize.
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