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  Kenneth Lawson
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August 15th, 2021

8/15/2021

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I promised myself, after this, no more assignments. The job was getting to me. I was making rookie mistakes that had almost gotten me caught on a recent job. I didn't need the money as the business had paid very well over the years. They contacted me with a request to deal with a VIP who had stepped on the wrong toes. 

The manila envelope held recent photos and a dossier of his recent movements and known schedule for the next few days—the last page listed my payment information. My client deposited a half-million dollars into my Swiss bank account, with the balance deposited when I completed the job. 

I settled into my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and read the dossier. It would be a challenge to get to him covertly, but I had proven quite capable. I made reservations to fly that afternoon to my destination. 

 My client had booked my hotel room under the alias I was using. Not a single blink as I presented my fake passport to the hotel clerk, who then handed me a key card. I spent the remainder of the day resting and watching television. 

That night I dressed for dinner and headed for the swankiest restaurant in town, where my quarry had a reservation. I arrived first and from a booth in the rear of the dining room, watched him enter. The Maitre’d greeted him warmly and led him to the best table in the house. 

His entourage considered several well-known female celebrities and an older gentleman. I considered a simple hit right here, then slip through the kitchen and disappear. I decided against it. Someone might remember me and the table I was sitting at and couldn’t have that.

 Instead, I had a delicious dinner and an expensive bottle of wine while I watched him holding court, ordering bottles of champagne to impress the ladies. I also enjoyed myself. My target had no idea what was coming. I paid my bill and left to wait outside for an opportunity. 

 He and his party staggered out of the restaurant and into a waiting limo. I considered a quick hit but too risky. I followed him to his office downtown the following day, but as expected, security was tight. That left his evening plans—he was going to the theatre.

I arrived early and waited in the shadows for his limo to arrive. I had a clear shot as he stepped from the limo, and I took it. He dropped to the pavement between his two female companions. 

The suppressor on my pistol was still loud enough to attract attention, but the screaming reaction from the women distracted everyone. I was gone before anyone realized where the shot came from, disappearing down a dark alley. 

This was my last job and my most challenging job. I pulled off the blond wig so no one would mistake me for my target. After all, he was my twin brother.

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August 01st, 2021

8/1/2021

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​I have to say, waking up lying in the middle of the road certainly changed my perspective, not to mention my day. Jumping out of a moving car, even one not going very fast, can leave you stunned. I heard an oncoming car and rolled out of the way in time to avoid becoming roadkill. I could feel the rush of wind as the car whizzed by and skidded to a halt.

The door opened, and a woman ran toward me. “Oh my God!!! I almost hit you!!” She knelt beside me. 
“Not your fault.”

“Here, let me help you..” She held my arm, and  I hated to admit it, but harder to get  I liked. 

She steered me to the passenger side, then hurried around to the driver’s side and slipped behind the wheel. “What happened to you?”  I could hear the fear in her voice.

“Best to say,  I was no longer welcomed by some dudes in the car I was riding in.”

I expected a barrage of questions and a commentary about the dangers of life today. Instead, she started the car,  got back into her lane, and kept going, mentioning the next town, some miles away. I was grateful for the silence. I didn’t want to answer the questions I knew were floating around in her mind.

I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. In town, I thanked her and tried to give her some money. She refused and instead shoved her business card with her number into my hand. 

I disappeared as quickly as I could down a back street, and dug my phone from my pocket, and tapped a well-used number. As I waited for him to answer, I looked at her business card—Karen Cox, Investigator United States Treasury.

“Yeah?’ 

“It’s her. She bought it, even gave me her business card. Not very good at this. I let her think I was running from the mob. She has the money. The case is on her back seat.” I listened to my contact. “Yeah, it’s ours. My tag’s still on it. She’s at the dinner on Main Street getting a bite. Time to close this case.”

I walked into the dinner and flashed my bag. “Ms. Karen Cox, I’m Agent Randal Reed. of the Secret Service. You’re under arrest for possession of counterfeit money, with intent to distribute.” 

As I heard my fellow agents enter the diner behind me, I opened the case sitting at her feet and found it full of brand-new bogus bills, stolen from a vault at the Treasury department and marked and banded by the Secret Service. 

I smiled, satisfied. My fellow officers who were tracking her never believed I could get her to stop by lying across the road. A huge risk for her, but she did and allowed me to verify she had the goods and arrest her. I won the bet. Tonight, my drinks were free.

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    Picture


    500 Words
      The idea is to write a short story  about 500 max short based on a picture and an opening line.  
    ​From there one can go ANYWHERE..
    ​
    Please note: the images used are free-use images and do not require attribution.

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