The Assassin

The Assassin

  Smoke poured out of the barrel of my silenced pistol as I stood over the twelve year old girl I had just killed. Her brains and blood splattered against the wall and a pool of blood soaked through the young girl’s pillow. My gloved hand trembled which was odd because never during a hit had my hand ever trembled. I had never killed a child either especially a girl child. Even in my mind, I saw the moonlight only illuminating half of the now dead girl’s sleeping face. She looked so peaceful. Her rhythmic, eased breathing reminded me of my own daughter whenever I watch her sleep. I walked hurriedly out into the cold December air and climbed in my car. I drove to a nearby payphone and called Big Mike. ‘’Hey, Big Mike it’s me I just want to say it’s done. Have my money waiting for me on my front porch; I’ll be home in about fifteen minutes,’’ I said.

‘’Excellent, goodbye,’’ Big Mike replied.

When I arrived home I saw the brown, manila envelope full of cash waiting for me. I pulled out the cash and counted it and stuffed it back in the envelope. I showered quickly, burned my bloody clothes in the incinerator down in my basement and dressed quickly and drove to my daughter’s elementary school. I jogged into the crowded gymnasium and sat down just in time to see my daughter waltz out on stage dressed in an angel costume.

My wife leaned over and whispered to me. ‘’You’re just in time’’

I looked at wife and smiled. ‘’I told you I’d make it, babe.’’ I boasted.

During my daughter’s singing of “Silent Night, tears filled my eyes. ‘’She’s beautiful, you know,’’ I said.

‘’Yes, she is,’’ my wife whispered.

  ‘’She looks just like her mom,’’ I said.

‘’Awe,’’ said my wife.

I know I don’t say this much,’’ I said. But I want you to know I love you two very much.’’

My wife placed her hand in mine and kissed the back of it. ‘’That’s sweet.’’

‘’I know I don’t tell you two this very often but I really do love you two more than anyone else in the world,’’ I said, choking back tears. She placed her head on my shoulder and we watched the rest of our daughter’s performance. When my daughter’s part in the play was over I walked out to the car and dialed Big Mike’s phone number on my cellphone.

‘’Hey, Big Mike, listen I want out of the organization for good,’’ I whispered.

         Big mike paused a few moments before speaking. ‘’Alright, I’ll let you out.’’ Big Mike bellowed.

‘’Really,’’ I said. ‘’It’s just that simple?’’

‘’Sure kid, you were one of my most efficient hit men, I got nothing but respect for you have a happy life,’’ Big Mike said with an unusual optimism in his voice.

 Later that night, during dinner I heard a knock on my front door. I excused myself from the table and started whistling Christmas Carols as I danced to the front door. I swung open the front door and saw a goon, standing at my front door holding a cocked pistol and wearing a grumpy scowl on his face. ‘’Shit, I said.

‘’So you want out of the organization, huh kid,’’ the goon growled.