"Do you normally make-out with the people you're hired to kill? It doesn't strike me as very professional."
"Put the gun down," Gabriel panted, not answering her.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
"Because you're not going to shoot me," Gabriel rep...
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It took Gabriel about 24 hours to get from his island to Rutgers. Apparently there was some big storm on the East Coast, delaying and cancelling all the flights that would get him there. He ended up getting an economy seat on standby. He almost always flew First Class, but he wasn't like some of the other assassins who would have decided not to go if they didn't have every little luxury. He came from nothing, so he knew flying itself was a privilege.
His other fellow assassins also probably wouldn't have let a target escape. Twice. Gabriel sighed. Hopefully this Kyle person would have some useful information.
Once he landed in Newark, he rented a car and drove out to the school. That part hadn't taken too long - maybe a half hour. Then, finally, he found himself outside of Kyle VanNess's place. It was a modest duplex, with a cute little porch that was lightly dusted with snow. Gabriel stepped out of his vehicle and walked up to the front door.
He knocked, hoping Kyle was home. A man quickly appeared at the door, opening it a sliver to see who was outside.
"Kyle VanNess?" Gabriel asked, flashing a fake badge.
Kyle opened the door wider. "Yes?" he asked.
Gabriel gave the man a once over. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a superhero logo on it. Over it he had thrown on a plaid button-down shirt that he had left unbuttoned. His hair was completely disheveled, his glasses slightly crooked, and he had virtually no muscles. But his strong jawline, kind, brown eyes, and even his messy hair worked for him. He wondered if Ashlyn had dated him. He appeared to be only a bit older than her.
"Hi there. I'm Officer Johnson," Gabriel lied. "I'm hoping I can talk to you about Ashlyn Wells."
Kyle immediately looked nervous. "Now isn't a great..."
"Please, Mr. VanNess. It will only take a moment. We just have some loose ends we have to tie up from last year."
Kyle looked at Gabriel warily. Finally, he nodded.
"My roommate is gone for the weekend, so we can talk in here," Kyle told Gabriel, gesturing to the living room. Gabriel took a seat in an armchair near the window, pleased to know they wouldn't be bothered.
"Would you like something to drink?" Kyle asked.
"No, thank you, Mr. VanNess."
"You can call me Kyle," Kyle told Gabriel.
"Alright Kyle, I'm hoping you can help us fill in some gaps we have with what happened."
"It was a drug overdose," Kyle replied flatly. "How much more information do you need?"
"We're actually more interested in general details about Ashlyn. Her family is looking for some more closure about her last few years. How did you know her?"
"We were good friends," Kyle told Gabriel. "But we drifted apart after she stopped going to college. I told the other officers this already."
"I thought Ashlyn didn't graduate high school?" Gabriel asked, ignoring Kyle's comment.
