The Skin Thief

Chapter 28

My hands shake as I pull up the carpet in my wardrobe. I slide the wooden floor panel away and reach into the gap. Inside is a tablet and a handgun. I retrieve the tablet and walk over to my bed.

I switch on the device and wait in silence as it loads up. My heart pounds in my chest, and a cold sweat has broken out across my skin. I feel a bead of it dribble down my forehead.

I unlock the tablet with the long, ten-digit code. The first thing that appears is a face.

It is a headshot, clearly professionally taken. The man is middle-aged. His neat brown hair has streaks of silver on the sides. Small wrinkles surround his eyes and his lips, which are pulled into a professional smile.

He wears a smart, navy-coloured suit with a blue tie. The white shirt is crisp and free of any wrinkles.

I click off the picture, unable to bear looking at it any longer. My stomach flips and I put the tablet down so I can try and ease my nerves. I shut my eyes and take in a long, deep breath.

Come on Rowan, this man is obviously doing something to harm the second realm. By killing him, you're saving your people.

I let out the breath I had been holding and lift the tablet once more.

Name: Daniel Vasco

Occupation: Lawyer

Age: 42

Height: 6ft 3in

Health Conditions: None

Method of Assassination: Make it seem like an unrelated attack/ accident - no suspicion of assassination

Time Frame: No more than 4 days

I put the tablet back down. An accident or a random attack. How am I supposed to do that? In four days no less. So little time to plan, especially when I still have work.

There is a thump from my wardrobe and I jump. Connor drops down, smiling widely.

"So, my first day went–" he pauses as he sees my face. "What's wrong?" 

I tuck the tablet away from him. "I've got my first target," I whisper. Connor gulps and nods his head.

"I'll go and cook dinner whilst you figure it all out," he says, knowing he isn't allowed to know anything about my plans or targets. I smile weakly.

"Thank you," I whisper. He leaves, and I look at the tablet once more. I take another deep breath and then force all doubts and emotions aside.

My mother and the academy taught me better than this. I've had enough time to process it. Now, I just need to do it.

For the next forty-five minutes, I study everything they have given me. Whoever put this report together did a thorough job. I have all the information about him I could need, from hobbies to his schedule, and even down to how much he earns.

What I don't have, and will never get, is the reasoning as to why Mr Day wants him dead.

I force that thought from my mind. If I start thinking about it too much, I'll get cold feet.

"Dinner!" Connor shouts from the other room. I turn off the tablet and put it away in the secret compartment, and then make my way to the kitchen. My stomach flips at the sight of food, but I take it anyway.

We sit on the sofa in awkward silence. I force the pasta into my mouth. It feels thick and gloopy as I try and swallow it.

"Have you killed anyone before?" Connor asks with a whisper. I gulp and look down at my food. I move it around with my fork. The only sound that fills the room is that of my fork scraping over the plate.