Secret Sniper

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

I slide my phone into my pant pocket and pull out my keys. I scan the parking lot, spotting my shiny, black Lamborghini. My wife, Adriana, purchased it for me last year. Ahh I love her. We've been married for about two years. I remember saying aloud one day that I wanted a Lamborghini and she must've figured I really wanted this car. So, she saved up *a lot* for it and surprised me one day, revealing the newly bought car in our driveway. I sigh as I slide into the driver's seat, glad to finally go home to see her.

I turn on the ignition and press lightly on the gas pedal. I usually zoom out of the parking lot after work but today seems like a cruise kind of day. Everyone always makes fun of my driving: "Oh Eric! You always drive too fast, you're going to get into an accident!" or "Eric! Slow down or you'll kill us all!" Blah blah blahh. But for some reason, I'm not really in a rush to hurry home because well, its just one of those days where I feel sort of laid back, maybe because there's been so much on my mind all day I just need to slow down for a bit.

As I drive down the freeway, I find myself talking aloud, mumbling about everything that's currently going through my head. I smile a little, imagining Adriana's voice, knowing exactly what she would say every time she heard me speaking my thoughts aloud: "You're so weird Eric," and I would turn to my "audience" (imaginary, of course to annoy her) and ask them, "Am I really weird audience? My wife thinks I am, but is it true? Maybe a kiss will change her mind." I would lean toward her to plant a light kiss on her cheek and even though she would try to shove me away, I still manage to kiss her anyway. She usually swats me away but she knows deep down she likes my weirdness and kisses. She may never admit it, but she does.

I pull into the driveway of our house, and just sit in the car, thinking. 16 minutes pass and I finally get out of the car. I know, why 16? Why not 15 minutes? But, well, even numbers are key. Adriana follows that rule too, except for her favorite number 51. I always tell her there's no exceptions but she thinks otherwise.

I unlock the gate to our backyard and stroll down the pathway to our patio. I slide open the back door and notice a packet on the kitchen counter. *Eric Smith* is written on the front with a CIA stamp on the top right corner. I slide off my shoes and pick it up, not having a clue as to what it held. I turn it over and notice the paper seems fresh, from a copy machine.

"Hey, you're home early," Adriana smiles as she descends the stairs. I meet her at the bottom and press my lips against hers.

"Yeah, called out for a dentist appointment," I smile, gently moving a curl from her face. "How are you?" Adriana works at home, which is good because usually when I get home there's food cooked and a wonderful wife waiting.

"I'm good, better now that you're home. How about you?" she replies, smiling, while walking toward the fridge.

"Not bad, I'm home in one piece so I would say it was good," I laugh, following her, also sneaking a peek at her butt, and wrap my arms around her waist from behind once she stops.

"Hey, um so what's that thing for you from CIA? Um Agent Pearson, Charles Pearson, dropped it off earlier," she inquires as she turns her head to look at me. I look back down at her, not even bothering to answer her question, and kiss her. We lock lips then I feel her pull back. "Go check the packet," she commands but in a soft tone.

"I will, just one more-" I lean back down and press my lips gently on hers. "Even numbers," I say after pulling away slowly. A smile widens on her face and I tuck a curl behind her ear before walking toward the kitchen counter.

I pick up the packet and nod my head toward the couch, signaling her to come sit with me. She obeys and sits close. I open to the first page, revealing paragraphs and paragraphs of words. Adriana scoots closer, the packet's contents catching her attention. I thoroughly read through the packet, the first page explaining what I've offered the CIA for the past years I've worked for them, the second explaining what I was being asked to do giving very specific instructions, and the third finally revealing the target and all her background information. I flip back to the second page rereading the one line that stood out the most: "^You must eliminate a target.^" And next to that line had a picture of Natalie Rodriguez. I sit there in complete shock, assuming Adriana was the same. That's when something else caught my eye.