Guiltless

Chapter 10

Author's note: There are three different POVs in this chapter. I haven't labeled the last one (aside from separating it by 5 asterisks as usual) because that identity is still an unknown. Enjoy!

*Simon*

18 August 2009

"Have a nice day, Simon!" Mr West calls out as I pass him by. Already busy on the phone talking to Clara, I don't verbally respond but wave nonetheless. As he starts to speak again – probably to invite me to dinner again with his family – I point out my phone and make signs to convey that I'll talk to him later.

"Who was that?" Clara asks the instant she hears his voice and I keep her waiting until I'm done communicating to him and have moved far away to not be overheard before responding.

"You know I can't answer that, not without compromising my present location." I speak, enjoying the annoyance this defiance would create in her. From the very moment I received the call on this burner phone, she has continued to snap at me. "Asking things you taught me yourself not to ask is an indication, Clara, that you shouldn't let anyone have." Like your paranoia has grown even worse. Like the inner turmoil of the resistance is even worse. Like the fact that I need to figure out a way to find that tracker fast.

"You have a new contract." She finally answers after a few moments but her voice is no less annoyed. I don't bother responding to it though because those five words are like magic words to me. All my scattered attention is now divided into two parts: one to see if anyone is suspicious around me and one to hear and process her words instantly. "And it's in the city you're supposed to be in. Are you interested?"

"Fees?" I ask and for a moment, there's no response. I never asked for payment before for what I was supposed to be created for but after these few months of living alone, I understand that I must demand for what I deserve so that I can keep up a healthy lifestyle. I barely keep my mind from straying onto the different odd jobs I have been taking so far to keep myself out of red. No one, I understood now, wants to owe a debt to a flight-risk, especially one looking barely legal and being a legally emancipated teenage boy. "If you are about to present any argument, save it." I continue when I feel the silence has been stretched for too long. "I have been living these past months only through whatever money I could scrounge up. Knowing the worth of money, I won't be working for free anymore. Not even for you, Clara."

There's a very long pause before I hear her reply. "We can talk about that." And with those words, and the underlying meaning that definitely didn't mean good conclusions were to come out of a useless talk, I make my response clear.

"Nice chat, Clara. Talk later." With that, I hang up on her and pocket the phone back into the jeans. I have no doubt that the fuming Clara would be considering to call out a show of power, using the tracker and the voice she heard, to target Mr West in an attempt to cow me into submission to her demands. I take a deep breath and make my tense body relax so that I don't cause undue alarm. Why couldn't she hear someone I didn't like? Now I'll have to spend the night keeping watch outside his house.

My mental plans of the possible methods of attacking West residence, which are plenty, are interrupted by a vibration. And I'm slightly surprised to see another call coming from Clara. "Okay. Enough money to compensate your expenditures will be transferred into a new bank account established in your name within the next twenty-four hours. But that's it, assassin, not a penny more." I'm surprised at her change of mind and though I really want to push and ask for everything I owe, considering I have taken out several high-profile targets over the years, I give in.

"Okay. I'm in. I'll be expecting the file tonight." I respond and this time she hangs up on me the instant I'm done speaking. I smirk behind the sunglasses as I slide the phone back into a pocket at this childish behaviour. I would have congratulated her on slipping the burner phone in my clothes if she had let me continue but... whatever. I will still have to keep watch, though.