Hit List

~chapter 1~

"That was how dishonesty and betrayal started, not in big lies but in small secrets."
- Amy Tan
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Renée

Bree snickered, as Renée tripped over a crack in the pavement. After angrily kicking a rock at a nearby wall, Renée stood up and shoved Bree in playful anger. "Brianna, dear, don't snicker, it's rude. Remember your etiquette and manners, young lady." she said, smirking, hands on hips.

"Of course, Ren. I wouldn't want to hurt your precious reputation." Bree said, whacking the side of Renée's head. For a petite little thing, she had a hard slap. They grinned at each other and the pair continued to walk through the dingy alleys of the Ohio back-houses.

If the two were walking through the high street, rather than a dark, dank alley, they wouldn't have seemed out of place. But unfortunately for Renée and Bree, wearing red leather jackets and stilettos probably wasn't their best bet to blend in. If anything screamed 'out of place', it would be these two girls. They stuck out like a sore thumb, and to any onlooker, it'd have seemed quite hilarious. This, of course was intentional. It was easier if the victims came to you. Quicker.

A woman with chocolate brown hair and olive skin walked past the girls and Renée gave her a flirty wink and smile. The woman fanned herself in fake admiration. Bree shoved her fist into her mouth to stifle her laughter, whilst Renée cast an amused glance at her. The woman smirked at the pair and walked away, a grin plastered on her face.

Soon, they reached a tattered looking bar, with peeling wallpapers and a crooked sign that read 'The Red Villain'.

"Oooh, evil." Bree said, after reading the sign. "The Red Villain, huh? He sure must've been hella badass, to have that kind of nickname." They laughed, and paused before entering the inn, to let down their hair from its tight knots and roll their tight skirts up an inch. Plastering grins on their faces, they pushed the doors open and strutted in, smiling at everyone inside.

They split up, Renée pulling out a chair to join the bartender, and Bree pushing herself up on a table to sit with a group of men. They wanted to make themselves look innocent, like a pair of normal partygoers who wanted nothing but to drink and flirt with the guys and the girls.

When she arrived at the bar, Renée pushed her chair back so she could kick her legs up on to the bar surface. The bartender cast an annoyed glance at her, but Renée just smiled pleasantly back and batted her eyelashes.

"You know, I'd much prefer it if those goddamn feet of yours stayed on the floor, where I won't have to clean the surface." the bartender muttered under her breath.

"What's your name?" Renée asked her.

"Dee." the bartender mumbled, in a voice barely audible.

"Well, Dee, I am actually a very important person, so I think it's quite alright if they stay where they are. Now tell me, Dee, does Finch Lester come here often?" Renée asked. Wow, Ren, so subtle. You couldn't have made it more obvious? Renée felt like face palming herself a hundred times. It didn't show in her face though. She had been well-trained the art if discretion.

Dee cast a suspicious glance at Renée. "Yes, he does. Would you like a drink?" She asked, trying to steer away from the topic. She obviously didn't want to involve herself in other's odd affairs.

Renée nodded. "Today's special, please. Finch, he's a, uh, good friend of mine. He said he left his, uh, wallet, no sorry, phone behind in this inn last...Friday was it?" She asked, raising her eyebrow in question. You've screwed up bad now.