Masked Assassin

Chapter Eight

"We're done for." Ryan walked into the room and tossed a newspaper onto the desk. Esther placed her book down on the desktop, placing a ribbon between the pages as a bookmark.

"What do you mean?" She asked calmly, eyeing up his tense posture. He was pacing the study now.

"Look at the paper." She picked it up and scanned the top page.

FBI TO INVESTIGATE SERIES OF MURDERS IN USA.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has finally been invited to California to look at a series of murders that have occurred across the United States of America. The murders have occurred mainly in the California area, including San Diego and Los Angeles but also in Phoenix, Seattle, Texas and Colorado, that is known of.

Most recently in this series of murders is Timothy Ruben Smith, CEO of many major industries and companies, most famously known for his company Smith & Place LTD. This messy affair is to be dealt with by a variety of FBI agents in order to find who the killer is. The FBI arrived in California, yesterday. No statement has yet been issued by either California Police, families of the victims or the FBI itself.

"Okay so the FBI is involved. It doesn't matter too much. This isn't the first time they've been involved." Esther was still calm which confused and frightened Ryan.

"Esther, this isn't good. We need to go."

"No Ryan. That will look a lot more suspicious. They have nothing on us! Calm down."

"Calm down? I have a wife, Esther. A wife who has no clue about this."

"It'll be fine. We just need to lie low for a little while. No more meetings with clients, no more assassinations." Ryan nodded curtly and walked out. Esther sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She had no idea how long this investigation would stand but she had enough money to tide her over with insurance, shopping, bills, paying Ryan for his duty and Poppy for hers. She would be fine. She scribbled a cheque for Ryan and walked out into the sitting room. Poppy had poured Ryan a whisky and he was sitting at the kitchen counter, sipping it. Esther joined them and pushed the cheque over. He glanced at it and pushed it away.

"I can't cash this in. Not at this time."

"Why not?" Ryan smacked a hand on the counter, making both Poppy and Esther jump. Esther glanced at Poppy. "Leave us please." She nodded and walked off to the bathroom, without a second glance.

"It would look suspicious! Esther, for God's sake, this isn't a joke! The freaking FBI!"

"We've had this problem before. The FBI was there on the case in Texas. Remember? John Major and Brian Major?"

"Brothers. Leaders of the Major Gang."

"Yep. The FBI were called in then but left after two weeks because we had already left the state."

"I don't think this is the same..."

"We don't know for sure." Ryan's shoulders slumped and he downed his drink.

"True. Fair enough. I'll leave it for now. But the second we figure out they're coming close... Then we're leaving the country. Not the state, the whole entire country." Esther half smiled.

"And go where?" Ryan smiled too as he walked around the counter, opened a cupboard and took out a bottle of white wine. He held it up and she nodded. He poured them both a glass and brought it back around and sat with her.

"England. The cops don't carry guns. We'll be as safe as can be."

They drank wine and Poppy eventually came back. Esther gave her the night off and ordered takeout. Ryan went to collect it, privacy and all that, and they ate pepperoni pizza while talking about destinations they could run to.

 Eventually, Elizabeth rang Ryan and the party broke up so he could go home. He left the cheque on the kitchen counter. Esther found it as she putting the empty bottle in the bin and cleaning out the glasses. She picked it up and left it in her study. She then went to bed.