The Hit

Chapter Two

 I had been back in D.C. for two days when I got the message. "Tomorrow morning". It mean't I was getting another assignment. I had to be at the office the organization used as a front. I was hoping for a few more days. I've gone more than a month between hits before. I needed that kind of break right now. I still couldn't quit thinking about the Germany job. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I had tried to convince myself he was a pedophile or had murdered someone in the past. But I saw no evidence of either. They don't give us reasons and we aren't supposed to ask.

 I wiped the sleep from my eyes and sat up in bed. The haze hadn't even worn off before my doorbell rang. I walked to the door and opened it to find an athletic, five foot eight blonde, dressed in jeans, and a loose fitting Nirvana tee with a red and black plaid shirt unbuttoned over it. Anneka Van Zandt, or my closest friend over the last four and a half years. We met days after my first hit. She wasn't quite as green as I was, but still only a few months into the job.

  "What do you want?" I muttered. "It's early!"

 "I would like you to put some pants on." She retorted. Pointing out the fact I had opened the door in nothing but a faded pair of boxers. "I just got back from Spain and couldn't sleep. Thought I would come by and see what you were up to."

 "Can I take a shower before we catch up? I feel like ass." I asked. Letting her in.

 "Yeah, sure, whatever." she replied. "I'll just.. umm... you know we make enough money for you to buy a t.v. right? Maybe even move into a better place. Why do you still live here again?"

 "It's usually a lot quieter than it is today." I snapped back. "Talk to the rats, they love company." Flashing her a smile as I headed for the bathroom. I could feel her eyes boring into the back of my head.

 We went to the diner located below my apartment. Sitting in the same booth I always do. She immediately started going on about her dogs problem taking a solid shit.

 "Ryan!" I heard a familiar voice call out. It was Lauren, our server, single mother of two working her first job of the day. "Where have you been? I know I know, can't say. Always so mysterious."

 I caught Anneka giving her a look that could kill. I couldn't tell if it was jealousy, or if she was pissed that her story about her dog shitting on her immaculate furniture got interrupted?

 "Hi lauren. I'll have my usual and whatever she is having." pointing at Anneka.

 "I'll get my own." Anneka said, a slight tone of condescension layered the statement.

 Lauren looking confused, jotted down my order and took Anneka's.

 The truth is this diner is why I was still in my apartment. Lauren and Manny, the cook, were my own personal charity cases. I always over tipped Lauren, and I knew she split it with Manny. Neither would just take money from me. Manny drank a lot of my beer, usually while complaining about lifes general problems. I didn't mind though. Having friends made me look a little more normal to casual observers. I loved this little diner and the people in it. They were there for me before I was making a killing by killing. I couldn't just leave them. I was afraid if I moved I would never have a reason, or time, to come back.

 "She's too damn chipper." Anneka said after Lauren was out of ear shot.

 I ignored her and let her continue her story about her dog. I wasn't really listening. When our food arrived it brought a few moments of silence, allowing me to think a little.

 "Anneka" I broke the silence, "I need to ask you about something I have been thinking about the last few days".

 "Okay" she replied.

 "Do you ever wonder about the people assigned to us. What I mean... do you ever think they don't deserve it?"

 "No. It's not my job to worry about it. Leave that to the org."

 "It's never crossed your mind? Not even once?"

 "Where is this coming from? Are you getting soft? Just do the job and take the money. It's not that complicated Ryan."

 "My last job. The guy was a doctor. I was on him for four days and never once saw him do anything questionable."

 "The org knows more than we do." She said. "It's not our place to question who gets marked."

 "I know that's how it's supposed to be Anneka, but you have really never thought about it. This guy just didn't fit the usual mold."

 "You need to check yourself Ryan! You can't go around questioning shit like this."

 "I was just asking you, as a friend. It's not like I am going to shout it in the streets." I snapped back.

 "Look Ryan. You're good at the job. The org does the digging, we just clean up the mess. Just do your next job and you'll catch them in some despicable act. You'll feel better about it. This last guy was an outlier. It's not the first time you haven't seen the reason someone ended up in a file."

 She was right. I hadn't always seen what got my targets marked. Maybe she was right about my next hit as well. If I got some sleazy smuck it would be easy and I could move on.

 "Pay the check, and don't fuck the waitress" Anneka snapped. "I'm going to get some sleep."

  "Wait, I thought you were paying for your own?"

 "I never intended to, I just didn't want your girlfriend to think I was dependent on you." She said as she got up from the booth.

 "She's not" I cut myself off as she pushed the diner door open. It didn't matter anyway.

 "So I guess you are paying." I heard Lauren say as she approached the table.

 "I guess I am."