The Hit

Chapter Five

 Apple crush was a lot harder to find than I thought it would be. It wasn't quite dark web levels of deep. But it was buried in the mass of the internet. I set up a profile under the name Jack Brown. I used Alissa's account to help me locate "Vicky", the alias she was using. I sent her a message.

 "Hey there, I would like to take you on a date. Can we arrange a time."

 "I'm sorry. I'm not looking for dates right now."

 "I will pay well. I will only be in your area for a short time. I just need a date for a night."

 "I'm sorry. I just can't right now."

 I decided to leave it there for a while. I needed to focus on getting things ready. I need heroine, specifically bad heroin. I hadn't seen her do any drugs. I didn't know if she would willingly shoot up. I may very well need to incapacitate her without doing any physical damage. Luckily we had a guy for that. He had created a knockout agent that worked like chloroform only does in movies and crime novels.

 I woke up early on Thursday. The diner opened at five am. I couldn't skip breakfast today. Power bars are great and all, but not if that's all you eat. It wouldn't have been the first time, which is why I was keen on the idea of avoiding it.

 "You're early" Lauren exclaimed as I entered the door. The empty booths indicated I would have her undivided attention.

 "Busy day today Lauren. Gotta fuel up."

 "Well I'll have Manny get right on that." Her cheerful temperament glowing through the comment.

 She brought me my coffee and sat down across the table from me.

 "So. You leavin town again?" she asked.

 "No, just have a lot of work to get done."

 "What about that girl the other day. Is she your girlfriend?"

 "No, just a friend, a coworker actually." I didn't go into the fact I had thought about something more with Anneka.

 "That's a shame. She was really pretty."

"She is" I said, leaving it at that.

 Manny arrived with my food. I was hoping it would encourage Lauren to leave the table. It did not.

 "What you up tonight buddy, Wanna grab a drink?" Manny questioned.

 "Got work to do tonight Manny. Maybe next time."

 "Alright then. Don't talk his ear off Lauren. Catch you later Ryan."

 Lauren did talk my ear off. The conversation about her kids encouraged me to eat quickly. It normally wouldn't have bothered me but I had too much on my mind to care about her problems. I slapped a fifty dollar bill on the table and left quickly with little more than a simple goodbye.

 I collected the things I would need. Glock, heroine, knockout agent, suit. I had a feeling based on Alissa and Michelle's conversation this date may be taking place at a high end establishment. I wasn't fond of wearing a suit all day, my jeans and t shirt would have been fine by me. But if it was a swanky place I couldn't risk not being allowed in, or worse, sticking out. If it wasn't I could remove the jacket and roll up my sleeves. I wouldn't look too out of place at an Applebees or Motel 6. Just a man unwinding after a long day.

 The day went by uneventfully. I parked a block away around seven, Alissa left for work around nine. I had to follow her on foot. It's a little risky at times but she took the train, it's easy to blend in on a train. The hardest part was finding a way to blend in while keeping an eye on her at work. I spent a lot of time smoking just to kill time and try to look casual. I didn't like the feeling of hoping no one had noticed me sitting on a bench for thirty minutes and then moving a mere half a block away to loiter for ten more. I had to repeat this process for six hours, spending some time on the cafe patio across the street. Mindlessly chatting with a homeless man whom gladly accepted a chicken salad sandwich and twenty dollar bill.

 Things got a little less boring when Alissa left work. She met Michelle for a snack, stopped at a convenience store, went home, got back out for a bottle of wine. I could see her appear in the window a few times, a wine glass in her hand most of those. She seemed to be pacing a lot, her behaviour indicating restlessness. It was impossible to tell if the cause was nervousness or anticipation.

 She left shortly before eleven. She was wearing a low cut, knee length, tight black dress, high heels and a silver necklace with an unidentified pendant on it. It was a good choice, she looked stunning. She got into a car, it didn't appear to be a rideshare, more like a high end car service or a private driver. I cranked my BMW and prepared to follow.

 Thirty minutes later we arrived outside a high end hotel. She was dropped off at the entrance to the restaurant attached to the hotel. I would need to find a place to park. After doing so and depositing some spare change in a parking meter I headed inside. It took about ten minutes, more than enough to keep suspicions at bay. I was greeted by a host just feet inside the door. I quickly scanned the room, Alissa was seated alone at a table in the back corner of the restaurant.

 "Do you have a reservation?" the host asked.

 "Umm, no." I replied. This would have been easier if I had known before hand where the usual place was. "Can I sit at the bar? I'm only here for a couple of drinks." The rectangular bar would make it easy for me to keep an eye on Alissa without looking like a stalker.

 "We can accommodate you sir" the host cheerfully replied.

 I took my position up at the bar, selecting a place that wouldn't draw Alissa's attention.

 "What would you like to drink" a friendly looking bartender inquired.

 "Heineken" I said.

 "Very well" the bartender said, retrieving and sitting the beer down in front of me almost as fast as it had taken him to say the two words.

 For what couldn't have been more than five minutes I sipped the beer and made small talk with the bartender, always keeping an eye on Alissa. The sight of such a beautiful woman sitting alone, looking the way she did tonight, was almost heartbreaking. She fiddled with the straw in her cranberry vodka, taking occasional sips, looking up every now and then.

 The sound of the door opening broke both of our concentration. She looked up, the boredom on her face disappeared before she quickly looked back down at her drink. I peeked over my shoulder, careful not to indicate any interest in who had walked through the door. 

 It was Thomas Cassil, a young senator from California, and democratic candidate for President of the United States. He was touted as the next John F. Kennedy. His looks definitely fit the part. I looked back to Alissa, she was watching him but not looking directly at him. She wasn't fiddling with her drink any longer, her demeanor had changed to one of anticipation. She was ready for something. Thomas was chatting with the host.

 "A table tonight sir?" the host questioned.

 "Not tonight Robby, locking myself in the room to work on those vexing campaign speeches" Thomas offered, more chuckled than spoken.

 "Very well sir. I assume you would like the usual sent up?"

 "As always."

 Thomas walked right by Alissa, neither acknowledging one another. A few moments later the host approached Alissa. He laid a card down on her table saying "you're all set madam". She thanked him and picked up the card, grasping it in her hand. She waited a few more moments, looked at the door leading into the hotel, casually got up and headed through the same door Thomas had just a minute or two before.

 Phil is Thomas Cassil? I thought. Check box number 3 for the Kennedy comparisons.