“Hurry,
he’ll be here soon” she said. He opened the kitchen door and left at a pace.
The hallway was pitch black. He took out his phone to guide the way to the
front door, careful to avoid the obstacles that stood in his path. There seemed
to be boxes and shoes strewn all around, she really ought to be tidier. A flicker
of a smile played across his lips as he had this thought. Who was he to think
someone should be tidier, the state that he let his flat get into at times! The
cold night air hit his face as he stepped outside. There was a flash of light, a
deafening bang and then nothing.
A small
shaft of sunlight made a perfect circle on the bedroom wall. She sat on the bed
staring off into space, tousling her long hair. The phone rang which brought
her back from wherever she had been in her head. She looked at the caller ID
and pressed the reject button. She didn’t want to speak to him. Not now. Maybe
she’d be able to tomorrow. She sighed
heavily and dragged herself up off the bed.
The silent
air was punctured by three long raps at the front door. He instinctively looked
at his watch to see the time; why would she call round at this hour? He walked
towards the front door, stopping for a beat before opening it. She stood in the
doorway, “we need to talk.” He nodded and then beckoned her to come inside, leading
her to the kitchen. He took two glass mugs from a cupboard and fired up the
coffee machine. He held her gaze for a moment, “okay, talk.” He motioned for
her to sit at one of the chairs that were pushed up against the large wooden
table. She looked at him for a beat before turning to sit. “He knows.” He stopped
for a second and shot her a puzzled look, “what makes you think that?” “He’s
just not been right with me for a few days now.” There was a quiet beep from
the coffee machine, he walked over and placed the mugs underneath the double
spouts. He pressed a button and the machine whirred into life dispensing two
jets of hot black coffee. He tended to the mugs at the machine and with his
back to her he said, “he doesn’t know. Trust me.” He handed her one of the mugs
and took a seat opposite. He held the glass to his nose and inhaled deeply,
making a pleasurable sound as he did so. He smiled broadly, then, looking her
straight in the eyes said, “we carry on as planned.”
He pulled
the gloves on and zipped up his coat. He checked his watch, looked at himself
in the mirror and nodded affirmatively. He grabbed the gun from the drawer in
the sideboard and put it in his pocket. He flicked off the light switch then
opened the front door.
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