Troy Weight: Assassin of the Year II

We drove up the snowy, winding road toward the cozy A-frame cabin. It wasn’t far from where the award ceremony was being hosted. Rachel and I arrived a few days before to scope out the land. I’m sure others were doing the same. She reminded me the whole thing could go south really fast. We may have to fight “friends.” I assured her I was ready by repeating something I’d heard a while ago. “These hands are rated E for everyone.” She recited our mantra. “All weapons formed against me have a chance but only one.” I placed my hand on her thigh as she kissed my cheek. Killer Love Birds

I was lucky to marry a woman who knew how to pack light. Our bags were mostly filled with weapons and ammo anyway. As soon as we got to the Airbnb, Rachel set traps all along the windows and the back door.

“This is a nice place.” She said.

“It was cheap too.”

“Think they’d sell it?”

“You want to move out here?” I gave her a confused look.

“No, just a vacation home.”

“You know I don’t like the cold. Who vacations in the snow anyway? And besides, we don’t have vacation money.”

“After the ceremony, we will.”

She began to change into white camo. I found myself getting excited watching her get ready. I would jump in to help, but she gets annoyed when I play during work. So instead, I got the guns ready. Inspecting them again, then placing ammo next to them. Laying out our knives, smaller gadgets, and tickets to get in.

“So let’s review one more time.” She said this was the hundredth time this hour. “I’ll scope out the site of the ceremony, entrances, exits, vantage points, traps, and all that while you—”

“I do recon here and set up the security defenses just in case. And be on standby if you need me.”

“When I return, we edit our existing plan and review our escape route.:

“Tomorrow, I do recon on the other nominees while you—”

“While I try to hack and get the guest list again. If I can’t do it this time. We’ll have to go in blind.” She grunted.

“And then?”

“We take a break with our guard up until the ceremony.” She kissed my cheek before heading out. “Be back, babe, be safe.”

“You too.” I waited until she was out the door before I sat down. My second phone was hidden in a secret compartment under my clothes. I took it out to make a phone call. It rang three times before someone answered.

“Hunter and Hunter cleaning, how may I help you?”

“I’d like to place an order for Divinity.”

“Wait, one.” There was a short pause, “State your name again.”

“Agent Red-One.”

“You are being transferred, agent.”

I waited until I heard the line transfer, “Smith—” the male voice said.

“And Wesson.” I smiled, knowing it was him. Long time no see.

“Agent, what’s wrong?”

“Boss, I’m in a little bit of trouble. But if I make it out, I’ve got something for you. But if I give it to you…I want something in return.” I paced the length of the bed, waiting for a response.

“I’m listening.”

“Immunity and new identities.”

“How about a reduced sentence and new IDs after?”

“No.”

“Then no deal.”

“Smith—”

“Look, Wesson, you still need to do your time. I am the law, and if you want out the right way. Show me what you got, and we’ll talk. But you and your wife will do time.”

“I have to go. I’ll call.”

“Agent—” He was probably tracing the call. Then, if something were to happen, he’d know where I was.

I went out to set up our traps and our cameras. It was easy. I was done in less than two hours. On my way back, Mike was sitting on the back patio. I dropped my case and took out my gun. He took out his, but we didn’t point it at each other.

“Troy, you and I have a mutual hatred for each other. I wasn’t nominated, but I’m on the guest list. I saw the nominees and knew you had to be coming here otherwise. Anyway, you have the highest price on your head. I won’t kill you now out of respect for what Rachel and I had. I don’t want her to come home finding your cold dead body on the ground.”

“I’d rather die at night anyway. Go out with a bang.”

“I like that. Go out with a bang,” He mocked my voice. “I just want a quick death and an easy one. Nothing special.” He got up to walk away from me. He should have never turned his back. “See you at the ceremony.”

He said he wanted quick and easy. I shot him twice. Once in the back of the head and once in the back. I dragged his body away and cleaned the snow before Rachel got home. His body was gone. Evidence gone. Like he was never her. I waited for her to come home and already had some food cooking.

“How was everything?” she asked.

“Good, good. Smooth, smooth. You?”

“Fifteen entrances, small security, over a hundred employees, forty bedrooms, one suite, and a grand hall for the ceremony. I have more pictures too.

“Nice.”

“But we need to decide something first.”

“Yes,” my heart sank.

She sat on the bed and patted the seat next o her. I sat next to her. “I don’t think we should kill Tyler. I think he could be useful.”

“Huh? So you want to kill everyone else?”

“Not exactly. Just listen.”

I listened to her idea. It wasn’t impossible, but not entirely possible with two people. Rachel was bright, and her plan was good, but I need to add another factor.

“Rachel.” I stood up. “Before we do this, what’s next?”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re not doing this—this family bullshit fantasy that you have. You know we can’t have kids.”

“We can adopt.”

“And what? Raise a child like a perfect family? Hiding the fact that we’ve killed dozens?”

“We could make up for the bad by doing good.”

“We do a job to get paid, right? Work is work, Troy.”

“There’s no retirement from this. So we should get out while we can. I don’t want to lose you.

“This marriage started with us just sleeping around. Not a forever thing.”

I felt my heart explode. She must’ve felt the shockwave because Rachel jumped after her words struck me. We stared at each other for a long moment.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” She mumbled softly before getting up. She kissed my cheek lightly and whispered, “Troy, I’m sorry.”

“I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Let’s just finish preps. Spend the evening together to clear our heads and discuss this when we get home. She kissed my cheek again, then moved down to my neck, kissing me more. I couldn’t move. Her hands started to wander across my body. It felt like spiders with needles for legs. I grabbed her hands to push her away. She understood and let me. I thought what we had was forever.