GUNSHOTS AND CIGARETTES

Simon eyes were glued to the tab, he could see how peaceful Joanne was sleeping, oblivious that her death was about to be quickened. He wished he had super powers, but wishes weren’t horses. 

Even though Simon was an ex marine; which explained how skilled he was in assassinations, he was still not strong enough to escape the situation he was in, if he tried to struggle; his wife would be executed instantly. And if he didn’t provide the money Freddy was asking for, he could loose his wife too. Freddy was an impatient and evil man, wasting a human life seems just like killing off an ant. 

Simon King was an ex marine of the United States of America, he was a man in his late thirties; everybody was surprised when he decided that he was retiring, he had served for fifteen years before he filed for a retirement after a near death experience in Afghanistan. Most of his colleagues had died either in emergency wars or during secret operations. 

Simon wanted to be with his wife, their one year old son had died due to leukemia; it was the one reason why he quit the army. He almost died and his only child died, all he could do was spend the rest of his life with his wife; enjoying her company as they hope for a new baby. 

Unfortunately, things never goes as planned; his wife had developed pancreatic cancer long before he retired but she didn’t notice until he was back, Simon pensions weren’t coming like they should; he was unable to pay his wife hospital bill; after series of complain and calls to the US army about his pensions; a friend introduced him to Freddy Littleman. It was one of his colleagues in the army who had also retired, he was also working for Littleman but was about to leave the state so he had Simon replace him since he was in dire need of money. 

It had been few months and Simon had only carried out 3 successful missions, the pay was good and steady till he fucked up this one and here he was in between the devil and the deep blue sea. 

“You’re making me wait too long Simon, I’m not this patient; but because you’re one of us, I’m giving you this grace. For the last time, where is my fucking money Simon?” Freddy suddenly screamed the last sentence, startling both his men and Simon too. 

Simon was still on his two knees, with both hands still held behind him; tears had gathered in his eyes, there seem to be no way out of this, the more he tried to think of a solution; the more confused he got. This wasn’t meant to happen, if Joanne died this way, he was going to blame himself for it. He could have saved her, if only he completed the mission giving to him, he could have saved his wife. 

He was reluctant and felt too accustomed to his assassinations, he underestimated his victim and they escaped. Now he had to watch his wife get shot in the head for not killing his victim. 

Simon tried his best to let the words out of his mouth, but they weren’t stable, his lips trembled and his voice wasn’t that clear. 

“Just one day boss, give me just one day, I’ll do all i can to get your money back,” Simon pleaded with gathered tears in his eyes, tears that mustn’t fall off. A soldier never cries. He took his gaze away from the tab and bowed his head down to the ground using both hands to make a pleading gesture. 

“Why do you lie Simon? Don’t you wish to save your wife, there’s no way you’d have spent three hundred thousand dollars within twenty four hours,” Freddy replied and gave out an evil chuckle. 

Standing in front of his desk, he was only slightly taller than it, something Simon had always found funny all this while; but today it wasn’t funny at all. 

“I used the money for my wife’s treatment boss, I’ve been owing past debts; the money was able to clear all of her hospital debts and pay for new ones.  Kill me instead boss, just let her go; she isn’t involved in this,” Simon voice was firm now but it sounded exactly as a plea, he wasn’t sure whether to get angry or sorrowful. 

He couldn’t control his emotions any longer, if he got angrier; he’d do something stupid and Joanne would be killed, if he got sorrowful; he was going to burst into tears in front of men which would be an embarrassment to his pride and honor. This was a situation that Simon King had never dreamt to experience. 

There was a tiny bit of a surprise expression on Freddy’s face, but it quickly disappeared in seconds, he knew Simon’s history so it wasn’t so surprising that he used up all the money to pay for his wife’s hospital bill. Still, it only got Freddy angrier, he wasn’t ready to believe Simon, all he wanted was the money he had requested. 

“Let me tell you this Simon, you’re the only person who have seen me patient for this long, and the more you plead, the more your wife bleeds. The only thing that can save her is if you show me where the money is.” It was clear enough that Freddy was trying to calm his anger, the way he talked. For some time, he had forgotten that his cigarette had ran out. 

Simon felt like giving the short man in front of him a very hard jab on his jaw, but that would only kill his wife instantly, he was so angry still he couldn’t lift a finger. Hatake was still standing beside him, showing him the tab. The masked man hadn’t moved from that position ever since. Simon knew if he took any wrong step, his head would roll. 

He glanced at the tab once again as he thought of what to say, Joanne was still sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed and Freddy’s men were still there pointing pistols at her. Simon wondered were the doctors and nurses where, it was certain that Freddy’s men was pointing guns to their heads outside the room. 

“Kill me boss, I’m the one owing you, killing my wife wouldn’t do any good; she has pancreatic cancer and the probability that she’s going to die is very high, let her enjoy the remaining days she has on earth. Please take my life in exchange of hers,” once again, Simon voice sounded firm but with a pleading tone, like a servant he who was asking his master to punish him for disobedience. 

Freddy lighted up the cigarette by himself this time and suddenly out of anger threw the lighter at Simon. It hit Simon right in his forehead. 

“I’m not going to kill you Simon, I’m going to watch you suffer, and still you’d bring me my money after your wife is dead!!!!” Freddy yelled angrily.

“Do it Hatake!!” He added. 

“As you wish Shisho,” Hatake responded, he held the earpiece on his left ear and gave the other. 

“Kill her!” He ordered. 

As soon as he said that, Simon jumped at him; but he was held back by the three guards behind him. The next thing he heard were three rounds of a nine millimeter Auto 1A pistol......