The Assassin Awakens

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Tasha Salen drove her nearly new electric blue Audi Sports Coupe down the highway. Even though she was heading into an awkward situation, she was still riding the wave of excitement and euphoria, which started in the afternoon four days ago. Her husband and co-workers had all noticed the change. One friend said she seemed like she’d won the lottery the way her mood had changed.

She thought back to when this all began. Ten days ago, after the late pizza dinner with Bethany, she went home. Tasha had been stunned but not appalled by what Bethany had hinted at. She cared about the Braxtons and agreed that their situation needed to come to a close. She was bothered that Bethany was trying to use her earlier sacrifice to push Tasha into this plan. But Bethany was right. Tasha owed her and could never say no.

The following day, Tasha sent a single text message to Bethany. It read “OK.”

Two days later, Tasha walked to the street to get her mail, and there was a small, sealed manila envelope in her mailbox. There was no writing on it.

Taking it back in the house, she opened the envelope and found a shiny brass-colored key. It looked like it went to a deadbolt. The teeth were sharp to the touch, indicating that the key had recently been made. There was no note with it.

That evening she got a text from Bethany, “Had a good time at dinner. You’re right; we need to get together again. What’s your schedule this week? I was thinking lunch would work for me.”

Tasha replied, “I have Wednesday and Friday off. Lunch works for me.”

“Great, how about Friday at 1 pm?”

Agreeing, Tasha replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

Returning her focus to the present and her driving, Tasha took the exit, drove half a mile, and arrived at the Sandy Lake Funeral Home. Exiting the car, she headed inside. The crowd was large, and Tasha worked her way to the guest book, signed in, and then looked for the family. She saw Mrs. Braxton near the casket and went to her.

“Tasha, thank you for coming.”

“I’m so sorry. He was such a nice person.”

“He’s better off now. Just lingering as he did for so long was terrible,” Connor’s wife admitted.

“So, what happened?” the fledgling assassin asked.

“Bethany surprised me by stopping by; she was so kind and made me my lunch and tea. We talked for a while. I usually take a nap in the afternoon, but after lunch, I was exhausted. Almost as if I’d taken one of my sleeping pills, so when she left, I went down for a nap early. He was fine when I lay down. I was out for an hour and a half, and when I awoke, he was gone.”

“Do they think it was his heart in the end?” Tasha asked.

“Because of his condition, they didn’t do a full autopsy. Just some blood work and a visual exam of Conor’s body. They’re calling it respiratory failure secondary to the traumatic brain injury. I got a call from the county prosecutor last night. Now that he’s died, they’re considering new charges against the guy that ran him down and fled.”

“Is there anything I can do for you? I’m available if you need anything.”

“Thank you, dear, but I’m okay. Bethany has been staying with me, and we’ll get through this.”

Tasha hugged her friend’s mom before surrendering her to the next person wanting to speak to her.

Walking to the casket, she looked in and admired her handiwork. She felt genuine sorrow because she’d been quite fond of Connor, but there was also a pleasant warmth coursing through her body. After a few seconds, she forced the smile away and went looking for her friend so that she could offer her condolences.

Bethany was talking with some of her co-workers when Tasha approached. She stopped, and the two girls hugged.

“Hey Tash, thanks for stopping by. It means a lot that you came,” Bethany said.

Tasha had considered slipping the key back to Bethany here but thought better of it and had dropped it down a storm drain instead.

“Of course I’m here. I really liked your dad. I’m so sorry he’s gone,” Tasha said for the benefit of anyone listening.

Inwardly she wanted to thank Bethany for suggesting this course of action. It had awakened something deep in Tasha that she already knew would never sleep again.