The Sniper
941 Words
Angela Shaman paced up and down in her living room, a wine glass in her hand. The moment Caesar showed up at the living room door, she tore into him.
"Am I the only one who gets the seriousness of the matter at hand? Caesar stop dragging your feet. l want to see action not promises.”
Caesar quickly walked to the couch, sat down and patted the seat,“ calm down, come.”
Angela frowned, her venomous eyes red, her face scrunched, drunk as a sailor. She walked to the coffee table, placed the glass gingerly on the table, and sat beside her husband. Caesar placed her hand on his thigh and caressed it.
"Look honey, the girl is a problem in our daughter's life but to kill her? No. Martha’s plan is brilliant, let's go with that.”
Angela snatched her hand away, glared at him. “ Caesar, l know you as a decisive man, what changed? Maxwell is married already, he is not going to roll over and give up his beautiful wife. You know him. Pat has his hands full with his son, he can't control him. The girl has to go.”
Caesar rubbed his face, let out a weary breath.
"I still maintain that the girl doesn't have to die. There are many ways to neutralise her. The boys will come up with a plan, leave everything to me.”
Angela shook her head frantically,“ no, l can't trust you and Peter to do anything. Call The Sniper, invite him here. My daughter’s happiness is my priority, yours seems to have changed.”
Caesar remained silent for a long time, Angela waited. Eventually he made up his mind. He made a call, listened and hung up.
"He is coming.”
His voice sounded as if it came from a bottomless pit. He got tiredly to his feet,"call me when he gets here, l'm going to lie down for a bit.”
Angela picked up her wine glass, chucked it down the hatch. She refilled the wine glass, resumed her pacing, her eyes restless.
An hour later a door car slammed outside. Angela wobbled on her high heels towards the door, she was totally sloshed by now. At the door she kicked her shoes off, opened the door as a knock landed on it.
She gave the man at the door a drunken smile,“ come in, come in. Caesar come down, S is here!.” She shouted at the top of her voice. The tall, bearded, burly man grimaced at the noise. He was used to the shadows and quietness of the night.
This ruckus grated on his nerves. His sharp small eyes monitored the stairs, a relieved sigh left his thin lips when he spotted Caesar at the stairs. The greetings over, the trio took their seats and got down to business.
“Sniper, i'm the employer not my husband. Name your price, here is the target.”
Angela probed under the couch and brought out a brown envelope. She handed it to the man, who took it without a word. He studied each picture with meticulous attention. He returned the pictures to the envelope and leaned back on the couch.
“ So? Will you do it?.” Angela eyed The Sniper anxiously.
The man’s deep voice filled the room, “ yes l will, for the right price of course. How do you want it done?.”
Angela picked up her wine glass, tilted her head, downed the contents in one go.
“I don't care about the method as long as the job is done.”
“Tell me her routine.” The Sniper instructed, his face passive.
“Well, now she is holed up at home, sick. She is graduating in two weeks but the graduation is in another country, Zerus. You can ambush her there, l will pay for your flight and accommodation. Or you can take care of her here, she and Dr Moore are the only neurosurgeons in the country. I'm sure her post is already waiting for her. I'm certain she will be placed at Bluewaters Hospital as it's a referral hospital. Your choice.”
The Sniper sprang to his feet, looked down at Angela, “ l will go with the second option, it's the easiest for me. Mr Shaman, you have not said a word, are you on board with this?.”
The Sniper moved his gaze to Caesar who squirmed uneasily. “I..”
“Of course he is, it's a family decision, right honey?.”
Caesar mumbled an almost inaudible reply. He got up and steered The Sniper towards the door. The Sniper picked the envelope as he passed the coffee table.
"l have a message for The Terminator, let's go outside and talk.”
They stopped by The Sniper’s car, stared at each other. Caesar whispered, “ listen man, whatever my wife is paying you, l will double it, don't kill the girl. Her offence doesn't warrant death. The girl snatched my daughter’s man and married him. It's not right but to be killed for it? No. It's wrong, my spirit is rebelling against it. Take my wife's money plus mine, disappear for a bit. When you resurface, l will deal with the consequences.”
The Sniper nodded, “ something about this deal didn't sit well with me, that's why I asked why you are so silent. Ok, take care, l will see you around.”
The Sniper got into his car and zoomed off. Caesar watched until he was out of sight, he heaved a sigh of relief and went back inside.
- Writer
