by Carl Hancock
Arnold pushed open the door and stepped forward, with one foot inside the room he suddenly paused and stood motionless for a few seconds before turning his head slowly to the side as if aware that he was being watched.
Matt remained silent, his breathing slowing as he continued to observe the suspicious nature of his foe until he resumed his entrance into the room and closed the door behind him. Matt released the grip of his weapon more confident than before that he wouldn’t be in need of it. When Arnold had turned his curious head to the side he had looked much different to earlier, the bushy facial hair that had long been his trademark had been removed revealing a heavily scarred face beneath. Questions that had been demanding answers not forthcoming since earlier were now satisfied, the explanation of some of his previous remarks were slotting into place. Riddles that only those in the know understand and appreciate were explained along with the feeling of familiarity that he had felt.
Minutes passed while Matt pondered his thoughts and allowed the man that he now viewed in a different light a few moments alone to wind down. When he felt the moment was right he gently teased the door open being sure not to allow it to slam shut awakening what few guests may have been frequenting the nearby rooms. If he had carried out his promise and disposed of Billy then he would be a sought after man, the police would already have circulated any description they may have had from any witnesses and he couldn’t risk being seen with or near the vicinity if Arnold was later apprehended.
Out in the open hallway he made the few steps toward the meeting place; he took hold of the handle and pressed down until the door opened ajar. Inside he could hear the shower running from the bathroom, a small television screen silently lit up the semi darkened room with the expected programming repeats for that time of the morning being shown in images.
The door opened inward to the left of the room, a mirror immediately inside the door placed on the adjoining wall provided him with a reflected view of the bathroom. A gap in the door allowed the hot steam to gently float into the main accommodation as the sounds of water falling against the base of the unit followed. He entered the room with caution, using both hands and keeping one eye in the mirror he locked the door into place and released the handle. The water stopped flowing; the sound of the shower room door sliding open followed him as he made his way across the room into the darkest corner. A pile of bloodied clothes sat at the end of the neatly made bed, stuffed into a sealed plastic bag ready for disposal with Arnold’s hat on the edge of the bed.
From the position he sat he had a clear view of the screen as the hourly news was shown. Silent images that he recognized flashed across the screen in the newsflash. Police had sealed off a street in the city, a middle aged as yet unidentified male had been found beaten and butchered. It was not yet known if the deceased had been killed there or at another location.
He couldn’t help but smile to himself, although he wasn’t overjoyed at how Suzy would soon be feeling he knew in time he could make her happy again. What future they had lay ahead of them, although tainted by his memory and perhaps his past endeavours being forgotten like a martyr. He needed her and she needed him, when he had been at odds with himself weighing over the best possible outcome for the situation he had realized the years he had been there for her had exceeded the accumulative years that her father had actually been a figure in her life. Although she would never forget him or the disturbing truths that she would soon hear, he was by far confident that it was for the best.
‘Make yourself comfortable young man; I’ll be out in a moment,’ boomed the voice from the bathroom startling him from his thoughts. He shot a look toward the area expecting to see him standing there but just like his reputation he was a true professional and just knew he was there rather than seen or heard him arrive. Again Matt smiled, this time at his naivety for thinking he could pass by undetected.
A bottle of champagne sat untouched on the side in a bucket of ice with two clean glasses upturned next to it, preparation seemed to be the key to the man’s success he thought as he poured them out. He returned to his seat and placed his weapon on the table; he sipped from the glass and continued to watch the news flash. Most of what was being silently said he already knew, he didn’t need the sound on to tell him that Billy had been frequenting very discreet personal clubs offering the services of virile young men. His own plans had entailed catching him off guard and maybe the worse for wear leaving one such establishment. An artist’s sketch appeared on the screen, a person of interest that the police wished to speak with. The image had been described by a witness, a young man in the company of Billy at the time of his demise. Matt didn’t recognize the drawing at all, it bore no resemblance to anyone he knew despite knowing that Arnold religiously worked alone.
‘That’ll throw them off the scent, at least until I’m out of the country.’
Arnold was stood behind him holding the glass of freshly poured bubbly, his muscular frame bearing down on him. Matt stood up, uncomfortable and intimidated being on a different level to him. ‘How did you get him to play ball? The boy I mean!’
‘A momentary lack of concentration I guess,’ he replied. ‘My eagerness to complete this task after so many years led to an oversight. I didn’t see the boy until it was too late.’
Matt looked at him curiously.
‘Drake had him in a precarious position down a side alley, I thought he was having a slash but it seemed he was forcing himself on the lad who had only just started selling himself to make his way through college. Must have changed his mind halfway through and couldn’t stop it,’ he explained.
‘And along came you to save him!’
‘I’m not all bad Matt,’ he said. ‘I helped him out of a nasty situation and now he’s returning the favour.’
The stocky built assassin stood wearing a robe that only exposed his chest, a faded and aged tattoo spread across it spelling the name of a woman Matt once knew but struggled to remember. The shaved face he now sported revealed the reason he had been renowned for his liking of facial hair. Battle scars from recent years overshadowed deeper older scars that had been burned deep into him and spread over his body and limbs.
‘That remains to be seen,’ he said taking a gulp of bubbly but refusing to lose eye contact.
‘Well I kept my word about you didn’t I,’ he said and nodded toward the weapon on the table. ‘You seem pretty sure you don’t need that!’
Matt followed his glare before facing him again. ‘Maybe I am,’ he said. ‘But that’s because I know who you are now and call me stupid but if there’s anyone that you wouldn’t…’
‘What?’ he interrupted before pausing slightly. ‘Hurt you mean? Why do you think I wouldn’t hurt you?’
‘Sentimentality I guess!’
‘Only you could read me that way, many others would not say the same,’ he replied. He placed the glass down and moved to the wardrobe where he opened the door and grabbed a smartly ironed suit and placed it on the bed. ‘So you’re not going to ask what my beef with him was then.’
‘Give me some credit,’ Matt huffed. ‘You got his missus pregnant, threatened his reputation. All the pieces fit into place now.’
Arnold tugged at the gown pulling it apart at the waist and allowing it to slowly fall off his body. ‘How long have you known?’
Matt stood looking on in silent horror and pity as the sight he saw etched itself into his mind, few parts of his anatomy remained unscathed with only a glimmer of his former physical self that Matt could recognize. ‘Not long and purely by accident, to be honest I wish I never found out,’ he said. ‘It could make things difficult. Why did you do it?’
He pulled on the crisp starched shirt and did up the cuffs first then moved to the chest starting from the bottom buttons. ‘I was young and stupid in them days,’ he said. ‘A bit of a jack the lad as I’m sure you can remember. I was never as smart as you, never had my head on straight or appreciated what I was lucky enough to have.’ He saw Matt’
s eyes settle on his tattoo and looked down. ‘She broke me…no-one ever came close after her.’
‘Not even Linda?’
‘God rest her soul,’ he replied. ‘There’s many people in this world that are worthy of a horrific demise, ways that I have become very successful at but she had many good traits and certainly didn’t deserve what happened. Looking back I realize that I didn’t love her or even care for her, it may sound harsh but you have to be truthful to yourself if no-one else.’
Matt nodded. ‘You’re right…it is harsh and a terrible thing to admit!’
‘We never did see eye to eye you and me, so alike yet so different in many ways,’ he said defending his words. ‘But that’s all history, in the past and we can’t do a thing about it not least because we don’t have the time. That kid won’t stand the pressure for too long and when he cracks my routes of escape will be severely limited and the last thing I want is for you to be implicated in anyway.’
‘So that’s it then? You just disappear into the night never to be seen again, no explanation or interest at all in what’s happened since you’ve been gone?’
‘I know all I need to know Matt,’ he retorted. ‘I know that you looked out for your brother when he had no-one else... and that you still do. You’re the closest family that each other have and I’m sure you won’t ever let that change, even though they are three of you now.’
‘We could have more,’ Matt suggested. ‘Regardless of the girl, she doesn’t need to get involved, I can sort you out a new identity by morning with just one call and no-one but you, me and Steve need know!’
Arnold pulled on his jacket then adjusted his tie tightly in the wardrobe mirror. ‘No…it’s far too late for that, and it was another life that I have no right to intrude upon now. You boys have made lives… good lives from what I see and hear about that shouldn’t be complicated by the bad deeds that I’ve done. I’ll taint your lives and finish them in tragedy the same way they were started, all the bad things that have befallen the pair of you fall at my feet and I cannot… will not increase the burden that I carry and think about every day of my life.’
‘I do understand,’ Matt said.
‘Did you do as I suggested…my recommendation?’
‘Yes, it made perfect sense to eliminate Cyrus for his betrayal too; he’s in the boot of my car.’
‘Well dispose of him properly, and don’t wait too long before doing it.’
‘I have a guy that owes me, an undertaker called Simon.’
‘Thought you might,’ Arnold said.
‘Retirement?’ Matt asked. ‘A little young for that don’t you think?’ To him it was obvious that he was engulfed in self pity, the alternative of accepting life or fates position in the equation had never entered his mind. From what he could remember from their joint past although over shadowed by grief at regular intervals the man had always been susceptible to self blame for things that were out of his control.
‘Maybe but this occupation takes a much larger toll than others, my joints ache increasingly and my reactions are slowing,’ he said. ‘It’s time to get out before I end up a notch for someone wanting to make a name for themselves.’
‘What about Steve, what am I supposed to say to him?’
‘Say whatever you like or say nothing at all, the choice is yours Matt. I trust your judgment to do what’s best for everyone else but with regards to the girl….don’t blame her, she was just an unfortunate like yourselves who got caught up in the fuck up that is my life.’ He loaded his pockets lightly with his pre arranged essentials, wallet, passport and travel tickets pre bought for speed and ease.
‘It wasn’t all bad,’ Matt said. ‘The years it was just the two of us, we seemed to cope.’
‘That’s true, we did muddle along and even had some good times, times that I recall often to help me through but things don’t last and it was always going to end in tears despite the unbreakable bond we undoubtedly have.’ He had one hand on the door handle and turned to face Matt. ‘When you’ve had enough of this shit, when you’ve had your fill of selling your soul for monetary gain come find me and I’ll buy you a beer so we can catch up good and proper.’
Matt nodded slightly. ‘Suzy’s pregnant,’ he said noting a flicker of glee strike through Arnold’s eyes. ‘We’re expecting a girl and we’re going to name her Elizabeth May.’ As the words left his mouth Arnold raised his left hand to his chest and held it over his tattoo, the reminder of his lost love that he carried with him everywhere he went.
Matt was sure he could see a tear forming in the corner of his eye.
Arnold cleared his throat feigning dryness. ‘She’d be so pleased,’ he said. ‘Thank you.’
‘She was my mother; it’s my privilege to honour her.’
Arnold smiled, then turned away and stepped out the door.
‘Goodbye Dad, look after yourself,’ Matt said as the door gently swung shut.
