Assassin Affairs

by R. S. Smith

  “I have to warn you, though, Renée, Bernice will be there.”

  As they left the building, Danny asked “Who's this Bernice?”

  “She's my competition in Uncle Chip's organization, my nemesis. Bernice is strictly second rate. It's just a matter of time before she's working for me. The man that I visited in Arizona thought I'd been sent by one of the mob bosses I know, so I persuaded him to share a lot of stories about the man. I sat back and enjoyed drinking that beer as he talked. I got so excited about the secrets I'd learned that I forgot the bottle. I've gathered so much information about the inner workings of this operation and its people, I expect to soon be moving up into a more powerful position. Knowledge is power. Nobody takes a short girl seriously, but now that I have you with me, I'll be unstoppable.”

  “How about 'we'll be unstoppable'?” he corrected.

  “You know what I mean. I'm really very smart, Danny. As a team, a couple, we could eventually take over everything!” she beamed.

  “As long as you have me around to keep you in-check, we should be fine. Sometimes you seem a little too twisted and too eager to make things happen. Objectivity and patience can be virtues,” he said as he looked around behind them.

  “What is it?” Renée asked.

  “I've got this feeling somebody is watching us. I don't see anyone following us though. Oh well, let's catch the train back to your place and see who looks the most interesting in these files.”

  Later, as they snuggled into bed, Danny leafed through the pages.

  “Here's one who's a young high school teacher,” he said. “She and a few friends each owe about twenty-five large on some gambling debts. We could pop over there tomorrow, and then hopefully have some good news to give your Uncle Chip at his party.”

  Renée looked over the paperwork and agreed. “Let's go look for her at the school first, that could be a little different than the usual home visit. Variety is the spice of life. If we miss her there, we'll go to her apartment.”

  It was late afternoon when they arrived in the run-down neighborhood, both dressed in black, and asked the last of some departing students where one might find the teacher in question. They were told she was in charge of the detention hour for delinquent pupils and that she was probably the only instructor still in the building, on the ground floor in the back. When they found the room, they slipped on their black hoods and entered. There were about twenty teenagers seated at desks and an attractive, well-dressed young woman sitting at a large table in front.

  “Everyone remain seated and remain quiet!” Renée ordered as they both displayed their firearms. She went through the woman's handbag and confirmed the I.D.

  “What's the meaning of this? What do you want?” the young lady asked.

  “I said remain quiet! Never make me repeat myself!” Renée shouted back as she slapped her. “It seems you owe someone some money, honey. We're collectors. Pay up!”

  “I don't have any money,” she retorted in a snippy manner.

  Danny looked around to get a feel of the room. “Do you kids think we should believe her?”

  “No, she's a lying, stuck-up bitch,” one said.

  “She's always flashing cash and buying expensive, designer clothes.” added another.

  “Get up on the table,” ordered Renée, pointing the weapon at her.

  “Hey, that's a Walther PPK,” one of the kids observed. “Cool!”

  “Shut up, junior. What do you guys suggest we do with this deadbeat?” Renée asked the group.

  “Shoot her,” requested one.

  “Bitch-slap her good,” said another.

  “We need a party-fund,” said a voice in the back. “Let's auction off her clothes!”

  “Oh, I like that last idea. What do you say, partner?” she asked Danny. They avoided using each other's names.

  He nodded affirmatively.

  “I want that bitch’s stilettos,” said a black girl sitting near the back. “Five cents for the pair,” she called out.

  “These are hundred dollar shoes!” the teacher whined.

  “Sold!” Renée answered. “Take 'em off, honey. Toss 'em to the nice girl in the back of the room.” The exchange was readily made.

  “A dollar for her skirt,” offered one of the young men. “My girlfriend is that size.”

  “Five bucks if she comes over here and politely asks me to remove her underwear,” said a geeky teen wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a leg-brace.

  “Stop! Wait! I'll pay what I owe, just don't make me do this. Please!”

  “What about your girlfriends?”

  “Yes, they'll pay, too!”

  “Okay, step down and we'll work out the details,” said Danny, trying to contribute an ounce of decency to the situation.

  The entire room booed the decision, then sat quietly as the two women stepped out the door and Danny stood guard. A moment later Renée returned and placed all the designer clothes in a heap on the tabletop, along with the woman's handbag and phone.

  “Here you go guys. She wants you to help yourselves while she goes to find her friends and gather up our money by tonight. I kept her apartment key in case we need it later.”

  Half the group gathered at the window to watch her sprinting naked across the nearly-empty parking lot. The other half grabbed for the expensive clothing.

  Renée and Danny delivered her share of the cash a few nights later at Uncle Chip's Hamptons party. He was impressed. There were around fifty people in attendance.

  “This is the first time I've ever seen you wearing high-heels and a cocktail dress, Renée. You clean-up real good,” observed Danny. “I like the way it matches your hair.”

  “Thanks, honey. Let's go mingle. That's Bernice over there. She's the frumpy, matronly-looking one over by the food, with the attitude.”

  “Who's that young woman standing by the bar, Renée? She reminds me a little of you, except that she's got black hair. That sleek, black outfit looks good on her,” said Danny.

  “I don't know her. She is adorable. Let's go introduce ourselves.”

  “Hi, my name is Laura. I just moved to the area and my aunt suggested I come here with her, meet lots of people, and hopefully make some new friends.”

  “Who's your aunt, honey?” asked Renée.

  “I’m the niece of Bernice,” she informed them.

  The three of them kept running into one another throughout the evening as everyone continued to mingle, eat and drink. Then later, as the festivities wound down, Danny and Renée came over to her and asked, “Laura, how would you like to join us? Since it's still early by New York standards, we're going downtown to party some more. We could introduce you to the city's nightlife. Please join us!” they insisted.

  “I don't know. I rode here with my aunt, so I don't have my own transportation.”

  “No problem, we'll drive you wherever you want to go afterward,” offered Renée.

  The details were worked out and the threesome departed. Soon after they entered the downtown area, they were surprised by flashing lights and the spurt of a police siren.

  “Pull over!” came the demand over the loud speaker.

  They were in Renée's car and she was driving. “What is it, officer? I'm sure I wasn't speeding.”

  “You have a tail light out, miss.”

  Suddenly they heard the sound of one of them being smashed.

  “Is that alcohol I smell on your breath? Have you people been drinking?” The officers knew they had been as they had followed them from the party. “We'll need all of you to step out of the vehicle!” They proceeded to search the car, then mysteriously found a suspicious baggie of white powder.

  “That's not mine! You put it there. My uncle won't like this!'” complained Renée.

  “Oh, and who's that?”

  “Never mind, it's not important,” she said, rethinking her situation.

  They soon found themselves being booked and fingerprinted at the local precinct. The arresting offi
cers moved them to a separate room for a private chat.

  “We're part of a special task force the mayor has established to fight crime and corruption in the city. We report only to him, so your uncle can't help you. You aroused our interest when we observed you leaving the hi-rise residence of Charles Cicero. We followed you to Brooklyn, but your license and registration show Cicero's address. Why is that?”

  She didn't answer.

  The interviewer let them sit for a few hours, then returned.

  “With Mr. Cicero's address on everything, you've certainly become a person-of-interest, dear. You're required to update your license and registration within ten days if you no longer reside there. I've been busy cross-referencing information from your driver's license and our other data bases. You graduated from your university summa cum laude. That's quite impressive. We can't bust you for carrying a concealed weapon, because you're properly licensed for it, but we'll be looking into that, too.”

  Danny showed a look of surprise at the graduation information.

  Several hours later, bail was posted for all three.

  As they left the building, Renée said, “Danny, we can't go home. Manuela will surely have access to my address soon. She'll make a preemptive move against us.”

  “Wouldn't she be concerned about your Uncle Chip's reaction to that?”

  “It would likely be a fire. We'd be drugged and left inside to burn. I know how she thinks. There would be no evidence to show it was her. It would probably be staged to look like we were reckless with some Christmas candles or something similar. It's too risky.”

  “I have no idea what you two are talking about, but it is really late and if you can't go home, you could come to my place for tonight. I just moved into a two bedroom apartment, but haven't found a roommate yet. There's not much in the way of furniture, though,” said Laura.

  It was determined that there was still enough time to retrieve Danny's car and other possessions, as well as several suitcases full of Renée's essentials from the loft. It was nearly dawn Sunday morning when they finally arrived at Laura's apartment.

  “I knew my aunt ran with some interesting characters, but tonight was way more than I expected. You two are really cool. I have an extra pair of pajamas if you need them, Renée.”

  “No, that's okay. I packed a nightie, so I'm good.”

  “You two take the bed. I'm used to sleeping on the couch,” said Laura.

  “Are you sure?”

  Danny didn't argue the point and was out like a light. Renée went to the kitchen an hour later looking for a nightcap. As she found some brandy, she noticed Laura was still awake, too.

  “May I pour you one, too, sweetie?”

  “Okay, I was about to suggest that,” she said with a quiet giggle.

  As the two became better acquainted over their nightcaps, Renée said, “I don't feel right about sticking you with the sofa. Let me move Danny to the couch and we girls can take the bed.”

  “Oh no, I couldn't do that to the poor man. He's exhausted.”

  “It's a big bed, honey. Come lie next to me so that I don't feel so guilty. It's so much more comfortable there. Please!” Renée pleaded, taking her new friend by the hand, gently coaxing her there.

  “Oh, I don't know,” she said, as she followed compliantly. The two snuggled in together alongside Danny, and soon all three were sound asleep.

  When they awoke, they were positioned like three spoons, each snuggled up alongside the other. Once everyone had dressed, Laura asked “So how do you guys know my Aunt Bernice?”

  “We all work on special projects for Mr. Cicero, the man who hosted the party.”

  “What do you do, Laura?” asked Renée.

  “I'm between careers at the moment. Aunt Bernice introduced me to Misty and said that Mr. Cicero might have an opportunity for me working with her.”

  “Oh sweet,” Renée said sarcastically. “That sounds like Bernice all right.”

  “Life here is so different than what I'm used to back in Minnesota. At least I've got my Liberal Arts degree now; maybe that will help me get a job here. What do you think? I lost my office job back there, still owe a fortune in student loans and haven't been able to find anything anywhere. I was going to file for bankruptcy, but discovered that doesn't make any difference with those.”

  “Laura, what did you think of Misty?”

  “Is she a friend of yours?”

  “No, just a casual acquaintance,” said Danny.

  “Oh good, because I didn't get good vibes from her.”

  “What kind of work are you wanting, sweetie, another office job?” Renée asked.

  “No way, I'm sick of that nine to five crap. I'm willing to do just about anything.”

  “Are you and your aunt close?”

  “No, she was my guardian after my folks were killed in an accident. She was the executor of the estate and handled all the finances until I was eighteen and went to college and she moved here.”

  “Let me guess,” said Renée, “there was nothing left of your finances when she left, right?”

  “That's true. She said my folks hadn't left much, although we'd never seemed to be poor. She was my mom's sister, and they were often at odds with one another.”

  “Please excuse us a moment, honey. Danny and I need to go outside a moment to discuss something. We'll be right back.”

  As soon as they were out of the building, Renée said, “Danny, call me paranoid if you want to, but this seems like a set-up. I feel like Bernice has been set on getting me out of the picture for a long time. She knows my tastes and preferences. This girl could be a plant to get us to incriminate ourselves. For all we know, her place could be wired and have hidden cameras. Her look, her demeanor and her story are all just too perfect.”

  “Like you said last night, she is quite adorable, isn't she?”

  “And how about all that? Are you going to get all jealous and possessive on me if she and I get together, Danny?”

  “No, like I said before, I'm fine with that side of you. What about you getting like that if it's she and I who get together, Renée?”

  “You belong to me, baby. You can only be with another woman when you're sharing her with me. Let's get that straight right now. We'll see how things play out, and keep in mind it may all be a set-up. Be careful what you say and do while we're inside that apartment. Okay, Danny?”

  “Okay, but whatever happens, remember you're the only woman I ever said 'I love you' to, and the only one I will ever truly love.” They exchanged a kiss of reassurance and went back inside.

  Laura was sitting on the sofa holding Renée's PPK. The silencer was attached.

  “What are you doing with that, Laura?” Renée asked anxiously.

  “Is this thing loaded?”

  “Put it down right now, honey! Someone could get hurt.”

  “Oh, of course it's loaded. I should know; I just loaded it. Silly me!” said Laura. She stretched out her arm as she sprang up off the couch. “Get down on your knees!”

  Caught completely off-guard, the startled couple obeyed. “What do you want, Laura?”

  “I so own you two now! You're totally mine to do with as I please, so you'd better keep me happy.” She paused a moment for them to digest the news, then said, “Strip!”

  “Okay, okay, just be careful. If you wanted us naked, all you had to do was ask. That gun has a hair-trigger, honey.” They both began to undress. Once they were nude, Laura threw four police plastic handcuff restraints onto the floor.

  “Each of you wrap one of these around your ankles, then the second one around your wrists and pull it taught with your teeth.”

  “Why are you doing this now? You had all night to make your move,” Renée asked.

  “Manuela just texted me while you were outside to do it now. She's on her way to New York and will be here in two hours. I met her in L.A., where I'm really from. She and Bernice have been working together to bring down you and your Cicero friend. They s
aid I was just your type and would be the perfect bait to draw you in. They even told me what to say. I guess they were right. This was too easy!”

  “Just calm down; we can work something out, Laura.”

  “I like you guys, but this is business. Manuela is paying me a lot of money. I get a bonus if I deliver you alive. She's really into the torture scene. She's practically having an orgasm over the plans she has for you, Renée. Bernice said she wants in on the fun, too.”

  “Listen, I have a million dollars that I've saved for a rainy day. You can have it all, honey, half now and half when we're away somewhere safe.”

  “I don't believe you.” Laura used her smartphone to snap a photo of the couple on their knees, naked and bound. “This picture should whet her appetite.”

  “I have proof in my laptop over there. I'll show you my account at the bank,” offered Renée.

  As the two women worked their way over to the device to access the internet, Laura said “I can't believe you keep it in a domestic bank.”

  “Why not? It's all legal. I'm a well-paid consultant for a legitimate corporation and I pay taxes on it.” Renée finished logging on and the account information popped up.

  “Very nice. I see you're telling the truth.”

  “Laura, if you let us go, we'll eventually be the ones to take over from Cicero, not those two old broads,” said Danny, still bound on his knees across the room. “Who would you rather work with in the future, them or us? We could use a talent like yours.”

  “Renée, were they right? Am I really your type?” asked Laura. “I'm a happily married woman, but when you led me over to the bed last night, I was surprised that I got a little excited. I thought you'd at least kiss me good night.”

  “I'm so sorry, Laura. I wanted to kiss you, but Danny has been teaching me the value of patience and I was afraid a kiss when we were in bed together like that might scare you away. I'm more into emotional involvement than just the physical part.”

  Laura crossed the room and returned to sitting on the sofa. “Come over here and give me my kiss now, Renée.” She made a video with her phone as the naked and bound fellow-assassin hopped over and kissed her. “I like that thing you just did with your tongue, honey. My husband and I have a good sex life, but he can't kiss like that!”