Randall answered his phone with a grunt. "Yeah?" Grinning as he listened, he noted the look on Paula's face and turned away. "Uh huh. No problem. Address? Ok." Pulling on his tight, fingerless leather gloves, he headed for the garage to get what he needed for the job. He was sorting things into the trunk of the car when Paula came in, arms crossed. "Randall, I really wish..."
He sighed. "I know, honey. But look, it's what I do. We've been all through this."
Putting her arms around him, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I know, I know, but I worry. Look, you could go back to school, get some training, it's just that this isn't something you want to do with the rest of your life."
Pulling away, he smiled and kissed her cheek. "Look, we can talk about it later, I have to go do this thing. Don't know how long i'll be. It might get messy."
She shuddered. "I don't want to know, Randall. All this, and those guys you hang out with...I just don't want to see you come to a bad end." She hung her head and went back in the house.
Randall watched her go. Why did she have to nag him? It was what he did. He was good at it. The calls kept coming. The money was good. What the hell else could he do that would pay this much and not have him stuck in an office? The hell with it, he thought, as he slammed the lid and took off down the road.
The address was in a bad part of town, and the building was run down, an old warehouse that looked like it would be better off torn down. He didn't like it, but he'd accepted the contract so he'd see it through. He parked and got ready to go in. The door had been left unlocked for him. The targets wouldn't be expecting him, and that's the way he liked it. Best to take them by surprise. Sound was his enemy. They would scatter if they heard anything. He needed to know where they were to be effective.
About to go in, he paused as his phone rang. "Yeah? Well why didn't you tell me the first time you called?" Alright, i'll make sure it all gets done. Yeah, no problem."
He hung up. There was more to the job. Great, just what he needed. This wasn't going to be easy. He went back to the car and got more gear. No sense in taking chances.
He went in a looked around. They were here, all right. He could hear them. They sounded like the kind that wouldn't back down. He set some traps and moved further into the building. Looking around, he saw the loft was the most likely place he'd find what he was looking for, so he headed up. Sure enough, there they were. He set about letting them have it, most of them diving for cover, but it was too late; he knew just what to do. He was an old hand at this now, he had learned well.
It took longer than he would have wanted, but he went about his mission coldly and calmly, showing no mercy. These vermin had it coming to them. When he had dealt to the ones that were there he went about setting traps for the ones that would surely be back. He needed to make sure they would all be dead so his reputation would be intact and the calls would keep coming. He was Randall Jennings, and he was the best.
He went back out to his car, removing his mask, and loaded his gear back in the trunk. All the way home he knew he would have to deal with Paula again. Hitting the shower before she could say anything he stood there letting the hot water run over him, washing away the stench of the job. Maybe she's right, he thought to himself. Maybe this really is no way to live. How long could he go on being a killer?
Walking in to the bedroom towelling himself off he looked at her sitting on the bed giving him that look. "You know what, babe? I've been thinking. Maybe you're right. Maybe this isn't the life for me. Killing rats and cockroaches and ants, it's good money, but maybe I should look into going back to school."
Paula smiled and got up and hugged him.
