Disclaimer: I do not own Human Target and intend no copyright infringement.
"Mrs. Pucci, this is ridiculous!" Static filled his ears for a moment and Winston adjusted the earpiece.
"Could it be, Mr. Winston, that having to go shopping for me makes you a little… um… there's a very accurate American expression for it, but I don't…"
"Cranky!", Ames chimed in.
"Told you not to play cards with the boss, dude."
Winston stifled a sigh. He could easily imagine all of them sitting around the conference table, having fun at his expense. At least Chance wasn't at home.
"Seriously, Mrs. Pucci, how am I supposed to know what "magenta" looks like? These damn lipsticks all have names like "Tea Rose", "Maple Shimmer" or "Matte Spice". Matte Spice! What kind of color is that supposed to be?" He squinted at the lipstick in question. "Looks kind of pinkish to me…"
"Magenta is purplish, dude, like a two day old bruise."
"How come you know that?"
"There's a reason Mr. Guerrero advised you not to play cards with me, Mr. Winston."
"While you're at it, could you also get me water soluble wax?"
"Don't overdo it, Ames!"
"That water soluble stuff is great, dude, get me some, too. It's amazing what wax at the right temperature can do to the human…"
WHAM!
A sudden explosion cut Guerrero off.
"Duck!", a man's voice yelled.
Chance had come home.
Glass shattered. Someone screamed. Ilsa, most likely. Another explosion. The sound of gunfire.
Winston dashed out of the perfume shop, running for his car, but only for a split second. A sharp command from Chance made him stop dead in his tracks.
"GUERRERO!", he heard him bark and Winston immediately recognized that tone – it was reserved for utmost warnings and required immediate reaction or the inevitable result would be death.
A gunshot and another scream, Ames this time. A desperate, painful shriek. And then silence.
Guerrero?
The silence grew heavy and grim.
All around him people went about their daily business, laughing, talking, living…
Guerrero?
Winston closed his eyes, waiting.
Finally, Chance's voice in his ear: "Winston? Could you stop at a pharmacy and get us some extra gauze and hydrogen peroxide?"
"And that water soluble wax dude, don't forget it. Looks like someone's in for a long night."
After getting out of the pharmacy, Winston made a quick stop at the grocery store next door. He bought fruit salad, boxed sandwiches, a bag of that white cheddar cheese popcorn he hated so much and a package of muffins.
Before he brought all of it up to the office, he scribbled WINSTON on every item in large, provocative letters.