Chapter III
A NEW MISSION
AS PROMISED, the invitation arrived in the mail the next day. February 28th, exactly two weeks away. Vincent placed the invitation on his nightstand and went out for a walk.
"Excuse me, Mr. Vincent. This message just arrived for you." The desk clerk announced as Harry entered the lobby. It was from Fellows, the insurance broker, also an agent of the Shadow. He thanked the clerk and pocketed the note; he was to report to Fellows. He grinned as he left, finally another mission.
VINCENT was escorted to Fellow's inner office when he arrived. When Fellows heard the door to the outer office close, he spoke. "A bit antsy?"
Harry resisted the urge to have his eyes bulge out. Was it really that obvious?
"It's normal. Don't worry." Fellows leaned back to open the small drawer on the right-hand side of his desk, to pull out a sealed envelope. "You need to report to Hillsboro as soon as possible."
A small grin swept across Vincent's face.
"Is there something funny, Mr. Vincent?"
"No. Just I was invited to a wedding taking place there in two weeks."
"Good, a valid reason to be in town. Good timing as well."
"That's just what I thought. I just have one question though."
"Yes?"
"I haven't read anything in papers about Hillsboro."
Fellows shrugged. "Neither have I. Maybe he realizes you're a bit anxious and has you on a little assignment." He gestured to the envelope in Harry's hand. "The envelope should contain an outline of your assignment."
Vincent nodded.
"You know how to contact me, should the need arise. Is the wireless set still in the back of your car?"
"Yes."
"Good. I have a feeling that may come into play in this." He nodded. "I await your reply."
Vincent nodded in agreement and left.
A TALL young man entered his home and locked the door. The neighborhood was one of the safest in the town, but he was a still a bit suspicious.
"Jessie!" He bellowed.
A rather young looking woman hurried into the entryway where he stood. "Yes, dear?"
"Is dinner ready?"
She hesitated for a bit "It will be on the table in a few minutes, dear." She suddenly saw a flash and a sharp pain welled upon the side of her face.
"Is it too much to ask to have dinner on the table when I get home from a busy day at the office?"
"I'm sorry, dear. It took longer than I-" Her sentence was cut off when he slapped her again. This time on the opposite cheek.
"I didn't ask for excuses, woman!" His voice rising to just under yelling.
She looked down, her lower lip trembling. "I'm sorry, dear."
"Finish dinner before it burns." He commanded.
She nodded. "Yes, dear." She headed in the direction of the kitchen.
"Women." He muttered. "Must be trained or they will be worthless." He spat the last word out loud enough for her to hear.
Jessie remained in the kitchen, the tears rolling down her cheeks, more for self-pity than the pain she felt in her cheeks. Silently, she pleaded that her friend, Harry Vincent, would show up quickly and help her get out of this mess before it was too late.
A NEW MISSION
AS PROMISED, the invitation arrived in the mail the next day. February 28th, exactly two weeks away. Vincent placed the invitation on his nightstand and went out for a walk.
"Excuse me, Mr. Vincent. This message just arrived for you." The desk clerk announced as Harry entered the lobby. It was from Fellows, the insurance broker, also an agent of the Shadow. He thanked the clerk and pocketed the note; he was to report to Fellows. He grinned as he left, finally another mission.
VINCENT was escorted to Fellow's inner office when he arrived. When Fellows heard the door to the outer office close, he spoke. "A bit antsy?"
Harry resisted the urge to have his eyes bulge out. Was it really that obvious?
"It's normal. Don't worry." Fellows leaned back to open the small drawer on the right-hand side of his desk, to pull out a sealed envelope. "You need to report to Hillsboro as soon as possible."
A small grin swept across Vincent's face.
"Is there something funny, Mr. Vincent?"
"No. Just I was invited to a wedding taking place there in two weeks."
"Good, a valid reason to be in town. Good timing as well."
"That's just what I thought. I just have one question though."
"Yes?"
"I haven't read anything in papers about Hillsboro."
Fellows shrugged. "Neither have I. Maybe he realizes you're a bit anxious and has you on a little assignment." He gestured to the envelope in Harry's hand. "The envelope should contain an outline of your assignment."
Vincent nodded.
"You know how to contact me, should the need arise. Is the wireless set still in the back of your car?"
"Yes."
"Good. I have a feeling that may come into play in this." He nodded. "I await your reply."
Vincent nodded in agreement and left.
A TALL young man entered his home and locked the door. The neighborhood was one of the safest in the town, but he was a still a bit suspicious.
"Jessie!" He bellowed.
A rather young looking woman hurried into the entryway where he stood. "Yes, dear?"
"Is dinner ready?"
She hesitated for a bit "It will be on the table in a few minutes, dear." She suddenly saw a flash and a sharp pain welled upon the side of her face.
"Is it too much to ask to have dinner on the table when I get home from a busy day at the office?"
"I'm sorry, dear. It took longer than I-" Her sentence was cut off when he slapped her again. This time on the opposite cheek.
"I didn't ask for excuses, woman!" His voice rising to just under yelling.
She looked down, her lower lip trembling. "I'm sorry, dear."
"Finish dinner before it burns." He commanded.
She nodded. "Yes, dear." She headed in the direction of the kitchen.
"Women." He muttered. "Must be trained or they will be worthless." He spat the last word out loud enough for her to hear.
Jessie remained in the kitchen, the tears rolling down her cheeks, more for self-pity than the pain she felt in her cheeks. Silently, she pleaded that her friend, Harry Vincent, would show up quickly and help her get out of this mess before it was too late.