Chapter Two
Saitoh stepped out from the shadows of the building. He had disarmed his gun and holstered it. There was little need for caution. His shot had been true, he could tell by the amount of brain matter spattered across the asphalt. There was no way the man had survived his clean shooting.
Skirting around the mess, not because it disturbed him, but because he didn't want to mess up his expensive leather shoes; he reached the car.
Something nagged at him. Something was wrong, out of place. Except this was the exact time specified and the man fit the description given fairly well. They weren't always precise enough for Saitoh's standards, no one was, but usually there were close. The car was different, but cars were an easy commodity to switch around. Besides, Camrys were common cars; they generally tended to go unnoticed. Even ones that were a slightly unusual color. However, he could see the choice for dark blue rather than say black. Silver or white was definitely out of the question... and why was he analyzing the man's car? It would be found, abandoned, later by the police.
Jerking open the passenger side door he riffled through the glove box. Finding nothing but a few manuals, some road maps, and aspirin he methodically started to look everywhere else. He started with the seat and spread outward.
He had managed to clear the whole front part of the car and was completely frustrated. Nothing.
Then he realized there was someone in the back. His keen hearing picked up on the slight, fast breaths. He wondered why he hadn't noticed it before.
Reaching for his small handgun he made sure the silencer was on properly and turned off the safety with a slight click. His sharp eyes cut through the darkness, but he couldn't see anything. Whoever, or whatever, he didn't believe it was an animal but it was entirely possible, must be well hidden. He just hoped to god it wasn't some weird, dangerous exotic pet drug dealers insisted on carting around. He wasn't particular enthused recalling his last encounter with a half grown male lion.
"Come out." He snapped in his most dangerous tone. There was a hesitant scuffle, but no one emerged. He growled under his breath and slowly back out of the car. He closed the door and waited tensely.
There was a moment's hesitation before the back door, on the other side of course, creaked open a crack. Patiently, he remained motionless. Curiosity, something that normally wouldn't affect him, nudged at the back of his mind. His instincts told him this was important. He never ignored his gut feelings. They had save him countless times.
Another ten minutes ticked by before the heavy car door nudged open ever so slightly. Another twenty of tense waiting decided his prey. The door swung open and a small form tumbled out.
That surprised him considerably. Why would his target have a child with him? A sinking feel accompanied this thought and his nervous feel was becoming justified.
"Daddy?"
The child was obviously female and not very old. He didn't know much about children. He never had any siblings and without a family of his own his experience was severely lacking.
"Daddy?" This was far more hesitant that her first inquiry. Then there was a gasp and the far less pleasant sound of the child retching.
Saitoh only took this in superficially. He was more interested in his internal thoughts than what some unknown child was doing at the moment.
What a colossal mess! Assuming he survived the gantlet of being at the head of such a horrible screw up he still had to live with himself. He didn't make mistakes, not on the job. That was why he was head of his class, the cream of the crop. Respect was something he craved. Such a screw up would ruin years of hard work. And he was almost entirely to blame despite the fact it was a simple mistake. He scoffed, simple indeed.
Still berating himself furiously he completely forgot the child. Turning he narrowed his eyes further and jutted his jaw slightly trying to figure out what to do. Obviously, his intended target had either decided not to come tonight, or saw the mess that already occupied the deserted parking lot decided to flee like a fox to den.
Turning around he decided to leave the body. There wasn't much cover up he could do. After all, this was a middle class neighborhood, things like homicide happened. The police wouldn't get anything and they would close it up...
A flicker of motion caught his eye and he felt like screaming some obscene word that would normally come out of Sano's foul mouth.
What to do with a child?
Reluctantly he entertained the notion of killing her. It would be the easiest way to get out of his present difficulty. If he wanted it to really look like a random act of killing. He couldn't just let her stay. She had seen him, could identify him. Leaving loose ends like that was exceedingly dangerous and immeasurably unprofessional. He risked not only himself, but his employers as well. If anything they were far more ruthless than he himself was. No second chances applied to anyone. Not even their best assassin.
A few stray thoughts crossed his mind as he checked his gun over, but he brushed them aside. Best to do this quickly. He had made a mistake, as much as it disgusted him to admit that even to himself. Saitoh never left a mistake uncorrected.
Saitoh stepped out from the shadows of the building. He had disarmed his gun and holstered it. There was little need for caution. His shot had been true, he could tell by the amount of brain matter spattered across the asphalt. There was no way the man had survived his clean shooting.
Skirting around the mess, not because it disturbed him, but because he didn't want to mess up his expensive leather shoes; he reached the car.
Something nagged at him. Something was wrong, out of place. Except this was the exact time specified and the man fit the description given fairly well. They weren't always precise enough for Saitoh's standards, no one was, but usually there were close. The car was different, but cars were an easy commodity to switch around. Besides, Camrys were common cars; they generally tended to go unnoticed. Even ones that were a slightly unusual color. However, he could see the choice for dark blue rather than say black. Silver or white was definitely out of the question... and why was he analyzing the man's car? It would be found, abandoned, later by the police.
Jerking open the passenger side door he riffled through the glove box. Finding nothing but a few manuals, some road maps, and aspirin he methodically started to look everywhere else. He started with the seat and spread outward.
He had managed to clear the whole front part of the car and was completely frustrated. Nothing.
Then he realized there was someone in the back. His keen hearing picked up on the slight, fast breaths. He wondered why he hadn't noticed it before.
Reaching for his small handgun he made sure the silencer was on properly and turned off the safety with a slight click. His sharp eyes cut through the darkness, but he couldn't see anything. Whoever, or whatever, he didn't believe it was an animal but it was entirely possible, must be well hidden. He just hoped to god it wasn't some weird, dangerous exotic pet drug dealers insisted on carting around. He wasn't particular enthused recalling his last encounter with a half grown male lion.
"Come out." He snapped in his most dangerous tone. There was a hesitant scuffle, but no one emerged. He growled under his breath and slowly back out of the car. He closed the door and waited tensely.
There was a moment's hesitation before the back door, on the other side of course, creaked open a crack. Patiently, he remained motionless. Curiosity, something that normally wouldn't affect him, nudged at the back of his mind. His instincts told him this was important. He never ignored his gut feelings. They had save him countless times.
Another ten minutes ticked by before the heavy car door nudged open ever so slightly. Another twenty of tense waiting decided his prey. The door swung open and a small form tumbled out.
That surprised him considerably. Why would his target have a child with him? A sinking feel accompanied this thought and his nervous feel was becoming justified.
"Daddy?"
The child was obviously female and not very old. He didn't know much about children. He never had any siblings and without a family of his own his experience was severely lacking.
"Daddy?" This was far more hesitant that her first inquiry. Then there was a gasp and the far less pleasant sound of the child retching.
Saitoh only took this in superficially. He was more interested in his internal thoughts than what some unknown child was doing at the moment.
What a colossal mess! Assuming he survived the gantlet of being at the head of such a horrible screw up he still had to live with himself. He didn't make mistakes, not on the job. That was why he was head of his class, the cream of the crop. Respect was something he craved. Such a screw up would ruin years of hard work. And he was almost entirely to blame despite the fact it was a simple mistake. He scoffed, simple indeed.
Still berating himself furiously he completely forgot the child. Turning he narrowed his eyes further and jutted his jaw slightly trying to figure out what to do. Obviously, his intended target had either decided not to come tonight, or saw the mess that already occupied the deserted parking lot decided to flee like a fox to den.
Turning around he decided to leave the body. There wasn't much cover up he could do. After all, this was a middle class neighborhood, things like homicide happened. The police wouldn't get anything and they would close it up...
A flicker of motion caught his eye and he felt like screaming some obscene word that would normally come out of Sano's foul mouth.
What to do with a child?
Reluctantly he entertained the notion of killing her. It would be the easiest way to get out of his present difficulty. If he wanted it to really look like a random act of killing. He couldn't just let her stay. She had seen him, could identify him. Leaving loose ends like that was exceedingly dangerous and immeasurably unprofessional. He risked not only himself, but his employers as well. If anything they were far more ruthless than he himself was. No second chances applied to anyone. Not even their best assassin.
A few stray thoughts crossed his mind as he checked his gun over, but he brushed them aside. Best to do this quickly. He had made a mistake, as much as it disgusted him to admit that even to himself. Saitoh never left a mistake uncorrected.