They were called the Mercers, and they were my targets. I moved in next door to them so that I could observe their movements, get their schedules, and determine what kind of threat they could be. If they were dangerous they would have to be eliminated. That's just the way things had to be.
It all started when my brother and his wife got arrested…
They had both worked at a local hospital in the emergency room. Early in the month of December a patient came in with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Sepsis had already begun to set in. All they could do was clean him out and wait to see if he would make it through the night or if the infection would take hold. Nasty things, gut shots; they rip through the intestines and let loose all the waste that is trying to leave the body. When all that poison enters the blood stream it's just a matter of time before organ failure starts. Then it's all over.
Apparently that's not what the victim's family wanted to hear because they started waving guns around and randomly shooting people in the waiting room. My brother and his wife managed to isolate and destroy the threat. They sealed the waiting room and pumped carbon monoxide into it. The colorless, odorless gas quietly stole the breath from every person in the room. They saved the entire hospital and the staff and patients within, and they were prosecuted for their trouble.
After a long and dragged out trial the jury decided that they were guilty, but the judge was our hope. She granted them both a bit of leniency on account of the stress of the situation. They both got four years with the chance of parole after 18 months. Unfortunately their son was put into the foster system, which is where I come in.
My job is to watch him. Get as close as I can while staying far enough away to avoid suspicion. I have been good at my job. I'm the one that makes the anonymous phone calls when I get the impression that he is being neglected or abused, or that it might start. In one instance I had done my mandatory research on the family and discovered that the past five foster kids had to be hospitalized at some point or another. I really didn't like those numbers, so I waited. The night before my nephew was supposed to be going to their home I cut all four brake lines on their car. It was in the name of the greater good. People that abuse children are no better than viruses in my book and viruses need to be wiped off the face of the planet.
He was bounced from foster home to foster home. Mainly because most people don't have the energy to take care of a seven year old boy who has proclivities towards starting fires. Make no mistake; the people who did keep him were good people. Otherwise I would have to do something about it. That's my job, and I am good at it. This is why I moved in next door to the Mercers. As soon as I got wind of his new living arrangements I fell face first into my work. It has been…interesting.
Evelyn Mercer, she's the all around greatest foster parent I've ever heard of. She's the one that takes in the rejects, the disturbed, the troubled ones. The woman must have the patience of a saint. In fact, that's what I began to call her "Saint Evelyn." She never knew that of course. She doesn't even know that I've moved in yet, or I'm sure that she'd come to welcome me. Evelyn is just that kind of person.
Bobby Mercer is the oldest of the four boys she adopted. He's the troublemaker. Could have gone pro in hockey if he could have checked his temper. Now he does "work" in less than legal ventures, but I can't get details on what kind. I'll have to remedy that soon, can't have a drug dealer around my little nephew.
Angel Mercer is the one that tried to turn himself decent by joining the military. He's been out a while though. Angel has himself one hell of a fling going on with a Hispanic woman, name unknown at this time, that is if they fuck as much as they fight.
Jeremiah Mercer is the family man. Got two gorgeous girls, Daniela and Amelia, and a wife that would go over the moon if it would please Jerry. He's in real estate, but it isn't looking good for him. If he proves to be as good as he seems I'll front him some money through one of my business friends.
Finally we get to Jack, my favorite. He's the youngest of the four, and cute as hell. He's my age and an aspiring rock star. Jackie-boy left for New York as soon as he turned 18, but it was for nothing. He was flat broke within a year. So he broke things off with this band and moved back. That was a year ago, and now he's just floundering between jobs.
Tonight is the night that Tyler moves in with them. I haven't seen him in a few months. He was staying in one of those orphanages. I have informants all through the system so I've been keeping a distant eye on him. His caseworker, Tony Charles, is just a rundown do-gooder. The kind that started off with nothing but good intentions and a smile, but ended up being sub-par. Trying to do the right thing can wear on weaker people just like water can destroy stone over a period of time. Good thing I'm not one of those weaker people.
The movers arrived at 6:30pm to drop off the rest of my furniture and equipment. Tyler is due at 9:00pm sharp. Timeline firmly imprinted in my mind I decided to go great my neighbors. Evelyn had already been bugging the boys to invite me over. I could hear the arguments from my kitchen.
I walked carefully down the icy sidewalk the few feet to their front door. I took the opportunity to remind myself firmly that I had to act surprised that they were brothers. I couldn't blow my cover on something so small as a missed reaction. I had brought a bottle of Merlot. My favorite vintage as a matter of fact, I already liked this family and actually wanted to make a good impression. A really good impression, the bottle cost around $300.
Despite how careful I was I nearly slipped on the steps. Before I could right myself the door had been yanked open and a tall man had grabbed my arm. It was Jack. I found myself staring into those beautiful eyes for a moment longer than I should have. My surveillance photos never could capture the depths in those eyes. Shaking my head and laughing I straightened up, "Thank you, I'm afraid I'm not very graceful today." His hand was still wrapped around my forearm.
"Don't worry about it. Bobby put water on the stairs last night," he smiled.
I allowed a small frown to crease my forehead, "Bobby?"
Jack laughed and said, "You'd remember him if you'd ever met him before. I'm Jack by the way."
His hand was still firmly on my arm. "Hi Jack. I'm Kylie. I just moved in next door and thought I'd introduce myself." The lie came so easily. I always used that name, it was easy to remember and easy enough to forget.
Before Jack could respond a voice from behind him sounded off. "Well now that you've done what you came to do are you gonna hand over that wine or not?" That must be Bobby I thought to myself. Jack quickly released my arm and turned to face his big brother, "You always gotta be rude man?"
Bobby reached around Jack's still form to shake my hand and take the bottle, "I'm Bobby."
I couldn't help laughing and smiling. All three of us turned when we heard a woman's voice shouting something unintelligible. To me it sounded like gibberish, but to the guys it obviously had meaning. Jack turned back to me and smiled, "That's mom, and she's been wanting to meet you since your car pulled up. You better come in."
I made to follow Jack into the house, but before I could get past the threshold Bobby leaned into my ear and whispered, "She's been wanting to meet you because she's dead set on setting you up with Jackie. Run now, he's a little fairy." The last part was loud enough for the man whose manhood was in question to hear it. Jack just kept walking but hollered over his shoulder, "You're the one that took ballet." Bobby charged after him and the tumbled beyond my line of vision. I walked in, closed the door and looked around. This place felt like a home. I could smell a chicken cooking somewhere in the house. There were pictures of everyone on the wall. I slowly moved along looking at each of them with the same critical eye that allowed me to spot less than savory types. I couldn't see any real meanness in any of them.
Before my perusal was complete I was engulfed in a bear hug. It was Evelyn. The woman was a full head shorter than me and I could smell her shampoo from my vantage point. She pulled back and smiled kindly at me, "I'm so glad to finally meet you dear."