A Simple Task

Tuco went on to explain that there was an independent chem pusher posted up in "Commercial Row" named, "Johnny Double Ds." The Bishops tried to muscle him into working for them, but he wanted too much of a cut for protection. After watching him spend too much time with the Salvatores in their territory, Mr. Bishop wanted him dead. We were looking at a very brief window as Bishop spies in Commercial Row revealed that Johnny Double Ds was negotiating protection from, "Louis Salvatore." Tuco tasked me to kill Johnny Double Ds just to send a message to independent chem pushers.

"Drug pushers seeking Salvatore protection aren't safe even in Commercial Row."

I left Tuco when I was paired with one of his mercenaries to see the task done. I followed a Bishop mercenary named, "Angel Eyes" to the armory where Tuco's band stashed all their gear. Angel Eyes was silent and observant as he handed me all the equipment I would need. I threw on a heavy bandolier loaded with magazines and a light pack that remained empty. Then the guy handed me a DKS .308 Sniper Rifle, just like the one I had with Sarah's guards. The only difference was this one was a lot less beat up and had a glowing red dot sight in place of a giant scope, and there was a long black cylinder on the end. I wanted to ask what the cylinder was for, but I didn't want to embarrass myself and searched my memory for reference… A suppressor! I read an old military magazine that had one of those featured. Supposedly, the things muffled gunshots (There were lots of gaps in my memory). So with that, I left into a back alley behind the casino following the mercenary.

We took a long series of alleyways avoiding the crowds of people and headed west. The alleys around the casino were less scum filled than others, since patrols of blue suits stomped their way through and took out the trash. We found ourselves on the streets directly west of The Golden Globes and then Angel Eyes began climbing a fire escape. We dashed across the rooftops into the night and the steady crowd noise from 2nd and Virgin Street faded away. The dimly lit block of buildings west of the main casinos were fairly silent. The crowds of people were thinner this time of night and the only true activity was the rustle of junkies fighting in the alleys below us. We reached a spot on a roof three stories up and overlooking Commercial Row to the north. The bright sign of a firearms store and trashcan fires lit the area only showing the few people on the streets as black dots.

Angel Eyes pulled out a set of binoculars to survey the area when we were all posted up. After a minute or two, he found the target. Just under a streetlight and left of the gun shop "New Reno Arms" entrance were three people. We were at least 250-300 yards from the target, so it was hard to make out any characteristics. There appeared to be a man in a green shirt, brown vest, and blue hat accompanied by two armored men carrying big guns.

I was all set, so Angel Eyes lowered the binoculars and said, "Blue hat in the middle, that's our man."

I rested the rifle on the edge of the building and looked at the red dot in the center of the sight. I fumbled with the sight for a second and asked stupidly, "Where's the 'distance adjustment' or 'zoom in' knobs?"

The shadowed face of the mercenary looked at me, "It's just a sight? There's no 'zoom in' knobs? What the fuck?"

I whispered, "We're too far? How am I supposed to hit him?"

He set his binoculars down in a frustrated manner, gave a sigh, and said, "I thought Tuco said you were a marksman? Just fucking take the shot."

I aligned the sights on the distant man standing motionless under the light. As I focused in, I saw the man occasionally try waving down a passing tourist, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Focusing on the target, I said to the merc, "It's a lot easier with a scope… All I'm saying."

Concentrating on the face just under the blue hat, Angel Eyes added, "Anyone can hit something with a scope, moron… Let's see what you got."

I centered the red dot, breathed as slowly as I could, and squeezed the trigger until… *BANG*