A/N: Just three things to say today: first off, THANK YOU to whoever nominated this story for Best Villain and Best Characterisation in the Twilight Awards (links on my profile). Voting starts on the 17th I think but I'll be posting again with a reminder when it officially begins.
Secondly, I know this chapter is late and I do apologise but it was down to reasons outside of my control (namely school/tests/headaches…)
Thirdly, I've been having major email trouble again (I can't open the box to pick or type the address to send anything to, stupid msn) so this is unedited again, sorry Padfootly, I'll get it to you soon.
Now to the last long list (I finally have 100% links so I'll be able to reply to your reviews), thank you to:
Padfootly
friscofilly
RoryAceHayden147
Chandu21
twilight-is-lovee
Stargirlrox-hearts-Avatar
lovinit999
vansgurl144
kisstina123
Love Is Murder
EdwardCullen-A-SexyBeast
Helena
WWEPrinzess
music4life6661
nation108
Jaydee01
kavii
It's short but there's only 3-4 more chapters left and I want to bulk up the next few…
Water was running, children were running
You were running out of time
Under the mountain, a golden fountain
Were you praying at the Lares shrine?
But ohh, oh your city lies in dust
'Cities in Dust' by Junkie XL
December
Phil's POV
A lot can happen in a month, and standing here staring at my target, is proof of that. In theory, plotting the eventual murder of a person is meant to be difficult. In practice, it's a whole lot easier when you have experience and you're target is standing in front of you half the time.
I had to keep a low profile after I stupidly dropped my wallet. I had to apply for a new ID and make sure to constantly change location. That was difficult, until the company I worked for offered me a job that required me to travel within the Seattle area to check in on sister companies within the group. It was like my goal was destined to happen.
I had gone to my usual dealer for the ID. He sympathised when I told him some of my story. He had been caught three times by small town cops and had a officer from Colorado to thank for his busted up leg. I was given the new ID within two weeks after it had passed screening tests by some of the biggest underground criminals in Manhattan.
My new position required me to travel within and outside of the Seattle area, no further than Port Angeles. I was given permission to use company funds to help subsidise my hotel bills and rent charges. Another perk.
My first lodging was a small apartment in the suburbs of Seattle. Not quite up to my standards but perfect for my tradition of 'cash-in-hand, mouth kept shut'. The landlord was happy to oblige considering most of his tenants were drug dealers and other non-descript criminals. It felt like home.
I used to come back every afternoon, pay a short but very sweet visit to 2c to pick up some more information. The guy there was working undercover as a cop for an underground organisation that had been importing drugs into Seattle port for years. He truly was an angel in disguise for someone like me. All I had to do was walk in the door and he would automatically tell me how the search for me was going and where they would be looking next.
My second lodging was a bit more… luxurious than the previous. A small suite in a hotel down near the Sound. I unfortunately had to use my new ID for that check-in, my old one was a favourite of mine. I was then known to hotel staff and fellow guests as Adam Hannon, a free-lance businessman from Connecticut.
I made some very worthwhile connections in that area. A guy called Spike was able to supply me with a Glock 17. I had been meaning to acquire a gun for quite some time but had always preferred knives, despite the amount of evidence left with the weapon and the remaining damage after a stabbing. A gun was much more effective, could hit targets at a greater distance and left much less carnage afterwards.
Another connection was with another man called Blank and a woman named Victoria. I had a suspicion that Blank's real name was James after hearing Victoria call him that before I entered the room at one meeting. They had been vital to my goal.
James' passion and strength was tracking down victims. He was young, in his twenties, but extremely capable. He excelled at long-distance or harder missions. He had a very impressive success rate, only missing one case so far after the victim committed suicide days before James entered her hometown. It was through him I pinpointed all the locations I needed.
The woman Victoria seemed to be James' lover. They worked in large as a team, but were able to operate separately without any hassle. She was the same age as James, it seemed, with bright red hair. Victoria lived for James and his missions. In a way she was in love with her job as much as she was in love with James. If he couldn't carry out part of a mission, she took over and finished it.
We worked together to travel to Forks. At first, they went to make sure everything was safe enough for me to go. They also were able to hack into a hospital database and find out when and why the girl was there. Then they became my indispensable cohorts.
Within a few days, I was able to go. I have now come a full circle to where I am standing now, in the forest beside the girl's house, watching all of her little friends carry her to the door. She looks frightened, that is a satisfying thing. Her boyfriend looks livid. Ah, the overprotective type. A good fight will occur with him I think, after I shoot her. I do enjoy attempts at revenge, especially since I always win.
I had planned from the beginning to make this as painful as possible for her and any of the people who cared for her, to show them the extent of my revenge. I had a good shot from here but I didn't take it, no that would have been too easy. I wanted to be closer to her, to make her suffer.
Tapping my foot against the fallen tree beside me, I pondered over how much time I had left. Obviously I would have to act soon but I also had to wait for the go-ahead from James and Victoria.
They had come with me, deciding that three people were better than one. Also they could come in handy if I needed a distraction or help.
James had suggested to chase the girl. Give her a fake warning, make the boyfriend or father take her and run. He was a sucker for a hunt and the harder the game, the sweeter the success.
Victoria agreed with James but also gave me another option. Confront the girl straight on, with everyone else trying to protect her. It was blatantly obvious that three highly experienced, armed criminals were better than a small town cop and a few teenagers. The fight would be very enjoyable but not as rewarding as the hunt.
Both options had their drawbacks. With the hunt, there was always the danger that she would escape us somehow. My only rule in this business was to never underestimate your opponents. We didn't know much about the boy or the others, they could have connections.
With the confrontation, it would leave us too exposed. What would happen if the cop called back-up? What if it ended too soon? There would be no pleasure in any of those consequences.
I had debated on a mixture of the two. Give the father something to suggest I was on my way or at a specific location and make them run. Then confront them at the location James and I had scouted.
Currently James was setting up evidence and checking on the location. Victoria was in a van somewhere on the outskirts of town, checking the activity of the police station telephone and computer system. If anybody used either then she would automatically know and inform us.
I had gotten a text from her earlier to say that the station had noticed the car James had left at the diner and knew I was in town. Already I had put two and two together and knew that Charlie had called the boyfriend, hence the reason the girl was here now.
I made my way around the trees beside me so as I could get a better look at the back of the house. The place was very non-descript and it looked as if nobody had touched it's exterior with a paintbrush for over ten years. The miniature back yard was in need of tending to. The grass needed to be mowed and the entire space needed a good slosh of weed-killer. Some plants slumped wearily against their small fenced enclosure, finishing off the hopeless atmosphere.
There was no action in the windows from where I stood. I knew that they were inside but I wanted to know where exactly they all were and if I could hear or see anything that could be of value.
I was killing time and I knew that I had much longer to wait. Why not spy on them?
I paced forward a few steps, keeping as far from the edge as possible without losing sight of the house. I made my way over to the other side of the house. I could see into the upstairs window and at least two of the downstairs rooms.
At last, some activity. The father was pacing in what appeared to be the sitting room with the large teenager I knew was Emmett Cullen. The smaller on, Alice Cullen, danced into view and spoke briefly with both of them. She left the room. I kept my eyes trained on the other windows, hoping to see something. A flicker in the upstairs window told me that the room had occupants.
I edged closer again until I was dangerously close to the forest edge. I needed cover but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
The small one came into view at the window. To my utter surprise and delight, she opened the window. Her voice carried down to where I stood.
"…no point in sitting here fuming. It's too stuffy in here to think straight anyway."
I inched closer again to the sound. I needed to hear everything. I could hear someone get up noisily and stomp around.
"Yes but I have every right to fume," a male voice said. I presumed this was the boyfriend.
"Is anybody going to tell me what the hell's going on or am I going to be left in the dark once again?"
The girl's voice was a monotone. It set my teeth on edge. Just the knowledge that she was there and alive pissed me off.
My cell buzzed in my pocket and I retreated back into the shadows to take the call.
"Yeah?" I answered gruffly, not pleased in the fact that I couldn't hear them.
"We're ready when you are," James said with a pleasant tone in his voice.
I sighed. Finally, it was almost time.
"I'll notify you when I'm ready here."
I snapped the cell shut and made my way back. Now to put the last piece in place in order to get my plan started.
It was time to get Victoria to send out the last tip-off to get them running.
I decided to stand by the edge while I texted her. The conversation upstairs floated down to me.
"…and it's too dangerous to go out now!" the boyfriend shouted.
"But what if you took me somewhere? Sent me on a plane to anywhere?! Then none of you guys would be in danger. Phil would be forced to follow me and the police would be able to catch him," the girl said. I froze and listened intently to them.
The boy huffed and shuffled at bit. "Fine. We'll run now."
I felt the grin cover my face as I keyed in the number.
"No need for the last bit of information. They have fallen into the trap earlier than expected," I told Victoria. I heard her laugh before I hung up.
As I said, this was too simple.
They were running to the airport.
Where we were already ready and waiting in the car park.
It seriously was too easy.
A/N: I now officially have kick-started the ending *sigh*. I just realised this: I'm finally finishing something. Haha my procrastination has finally weakened, now if only I could make it disappear in school…
I should have an update about voting up soon when it starts, everybody who hasn't bee over to thetwilightawards-this paradise(dot)com should check it out, some really good stories linked there and the chatbox is always used (unlike other sites).