Mission

“Fuck!” I shouted, I jumped out of bed and turned off my alarm that I snoozed a few too many times. I hurriedly threw on my clothes and got ready for work. I rushed downstairs, let my Aussie outside to do his business, and fed him. I got a muffin from the kitchen, slipped into my shoes, snatched up my bag, and headed for the door. “Be good while I’m gone Koda!”

I slammed the door shut, got into my car, and sped to work. When I arrived it was pouring rain so I ran across the parking lot to get inside. I burst through the door sopping wet despite trying to shelter myself with my jacket. I shuffled across the polished floors toward the restrooms to compose myself. As I drew nearer a voice spoke behind me.

“Wow Feli, you look like hell.” The museum director, Riley Chambers, said with a low chuckle.

“Well, good morning to you too Mr. Chambers,” I replied sarcastically with a forced smile despite feeling awkward and disheveled in my wet clothes.

“Get cleaned up and meet me in my office. I have some material I want your opinion on.” He flashed me a quick smirk and headed toward his office.

I turned and entered the women’s restroom to get cleaned up. I fixed my hair in a cute messy bun, plastered a smile on my face, and made my way to Riley’s office.

When I got to his office, the door was closed so I gave it a knock. “Riley? It’s Felicity, you have some material you wanted to discuss with me?”

The door opened, he stepped aside and motioned me to enter, “Yes, come in. I have a few things in mind for the modern and abstract exhibits.”

I stepped into his office and he closed the door behind us. I stepped over to his desk as he laid out some photos and information related to each piece he was looking to procure for the museum. There were many to look at, spread out all across his desk. He handed me a photo of a large wire sculpture of a woman weeping, clinging to a child who appears to be dissipating into nothingness.

“I’m thinking about curating this piece and placing it in the center of the Modern Art hall. I’ve already contacted the artist to arrange the purchase and transportation of this sculpture. What do you think?” Riley asked as I was studying the intricate metalwork in the photo.

“I think it’s... dismal,” I said, glancing up at my now frowning boss. I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked back down at the picture in my hand. “I mean as a centerpiece. It’s beautiful and large, don’t get me wrong, but you already have a stone sculpture of a man that looks completely defeated in that gallery. Make sure you can balance the messages and emotions these pieces convey to the guests. You want variety in the museum so all guests have something they can relate to and enjoy.”

“I’m still buying this piece.” He said still looking rather unhappy about my suggestion. “But, I called you in here for your opinion so I’ll take it into consideration. What do you think about these other pieces?”

I looked over the other photos on his desk and selected a few abstract pieces, one that was full of neutral colors, and a sculpture of beautifully colored glass. “These would be nice in the Abstract Art exhibit.”

“Thank you Feli, I appreciate this.” Riley flashed me a smile and set aside the files for the pieces we discussed. The remaining files were placed in a folder and filed away. I glanced down at my watch and stood up to leave. “I hope the rest of your day is better than this morning. Good luck on your tours.”

“Thanks, Riley, I think it will.” I headed out to the lobby where my partner and friend, Emily Hunt, was greeting guests arriving for the first tour. I approached the group and began the tour.

After five hours of tours, I ushered the last tour group towards the door as the museum was closing. “Thank you for visiting The Museum Of Aesthetic Taste, we'll see you again soon!”

“I’ve got to get home and take care of Koda, I'll see you tomorrow Em!” I called over my shoulder as I headed out the door. I got in my car and hurried home.

When I got home I walked in the door and was tackled by a ball of fluff. I let out a laugh and pushed my dog off of me, “I love you too Koda.”

After I let him outside and back in we went into the kitchen for his dinner. I filled up his bowl and placed it down in front of him. Then I grabbed an apple for myself. On my way out of the kitchen, I saw a little black book on my dining room table. I don’t own a little black book.

I picked up the book and flipped through the pages, but only one page had anything written on it. It read, Do me a favor for a generous fare, or you can defy me if you dare… Eliminate Emily Hunt. You have 24 hours.

My breath caught in my throat, there was a sudden pit in my stomach. Kill my friend? The very notion of killing someone made me feel sick, but then, the thought of what this person would do to me if I didn’t, scared me even more. I was trembling. This person was in my house. What should I do? Should I call the police? Is he still here? What if he’s watching me right now? Is this even real? My head was spinning.

I closed the book and hid it in a drawer under some miscellaneous stuff where no one would ever think to look for it. I decided to just go to bed, I’d had enough of today. “Come on bud, let’s get some sleep.”

I trudged up the stairs with Koda in tow. I took off my clothes and just left them on the floor, after today, I didn’t care about the mess. I flopped onto my bed and fell asleep with Koda curled up beside me.

I woke up again to the sound of a blaring alarm. I got ready and headed to work without breakfast. I just wasn’t hungry, the pit in my stomach from the night before still filled me with dread.

“Good morning Fel!” Emily’s gregarious voice rang through the foyer when I came in.

“Morning Em,” I said with a sigh as I set my bag down behind the front desk and flopped into my chair to start getting things ready to check in the first tour. Thankfully, it was Emily’s day to lead tours so I was able to stay at the desk and work on checking people in.

Emily wished the last tour group farewell and closed the door behind them. She turned to me, who was slumped down in my chair thinking about that mysterious black book. She walked over to me, grabbed my arm and my bag, and pulled me toward the door. “Come on, we’re going out.”

We got a ride to a club called The Beat, the music was pounding; the crowd was lively. We got a couple of drinks, and I sipped on mine most of the time we were there, Emily however, was downing drinks like they were juice. In no time she was plastered.

“Hey Fel. I don’t feel so good…” She groaned, leaning against the bar.

“Come on, let’s get you out of here,” I said, leading her outside.

Not long after we got outside she started to wretch. We quickly shuffled into an alley where she vomited all over the wall and ground. I was holding her hair back and she was slumped against me, weak and sick. I took the long strap of her purse and wrapped it around her throat, tightening it and muffling her gasps until I felt her slip away. Tears were streaming down my face; I thought I might be sick. I couldn’t look at her body, laying there still and lifeless. I hid her body with what I could in the alley and left.

When I got home I was greeted by Koda and I went through our routine. Afterward, I tore the book to pieces and threw it in the garbage. That night I didn’t sleep, I just laid on the floor and stared at the ceiling overwhelmed with remorse and self-loathing.

A few weeks went by and things got easier. Another gallerist was hired, he was really nice and quiet, he kept to himself. I started drawing, which was something I hadn't done in ages. I found myself drawing dismal things, and Riley really took a liking to my art. I, on the other hand, really took a liking to Riley.

It was a Saturday and I was getting ready to go on my weekly hike with Koda. We got about a mile in when the path started to diverge. I approached the map posted on the trails to pick a path and noticed something in my periphery. I walked over to the object sitting on a bench, there sat the black book, and tucked inside was an envelope. Filled with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity. I opened the book and it read, Here’s your reward. Your new target is Joseph Adams. 48 hours. Inside the envelope was $25,000.

I gripped the bench, trembling, my head spinning. I threw the book into the forest, pocketed the money, and hurried home. When I got there I called my brother, the phone rang endlessly before he picked up. We talked for almost an hour. I had to stop and choke back my tears countless times. We made plans to have dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant, Poca Italia tomorrow evening.

I couldn’t sleep again that night. I procrastinated all morning before getting ready for dinner with Joseph. I threw my Trazodone in my bag and left for the restaurant. I got there long before my brother. I crushed up some pills and mixed them into his drink. When he arrived we ordered our food. We ate and talked about everything as if no time had passed since we’d last seen each other.

After eating Joseph started slurring his words and grew lethargic. We went outside and I helped him to my car. We drove for a while until we were far from the city and in a more rural area. Joseph was now passed out in my car, I smacked his arm, he didn’t wake up. I dragged him out into the woods and choked him with his belt. I buried him under some debris and placed a stone above his head before going home. When I got home there was an envelope on my porch. It contained $75,000. I put it in my pocket and turned in for the night.

Years had passed and Riley and I were married. We’d moved into a new home, we were planning to start a family soon, Koda and Riley’s Akita, Sashiko were inseparable, everything was perfect. And, I had not seen the black book since my brother’s death. Riley had already left for work when I woke up today so I had breakfast by myself. After I’d eaten and was ready for work, I left for the museum. When I got to work I prepared everything for the first tour and got settled at my desk. I opened a drawer to pull out a portfolio to review, on top of the portfolio was the little black book. It read, Your final mission is complete. Well Done.

Suddenly I heard a loud bang, I glimpsed Riley with a gun and a black book in hand, I collapsed, and everything went dark.