Priceless

After once again reviewing my notes I closed my notebook and pulled the elastic band across the front to rest in the small groove it had pressed into the leather after being sat upon frequently. This job wasn’t one of my favorites. Not that many were particularly fun, but at least most were blessedly short. This one really only bothered me because the client was especially repugnant. Tucking my notebook back into my back pocket I reached into the bag on the seat next to me, And thought back to when I had met the man earlier that week.

The drive had been quite pleasant. The limo’s speakers did Puccini proud as the car wove through the forests on the ascent. The large house at the top of the hill spoke of old money. The driveway bent and curved its way past beautifully appointed and manicured gardens and crisp smooth green yards. Fountains sprayed glittering streams and showers into the air. Songbirds twittered and chirped to each other in the sparse trees scattered around. It was breathtaking and all too immaculate to feel real.

The car did not stop at the front of the house instead pulling around to the back. When it came to a stop a tall man in a black suit and wearing an earpiece opened my door and led me through another small garden and into a large office. The client was sitting at a large desk made of a deep rich red wood, and covered with what appeared to be the very best of all the things a desk needs. There was a small elegant lamp, a sleek silver laptop that was currently closed, a small gold tray with various office accessories, a black leather desk pad, and what appeared to be a notepad with monogrammed stationery.

The man himself was currently on the phone berating someone for being incompetent. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair. He was wearing a very elegant dark gray suit that looked as if it was woven of smoke. He finally hung up the phone and looked at me. “You don’t look like much,” he gruffed as pulled out a cigar and started to prepare it. Having heard similar things numerous times before I ignored it and continued to sit quietly in my chair. It isn’t worth posturing with men like this. Either they take offense or they get amused and start to act chummy.

After realizing I wasn’t going to respond he puffed his freshly lit cigar and said, “Well the problem is my daughter has gotten herself into some trouble and I want you to help her out.” He went on to explain the details and after I confirmed that I would take the job he passed me two neat stacks of cash. I stood and began to walk back the way I had come. As the car drove me back down the hill I developed a plan. It shouldn’t be too difficult. Just nip out to the suburbs a little larceny, and find the right vehicle.

The temperature had dropped significantly since I parked earlier this evening. The indolic smell of lilies of the valley wafted in through the open window with a cool night breeze that gently rustled the leaves. The odd mix of floral and musty smelled as if a dryad fell asleep after sex without taking a shower. Off in the distance, somewhere near the house that I have been watching for the last few hours I could hear a whip-poor-whil calling an invitation into the forest for all that could hear. This far out in the country the stars shone quite clearly unencumbered by the clear spring air. “La Donna e Mobile'' was playing as I ran my fingers over the surface of two small stacks of clean crisp 100 dollar bills.

There is something frustrating about new money. Fresh bills stacked neatly and bound with a small paper band $10,000 repeated over and over around the edges. All clean lines and square corners, and it seems to create a sort of negative space around it. No matter how many little stacks there are it feels like a puzzle missing pieces. There should always be more of them, and in its pristine state it is like freshly fallen snow, virginity, or an unopened collectible. It is easy to admire for its symbolism and untouched beauty, but admiring such characteristics renders it useless. Money doesn’t really have value until you send it out into the world to be folded, crumpled, rolled, and spent.

At last I saw a car slowly meandering its way down the winding tree lined driveway and out from behind the large cast iron gate that swiftly swung shut behind it. The beautiful silver machine turned and made a pleasant purring sound that crescendoed as it rushed in my direction. I shifted my weight forward and my own vehicle into first gear. As the car passed I pulled out onto the road behind them before putting my foot down and turning on my lights. My truck lurched forward. It sounded like a lion giving a deep guttural growl that quickly became a full throated roar, This sound was not an accident. The vehicle had been modified to create this noise. I wanted it to reach down into the ancient parts of the human mind and make people remember what it felt like to be hunted. The lights were similarly designed to make it feel as if the eyes of a great beast were on you. They were bright and direct. Clear beams that cut the shelter of the darkness to make sure that everyone and everything could see you.

I accelerated quickly gaining on the silver car on the brief stretch of straight road. Getting very close to the rear bumper before arriving at the first turn. The car could take turns much more quickly so I fell back. Then reeling them in briefly then falling back in the next turn. This pattern continued, but I was also slowly increasing the speed. Pushing the race to more dangerous heights at every turn.

The cool breeze had taken on teeth at these speeds. It makes my skin burn slightly as it rushed over my flushed skin, and tingled with my heart beat as adrenaline caused my blood to rush through my body. A smile crept over my face as I slowly reeled in my prey only to let them slip away, always making it feel as if I was getting closer than the previous attempt. Pushing them forward faster and faster. Driving them into a frenzy of fear until all that they could think of was getting away from the monster that was chasing them.

As we pulled onto the last straight section of road. The longest straight section since I had begun this chase. I pushed the call button on my phone and the gas pedal to the floor. Once again the engine roared furiously into the night and began to chase after the silver car. At the same time a phone rang briefly activating an electric winch and pulling a plastic christmas reindeer into the middle of the road. Nearing the end of the straight, I lifted my foot off the gas and watched the silver car turn then I heard screeching brakes and a crash.

It was remarkably silent when I turned off my truck. Reaching into the bag on the set next to me I put on a pair of leather gloves, pulled out a small revolver and flashlight, and stepped out of the truck walking over to the car. Making sure to step lightly to avoid footprints I turned the light into the car. I had hoped the car would have stayed a little straight and pass by the bridge and into the ravine, but the crash had taken care of everything all the same.

“Well looks like today is my lucky day,” I chuckled as I put the revolver away. Shaking my head, I turned walking over unhooking the reindeer and threw it in the bed of the truck. As I walked over to gather the winch and cellphone the images of the car were cycling in my head. It appeared that the driver’s head had made contact with the steering wheel before the airbag deployed. The amount of blood had been truly incredible perhaps because the heart was still racing when the damage was done. Once everything was put away leaving behind nothing but an obvious accident. I got in the truck, started it up and drove away. It really was luck my plan hadn’t worked. If the car had ended up in the ravine I never would have known the daughter was in the car with the boyfriend I was hired to kill. If I showed back up to collect the second half of my fee that idiot might try to kill me too. I don’t need that kind of stress.