Stay On Target – Installment 5

Stay On Target

By

D.M. KURTZ

Installment 5: Tightening The Noose

The key to solving any mystery was, as it had always been, insight, and that was an area in which Tenebra very much excelled. His instincts had never once led him astray, not even when they’d caused him to question his orders for the first time. Hindsight had revealed that he’d been right to question, after all, for it had brought Sachic into his crosshairs, and that had been an unsatiated desire ever since his first encounter with that particular monster. Of course, he’d hardly realized such truth until the opportunity had presented itself with the discovery of the apparent treachery of both Rose and Emma.

The nature of the misdeeds of the two sisters had been surprising, even to one as calculating as Tenebra. A few strokes on a secret text line of communication had served to fill in the last bits of the dirty secret that had landed Emma’s name on his list. It wasn’t truly about her, at all, for though it was her hand that had dealt the cards, she’d done so for her husband. Timothy Swanson was running for a seat on the state senate, but his campaign had begun to fail. At that time, Emma was approached by an associate of Rose: one Jerome Renard, an elite and truly entitled wretch of a man. With promises of wealth and security should her husband succeed, he funded a trip for both Emma and Rose, accompanied by one of his of agents, to seek out Sachic. That was where the tale became truly gruesome, for that sordid merc-for-hire had returned shortly after they with the intention of eliminating Timothy’s competition.

At the hands of a greedy woman, Sachic targets the innocent… So why was his name left in the shadows?

The query burned in his mind for only a moment, for he felt that he perhaps knew the answer.

They knew I would find him out, and eliminate both… But for the price of one.

He smirked. Though the idea left a copper taste in his mouth, he couldn’t help but admire the foresight of his handler. He was a shrewd man, after all, with aspirations to rise above such a base title. Tenebra, however, had no such desires. His current status was one he thoroughly enjoyed, and he would do what he must to ensure that his work would continue. Besides, even with the extra effort he already had and still would put into his latest target, the payout was more than worthwhile.

Emma sacrificed her right to live… But hasn’t Rose?

Presently, it was his only concern as his eyes scanned the blueprint of the nearby city hall that he’d pulled up on his tablet. From one room to the next, his eyes flitted to and fro while he calculated every avenue of his plan for the following morning. With two swift and nearly untraceable strokes, he would see both the disgraceful Emma as well as Sachic removed from play. He had considered roping Rose into his schemes, but the notion somehow did not sit well with him, so he’d opted for allowing her to breathe another day. In any case, he was certain that the simultaneous deaths of her sister along with the man they’d both sought out would be enough to keep her on a straighter path.

The tall man finally allowed his mind to relax as he leaned back in his chair with a content sigh.

Tomorrow… He smiled. I think I’ll go out for coffee once it’s done.

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Copyright © 2018 D.M. Kurtz

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