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Chapter 21
Little ducks in a row. Pow, pow--bang.
Joplin blew out a breath of chilled air. He steadied his hand, refocusing his field of view. The night vision goggles illuminated the room making the objects glow like green lava. He’d sat watching, deciding how best to kill his mark. He still hadn’t recovered from the bombshell hoisted on him by of all people, Morpheus Gustafson. He’d arrived at his apartment with an ultimatum concerning a topic that would follow him to his grave. The subject had concern Tollin Pettier and the way he’d died. Morpheus had done all the talking, telling him what a mess he’d made of things. Then Morpheus had insisted to know the co
Morpheus had explained why he’d decided not to tell his father about him. Joplin had to admit; he’d never been a good kid, and his adult life had not been much better; so, he couldn’t blame Morpheus for hesitating, after learning that he’d found his brothers son. But when Morpheus had said, that he’d made the decision, for a greater good; Joplin had ruminated on that but in the end, he’d concluded that nothing good had come from keeping father and son apart. Not one damn thing.
After the awkwardness of their reunion had passed, Morpheus summed up his visit. He’d been told that he had to clean up his mess, then clean up his act--or else. In other words, fix his Tollin shit--or die. Clean up his life--or die. He didn’t much like the clean up part, but he really didn’t like the dying part. He swallowed what it all meant to him, then he’d nodded, and agreed to whatever would keep him breathing on planet earth.
Joplin had been given one name and his instructions had been crystal clear. Morpheus had stared at him, stone faced. He’d said...
“When this job is done, report to this private airfield.”
He’d handed Joplin a set of coordinates, then he’d said...
“A plane will be waiting. Before you arrive, pack only one suitcase. Clear out your apartment because, you won’t be coming back.”
When Joplin had said...
“Destination”
Morpheus responded,
“Greece”
And that had been that. Joplin didn’t know all the specifics, but Morpheus had told him once he’d completed this job, he would personally make introductions. He’d said their names; Raal and Kyle, his father’s lover. None of it made any sense to him, and he wondered what had provoked his uncles sudden spark of conscience. Oddly, he understood why he’d chosen him for this mission--that part made perfect sense to him. After tonights kill, the secret concerning Tollin’s murder would leave with him; because after tonight, he would be saying goodbye to the America’s for a long, long time; if he valued his life. That was fine by him, because lately the country had become highly overrated.
Back to business, he’d thought, because the kitchen light had gone out. He considered his options. Shoot from here...or break into the ranch.
“What the hell.”
He said...because even if the window shattered into a million pieces, broken glass wouldn’t change the outcome. Not with the bullets he’d chosen. In fact...Andrew was as good as dead; the lying fuck. According to Morpheus, the governor had said that when he’d phoned Joplin he’d only asked him to keep Tollin away from his sister; what a crock. Joplin gri
He sighed, then he said...
“Yep...this business of killing is getting to easy”
Gloria was asleep in another part of the house, and Andrew’s wife had abandoned his bed years ago, after learning about her husband’s sex addiction. He didn’t have to worry about the women, and he’d been warned to avoid the mistake of collateral kills. He watched Andrew’s movements, until he settled in his bedroom, carrying an oversized bowl, filled with popcorn. Joplin smirked, because he spotted a large jar of petroleum jelly on the nightstand.
“Lover boy Wilcox. Sorry my friend, but you won’t need that tonight.” He joked.
He readjusted his scope, then he inhaled, preparing for the jerk, then the pop. When the shot rang out like a ca
Joplin’s thoughts went to Greece, and the new life that awaited him. He would take this secret across the Atlantic, and the truth would follow him to his grave. He would start over, being a better man. He considered, maybe the time had come to take a lover. Maybe the time had come to settled down, and find a wife. He looked forward to his future.