I was ready to take the shot. I knew I didn't want to.
I had to.
My heart rate was a little high, not normal. Not normal at all.
Normal is dead calm, that's part of why I get the big bucks.
I took a deep breath, trying to settle down, the shot was long even for me, a good 250 yards.
I sighted again, waiting for the instant between heartbeats to squeeze. Just then she threw her head back and laughed at some unheard comment, and moved out of view behind the man she had been talking to.
I settled down, waited.
I had time.
Who am I, you might wonder?
I am a ghost, I don't exist. I am who I say I am, I am never the same person twice. You hear rumors of people like me, but you never know for sure. Even if you see me, speak to me, you will forget moments later, I am non-descript, part of the background.
I am just there and then I am gone.
Usually when a packet arrives, it is some jerk business type who has cheated someone a bit too much, or an agent for some government that has created waves.
I do my job, there is a short blurb in the news and comments about investigations, then time hides my tracks.
I do not get to say no, either. If I did, then it would be me not knowing when or where it would come from. They know they can do that and no one will notice, or likely even care. There are no dental records, no fingerprints, no DNA records, nothing.
I am a ghost.
The last packet was different, the price was very high. The photos showed a beautiful woman, I recognized her instantly. Rich, powerful, in the news.
That meant dangerous. I had heard of the marriage, no pre-nuptial agreement, over a billion dollars headed her way.
Messy stuff, husband caught with his pants down, I had a feeling I knew why I had a job to do.
But I really had no exact idea why, I had no need to know. There was only the job.
I just packed and went to work.
The first problem came when I walked into the restaurant at the hotel. I had no more than settled down, checking the menu when she walked in, a half dozen people in tow.
It was like the room lit up, there was a buzz as people noticed, a background hum of words.
Too close, way too close. I could not just get up and walk out, that might mean attention. She took the table next to me, sat down facing me. The people with her sat down, chatting and laughing.
I flustered, not good. Not good at all. She was not supposed to be here.
I heard her voice, a small laugh. Glancing up, I saw she was looking right at me. I glanced away, avoiding eye contact.
The waiter came and took my order, I sipped my coffee and tried to not see her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her keep looking my way.
It hit me that she was used to being stared at, not ignored, so I looked up at her.
She smiled, I smiled back, returned to my coffee.
The meal came, I ate in silence, trying not to hurry. I got up, walked to the cashier and paid the bill in cash. I was placing the change in my pocket, preparing my escape when I heard her voice.
"Hello."
I turned, looked at her.
"Hello."
