He always orders his lunch-through his very young and attractive secretary-from the deli across the street. Corned beef on Rye, no sauce, and a side of horseradish. Then they have someone from the deli run it over. Today, I will pick up his lunch and add one ingredient to it, then drop it off to his secretary.
I hang back and watch as she exits the courtroom and rushes off to her office down the hall.
“Five minutes, then we head to the deli across the street.” I tell Vin and he responds with a curt nod.
He’s always quiet when I’m on a job and I know it’s because he hates the possibility of danger or getting caught, but he refuses to let me do it alone. Regardless, I would much rather have him with me than not. No one else on this planet loves me more than him, so I can count on him protecting me.
“Five minutes.” Vin says as he stands from our seat in the last row. I get up and follow him out.
Once we’re outside I see the deli across the street. I go over there on foot and Vin turns the corner to walk back to our vehicle. It’s better that I do this alone. The secretary has only picked up the food once in the two weeks I’ve been watching and it would look suspicious if I went in with Vin.
The bell chimes and the two friendly faces behind the counter look at me with a smile.
“I’m here for Judge Watkins lunch.” I announce as I walk to the counter.
“Are you new?” The lady asks as she begins to roll the sandwich.
“No, his secretary just got called into an important meeting and asked me to come by. She wouldn’t be there for the drop off.” I nod. “Could you not wrap that,” I point to the sandwich. “I am supposed to check it.”
The woman smiles and nods, I guess I passed the test. I obviously watched the secretary do the same when she picked up last time. I take the foam container and place it on the table, my back to them, and open it up seemingly to check that the sandwich is plain. What they don’t see is me pulling out a small vial of peanut oil and pouring it between the many folds of meat inside the sandwich. Thankfully, Watkins likes double the meat and double the side of horseradish. He shouldn’t taste the oil at all.
“Thank you!” I tell them as I cover it back up. “Have a great day.”
“You too!” They say in unison as I leave the store.
I cross back to the courthouse and walk in through the front. The officer at the front sees the deli bag and waves me forward. To them, I’m just the delivery person. I make my way to the office of the secretary and knock lightly on her partially opened door.
“Hi!” She says as she gets up. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem.” I wait as she opens the sandwich sees that it’s plain and closes it back up.
She hands me a ten dollar bill as a tip, “have a great day.”
“Thanks, you too.” I say as I pocket the money and leave her office then leave the courthouse.
I round the same corner Vin did earlier and head to the McDonald’s beside the parking garage. I slip in between the crowds and slide into the washroom. I lock myself in a stall and remove the platinum lace front wig Adri put on me and meticulously wash off the makeup with the baby wipes in my massive purse. When I’m done I fluff out my hair and leave the McDonald’s. Waiting out front is Vin in Adri’s parent’s Lexus SUV. She says it’s rarely used and would blend better than any of our other vehicles. She was right.
“Everything good?” Vin asks as I get in.
“Yeah.” I nod and sit back while we get onto the highway and get back to Whitsborough.
“Judge Watkins has been pronounced dead this evening in his chambers at the downtown Toronto courthouse. Cause of death is still unknown but it looks to be a natural death. The police currently do not suspect foul play. Judge Joseph Watkins was in his nineteenth year as a judge, just one more year until his retirement. We will update you as more information is released.”
The attractive news anchor continues on about some other event happening and I tune her out as I look to the others in the room.
“Everything was smooth, right?” Emmett asks me. “It won’t come back to us.”
“We’re good.” I get up. “I need to prepare for my visit to Andrew.”
I dress in a black knit jersey dress and pile my waves up on top of my head in a messy bun. I leave my face void of makeup and throw on a pair of Adidas sneakers.
“Ready?” Vin asks as his eyes sweep over me appreciatively. Mine do the same over him in his dark jeans, white v-neck, and leather jacket.
“Yeah.” I nod and follow him outside to the Hummer.
The ride to Andrew’s is quiet. Vin is letting me brood without interruption because he knows how I get in these situations. I’m relieved to watch the corrupted tumble from their pedestals, but with every death, the weight on my soul increases. With every life I end, their essence seeps into me and the evil always outweighs the good. My brother is right when he says not everyone can handle killing, because sometimes the weight becomes too much.
“He’s home alone?” Vin asks as we pull up to Andrew’s house.
“Yes.” I nod and get out of the Hummer.
He takes a hold of my hand and we both walk up to the front of Andrew’s house.
