27 May 2012
I heard a knock on the door and I knew it would be him. I breathed in a long sigh before opening the door, to find out I was right. He was standing there looking at me and even though I knew he was here to arrest me I couldn't help but know that I loved him with all my being and I always would. My name is Leah and this is the story of how I became an assassin in love.
I come from a long line of elite hired assassins and with time our family became larger richer and more influential than most people would think. From a young age I was taught to hide my emotions and to think on my feet, I was taught to be cold hearted but try as I might I just could not act like the rest of my relatives. I didn’t want to be an assassin and everytime I finished a job I was ridden with guilt, which I learnt to live with. I had to, I loved my family too much. To all of my relatives a target is a target, but to me a target is a person. I remember the first time I killed someone. Her name was Samantha Jenkins. I remember it as clearly as if it was just this morning, the way her saucer like brown eyes looked at me pleadingly in the second before I had the courage to pull the trigger, I remember how as her body fell to the ground I had to keep the tears in, and how I tried to stop the voice in my head screaming “she’s somebody daughter! Someone’s friend!” I remember fleeing the scene and crying myself to sleep that night for I knew that no matter how much I wanted to change, this was who I was. As a little girl I used to think that my family would change, but as I grew older I learnt that I was wrong, and instead of hoping I made a vow. I would give my children a chance to be different and not force them into this killing business.
On this particular night where my story starts I was on the plane ride back from my cousin's wedding reception, it was beautiful, like a fairy tale and although I felt a little sad that my heart had been broken I was elated that she had found someone to share the rest of her life with, they had met 6 months ago and if she hadn't fallen for him she probably would have killed him and I would have been taken for a fool for longer by none other than his brother. Carl Matthews. Even thinking of his name made me mad. He made me believe he loved me just so he could use me, and I swear if my brother hadn't killed him, my cousin Kiara would have. But my either Ivan did kill him and Kiara married his brother Chris so I guess things turned out pretty well. I landed at London Heathrow airport and went through security checks, as soon as they were over I jumped into my car and started speeding on the highway hoping to get home as soon as possible just as I was about to take my exit I heard sirens and got pulled over, I let out and exasperated sigh and ran a frustrated had through my short black hair. I was tired and just wanted to get home.
"Do you know how fast you were going miss?" I heard deep voice say as I turned with a sweet smile hoping to get out of a ticket. And then I saw him. Caramel skin and hazel eyes, pearly white smile framed by slight stubble. I just couldn't stop staring, and my heart wouldn't stop jumping. "Miss have you taken any drugs or alcohol?" he asked with a frown. I quickly focused back and smiled, " no I haven't officer, and I’m just exhausted. Was I going too fast?"
"120mph, speed limit is 90"
" oh..." I just couldn't think straight.
" I'm going to have to give you a ticket" I gave him my details and he wrote me a ticket, he frowned as he saw my surname.
"Adams...Leah Adams...it's familiar" he said right before he took out his phone and called the station and asked about me. Are police officers even allowed to do that?! I stayed calm, I knew I always covered my tracks. He hung up with a frown and asked " what do you know about the Carl Matthews case? Accorded to our files you two were pretty close" My blood ran cold, I thought that case was closed. "He broke up with me that morning" I said "next thing I heard he shot himself" The officer looked doubtful, " I don't believe you, but can't take you in for questioning. I will keep an eye on you, anything new that comes to your mind get in touch" he handed me his card. His name read Inspector Ricardo Martinez and there were a few numbers on under it. Mobile, office, pager. I got back in my car eager to leave but before I pulled off he put his hand on my roof and leaned in. " if you are hiding something, I will find out Miss Adams. Have a good night." he said and walked back to his car, I quickly started my car and made my way home with a hunch that inspector Martinez was going to cause BIG trouble.
The next morning I woke up and as I was having breakfast I turned on the news, my spoonful of Cheerios stopped midway to my mouth as I recognised the man speaking on TV, inspector Martinez, I had only seen him once but his face was imprinted in my memory I was sure it was him even before I read his name on the screen, I focused and understood the newscast to be about a countrywide drug ring he had busted, ok so he was good. He was talking straight to the camera as he said: "Law breakers cannot be allowed to run our country, I am dedicated to let out civilians sleep peacefully. Let these arrests be a warning to you all. If you are hiding something I will know and you will pay" I felt a chill as he stared at the camera and I swear it was like he was speaking directly to me, but it couldn't be. He didn't know anything and Ivan hadn't left anything that could possibly lead to us, inspector Martinez was good but not THAT good. Then as I stared at the map on the screen I realised something. The drug ring wasn't country wide, it was Europe wide. I panicked for about a minute until I realised, this guy had nothing on me, I was totally safe. I finished my Cheerios and jumped on my treadmill, turned on the screen so it gave me the impression I was running in a forest and started my daily jog, I ran for about 3 miles before I stopped and had a shower, as I walked back to my room my phone beeped letting me know I had anew e-mail, I opened it and realised it was a new assignment, so I turned on my laptop and started reading the dossier I had been provided, it seemed pretty straight forward and like most of my assignments: middle aged man, got caught cheating and his wife wanted him gone, probably so she could take his money and go off with a younger version of him, but who was I to judge right? I spent the rest of the day reading all the info the private investigator had provided the woman with, daily schedule and habits and such, then I started planning and I knew that since Kiara was still on her honey moon I would have to do this on my own.
The next day started the same way, but after my jog I put on my most revealing yet classy outfit and went out. I had memorized the address of where my victim usually had lunch and parked a couple of streets away, then walked. As soon as I walked in I saw him sitting at a table in the back of the little café and just as I had hoped there were no other tables free, I placed my order and made eye contact with him, flashed him a smile.
“Do you want this for take away or eat in?” asked me the old Italian woman behind the counter, “eat in please” I answered. I took my plate and made a show of looking for a sit before I made my way to his table.
“May I sit here please?” I asked smiling
He looked me up and down with a smile before answering “of course darling” with a seriously posh voice. Old pervert.
I kept my smile purely out of professionalism and sat down, he didn’t waste any time in introducing himself.
“David Barkley” he extended his hand,
“Kimberley Malbon” I smiled back grasping his sweaty hand.
“Malbon…isn’t that French” he asked
“Yes it is, my father is from Leon. Do you speak French?”
“Why yes I do mademoiselle, do you?”
“Of course”
“Malbon…that’s two words joined together isn’t it?”
“Yes it means good bad” I smiled
He looked me in the eyes before saying “well you certainly look good”
I wanted to gag, but I giggled.
Just then my phone rang, and I excused myself to pick it up. It was a fake call I had set up on my phone and I made a show of listening to the problem that needed me to leave straight away and hung up.
“I am so sorry David I have to go, it was lovely meeting you”
He slipped me his card and told me he’d like to get to know me and I told him I’d call that night, before walking away, just as I walked out I slammed into a rock hard chest but before I could even apologise his voice froze me. I would know that voice anywhere. It was inspector Martinez.
“Miss Adams…what brings you around here?”
“Just lunch, with a friend”
I was not great at improvising and his chiselled face was distracting.
“Oh he left…emergency meeting” I stammered
He locked eyes with me “not much of a gentleman your friend is he?”
“He’s just busy with work…I really have to go” I said before turning to walk away.
I hadn’t taken two steps before I felt his hand on my arm.
“Let me take you to dinner…show you how a gentleman behaves”
I was absolutely stunned…I thought this guy was out to arrest me
I turned around and looked at him and asked “is that appropriate? I thought you suspected me of killing my ex” my tone sarcastic
He looked down sheepishly “Well the case is closed and there are no leads to you, I am sorry for the way I behaved the other night”
“It’s ok” I smiled relieved
“So dinner?”
“Sure”
“Give me your address, I will pick you up at 7:30”
I gave him my address and walked back to my car…that’s when I realised.
I was planning a murder and I had a date with one of the best officers in the country. What the hell had I just gotten myself into?
Leah's Story Part 1 • Opuss № I