Rest Assured...“So, was there something that you wanted?” said the patient, crooked toothed old man wearing the glasses.The shop was a collection of odd things in an old damp place. The sheer randomness of items and their placement was enough to work the nerves of anyone with any sense of organization, but the wintry man knew the place well.
“Yes, I was wanting something a little more esoteric.” said the unshaven young man, who was obviously out of place.
“I see.” the old man scratched his head and looked the man up and down. “I presume you did come with cash?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Are you sure about this thing?” The elderly man looks up at him through the corner of his glasses.
“Yeah, it’s been bothering me for the last three months.” “If it doesn’t end soon, I’ll wind up doing it myself.” “I’m too close to the situation, they’ll be able to figure out who did it.” “I can’t do the time.”
The old man smiles. “No stomach for the gruesome?” “Well, if we all could do it, I wouldn’t be in business now would I?”
The other man nods accordingly.
“Okay, how badly do you want it done?”
“$20,000.00?”
The old man scratches his head again, “Well, something could be done for that.” “Suffering?”
“N-No, I don’t want that, just try and make it look like an accident.” The man pulls at his collar, nervously.
“Pity, my friend will be disappointed.” The aged man grins at his shaken customer.
The other swallows hard.
“Okay, place the money in an envelope, and write a name on it.” “Don’t bother with an address, we already know where everyone lives.” He grins again. “In 72 hours the contract becomes viable.” “You may back out of the contract at any time prior to the ending of that time.” “However, you will forfeit your funds.” “Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do.” The other man shakes his head approvingly.
“Would you like to buy some insurance?” The wintry face smiles at him.
“Insurance, I don’t understand?” The stymied face looks back in utter confusion.
“Well, an ‘assurance plan’ for you.”
“Who would want to hurt me?”
The wizenly man stares at him.
“No, she would never do something like this.” “It’s not in her heart.”
“Payment?”
The fellow reaches into his wallet and pulls out an envelope. He takes a pen from his pocket and writes a jittery name on the envelope. He hands it to the old man, who takes it with his handkerchief, wraps it, and places it in his pocket.
“Remember what I said, ‘72 hours.’”
The man forces a smile on his face, a sullen look of relief crosses it. “I will remember. I feel better already.” He turns and walks out of the musty pit, never looking back.
72 hours later.
An elderly man sets down at a desk and taps his fingers for an additional 5 minutes. He rechecks his watch.
“Time’s up.”
An envelope is removed from the drawer of the antique desk. The man turns the envelope over and opens it. Twenty thousand dollars are counted out, approvingly, on the table in hundred dollar bills.
“Good, let’s see who the hapless victim is?” “Samantha Robbins, hmmm.” “Well lets check the ledger.”
A shriveled old finger flips through several yellowed pages, and works it’s way down the appropriate page. It stops on the name. The old man smiles as he reads the contract.
“What is a woman?” “Nothing but the culmination of all things that no man can possibly ever understand,”
“Sadly, Mr. Robbins your wife is insured.”
The aged claw reaches over to the reworked 1930’s rotary phone and dials.A hollow voice answers on the other side of the line. “Yes?”
“Mr. John Edgar Robbins, uninsured, terminate him with extreme prejudice.”
There is a simple click on the other end of the line. The old man places the receiver back on the finely detailed base and returns to his work humming quietly to himself.