The Shadow of Deception

CHAPTER 5: WHO GAVE THE ORDER?

I saw Ken rush into the office building. The pocket side of his shirt was stained with blood, though he tried to conceal it. I followed him as he rushed to Marvin’s office. He did not notice I was following him. As he approached the door, I asked if I could help him clean up. He did not say anything. He entered the office and I followed him.

How did you know I was stained?” he asked me. Of course, I was not going to tell him I killed people for a living or I was used to seeing blood and concealing it.

“I am a cleaner,” I said. I took off the clothes and put them in the bag I had. “What happened?” I asked.

“We were attacked by a hired assassin. I think Marvin is marked. He is a target for the Contractor, I - - I - - I am not sure, you will not understand,” he said.

I knew Ken was a spy or a hire, he just gave away his identity, but I must continue to secure my cover as a cleaner.

“I am so sorry, but I don’t understand. No one would want to hurt Marvin! Why would an assassin want him dead?” I asked, acting very surprised.

‘You are just a cleaner, go do your goddam job,” he shouted at me.

I went out wondering what my next move would be. I needed to prevent Marvin from being killed by any hire except me. I also needed to know who placed a hit on me.

I took his clothes to him and he still looked shaken by the assassination attempt. “Where is Mr. Marvin, sir? Is he okay?” I asked, feigning ignorance and being nervous.

“Don’t you give up? He is in the safe house,” he said. I could see that he did not mean to say that. He looked at me as if he had revealed the most kept secret in the world.

“You did not hear that from me, and if you keep acting like this because of Marvin, you will leave here and not have a job. You can leave, that will be all,’ said Ken.

I was sure he was not a hire. No assassin would give up all these details just because someone tried to kill them.

I needed to find out who he was working for. I wondered why I took this contract. It is getting more complicated than I thought. I made up my mind that I was going to kill Ken, no matter who he was working for.

I pitied Marvin all the more. All these around his life and no one to trust. I felt sad because it looked like I had killed the only person that would have been a protector to him and I would make up for that by killing him. A wave of emotion flowed through me and tears started rolling down uncontrollably. I had not cried for anyone or anything since I was twelve!

Marvin entered the storeroom and saw me in tears. “Are you okay?” He asked, looking so concerned.

“I thought you …” I did not finish the sentence before he asked again. “You thought what Cassie? He asked. This time he looked furious. “What did Ken say to you? What did he say?” He asked me.

“I thought you were injured. He told me someone tried to kill you.” I said and started sobbing as the tears flowed like a river. I had to act the part. I could see that this was not something he had not experienced before.

I stood up, and he took me into his arms. I noticed the warmth and concern in his eyes. I needed to move my plan on quickly. I was now sure he was fond of me.

I asked him to tell me all that happened. He told me everything and did not hold back. His bodyguards were killed, and by the description he gave me, the assassin was Josh. I told him he was very lucky. I meant it, though he did not know. Josh was ranked second on the hire list and I considered him a better assassin than the person ranked number one.

“I need to find a wife and I need you. I cannot marry you and I don’t want someone else,” Marvin said.

I was shocked this was somebody who was almost killed today, switching quickly from that to finding a wife. I told myself that things were not the way they seemed. I assured him we could work on it together and that, though I liked him, I knew he wouldn’t want somebody of my status.

I packed my things and was ready to leave for the day when I saw Marvin standing in the doorway. I smiled at him. “It’s time to go home and after all that happened today you should be leaving early too,” I said. I noticed he was just smiling sheepishly at me.

Okay, what is it?” I asked.

“I want you to stay with me today. I will be staying at a hotel and your companion will make a great difference,” said Marvin, moving closer to me.

I wanted to say no, but I think my heart was thinking faster than my brain. I threw my arms around him and said, yes I would love to. I followed him as he showed me a secret door in the inner chamber of his office.

“Take this key, it is the key to the secret door and not my heart,” he said. I laughed as I took the key from him.

“We are staying for at least a week,” he said to me as the driver drove off following paths I never knew existed before.

I thanked him for trusting me and said that I could never repay how much love he had shown me.

“Trust no! I usually don’t trust anyone. My father always told me not to do that, and I am tired of not trusting,” he said.

“I am truly sorry for your loss, your father was truly a great man,” I replied, acting very concerned about the death of his father, and then I received the shocker of my life.

“Dad! No, he is not dead,” he said, smiling at me and holding my hands as if I were his strong confidant.

“You must not reveal this to anyone or you are dead,” he said. It looked like a threat rather than a warning.

I sat there shocked. The scene replayed over and over in my head again and again. I was sure I shot his father. No one would have survived those shots. The Contractor even confirmed him dead. Three bullets! a bullet to the head, a bullet to his heart, and a bullet to his stomach. I became confused and sat there dazed.

Even if I wanted to pretend, I could not. I knew I was now in danger. Marvin saw how confused and frightened I was. I could not hide it. The man who tried to kill me flashed in my thoughts. So which of the Marvin placed a mark on me or was it the Contractor? Who wanted me dead?