A Restless Night

Try as you might you just couldn't sleep. You toss and turn. You are too hot then too cool. You try your back, your stomach, your side, nothing is comfortable. You can't get the pillow just right. But mostly it is you buzzing mind. The knowledge of the money sitting there in that account was making you antsy. Natali's comment about "...if we don't survive this..." had you thinking more and more that it was time to cut your losses and get out.

You finally give up and get out of bed. Wearing just boxer shorts and a t shirt you head to the study and pour yourself a large tumbler of scotch. You head back out then make your way outside. You stand in the middle of the huge lawn. Standing in the darkness you take a mouthful of the booze and **** it down with one gulp. You cough at the burn. You stand there a long while, alone with your thoughts.

Murray had mentioned getting away. That was sounding better and better. Just get the hell out of this city and start fresh somewhere else. You could of course do that right now. Just head to the garage, grab a car, and disappear forever. But that wasn't happening at this point. Who knew stepping into another man's shoes would create a third life. One not quite yours and not quite his. You wiggle your toes and feel the cool prickly grass beneath them.

"Not long now." The suddenness of Soo-yin's calm voice almost makes you drop your glass.

"Soo-yin!" You turn your head, she is standing right next to you. Who knows how long she'd been there. "You couldn't sleep either huh?"

She is quiet for a time. "No."

You stand together in the darkness, listening to the sound of distant traffic. "Natali thinks we should wait a bit longer."

She nods. "You should listen to her. There is still work to be done."

"Yeah." You sip your drink. "You're going to be a rich woman when this is over."

She tilts her head. "But it isn't over, is it? Nothing has changed. Don't let the future distract you, it doesn't exist."

You get the distinct impression that this was never about money for her. A gun for hire that didn't care about money?

"So...um...Caitlin told me about my open invitation." You were curious to hear what Soo-yin would say. It was quite possible Caitlin had misrepresented what they had talked about. "Is it true?"

"Yes."

"I thought you hated men."

"I do." She affirms. "They are...weak. In spirit. And physically repugnant."

"Am I weak in spirit?"

"...I think so." She glances at you and studies you a moment. "Through no fault of your own. It is a flaw in our species. We will see."

"And I am physically repugnant?" You ask.

"Yes, definitely."

"Yet I have an open invitation?"

"Yes." She answers bluntly, as always.

You are quiet a time. "And Caitlin. She's not physically repugnant?"

"Of course not. She is beautiful."

"Well...I can't argue with that." You agree. "You are truly one of a kind Soo-yin."

You reach over and put a hand on her shoulder. You feel her tense up before slowly relaxing again. "I am glad you are with me."

She simply nods. "Good night Vincent."

"Good night Soo-yin." You watch as she glides back across the lawn noiselessly. It was good knowing that she had your back. You really didn't know how to feel about the open invitation, you would be lying to yourself if you said you weren't at least curious. You finish your drink. You feel the ****'s relaxing tendrils extending through your body. You head back to bed, this time finding sleep.