If Jack had needed any more proof that the woman he saw was meant to be his next target then he was given it hand over fist the next day. Getting up with the dawn, Jack had fed Adina just enough water to keep her alive with another scrap of bread. He had treated her to another day of kneeling in the grains of rice. He had left her with his father, who had promised he would ensure she stayed on her knees whilst he was gone. Jack was happy to see that Adina’s spirit was beginning to fade. She was no longer glowering at him with obstinate looks. She was compliant and almost grateful when he brought down the water and scraps of food. Perhaps a few days lying in her own filth had finally brought her down a peg or two. Each time he went down there, she tried to convince him that she wasn’t sinful. That she didn’t belong here. But he wouldn’t listen. As far as he was concerned her words were poison. He would not let that poison take root in his mind.
Sitting outside of the woman’s house, he waited patiently, reading the paper. Confident that the Lord had led him to this woman for a reason, he knew that he would be rewarded for his patience. After lunch, the green door opened and the woman came out. The antsy way she walked made Jack think that she was planning another ‘shopping spree’. Jack got out of his car and followed. One of the benefits of being old was that eyes tended to slide right past him. Old age blessed him with powers of invisibility. No one would suspect him of following her. He was just an old man out for a walk to get the daily paper. He tucked a paper under his arm to add to the effect.
The woman walked for fifteen minutes, she seemed to have a direction in mind. He watched as she scoped out her surroundings, constantly on the alert. Following her onto New Road, he stayed behind a large aerial post that shielded him from her view. She walked up the street extremely slowly. He realised she was assessing each house, looking for parcels and witnesses.
Jack’s fists clenched as he watched with growing anger as she gave one last look up and down the street and walked up onto someone’s driveway. She picked up a large brown box and turned and strode quickly back down the driveway and up the street. Going a different way back, he hurried to catch up. A plan formulating in his mind.
As they neared the woman’s house, Jack increased his pace so that he was no less than a few metres from her. Just before she turned into her driveway, Jack lurched forward and fell hard onto his knees. He did not have to pretend to cry out as the white hot pain in his knees was very real. The woman turned at the sound of his voice. He watched as she stared at him. She appeared to edge slightly towards the house, as if contemplating leaving him there and so he let out another moan of pain. It worked; the woman placed the parcel on the floor and rushed over to his side.
‘Sir, are you okay?’ asked the woman. She put her hand on his shoulder, looking down at him with concern.
Jack let the pain in his knees show on his face.
‘I’m afraid I took a bit of a tumble. My legs aren’t as strong as they used to be.’ He let his voice wobble. He needed her to feel sorry for him.
‘Are you okay? Are you hurt?’ she asked.
‘I’ve just hurt my knees.’
‘Can you stand?’
‘I’m not sure. Let me try.’
Jack lumbered to his feet, letting out more moans of pain as he did so. The woman placed an arm around him, trying to help him to his feet.
‘I don’t suppose it would be too much trouble for you to help me back to my car. It’s just there.’ He pointed in the direction of his car. Jack watched as the woman glanced back at her house, specifically at the parcel and then back at Jack.
‘Okay.’ She tried and failed to hide the sigh in her voice. She did not want to help him.
‘Thank you so much, dear.’ Jack smiled at her brightly. ‘My name is Jack.’
‘Okay.’ She reached an arm around him and took one of his hands. In his mind, he was squeezing her hand until he felt the bones breaking and she was screaming in pain. But in reality, he smiled at her pleasantly and began to lead the way to his car. He acted the old doddery man and they made slow progress to his car.
‘What’s your name?’ he asked her. Surprised she hadn’t offered it to him already. Did she have no manners at all?
‘Isabella. How much further?’ she enquired whilst looking to check her parcel was still where she left it. Wouldn’t it be ironic if someone stole it? Jack smothered a laugh and led her to his car. He pointed at it and felt her pushing him forward, trying to increase his pace. As they reached the back of the car, Jack took a deep breath. This was the crucial moment. Everything hinged on this. His only advantage was the element of surprise.
‘Would you mind getting my driving shoes out of the boot?’ Jack said, and he reached into his pocket and withdrew the keys. He passed them to Isabella so she had no choice but to help him. He gave her what he hoped was his most grateful smile, ignoring the look of frustration and the huff she made when she took the keys from him. She turned her back and put the key in the lock. As she lifted the boot open, Jack moved so that he was right behind her. As she bent down to look for his shoes, he pushed her as hard as he could. With lightning-quick reflexes, he grabbed her legs and thrust them into the boot. It was over in a matter of seconds. Isabella didn’t even have a chance to panic or fight back before he shut the door. His heart was beating so loudly in his ears, it was almost louder than the sound of Isabella banging on the boot and screaming for help.
Jack nimbly darted back to the front of the car and climbed into the front seat. Putting the car in gear, he drove quickly away. His heart rate slowly returned to normal and he began to feel jubilant. He was doing it. He was slowly but surely getting rid of the disgusting people that were tainting the human race. Jack was making the world better and safer. Had he not been so wrapped up in his joy, he might have noticed that a brown Vauxhall had pulled out of the street at the same time as him and followed him almost all the way back to his house.