The asset rode the plane north to Philadelphia, just as the man had instructed. He spent the flight staring out the window, fighting the fatigue that threatened to drag him into sleep. He drank coffee and waited for the plane to land.
Get this job done and I’ll make the visions go away.
The asset replayed the man’s words in his head like a mantra. He needed the words. He felt like he hadn’t slept in months. Years, maybe. He couldn’t remember ever sleeping. Couldn’t remember much, anymore, but the man and his visions. He needed the man to make the visions disappear.
The plane landed in Philadelphia. The asset walked into the terminal and dialed the man’s number on the cell phone he’d been given. “I’m here,” he said.
“There’s a rental car waiting for you at the Alamo desk,” the man told him. “Use the credit card and ID I gave you. Drive to the Club Quarters hotel downtown and wait for further instructions. Understand?”
The asset nodded. “I understand.”
He rented a car using the name the man had given him. The name was David Gilmour. The asset knew this wasn’t his real name. He couldn’t remember being called anything else, though. Anytime he tried to remember, his head hurt and his vision swam, and he felt the nightmares returning again.
The asset named David Gilmour drove into the city, as instructed. He checked into the hotel and watched television in his room until his phone rang. Then he answered. “Hello.”
“There’s an apartment complex on Arch Street,” the man told him. “At North 19th Street. In unit 1604 there’s a man waiting. Tomorrow you’ll go to his apartment. You’ll gain entry however you’re able. Eliminate the target and extricate yourself without being detected. Do you understand?”
The asset nodded. Imagined a life without the visions. “Yes, sir,” he said. “How will I eliminate this target?”
“This is a rush job,” said the man. “I didn’t have time to arrange any tools. Inside the apartment, you’ll find a pistol in a cupboard under the sink. Should you have time to retrieve it, you may use it. Otherwise, I trust you can figure out some other option.”
“Yes, sir,” said the asset.
“The man is quite small. You should have no problem eliminating him.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
“Visit him in the morning. I’ll have a flight home booked for early afternoon.”
“Yes, sir,” the asset said. “Understood.”
“Good.” The man paused. “Call me when you’ve completed the assignment.”
“I will.”
The man ended the call. The asset put down his phone. Walked back to the bed and sat and turned up the TV. Watched infomercials and waited for dawn.