Chapter 32

 

The Assassin paced the floor as he waited for the phone to be picked up.

Finally, Neil Gilbert answered, “Neil, here.”

“Neil, why did you page me?”

“Well, there may be a problem. My hours have been cut while they’re training a new nurse.”

“Has that ever happened before?”

“It’s happened only once in the three years I’ve been here. It might last for a week.”

“What are your new hours?

“Monday, Wednesday and Friday from six o’clock at night to six the next morning.”

“Before he had the seizure, did his son visit much with him at night?”

“I checked the logs, like you asked me to. More than half the visits were at night, around eight o’clock. Right after his son finished his supper.”

“How does the old man look to you?”

“He’s much better than he was a week ago. I saw the report on the Doctor’s visit this afternoon. They think he’s almost recovered from the seizure. If that’s true, he should be able to have visitors again any day now.”

 “Look, Neil, I need you to be vigilant. I don’t want to miss any opportunity to catch them together. Keep an eye on the appointment logs.”

“I know that it’s none of my business, but why is it so important for them to be together? Is it like you need to serve them both with a subpoena or something?”

“Something like that, but as you said, it is none of your business.”

“They have sleeping facilities right above the West Wing. I will stay here during my time off. That way I’ll know if there is any change in the visiting hours. I’ll call you the minute I know anything for sure.”

“See that you do. I’m paying you for results.”

The Assassin looked around the dingy room where he was holed up. It was this part of his work that he usually dreaded. Weeks, often months of preparations all hinged on last minute details that could ruin all his work; someone getting cold feet, bombs being discovered accidentally or the target never showing up. All of these had happened at one time or another over the thirty years he has been in the “business”. Only one assignment had a bad ending and it cost him three hundred thousand dollars in out-of -pocket expenses and a black mark on his record that took over five years to erase.