Chapter 13

Jackson was back at the hotel now. Not long after arriving he was fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He woke up the next morning to a knock on his door. Looking out of the peep hole he didn't see anyone. Grabbing his .22 from the dresser drawer, he held it close to his side as he slowly looked around the corner. Noone. But a package was sitting outside of his door. Snatching it up as soon as he saw it, he rushed inside. Ripping it open he quickly read over the information on the top sheet. Name, Address, location, directions. He stopped when what he had just read sunk in. It was the name. Not a name a person could mistake. In big bold print the name read "Orchid". He didnt want to see anymore, but he had to look. The picture. There was always a picture, identifying the target. Maybe there was a slim chance that it was someone else. He took a deep breath and flipped to the next page. It was exactly what he was dreading. There in black and white, a photo taken of Orchid. The girl he had just met. What cruel act of fate was this. He was starting to feel like the butt of somebodys sick joke. A joke he didn't find funny at all. He didn't know what to do. His first thought was to call Killer, but he decided against it. No, he'd deal with him later. First he needed to talk to his next mark. He had been looking forward to taking her up on her invitation. Now he was confused, but anxious to get to the bottom of things. He wasn't sure how soon he should go over, yet he didn't know how long he could wait it out. In the span of 2 hours he had smoked 3 ciggerettes and itching for a fourth. Deciding he couldn't take it anymore he rushed out of his room taking long strides down the hall, rounding the corner so fast he almost knocked two women over. As soon as the elevator opened he was pushing past a chubby bald guy and a tall lanky fellow that seemed to be taking their time figuring out if they were getting on or off. He counted to 10 in his head and exhaled.

"Is this your floor", Jackson asked the men.

"I dont think so", the bald guy replied as he pushed the button for the 1st floor.

Jackson didn't wait for the men to move, quickly shoving them aside, he bounded across the lobby floor, people in his way scattering left and right. He fingered his .22 nuzzled snug in his pocket as he went. He didnt know what he was going to do or say but he had to see her now. This was one thing that just couldn't wait.