The Assignment

“Mate, I never knew you could make one hell of a tonic.” Ruben lifted up his glass as Alex wiped off the bar. “Yeah? You should try the martini.” It was Friday night, and the game was on. Eddie came back behind the bar and slapped him on the back. “You’re doing all right! Hey, that bonny lass over there requested a Cosmo, think you can pull it off?” All he got was a blank stare. “Right! Not something you make on a daily basis. It’s one part cranberry juice with two parts Gray Goose. Make sure you put a lime on the rim, they love that.” Alex nodded and prepared the drink, while Ruben watched on. “You know, my wife gets me to make those things for her all the time. Consider yourself lucky you aren’t as familiar with them as I am.” Alex chuckled and turned to the orderer, Eddie’s “bonny lass”.

“Miss, your Cosmo.” She looked up, and Alex stepped back. “Jordan?” Her eyes widened. “Alex! Um, hello.” Eddie came back over to Alex. “Take a fifteen, mate.” Alex thanked him and hopped over the bar, taking a seat next to her. “How are you?” She nodded. “I’m okay.” Her eyes were distant. “You shouldn’t be alone.” Alex told her. The late hours could be dangerous, especially for someone in her situation. She smiled slightly, then shook her head. “No worries. Scott is meeting me here, my boyfriend.” He nodded, and for a moment the pair was quiet. “Jordan, I-” His sentence was cut short, for Scott had entered the pub. “My fifteen’s up.” She turned to see what caught his eye, and understood. “Okay. See you, Alex.” He turned and went over to where Ruben had noticed them. By now Scott had sat next to her, and the two exchanged a quick kiss. “Is that her?” Alex nodded, still staring at her. “Yep.”
”I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at anyone like that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alex asked defensively. “You care about her, that’s all.”
“She’s the one I couldn’t kill, Ruben. How am I supposed to look at her?” His friend shook his head. “Sorry, mate. Didn’t know I hit a sore spot.” Alex thumped his head against the bar table in exasperation. “What do I do now, Ruben? I don’t have a job. I have no idea of what my brother is planning against me, or how many others are going to come after her. Something tells me this Williams isn’t going to let things go.”

“Just relax, Alex. It’s over. And don’t worry about your job. You’re pretty qualified for mostly anything with your resume and education.”
“Maybe you’re right Ruben, I just need to move on.” He took one more glance at Jordan, she was laughing at something Scott said, and the two looked so happy. Maybe happier than he would ever be. He knew he had gotten himself in a mess, but if he got to do it over again he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The night customers filed in, and Alex busied himself cleaning up the bar. Jordan had left awhile ago, but her glass had yet to be picked up. Finally Alex got to the place her and her date were sitting, and lifted her glass up to reveal a message written on a cocktail napkin. Sienna Park @ midnight –J. He knew seeing her again was inevitable, but he was curious as to why she had wanted to see him.

She was standing by an old oak tree, alone, with the wind blowing through her gold locks of hair. She turned as she heard him approach. “I knew you’d come.”
“You have a tendency to travel alone. It’s very dangerous.” She grinned. “I’m not completely helpless. Besides, you have a tendency to worry about me a lot.” He chuckled. “I didn’t mean to sound like your mother.” She walked towards him. “I think it’s cute.”
“Why did you want to meet me?” She stopped. “Someone tried to kill me today.” Alex clenched his fists, he knew his brother wouldn’t stop. “Why didn’t you say something at the bar?”
“Because I was scared, Alex! I don’t want Scott knowing about this.”
“Well maybe he should! He can protect you, you know.” She shook her head slowly. “I don’t think he can. That’s why I need you, Alex. You’re out of a job? Well here’s an opportunity for you. I need a bodyguard. Just someone to watch out for me. No one needs to know about you, I just want to feel safe.” Before Alex could respond, she added quickly. “I’ll pay you, of course. It will be worth your while.” He found himself agreeing to it before he had even completely thought about it. “Jordan, I’m not after the money. I’ll do everything I can to protect you.” She stuck her hand out, and he shook it. “Well how’s that for a job. First you’re taking lives and now you’re saving them. Not bad.”
“Not bad at all.”

Alex camped out in his Porsche, eying Jordan’s apartment complex. He was doing an hourly check-up before her lights went out. They had set out their plans carefully. Jordan was equipped with a pager that would alert Alex immediately that she was in danger as well as her whereabouts. He would inspect the house at least three times a day during the morning, afternoon, and night. And finally, if he saw anyone suspicious approaching her he would shoot him on the spot, and ask questions later. Alex noted the black Range Rover that pulled up to the complex, and saw Scott get out of it. He watched as he walked up the stairs, and he even had a view of him once he entered her home. Alex knew that was his cue to leave, but something caused him to stay. Jordan and her boyfriend quickly began to engage in a flurry of passionate kisses, and Scott pulled off her shirt, revealing a slender body and a pair of supple breasts concealed only by a thin lacy bra. She tilted her neck back in pleasure as he kissed her face and below. In the midst of taking his shirt off she managed to pull the string that dropped the blinds. Alex snapped out of it. “Time to go.” He pulled away from the building and drove off into the night.

Alex’s cell phone rang early the next morning. He was up and alert, shaking off sleep in seconds. “Hello?”
“Alex.” Michael. He wished he had checked the caller ID before answering. “What the hell do you want? I want to kill you right now.”
“Coming from you that’s impressive.”
“Why are you calling me, Michael?”
“I didn’t try to kill Jordan, nor did I send anyone.” Alex sighed. “Then who did? Old Williams decide to sneak up on her and finish it?”
“I know who did it. Another company’s involved in this. Once Williams realized your failure, he left us and went with another firm.” Michael was quiet for a second, and understandably, Alex could hear a door opening and closing. “That Jimmy.” Michael muttered. “Who is this company?”
“I want to meet you, we can discuss it then.”
“Forget that, I’m not falling into your little trap.”
“Damn it Alex!” Michael shouted on the other line. “You’re my brother, can I at least look you in the face? It’s been a long time.” Begrudgingly Alex agreed, the two were going to meet at a local restaurant.

Alex pulled up to The Pines and locked his car. It had been several weeks since he saw Michael, and he couldn’t even remember the last time the two had breakfast together. Michael was already there, dressed down in jeans and a t-shirt. “God, Michael.” Alex couldn’t resist but to laugh at his brother’s completely different appearance. Michael rolled his eyes. “What? I can’t look smashing all the time.” The two sat at a table, ordering two glasses of tea to start. “Hm. I surprised you didn’t order a mudslide.”
“I’ve quit.” At this Michael raised his eyebrows. “I’m impressed. She has changed you.” He passed a slip of paper across the table. “On that is everything you need to know.” Alex took a quick look at it, then slipped it in his pocket. “I’m sorry, Alex. For everything. I know I haven’t been the greatest brother…”
“It’s okay, Michael. You’re just carrying out Dad’s business, that’s all.” He nodded. “I need to check up on Jordan.” He stood up to leave. “Take care of yourself, Alex.” He turned around to his brother once more. “Why are you doing this for me, Michael?”
“I know you went to see Mom.” Michael bowed his head. “I go see her all the time. She wouldn’t have been proud of us if she were still here.”
Alex agreed. “I know. We’ll keep in touch.” His brother smiled faintly. “Good luck, Alex.” It would be the last time Alex saw his brother alive.