The world is never a kind place, this is a fact that Alex learned early in life- Ingrained in his bones. It punished those who forgot that fact, and he took it upon himself to…. educate them.
"Look at me, being the good guy," he muttered dryly, lips curling into a half-smile. "Educating the less knowledgeable."
Chuckling to himself, Alex leaned forward at the table inside his safe house, fingers brushing over the scattered files.
Picking one and opening it,
|Clients Name: Martin Fletcher |
|Debt: $900 000 {as of 15 March 1999} |
|Position: Magistrate Judges |
|Intel: Evident of Judge accepting Bribe; Issuing questionable warrants; excessive bail approvals; etc.|
|Attachment: *Photographic Evident* |
Looking at the information on the file, Alex couldn't help but smile, 'Let's have some fun.'
Putting back the file, Alex went towards his wardrobe, putting on his black boots and black pants, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and couldn't help but take a moment to look at himself, what stared back at him was an expressionless face, lifeless eyes framed by his chiseled jaw and sharp eyebrows.
Looking at himself, a visible smirk graced his face as he continued to wear his black long sleeve turtleneck. He wrapped his hands with bandages with practiced ease. Continuing to the table and picking up his silver Colt M1911, looking at it briefly before holstering it in his back.
He left his safe house with a target in mind.
---
Greyline Commons
Parking the stolen car just off the side of the street, Alex looked at the house opposite him. The house was modest with two floors and a garage to the side. He sat in the car patiently observing the house.
Late in the afternoon a sedan pulled up to the house's driveway and stopped just at the garage. Looking at the man exiting the car, he observed him closely, and just like he expected, a screen appeared.
[Name: Martin Fletcher]
[Age: 64]
[Occupation: Magistrate Judge (Ashbridge Judicial Department)]
[Skill: Legal Expertise: A
Political Connections: B+
Public Speaking: A
Discretion/Secrecy: B
Risk Management: C]
Seeing this, Alex couldn't help but smile as he also got out of the vehicle.
--
Martin opened the door to his house as he went on to take out his coat and hung it on the rack.
"Ana, I'm home." He announced as he continued inside the house.
Martin was your typical man heading towards their twilight years, a head full of grey hair, wrinkled but somewhat of a handsome face with his light blue eyes filled with a deep exhaustion.
The house was quiet, he was used to it now and although he never liked it, he had grown used to it.
He made his way to the kitchen and got an apple from the fridge, eating it while skimming through the newspaper that was on the kitchen table. After finishing his apple and throwing it,
He continued to the living room to catch a game and relax a bit. But as he switched on the light, his breath was caught on his throat, a shiver ran through his body as he looked at the man sitting in a single couch, swirling a glass of whiskey with an ice clink, the man staring at him with a calm, dangerous smile
Alex looked at Martin with his cold eyes as he spoke, "Hope you don't mind Judge, I made myself comfortable."
He said as he continued to take a sip from the glass on his hand, not waiting for a response he continued, "by the way this is amazing whisky- you a man with taste I see." He said as he was scrutinizing the whisky on the glass and swirled the drink lightly in his hand.
Meanwhile, Martin's thoughts were running wild, 'No..no no... How did he find me? Didn't his business get ruined...?'
Alex looked at the Judge's pale face and smiled even more.
'Good...'
"Don't just stand there- join me…" he said to Martin who started to regain some semblance of composure. Moving slowly and cautiously, he took a seat opposite Alex and looked at the man.
Martin had seen a lot of bad people during his career, and he was sure that he had truly seen all that was to see and can spot them from a mile away.
That was true until he met Alex for the first time, at first, he saw him as just a harmless, nice young man who always smiled. But his instinct always flared up when he saw him, but everything about the man projected a harmless, capable young man, his expression, his words and even his mannerisms pointed to that fact, but he couldn't be further from the truth.
He spoke, his voice strained, "M-Mr. Gray, its good to see you, H-how can I help you?"
Alex smirked as he responded, "Oh come now Judge…. don't tell me you forgot that you owe me for that little favor I did for you."
"B-but I paid you already..." Martin stammered.
Alex hearing this placed his now empty glass save for the ice that was still in the glass, "Now you just breaking my heart Judge.... you know that was just half the payment."
Getting up from the couch and slowly walking towards Mark he continued, "Now since I'm such a nice guy…. I'll make it easy for you."
Standing right behind him and placing his hand on Martin's shoulders and squeezing them lightly.
"You just need to do a few favors for me, until your dept is paid. And who knows, maybe if you lucky you might even see yourself climbing the ranks."
Hearing this, Martin hesitated to respond. He's no innocent men by any means, but working with this man wasn't something he was looking forward to, 'Why does it always feel like I'm just a lamb in front of a Dragon whenever I'm around him.'
Seeing the hesitation, Alex continued, "Or I could just take those interesting images that I have and sell them...I'm sure I can make back the money you owe me and maybe more, what do you think Judge?" He said as if contemplating.
Martin didn't need for anymore explanation, he wasn't a so naïve as to not know what Alex was talking about.
"N-no…...that won't be necessary, it would be my pleasure Mr. Gray to assist you with any issue." He responded hastily as though afraid he might go through with it.
"That's more like it; I like your enthusiasm Judge."
Reaching into his coat pocket, Alex pulled out a burner phone and placed it on the table. "Keep it close, I'll keep in touch."
As he was about to leave, he heard the all too familiar sound coming from the system.
[Ding!!]
[Target with Exceptional talent detected]
Just as he was about to look at the system screen, he heard a voice, soft and measured, with a subtle Russian accent to it,
"Father- who is this?"
Alex turned.
Standing in the hallway was a woman.
Icy white hair. Striking blue eyes. A model's elegance and grace, wrapped in the cool aura of disinterest. She looked at Alex with the detached curiosity of someone who rarely felt compelled to care about anyone.
And yet… she paused.
Alex stared back, captivated by her silent presence.
Martin spoke, trying to regain control, "Ana, I thought you were in your room."
But Ana didn't look at him. Her focus stayed locked on Alex—this stranger whose eyes, though smiling, held no warmth.
And for a brief moment.
she was intrigued.