Waiting for the Man

The gull was back, tearing at the greasy takeaway carton. The incident that had left two bodies crumpled in the alleyway had only been a minor inconvenience to the bird. Truth to tell, it had only been a minor inconvenience to Cain Hartman.

When Mason had told him that the target’s security detail had all undergone something called the Tactical Combat Training System, Hartman had revised his plan. Granted, with his unarmed combat skills he could overcome TCTS techniques, but he was not one to be driven by ego. Besides, bullets to the head were quicker.

Before acting, Hartman had waited until the shorter of the two guards had given the all clear and shut off his phone. Timing was everything. The target was due to arrive any minute.

William Cochrane. A ruthless man with a love of power and a desire to control that was almost a fever. His death would be a gesture of hope to those who had been tortured and sent to jail without trial. His pain would not be prolonged, but it would be a sort of karma, nonetheless.

Hartman could appreciate the difference his actions would make. But he was not an idealist – it was just another job. His escape route was set; the sniper rifle was snuggled into his shoulder.

He heard a car engine and saw the piano-black BMW turn the corner at the end of the street.

Soon. The rifle stock would jar his shoulder and it would all be over.

Waiting for the Man was the result of another Creative Writing exercise, whereby you had to write something including ten "random" Scrabble words, In this case the words were: gull, granted, t_ts, ego, love, fever, gesture, jail, jar and karma.