Introduction

Shawn could feel the sweat dripping down his back. It always was this hot, even though the moonlight shone upon the city. He hated his job, long hours, hard work, and waiting. So much damn waiting. He brandished a long steel Ka-Bar, a gift from his old friend. He could hear movement inside the small run down bar he was lurking outside of. Three voices made drunken small talk between them. As the walked out, one of them started urinating on the side of the building. This is also when Shawn stepped out of his hiding spot. Shawn recognised two of the three faces. One was Oscar, a known drug addict, rapist, and kidnapper. The other was Dakota, a larger man in the sense that he could afford to lose a few pounds, also a rapist, kidnapper, and a known associate of Oscar. Both happened to be on Shawn’s list tonight. Shawn was donning a leather jacket, jeans, a pair of combat boots, black knuckle gloves, and a pair of black reflective aviators. Just from his attire Shawn was intimidating, his face and bodily features added to the effect. A large scar running down the side of his face ending a little more than halfway down his cheek that he earned from a mishap earlier in his career when he taunted a smaller man who bore a small pocket knife. After he broke the tiny man’s neck he learned never to underestimate his victims. Shawn was also a large man himself, but unlike Dakota, he was pure muscle. Shawn was 6’6 and 250 pounds, a sight not many people ever get to see and in the case of Shawn, usually the last. Shawn always found it fun to play with his prey, it got repetitive otherwise.

“Oscar? Is that you mate?” He said in a flawless thick Aussie accent. Oscar drunkenly searched for the voice,

“Yea? What do ya want?”

“Draco said he wanted to pass some extra to you.” Draco was Oscar’s dealer, he also happened to have been crossed off Shawn’s list about three hours ago.

“Ha ha! I haven’t heard from the fucker for too long, I guess the dumbass is apologising for making me wait. Well consider it accepted, where’s the stuff?” Oscar slurred. Draco had actually been in hiding. After one of his colleagues reported that he was on Shawn’s list he booked it out of the city and found a quiet country town to hide out in. Shawn entered his room about an hour after he fell asleep. The idiot used his credit card for gas along the way. Shawn woke the poor bastard just before he plunged his knife into his throat and up to his head. The 7 inch blade was one of Shawn’s favorite tools of the trade, it was also his known signature. Draco spent the last seconds of his life silently grasping at Shawn’s massive hands and choking on his own blood. Just as he felt the life leave Draco’s body Shawn retrieved his knife from the dead carcass cleaning it on the now blood stained bed sheets. He took out his notebook and pen and with a smile across his face he crossed off the name Draco Cowley. Shawn had 4 of these notebooks stored in a hidden compartment behind his shelf, each was full of names.

“Yeah that’s exactly what he said, so this one’s on the house,” Shawn smiled, “It’s all just in my car, follow me.” Oscar acknowledged his peers and the group followed Shawn through the alley ways of Miami. Shawn had no drugs in his vehicle in fact his car was in the opposite direction than where he was leading them, unfortunately for the group of three Shawn had other plans.

“How far es it?” Dakota slurred, “I wanna git high already!”

“Just around the corner.” The group started heading down an especially dark alley. Shawn waited for his chance. The third, unknown man turned his head to face Shawn, “Do I know you? Ya look oddly familiar.”

Shit.

Shawn was taken aback for exactly seven tenths of a second. He then turned around and thrusted his hidden blade into the man’s chest, piercing his heart. A small gasp could be heard. Oscar was next as Shawn ripped the blood covered weapon from the poor man’s chest and hurled the tool into Oscar’s forehead creating a sickeningly wet “Thunk” sound. Dakota, in his intoxicated state, was unable to react before Shawn had thrown him to the ground. Dakota futility attempted to use his arm to pull himself off the ground. Shawn didn’t humor the pitiful attempt to resist his newly assured fate and kicked his arm in backwards, breaking and displacing the bone in three different places forcing the big man back to the asphalt. Dakota cried out, “You bit-!”

“Oh shut the fuck up, I’ve had a long day.” Shawn brought his foot down again, this time on the back of Dakota’s neck. He was unable to finish his cry. Shawn took a step back and a deep breath in and exhaled with a grin plastered on his face. He retrieved his knife from the lead kidnappers head, using his foot to pull the Ka-Bar from his skull. He cleaned it on, the now late, Oscar’s white, greasy tank top and slid it into its sheath. He sighed as he pulled out his notebook and crossed off the two names. Oscar Wilde and Dakota Saley. He went over to the third man whose chest was pouring blood from the new cavity created by yours truly he was fairly relieved to find a wallet with a driver's license with the name Philip Haring. Or as Shawn profiled him, Philp, small time crook, domestic abuser, and rapist. He crossed him off the list, he was glad Philip was on it. He hated loose ends. After completing his check off he slid the notebook into his jacket and walked in the opposite direction, to the real location of his car. Shawn turned the corner, impressed with his bloodstained clothing and joined the dying nightlife on his way to his exit. Yet he didn’t notice the large cut left down the side of his left calf, which didn’t start leaking blood until half way down the highway.

End of Introduction

Written by Rex Inskeep