Diary of a Hitwoman - Repercussions.

ON THE PLANE BACK FROM THE USA: The seats were first class and the champagne was the best available and freely offered by the stewardesses on the flight back into London. Neither of the two women who occupied seats 2A and 2B was drinking. They had just completed one of the most audacious crimes of the decade but there was little jubilation or conversation between them. After a protracted silence Madeleine eventually turned to Bernice and touched her gently on the neck and was so close to Bernice she was almost whispering in her ear. ‘Come on Bernice, the agency is nearly £10M richer. Even if we only get 10% each we are still going to be very rich and here you are acting as if the world has come to an end. With the money coming to you can do what you want. You could even give up this work if it is all getting too much for you’.

Bernice thought about her dead boyfriend Michael and William Stage and pushed Madeleine’s hand away. ‘Listen Madeleine. One way or another you have been responsible for the deaths of everyone I have ever cared about. I would keep away from me if you want to live long enough to spend the money you just earned. Do I make myself understood?’.

Madeleine was momentarily taken aback and Bernice’s words prompted her to reflect on what had happened to Mirelle and Lin Wei. Madeleine turned away from Bernice and her demeanour became distinctly colder. ‘Very well Bernice but remember. YOU are responsible for the deaths of everyone I ever cared about. I suggest that it is you who stays away from me in the future’. Madeleine extended her first and index fingers into the shape of a gun and pointed them at Bernice’s head. ‘And don’t forget before you start making threats Bernice, I have been doing this work a lot longer than you’ she said icily.

OFFICE: It looked like a typical board meeting but the agenda was quite unlike that of any normal business and the attendees were certainly more attractive and glamorous than any typical business executive. Auntie Jane sat behind a large table and the various fashion models who worked for, what appeared on the surface to be a modelling agency, were seated in a semi circle on the other side.

Estelle looked as cool as ever and smoked a cigarette. When she was sitting the hem of her skirt rode up and was just too short to hide the small pistol concealed in a holster at the top of her stockings. Madeleine had forsaken her penchant for leather clothing and was wearing a smart business suit. There was an almost imperceptible bulge in her jacket where a Beretta was nestled in the inside pocket. Bernice was seated next to Madeleine, not through choice but merely because placing Estelle and Madeleine together was a sure fire recipe for trouble. Bernice wore a designer outfit which accentuated her model good looks. A shoulder bag was strategically placed in her lap and contained a fully loaded automatic. Of the four models gathered around the table only Gisela was obviously not sitting there with a gun nearby. In fact she looked the perfect example of tranquillity in troubled times, a serene smile etched on her coffee complexioned face as she waited for the meeting to begin.

Auntie Jane surveyed her employees and could sense the tension in the air as well as seeing the physical manifestation of it on the legs, in the bags and in the pockets of some of the attendees. She opened the desk drawer which housed a rather large revolver and called the meeting to order. ‘Ladies, I know this hastily arranged meeting has set a few nerves on edge’ she said and glanced at Estelle, Bernice and Madeleine. ‘However there is no need for dramatics’. At this point she reached into the desk and removed the revolver. At this point Madeleine almost reached inside her jacket and Estelle seemed to have developed a scratch on her right leg and moved her hand to its general vicinity. Auntie Jane continued. ‘As I say there is no need for dramatics’ she repeated and placed the revolver on the desk. ‘We are all friends and colleagues and I hope we all trust each other’. The final remark was said with added emphasis and was definitely directed at Madeleine and Estelle who cast sideways scornful glances at each other.

‘May I ask why we are here?’ said Bernice.

‘A woman who comes straight to the point’ said Auntie Jane ‘I like that. The reason why I called you all together is because we have a problem with the Stage contract. As you all know this was our biggest job and Bernice and Madeleine carried it out superbly’. Madeleine allowed herself a self congratulatory smile whilst Estelle looked to the heavens. ‘However’ said Auntie Jane pointedly ‘there is a problem. The person who arranged the contract with us has still not paid us the fee’.

Madeleine thought for a moment. ‘Then kill them’ she said simply.

‘Brilliant’ said Estelle sarcastically. ‘Then we’ll never get paid will we’.

Madeleine and Estelle eyed each other with barely concealed disdain. Auntie Jane sensed the mood and pressed on. ‘The fact is we are owed $10M and we can’t go through the normal channels to collect it. Gisela, you’re the brainy one doing all these fancy courses, what do you suggest?’.

Gisela tilted her head for a moment as she thought. ‘I suggest we send our best operative to change his mind’ she said and nodded at Estelle who inhaled gently and allowed herself a small grin.

‘Best operative? What about me?’ said Madeleine.

‘Or me’ said Bernice but without much conviction.

Auntie Jane spoke. ‘It has to be Estelle. She is the best and as well as that the person who arranged the contract already knows both you and Madeleine’. Bernice and Madeleine looked at each other.

‘So just who is this person?’ said Bernice.

‘George Mellow -  Stage’s accountant’ said Auntie Jane.

POST MEETING:

After the meeting ended the attendees drifted on to one of the regular parties organised by Auntie Jane. With a smattering of clients from the modelling industry the parties served as a shop window for the legitimate part of her business whilst at the same time giving her operatives a chance to meet in a less formal manner.

Bernice had arrived and was eager to find Auntie Jane to glean more information about George Mellow. As she entered the room she was immediately cornered by Amanda, the secretary to the modelling organisation and general office gopher. As usual she was unimaginatively dressed and inexpertly made up and to make it worse her eyes were red as if she’d been crying.

‘Bernice, can we talk?’

‘OK but quickly Amanda, I have to find Auntie.’

‘You’ve been away Bernice so I expect you haven’t heard. You’ve met Michael, my boyfriend. You are not going to believe this Bernice but he’s been shot’. Amanda suppressed a sob. ‘Some woman walked into his office and just shot him’.

This was hardly news to Bernice as she had been the one who had done it. She tried to look concerned for Amanda's benefit but deep inside she had enjoyed teaching the slime ball a lesson. ‘But why? Do they know who did it?’ she said putting on her most caring voice.

‘They’ve no idea. A security guard found him in his office at the end of the day. He had lost so much blood he had passed out’. Amanda sniffled again. ‘The worst part is the wound turned septic. He has lost his leg and now he’s on a life support machine at St. Catherine’s Hospital. They can’t say whether he’ll pull through’.

‘My God’ said Bernice. She had never thought that a simple shot to the leg could do so much damage. Once again she smiled inwardly to herself. ‘If there’s anything I can do...’ she said kindly to Amanda.

‘It’s a long shot Bernice but I’m asking everyone if they’ve any idea who the woman was’. Her face became very serious and she was no longer on the edge of tears. ‘I tell you Bernice. If I ever find the bitch who did this to him I’ll kill her’.

Later at the party: Bernice had finally extricated herself from Amanda and had found Auntie Jane.

‘I see Amanda has cornered you as well. She is doing the rounds tonight’ said Auntie Jane. ‘Not to worry, your little secret is safe with us’ she said knowingly and with a slight smile. ‘Michael has always been a bit of a weak link in this organisation. If you hadn’t taken him down a peg or two I suppose I would have had to. In some respects he got off lightly’.

‘Fine’ said Bernice and quickly changed the subject into what she wanted to talk about. ‘Why did George Mellow order the contract on William Stage?’ she said with directness.

‘Why do you care?’ said Auntie. ’You and Madeleine have done your job and you’ll get paid when we receive payment. Let’s just leave it at that’.

‘Me and Madeleine are not seeing eye to eye on this. It might help if we knew why Stage had to die’.

Auntie Jane looked across to Madeleine, who was busy flirting with all the girls in the room, and they exchanged smiles. ‘Nobody sees eye to eye with Madeleine on anything. She really is one of the best hitwomen I have ever employed but her attitude sometimes leaves something to be desired’. For a moment Auntie’s eyes glazed over and the next words seemed to be said almost dreamily. ‘Someday, something will have to be done about her’. Auntie Jane suddenly sprung out of her trance and continued. ‘It is very unprofessional to ask a client why he or she wants somebody dead. I guess we will never know’. Auntie Jane turned and walked off to speak to Estelle and Gisela and a couple of potential clients from the fashion industry.

A WEEK LATER. George Mellow  lay on the hotel bed and thought about his life. If all went according to plan he would be a very wealthy man in a year or so. Hell, he had been a mere accountant for the rich and famous long enough and pretty soon he himself would join their merry clan. Okay, once that happened he would have to tone down his lifestyle a bit but until then he intended to live life to the full. He could hardly believe his luck when they had met in the hotel bar a couple of hours ago. She was tall, elegant, witty, intelligent, blond and incredibly attractive. When she had accepted his invitation for a drink in less public surroundings they both knew what he had really meant. He had to pinch himself that this was all happening to him. He had been so entranced by her beauty that he hardly remembered what they had been talking for most of the evening. What he did remember was her name - Estelle.

The bedroom was in semi darkness and as she walked in from the well lit bathroom her exquisite body was momentarily silhouetted. He couldn’t see what she was or wasn’t wearing, just her slime outline framed in the doorway. His heart beat in anticipation.

She moved closer towards him and he saw she hadn’t changed from the sleek designer dress she had been wearing earlier on. Time enough for that later on he thought to himself. He lay there, his breath almost unable to keep up with the oxygen his lungs demanded. She climbed onto the bed then onto him, her legs straddling his torso in a kneeling position and bursting through the long cut of the dress. Her body fell forward onto his and she nibbled playfully at his ear.

‘Mr. Mellow’ she whispered. ‘I can see you are very excited but I want you to stay calm at what I am about to tell you next’.

Calm! How could he stay calm at a moment like this? The most beautiful woman he had ever met was inches from his grasp. His whole body ached in anticipation. The sweet smell of her perfume just made the longing worse.

She leant back so the only contact between them was her slim legs across his waist. ‘Mr Mellow’ she said again. ‘I have a ???? pointed directly at you. If you struggle or move you will regret it. If you think I am kidding or won’t use it, think again’. He had a quick recollection of seeing a long silenced automatic held in the hands of her outstretched arms. Pfft. There was a brief flash from the barrel and a bullet whistled past his ear and into the pillow. ‘You owe us ten million dollars. I am here to show you that we can find you anytime we please. You either pay us the money you owe or you are dead’. Pfft. A bullet flew past his other ear.

She carefully raised herself from the bed, the gun never wavering from the general vicinity of George Mellow's body. She now stood at the foot of the bed, the gun held firmly in one outstretched hand. ‘Open your legs Mr. Mellow’ she ordered. He did as he was told. Pfft, pfft, pfft. There were three shots in quick succession. One to the inside of his left knee, one to the inside of his right knee and one just millimetres from his groin.

‘Just a warning Mr. Mellow. If you don’t pay the next time you see me I will be shooting a little higher’. She smiled momentarily and threw the envelope which contained payment instructions onto the bed and quickly left the room.

SIX DAYS LATER: Madeleine was one of two models working for Auntie Jane who could have supported her lavish lifestyle from the modelling work alone, the other being Estelle. The fact was she rather enjoyed the other aspect of her employment and the money she got paid for doing it was just an additional bonus. The other bonus was that she met lots of beautiful women which also matched her lifestyle and her sexual preferences.

This evening she was entertaining a guest. Her London residence was smart and well furnished which is what one would have expected considering the large fee she had paid the interior designer. At this moment she was stretched out on the large leather sofa. She had always had a penchant for leather which explained her attire for the evening, ??? ???? and ????.

She gave her companion a long lingering look. Her companion returned the compliment with a warm smile and for a moment she almost forgot why she was here. After a brief pause she sat on the edge of the sofa. Madeleine looked at her with both anticipation and interest.

‘You know, I hope you don’t mind me saying but I never thought we would end up like this. We’ve hardly been the best of friends in the past, what with that thing with Mirelle and all’ said Madeleine.

Her companion leant down, her arms encircling Madeleines waist in a warm embrace, and kissed her full on the mouth. ‘Maybe we’re still not’ she said sadly. ‘It’s funny the way things turn out’. To Madeleine what happened next seemed almost like a dream. The first thing which didn’t seem right was when only one of her companions arms held her in a lovers clinch. The second was the pressure of a pistol in the side of her body. Only a small pistol she surmised, one that could be easily concealed on the person but at this range as deadly as any other. The third thing was the look on her companions eyes. Hard, cruel, pitiless. Of course by the time Madeleine had observed all these things, almost in slow motion, it was far too late. There was a bang and Madeleine jolted as the bullet tore into her. There was a second and Madeleine jolted again. She never heard the third and fourth, by then she was already dead.

Her companion raised herself from the sofa and went to the retrieve her long coat which would cover the bloodstains which had seeped onto her dress. Before she left she turned and looked one more time at Madeleine. ‘Sorry’ she said.

NEXT EVENING: George Mellow had had a nightmare week. It had taken all of his financial skills to ‘borrow’ $10M dollars from his late employers estate but hopefully he could hide the loss for a few months It might mean bringing forward his long term plan of marrying the widow of William Stage but he knew he could charm his way into her affections anytime he liked. Once married the $10M dollars would be as good as his anyway as he would be sharing in the widows inheritance quite legitimately by then. He would have liked the killing of William Stage to have taken place a few months later than it did so his seduction of Gina Stage was a bit more advanced. However her impending divorce threw out all his timings, he had to die before the divorce if his wife was to benefit fully.

He looked at his watch. Five to eleven, five minutes to go. The meeting was outside a derelict industrial estate and the area was totally deserted. At eleven o’clock precisely a car drew up and two women got out. One he recognised instantly, it was the blond bitch who’d almost shot his balls off in a hotel room. The other was older. Though of a certain age the beauty she had possessed in her younger days was still visibly present. No doubt that’s the one I’ve been dealing with over the phone he thought to himself.

‘Do you have the money?’ said Auntie Jane.

George Mellow offered the large briefcase. ’It’s in there. All of it’.

Auntie Jane stepped forward and took the proffered case. She slipped the catches with her gloved hands and looked at the contents. She had never seen such wealth. In the case were bundles and bundles of crisp high denomination dollar bills. She allowed herself a quick smile, deftly closed the case and stepped back.

‘Thank you very much Mr.Mellow. I could say it has been a pleasure doing business with you but in this instance it wouldn’t be true. Estelle, please show Mr. Mellow how we deal with people who try to cheat us’.

Estelle shuffled briefly in the inside of her long leather coat and produced an evil looking silenced pistol. ‘Mr ? , I said that the next time you saw me I would be shooting a little higher. I always keep my promises’.

George Mellow shuffled backwards. ‘Please no. You have the money Don’t do this’ he begged.

Estelle didn’t even appear to be aiming but as she promised the first shot hit George Mellow in the lower abdomen. The force of the impact threw him backwards and he lay groaning on the pavement. Estelle turned to Auntie Jane and gave her a quizzical look. Auntie Jane briefly looked at the sprawled body of George Mellow and nodded her assent to Estelle. Estelle turned again to the prone figure and walked towards the stricken man, the gun held nonchalantly by her side and her high heels clicking on the hard paving stones. She knelt down beside him. Although an expert markswoman Estelle had always preferred to do her killings close up. She pressed the silencer to the side of George Mellow‘s head just behind the ear. He made one more vain attempt to appeal for mercy but it was too late. When Estelle fired again it was the fatal shot. Pfft. A large proportion of George Mellow's head suddenly became a bloodied red mass and his dreams to inherit the Stage billions were no more.

Estelle stood up and coolly placed the silenced gun into the waistband of her trousers/dress??????. She turned and started to walk back towards Auntie Jane and the case containing the money. What happened next was a blur. There was a loud report which echoed around the deserted streets and Estelle fell to the ground, a large red stain seeping into her blouse and coat.

Auntie Jane immediately drew a large revolver from the handbag she was carrying and looked around. Another report, another shot and again Estelle was hit. If she wasn’t dead before she most certainly was now. Auntie Jane pressed herself tightly against the wall, her finger resting eagerly on the trigger of her gun. She looked at the case and the open door of the car in which both she and Estelle had arrived. Her actions were immediate and borne of a mind which had honed her special skills over many years. In the flash of an eye she had the case in the passenger seat and she was speeding away in the car. There was another loud report and then silence as the car exited the area.

AN HOUR LATER. Bernice had decided on an early night and after seeing the late night film was preparing for bed. Then without warning there was a loud, urgent banging at her front door. When she opened it the last person she had expected to see was Gisela, immaculately dressed as usual but uncharacteristically in a state of high agitation. Bernice had always considered Gisela to be cool and collected, her dark ebony face rarely showing any hint of emotion.

‘What’s going on?’ said Bernice.

‘Quick Bernice. We’ve got to get to the office’ Gisela said breathlessly.

‘Why? What’s happening?’.

‘It’s Auntie Jane’ she said. ‘She’s gone crazy. She’s killed Madeleine and Estelle. She’s stolen the Stage money and must be going to the office to pick up her passport and things’.

‘No! Not Auntie Jane’ Bernice said incredulously.

‘Quickly’ urged Gisela. ‘We’ll use my car. I can give you the full story on the way there’.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER. Gisela had driven like a madwoman to get to the offices of the fashion agency. She picked the lock, a skill Bernice had never guessed Gisela had, and both women entered the outer sanctum of the agency’s offices. There was the sound of faint shuffling in Auntie Jane’s private office. Gisela turned to Bernice and from nowhere produced a large automatic. For a moment Bernice stood mystified and transfixed. Gisela gave the gun to Bernice and wrapped Bernice’s fingers around the handle.

‘Bernice. You don’t know as much about Auntie Jane as I do. She is a killer pure and simple. You can’t afford to give her a chance. Just go in there and blow her brains out. If you hesitate, if you talk to her she will kill you. Do you understand?’.

‘Gisela. Are you sure? This doesn’t sound like Auntie Jane at all. All right she’s ruthless but to kill Estelle and Maddie - her best operatives? I can hardly believe it’.

‘Christ Bernice! Do you want to end up like Estelle, shot in the back? Or Madeleine? She wants that money all to herself and unless you go in there and finish it that’s exactly what’s she’s going to get. Remember Bernice, she would kill you as soon as look at you. Just go in there and kill her. Christ you’ve done that enough times haven’t you?’

Bernice tightened her grip and edged towards Auntie Jane’s office. There was a faintest of glows of light from under the door which suggested the room was in near darkness. She gingerly turned the handle to the door and tried to take in the layout of the office in the darkness. Auntie Jane’s executive chair swivelled slightly and that was enough for Bernice. The room was illuminated briefly from the flashes of Bernice’s gun. She fired a total of four times accurately and steadily into the chair and entered the room.

It had happened to her before at Brandon's, Amanda's boyfriend's, office. As she went fully into the office to see the results of her handiwork there was a feeling of hard metal pressed into the small of her back. Bernice immediately dropped he pistol and was forcefully propelled forward by the pressure in her back. Auntie Jane pushed Bernice behind the desk and flicked on the desk lamp.

‘Bernice!’ said Auntie Jane. ‘I wouldn’t have guessed it was you. I had high hopes for you and this is how you repay me’. She indicated the four holes in her executive chair. The gun was pressed even more rigorously into Bernice’s back. ‘You’re going to pay for what you did to Estelle, very slowly and very painfully’.

‘Estelle? Me?’ said Bernice.

‘Don’t act innocent Bernice. It doesn’t suit you. Sniper’s rifle? Earlier tonight at the Mellow rendezvous? Poor Estelle never stood a chance. You’re a greedy, vicious bitch Bernice and you’re going to regret what you’ve done’.

For a moment Bernice was lost for words. It was Auntie Jane who had killed Estelle. Why was she trying to say it was her? By the time she had figured out the answer it was too late. One moment the doorway was empty and the next Gisela was standing in it, a long barrelled pistol held expertly in the petite fingers.

Gisela did exactly what she had urged Bernice to do. There was a single shot and Auntie Jane fell to the floor, the mass of the desk shielding her from further fury from Gisela’s gun. Gisela swung her gun instantaneously towards Bernice.

‘You’re not very good are you Bernice? she said simply. ‘At least you’re not as good as me.’

‘You killed Estelle didn’t you?’.

‘Like Auntie Jane said. Snipers rifle’.

‘And Madeleine?’.

Gisela gave a small spiteful smile but the gun never wavered from Bernice’s chest. ‘Poor Maddie. The only time she was vulnerable was when she was making love. She was one the best but she could be so innocent at times. Despite all her killing she could never believe one woman would cold bloodedly kill another. I proved her wrong’.

‘And you’re doing all this for the money?’ said Bernice.

‘Mostly’. Gisela frowned as if in deep thought for a moment. ‘Its also an intellectual challenge. To plan everything and see if it works out. You’re the last part of the plan Bernice. I did have something else planned for you, a little surprise, but I suppose I’ll have to dispose of you myself’. The gun moved higher almost imperceptibly but Bernice immediately recognised the signs of somebody about to shoot. She dropped behind the desk and a bullet flew into the wall where she had been standing. Pfft , pfft. There were two more shots and this time the wood in the desk splintered millimetres above Bernice’s head.

‘Poor Bernice’ Gisela taunted. ‘Is that nasty Gisela trying to kill you’. Pfft. Another splinter shot from the edge of the desk. Gisela moved forward, her eyes alert and the gun still held firmly in her small hand. ‘I’d come out now if I were you Bernice. You won’t like it if I have to come round there and get you’ she cooed.

Bernice stayed hidden behind the desk and took in her situation. She was in a room with a woman who had ten million dollars on her mind. A woman who had killed before to get it and would kill again to keep it To make things worse Bernice wasn’t too sure of the mental stability of Gisela who seemed almost psychotic. She looked to her left and saw the prone body of Auntie Jane, mercilessly shot down by Gisela. Then a glimmer of hope came to Bernice. Auntie Jane had had a gun. If she could just find it she might just stand a chance. Auntie Jane lay on her side the gun still held in her hand and Bernice gave thanks to the deity she didn’t believe in. She was just about to edge closer to the gun but circumstances worked against her. Gisela had moved behind the desk and yanked Bernice backwards by her hair before she could move towards Auntie Jane’s gun.

For a moment the scene was a still life. Behind the desk stood Gisela, her left hand holding a large chunk of Bernice’s hair and her right holding the silenced automatic. To the left lay Auntie Jane, her gun still clasped in her hand but tantalizingly out of the reach of Bernice. Gisela smiled briefly. ‘Sorry Bernice but if you had ten million dollars at stake you would do the same as me’ she said.

Ever since her experiences with Mirelle, Bernice had often wondered if she had a guardian angel watching over her. Fortunately whatever good luck charm had been harbouring her was still in play. Bernice had heard much of Auntie Jane’s prowess as a hitwoman but had never seen it in action. Except on a few occasions Bernice had always seen her as a mother figure, an acute businesswoman and to some extent a bigger older sister. Tonight with almost her last breath she saved Bernice’s life.

Gisela had shot her but hadn’t had the opportunity to finish off the attack. That was her last and fatal mistake. Even as Gisela was considering where to deliver the fatal shot to Bernice Auntie Jane had summoned up her last reserves of life. Even now she was as quick as quicksilver and before Gisela could blink she had been shot twice through the heart. For a full second Gisela stood upright trying hard to calculate what had happened. She saw Auntie Jane, barely raised above the lying position with a smoking gun in her hand, she looked down and saw a red stain on her dress and then she fell to the floor dead. ‘Bitch’ said Auntie Jane who slumped once again onto the carpeted floor.

It took a few moments for Bernice to recover her wits. When she looked around she saw Gisela dead, she saw Auntie Jane once again prone and seemingly lifeless on the floor and she saw the case containing the $10M dollars. She got up and went to Auntie Jane to check for a pulse. Nothing.

They are all dead, she thought to herself. Estelle, Jane, Madeleine, Gisela. She looked at the case containing the money and smiled.

EPILOGUE. Bernice went to the case and picked it up. There was a click behind her, the unmistakable noise of a hammer being cocked. She turned.

‘Gisela said it was you’ said the voice. ‘She gave me this’. The person behind the voice uneasily indicated the gun held in her shaking hand. ‘I didn’t think you were capable of doing that to Brandon but it looks like she was telling the truth’ said the voice again whilst scanning the destruction on the far side of the desk.

Bernice froze. ‘Wait you’ve got it all wrong’ she said. "It wasn't me".

'Well that's odd because both Brandon and Gisela said it was'. Amanda's finger tightened on the trigger. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. Bernice fell to the floor, clutching her stomach. Bernice managed to look up at Amanda. BANG. Bernice slumped to the floor for the final time, another victim of the curse which had claimed the lives of her colleagues.

Amanda dropped the gun and started sobbing. She looked around the room and cried again. Auntie and Gisela, both killed by that bitch Bernice she thought to herself. She looked briefly at Bernice. She had always thought she looked beautiful in life and even in death she still had the face and features Amanda could only dream about. She remembered Brandon and what Bernice had done to him. Beauty is only skin deep she thought.