His feet gained momentum as he drew closer to his target. He quickly glanced sideways to ensure that no one was watching him. His heart pounded violently as if it was going to burst any moment. He was unsure as to why only he was chosen by his boss Don Rici to do the job. He was a rookie who had joined the gang only a few months ago. And such complicated jobs were given to only the most seasoned men inside the gang. Nevertheless, he thought, if I do the job right I will earn respect inside the gang and if lucky the boss would give me an independent area to handle like the others.He tried to bring his mind to focus on the job at hand.
His instructions were clear, he was to enter the office on the first floor at the 13th Avenue and tell the man at the reception counter that he was there to meet Mr. Gold, the boss, regarding her daughter. Once inside the room he was told to blindly shoot all inside and quickly make his way down through the fire exit. His mind was tired by the constant ringing of the thoughts and the lurking fear. He tried to think of a number, the number of people that he would have to kill. He hoped the casualties to be less, after all the target was just Mr Gold, then why was he asked to shoot everybody in the room, he pondered. May be the don wanted to make an example of Mr. Gold for opposing don Rici's business venture he thought as he moved along the pavement with an alarming ferocity. The horizontal creases on the forehead almost stitching together, the clenched jaws, the pressed lips. These were signs enough for any smart security personnel to make out that Mark was determined to kill.
When he was assigned the task in the first place, he had objected. His father worked in the same office. He couldn't face his Father with a gun in his hand and an intent to kill his Father's boss he had argued. He was assured by the Don himself that his father would not be present when he went for the kill and would not come in harm's way if he did the job right. He had felt a sense of security then, because everybody knew that Don Rici was a man of his word. "Why does Mr. Gold have to die?", he had asked and the Don had smiled. Coming close the Don rested his hand on Mark's shoulder. "My boy, sometimes a few people need to go to make the lives of many, less miserable. Mr. Gold is one of those few people and I and you are one amongst the many. So you see I am doing this world a service by getting rid of him." Though Mark had not understood what the Don meant, but he was elated as this was his first meeting the the Don and he had called Mark 'his boy'. This only meant that the Don had plans for him. Plans that would help him move up in the gang and become one of the veterans, and with a little luck a lieutenant may be. He felt elated after the meeting.
Just then he was asked by the consigliere to go to the market with another boy from the gang to buy somethings that the Don himself was in need of. The moment he left the house, a call had been made from the Don's house to Mr. Davis , Mark's father and Manager at Mr Gold's firm. "Hi, Mr Davis", spoke the Don. "I hope you still remember me", he added. On the other side of the line, Davis had frozen with fear. "How can I forget your voice or your face, you are a murderer for gods sake, and so is your son !", he trembled as he spoke. "Let us not get stuck with things in the past Davis. I had called you to tell that your son is a smart chap and that within a few days of joining my family, he has earned quite some reputation"
"oh, you goddamn liar ! My son would never com near you.. your hear me. never. let alone working for you. I know you are afraid that my testimony in the case will nail your son. you are doing all this to prevent me from going to the court. aren't you?"
"I am a reasonable man, Mr Davis. I would never threaten anyone. I believe that decision should be taken by choice and not force. If you do not believe me, that's Fine ! You can go to the market at 31st street right now. you will find your son there with one of my boys at Finny's oil shop."
Mr Davis took his coat and hurried out of his office towards the market. He still couldn't believe what Don Rici had told him over the phone. How could he? How dare he? thought Mr. Davis as he stood on the pavement waiting for a cab.
Mr. Davis was the sole witness of a murder that Don Rici's son Marco had committed almost an year ago. Though initially apprehensive he had decided to testify against Marco after Mr. Gold had coaxed him to. Though his son was furious about it, he decided to go forth with it.The day Mr. Davis had decided to testify, Mr. Gold had called up the consigliere to Don Rici. "I have heard that a certain Mr. Davis has decided to testify against Marco. I believe that if this news is true, it could mean trouble for Marco. However I can stop this from happening. I have also wished good for the Rici family and wish to assist the family at the time of their need. But, I have one small favor to ask in return from the Godfather. I want to his assurance that I will be allowed to operate in New York and my business will be harmed in no way and that I shall have his full co-operation. In return I am also willing to pay the Godfather his share in my earnings." The consigliere had immediately informed the Don. After a few days, he had called in Jack, his consigliere, and told him to arrange a meeting with Mark. Mark was introduced to him by one of the gang members as a good chap and that if hired could be useful to the family. The Don had signalled Jack to take over the matter. Jack had called Mark and had told him that the Don himself wanted to brief him about his first assignment. It is in this meeting that he was given the job of killing Mr. Gold.
Back at market, Mr Davis had confronted his son and a big verbal duel had followed. Mark went on to say that his job was none of his father's business and that he had finally found a respectable work for himself. Mr. Davis tried to reason with him but Mark just wouldn't understand. Mark had zoomed off with his accomplice in the family's car. Dejected Mr. Davis had taken a cab home instead of the office. ''Mark still blames me for his Mother's death, I wish he would have understood that it wasn't my fault".
Mark reached the first floor of the office and did as instructed. Once he entered the room he had opened fire and instantly killed Mr. Gold. There was no one else present. Relieved, he turned around and saw Peter, his accomplice from the market. Mark was flustered and before he could ask anything, Peter pumped in 3 bullets into Mark's chest. Mark slumped and as things started blurring, he saw his father's body being laid next to him. It is then he realised the whole set up. His Father was dead. Peter before leaving the room, placed the revolver in Mark's hands. Suddenly a murder scene had become a multiple homicide scene. The Godfather was told of the events and he sighed.
"Jack, I knew of the boy's intentions even before he came to us, a friend at the bureau had informed me. He was good except that he underestimated the man in me."
Next day, The Godfather held up the newspaper to read, the headline read : "Son kills father over disagreement. Employer also killed in the episode." His lips curled into a slight smile as he read on through the article. It was a cruel world out there, he thought and sipped on to his black tea.
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