It's amazing how physically exhausting it can be
to do nothing.
If you are unable to endure boredom,
this work is not for you.
Paris awakens unlike any other city.
Slowly.
Without the diesel grind of Berlin or Damascus.
Or the incessant hum of Tokyo.
Popeye the Sailor probably said it best.
"I am what I am."
I'm not exceptional.
I'm just…
apart.
Consider yourself lucky if our paths never cross.
Except…
luck isn't real.
Nor is karma, or sadly, justice.
As much as I'd like to pretend these concepts exist…
…they just don't.
One is born, lives their life.
And eventually, one dies.
In the meantime,
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law."
To quote…
…someone.
Can't remember who.
A hundred and forty million human beings are born every year.
Give or take.
The worldwide population is approximately 7.8 billion.
Every second, 1.8 people die.
While 4.2 are born into that very same second.
Nothing I've ever done will make any dent
in these metrics.
Skepticism is often mistaken for cynicism.
Most people refuse to believe that the great beyond
is no more than a cold, infinite void.
But I accept it,
along with the freedom that comes from acknowledging that truth.
I've come to realize that the moment
when it's time to act
is not when risk is greatest.
The real problems arise
in the days, hours, and minutes leading up to the task
and the minutes, hours, and days after.
It all comes down to preparation,
attention to detail,
redundancies,
and redundancies.
Leave nothing for the elves
with their tweezers, forensic baggies, DNA kits.
And avoid being seen.
Which is impossible in the 21st century.
So, at least avoid being memorable.
Keep calm.
Keep moving.
My camo is based on
a German tourist I saw in London a while back.
No one really wants to interact with a German tourist.
Parisians avoid them like the rest of the world avoids street mimes.
There are 1,500 McDonald's in France.
A good enough place to grab ten grams of protein for a euro,
alongside the other 46 million they serve each week.
I wish I could tell you when he's going to show,
but according to every bit of information I've been able to get, he's expected.
Best I can do.
Hello? Still there?
It's been five days.
I'll give it today and tomorrow.
Fair enough.
I needn't remind you, if we don't meet our commitment--
- We? - Yes, frankly.
We don't invoice, we eat the expenses to date.
Just call if the next 24 hours pass…
uneventfully.
We'll go from there.
Hell--
"It's a dog-eat-dog world."
To reuse the apt cliché.
"Every man for himself."
"Kill or be killed."
"Survival of the fittest."
Isn't it all just human nature?
Of those who like to put their faith
in mankind's inherent goodness,
I have to ask,
based on what, exactly?
I used to book a lot through Airbnb.
Not anymore.
Those Superhosts love their nanny cams.
Take comfort in the fact that 70 to 80% of wrongful convictions
are the direct result
of eyewitness testimony.
Still, it only takes a few episodes of Dateline
to know that there are countless ways to trip oneself up.
If you can think of a dozen, you're a genius.
I'm no genius.
From the beginning of history, the few have always exploited the many.
This is the cornerstone of civilization.
The blood in the mortar that binds all bricks.
Whatever it takes,
make sure you're one of the few,
not one of the many.
On Annie Oakley jobs, distance is the only advantage.
Everything else, the popping sound like fireworks,
the breaking of glass, the screams… all disadvantage.
When it comes to bystanders getting involved,
everything becomes a blur.
Combat veterans call this "tunnel vision."
I call it "occupational good fortu"--
Damn.
It's the idle hours that most often lead a man to ruin.
That's not Dylan Thomas, but it oughta be.
Somehow, jobs that are designed to rattle a cage
are always the most tedious.
I've actually grown to appreciate "proximity work."
Staged accidents, gradual poisonings.
Anything with a little creativity.
When was my last nice, quiet drowning?
Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer,
murdered at least 49 women over two decades.
He couldn't spell "cat" if you spotted him the A and the T.
But he was conscientious.
I've done my 10,000 hours.
Beyond which, I'm aided and abetted by law enforcement fatigue.
Sheer caseload.
Ted Williams batted .344 lifetime.
I'd be batting a thousand,
except I won't take credit for watching some mob bookkeeper
drop dead of a coronary.
The only time nicotine, red meat, and marital stress
did the hard part for me.
Of the many lies told by the US military-industrial complex,
my favorite is still their claim
that sleep deprivation didn't qualify as torture.
Vigilance is essential.
Even the most disciplined mind can become weary,
impatient,
hurried…
Sloppy.
I find music a useful distraction.
A focus tool.
Keeps the inner voice from wandering.
My process is purely logistical,
narrowly focused by design.
I'm not here to take sides.
It's not my place to formulate
any opinion.
No one who can afford me
needs to waste time winning me to some cause.
I serve no God or country.
I fly no flag.
If I'm effective, it's because of one simple fact.
I…
don't…
give…
a…
heck.
At this range,
a subsonic round's drop is not an issue.
I just need a pulse rate under 60
and a measured squeeze
so vintage glass can't alter trajectory.
Stick to your plan.
Anticipate, don't improvise.
Trust no one.
Never yield an advantage.
Fight only the battle you're paid to fight.
Forbid empathy.
Empathy is weakness.
Weakness is vulnerability.
Each and every step of the way, ask yourself,
"What's in it for me?"
This is what it takes.
What you must commit yourself to.
If you want to succeed.
Simple.
Damn.
Well, this…
this is new.
W-W-J-W-B-D.
What would John Wilkes Booth do?
Nitro. Atomized nitro.
Might as well scrub my eyes and shave my tongue.
You've done what you can do.
Calm. Breathe.
Hey.
Well, don't you have quite a bit of miles, Mr. Unger.
Impressive.
Please enjoy.
How could this happen?
-It's unprecedented. -It happened.
Is that what you suggest I inform the client, "It happened"?
This is a problem.
Obviously it's a freakin' problem to say the least.
The window of opportunity is closed now
for who knows how long.
Jesus Christ.
I'll offer to make it right as soon as humanly possible.
I'll tell him we'll do whatever's necessary.
You let me know the moment you--
Passport.
Hat.
Attention, passengers.
Flight 1258 departing for Santo Domingo will be boarding here shortly.
We are offering complimentary travel vouchers today
to those few passengers
who might be willing to take a later scheduled flight.
So, please speak to any gate agent if you're interested.
Thank you so much for agreeing to give up your seat today, Mr. Bunker.
This entitles you to a room voucher this evening
and free drink tokens on your flight tomorrow.
You'll fly first thing in the morning, and it is direct to Santo Domingo.
Just right over there.
-Would you like me to put it-- -No, thank you.
Thank you, sir.
- ICU four, four! - Four.
Oh no.
Shh. Please don't let her hear your voice.
She needs sleep.
They're monitoring for internal bleeding.
She just had a second transfusion, and she's on heavy pain meds.
There were two of them. She can describe them.
It's not like they were disguising themselves.
One was a woman.
This wasn't a robbery. She told me that… She…
- She might-- - Take your time.
"There are worse things than what they did to me."
She kept telling me.
Can you imagine?
Worse things?
She told me that during the…
assault,
she stabbed a man,
ran through a freaking plate glass window,
-hid in the jungle-- -Marcus, breathe.
They left in a green car with a light on top.
Like a freaking taxi.
Can you believe it?
Look, she knows there are things she can and cannot say
if anyone comes asking.
All this time you've been very kind to my sister.
She loves you.
I've learned not to pry.
-But this-- -Marcus.
They came for you,
and they weren't about to leave a witness.
Marcus, listen very carefully.
I promise, I swear to you,
nothing like this will ever be allowed to happen again.
She's well enough to travel, and later today, she'll be transported
to the private hospital in Punta Cana as arranged.
No. You mustn't try…
Are you all right?
Let me see you.
I was so afraid. Afraid I might say something.
But I didn't.
No matter what they said,
no matter what he did,
I didn't tell them anything.
Not about you.
Nothing.
You'd have been proud.
- I was strong. - I know you were.
How… How bad is it?
I'll see soon enough, huh?
I told myself,
"If I don't make it,
if I don't survive,
I'll never see him again."
I couldn't bear that.
So, I made up my mind.
Get some rest now.
Okay.
SIGNATURE REQUIRED
Would you rather send this overnight?
So, for that rate, this would be delivered two days from now,
end of business, Mr.… Madison.
I blame you, Leo, for having to bring work home.
Stick to the plan.
Anticipate, don't improvise.
Trust no one.
Never yield an advantage.
Fight only the battle you're paid to fight.
-Disculpa. I'm late. -Forbid empathy.
Empathy is weakness.
Weakness is vulnerability.
Each and every step of the way, ask yourself,
"What's in it for me?"
This is what it takes.
What you must commit yourself to…
if you want to succeed.
Simple.
Oh damn, man.
I just started. Alguna moneda es lo único que tengo.
I'll show you, okay?
Take it, man.
There's a rubber in there too… what's mine is yours.
Take the wallet if you want.
What else? Hmm? Want my radio?
Tell me about your big fare, Leo, three days ago.
What?
Three days? Hey.
Wait, wait. Don't! Okay, I… I'll tell you. Um…
Uh…
The freak and the lady, right?
From the… From the private airport, that's who?
I picked them up around noon. I remember, it was right before lunch.
I'd been waiting around. There was nothing. Slow day, slow week.
I was about to split when one of those little jets came in, so I stayed.
And they come, two crazy-looking güeros. And the lady? Like a Q-tip.
And the dude with her?
Should've kept him on a leash. He was a scary freaking dude.
Walk me through your time with them to the very best of your recollection.
No problem. I drove them. That's all.
"Round trip" was what they said, then they told me north on Highway 1,
then deep into the damn jungle, like forever.
They showed me on Google. I drove them.
They wouldn't take no for an answer.
We go to a private property, and I was supposed to wait.
They were gone… an hour, maybe.
Take this next exit.
All I know is that I was starving
and I didn't care how much the meter was ticking.
I was going to leave them. I'm not allowed to, but I almost did.
Pull up in here.
They came back after sunset.
The guy's leg was all bloody and messed up.
They wanted me to take 'em back to the airport, so I did.
That was the end of it.
May I?
Want one?
Ask me anything. Anything.
I don't know who they are. Don't wanna know who you are either.
Con todo respeto.
So, how about I get out and I leave the keys? I'll walk back--
And…
you're all set, Mr. Cunningham.
Have a pleasant trip.
New Orleans.
Lovely, humid New Orleans.
A thousand restaurants, one menu.
Where good old Professor Hodges convinced me to quit studying law
and try skirting it.
There are more than 50,000 storage facilities in the US.
I have units in six.
I like to imagine, once the automatic payments have dried up,
the episode of Storage Wars where they cut the lock on one of mine
and get a look inside.
Dolores.
Miss me?
CCTV and a 1980s deadlatch lock.
Outmoded solutions to real security problems.
Yo!
Thank you so much, man.
You're a lifesaver.
One, one thousand.
Two, one thousand.
Three, one thousand.
Four, one thousand.
Five, one thousand.
Six, one thousand.
Seven, one thousand.
- Can't wait for it. - No, I know.
Everything good?
Everything's good. Just the one today?
- Just the one. - Oh my goodness.
- Have a good one. - See ya.
Hello, Dolores.
Hello. How--
Oh.
Oh my God!
Oh my God. Oh my God.
- Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. - Stop saying that.
- What is it, Dolores? - I'm sorry, sir.
I said I need email ti--
Good God.
What could you possibly be thinking, coming here?
This is very unlike you, my friend. Care to explain yourself?
'Cause I can't conceive of anything I have to offer
that could remotely be worth the exposure you're risking right now.
Go ahead.
Whatever he says.
Insanity.
There's no other word for this. Insanity.
Surely you can't be angry with me.
I'm so sorry. I… I… I opened the outer door.
-Dolores. -The FedEx--
I'm the one who's sorry.
I sincerely apologize.
There's clearly been some sort of misunderstanding.
I'd like to ask you to take a breath.
Think for a minute.
This'll be resolved in a moment, darlin'. I promise you.
Once he realizes the folly of his actions.
You went home?
How could you have, realizing my hands were--
You had to have known that I'd have no say in the matter going forward.
-And still, you went home? -Who were they?
Who were they?
First of all, who cares?
I barely glanced at the invoice, which,
if I may say, is very much beside the point.
The consequences, when someone's wide of the mark,
are automatic.
However regrettable, they're an obligation to client and calling.
I was forced to make amends to a very angry, very powerful man.
Never in my wildest imagination did I think you'd actually go home.
Not in a million years.
The heck? That's just juvenile.
Though it's not too late.
Even now, this entire debacle can be salvaged.
But only if you disappear,
which is what I assumed you've already done.
You've got more money than you could ever spend,
thanks, in no small part, to me,
so why aren't you already on the other side of the globe,
under any number of aliases, spending it?
You don't believe me, don't feel you can trust me.
Fine. I suppose I brought that on myself.
But after all these years, having built this from the ground up,
I thought we had a relationship.
It's all here somewhere.
I know you have backups, Eddie.
On me, everyone, the whole shebang.
'Cause you'd never put it on the Cloud
any more than you'd trust it outside this office.
There's nothing like that.
Everything I dealt with was on those two laptops.
And now, it's not.
Who do you think you're trying to intimidate?
You're not gonna. There's no upside.
The only logical choice for you
is to turn around right now, walk out that door,
go embrace your next life.
I wish you well.
You'll drown slowly, then I'll dispose of you.
So while a few fragments of your side-hustle
may be left to puzzle over…
…since you'll have completely vanished,
the trail ends where it began.
Unless…
I need that information, Edward.
And you are running outta time.
Damn…
you…
Three nine-gauge nails. Early middle-aged nonsmoker.
About 180 pounds.
Should last six, seven minutes.
Damn.
Stick to the plan.
Anticipate, don't improvise.
Fight only the battle you're paid to fight.
Trust no one.
I'd beg if I thought it would do any good.
I have the names you're looking for. I know who they were.
But… before I give them to you, I want something in return…
I know what you're capable of, how you can…
make things seem.
I'll give you those names,
but promise me you won't leave things looking the wrong way.
Please.
I can't just disappear.
My children need my life insur--
Forbid empathy.
I guess I am begging.
Empathy is weakness.
Weakness is vulnerability.
Each and every step of the way,
ask yourself, "What's in it for me?"
This is what it takes.
What you must commit yourself to
if you want to succeed.
Simple.
Need any help getting rid of that body?
I'm not a bad person.
I'm not.
Start date of your employment in Paris
was November 28, so go to N.
Under N, in numerical order, find 1128.
One, one, two, eight.
You'll recognize the address.
Because of…
what happened,
there's an addendum on the back.
Should be two wire transfer routing numbers
for the subcontractors you're interested in.
They're filed under an account number. What's the number?
-Two, three, one-- -T.
Numerically, again.
Claybourne?
The client.
Cleanup, without fail, is labor-intensive.
To say the least.
If you don't want a puzzle solved,
remove a piece or two.
Scatter the rest.
What's the expression?
Measure twice, cut once.
Even I have to remind myself…
the only life path…
is the one behind you.
All right. And she's all yours, Mr. Kincaid.
In 600 feet, your destination will be on the left.
Ah. The Sunshine State.
Where else can you find so many like-minded individuals…
Yeah.
…outside a penitentiary.
- Hope they're not planning a sleepover. - Come on.
First things first…
Get that money!
We gonna make some money tonight, baby!
Maybe a mandatory 30-day waiting period
for creatine's not a bad idea.
So, here you are.
Vigilant.
Narrowly focused.
How's "I don't give a heck" going?
Bye, man.
Diva, down!
Diva! Come on.
This'll have to be a best guess,
based on the average pit bull weighing 45 to 55 pounds.
She actually looks bigger
up close.
Caution. Contains diphenhydramine.
Do not take if you're allergic to diphenhydramine.
Contact your veterinarian
if you experience vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive fur loss.
Diva!
The Old South is on the move,
yet filled with warmth and grace.
Meet the music of America.
It's the way to our Atlantic sun and beaches.
And our Caribbean island destinations.
Today we're back in Arley Hall and Gardens in Cheshire.
And if you are a garden lover, prepare to be very excited
because this is one of the oldest country gardens…
Stick to your plan.
Anticipate, don't improvise.
…is one of the oldest in the country.
Trust no one.
Fight only the battle you're paid to fight.
You picked the wrong house, jerk.
Is that the "Dominican Republican"?
It is you, isn't it?
You know, most peop--
This is what it takes.
What you must commit yourself to…
if you want to succeed.
Simple.
Welcome, Mr. Grant.
We'll let you know as soon as your flight begins boarding.
Homeward bound, I hope.
Not just yet.
Attention all passengers on Flight 182
with nonstop service to LaGuardia.
We are now inviting those passengers with small children
and anyone who requires special assistance to begin pre--
Stone's throw from the city that never sleeps.
Barely off the beaten path.
What are you doing?
Living amongst the "normies."
On behalf of Enterprise, Mr. Malone, have a safe driving day.
For an active practitioner, bedroom community adjacent.
Unusual choice.
Leo told me she looked like a Q-tip.
He wasn't far off.
The wind, from the west northwest
at 20 miles an hour.
Light snow or snow flurries and continued cold through tomorrow.
The high today, 28. The low tonight, 15.
The high tomorrow, 25. West to northwest--
All right.
It's common knowledge when a female is found slain,
the prime suspect is always the husband or boyfriend.
Especially if she hasn't been physically assaulted.
Well, maybe not common knowledge.
- I don't know if I think it's art, but… - Okay.
Wait, wait, wait--
I've been so good for so long.
I'm suddenly regretting not having Häagen-Dazs with every meal.
-May I bring a menu? -No menu. Thank you, Carl.
You won't mind if I have a drink. A couple of drinks, please.
And my bottle, while you're at it.
My pleasure.
By a drink, I mean, of course, many.
Tell me Hodges is dead, at least. Give me that.
Tell me he went horribly.
Help yourself.
The chef sends out anything he imagines I might like.
This is, uh, his signature dish. It's delicious.
You won't find better, even in the city.
You would be very impolite to refuse to join in my last supper.
Afraid it's tainted?
I'm assuming you've also paid a visit to a certain overadrenalized Floridian.
No loss there.
- Here we are. - Oh, that was quick.
May I describe the selection?
You know, by the time you're finished, they'd all be gone.
Cheers.
You won't imbibe either?
Christ.
For what it's worth,
I would never have involved your female friend.
What happened to her, I had no part in.
I objected to his methods, and I told him so.
But you've seen for yourself how…
receptive…
You… you get a name, you get an address.
It's nothing personal.
We've all had to work through the occasional civilian
who's stood between eyes and the prize.
When I started, I was surprised at what I was capable of.
How easy it was.
Shockingly.
Yet, I assured myself there were some things I would never do.
Money was motivation.
Which…
once there was enough, could be used to buy another life.
Another lie we told ourselves.
When, for example, was the last time you bothered to ask yourself
why someone in your sights was so thoroughly despised?
Less you know, the better.
"One man's cruelty is another man's pragmatism."
That old chestnut.
A hunter goes into the woods,
and he sees this grizzly.
Biggest he's ever seen.
He raises his rifle, and he fires.
The bear falls, the hunter rushes forward,
and to his surprise, there's nothing there.
There's no bear, there's no broken twigs, there's no blood.
And then suddenly,
the grizzly throws this massive arm around his shoulders and explains,
"You took your shot."
"You missed,
so either I feast, or,
and the choice is yours,
I harass you."
Naturally, the hunter chooses life.
The next day, the hunter returns to the woods
with a much bigger gun, and he spots the bear again.
And he aims. He fires. The bear falls.
The hunter charges.
No sign of the bear, until the bear is standing beside him,
saying, "You know the deal."
Indignity ensues.
The following day, the hunter treks back to the wood.
This time with a bazooka.
He sees the bear, lines him up in his crosshairs, fires.
The recoil from the bazooka throws him backwards.
And he looks up as the smoke's clearing,
and there's the bear standing above him, arms crossed.
And the bear squints.
"You're not really out here for the hunting, are you?"
This could've been a hit-and-run, carjacking, me falling on the ice.
And yet, here you are.
If I screamed right now, I'd still end up dead.
You would make it out.
Most likely.
But not clean, you wouldn't.
Why take this risk?
Desperate for conversation.
I'm flattered, but no.
You're here because you couldn't help yourself.
You expected to sit across from me and feel nothing but reassured.
Like that recent day when you shouldered your weapon
and somehow…
missed.
How's it possible?
Having prepared myself for this moment for so long,
I have failed to believe that it would ever arrive.
How are we?
We're done. You can take everything.
Excellent.
They wouldn't happen to have any ice cream back there, would they, Carl?
Oh. Were you interested in a dessert menu?
No. No, it's all right.
Stick to the plan…
Anticipate, don't improvise.
Trust no--
Are we there yet?
A little further?
Far be it from me, but maybe down by the river?
Wow.
Last minutes spent knowing they're last minutes.
I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Who, come to think of it, at this moment, is you.
You'll remember our conversation.
You will.
When your time does arrive.
It won't be your life flashing before your eyes, it'll be mine.
I suppose it'll be the closest I can hope to come to haunting you.
Help a girl out, won't you?
Trust no one.
This is what it takes…
…if you want to succeed.
Risky, this one.
Considering how police tend to match their effort
in direct proportion to the victim's net worth.
Damn it.
The thing about real wealth, the more you've got,
the harder it is to fade into the wallpaper.
Of course, vanity plates don't help.
You've arrived at your destination.
I don't think this guy's Mossad.
I know he ain't Mensa.
Good luck with the Wordle.
Leave no loose ends, nothing to dangle.
Sayonara, North America.
If I might get your initials here and here.
Dotting that I and crossing that T.
Perfect.
Your business with us is officially closed,
with everything transferred to your Caribbean account.
I do hope we can be of service again in the near future, Mr. Jefferson.
May I mention,
our wealth management advisors would be more than happy to discuss
our select investment opportunities.
Interesting.
Hey. Hey, guys. Not here.
Guys, keep it moving. Thank you.
Here you go.
Browning. Smith & Wesson. Colt.
You don't see what you want, I can always get it.
What's your pleasure, my man? .380?
Good enough for James Bond.
How about this right here? Gut-rippin' .38?
There's the Desert Eagle,
if you're looking for something relatively portable
that can lay down an elk.
My man knows his way around a Glock subcompact.
Brings his own potato.
Yeehaw, man.
I like you, slim. Next gun is half off.
This is plenty.
- Want ammo? - No, thank you.
No ammo.
Welcome, Mr. Hartley.
First time with us, I see.
Have an excellent workout.
Brand new.
Man, I'm sorry.
Eh.
That's not insanity.
What's insane is driving 90 miles each way to work.
Right.
Then going, "This is messed up. I hate this. I don't want to do this."
Then getting in the car the very next day, driving 90 miles each way to work.
You're absolutely right.
I told you. You don't listen to me.
You ask, "Yo, Clay. What about this Bitcoin deal?"
"Clay, what's a short sell?"
And I tell you, and you love that thing.
- But this… You're not listening. - I'm listening.
- So what are we doing? - Come on. Let's go.
Oh.
Let's go to work.
It's like if you said, "Let's do laddered intervals."
And I went, "Huh?"
"Ladders? I don't wanna do that."
Who needs a Trojan horse when you've got Postmates?
'Cause everything's airtight
till the billionaire wants densuke watermelon.
They came for you, and they weren't about to leave a witness.
I was so afraid, afraid I might say something.
I don't know who they are.
Don't wanna know who you are either.
Consequences, when someone's wide of the mark, are automatic.
- I guess I am begging. - You picked the wrong house.
When you shouldered your weapon, and somehow…
…missed.
Once I see his eyes,
I'll have a pretty good idea how this is gonna go.
There must be some applicable tax burden offset.
And I simply expect to see heaven and earth moving.
He-- Hey!
I'm not going to be disappointed in you.
I'll be disappointed in me and everyone involved
for not having replaced you soon--
Who the fu--
How did you…
Okay.
Uh… Uh…
I…
I'll call you back, Marvin.
Uh… Uh…
Gotta call back, Marv.
I'm freaking hanging up.
I…
So nobody gets crazy.
I didn't notice the, uh…
I'm all ears.
Secure building, eh? Christmas bonuses'll be light this year.
I, uh…
I don't keep cash here.
But I can have some delivered. No?
Okay, well, what is it exactly I can do for you?
I came to show you how easily one might get to you, Mr. Claybourne.
And to ask, do you and I have a problem?
Do we… What? A problem?
No, of course not.
Am I supposed to know who you are?
Because my memory for names and faces isn't what it used to be.
All right.
There's an address.
It's 3 Rue du Grev…
I'm still not--
Oh.
Wait.
You.
I didn't realize.
Please hear me out.
To answer your question, we have no problem.
I harbor no ill will about anything that may have happened.
Or not happened.
Let me make that crystal clear.
Right after the, uh… incident, I received a phone call.
I was told that things had gone sideways.
My response was, "Nobody's perfect."
Now, I did, I admit, inquire as to what is normally done in these circumstances.
And they… he, the lawyer fella, Hedges,
suggested that in this very rare case,
I might wish to arrange for insurance to prevent any blowback.
I remember thinking,
"Now, why in the world is this liability mine?"
I mean, you have to please understand this entire--
I was very new to this kind of thing.
I bled a little ink, so yeah. Selfishly, I didn't want any blowback.
And so, eventually, we agreed that for an additional 150k
the trail could be scrubbed.
That was literally all I was told. "Cleanup on aisle three."
His words, not mine.
And so, I made sure there was enough in escrow
and never thought about it again.
Until…
What I'm trying to say here, and I can't express this strongly enough,
I have no issue with you.
Zero.
As far as I'm concerned,
we're good.
I'm curious.
I break into your home
in the middle of the night with a silenced pistol,
and you have no idea why I might be here?
If I have to come back,
maybe a radioactive speck on the lip of your favorite coffee mug.
A slow death, mind you, from painful facial necrosis.
Or a tragic misstep into your penthouse elevator shaft.
But I promise,
I'll find something fitting.
The need to feel secure.
It's a slippery slope.
Fate is a placebo.
The only life path…
the one behind you.
If, in the brief time we're all given,
you can't accept this,
well, maybe you're not one of the few.
Maybe you're just like me.
One of the many.