The Lottery Council- Chapter XX: Chaos

What did he want? Jim's mind was going in ten different directions at once. Before he could speak, Metzger went on...

"Look, Jim... there's an open-air coffee shop right down the street from your office, right there on the corner... we can meet there, there's always plenty of people around in case you're worried. I just need to talk to you- that's all."

Jim was thinking hard. What would he want to talk to me about? Surely there would be no harm to meet in such a public place- a busy Boston street in the financial district... what could he do there?

Metzger continued: "I want to go over some Council business... nondisclosure stuff mostly- that kind of thing. We just want your assurances that our business stays just that... our business."

At least now it made sense. Jim thought for a moment, he needed some time. "When," he asked.

"It's just after 9:30 now, how about an early lunch- say 11:45. We can beat the rush and you can be back in your office before noon to eat your lunch, or whatever."

"Ok," Jim agreed. "See you at 11:45." Jim planned to leave early enough to have a little time to survey the surroundings. he considered mentioning something to Leyland, but thought better of it... just in case. He wanted desperately to trust Leyland, but wasn't sure enough yet. Sitting at his desk, he took out his encrypted cell-phone and holding it under his desk, just above his knees he texted David, asking that he inform Jack as to what was happening. he was pretty sure everything would be ok as long as he was careful and didn't get into a situation where he was alone with Metzger. It couldn't hurt to have another set of eyes on things, he figured.

'Got it,' came David's reply.

Feeling a little better he went back about his work. At 11:35 he informed his secretary he was running an errand and would return in just a few minutes- just after noon, if anybody wanted him. In front of his building he looked up and down the busy street, looking for any suspicious or unusual vehicles... there were none in sight. He then looked in the direction of the outdoor cafe for any sign of Metzger, who had apparently not yet arrived. Jim began making his way toward the coffee shop on the corner. Just as he arrived a cab pulled up and Metzger got out.

"How's that for timing?" He asked. "How about getting us a cup of coffee... I take mine black. I'll hunt us up a table."

Jim entered the crowded coffee shop and finally got them each a cup of coffee. When he returned, Metzger was standing next to a table with his hands clasped behind his back. What Jim couldn't observe was Metzger pushing on the stone of a college class ring, depressing it slightly, activating a tiny needle-like prong, no more than 1/4 of an inch long. It was impregnated with aconite, a deadly poison, the effects of which emulated the symptoms of a heart attack. It also absorbs quickly into the bloodstream and if administered- the victim would be dead in seconds, apparently from a cardiac arrest. It was also virtually untraceable.

Metzger extended his hand saying: "I figured if I had you buy the coffee, you'd know I wasn't trying to poison you," he smiled.

Jim reached out to take his hand when suddenly Metzger was thrown sideways into a table full of young women who jumped up and began screaming frantically. Looking down, Jim could observe that the left side of Metzger's head was gone and blood was beginning to pool on the ground around it. There was a smaller hole on the right temple about a half-inch in diameter. His eyes were opened wide staring straight ahead and his mouth appeared as if he was shouting "Oooh!" Jim looked around for the shooter... he had heard no report from a gunshot. When Metzger lunged sideways he could feel a wet spray of his face which he wiped with his hand seeing that it was blood.

People were moving around, he could see... taking photographs with their cell-phones. Jim felt numb, shock was beginning to set in. He slumped into a chair someone had offered. Someone was talking to him, but it took a few seconds to register.

"Are you all right, Sir," the voice asked.

Jim looked up unable to answer as yet. He had never seen a dead body before, except at a funeral once or twice... certainly nothing like this. He shook his head.

"The police are on their way," someone else said. "Do you need an ambulance? Are you hurt?"

Jim shook his head again, indicating that he wasn't. "My coffee," he managed numbly. One of the many people who had gathered handed him his cup, asking if it was the right one.

Meanwhile, on the 6th floor of an office building nearly 1000 meters away, Jack was breaking down an M-14, outfitted with a high-power scope and sound suppressor. He hated taking a headshot but Metzger was standing sideway to him and he had no time to wait for a better shot...l a chest shot would of course have been preferable, but time was of the essence. Metzger was about to grasp Jim's hand and that would have been it... Jack knew all too well from experience how these guys worked. he pack up his stuff, packed it away in a golf bag along with a set of clubs and departed into the crowded street... an executive on his way to a golf outing.

At the coffee shop, the police had arrived... it had taken only minutes. Jim, unaware of the certain death he had just avoided, prepared himself to answer the many questions to surely come...

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