A PUPPET ON A STRING

Chapter 6

"She's married, you know?" Said Tomo keen to pass on some gossip.

"No fuckin way!" Grimm's eyes light up with the salacious news."Yes fuckin way!

""Well fuck me! ... The lucky bastard... Where's the husband?"

"Mexico... Where else."A silence fell over Grimm as he took in Frank's scandalous relationship.

"Lucky bastard is all I can say." Nodding his head. a nostril and sniffs.

Then fades from the conversation.The Buick drove Frank home and parked him outside his apartment. No lights on tonight. Marilyn must be working he thought. He would have the place to himself until them. A liquid dinner awaited him. Perhaps a cube of ice for solids.Throwing himself on the couch in time to catch the breaking news erupting from Washington on the television. Senator Luxon had suffered an apparent heart attack in a hotel room

. Images flashed across the screen. A red banner at the base of the screen scrolled details of scandalous affairs.For a brief moment he thought he saw the man in the dark suit standing among the onlookers watching on.

"Nah... Can't be." Saids Frank under his breath.

Shaking himself and taking a heavy sip of the drink he had poured himself."Good ridden you filthy bastard." Sending Luxon off to hell with a touching eulogy.Flicking through channels before settling on an old movie. With dinner in none hand and the remote in the other Frank awaited Marilyn's return.7:00AM. Smith awoke to a bright Washington morning. Room service brought him breakfast and the morning newspaper.

News of the Senator's death covered the front page. A picture of a young woman in a bath robe, beside a picture of the Senator closed the case for the prosecution. Cause of the death, heart failure by exertion. By the time the autopsy report would came back, there would belittle trace of the drug. And Thomas would be long gone.

Smith dressed as he always had. Unchanged since joining the Agency. Black framed glasses. Dark suit, white shirt, black tie, and polished black shoes. A dark hat topped off the uniform. Gathering his briefcase he headed out.Lincoln Park was on the other side of town. Too far to walk. Though Smith did enjoy a brisk walk. But today would be different. He was meeting Mister Black. Being punctual was important to Black. Smith waved down the cab."Lincoln Park." Smith instructs the driver.Winding its way through the mid-morning traffic the cab arrives with twenty minutes to spare.

Patches of green show through the decaying layer of snow that covered the ground. Oak trees budded with leaves. A squirrel scurried about.Though usually indifferent to most seasons, Smith relished the warmth of spring after the harsh winter months.Finding a seat on nearby bench. Smith sits patiently for Black to arrive.Joggers ran by oblivious to him. With a spring in their step that he had long since lost. Taking the paper from under his arm continues to read about Senator's demise and adultery.Sensing the presence of an arriving vehicle he looks up. A long black polished limousine pulls quietly to the curb. A window opens ever so slightly and a frail white hand could be seen gesturing for Smith to approach.

Smith opens the door to expose a dark interior and enters another world.Closing the heavy door behind him. Thud.Through the dim lit cabin Smith could make out features of an old man sitting opposite. Sunglasses shrouded his eyes from the morning light filtering through the tinted windows. A white shirt silhouetted an equally dark suit. The air was clouded with smoke, streaming from a recently lit cigarette.

"Smith" Begins Black.

"Sir." Acknowledges Smith looking down.

Unwilling to make eye contact with Black.

"Tell me about Drake." Black begins his cross examination.

"Middle age. Unemployed. Educated."

"I see."

"IRS and Credit Card debt... Living with an illegal immigrant."

"Hmm... And Thomas?"

"I think Thomas has come to the end of his tenure."

"I think so too." Black parallels Smiths thoughts.

"I'll have Drake take care of him..." Smith proposes his plan.

"Very good."

"Thank you Sir."

"Once Drake is blooded... I have an assignment for him..." Black pauses,"The Banker... Seems he has gone too far this time... Something needs to begone to expose him for what he is."

"Yes Sir... I understand Sir." Accepts Smith.

"I will be in touch." Black taps the glass barrier to the driver.The limousine pulls to the curb. And Smith exists without further words being exchanged. A jogger startles a flock of pigeons distracting Smith momentarily. Looking back to discover Black had disappeared as quietly as he had arrived.

The limousine lost among the passing yellow cabs and vehicles.Leaving Smith alone on the sidewalk. Taking his place on the bench again to contemplate Thomas' and Frank's fate.Smith only ever had one Asset on the payroll at one time. Making the bookkeeping simple. Their tenure was always brief. A year at most before being was terminated.

Usually by the next recruit. Indicting their commitment. Allured by the sweet bouquet of easy money. Only to become stuck to Smith's fly paper.Smith was not one to become sentimental about an Asset's departure.Having the ability to recycle Agency funds, less anything the Asset may have spent. Many saving for the day they retired. But none ever would. Smith handmade sure of that. Terminating them before thoughts of leaving had crossed their minds.Returning to the hotel he examines his diary. Reviewing the timetable he had for Frank.

Planning to be back in Seattle in two weeks' time. Letting Frank simmer a little longer. Smith knew Frank's behavior better than Frank did. Frank was predictable. Habitual. Smith could manipulate anyone he choose simply by dangling the right incentives. Or poking a sensitive pressure point. Frank's debts were moderately substantial. The IRS and credit card companies would soon be circling. Assuming Frank was on their radar. Smith could put Frank on their radars at the touch of a key.'Perhaps a reminder notice might unsettle his happy nest. Keep him on his toes', thought Smith.

Booting his tablet to life, accesses the IRS database within a few key strokes.And initiates a demand notice to be sent to Frank's apartment.'That should start the ball rolling'. Make him squirm a little.Making him wonder as to when they would strike and sink their claws into his precious savings. Smith grins at the troublesome thought. At the press of a key, Smith had the ability to conjure up angels and demons at will. Or make them disappear. Frank would be his personal puppet on a string. And imagined Frank jiggering helplessly as he pulled on the strings.

"Dance Frank... Dance!" Smith laughed to himself. Then fell silent.Some time had passed before he came back to the room. Thinking he heard someone at the door. Wondering if it was Black. He waited a moment loner. The footsteps passed by and there is silence again. Opening the door he peers down the hallway to see a waiter with a trolley about to knock on an apartment door.Smith closes the door and reclines on the couch. To contemplate his next move.Thomas.