Touche

The food-court at the mall was abuzz with people. Vikram stood quietly, waiting for his turn when a hand squeezed his shoulder hard. He winced and turned to see a woman, her face white as a ghost.

"Sorry, sorry.." the woman muttered and pulled back her hand.

He shrugged - "It's ok"

She looked tense.

He turned back again. "are you ok, ma'am?" Maybe she wasn't keeping too well. But she didn't reply. Instead, she kept looking at the entrance, as if expecting (or not) to see some one. He looked that way as well. Nothing unusual, just a bunch of shoppers loitering around, people getting in and out of the food court. He looked at her once again and turned back - the queue was moving. He bought his supper and headed to the seating area. A while later, he saw the worried woman grab a seat on the far side. She continued looking toward the entrance. He looked that way again. Nobody suspicious. He shrugged and went back to eating.

*******

It was almost 10 pm when he walked to the parking lot. He got into his car. Checking the rear view mirror, he adjusted his seat and turned the key in the ignition lock.

Just then he felt the cold muzzle of a gun on his temple, the click of the safety lock being opened.

"Be still. And no tricks." The 'tense' woman at the food court.

He put up his hands silently.

A second person opened the back door and got in. He heard another click.

"Keep the hands on the wheel, mister. And just drive." A man, this time. The woman opened the door on her side and slid in.

"Hey, easy guys," Vikram said with just a hint of nervousness, and eased the car back.

"Don't try to do anything stupid at the toll," They reminded him.

"Ok, ok..please keep the guns away."


********


The car hurtled down the lonely state highway.

About fifty miles down, the car pulled off the road. Save for the crickets, the air was calm and dark. There wasn't any traffic. A moment later, a loud snap of bone and a cry of pain came from inside the car, followed by two quick shots.

Vikram stepped out from the driver's seat and yanked the rear door open. He pulled out the two life-less forms one after the other and dumped them by the side. Then he took a moment to answer nature's call, and got back into the car.

"Amateurs," he chuckled, bringing the car back to life. He swerved it quickly, doing a U turn, back to the city.

Damn, he was late. Oh well, his contract just got a couple more hours of life, thanks to these morons.


**********