Extract One

Everybody always wants something, from the gentleman at the other end of the phone line who wants to know when the next best time to call back will be to Mark who already had what he wanted. He just had to get rid of this utterly inconvenient distraction. He had no idea when the next best time to call back would be, so Mark simply picked a number between one and ten. It was a simple method, no doubt about that. But the quickest and most effective considering the urgency of the situation. “Five. Call back around five o’clock; I am sure someone will be in by that point.” He spoke calmly and assertively like one would in a business meeting. Then he slowly put the phone back down, making sure to press the red end call button on the way. He turned round and headed back into the kitchen. It was brand new, gleaming. That fresh wooden smell was still hanging around gently. The kitchen looked brand new and rather expensive, with its huge American style stainless steel fridge and mahogany cupboards, which inside held many quirky and intricate drawers and storage spaces. There was a tall and thin glass fronted door. Through which you could see shelves full of champagnes, wines and other party beverages. His hostage sat slouched in front of the glass fronted door, still unconscious as far as Mark could tell. The man’s blue tie and his silk white shirt were stained with the blood dripping from his nose.

 Six minutes ago Mark had knocked on the door, with a couple of good thumps to make sure he was heard over the din of the large flat screen and surround sound system in the living room. His target had come to answer the door without as much as a sound. The only check that was made was a fast glance through the spy hole to check whether his visitor was male or female. The door handle squeaked round slowly and as the man opened the door four or five inches he began, “Who are...” He was stopped short. As Mark’s heavy boot sent the door crashing into his skull. He fell back, head thudding into the tiled floor. Knocking him out cold. The man was bleeding from two separate places; the first being his nose and the second being the cut on the back of his head. Both injuries had occurred during Mark’s introduction. Mark preferred to introduce himself in the manner which he intended to conduct this short relationship between himself and the gentleman who lay in front of him bleeding. And of course it would be moronic to introduce himself with any form of personal which is traceable. As it turns out the best way to introduce yourself as a violent person, is to be violent.