Hide and Seek (33 page)

Jack smiled at the inappropriate outburst of bravado. How very
Fitzpatrick
.

Then,
voilà!
It was as if the whiskey-dullness swirling in his brain suddenly stopped. Daniel Fitzpatrick finally understood. “I don’t want to die,” he whispered.

Tears unexpectedly rolled from his eyes. It was strangely affecting. “Please don’t do this. You don’t have to hurt me,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Please, I beg you. Listen to me. Will you just listen to what I have to say?”

This was incredibly important footage, Jill knew. Academy Award stuff. Perhaps the documentary film of the century. They needed this for the game of games, for one of the surprises later on.

Jack walked briskly across the bedroom. He placed the Beretta inches from the senator’s forehead.

This was it. This was where the exquisite game truly began. Rule two:
This is history. What you’re doing is important. Never forget that for a single moment.

“I’m going to kill you, Senator Fitzpatrick. There’s nothing for us to talk about. There’s no way out of this. You were a Roman Catholic, so if you believe in God, say a prayer. Please say one for me, too. Say a prayer for Jack and Jill.”

This was gut-check time. He noticed that his hand was shaking a little now. Jill saw it, too.

He told himself—
this is an execution, and it’s well deserved. And this is most definitely a horror story that I’m in.

He fired once, from a distance of no more than a few inches. Daniel Fitzpatrick’s head exploded. He fired a second time.
Measure twice; cut twice as well.

History was made.

The game of games had begun.

Jack and Jill.