Today was Labor Day, and that meant barbecues, parades, and relaxing. But for Alec it was another day, he did enjoy holidays, but today was just another day.. He had a hit to finish; he was a contract killer. It wasn’t his first job that he picked, but he couldn’t remember why he did it. He never did work for the same person, because he never trusted anyone who paid him. This guy that paid him well actually it was a she, her name was Isabella Lupus. She was beautiful and hardly looked like a killer. Well she actually was not a killer in a sense, she was just the payer.
But the problem with Labor Day was he had to kill this guy at a barbecue, he was going to do it sniper style. Isabella didn’t like this guy because her reasoning was, he had a nice insurance policy, and he happened to be her husband. She loved him though but loved money more. She came from a greedy family and they were all a bunch of killers for money. It almost sounded like his job, but at least he didn’t marry and murder. Anyway normally his jobs were with mobsters not just your unhappy housewife who killed for money. But it was money and he liked money too. So he agreed with Isabella and took the job.
The heat was higher than usual for September, which made him kind of angry. He didn’t like to sweat on the job and he didn’t like small towns either. He was in some town called Tetra, population 59,000. That was small to him, to others that might have been large. Alec never made friends and he never talked to anyone. So it actually didn’t matter who lived where.
He was walking to his destination, the sun beamed on his face. Alec watched the neighborhood action; families were in herds eating hot dogs and hamburgers. He didn’t envy these people; he wasn’t a family person nor was he a friend person. He was a loner, it worked better like that. Don’t make a relationship that was his rule.
The house that he was suppose to go to, was a white two story home with a wrapped around porch. Isabella wasn’t going to be there, she actually left, he wasn’t sure where she went. He looked around for the house; it was suppose to be on Elm Street. Such a common name he thought.
Before he could react a blonde teenage girl ran into him, “Would you like to buy some beads?”
He pushed her away and kept walking. He heard her say bastard but ignored her. His mission was not far, he saw the house and he also saw a party. He knew there would be a party. Everywhere there was one. These people really enjoyed Labor Day; he hated to see what Christmas was going to be like. Alec knew he was being cynical.
He stopped by the front of the house, and stared at it.
“Hi,” a middle age woman in a floral dress said. She was a taller almost gray haired woman. But she seemed nice, like everyone did on this street.
He smiled but didn’t speak.
“Are you here for the party if so can you help me with some salads? Thanks.”
For some reason he felt like helping her, and the food did smell good. He knew he shouldn’t have made contact with anyone but his mouth said otherwise.”Yeah.”
“I’ve never saw you before, but then again I never remember anyone.”
“Me either.” He went in her backseat and picked up two bowls.
“What’s your name again?”
He never told her but she thought he did, “Jason Hanson.” It was a normal alias that nobody would think twice on.
“Hi Jason, I’m Lana, not Turner though.” She let out a hearty laugh.
He laughed, “You kind of look like her.” He couldn’t believe it, he was acting human. These parties really sucked you in. Alec didn’t have the urge to kill anyone, he felt like a normal person. Maybe it was God just telling him your weren’t just a cold blooded killer.
There were picnic tables full of food and people. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. It had that nice warm feel to it that Alec never felt before. Happiness was probably the word, that came to his mind. He had never used words like that before. Yeah he was happy before but to the normal person, they might think that he was insane for what he been happy for.
“Jason, come meet Todd here, he’s my brother. Todd this is Jason Hanson, I invited him to the party.” Lana told her brother.
That was his hit; Todd looked like a happy guy. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties. His hair was still a dark brown no age catching up on him. His face was clean-shaven and still boyish.
Todd greeted him, “Hi, Jason glad you could come. Isabella called Lana, she can’t come home tonight her plane hot delayed in Miami. I really miss her, parties aren’t the same. Every since I got that new job she’s bee acting weird, good insurance though. I thought that would make her happy.” Todd sounded like a love stricken fool.
Alec chuckled, “I bet she’s happy with you. Nice Party by the way.”
“Oh thanks, you’re probably right it’s hard to know what she’s thinking. I love her though; I don’t know what I would do without her.”
“You’re a softy.” Lana made fun of him.
“I guess, thanks Lana. Jason grab a chair or in that case a bench. The party doesn’t stop until Labor Day does. I wouldn’t say it gets rowdy, no alcohol here besides homemade wine.”
“I like wine.” He liked Vodka better but that was years of drinking Vodka because the water was more dangerous.
“Yeah My mom has her own vineyard; she refuses me to buy beer or anything from a store.”
“Homemade is always better, I suppose.”
Todd poured him a glass, “To new friends.”
Alec took it, “You know I’m glad I stopped by, I haven’t been to party in a long time.” he said and drank the wine. It was a white grape flavor, that tasted pretty good. His mood changed to sour to happy, he was going to party and leave Todd alive. The next victim wouldn’t be lucky though because he didn’t want to be a softy like poor Todd.
