Chapter 1: The Failed Hit
NEW YORK - 2024
The streets of New York City buzzed with life, a symphony of lights and sounds that masked the darker undertones of its underbelly. Dean Rhodes walked among the crowds, a ghost in plain sight. With an unremarkable appearance and a demeanor that exuded calm, Dean blended seamlessly into his surroundings. But behind his placid exterior lay the mind of a meticulous assassin.
His latest target, Richard Lawson, was no different. Lawson, a cartel boss, had made powerful enemies. For weeks, Dean had tracked Lawson's movements, noting every habit and routine.
Lawson's Thursday night visits to his mistress's apartment provided the perfect opportunity. The building across the street offered a clear line of sight into the 18th-floor living room where Lawson spent his evenings. Dean had secured a room there, rented under a false name, and set up his equipment.
Dean's room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the digital clock on the nightstand and the faint glow from his laptop. The sniper rifle lay in pieces on the bed, each component meticulously cleaned and ready for assembly. Dean's hands moved with practiced precision, putting the rifle together with the ease of a craftsman plying his trade.
He positioned the rifle on the tripod by the window, adjusting the scope to ensure a clear view of the target. Through the lens, Dean could see Lawson reclined on the sofa, a glass of whiskey in hand. The setting was perfect. Dean's breathing slowed, his heartbeat steadying as he prepared to take the shot.
Just as Dean's finger tightened on the trigger, a loud crash from the room next door shattered the silence. His shot went wide, the bullet smashing into a lamp instead of Lawson. Chaos erupted in the apartment as Lawson's bodyguards scrambled to protect him, their eyes scanning the surrounding buildings.
Cursing silently, Dean disassembled the rifle with lightning speed, still keeping calm. He stuffed the pieces into his duffel bag and slipped out of the room. The hit had failed, and now he had to escape before the authorities or Lawson's guards closed in.
On his way out of the room he hits the fire alarm to bring more people out of their rooms and make it difficult for Lawson's bodyguards to identify him and with the alarm making all the other people in the hotel start to leave to the lobby and out of the hotel.
Dean took the stairs, avoiding the elevator to minimize the chances of being recorded on camera.He pushed through the stairwell door and emerged into the alley behind the building. The black sedan he had stashed earlier was waiting.
Dean slid into the driver's seat and was about to turn the key to start the car when Suddenly, everything went black.