Malcolm sat quietly as the rain began to fall, tapping sporadically against the exterior of the red rental van.
It wasn't long before the sky above completely opened up and pounded the scarlet vehicle with wind and water. The empty van made it sound worse then it was but the storm was certainly intensifying as the minutes passed.
Malcolm looked over at Ethan who was rolling up his window with a less then cooperative loose handle, which came away in his hand just as he finished. "Fucking piece of shit...,” he mumbled under his breath, tossing it over his shoulder and into the back of the small truck thus making a thunderous racket.
Malcolm quickly closed his window as well. The van stunk like carton rotting cabbages but he was getting soaked by the storm so he would just have to endure with it for now.
The two were waiting in a small parking field outside of a medical facility somewhere in Quebec. Their objective was a renown biochemist scientist whom their boss was interested in. Generally if their boss was interested in you it was really bad news.
In this case, as long as he played ball there would be no problems. Their orders were to escort this scientist, one Doctor Abraham Burkhardt to a private research facility in rural upstate New York, preferably intact.
As Malcolm understood things from the rumor mill, the good Doctor had been previously un-swayed by their employers prior invitations and so, they were dispatched to insist the Doctor except his hospitality.
Lately Malcolm had been somewhat... distracted. Finding himself at a turning point of sorts. Unlike his rather sadistic partner Ethan he no longer enjoyed the work anymore. He had been feeling cold and dead inside.
These days he could hardly recognize his own apathy to these situations. The warmth of life and the world around him had become like a distant fading memory years ago but at least he could still see that but no so much now.
Ethan seemed to thrive on the work and it showed in his crisp, dark and cruel predatory eyes. Sometimes Malcolm would catch his glance and he'd imagine what his partner in crime was thinking.
Usually he concluded something along the lines of "When the time comes mother fucker, it will be me who does you in!" Naturally, he tried to avoid meeting his partners gaze as much as possible but some days he wished it would all come to fruition and end it all. He knew he was in far to deep to ever walk away so he'd go on for now, just going through the motions.
Ethan suddenly exclaimed, "That's him... let's move!" He threw down a dossier and a photo fastened with an old grayish paperclip. Grabbing his black leather gloves he was out the door.
The photo was a grainy black and white 8x10 of a heavy set, balding but thick bearded man in his mid to late 40's. The man had a crescent shaped scar under his left eye.
Malcolm quickly exited the small rental truck, opened a black umbrella, straightened his black sport jacket and tie and quickly caught up to Ethan who was already making a bee-line for their target. There was a loud clap of thunder overhead and Malcolm felt it resonate down his spine and throughout his bones.
Malcolm looked around the parking area as he made his way across it with Ethan, luckily no one was about, not that it would ever stop Ethan from bringing down whomever was his unfortunate prey.
The Doctor saw them approaching and paused momentarily. “Doctor I’d like to talk to you for a moment” Malcolm said.
The Doctor said “Sorry I am a busy man” and continued to walk toward his car. He put his car key in his door and unlocked it. As he opened the door Ethan’s black gloved hand slammed it shut. The Doctor turned around and protested. “I know who sent you and I am not interested in working for that madman, now leave me alone before I call the authorities” he said nervously.
Ethan smiled broadly but it quickly turned into a fierce grim expression of cruelty. “You will need to learn to speak of your new employer with greater respect maggot” he said and kicked him in the groin. As he bend over forward Ethan grasped the back of his head and kneed him in the face with such force his head snapped back and blood splattered across the top of the car. The two henchmen then kicked at him until Doctor collapsed against his car and waved a hand up in the air desperately for the brutality to cease.
Ethan continued to beat him until Malcolm intervened. Ethan grabbed Malcolm by the throat. His hands were powerful and Malcolm struggled to free himself in vain. “The boss wants him alive…” he managed. Ethan threw him to the ground, grabbed his prey and dragged him whimpering all the way to the van, tossing him into the side door. He jumped in the back and beat the Doctor some more with the broken handle.
Malcolm got up gingerly and made his way to the van. Climbing into the drivers seat they headed back toward the American boarder.
The following day when the Doctor's car was discovered and the security tapes reviewed, it showed the incident clear as the day. A man suddenly assaulting Doctor Burkhardt, beating him and dragging him off out of camera range.