The Hitman - Chapter 8

THE HITMAN

 

Chapter Eight   

 

Free From The Cage

 

 

For most people who live rom day to day life revolves around work and the daily  routine of family and the home . Then there are others like Harry the reformed Hitman who for the first time discovered a life he never knew existed . For he was now known as Tom who was like a lost son of society who had just been found and for him each day was like a miracle come true . His everyday life was to say the least like an illusion that he had been able to capture in time .

After the crusade around America Tom and Grace returned to  New York and the lifestyle of living the dream . They walked through Central Park arm in arm life was good however ever now and then memories of Harry emerged like a monster from the gloom and doom which made the dream change into a nightmare . On one of those days Tom made an excuse to Grace he had to go away for a few days to make at court to do jury duty in answer to a call he had received over a murder case

Grace smiled and told him to take it easy and that she would see him later when the case was finished .

For the next few days Harry wandered around the streets of New York like a tiger out of its cage . He roamed around in the shadows looking for an answer to all the questions in his  . There was no hatred there any longer , only confusion about why he had done all the things he did . He wasn’t on the run anymore , there was nothing to hide . He had learned to trust and somehow he was trying to make peace with the past . He made excuses for all the harm he had done , he felt ok about the destruction and mayhem he had caused . Grace had brought a bombshell into his life that shattered those memories that used to haunt him. Harry never saw the writing on the wall until the day Grace changed his life and now he was a new man with everything he had ever wanted was a reality . As he walked around New York he spoke to strangers who smiled back and had these five minute relationships with people as if he had known them all his life . Then he started to noticed some strane things going on . Now and then people who passed by had the face of those he had murdered .

He decided to make his way to Central Park where he took a seat and was amazed when he heard someone call his name .

“Hi Tom . Give peace a chance , Okay?:

It was the voice of John Lennon who waved ,

“

Tom looked over and returned the wave as John walked away ..

Tom left the park and took a taxi . He told the driver he had no particular place to go and asked him to just drive around the streets for a while . The driver was happy to oblige and Tom started to collect his thoughts about what he had just saw , the people and faces that had just confronted him . He felt kind almost happy about the experience and there was no suffering or pain attached to it . In fact a sense of peace was over him .

As the taxi driver drove Tom noticed a homeless man sitting on the side walk and he asked the driver to pull over near the kerb . He took some money from his wallet and reached out to the homeless man ..

” Here , get yourself some food “

The homeless man rushed over and took the money , thanking Tom over and over .

Tom smiled and then asked the driver to keep driving  . A few moments later the driver mentioned he needed to refuel and pulled in to get some gas .

Tom said to the driver ,

 “I’ll go pay for the gas Okay as I need something to drink . Would you like anything ?”

“No just the gas is fine “

The driver replied .

Tom walked into the shop and took a drink from the fridge then told the guy at the counter that he was also paying for the  fuel in the taxi .

The guy behind the counter looked like John F Kennedy was the counter .

“Nice to see you sir . What is happening to America these days ? “

Tom nodded and replied ,

“ I’m not sure what to say to you sir . I guess we should be thankful we are not at war “

The man at the counter replied ,

“ As we express our gratitude , we must never forget that the greatest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them  “

Tom looked back speechless and the man pointed to another customer that approached the counter . She was young but seemed to be bent over as if suffering from  osteoporosis . Tom looked at her and noticed she had very long arms so long that her  hands almost touched the floor , The fingers on her hands were twisted  but her face  wore a smile as she said to Tom  .

“ Soon you will see what you cannot deny .“

“What do you mean ?“  Tom replied .

Suddenly her appearance  changed and she stood straight and tall . Her fingers were no longer twisted and her face was that of a  beautiful looking woman . In fact standing there in front of Tom, Marilyn Monroe .

She smiled and said  .

“Imperfection is beauty , madness is genius and it’s  better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring ‘

Tom replied .

“I can’t believe what I just saw .“

“ Didn’t I just say , you cannot deny what you see . Come up and see me sometime .“

With that she turned and walked away out of the shop .

Tom stood there in silence , like a statue , questioning what had just happened , them he rushed out after her,  but she was gone .

As he was went over to the taxi a petrol tanker pulled into the gas station . Tom stood back until it came to a stop . The driver got out .

Tom couldn’t believe his eyes but remembered what Marylyn Monroe had said .

The truck driver was the Duke  himself ,  John Wayne and he walked over to the door of the shop  .

Tom shouted out ,

“Hey how are you hauling ?”

The trucker looked over at Tom and replied ,

“Howdee partner, what I really need is a wild horse out there on the range  .“

Tom got back inside the taxi and the driver said ,

“Where to now sir ?“

“Just keep  driving anywhere . Could you put the radio on ?

The driver turned on the car radio and the song playing was Imagine by John Lennon.”  

Standing outsider the door of the shop was John Lennon waving to Ton and he shouted over .

“Way to go Tom , I hope you like my little song . “

 The taxi driver seemed oblivious to John Lennon waving at the Taxi . As the driver made his way along through the streets he tried to start a little conversation ,.

“You know I just love the movies , Have you any favourite actors sir “ ..

Tom replied ,

‘Yeah my two all time favourites are John Wayne and Marylyn Monroe .“

Tom couldn’t believe what he had just said .

On the side of the street a lady was standing flagging down the driver who stopped . Tom shouted out ,

“Grace .“

There she stood on the street smiling from her head to her feet and she got into the taxi and sat next to Tom  .

“Thanks for stopping .“

She said to the taxi driver  .

Grace looked at Tom . Her face seemed aglow as she looked at him .

“Isn’t this a coincidence Tom . It’s so good to see you Tom  .So is the court case all finished now ?

She asked and Tom replied

“Yeah its over .?

Then Grace asked .

“So what was the verdict from the jury ?

“Not guilty of murder on the grounds of his insanity “ 

 

 “So what happened now “?

She asked and Tom replied  .

“Well he will be taken away into an asylum where he will spent the rest of his life with proper treatment to alleviate the condition of his mind  “

 The taxi driver asked , “Where to now sir .

Tom replied, “Central Park driver thank you .:.

The driver made his way through the streets until he arrived at the destination . It was Twilight Time and the park was peaceful and inviting . Tom paid the taxi driver with a fist full of dollars .

“For a few dollars more I’d give you both a guided tour of Seattle .“

‘They both laughed and the driver left them there in the dusk of the day .

As they both made their way through the park Tom thought he heard someone call his name. As he looked around but no one was there.

The autumn leaves on the trees had fallen on the ground for footsteps to find their way in a rustling escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy sidewalks of New York . Grace pointed to a seat and asked Tom if he would like to sit down and have a prayer together .

Tom  nodded .

As they took a seat she whispered a silent prayer for the prisoner who had been at court . She prayed for his future and that his stay there would be painless. After the  prayer , Tom felt the presence of peace come over him . Once again he though he heard someone call out his name but there was no one there.

“Well Tom , its almost time to go now . There’s not much more needs to be said.. It’s all over thank God. “:

“What are you talking about Grace . Where are we going ?”

Grace stared at him for a moment before answering  .

“I have a friend who knows everything Tom and I am here to bring you home son because I am your Mother who left you alone a long time ago . Now I am here my son to help you to get through the hell of what you’ve done to the promise of paradise .”

Tom looked into Graces face and replied.  

“What do you mean?”

Suddenly two angel like creatures appeared from nowhere . They placed their arms around Tom who was escorted away along the path .

Grace walked close behind as they made their way through the park to where a large  fire was ablaze . Into the flames they all walked .

 

The End

 

Link to the Authors Preface

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https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/hitman-authors-preface

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