TATOUR FOUR - 3

III

                Beautiful car he had, that Lincoln Continental, chrome wheels, crisp rectangular body, convertible, American flags, handmade in ’61 for him, beautiful.  It’s a damn shame I had to blow his brains all over it.

***

The umbrella went up thirty three seconds before.  He was coming.  The radio hooted.  The index finger on my right hand itched on the trigger. I tilted my cap and acted like a pissed cop on his day off. 

You see, I didn’t really want to do it, they paid me and money spoke louder than my sense of patriotism.  One of the most dangerous guys with a rifle on the planet I was – and that’s your hint. 

’62 I was in Cuba clipping the Beard’s muchachos. 

’63 I was cast out, CIA ransacked the operation – Kennedy was saving what was left of his reputation – he bankrupted me. 

Late ’63 I worked a coup against Charles de Gaulle – it failed, I went back to America and fell in with some old military pals of mine. 

That’s how I ended up behind the picket fence on November 22^nd.  It was solely for financial gain – no politics intended.

Travel and all other expenses paid.  Test run of the XPR Prototype.  A cross between a Winchester and a Model 37.  Killing machine produced by the CIA on the sly – if you catch my drift.  When he got into the KZ it became a free-for-all.  $50 for a scalp.

#1’s shot struck a lamppost.  #2’s shots caught him in the chest and the Governor  in the wrist.  Three triggers snapped.  The XPR roared.  I watched the President’s face blow up.  Bone shards hit bystanders.  Jackie’s face got residual-spritzed.  Big booms overlapped.  The chaos topped it I shit-you-not.  Fuckin’ Greek tragedy.

The parking lot was no-one-out quiet.  I beelined it to the other end.  Hopped in the getaway and floored it.  My son might understand when he’s older I told myself.  When I hit the highway I sobbed up a little. RARE.  Cried a little for America.  But orders are orders.  One Kennedy down: one more left. I just hope they spare his kid at least.

***

Phone booth: one call.  No answer.  Second: luck.

“Regroup at 15:00 hrs.”  Captain X said.

Then, he hung up.  And I won my fifty bucks.