NAUGHTY BUT NICE?: an éclair to die for - Chapter 7

It was late. Where was he? He should have arrived by now. The drip was really annoying Lathom now. He hadn’t slept well last night, too much adrenaline or malt. He felt exhausted and hungry.

Then he saw him, it was definitely him. He was hurrying in a rush to catch his train. It was important to get the timing right. As he drew closer Lathom stood up, held out the magazine in his left hand ‘Big Issue! Help the home-less’
He wasn’t going to stop.

‘Big Issue!! Help the home-less Sir !!’ He brushed Lathom aside, carried on his way. As he passed Lathom said ‘You mean bastard, you can afford it’
He stopped and turned, said ‘What did you say!!’.
He had got him now. Lathom backed towards the doorway, into the shadows. ‘I said you’re a mean bastard Richardson’,angling the chrome automatic and silencer in his pocket.
Richardson advanced towards him, threatingly. ‘How do you know my name?’ He was only a few feet away.
Lathom pulled the trigger. Nothing. He had left the safety catch on, he clicked it off and fired. Richardson had closed the distance in the time it took him to fire. The angulation wasn’t quite right, at first he thought that he had missed. Then Richardson stopped and made a chocking noise. The bullet had hit him in the throat, his hands came up as though trying to stem the flow of blood and he toppled forward. Lathom side stepped him as he fell into the doorway.

Bundling the body onto the step he covered it with his coat, put an empty beer can in it’s hand. Then tucked the gun under it , and walked up the alley towards the station and a well earned chocolate éclair.

THE END