The Daring Public Meeting: A Deadly Plan Unfolds
It was a daring thing to meet in public, but times were desperate, and the phone call was urgent. The chosen spot was a unique blend of a coffee shop, sushi eatery, and smoothie joint. It was a place to see and be seen—where business deals were brokered, lovers met, and even potential divorcees settled their affairs. For lovers, it was exciting. For breakups, it was safe—public enough to prevent any foolish actions. Otherwise, you could simply sit there, nurse your coffee, enjoy sushi, and end the moment with a strawberry smoothie.
As Richard and I approached a table, we had already gathered a couple of drinks and some food. For me, it was a sushi platter and an orange drink. For Richard, it was a latte, a scone, and his ever-present leather bag, which he placed next to his left leg, forgetting to cover it with the flap. We were polar opposites, yet bound by a common oath of brotherhood from the same fraternity. That oath brought us to this public meeting.
No words were exchanged at first. Instead, we began eating and drinking. At some point, we removed our rings and placed them in the middle of the table—a symbol that only the truth would be spoken between us.
“You don’t come up for air?” Richard asked as I devoured my sushi.
“Don’t criticize my eating habits, and I won’t pick on your minimalist personality,” I replied.
“Less is more,” Richard said, always turning moments into lessons.
“Less is less. It’s never more unless there’s more,” I shot back. “Otherwise, it’s just less.”
“Let’s get to the matter at hand,” he continued.
“Agreed. What are we talking about?” I asked.
“Mendicants,” Richard stated.
“Mendicants?” I was confused. Richard was meticulous, and this seemed out of character.
“They’ve been hovering around the lodge, causing scenes and cursing those who refuse to give alms,” Richard explained, taking a bite of his scone. “We’ve been assigned to handle it—clean it up, so to speak.”
“Clean it up? Can’t we just call the cops or get a restraining order?” I asked.
“Mendicants are transients. Even if served, how would they appear in court? The directive from above is clear: you and I are to resolve this. With prejudice,” Richard emphasized.
“Isn’t that overkill for a few beggars?” I asked, finishing my last piece of sushi.
“We are obligated, no matter the cause,” Richard reminded me.
We retrieved our rings, placed them back on our fingers, and left the establishment in opposite directions.
The Plan: A Deadly Setup
Richard’s task was simple. The next day, during lunch hour, he would wait as the mendicants harassed pedestrians near our lodge. He would then invite them inside for a meal and drinks. Unbeknownst to them, the food and drinks were poisoned. Their deaths would be swift, occurring within an hour of consumption.
My role was to transport the bodies to our ceremonial room, where they would be prepared for a ritual. This would solve our problem—or so I thought.
But something didn’t sit right. Richard was meticulous, yet he had left his leather bag open. Normally, it was belted and secured. Why was it carelessly open today? And why did I see a gun and two full clips inside? I had to find out.
Confrontation in the Parking Lot
I caught up to Richard just as he was about to enter his Jaguar.
“What’s the gun for?” I demanded.
Richard jumped, startled. “Dammit! Don’t do that!”
“What is the gun for, Richard?” I repeated.
“I can’t tell you. I’m not supposed to,” he stammered, sweating.
“We had our rings on the table. You lied to me?” I asked.
When he didn’t respond, I delivered an uppercut to his gut. He vomited his latte and scone onto his shoes. I caught him before he collapsed, shoved him into the passenger seat, and tossed his bag into a nearby garbage bin. After removing his car keys, I started the engine and turned on the air conditioning.
I punched him again, this time in the ribs. “What is the gun for, Richard?!”
Gasping for breath, he finally confessed. “It wasn’t meant to kill you. Just to…renew your sense of purpose if you had a change of heart.”
“I’m having a change of heart right now,” I said, striking his kneecap. He howled in pain.
“Your arrogance blinds you, Richard. This isn’t about mendicants. What’s really going on?”
The Truth Revealed
Richard broke down. “It’s bigger than both of us. If we don’t follow the directive, they’ll kill everyone we know. Everyone.”
“Who’s behind this?” I demanded.
“People higher than our enclave. They have a purpose we don’t understand, but we have no choice. If you refuse, they’ll kill your family in front of you.”
I left Richard to recover and drove home cautiously. Sure enough, two strange cars were parked outside my house. Inside, two men in suits waited at my kitchen table.
“Did he fall for it?” the first man asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Brutal force wasn’t necessary,” the second man said.
“I had to be convincing,” I replied. “Besides, you killed his pets and his mother. Don’t lecture me on brutality.”
The first man nodded, impressed. “Great planning.”
“It’s human ego,” I said. “Let people think they’re smarter than you, and it becomes their undoing. All it took was a small group of mendicants.”
Conclusion: A Deadly Ritual
The mendicants were merely pawns in a larger game. Their bodies would be buried under the four corners of a new building next to our lodge. Richard, as the descendant of our first grand high priest, would be buried under the front entrance. The ritual would ensure the success of our future endeavors.
As I sat at the table with the two men, I realized the depth of the conspiracy. The mendicants, Richard, and even I were all pieces in a deadly puzzle. And sometimes, the truth is far more dangerous than the lie.