BEFORE OUR EYES

"His name is Alex, Alex Borden. He’s asleep its been a long trip." I could hear my friend Leise tell the officer at the Pennsylvania and New York border.

"I still need to see his ID ma’am."

"Of course." They continued.

I pretended to fall asleep about 25 minutes back, as a precaution. In my line of work being discrete is a big factor, even when it comes to the small stuff. I left my ID outside my wallet, and inside the cup holder by the radio.

"Here you go," Leise said as she offered the officer my Identification. The officer must have had some sort of suspicion, because he walked to the front of our sedan and took a peek through the windshield to verify I was who she claimed I was.

We pulled away, I waited until we pulled into a parking garage near the hotel we were staying in. I pretended to wake up, still tired and now hungry.

Leise took her bags and I carried mine as we approached the check-in counter of a rundown hotel. When we got to our room I thought it was perfect, but Leise had other opinions on it.

"This place is gross, I mean we have a fire escape right outside the window, and there’s almost no platform to it." She began to point out all the flaws the room had as she walked in, and out, the bathroom, across the small room, and even peering behind the beds.

"But hey, can’t complain, it’s new york baby!"

She yelled joyously as she hopped up from beneath the poorly made bed.

"So it’s kinda late now, should I go buy us some drinks and maybe a little smoke? Me and you can sit back here and watch Netflix and paint the town red in the morning?"

Leise has always been a very outgoing person, which is one of the many reasons I invited her to accompany me. She didn’t know I was here on business she isn’t even aware of the business I’m in. I wanted to keep it like that and to do so, it meant I had to keep her happy and smiling so much she wouldn’t have time to even think I may be up to something. A technique I routinely exercised in both my profession and social life.

" I have 100$ to pitch on whatever you want, just make it good. I don’t want to say I came to New York to waste my money."

" Whiskey it is then! and I think I’m gonna see what I can do about some pot."

"Ok. Well, I’m going to take a shower and unpack. Hurry up and don’t get killed walking around new york." a joke I felt only I understood, which was perfect.

When Leise left I began unpacking my side of the room and took my shoes off. I laid on one of the two beds and opened a small, red, spiral notebook. A lot of pages have been torn, but the first one has pen ink scribbled on it. I studied everything I could in 15 minutes. I figured id stick to what was most important first but still went over the small details in case I encountered them as an issue later on. When my fifteen minutes was up I grabbed some clothes and tore the pages out. I proceeded to the bathroom and stripped my clothes, then I ran the water warm. I stepped inside and began my cleansing routine but halfway through I stopped, I took out the torn pages and began scrubbing the ink off the pages, I then scrubbed the paper to wet, soggy, discards and collected them in my palm. I stepped out of the shower on flushed them down the toilet, then continued to bathe.

About an hour and a half later Leise returned with marijuana and alcohol. The clock read 1:24 am. She began telling me how she obtained the liquor and medication we were about to abuse, and I saw it as a good start to what the next coupled days would hold. She told me of the buildings and vehicles she saw, even of a man on a tricycle with house speakers wired between his two back tires. After an hour or so of smoking pot and taking shots of whiskey, Leise fell asleep.

I was easy not to get drunk or stoned as I can’t afford any distractions. The clock reads 2:34 am. I left the TV on as background noise and snuck out the building from the shaggy fire escape. My hair is now orange and my demeanor now that of an athlete. I wore all grey sweats with a matching hoody and began jogging as Michal Ranch.

I acted as if I was a local, I acknowledged citizens as if I’ve known them for years. I was making it a point to get my face noticed and share my name with the surrounding people. I figured they wouldn’t see me again once me and Leise made it back to California.

I not only became an instant member of society, I also jogged up and down the surrounding area to familiarize myself with the roads and any routes I may need for later. I wore no wigs, no make-up, just dyed hair, and a fake arm tattoo I slightly covered. I made sure most people saw it when in conversation. The city of New York seemed lively at 4:00 am. I was beginning to take in the scenery and enjoy my jog when I finally found what I was looking for, the "hotel el Bourdier".

A larger man in nice clothes walked out and I recognized him from a photo I was sent. I had to verify this was the man I was looking for. I put headphones in and tried to jog past him, we bumped shoulders and I lost my balance.

"Hey! look where you’re going."

"My apologies sir, that was all my fault no excuses. I’m training and kinda got in the zone." I knew Mr. Diso was a fan of boxing so I wanted to play into that.

"You a boxer?"

"Well, MMA technically, but I specialize in boxing yes."

"Ah, all that MMA bullshit is just a money well, the real heart is in the boxing."

"I agree sir." We both chuckled.

"I have an upcoming match, I’m trying to invite as many people as I can. It’s supposed to be a big thing, if you’d like I can RSVP you a spot or two for free? Maybe you have a nice lady you wanna take out or something this Friday?"

"Actually son, that would be lovely. I’m on my way to meet my lady friend now, why don’t you put two seats down for Ryan Diso."

"Yea, sure, no problem. At the Rattle Cats Gym about 4 miles from here, 9:00 pm."

"Sure thing."

I put my headphones in and continued jogging down the block. A girlfriend wasn’t something my contacts had mentioned back in Cali, I didn’t know how this would affect my objective so I hailed a cab. I paid the cabby 500$ to follow Mr. Diso as discretely as possible. I was sure to give him a glimpse at the tattoo on my arm when doing so. The cabby agreed and we followed Mr. Diso to the red light district where I figured he was buying a prostitute. Wrong, about ten minutes after we arrived a lady walked out with Mr. Diso, but she was no prostitute. She looked as if she worked in law, may be an attorney he was crushing on. I ordered the cabby to take me back to the hotel, luckily we made it there before Mr. Diso. I approached the front desk and the clock read 5:57 am. She informed me that visitors weren’t allowed in for another couple of hours, so I told her I was door dashing Mr. Diso cigarettes and ensured her I would be no more than 5 minutes.

Mr. Diso must be somebody important because the hotel clerk made a copy of my ID card, which was also swapped out before leaving my hotel room. When the elevator buzzed open I noticed a camera angled at the entrance. I walked into plain view, exposing my tattoos. I used my already in-hand ID card to open his door and I quickly began un-screwing one of the wall outlets. I placed a micro-bug I made back in California, using headphones and a radio transmitter, in the empty spaces of the wires, I then wired the whole device to a 9-volt battery and screwed the outlet back on. I left the room and walked out of the hotel in under five minutes, happily pleasing the front desk clerk.

I caught a cab closer to my hotel room and made my way back up the fire escape and into bed before Leise even noticed. I had no idea where Mr.Diso and his lady friend were at.

DAY 2

It was 9:00 pm the next day when Me and Leise arrived at a nightclub not too far from Mr.Diso’s hotel. Still, I was surprised to see him there with the same lady friend he picked up the night before.

Me and Leise approached the bar a couple of seats away and ordered a couple of drinks. I paid with a credit card under the name Alex again. Same appearance and party demeanor as before. We shot our drinks and paid for two more when I began to listen in on Mr.Diso’s conversation, who was two seats beside me.

Leise had no idea I was struggling to keep a conversation and eavesdrop on the people behind us. I excelled at this, and managed to find out Mr.Diso was some sort of witness; probably a witness of my contacts dirty work. I worked for a lot of big-time people in California and Mexico, a lot of people refer to me as a hitman, but I prefer an independent contractor. I’ll do anything from clean your gutters to handle your court cases, a job I’m doing now.

The charade ended when Leise suggested we go dance. We stumbled to the dance floor and began to dance when I started to worry. I was thinking that I may have consumed too much liquor while gathering intel at the bar, I was drunk. I showed no sign it bothered me, but I worried it’d interfere with my work. I kept dancing with Leise and watching Mr.Diso.

He came off as more of a gentleman and didn’t seem to belong in a night club like this, maybe why it surprised me. There was something more to this man than I was told, but my job wasn’t to know or ask questions. It was to handle the task at hand.

After another fifteen minutes of dancing Leise must’ve got tired because we went back to the bar for another drink. I refused but she insisted I did. Leise knew little of my work, she would never expect me to do what I do. Nobody would, that’s why I’m the one that does it. My family sees me as a star child, My friends see me as reliable, fun, and honest, My co-workers see me as quiet but productive. I had to keep this persona as Alex Borden up, though my government name is not so. A little white lie that will follow me for life, past decisions to save me and the ones I loved that will forever haunt me until the day I die.

But being Alex Borden isn’t all that bad, after all, who wouldn’t like to become a character they created. A little government assistance, close contacts here and there from criminal and government enterprises; and stepping into a new life is free. Basically.

Leise was jabbing on about our plans for the night when she admitted to buying LSD when buying the pot last night. Knowing it came from a stranger in New York City, this could be a terrible idea. The drug couldn’t be trusted, I refused to do any drugs as it would harm my body in ways leaving me incapable to work, and overall leading to my death from unsatisfied customers. I told her she was crazy and that could be the dumbest thing she’s ever done. She agreed.

"Alex, We’re in New York, Lighten up and let’s blast off!"

"No, that sounds like a terrible idea! Let’s just go back to the hotel!"

we yelled to one another above the music.

"Well here is yours, I’m gonna eat mine right now! Hopefully, it kicks in by the time we hit the hotel room!"

Sad to say she swallowed the drops of liquid and headed for the car. The liquid came in a .25 gram bottle and I didn’t want her to drive so I followed her to her vehicle. I figured it’d be funny to discard my liquid in a lonely shot glass at the bar, what was the worse that can happen? Somebody has a great night for free. Besides, it might get dumped out before anyone notices anyway.

At this time I didn’t know the effects of acid, I just knew it was something people at raves and clubs did along with ecstasy, Or hippies in the grass at a festival. I didn’t expect to see Liese acting the way she was. The walk upstairs made her feel as if she was climbing a mountain, and was out of breathe and exhausted by the time we made it to our room. When I opened the door she dove into bed and rolled around making weird noises for a good five minutes before picking her head up and asking what was going on.

My shoes were off and I was relaxing and laughing at Leise as she explained to me what she saw, and her perspective on different things. The night was overall fun.

DAY 3

I fell asleep. I didn’t do my job. Last night was the night I was supposed to close my contract, and I failed. I guess, Mr. Diso gets to live and I take his spot instead. The contract between me and my customers is to be taken literally from all angles. "Mr. Diso doesn’t see the light of May 5, 2017..." it was in bold on the contract. I assume he was to appear in court early this morning, it’s 3:00 pm. If I had any chance of fixing this I missed it. My only option now is to go back to California and pack things up. I have a plan B that involves meeting with old contacts from the days I trained in Brazil and Libya, real networked and powerful people out of U.S territories incase the government begins looking for me. I keep a plan C in case a situation like this, a forest in Alaska hides a three-bedroom cabin with enough supplies and equipment rationed to survive without human interaction for five years estimated.

The Television is channeled to the local news as I woke up Leise. I used the news to my advantage and had her gather her things as I explained traffic will be hectic today and we have to get an early start. I clicked the TV off before her eyes could focus on it. We were checked out and on the road in five minutes.

"Alex, did you do your hair differently this morning?"

I quickly organized our bags into the car.

"Not really why?"

It clicked in my head that I did do my hair, I began changing into another character before Leise’s eyes. I did it out of panic, my instinct of survival. My fear of not knowing what’s coming next as I usually am.

"You just look a little...I don’t know, different. Good, but different."

"I mean I took a shower and combed my hair but nothing special, thank you though."

We sunk into Leise’s automobile and she turned the engine over. She leaned over to adjust the radio channels.

" Dude, are those dress shoes? What are you like late for work or something? What day is it Alex?"

" It’s the Fifth, and no this is just what I packed."

I can tell I was causing suspicion but I figured I could veer it as a goofy mistake I made partying too hard or even packing incorrectly. She kept laughing at me and making comments on my shoes as we drove down the block. About 12 miles from the hotel traffic picked up.

"Sorry, I don’t think we left in time." She laughed as if it was no big deal.

I had to play to part and keep my nerves from jumping across my skin, but I also had to pack up and start plan C as soon as I can. Leise and I made good company as we talk about our time in new york but an hour into traffic we come across a police stop. I saw the stop about 20 minutes before Leise and again pretended to sleep, every nerve in my body now jolting up and down.

"Alex let me see your ID, the officer will want it," Leise told me, I’m assuming she knew I wasn’t sleeping. A big mistake because now I have to wake up and grab my ID and blow my cover of sleeping through the stops.

"Alex, I can see them ID’ing the people in front of us I’m going to need your ID."

"Hold on I’m tryna reach it."

I pulled my identification out as we approached the stop and handed it to Leise. I figured I would let her do most of the talking but she shot me a nasty look. A look of fear, confusion, maybe even worry. We break eye contact and she begins her conversation with the officer. What was that look for? Did I say something?

"...Yea this was our first time, it was nice! Did some partying, some touring..." Leise laughed in the background.

Is it possible I was acting too weird, could she be concerned for me? Maybe I can play it off like I ate the acid this morning and everything I have been doing is one big goof resulting from that.

"...Well me and Cory did go to a club in that area last night, but I can’t say that was it. Cory, what was the name of the place we went to last night?"

"Oh...huh?"

"Where did we go dancing last night?"

"Oh, Someplace with a Mango on the building, I don’t know my head hurts from the drinking. Forget dancing."

"Is that true, Ma’am?" The officer chimed in.

"I do remember the mango-like theme."

" Well that club is three blocks down, did you remember that?"

"Oh...no, sorry I didn’t officer."

"So you went dancing at a random club last night and don’t remember how close it was?"

"I mean it is our first time in New York City, in New York in general. We come from California officer."

"Leise Fallows and Cory Leasch from California?"

"Yes, sir."

Wait. Did he just use my government name, and did Leise just go along with it? Wait, did I agree with it a second ago?!

" You guys get home safe, these parts are off-limits, investigations are underway."

"Woah...may I ask why officer?" Leise said with a sad and cold stare, a stare I felt in my chest.

" A very important man was murdered last night, too much partying at the club you guys attended last night. Victims date stabbed him, claimed he was trying to rape her."

"Oh my god, that’s terrible! He tried to rape her at the club?"

"Well we don’t know what to believe yet, the suspect was on a large dose of LSD. Now that she’s come down though, she claims to not remember LSD even being apart of their night. So we’ll see and you can hear about it on the news."

He pulled away from the car and handed us back our IDs, then patted the roof of Leise’s car as we drove away. Leise was quiet, so was i. My nerves now calming down. Who would’ve thought a prank I thought would be funny, ended up saving my ass in the end...easiest job I’ve ever done. Easy doesn’t come often in my line of work so I intended to enjoy it, but I still had Leise to deal with. She wants answers and I know she’s waiting for them. The ID.

"Fuck, well good thing we left early last night, and I told you that acid was no good, someone killed someone because of it."

"Cory?"

"...What?"

"Who is this Cory?"

"Oh, Fake ID."

"Fake ID? Alex? What do you need one of those for? I mean, it is cool but what’s the need? and why didn’t I know? You almost got us in trouble right now."

"You’re right and I apologize, I just thought it was cool and had nowhere to keep it but my wallet, I can see how that can be an issue, but don’t ignore the fact you probably ate fake acid last night! Your brain might be fried stupid Leise!"

"You don’t know it was fake!"

"Somebody killed somebody because of it!"

"It was probably so good they couldn’t handle it!"

"Leise that doesn’t even make sense!"

"You wouldn’t know you softie, what’d you do with your’s anyway?"

"I threw it away at the hotel."

"Great, so you probably just committed another murder for all we know."

"No, it’d be your fault because I told you I didn’t want it in the first place."

We argued like this back to California. We pulled up to my house exhausted at 5:00 am. I said bye to a tired and grumpy Leise and went to my room. I threw my bags on the floor. I decided to look for any updates on the murder on my computer. Upon my search, I found a newsreel that was being cast live. It showed detectives and reporters talking in front of the club we partied at days ago. I clicked play.

" Ryan Diso, a public figure, and activist was killed at the Mango Janga dance club two nights ago after his date Mrs. Kriea Aines accused him of rape and wanting to murder her. Detectives later found out she was poisoned with LSD and was experiencing hallucinations. The search for who poisoned Mrs. Aines has led to California where detectives believe the true killer may have fled to..."

A familiar face appeared on the screen.

"...Officer Sidge explains further on the situation."

" Detectives believe this was premeditated and planned out. We believe the suspect knew of Mr.Diso and Mrs. Aine’s plans to go out, and it was there he slipped the drug into her drink. We believe he may have even manipulated her surroundings to make her feel unstable and ultimately, attack Mr.Diso...We believe the subject fled to California however, the identity of the suspect is unconfirmed at this moment. We found a homemade listening device hidden in a wall outlet in Mr. Diso’s room and believe this was how our suspect stayed a step ahead of Mr.Diso. The device was made from parts that are designed and made in California and can only be bought with a credit card and certain certifications...that’s all we have at this moment."

There was a knock at my front door.