'The Man Who Loved Cats'

'The Man Who Loved Cats'

He had the target lined up neatly in the crosshairs. He followed the target carefully, following the movement. The target had been easy to spot- a yellow vest, green shorts and a white sweatband around his large head. Moments ago Elliot had stopped to observe this hideously dressed jogger before realising that he was the target he was looking for.
The crosshairs followed the chest area. A head shot would have been more effective, but the head was a smaller area and more difficult to follow. An excellent shot at the chest would produce the same desired effect.
Elliot pulled the trigger.
The target fell forwards and hit the ground. Elliot stood and dismantled the rifle. He put each part of the rifle inside of a leather briefcase. He picked up the briefcase and opened the fire escape door and walked down the stairs until he reached ground level. He walked through the reception to the main street. Dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase Elliot did not stand out on Hong Kong’s streets.

“He’s dead?”
“Yes.” Elliot replied. He handed the man the briefcase with the rifle in.
“My employer will be very pleased.”
Elliot nodded, “I want my fee within the next 24 hours.”
“You can have it within the next hour, if you wish.”
“I do.”
The man smiled as him, “Something important back where you’re from?”
“Yes.” Elliot replied. The man smile faltered and knew that the assassin would say no more. Elliot did not tell people about Hermione.

He returned to his hotel two hours later. He packed his luggage and called for a taxi to the airport. The taxi arrived shortly and drove him to the airport. Upon arriving Elliot paid the fare and checked in at the main desk. He then went into the bar and had two small gins. As he walked through to the departure lounge he stopped in at a gift shop to see if he could find a present for Hermione, she was very fussy about what Elliot brought for her. He selected a gift and handed it to a smiling girl behind the counter.

He returned to London at twenty minutes past three. He took a taxi from the airport to his penthouse. He lived two floors away from the top of the building but refused to take the elevator. He carried his luggage upstairs and reached his door. He took out his key, unlocked the door then opened it. The penthouse was as he left it. “Hermione?” He called. There was only silence. He dragged his luggage inside and shut the door. “Hermione?” He checked the bedroom and couldn’t see her there. He’d left the balcony door partially opened in case she wanted to go outside. He opened the door fully and walked onto the balcony. There was no sign that she’d even been outside. He returned inside and went into the kitchen. He’d left her enough food and water for a week, and it looked only a slightly less amount than he originally left for her. “Hermione?” He called.
There was a knock at the door. Elliot passed through the living room to the door and partially opened it.
“Mr. Landry?”
“Yes?” Elliot replied. He recognized the man at the door from working in reception. He was a small, greasy man with an unease smile.
“Mr. Landry, I saw you come in and I thought that…”
“Yes?”
“I should speak to you.” The greasy man said. There was a long pause.
“About?”
“It’s… it’s your cat I’m afraid.”
“Hermione?”
“Yes…” He looked down at Elliot shoes. It infuriated him when people did that. “Your cat… managed to get down to the ground… did she do that often?”
“Yes.”
“Well…. She got down to the ground and I’m afraid to say that she was run over. Hit by a car.”
Elliot nodded.
“I’m… very sorry, Mr. Landry.”
He nodded again.
“You would have been told sooner but the mobile phone number you gave us, and to the vets, didn’t work. You must switch mobiles often.”
“Who…”
“The vet told us it was your cat. It was on the chip you see.”
“Whose car was it?”
“A resident here I’m afraid.”
“Who?”
“An old gentlemen a few floors below you.”
“What room?”
“Oh, Mr. Landry, I don’t thi-”
“What room?”
The small , greasy man rubbed his hands and looked up and said, “Room 19 if you must know, sir…”
“Thank you.” Elliot said and shut the door.

George was watching ‘Deal Or No Deal’ when there was a knock at the door. At first he ignored it, but when it came again he decided to answer. “Alright, alright…” He grumbled.
He got up, walked across the apartment and opened the door. “Yes? Can I help you?” He said to the strange man outside.
“My name is Elliot. I live downstairs.”
“Elliot?” He said the name to try and bring back remembrance of it. It struck him and he groaned. “Oh dear, the man with-”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear. Look, I am sorry, it just shot out in front of the road, I didn’t see it-”
“How old are you?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“How old are you?”
“I don’t see ho-”
“Answer the question.”
“Sixty eight.”
“Thank you.” Elliot said and nodded. George’s eyes narrowed. This Elliot was certainly a strange chap, ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘Any unmarried man with a cat has got to be a little peculiar.’
Elliot said, “Do you live alone?”
“Yes. My wife died two years ago. Kids left years ago.”
“May I come in?”
A pause. “Yes.” George replied and stood back. Elliot walked in slowly and sat down in a chair, placing both arms on the arm rests, finger hooked over the ends. George returned to his seat and switched the TV off.
“I didn’t see my cat that often.” Elliot said. “I work abroad a lot. I never like to bring business home, but I’m afraid in this case I must.”
George nodded, but did not understand.
“In my line of work... It’s not the sort of thing you want to bring home, you understand?”
George nodded, but once again did not understand.
Elliot said- “Do you have any pets?”
“No. I don’t. Never liked ‘em.”
“Dogs are stupid animals. Mean, stupid animals. Cats, on the other hand, are smart. Very smart. They only go to people when they need something from them. They can go away for days on end then return back when they need shelter. Cats don’t need other cats. They only fight if put together. Cats are solitary creatures. Predators. It’s their nature to hunt. If I could live again as any animal it would be a cat. You understand?”
“Yes.” George said.
“My cat was very dear to me, very dear. I got her from an animal sanctuary. Her former owner had tried to kill her, unsuccessfully. A neighbour stopped him and rescued her. The animal sanctuary were going to put her down as she was a vicious creature. She attacked any animal she was put with, even a few people. When I went to find a cat I saw her, Hermione, and there was something. A connection, if you will between us. I was the only person she allowed to touch her. Not because of kindness but I think out of… recognition. Can you believe that?”
“Well… if you say so.” George said.
“They’ll never be another one like her.”
“Look, I’m very, very sorry about what happened I-”
“There’s something I’d like to show you.” Elliot said.
“Yes?”
“But I’m afraid I left it in my apartment. Would you like to come with me please?”
“Look, mister I-”
“It’d mean very much to me. Please.”
George sighed and checked his watch. If he as quick he’d be back in time to watch the news. “Oh, all right.” He stood up. “Where’bouts do you live?”
“Just downstairs.” Elliot replied.
George walked across the room and opened the door. Elliot walked past and out into the hallway. George followed, shut the door and locked it. He turned and headed towards the lift.
“Oh.” Elliot said. “Why don’t we take the stairs since it’s just downstairs?”
George shrugged, “Fine.” He turned left inside and walked down the corridor towards the stairwell and Elliot followed behind.
George reached the stairs, put his hand on the railing and went to go forward. He tripped. He tumbled down twenty five steps and crashed into the wall at the bottom. His nose was broken and blood flowed from it.
Elliot stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down at George. He watched his breathing get slower and slower until his chest remained stationary. Elliot bent down and removed the piano wire he’d placed at the top of the stairs before going to see George. He put the wire in his jacket breast pocket and took the stairs up back to his penthouse.
He opened the door, walked in and sat down. He reached underneath a table and pulled out a Yellow Pages. He put the book on his lap and began to look for the nearest animal sanctuary.