11 Chapter 11

Facing the apartment building. Looking up at the tall white structure. Unsure what to make of the man to who's room he is about to visit. Looking every part a tenant. Other people come and go around him. Ignoring him. Black eyes on the ceiling peer down at him. He turns away from them, hoping what Smith said was true. Having gotten this far. Smith had all the tricks in his bag. Hoping he had not made another bad choice in his life.'Stay calm... Breathe', Frank reminded himself. Taking a hefty breath through his nostrils.The elevator doors open and he hurries in away from sight of the cameras. Ayoung woman follows him in. Ten years his junior and dressed in a short black leather skirt. A psychedelic tie-dyed t-shirt fitted tightly and revealed more than Frank could have wished for. Brunette pony tails only added to the youthful titillation.

"Five please." She asks Frank in a faint French accent.

Continuing to chew gum.Frank presses five and then seven. He would back track to five after reaching seven. Hoping the woman had cleared the hallway by the time he returned.

"You're new to the building?" The young woman asked keenly.

"Just visiting a friend." Said Frank avoiding eye contact.

"Oh." Said the girl eyeing Frank over.The elevator bell sounds its arrival at the fifth floor.

"This is me..."The doors open and the woman gets out.

"Be seeing ya!" Taking one last flirting look at Frank.

"Yeah... You to." Frank responds automatically trying to remain composed.

Distracted by the young lady that had short circuited the blood flow to his brain to another part of his body. Relieved that the elevator doors had finally closed and began its crawl to seventh floor. The elevator doors open and close without him exiting. Pressing five again, he waits. A ding sounds. Doors open again and the girl from before stands waiting to enter.

"You again... We have to stop meeting like this." She said.

"Yeah I reckon... I had the wrong floor... Should have been five. Silly me..." Frank confesses the lie.

"Silly me... I've left my keys in the car... See you around I hope."Reciprocates the young woman.

"Yeah... Hope so." Frank exchanges a smile as the doors close behind her.But not before catching sight of her green eyes and the alluring scent of her perfume. He thought he saw a faint birthmark on the side of her neck. Trying to shake the woman from his mind. Frank looks up and down the hall way in search for 5C. Finding it he takes the key and tries the lock which opens the door.Entering, unsure if the man was home. The apartment was clean and sparsely furnished. Someone well organized thought Frank. Looking up at the ceiling he sees a light bulb. Not wasting any time he opens the brief case. Standing on a nearby dining chair to reach the light fitting. Carefully unscrewing the existing bulb and replacing with the Smith's bulb. What was so special about this one thought Frank? Surveillance perhaps? Frank tried to examine the bulb but it appeared like any other.

Satisfied he had done as required, he was about to flick the switch to test it.When just then his mobile vibrates with an incoming call. Smith.

"Mister Smith... I have changed the bulb. Any plumbing you want done while I'm here?" Franks asked humorously. But not tickling Smith's funny bone.

"Now that you mention it... There is... Before you leave... I want you to detach the gas line from the wall... We want it to look like... An accident."

"Accident? What are you talking about?" Frank asks now concerned with his involvement.

"Detach the gas line from wall and walk away Frank..." Smith calmly directs Frank.

"You can't be serious!?" Exclaims Frank quickly becoming aware of Smith's lethal intentions.

"I am deadly seriously Frank... You want Marilyn to be there when you get home tonight? Immigration can be at her door within the hour... One call from me and she'll be on the first flight home... Bye-bye Marilyn... Bye-bye happy life..." Smith calmly threatens.

His voice showing no emotion."You leave Marilyn out of this you sick bastard!" Frank threatens back.

"Careful Frank... Remember you're my puppet... I pull the strings here...You dance for me and I will look after you... Otherwise it's not a going to be a bright future for you... I can make your life hell any time I like." Smith warns.

"What's it to be?" Then falls silent awaiting Frank's answer.Frank falls quiet as well. Thinking about how Smith had him over a barrel.This was the catch. It was all too good to be true.

"I'll do it... But you'll leave Marilyn out of this understand." Frank sells his soul to the devil for the woman he loves.

"Completely Frank... Remember it's all in the name of National Security."

"What's this guy done to deserve this?" Trying to reconcile his conscience.

"He is a spy Frank... Selling military secrets to the Communists if you must know." Smith lies.

"You don't want to be responsible for our boys dying overseas ... Because you did not remove the cause... Would you Frank."

"Of course not..." Began Frank, before Smith interrupted him.

"I am a patriot Mister Drake... As you should be too... You're either with us... Or against us..." Smith began to lecture Frank.

"Don't peddle that pond scum... It didn't work last time... And it won't work with me."Frank went quiet again.

Smith held all the cards. There was nothing Frank could do. Smith could implode his world and he knew it. He could not imagine a life without Marilyn. He could not have her deported because of him. He wanted to run, but he had no place to hide. There was no place where Smith could not find him.

"Okay... I'll do it..." Frank concedes to Smith's demands.

"Take a towel and pull the gas line from the wall... Avoid leaving prints."

"I understand." Frank accepts the orders.

"Thank you Frank... You'll be doing the country a great service... Leave calmly and don't talk to anyone... Cameras are off... Go for a walk in the park for a couple hours before returning to your hotel room... Your flight is at five Pm I believe... I will see in Seattle next week... The balance of the money will-be wired after the assignment is complete."

"I don't want your blood money." Frank insists.

''We'll see... Have a safe flight home Frank." Smith hangs up leaving Frank with a dead line in his hand.Frank looks about the kitchen for the gas line attached to the wall socket.Taking a kitchen towel carefully detaches it. High pressure odorless gas immediately spews into the room. It would soon fill the entire apartment. It was time to go. Wiping his prints from items he thought he had touched. Looking about, surveyed the room and the invisible killer lying in wait. A communist spy? That eased his conscience a little. Closing the door behind him Frank make his way to the elevator. They open, and the young lady he had encountered earlier appears.

"Hello stranger... Fancy seeing you again... Leaving so soon?"

"Yeah, the guy was not home after all."

"Oh that's no good... You could always visit me for a while... I'm in Room5F... F for Freddy... Don't be a stranger." The young woman suggests taking a liking to Frank.

"I'll remember that next time I'm in town... I have to catch a flight." Wanting leave.As intriguing as it was to be hit on by a sexually charged temptress. This was not the time to pursue the temptation. He had to get out of the building before the man in 5C returned. Before something bad happened.

"I look forward to it." The woman walks off with a smile on her face.

"Have a safe flight!"

"You too." Frank responds automatically. Watching her suggestive body walkaway and wondering what could have been.The elevator doors closed. Thoughts of Marilyn rained down like a cold shower. Awakening him to the four enclosed walls that caged him in like a prison cell. The cell he would be in if he was caught. Exiting into the foyer avoids looking up at the cameras. Had Smith really disabled them? He had no choice but to trust him.What did he have on Smith? Jefferson's cameras. He could get a picture of Smith from the security cameras.

"Two can play at that game Smith." Frank said to himself forming a grin.Reaching the street he walks to the corner and waves down the first available cab.

"Where to Mister?" The driver asks."A park somewhere."

"Which one? We have a few in town."

"Surprise me...." Suggests Frank wanting to distance himself from what was about to unfold.