The Slip Decision

The dilapidated white van that badly needed some washing and new paint was left unnoticed as it was parked at the far end of the parking lot, almost at the edge of the forest of a lake house where a party was in full swing.

There were a lot of cars parked down below the white dilapidated van. Despite its logo of a landscaping company, the van stood out in the crowd like a sore thumb because all of the other cars were expensive ones, some were even customized to fit the needs of the owner which were mostly comfort and security.

"Are you sure we're fine here? These snotty people would shoo us away like a lice-infested dog once they see us here," he said with a sneer.

Every time he talked, one of his canine teeth moved because it was loose and needed to be pulled out but he did not have the money to visit a dentist that would cost him an arm and a leg. His daughter is in the hospital. She was the reason why he accepted this job to pay for her hospital bills that were drowning them. He could not afford to waste more money even if his tooth was killing him.

"Don't worry. This van is the perfect cover for us. This company always works in the house."

"And your cousin works in this company. Don't you think it would point out to us easily?"

The fat man glared at him from the driver's seat.

"Listen to me. I don't know your name. You don't know my name. We don't know anything about each other. Yes, my cousin contacted me for this job but no one in his company knows that we are cousins. He is working on another out-of-town project with two other employees of this landscaping company. He had a perfect alibi. No one will look at him that will point out to me and get you.

And this van will go directly to the landfill. It isn't really a van from the company. We just borrow the logo so that no one will know."

The man with a loose tooth heaved a deep sigh and looked at his cheap plastic watch. His daughter will undergo an operation eight hours from now. He badly needed the money that he would get from this job. He could not afford to grow a conscience and have second thoughts.

Maybe later but not right now, he thought to himself as he lifted the vernacular that was sitting on his lap and took a look at the garden party that was happening in the distance.

From where they were, they could hear the laughter and shrieking of kids. Mostly shrieking because it was a children's party. It was the seventh birthday party of the daughter of a well-known CEO.

The job that they accepted was simple. They were ordered to take the kid and brought the kid away from the party. And once they successfully do that, they would be given their payment and that was it.

It was the reason why he accepted this job. He could not deal with it if he was going to be with the kid for a long time but since all he had to take part in was to take the kid, he felt better. He could justify it against his conscience.

"I hate these rich people! Do they really have to throw a child that extravagant party?!"

He took the vernacular from him and peered at the glass, sneering at what he was seeing.

"A child's birthday," he scoffed. "But look at that! The lawn was littered with food, balloons, flowers, clowns, and what was that? A huge giant pink castle where kids were jumping up and down like a bunch of monkeys! There's a perfectly fine lake, isn't that enough entertainment for all those brats?"

He returned the vernacular back to his companion and spit on the half-opened window.

"I can't wait to finish this job and get the money!"

He nodded in agreement. Not with his observation of those rich people because if he had the money, he would probably throw an extravagant party for her daughter. A princess party, the one that his daughter loves. What he was agreeing with his companion was the last part of his statement. The part where he could not wait to finish this job and get the money.

"Let's go," he said and angrily removed the seatbelt he was wearing.

He glanced at his cheap plastic watch. "But it isn't time yet," he said.

"Don't you want to finish this job quickly?" He asked, clicking his tongue.

He wanted to finish this job. He wanted to get hold of the money from this job because his wife was waiting for him. His daughter too. The operation had to be done as soon as possible if he wanted to keep his daughter alive. The bunch of specialists made sure that he understood the predicament his daughter was in.

He heaved a deep sigh and removed his flannel polo, revealing a white shirt with the landscaping logo on his chest. He put on a red baseball cap with the same company logo.

"You're moving too slow! We need to get out of here before the party finishes and those cars move!"

He got out of the passenger seat with a clenched fist that he hid inside his pants pocket. He was not liking his companion's tone of voice and how he was being too bossy and impatient. But he did not have a choice. The jerk was the contact person of their boss. He had no way of contacting the person that would pay them for the job, hence, he clenched his fist and his teeth and followed him silently.

They trod the area away from the place where they parked, walking in opposite directions because the trees would give them the cover they needed. When they reached the edge of the lake, they walked back to where they came from until they reached the left side of the lakehouse.

The noise that they could hear clearly from the area where they parked their car got clearer. They could see the kids that were jumping inside the giant pink castle.

"Do you know what the kid looks like?" He asked in a hushed tone, staring at the giant pink castle trampoline. He smiled a little thinking that his daughter would love it as much as these kids.

"No. The person inside said the kid was wearing a green dress."

"That's it?"

"Yes!" He hissed between his clenched teeth. "That's the only one I got. So, look for a kid in a green dress!"

"There are two kids in there in green dresses. How do you plan to proceed?" He asked tauntingly because he could not stop himself. The nervousness he was feeling, fueled the annoyance that he was feeling towards his companion.

"I say let's take the two of them!"