Contracts in Paris

The optimistic blue sky lit up the city skyline, carefully highlighting each Parisian building. The cab whistled through the bustling streets dodging auburn trees and splashing through old puddles lounging in the cracks of the cobbles. The sudden change in weather had brought out everyone, from the locals to the tourists.

I looked out the window watching the colours of the world zoom by. ‘Of course,’ I kept muttering to myself. Of course, he would be here. How could I be so stupid! Months of tracking down, months of being stuck in that tiny office, months of neglecting everything but the case. The chief called me dedicated and hardworking, how everyone in the office should try as hard as me, should want to be like me. I just kept my head down, I didn’t need any of that, but it didn’t hurt to keep painting that image.

The cab pulled up right outside Champ de Mars park next to the Eiffel tower. I suddenly wished I was a tourist here, to go up the Eiffel tower, walk around the louvre, marvel at the Notre-dame cathedral, stroll around the Arc de Triomphe. To be doing anything other than this.

I ambled through the park, hoping by the time I got their he would be gone, and it would be too late. I spotted him easily leaning back on a park bench, he had his hand running through his bleach blonde hair. He didn’t look like a contract killer, wanted by nearly everyone. I wandered if he knew how close the law was to him right now, the man who knew everything clearly didn’t know a detective stood right behind him, but neither did anyone else. This was it, the months of tracking and investigating had all lead to this.

I walked in front of the bench and sat down next to him, he turned towards me. The look of utter panic was concealed by his sharp blue eyes.

‘I need your help’ my voice cracked.

The panic was gone as quick as it came, and a smug smile spread across his face.