The naked edge

25

"You prick!" the spotter yelled. "You swore you could do this!"

"How was I to know the target would-"

With a look of contempt, the spotter drew a handgun and shot his companion four times in the face. Then he took out his knife and cut off the sniper's fingertips.

"That's what I know," he said.

The act wasn't impulsive. It wasn't motivated by anger. The truth was, he'd been ready to kill the man, whether the attack was successful or not. The sniper had exemplary professional habits before an assignment, first-rate preparation, but afterward, he drank and talked too much. His usefulness had come to an end. In fact, the execution was the only thing about this assignment that felt good.

"Abort," he shouted into his walkie-talkie. "Abort. Abort. Abort." PART TWO: