Kalin sat back in a corner, nervously sloshing the last of his whiskey around the inside of the tumbler.  He had planned this hit for weeks and if it didn’t go off as planned, he was either dead at the hands of Rocko and his goons or by his own family, in an attempt to save face.  Either way, the margin of success was very thin.

Rocko had a nasty reputation on the streets that was well deserved.  Known for his ruthless strong arm tactics and being the Enforcer for the Devini Family, his name had been tied many times to hits that always seemed to be exposed in a high profile setting.  With the police being controlled by the Devini Family, charges were never brought up against Rocko or any of those he employed.  Rocko’s last alleged kill had found a woman impaled on the fence outside of City Hall.  While no witnesses were reported, the severe bruising around the neck from a garrote was a signature of Rocko that was found on every one of his victims.  Rocko was known for never using a gun to kill his victims, always wanting to see them either suffocate or suffer before the life drained from their eyes.  The victims were always found with their eyes wide open, staring lifeless off into nothing.  While the news media was excited for the first 24 hours, the whole incident was quickly swept under the proverbial carpet.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t just any woman.  The victim’s name was Dina Waters and she ran a local brothel in town.  Word on the street was that one of Rocko’s goons had roughed up on of Dina’s girls enough that she ended up in the hospital and Dina took it directly to the Devini Family.  While the Family appeared to be sympathetic to Dina’s plight, word was quickly passed to Rocko and he did not share the same sympathies.  When confronted by Rocko, Dina refused to back down and be intimidated by the Enforcer.  Rocko’s final words as he walked out of the brothel were “We will see, we will see”.  Less than 48 hours later, Dina had been killed and left in a high profile location to make sure everyone got the word.

Unbeknownst to most people, Dina had a long term relationship with Uncle Tommy.  Thomas White, known as Uncle Tommy, was the Right Hand Man of the Darwin Family, a rival family to the Devini’s.  While there was a rivalry in place, it was kept in check by the two leaders of the family that an agreement that “No Blood Will Be Shed” by either family.  That agreement was about to broken if Kalin didn’t execute this plan flawlessly.

Very few people know of the relationship between Uncle Tommy and Dina.  They had purposely kept it a secret since Dina’s brothel was technically under the Devini’s Families control and it would be frowned upon by both families.  And because of this secret, Rocko had no idea he had signed his own death warrant when he took Dina’s life on that October night earlier this year.

Uncle Tommy had been devastated upon hearing the news and had went on a three day binge, drinking constantly only to pass out until he regained consciousness and then do it again.  While the Darwin Family was keeping tabs on Uncle Tommy, they had their ears to the street and had confirmed that Rocko was indeed behind the murder.

As Kalin watched the brown liquid swirl around in his glass, his mind drifted back to that meeting two weeks ago.  The meeting where he would be challenged by the Right Hand Man of the family to complete a task, but knowing the task would put the family in danger and one where Kalin would be killed.

Kalin had been called into the conference room at the Family compound.  While that was pretty regular, he was surprised when he entered the room to find only Uncle Tommy sitting at the far end in his customary seated position.  As he entered, Uncle Tommy said “Close the door and come sit near me”.

Having known Uncle Tommy for many years, Kalin did as was asked and quickly took a seat across the long mahogany table from his senior.  Upon being seated, Uncle Tommy said “Kalin, First, I need you to honor OMERTA between you and I on this.  Whatever we discuss, you have to promise on your life that it will never be shared with anyone.”

Uncle Tommy stared at Kalin, waiting for a response.  Kalin was a little shocked in the confidence that was being placed upon him by the high ranking family member, stammered a few seconds before saying “Oh yeah, of course Uncle Tommy”.

Uncle Tommy nodded his head in approval then continued “Good Kalin, I knew I could trust you.  Kalin, I’m going to ask you to do something that you’re not going to like, but I need it done.  I don’t need it done, I WANT IT DONE.”  Kalin watched as Uncle Tommy’s face was filled with rage momentarily, before taking back control and calmly laying his hands down on the smooth wood surface of the table.  Continuing, Uncle Tommy said “I want you to kill Rocko!”

Kalin sat, staring at his senior, shocked at what he just heard.  Then, knowing about the relationship between Dina and Uncle Tommy, things started to come together slowly.  Envisioning the Enforcer for the Devini Family, Kalin felt a wave of terror at trying to murder the man that seemed untouchable, if not invincible.  Swallowing hard to get some moisture back into his throat, Kalin simply said “How?”

Uncle Tommy leaned back in his chair and pulled out a cigarette.  With a fluid motion, he lit a match and took a deep draw, staring at Kalin’s shocked face that had now turned a pale white in the low light of the conference room.  “Let’s not beat around the bushes.  You know what Rocko did to Dina….My DINA!”  Kalin nodded his understanding before Uncle Tommy continued “Well, he needs to pay.  He thinks he’s untouchable.  But here’s the problem, Mr. Darwin doesn’t want any blood on his hands in this matter.  So, while you will have undetectable support of the family, you will be operating independently of the family.  If you get caught, you take the fall and will be a disgrace to the family….and therefore will be killed to save face.  And that’s if Rocko doesn’t kill you first.”

Kalin felt his heart begin to race and the sense of being overwhelmed of the task he was being asked to complete.  He couldn’t think of anything to say and could only think of his ultimate demise.  Finally, after swallowing several more time, he found his voice and said “Sir, I’ve always done everything you’ve asked.  But I don’t know.  First, I’ve ever even killed anyone and now you want me to go up against a professional killer?”  Kalin was surprised at how much fear he could actually hear in his own voice as he watched the man across the table take another long draw on his cigarette, seemingly unpassed by the whole discussion.

After several seconds of silence, Uncle Tommy said “Kalin, I respect your concerns, but there is a plan and this will be a personal favor to me and I personally promise me that if you pull this off, you will reap the benefits for many years to come.”

Without thinking, Kain retorted “And if I don’t, I’m dead!”  This time, the words came out shakily and with little conviction.  The man across the table still sat stoically, unreactive to the concern that Kalin was feeling.

Uncle Tommy took a deep breath before continuing “Let me explain the plan, you ask questions, and then we will work on convincing you.  In that order.  First, I would not ask this from you without a plan to succeed.”

Reaching over, Uncle Tommy grabs a decanter filled with brown alcohol and two glasses.  Turning them over, he fills each glass half way with the fiery liquid before pushing one toward Kalin.  Taking a sip, he continues “Rocko has a gambling problem.  He keeps it pretty quiet, but has racked up quite a tab at a local private club.  Rocko believes that club is under his family’s full control, but I went to school with the club owner and we take care of each other.  He let me know that Rocko shows up every Wednesday to drop off a payment on the monies he owes.  And since he doesn’t want it known that this is one of his vices, he shows up alone….one of the few times he ever travels around the city alone.”

Uncle Tommy continued to share a detailed plan that included the time of the drop off of payment, who would assist in taking Rocko down, where they would be sitting in the bar, and what the plan was for Rocko’s body.  Finally, Uncle Tommy concluded “But Kalin, I don’t want Rocko to be shot.  I want him to die in the same fashion as Dina.  I want you to personally witness the life pass from his eyes and as he dies I want you to tell him this!”  Uncle Tommy pushed a scrap of paper over to Kalin.  As Kalin reached for the paper, he glanced up to see a tear roll down the seniors cheek and a look of sadness in his eyes for the loss of his lover.

Reading the scrap and having heard the plan, much of Kalin’s terror had been replaced by anxiety, but he was being to believe that he was capable of completing the task, as long as his nerves didn’t betray him.  After asking several questions and some interactive questions, along with a second glass of whiskey, Kalin had agreed to get involved.  The hit would be next Wednesday and he knew there was no turning back now.  He was a liability to the RHM that would prevent him from backing out.  But could he actually pull this off.

With the sounds of squeaking hinges, Kalin was brought back to reality as he saw an enormous man walk through the doorway and into the bar.  Kalin had never seen Rocko before and had heard stories, but this many was easily six and a half feet tall, with massive shoulders hidden under a black trench coat.  The bar was very quiet with only three patrons and the bartender.  Kalin’s job was to let the other two patrons along with the bartender subdue Rocko and then as he died, he was to recite the message on the scrap of paper.  The two patrons sat at a table strategically across from where the bartender stood chipping on a block of ice with an ice pick, allowing the broken pieces to fall down into the cooler below. 

Rocko walked in and eyed the two patrons that appeared to pay no attention to him while they talked about something involved delayed shipping deliveries.  These two patrons were hired by Uncle Tommy from an out of town family.  They had been hired for being good fighters and tenacious, with both of them being large framed men.  But Rocko still dwarfed these two men in size, causing Kalin’s anxiety to soar.

As Kalin watched, Rocko turned his back on the two men and put his hand into his right pocket, pulling out an envelope.  Rocko had proven to be a creature of habit, and just as was anticipated, he laid the envelope on the counter, placed his flat hand over the top, and pushed it toward the busy bartender.  The bartender, looked up at Rocko, smiled, and with one fluid motion, slammed down the ice pick through the center of Rocko’s flat hand and firmly into the counter.

On cue, the two men jumped up and one pulled a garrote around Rocko’s neck as his scream of pain was cut off abruptly.  The other man grabbed hold of Rocko’s left arm, attempting to prevent him from either pulling a weapon, removing the ice pick, or fighting back against the garrote.  Kalin sucked in a breath and held it as he watched the struggle of the large men at the bar.

Rocko threw his head back, catching the man pulling on the garrote off guard.  Rocko’s head slammed into the nose of the hand behind, knocking him backwards, but he didn’t let go of the garrote.  Rocko leaned back as the garrote wielder caught his balance and tried to recover from the massive blow with only the ice pick keeping Rocko from tumbling over backwards.  But this also gave Rocko a little more mobility and he stepped to his left and shoved the other patron away, first with his shoulder and then an extended arm.  The patron last his footing as he toppled over a bar stool, falling hard to the floor several feet away.

Kalin could see the momentum swinging in Rocko’s direction and he jumped up from his seat and rushed forward.  While he had been seated only ten feet away, the time to cover the distance seemed to move in slow motion.  Half the distance and he watched as Rocko reached for the ice pick.  And then with a tug, the ice pick was pulled free as the garrote was pulled tighter around Rocko’s throat.  Kalin, the bartender, and the other patron all converged on the large man now armed with a weapon.  Rocko attempted to stab behind himself with the pick, but the first stabbing motion had missed and placed his arm in an awkward position.  The other patron was able to secure the arm as Rocko and the garrote wielder fell backwards over a chair and onto the floor.  The bartender and Kalin jumped on top of the man, pinning down his right arm that was now freed as it reached inside his coat for another weapon.

Kalin felt like the fight lasted an eternity, but was probably over in less than a minute.  The large man’s movements began to take on a panic’s motion, reaching for anything that may give him a few more seconds of life.  Kalin, breathing heavy, remembered that he had a job to do.

Clearing his throat and taking a quick deep breathe, he pulled himself directly up in front of Rocko’s face, as he continued to weakly strain against his attackers.  “You killed my beloved Dina and now you get to feel what you have made so many others feel.  That is your life slipping away Mother Fucker.  Love Uncle Tommy!”  Upon completion of the statement he had practices many times, Rocko made a last convulsion as his muscles went limp and his eyes took on a haunted look.

All four men stayed in their grasp of the large man for an extended time, making sure he was truly dead.  Finally, Kalin took the initiative and standing up on shaking legs, said “Ok, that’s enough.  He’s gone.”  Then he walked to the doorway at the back of the bar and into the kitchen area.  Navigating to the back, he pushed open a door to the outside to find two men, standing next to a garbage truck.  The two men instantly threw down their cigarettes, stamping them out with the sole of their boots before heading inside the bar.

As Kalin walked back inside, he saw the two patrons walk out the front door and the bartender lock the door behind them.  The two patrons jumped in Rocko’s car and pulled out of the parking space and into the light afternoon traffic.

As the two garbage men dragged Rocko’s lifeless body out of the bar, his only thought was “How in the hell are they going to get him up and impale him on the City Hall fence?”