Diary of an Assassin by Victor Methos Page A

to. But not anymore.”
    “You were a…”
    “ I killed people for money.”
    She swallowed and looked away, out the window again. “Why are you helping me? Really?”
    “You remind me of someone, and no one was there to help her when she really needed it.”
    “How do I know you’re not still working for them?”
    “If I wanted to kill you, I’ve had a dozen opportunities. This is the exit.”
    They pulled off the freeway and into an intersection that led up a road with several farms. Turning down another road past a herd of cattle that was fenced off with an electrified fence, they followed a dirt road up and over a hill before coming to a gate on their left. Rhett got out of the car and retrieved a key from his pocket for the gate. He drove the car through and then got out to lock the gate again, glancing down both sides of the road before getting back in.
    Up another dirt path was an old farmhouse. It was like something out of the nineteenth century. White exterior with a big unfenced yard and an old red barn about a hundred meters south of it. Rhett parked under an apple tree and stepped out. He opened the door for Stephanie and helped her out as his eyes darted around in search of anything that may be out of place.
    “ Where are we?” she said.
    “It used to be my grandparents ’ place.”
    They walked along the gravel road that curved up to the farmhouse. Rhett unlocked it and they went inside. The home was one story with a Dutch oven in the living room. One entire wall was glass and looked out onto the orchard of apple and peach trees. The kitchen and bedrooms were off to the side.
    “Nobody knows about this place,” he said. “Just make sure not to call anybody from the landline. You shouldn’t use your cell phone either.”
    “I have to make calls. I have appearances I’m supposed to be at, meetings, people are going to think I’ve disappeared.”
    “ You have disappeared. No calls. You said you would do as I say. If not, you can be on your own.”
    “Fine, no calls.”
    “There’s no food here. I’m going to run up to the store. I should be back in half an hour.”
    She nodded as he walked out the door. Rhett locked it behind him and did a quick run of the property. He checked the barn, and the work shed that was behind the home. He stood quietly for a long time and just listened. When he was satisfied that no one else was here, he got into his car and passed through the gate. As he locked it, he looked down both sides of the road and realized they couldn’t stay here long. They would find them here. They would go through all his records and every single one of his relative’s, and hers too. They would check everywhere just to be sure.
    As he pulled away, he glanced into his rearview mirror and saw Stephanie at the window, staring out at him.
     

 
    CHAPTER 20
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Rhett turned on the radio as he drove and then turned it off when he found he couldn’t concentrate with it on. The farmlands that surrounded him were comforting, reminding him of his childhood.
    Though he remembered little of his parents, his grandparents stood out in his mind as the kindest people he ever knew. He couldn’t remember a single instance of his grandfather getting angry with him or anyone else.
    His grandparents were Mormon and had lived in rural Alaska for most of their lives. They had moved out here to be closer to the large community of Mormons that had made upstate New York their home. After having five children, including Rhett’s mother, they retired and worked their farm, making just enough money to get by. Though they didn’t have many luxuries, Rhett couldn’t remember a happier home.
    His parents would come up from Philadelphia and drop him off here throughout the year for long stretches of time. Occasionally for more than six months. School was off and on so his grandparents took it upon themselves to educate him. He would study history and math and