The Target

Chapter Two - Leslie

I killed the interview so much that Martha hired me right on the spot. Unlike other candidates, I was available as soon as possible and I actually showed interested in her child other than the money she was going to offer me.

That was funny because I was already getting paid to be there with her, now she was also going to pay me also. That was the nicest thing about some undercover jobs. Getting two salaries at the same time.

I have no idea how many times she apologised for calling me 'old', she ended up saying I actually don't look old I'm just matured. It was the cutest thing ever and it made me like her as a person. I knew that I was working for someone who had a heart and wasn't afraid to apologise. Other people would just leave it like that and assume that because they had money they could walk over people and offend them anyhow. She was different though and I was starting to warm up to the thought of babysitting for her... Even though her company was said to be building the biggest weapon ever.

I didn't ask much about the position though. I just asked about the living arrangements and she told me she had to discuss that with her husband first. Whom I had to meet when I was going to start working on Monday.

I was proud of myself. So proud that I did the last thing I wanted to do when I arrived home. Well, Captain forced me to do it and I had no other option but to follow orders.

"so you're a babysitter....? Really?" my ex asked and I tapped my feet a few times on the floor anxiously. I didn't want to do this but my captain insisted I do it... I mean he ordered that I do it. I don't know what he was playing at. I know the three of us were friends before he and I took the last job and I ended up getting shot.. He liked me and Lucia together. So maybe this was his plan to get us back together... I didn't know but I also didn't want to fail at my task. So I did it.

"yes I am.."

"you hate kids.." she spat matter of factly and I shook my head a little bit leaning back on the couch I was sitting on, "hate is a very strong word Lucia. I'm just not a fan of them... They are just... Babies.."

"riiiight.. So what are you doing here again?"

I dreaded this question an dhoped she wouldn't ask it. I really hated Christopher for telling me to come to my ex's place to 'practice being around a baby'.

Like couldn't they train me for the past three months while they were investigating the Pillow Empire? Now I had two days to get my s**t straight. And because I wanted to get back to work I couldn't pass on this.

"I'm here to see your child." I said confidently and Lucia started laughing, "you broke up with me two years ago... And now that they put you in a situation where you have to have a child involved you suddenly remember that I exist... Are you using me and my son?"

I couldn't run around with her and I couldn't deny it also. Lucia was not an i***t and she always loved it when I was honest with her. So I shrugged a bit, "no and yes... Yes I'm using you a little bit. I can't mess this up, it's my chance to come back again. I'm sorry.. I just..."

"get out.." she said and I sighed, "Lucia please think about this.. I don't want to cause any..."

I got cut off by a baby crying on a baby monitor not far from us. I learnt that there were baby monitors yesterday on the videos I watched...

I furrowed my brows at her, "is that him?"

She nodded her head before getting up, "yes... And I'd like you to leave now please."

I sighed and watched her disappear to the bedroom. I slowly got up too and thought about leaving. I thought about it then decided against it.

I waited nervously as I heard her talk to her son on the monitor she left.

'hey you.. You're up so soon? What woke you up baby? Are you starving?'

The baby started mumbling things and Lucia laughed, 'okay... Let's go see if mommy can't make you something to eat..'

I knew they were coming to join me back in here and somehow that thought made me nervous. It was so weird you'd swear the baby she was holding was mine and I was going to meet it for the first time.

I tried to down my nerves by pacing back and forth... That all made me feel a little bit silly.

"what are you still doing here?" Lucia asked walking back in from the bedroom and I smiled, "hey... Umh.. So umh.." I had no idea what to say to her, so I quickly turned my attention to the cute baby that she was holding, "hey... Hey Oliver..."

He looked at me and smiled. I automatically smiled too, "hey.. You look so big, how old are you now?"

"11 months... And please leave.." his mother said.

I ignored my ex and spoke to his son, "11 months huh.. How is it like staying with this grumpy cat.."

He laughed and I smiled, "yep I know that pretty well.. She is a headache this one..."

I saw Lucia watch me and her son communicate, more like me trash talk her and him laughing at whatever I was saying.

She sighed after a few seconds, "dude..."

"can I hold it.."

"him...it's him.. It is a human being not a thing.. and it can't be addressed as it.. So replace it with a him.."

I shook my head still looking at Oliver and extended my hands to him, "hey Oliver... How about I hold you while momma goes to make you something to eat.."

"momma..?" he said and I nodded my head, "yes.. Ask her for food. Say food."

"foo...? " he said and I laughed, "aren't you the smartest thing...." his mother gave me a death glare and I lifted both my hands up, ".. Human... Smartest human being ever.. Are you sure he's 11 months and not 2 years old or something?"

Lucia laughed, "shut up.. And Oliver why are talking to her? She's a horrible human being and a total stranger. What did I say to you about strangers?"

"talking..." Oliver said and I smiled at him, it was the most precious thing.. But still I was nervous a bit.. I was fine with babies as long as they were far from me.

"fine.. This is Sandra... My ex girlfriend.." Lucia said, "she ran away when I wanted to get pregnant with you.. That's how awful she is.."

I gasped at how blunt she was to her son and Oliver looked at me shocked. You could swear he really understood what his mother was saying.

"I know.. Shocking too right.." I said and he laughed.

I turned to look at my ex, "give me the baby. It wants me.."

"my baby is not an it.. And please leave.."

I sighed, "your mother is so rude... You can tell that she really missed me."

"momma..." Oliver said and I blew him a kiss, "I'll come visit again.. Maybe tomorrow."

Lucia put her son on the floor and turned to me, "look, I'm happy that you are back from whatever hole you've been hiding in.. I just don't think this is a good idea. Not for me and definitely not for my son. Please just don't complicate it. Don't come here again because I know you'll disappear... again.."

I sighed and internally debated whether I should tell her the truth or not. The truth was after I broke up with her I went for a job and I got shot then I stayed at the hospital for a month and 'recovered' for 9 months so that they wouldn't know I am a Werewolf at work.. Trying to 'learn' how to walk because of a bullet was not a joke. And I never even thought I'd be back at work because of what happened. It struck fear in me, something I didn't think off. And my father warned me about bullets..

But I was doing good now and wanted to keep myself busy so that I wouldn't have nightmares about my last job.

But she didn't know all that, she thought I broke up with her and then 'ran away.'

I shook my head, "Lucia things aren't as they seem..."

She nodded her head, "you're right there. You made me believe that we could have a family while you knew very well that you didn't want to have children."

"it's not that I don't want children I just.. The job that I do isn't safe. And these things are fragile... I'm not going to be a good mother okay.."

She shook her head and pushed me towards her door, "my son is hungry... You and I are no longer in a relationship so you don't have to explain all this to me.. I was just surprised when I got your call and wanted to see how you're doing. Now that I see you're okay and are still yourself... please leave okay."

I nodded my head a bit, "alright alright... It was good meeting Oliver... He is one of a kind. Kids his age can't even mumble anything."

"stop.. Just stop acting like you know what kids his age are supposed to be doing please.. Go.."

Truth was I now knew what kids his age were supposed to be doing. I didn't watch all those movies and YouTube videos and also read that book for nothing. I learnt something. But I didn't say that. I just gave in. I couldn't argue with her, worse when I was literally at her door. The neighbours would hear and attention was something I didn't want.

"alright... Call me anytime Lucia.."

"goodbye Sandra.."

I sighed and left her place. I started thinking of another plan as I made my way down the stairs. I was going to watch more baby videos before meeting Leslie.

..

"wooow your place is huge.. And beautiful.. Are you sure there's only three of you here no ghosts and all that?" I joked looking around the house with Martha.

She laughed, "umh.. No, sadly we don't have ghosts here.. So there aren't interesting stories about the house. Tell me, where do you stay..?"

"apartment in town.. And it is nothing compared to this. How many stories do you have here.."

"three going up.."

I turned around and looked at my new boss, "Woow.. You just made my no story place look like nothing."

She laughed, "this is nothing.. Just an empty house.." she said looking at the wall. I followed her eyes and saw that she was looking at a wedding picture of her and her husband. Her saying that looking at it gave me something. So the marriage wasn't good.. Interesting.

I sighed and decided to find out something," so after a year you are only deciding to go back to work.."

She shook her head, "I have actually been working since Leslie was 3 months."

"oh. Who has been taking care of her for the past 3 years then??"

"she had a babysitter.." she said and then turned, "let's go see her room upstairs.."

"why do you want a babysitter if your child already has a babysitter.." I asked following behind her.

She sighed, "she just texted me that she found something better and won't be able to come again... That was about three weeks ago.. "

Well that was probably the person who killed her.

"oh.. Good. I thought maybe she was killed in here. I don't want to die too."

"I'm a lawyer.. Why would I kill someone who's helping me in taking care of my family.."

"of course... I'm so sorry. I didn't know that lawyers can't be murderers.." I said sarcastically.

She stood by a door and turned to look at me, "were you being sarcastic... or did you actually mean that?"

I smiled, "I can't wait to meet Leslie.."

"you're awful.." she said before opening the door and I was welcomed by a pink and white room. Way too pink for my liking. I shook my head, "why on earth would you make this room so... pink?"

"it's my daughter's room.."

"and she told you she loved pink.. Sorry I forget these things.."

She stopped walking and looked at me. Gave me a look I couldn't read. I smiled and went past her to where Leslie was sitting, playing with a toy.

"hey Les.. I'm with momma bear here and she's told me a lot about you. How's this pink looking for you?"

Her daughter shook her head and said, "noooo..." as loud as she could.

I turned to her mother and laughed, "See my point.. She doesn't like this color.. We don't like it right Leslie?"

Leslie got up and took her doll. She handed it to me. I smiled and took it then she ran to her mother.

I watched as Martha picked her up and kissed her, "hey princess..."

"mommy... I want Daddy."

Her mother sighed, "well daddy was supposed to be here to meet your new babysitter..but he isn't.."

Leslie looked at me and I waved, "I'm definitely the new babysitter and not daddy. You can see that."

The baby smiled and then her mom's phone suddenly started ringing. Her mother quickly handed the baby to me, "I have to take this.. Sorry." and then she answered the phone without even waiting for my response.

I held Leslie a bit far from me at first, "hey you cute thing... Human.. Human I mean.. I'm still new at this, so bear with me."

She laughed and I laughed too, "so.. What do you like doing when you are alone in here.."

She wiggled and I quickly put her down. She started running around the big room that was full of toys and even a television.

"aren't you a bit young to have a television in your room?" I asked.

"no..." she said and I laughed, "oh great.. I am 29 and don't have a TV in my room. You probably are 30 years then."

She laughed, "yes..."

I sighed this baby had so many toys in here I could probably pay rent at my fake apartment if I were to sell them all. That was the problem with rich people. They were hardly there for the baby physically and emotionally, so they tried to close that gap with materialistic things. I shook my head feeling sorry for the kid already.

Leslie ran towards me and stood in front of me then aimed a fake hand gun at me, "poof..." she shot me with her fake gun and I stumbled backwards, "Leslie did you just shoot me?"

She laughed and shot me again, "poofff poofff.."

I slowly went on my knees and then fell to the ground, God the mat was so soft, "I'm dead.. You shot me. Call the cops.. Somebody call the cops.."

When I opened my eyes she was standing right next to me looking at me closely. I quickly got up and picked her up then started tickling her, "you killed me.."

She started laughing historically making me laugh too. She was going to be easy to babysit. I could shoot her all day long and we will be best friends... I thought internally.

"oh hey guys... Umh.. I have to go to the office right now.."

"right now? You'll leave her with me?" I asked internally panicking. Then I mentally hit myself for asking that stupid question. Who was she going to leave her with if not me? I mean I was her babysitter.

"yes please. Look I know I was supposed to make sure that you know your way around the house today, but I have to go to the office. Something came up.."

"mommy.... Don't go.." Leslie started crying.

"honey I'm sorry mommy has to go but you'll be with Sandra.. She'll take good care of you okay.. She'll buy you anything you want.." Martha said to her daughter and then turned to me, "okay.. Sandra she's allergic to peanuts okay... Just keep her company and maybe go to the mall with her.. There's money in the kitchen.. I'm sorry. It's just busy this time of the year.."

She kissed her daughter and left.... Just like that.

I was standing in a room looking at a baby who was crying historically. I looked at her dumbfounded and she couldn't stop. She kept on crying.

" Leslie.. " I attempted to talk to her but she shook her head, "mommy... " and screamed while looking at the door and I closed my eyes.

Babies.. Babies. This was exactly why I was not a fan of babies.