your average take it for granted royal pain in the backside? He has likely figured that you and I have a history and you might not be up to the task.”
“ Way ahead of you,” Stafford handed Shew a folded paper. “Follow those instructions and I’ll make sure you are safely beheaded and on your way with, what did you say your wife’s name was? Martha?”
Shew unfolded the paper read it and sighed, “I hope this works.”
“Just be careful,” cautioned Stafford. “The king may have more than one person on your tail as a backup and until I can implement the plan you have an X on your back.”
As Shew got up to leave Stafford said, “One more thing. Meet me back here tomorrow night - same time. Wendell will have his band of idiots here spying on me and I want them to hear our conversation. I don’t have to tell you to take precautions; you never know if one of them might get ambitious.”
Hugo the pickpocket was in a good mood; he had skillfully relieved a wealthy man of his considerable wallet and was now at a local tavern celebrating his bounty, sipping on his fourth glass of wine. Hugo was a very skillful pickpocket; one didn’t get to be his age otherwise. He seldom practiced his craft these days. – Mostly he taught younger thieves and was happy for a small percentage, but the wealthy man had just been too easy to ignore and the prize too big. Hugo was not only known for his near magical ability to lift belongings from unsuspecting passersby, he was also known for being cruel natured and brutal to women; especially to those that refused him. As the evening wore on he was soon joined by a long-time friend, Alto; a local tough that did favors of the unpleasant sort for other local criminals. Alto in the interest of free drinks had joined Hugo and was soon beerily celebrating the evening with him. As the wine flowed they were joined by others; both strangers and acquaintances.
They were quite intoxicated by the time that they decided that some female company was in order and at the suggestion of one of the strangers in the group they soon exited the tavern in pursuit of the fairer gender. As Alto and Hugo staggered down the street they found themselves in front of a barber shop that was open late. In their inebriated state they readily heeded the advice of the barber who had been sweeping the front walkway that a shave and a haircut would improve their chances of a more successful dalliance with the ladies. It wasn’t long before Hugo found himself seated in the barber’s chair not caring whether he needed a haircut or not but enjoying the warm towel on his face. Alto had passed out in a waiting chair snoring with a pleasant smile. About the time the barber finished stropping the razor Hugo passed out as well never noticing as the barber placed restraint bands on His wrists and ankles. The last thing that entered Hugo’s mind before he surrendered to unconsciousness was how much the barber looked like the wealthy man he had robbed.
The next day the newspaper told of an unexplained fire in an abandoned building and an unidentified body that was burned beyond recognition – the cause had been attributed to a homeless man starting a fire in an abandoned building.
Shew kissed His wife goodbye as she boarded the coach that would take her to her sister’s house in the country. After it had driven away he strolled towards the taxi pick up area and hailed a cab and began the final phase of Staffords plan.
As the cab pulled away from the curb Shew thought about Stafford. How much did he trust the man? He had followed his plan to the letter but as he neared the final stage his years of training and paranoia began to creep forth. With a sudden change of mind Shew told the cabby to change direction and head to the Palace.
Wendell Sapp was a spy; not a very good one to those that were, but in his own mind he
“ Way ahead of you,” Stafford handed Shew a folded paper. “Follow those instructions and I’ll make sure you are safely beheaded and on your way with, what did you say your wife’s name was? Martha?”
Shew unfolded the paper read it and sighed, “I hope this works.”
“Just be careful,” cautioned Stafford. “The king may have more than one person on your tail as a backup and until I can implement the plan you have an X on your back.”
As Shew got up to leave Stafford said, “One more thing. Meet me back here tomorrow night - same time. Wendell will have his band of idiots here spying on me and I want them to hear our conversation. I don’t have to tell you to take precautions; you never know if one of them might get ambitious.”
Hugo the pickpocket was in a good mood; he had skillfully relieved a wealthy man of his considerable wallet and was now at a local tavern celebrating his bounty, sipping on his fourth glass of wine. Hugo was a very skillful pickpocket; one didn’t get to be his age otherwise. He seldom practiced his craft these days. – Mostly he taught younger thieves and was happy for a small percentage, but the wealthy man had just been too easy to ignore and the prize too big. Hugo was not only known for his near magical ability to lift belongings from unsuspecting passersby, he was also known for being cruel natured and brutal to women; especially to those that refused him. As the evening wore on he was soon joined by a long-time friend, Alto; a local tough that did favors of the unpleasant sort for other local criminals. Alto in the interest of free drinks had joined Hugo and was soon beerily celebrating the evening with him. As the wine flowed they were joined by others; both strangers and acquaintances.
They were quite intoxicated by the time that they decided that some female company was in order and at the suggestion of one of the strangers in the group they soon exited the tavern in pursuit of the fairer gender. As Alto and Hugo staggered down the street they found themselves in front of a barber shop that was open late. In their inebriated state they readily heeded the advice of the barber who had been sweeping the front walkway that a shave and a haircut would improve their chances of a more successful dalliance with the ladies. It wasn’t long before Hugo found himself seated in the barber’s chair not caring whether he needed a haircut or not but enjoying the warm towel on his face. Alto had passed out in a waiting chair snoring with a pleasant smile. About the time the barber finished stropping the razor Hugo passed out as well never noticing as the barber placed restraint bands on His wrists and ankles. The last thing that entered Hugo’s mind before he surrendered to unconsciousness was how much the barber looked like the wealthy man he had robbed.
The next day the newspaper told of an unexplained fire in an abandoned building and an unidentified body that was burned beyond recognition – the cause had been attributed to a homeless man starting a fire in an abandoned building.
Shew kissed His wife goodbye as she boarded the coach that would take her to her sister’s house in the country. After it had driven away he strolled towards the taxi pick up area and hailed a cab and began the final phase of Staffords plan.
As the cab pulled away from the curb Shew thought about Stafford. How much did he trust the man? He had followed his plan to the letter but as he neared the final stage his years of training and paranoia began to creep forth. With a sudden change of mind Shew told the cabby to change direction and head to the Palace.
Wendell Sapp was a spy; not a very good one to those that were, but in his own mind he
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