Gloria sat in the hardwood pew of a church with the word “Hope” in its title. She was there to find hope for her miserable life. A convicted felon and habitual drug user, isn’t this the most appropriate place for her? Bill sat in a pew not too far away and felt he needed redemption. His marriage was on the rocks (literally as a rock smoker) and finances were tight. On the way out they connected, said a few words and talked about people they knew in common. Bill got divorced and they fell in love and got married. A match made in heaven it seemed. The months slipped by and bitterness grew toward the ex wife. Isabelle was demanding, greedy and wanted part of his pension and of all things his new Toyota truck. Neither of them would stand for this. It was an injustice and out rage.
One night they talked about how to get the ex-wife to go away. Maybe he should just give her the truck. No, that was Bill’s pride and joy, beside it wasn’t paid for. She might have suggested it first. “Too bad she just doesn’t die. It would make life so much easier.” He agreed but needed a little more encouragement, after all it was a big step…seeing your ex wife die…intentionally. Gloria reached out to a friend of a family member who knew some gangsters; surely one of them had the balls to kill Isabelle. The friend made a few calls and found a guy who does these kinds of things. Hit men are not someone to trifle with or become friends with.
They met at the Green Cat Liquor store 5200 Imperial Avenue. Izzy is a short Hispanic man wearing a Padres baseball jersey. Even though this area is called the 4 corners of death, Izzy was comfortable even confident. Bill was not. He was not sure about this and was tenuous in dealing with a stone cold killer. It was worth the risk. They both wanted her dead. Bill got into the passers side of the killer’s car. Izzy talked first…you sure you want to do this? Once it’s done you can’t take it back. Yes. I have thought about it. I want both of them dead. Both? Who else? Isn’t one enough? No, I want her son killed too. Izzy…”Oh I don’t know, I don’t kill kids. How old is he.” Even killers have some code of ethics. Bill…”He’s 29. He wants my truck and she wants my money. I want them dead and it has to be done by the 13th of October. That’s when the court order takes affect. Izzy handed him a brown paper bag to write her name and address. Bill also handed him a picture. Bill reached for the door handle to leave.
No. no.no…not yet. We haven’t talked price. Price? I thought you do this for free because you like this. I’m trying to save money, not spend it. “I like doing this, but I’m not gonna risk going to prison for life for you if I don’t get money.” Surely you can scrap together some cash. Say $500 a piece. Bill got out of the car and called a few people begging for money to be paid back. Bill could not get the cash but was reluctant to tell the killer. He had to think of a different way. He talked to Gloria. Maybe he can make it look like a robbery and take the TV. Bill offered this to the killer. “You can’t get WIC (welfare money) or freakin’ cheese from the government.? Yes, I can but that could take time. Look, just make it look like a robbery. Okay, saying I do. What kind of TV do they have? A flat screen? High Definition? No it sits on top of the dresser. It’s the poor area of town what do you expect. They agreed and parted company. Under cover police cars followed the hit man away where he stopped at a nearby cemetery to look for counter surveillance vehicles. There was none. Izzy, an under cover police detective, pulled the micro recorder from his pocket where he taped the entire conversation. He is a CIU detective working murder for hire cases.
I drove home that night pitying the woman who was the target; thankful for great detectives like Izzy who are so natural in a deep cover capacity, and proud I was not Bill or Gloria. Unfortunately, while sitting on the can, I read Matthew 5:21-26.
It put things into perspective quickly. (paraphrase) You say a man who murders gets judgment…I say anyone who is angry with his brother deserves judgment. (Ouch) When offering a gift and you remember your brother has something against you (not you against him) quickly go and resolve the issue then come and worship. How else can the body of Christ function as a cohesive community? It takes settling things even if we are in the right. That’s the tough part. Humility, who would have thought.
Bill and Gloria came back to look at the pictures the “killer had of the murder, proud and relieved to be free of the greedy woman.” They were arrested for solicitation of murder. As a man thinks in his heart…so is he.
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