ONE
Tacoma Theater
9:42 P.M., Friday
"Jason, wake up!"
Jason Muestro opened his brown eyes to his wife's mad face.
"Whoa," he fell back in his seat.
"Jason! I can not believe you fell asleep in Carmen!" she said in an angry whisper. She sat back in her seat and changed her attention back to the source of the intense noise that some, not him but some, called music.
Up on stage a blonde actress was singing to a brown haired man, Jason didn't know the plot of Carmen, but he was sure he wouldn't like it. Jason ran his hand through his dark black hair. He straightened out his gray suit coat. His wife had complained that he was underdressed and was about to make him change into a more formal attire when the baby- sitter came earlier that night. He had kissed his two year old daughter good-bye and had rushed Jill out the door before she could make him change. Jason hated dressing up. He wished he could wear blue jeans for the rest of his life. Unfortunately that wasn't possible.
"Jill? I'm going to be right back," Jason whispered in her ear. She nodded in acknowledgment but didn't really listen.
Jason stood up and walked slowly out into the hallway from his balcony seat. He walked as quietly as possible even though there was no one to disturb in the hallway except a security guard. The guard was in almost all black and seemed like a fixture. Jason walked by him and nodded.
"Hey Chris."
"Hello Mr. Muestro."
Chris respected Jason. No matter how many times Jason said to address him by his first name, Chris never listened.
Jason headed towards the lighted restroom sign and ducked into the male bathroom. Jason sleepily strode towards the dark black colored sinks and turned the water faucet to as cold as possible. He held two fingers under the thick stream of water, waiting for it to get as cold as possible. He looked in the mirror above the sink and examined his dark tan, slightly wrinkled skin. Jason was in his early 50's. He was one of the top people at the FBI. He was in charge of a few other groups too, that were less well-known, which is how he wanted it.
Jason's wife, Jill, was in her late 20's. Jill wasn't too smart, Jill didn't even know exactly what Jason did for a living, she didn't really care as long as he could afford to buy her everything her heart desired. What had first attracted her to Jason was his money, but over the last five years she has grown attached to him. Jill was a typical beauty queen. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, she was slim and kept up with the latest fashion trends.
Jason splashed the now ice cold water over his face to wake himself up. He grabbed a towel and dried off his face. He took another quick glance in the mirror and turned around. He jumped slightly at the unexpected vibrating that came from the right side of his belt. He pulled out his beeper and looked at the message. It read:
"Watch your back. Report ASAP"
Jason raised an eyebrow at the vague message. He quickly exchanged his cell phone from his pocket for his beeper and dialed the number that had been drilled into his head for years, but he hoped he would never have to use. He entered a touch-tone accesses code along with an identification code. He held the small cell phone up to his ear.
"What is it?" he said softly into the phone.
"I understand." He snapped the phone closed and put it in his pocket with his beeper. He had been told someone was trying to assassinate him and to leave to a secure area immediately. He started to walk down the hall at a brisk pace. He didn't nod to Chris. He paused for a moment at the door of his balcony. He had to get Jill, if they couldn't take him out, they might take her, just to cause him pain before his demise. He entered and sat down beside her. He grabbed her hand.
"Jill?" He whispered.
"Yes?" she said glancing at his quickly then back at the stage.
"I'm back."
"Ok," Jill said without looking at him.
"Jill, we hhh...." he trailed off and slumped back in his seat.
"Hmm?" Jill said still not taking her eyes off the stage.
She shrugged when he didn't answer and let go of his hand and
leaned closer to the stage. Jason's hand swung limply at his
side.