Once Upon A Wish : Book One by Richard Poche

the radio.
“Did she see you?”
“I don’t think so,” Hernan said.
“What do you mean you don’t think so? We
can’t leave any witnesses. That’s the rule. Remember?”
Hernan nodded his head. “We can go
back.”
Nestor turned a corner and the truck came
to a stoplight.
A group of schoolchildren crossed the
street. All walking in file. A young Hispanic girl waved hello at
the men in the truck.
    “ Hola !” Hernan yelled out.
    “ Hola !” said two other giggling
girls.
“We can’t go back now.” Nestor turned down
the radio.
A young teacher trailed the kids. She had
curly brown hair to her shoulders and she smiled at the men,
shrugging her shoulders as if to say ‘What can you do?’
“Sorry,” she said. “Field trip today!”
Nestor nodded his head and managed a
smile.

The hits got easier and easier. They
preferred hits during the morning hours. Nestor would take a few
days to track the movements of the targets and find the optimal
time. They performed hits throughout Oakland, Vallejo and
Richmond.
Nestor didn't bother reading or listening
to the news. Hearing about the things they did would only make him
nervous.
Cisneros always came through with payment.
They would wait behind an abandoned Mexican restaurant in town and
a man would drive up in a Subaru. He would throw a brown bag into
their pickup and speed off.
Nestor was on edge during the pick-ups. He
knew that one day the man in the Subaru would point a gun at him as
opposed to throwing a bag of money.
Hernan spent as much time as he could with
Ana. He would see her once a week. And take her to the duck pond to
talk.
     
Cisneros had not contacted them for about a
month.
Their rent and other bills were paid.
Nestor decided to risk a little capital at the horse races that
Saturday.
He put a sizable chunk of money on the
daily double and lost. Then he doubled down on a fourth race exacta
and lost again. In the stakes race, he won a superfecta and
high-fived Hernan. He had never felt this confident in his life. He
finally had a win streak going.
“Let's go get some chili burgers!” he said
to Hernan.
Hernan started to smile big until he saw
the Escalade parked in front of them.
The driver side door opened and the large
Latino man stepped out. Nestor remembered Cisneros referring him to
him as “Carlos with a K.”
They approached the vehicle with caution
until Cisneros popped his head out.
    “Should have given you a
hot tip,” Cisneros said. “ Amped was my horse.”
“I bet on him,” Nestor nodded.
“So you won!” Cisneros shook Nestor's hand
as they entered the vehicle.
Karlos closed the door and waited
outside.
     
“I must say you guys are a doing a damn
good job,” Cisneros said. “Damn good. You have done your heritage
proud. In fact, I'd say you two are probably the most efficient
damn hit men I've ever had. I can't afford to lose you. Too
valuable an asset to the company.”
Cisneros slipped Nestor a manila
envelope.
“You'll find everything that you need in
here. And within the week, please.”
“Of course.”
“Pay is the same. You know, gambling is a
bad habit. I never gamble unless I know for sure the odds are in my
favor.”
Nestor nodded his head.
“The other day I bet on the damn Raider
game. Should have known not to bet. I mean, their running back is
fresh out of rehab and says he found God. That's the last thing the
owner wants to hear. When a player finds religion, it takes away
his edge. Takes away his drive and ruthlessness. A woman can have
the same effect.”
As if on cue, Karlos opened the door and
motioned for Hernan and Nestor to exit.
“Keep up the good work, gentleman.”
Cisneros took out the cell phone from his breast pocket and began
texting.
     
Hernan and Nestor walked back toward their
truck. Walking behind Hernan, Nestor opened the manila envelope to
see who their next victim would be.
Inside were surveillance photos