VINDICATION

The residential street was empty as the parcel delivery truck pulled up and stopped. The driver took a medium sized package out of the back and started up the driveway. With the exception of some kids playing down the street, the neighborhood was empty of life. The occupant of the house was in the double car garage standing at the workbench. Seeing the driver approaching, the middle-aged man walked to the opened door.

“I have a package for B. Parks.”

“That's me,” Parks said, seeing a second deliveryman coming up the driveway also.

“Please sign here,” the driver said laying the clipboard on top of the box.

As Parks signed his name two silenced 9mm bullets from under the box ripped through Park’s stomach and chest. He fell violently against the trunk of his car then back towards the second man who shoved him in between the two parked cars. Just then the inside door to the garage opened.

“Honey, lunch is ready. Oh did we get a package?”

The second man shot her through the upper chest and she fell back into the house. As the two men entered the house a German shepherd dog running at them from the living room surprised them. Two shots quietly exploded from the driver's automatic and the dog lay silently next to the woman. They searched the house quickly and found no one else. They left, closing the garage door behind them.

Back inside the truck the second shooter keyed his cell phone.

“Yes,” the voice on the other end said.

“Target one terminated.”

“Very well, proceed to your next location.”

The driver drove about a half mile and pulled around in back of a vacant service station stopping next to a dark green Lexus. They slipped out of their deliveryman coveralls and threw them in the back of the truck on top of two parcel deliverymen lying dead on the floor. They drove out of the station, found the freeway entrance and then headed south.