The city lights blazed in a multi-colored jumble, glittering on the harbor water. Even though it was late, the city bustled with activity. Cabs honked, music seeped through the walls of nightclubs, and groups of people in designer clothes milled about outside the symphony hall in the cool night air, waiting for the show to start.
One couple in particular was attracting a crowd. The woman - tall, slender, and beautiful, with a thick mane of dark brown hair elegantly wrapped her arm in her escort's elbow, flashing a genuine, winning smile. The man was tall as well, with muscular shoulders and chestnut hair. He was talking in the woman's ear. She nodded her head, always smiling and occasionally posing for a photo.
The crowd was noisy and everyone wanted to see the famous couple and get a picture of them to prove to their families that no, they were not lying, they really did stand next to the famous Greenes - right outside the Metropolitan Opera House! A few annoying paparazzi were trying to get a shot, but the couple suddenly turned away to head inside for the show.
As they took their reserved balcony seats, an older gentleman leaned toward the couple.
"Happy anniversary, Alec! Tosca was a good choice for the occasion." His eyes twinkled good-naturedly as he addressed the man. "And to you, Amelia. You look lovely tonight, as usual," he said, inclining his head toward the woman.
"Thank you, Bryce!" Amelia said, briefly embracing her old friend. "I'm so glad you were able to come to town. I've missed you so much these last few months."
"I take it you've been busy with your new business?" Alec asked. "Mia and I have been in way over our heads. I had to make a deal to work weekends for two months just to be free to celebrate our anniversary. And I'm the owner!"
"Well, I'm not as young as I used to be. My poor receptionist is killing herself trying to keep me from being too overworked," Bryce said with a chuckle.
"I think you look wonderful for sixty-three," Amelia smiled. "Oh! It's starting."
The crowd quieted as the lights dimmed and the first refrain began. Amelia watched the opera with near reverence, gasping and tearing up in all the right places until intermission. Exiting the balcony to the hallway, she posed once again with some fans, smiling and glowing in a way that stole all the attention in the room.
Unnoticed in the quiet shadows of their shared box, Alec spoke with Bryce, quickly and quietly.
"Are you ready?" He reclined easily against the back of his seat, for all the world looking like a man catching up with an old friend, but the tension in his voice betrayed him.
"Yes. Now?"
"Of course. I'll take care of it."
They clasped hands and embraced, a small, unremarkable gesture to conceal a small, unnoticeable object passing between them, as Alec stood up. Stepping into the hallway, he placed his hand on the small of his wife's back. "Darling, it's starting again."
Smiling and waving goodbye, Amelia allowed herself to be escorted by her husband back to their seats. A similar scene passed after the show, the two of them posing with fans before excusing themselves to make small talk with various high-profile acquaintances.
Before leaving, they stopped to say goodnight to Bryce. Amelia kissed him once on each cheek before declaring, "You should see your goddaughter before you leave town. She's dying to see you again!"
Bryce squeezed the hand that she'd rested on his forearm, the taught line of his lips the only betrayal of emotion. "Of course, my dear. I would never disappoint her."
Karen smiled and Dave clapped him on the back, all three pairs of eyes shining.
Now, walking hand-in-hand through Central Park by the water, they savored the blissful silence that only descended upon the city in the smallest hours of the morning. After all, how much silence did one get while in the city? Every moment was to be treasured.
"I wish every night was like this one," Amelia murmured to her husband. "The peace and quiet, seeing old friends…being with you." She smiled and looked into his eyes. Their lips touched; it could have been a few moments or many sunless days, it didn't matter which. All that mattered was that she was with him. She closed her eyes, embracing him.
"I love you. So much." Alec rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent. "Never, ever forget that." He lifted her chin and looked deeply into her warm, brown eyes. He thought he would drown in their molten depths. "No matter what. Promise me that."
"I promise," she whispered.
A harsh voice startled them. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need what you've got, Alec. And no mix-ups this time."
They turned around, still holding hands. Amelia inhaled stiffly. A woman clad in black was standing with a silenced gun, pointed directly at Alec's chest.
"I have a wallet," he said slowly, cautiously reaching into his jacket.
She smiled wryly. "You know what I'm here for." Her gaze met his, steely and unflinching.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said evenly.
"Oh, but I think you do," she said, her voice dangerously low. "Drop the clueless act."
The gun's barrel moved toward Amelia.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"Alec," Amelia said urgently, never taking her eyes off the barrel of the gun.
"It's okay, Mia. Everything's fine." The grip she had on his arm became vice-like.
"It's amazing how much damage you've done, if this is any indication of how well you lie," the woman said, not trying to conceal her contempt.
"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly. "Rebecca still too spineless to come herself, she had to send her guard dog?"
"You know exactly why I'm here, and you know exactly what I want." A thread of desperation wound itself through her voice. "Stop playing games with me. Give it to me, NOW! Give me the files!"
"I thought it was over. I thought we were finally safe," Amelia said, loud enough for the woman to hear. Her eyes welled with tears and her curtain of hair slid in front of her face as she rested her forehead against her husband's once again.
"Don't give them to her." Her voice was barely audible. "This is everything."
She looked into his eyes and he understood. She wasn't afraid to die. Not anymore. He tried to silently convey to her how incredibly sorry he was before straightening to face the woman.
"Okay, okay, I'll give you the files." He sighed resignedly, sliding his hand into his coat pocket. He withdrew a small plastic stick. "This is the flash drive. Plug it into a computer to activate it."
Her hungry gaze fell to the object between his fingers.
"Any security codes?"
"Yes, but I never changed them from last time. I guess I'll never make that mistake again."
"You're right. You won't." Something in her flinty gaze shifted. "Now toss it over."
Alec brought his arm back, ostensibly to toss it to her, but instead he grabbed his wife's hand and dashed into the trees toward the bridge.
The woman pelted after them, shooting erratically. The terrain worked to their advantage though, the changes in elevation and dense trees giving them cover. She cursed under her breath, but kept going.
Alec and Amelia reached the bridge, breathless.
"I'm so sorry, Mia. I thought we were safe, too."
"I never really believed this would be over unless we either took her down, or died."
"Guess you were right." The woman was panting from exertion, but her gun was steady as she once again pointed it at them. "Because this is ending tonight, one way or another. And since Rebecca isn't here, I guess there's only one other option, isn't there? Now give me the files, Alec, and I'll spare your wife. It isn't in my orders to kill her, but I will if you push me. Give them to me now, or god help me I'll shoot her."
She cocked the gun.
"He can't do that." Amelia's face was a mask as she moved her foot, revealing the crushed drive beneath her sole.
There was a furious gasp from the woman. A gunshot. Amelia's limp body tumbled over the railing in a billowing cloud of silk.
"NO!" Alec shouted, his voice choked with grief. He had tried to prepare himself for this, but it didn't deaden the pain, make it any less. He sank to his knees.
"You should have given it to me instead of playing stupid games," the woman hissed. She shot him twice in the chest.
He staggered to his feet as the blood blossomed on his white shirt. He looked down at it for a second, then stared into the woman's eyes.
"You lost," he whispered. "We beat you. Tell Rebecca I said that." Eyes flashing in defiance, he leaned over the railing and allowed gravity to pull him over and into the water.
The woman's face was frozen in sheer anger. She threw her head back and screamed.