The Audit

Luca’s eyes widened. He squeezed the trigger.

* Click.*

The hammer fell on an empty chamber. No bang. No flash.

Luca stared at the gun. He racked the slide, ejecting the unspent round, and pulled the trigger again.

* Click.*

"The firing pin," Arthur said pleasantly, stepping forward. "I removed it while you were watching the game. You really should pay more attention to the details, Luca. The devil is in the details."

"You..." Luca looked at Arthur. The shy, terrified accountant was gone. In his place stood a man with the posture of a predator and the eyes of a shark. "Who are you?"

"They call me The Auditor," Arthur said. "The Commission sends me when they suspect a family branch is... rotting."

Arthur reached into his pocket. He didn't pull out the firing pin. He held up the green inhaler.

"You thought this was Albuterol?" Arthur smiled. It wasn't a nervous smile. It was terrifying. "It's a pressurized mixture of Halothane and a proprietary paralytic agent. I've been dosing myself with the antidote all week in my water."

Luca lunged, swinging the heavy gun like a club.

Arthur didn't flinch. He sidestepped the blow with a grace that defied physics, pivoting on his heel. As Luca stumbled past, Arthur depressed the canister, spraying a cloud of odorless mist directly into Luca’s face.

Luca coughed. He tried to turn, to strike again, but his legs turned to water.

"Sit down, Luca," Arthur commanded.

The Bull collapsed. He hit the tiles hard. He tried to lift his arms, but his nerves had been severed from his muscles. He was locked in his own body. Only his eyes could move, darting wildly in terror.

Arthur stood over him. He adjusted his tie.

"I didn't just donate your money to the police," Arthur said, his voice echoing in the cold room. "I also sent your father the real ledger. And I texted your location to his enforcers about twenty minutes ago."

Arthur checked his watch—a cheap Casio calculator watch.

"They should be at the back door in... ninety seconds."

Luca tried to scream, but only a wet gurgle came out.

"Don't worry," Arthur leaned down, his face inches from Luca’s frozen mask of horror. "I balanced the books. The debt is paid. You're just the remainder."