"Excuse me, do you have the time?" The first thing I noticed was her eyes. They were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. They were so blue, a gentile blue that really caught your attention. Her eyes were more blue than the sky.

"I'm sorry what did you say?" I didn't remember, I was too busy studying the perfect shape of her pale face, how every feature seemed to be so proportionate and how her brown hair made those eyes even more noticeable. Her hair fell so perfectly, with little waves all throughout it, and ended at the middle of her back.

“Do you have the time?" It was such an odd expression, what I mean is that it's rarely used. Usually, people demand the time from a stranger with a dismissive "What time is it?" but not her. She said these words with class and grace. She seemed so comfortable saying it, as if she had been speaking only these simple words her whole life.

"Oh, it's 6:15," I told her and she thanked me and turned around to walk away. She faced the trains with an expectant poise that raised my suspicions. Her clothing looked as if it was designed for her. Even though it was winter and she was wearing a layer or two, her clothes still held her shape. Her slim, warm jacket hugged the small curves of her body and almost sighed with delight to belong to someone so beautiful. The scarf that was coupled with her skirt and gloves in color and style offered sweet relief for her cold skin. Her hands were soft, you could tell even with the gloves on. The way she was so graceful with them in everything she did, those were the hands of a careful seamstress.

Her skirt was just long enough to cover everything that needed to be covered, but short enough to leave a little fun for a young man's imagination. This is what was amazing; that a skirt could still hold the shape of the curves on someone so thin. She wasn’t thin to the point where it was sickly or even close to that, on the contrary, she was the perfect body shape. Her legs, covered in patterned tights, were holding up this masterpiece with such grace and style. One leg straight, and the other bent, but she wasn't leaning or anything. I'm not sure how she did it, but when she stood up straight her body was completely proportionate, no leaning or slouching, and when she bent one leg it was exactly the same. Almost as if she were suspended in a moment of continuous walking, walking in boots that just covered her ankle and had a slight heel to make a clicking sound when she stepped. It was difficult not to stare.

She was waiting for someone, but she wasn't impatient. She stood, looking around, and finally saw a man carrying a briefcase. She walked over to him with her hips gently swaying back and forth and her feet effortlessly carrying her forward. Her walk was enough to stun any man, but this man had an agenda. She asked him the time, I was reading her small, red lips and she asked him a second time. I could not see the man's face, it was turned in the opposite direction, and he was looking towards the trains. He never made eye contact with her, I could tell, he kept moving his head around. When they had finished their exchange, she turned and began to walk in the direction of the trains as he exited the station.

When she was a good distance away, I closed my book and followed her. I did this not because of her beauty or her eyes, I did this because this is the woman I was hired to murder.

She was a relatively new agent, and this was the first case she had been assigned to where she would be out in the field. New agents are the easiest of targets, especially when so delicate. It was almost unfair that I was getting paid to dispose of such a masterpiece with hardly any effort at all.

As I approached the tracks, I glanced to my left and saw her patiently waiting for the train to arrive. She wasn’t showing even the slightest hint of nervousness, a little unusual, but I assumed that’s why she was hired and put on the case. I began to walk over to her and considered my options. Pushing her onto the tracks was out of the question. There were too many witnesses and it would cause a scene and delay the trains, which needed to keep running for the purpose of the mission. No, this time will be quick, easy, and very private.

“Excuse me, but I do believe you dropped this,” I handed her a dollar that I had placed on the ground behind her.

“Oh, thank you so much, I’m always losing money,” she had a confidence that was so unfamiliar to me. I ignored it and began to arrange the perfect opportunity.

“I don’t believe I caught your name before, I’m Jacob,” I held out my hand and she shook it firmly, it was almost as if she already knew that this was business, not pleasure. I reminded myself that a new agent couldn’t possibly know who I am when some of the oldest agents can hardly recognize my face.

“It’s very nice to meet you Jacob, my name is Maryanne,” the train noisily came into view the moment our hands released and slowly came to a stop in front of us.

“Would you like to share a car, Maryanne? I’m afraid my companion for the journey has fallen ill and I have a whole section to myself,” I saw a glimpse of hesitation in her eyes, followed quickly by joy.

“I would love to be your companion, Jacob. Travelling alone can turn into an unending bore,” she followed me to my reserved car.

“So tell me Maryanne,” I began after we got settled, “What’s a stunning woman like you doing travelling all alone?” We talked for hours about her family and their disapproval of her wanting to be an actress, she was very convincing. After a short while, I purchased us some drinks, making sure to slip the poison into the whole bottle, just to be sure it would take full effect after several glasses. “My glass has a chip in it; I’ll be right back,” I left her alone and disposed of my glass in the bathroom. I then went to the bar to get a new glass and had it filled with some nice Sauvignon Blanc.

When I returned, I sat down and picked up the note that was underneath her wine glass.

Jacob,

You are extremely charming and I apologize for my hasty retreat. Unfortunately, someone has tampered with the wine you purchased. Benny, at the bar, told me that it was you, but I refuse to believe that. I have some unfinished business to attend to, but since I can see I am not welcome on this train, I got off at the last stop. I will find another way to complete my goal. You truly are very kind and I look forward to meeting you again in the near future.

Yours Truly,


Maryanne

I tucked the note into my jacket pocket and looked out the window as I heard a distant ticking sound for the first time. I finished my wine, exited the train car, and quickly moved to the car closest to the conductor’s room and as far away from mine as possible. The explosion was small, and only took out the one car, but several people were injured and the trains were delayed. She achieved her goal; the trains were delayed, and she had escaped. She had courage; courage and blue eyes.