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I’ll do my best to answer them. One thing you have to understand. What I do, you cannot tell anyone, and no one must know who I am.”
    “Really Michael, who do you think I’ll be talking to that I’m going to tell? And, yes, I do have many questions. Michael, you are Catholic, does it not concern you that you will go to hell for killing people. Remember a little commandment called Thou Shall Not Kill?”
    Michael smiled and dropped his head. “Yes, Vivie, the nuns drilled those lovely commandments into my head in the same manner they drilled them into yours. The way I feel about it is this; when I stand before God all mighty, I am hoping that he will understand that while I was here on his good earth, that I was doing his work, I was ridding the world of evil, dangerous, vermin. In addition, I’m hoping he will look at me and say that I’ve done a good job, and let me enter into eternal peace. God knows I haven’t had any since I’ve been born.”
    Vivie placed her arms around Michael and held him tight. How this man, that is so tender and open and compassionate with her, can be the same man who, without a second thought, will take the life another human being, was beyond Vivie’s comprehension.
    “If your feelings for me have changed, if you are afraid of staying here with me, alone, I understand. I will help you find a place to live and help you until you can find a job.  I’ll not ask you to stay with me if you’re uncomfortable.”
    “Do I look like I’m afraid of you, Michael? I do not understand how you can do what you do, but I am not afraid of you. Michael, you saved my life. You are truly my hero. If you would not mind, I would like to stay with you a while longer. I would like to learn more about what you do. Understand, I’m not trying to be nosey and I don’t need to know specifics, but I truly want to know what it’s like, being a cleaner, or hit man or…what do you prefer to be called, Michael?”
    “I prefer to be called Michael.”
    Vivie looked into Michael’s eyes. "Very well, Michael, it is."
    “May I ask why you want to know what it’s like to do what I do?”
    “It’s simple; I’ve never known anyone that has a job like yours. I am in the market for a new profession. Perhaps that’s the kind of work that I would be good at.” Vivie laughed.
    Michael pulled away from Vivie, irritation in his face. “Have you gone insane? Do you actually believe, for one minute that I would, encourage you, to become a killer? Let us not even consider the fact that you are a woman, but stop and think of the danger involved. Vivian, I will not even entertain the idea of you destroying your future, by becoming a hired killer. No; absolutely not.”
    “Michael O’Bannon, how dare you take that tone with me. Who do you think you are to be telling me what I can and cannot do with my life? And to add that I cannot do something because I am a WOMAN. I’ll be damned, Michael, if you or anyone else will say that to me.”
    “Vivie, have you ever even shot a gun?”
    “No, Michael, I have not. Does that mean I cannot learn? Or is it because I am a woman that I am too stupid to learn? What exactly are you saying to me Michael?”
    “What I’m saying, Vivie, is that it takes skill, skill that cannot be learned overnight. When a cleaner starts out they start with a rifle, something they can use where they will not have to be that close to their target. I doubt you could even lift a rifle, and, if you could, the kick from it would kick you back, flat on your pretty little ass. As a cleaner gains more experience, they can get closer to their target, and use different weapons. An experienced cleaner can use a knife, but that means very close contact with the target. It takes years to become a good cleaner, Vivie.”
    “I have nothing but time, Michael. Now are you going to train me or not?”
    “I am not.”
    “Michael, if you do not train me, I will have to learn by trial and error.” Do you really