Death is Part of the Process Essay Example

silence, his words lingered in the air.

Then: Spider: Understood. We must reach a consensus regarding the fee and the payment method, and it is crucial for me to obtain complete information about the target.

Shadow: Not at this moment. We can address all of these matters in due time.

I simply require the assurance that you will be dependable if your help is necessary. Shadow believed it unnecessary to disclose everything to Spider at this point. If Shadow's plans succeeded, Spider's assistance would not be required. Spider was merely a contingency plan in case something went awry.

As the words rapidly moved across the screen, a message appeared: "Spider: Unauthorised user detected. Disconnecting now." Shadow gazed intently at the screen.

Eyes staring empty. Shadow questioned, "What do you mean? Are you still present?" No answer followed. Anger twisted Shadow's face as they exclaimed, "Damn it! Damn you!" Suddenly, the gravity of the circumstances struck them - someone was observing their dialogue.

Breath hissed, the head sharply turned and the eyes stared back at the open doorway, indicating that someone was out there and coming.

Danny Bell was sitting at the back of the Mobile Surveillance Unit, bent over a bank of electronic equipment. He had a lightweight headset on and would occasionally glance up at monitor screens and digital displays. At the same time, he quickly typed on a laptop keyboard, fully engaged in the e-conversation between Spider and Shadow that was displayed on the screen.

In the back of the van, Danny sat with a man and a woman. Another man drove them through the rain-soaked streets of South London. The two people with Danny in the back were trainee police

officers like him. However, the driver was older and more experienced than all three passengers. Despite this, on this assignment, they followed Danny's instructions. "OK. I've still got them," he declared.

"It's fine. It's cool," he said with a grin. "Keep talking, my friends, just keep talking." He looked at his companions and remarked, "We're close. We're this close. Hold on to your hats."

Jack! Make a sharp right turn here." The driver immediately responded and the MSU took the corner at high speed. Leaning against the side of the van, the two officers in the back exchanged glances. It was a new experience for both of them to be instructed by a fellow trainee, but they recognized that the young African American man had a strong understanding of the valuable technology inside the van. When it came to this thrilling car chase in the dark, Danny was in charge. Danny hailed from Chicago.

He arrived in London with his father as part of an FBI Witness Protection Scheme, trying to elude the dangerous Mob. It was a frightening situation. However, Danny's current focus was on different matters.

Currently, he was employed by the British police. The Police Investigation Command had been monitoring the hit man referred to as Spider for several months. Spider was a highly skilled assassin known for efficiently killing his targets with a solitary, precise shot and then vanishing without leaving any evidence behind. Tonight's operation presented the best opportunity they had encountered thus far to apprehend him.

In the maze of streets, Danny was struggling to navigate using his electronic map. He asked Jack if there was a right turn ahead. Jack confirmed through his

headset that the right turn was approaching and instructed Danny to take it.

"What does it look like out there?" "We're in an estate of some kind. A housing estate. It looks pretty grim. I don't think anyone lives here."

"I believe it's being demolished," one of the officers remarked, leaning over Danny's shoulder. Doubt evident in his tone, he questioned, "Are you certain about this?" Danny confidently pressed keys and observed the flickering green and red lights on the digital map. "Absolutely," he replied. The MSU cautiously maneuvered through the dilapidated housing estate, causing a uneasy sensation to creep up Danny's spine.

"We are directly above him," he whispered. With his eyes still focused on the monitors, he extended his hand and grabbed two oblong signalling bugs. The bugs were constructed from metal, which had a dull shine in the van's dim lighting. "Alex, Maddie- take these. I require you both outside in order to precisely determine our friend's location." Danny activated the bugs.

Red lights started flashing intermittently as the two officers took hold of the bugs and unlocked the van's rear door. Although the rain had stopped, their feet made a splashing sound on the wet pavement as they descended. They headed in different directions, disseminating the signal. The van continued moving slowly, with its engine barely even running.

Danny heard Jack's voice in his headset, asking how accurately he could locate someone with his gear. Danny confidently replied, stating that he could determine the exact room they were in, their facing direction, and even the color of their shirt. Excitedly, Danny instructed to stop the van and promptly removed his headset.

Carrying the laptop, he gestured towards

the nearby brick-built building. The building was five storeys high with grey balconies adorning its front. "He's inside," Danny informed the two officers.

Jack emerged from the side of the van and asked about the color of his shirt. Danny confidently replied that he needed five more minutes to determine the color. As Danny glanced once more at the display screen, his expression changed to concern. Jack noticed the sudden change in Danny's demeanor, causing him to speak in a sharp tone.

Detective Inspector Jack Cooper assumed control when he learned that the signal had been lost and the connection had been severed. The long block of flats had only two potential exits, and both needed to be monitored.

After the electronic signal disappeared, Danny and Jack quickly made their way to the left-hand exit while Alex and Maddie were rushing towards the other exit. "I'll go to the first floor," Jack commanded, "and you go to the second."

"Yell if you find anyone. Don't take chances." Danny nodded and quickly ascended the dimly lit concrete stairs, which zigzagged upwards. The block of flats had been without electricity for a while, leaving only the faint glow of street lamps outside to illuminate the area. The entire place exuded a musty and decaying odor, with graffiti in vivid hues adorning the plaster walls in an oddly contrasting manner.

Arriving at the lengthy and slim balcony, he encountered five doors. The torch attached to his belt was detached, and he directed a beam of bright light along the littered pathway. He was not equipped with any weapons as PIC officers rarely carried them. Furthermore, they weren't anticipating to find Spider.

It

was his most recent client. In this area, a man with knowledge of how to reach the hit man was located. If they could find him, they would be closer to shutting down Spider permanently. Danny cautiously walked along the hallway and entered a small, dirty room.

There was only one chair and one small broken table, and nothing else. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled once more.

His skin prickled with unease as he entered the room, sensing an undeniable air of negativity. As his torch beam moved slowly across the empty floor, a feeling of impending doom lingered.

Feeling overwhelmed, Danny noticed numerous photographs pinned to the wall, which caused him a sense of unease as he recognized that something disturbing was occurring.

Upon turning, the observer noticed that the light from his torch illuminated all of the walls in the room. The walls were decorated with photographs of the same young man. The man's face appeared repeatedly in an endless pattern, staring out from the walls continuously. Although most of the pictures seemed to be taken from a distance and zoomed in like surveillance images, a few had clearly been carefully cut out from magazines or newspapers. This sight made Danny feel uneasy, causing him to instinctively gulp.

A disturbed individual had been responsible for these disturbing images. In each and every one of the multiple photographs, the eyes of the young man had been forcefully removed. * Several days later, in the morning at PIC Headquarters.

London. Maddie Cooper, the seventeen-year-old daughter of Jack Cooper with short, blonde hair, settled herself at her desk in order to begin perusing the morning newspaper.

Initially, Maddie aspired

to become a ballet dancer. However, her life drastically changed almost a year ago when someone tried to shoot her father. Tragically, Maddie ended up getting hurt instead of her father. Recognizing that she could no longer pursue her love for dancing, Maddie made the decision to follow in her father's footsteps and train to become a police officer. While reading the newspaper, she shifted her focus to the sports section and stumbled upon a picture of a captivating young man with short, light-brown hair and an enchanting boyish smile.

Above the photo, a headline captured her interest. She vocalized it, pondering its significance: "'Will Anderson. Future champion or past news?'"
Shortly after, Alex Cox, her friend and fellow trainee at the police academy, coincidentally appeared. Maddie's father had deliberately chosen Alex when he was just nineteen years old. His hazel eyes were enhanced by his light-brown hair.

Alex's body was strong and in shape. Maddie had already discovered in their short time working together that Alex was not only a good colleague but also an irreplaceable friend. "Are you aware? The Wimbledon Tennis Final is happening in a few days. Will Anderson, the seventeen-year-old English player, is the one everyone is rooting for," said Alex. Maddie admitted, "I didn't know. I'm not really into tennis."

A voice over the intercom interrupted their conversation, announcing that Alpha Watch Personnel should report to the briefing room right away. Maddie and Alex promptly made their way to the briefing room, where they found several policemen, including Danny Bell and Jack Cooper. Jack, the leader of the operation to apprehend Spider, stood up

and addressed them. He informed them that the night before, he, Alex, Maddie, and Danny had been fortunate enough to intercept a cyber-conversation between Spider, a contract killer, and a potential client.

Our target, known as Shadow, has been the client we've been pursuing for three months. However, it was not until last night that we finally found Spider. This was the closest we have ever come to locating him. Unfortunately, we missed meeting with Shadow by about five minutes," he said, passing on the conversation to Danny who proceeded to explain the events of that evening.

He proceeded to display photographs of a small and dirty room that was crammed with chaotic photographs. "I have witnessed eerie things in the past," Danny mentioned, "but this surpasses them. Look at this." He then unveiled another picture that portrayed a close-up of a wall. The room erupted into murmurs as the picture showcased ten photographs of an attractive young man.

In six of the photographs, the eyes had been cleanly removed as if cut with a sharp knife, while in the other four, it appeared that a cigarette had been burned onto the paper, completely obliterating the eye sockets. Danny continued to flip through more photos, all depicting a young man without eyes. With a deep breath, Danny concluded that they had likely found Spider's next target. Maddie was astounded, fixated on the screen.

The sight of the mutilated photographs was horrifying, but there was something even more unsettling. Maddie broke the silence by stating, "I can identify him." Everyone's attention shifted towards her as she swallowed and averted her gaze from the screen. "He's a tennis player."

In the quiet

PIC briefing room, Will Anderson, who appeared tired and exhausted, had his eyes fixated on the monitor screens. Maddie's announcement garnered acknowledgement from some of the officers, but all focus remained on her as Jack Cooper encouraged her to proceed. Maddie confessed that she was not well-informed about Will Anderson except for an article she read about him in today's newspaper.

Seventeen-year-old English player, expected to excel at Wimbledon this year, Jack Cooper thanked Maddie for her comment. He jotted down a note on the pad in front of him before turning his attention back to Danny, urging him to complete his report. Danny assured that he was nearly done and proceeded to showcase a set of correlated photographs on the monitor.

An incessant recurrence of the identical attractive, youthful face, every single one rendered sightless by either a knife or fire. "Forensic analysis was employed," Danny clarified. "However, it turned up nothing. The apartment lacks both water and electricity, so I believe Shadow does not reside there. He has merely been utilizing it as a refuge for his collection of photographs and as a secluded location to communicate with Spider." He pressed the keyboard once more and the distorted faces on the screens gradually faded to a dull shade of grey. The lights were then brightened. "Understood," Jack acknowledged.

"I believe it is important for us to be present at the upcoming Wimbledon final to ensure the safety of Will Anderson. Alex, I would like you to meet Will Anderson and his trainer, and keep a close eye on them to prevent any harm before the event. The rest of us will begin arranging our positions at

Centre Court for the final."

"Maddie shared some comprehensive information about Will Anderson," explained Maddie. "Here is his background story. Pay attention. It states that a few years ago, Will Anderson tragically lost his parents in a car accident. Since then, his older brother James has taken on the role of his coach and has been taking care of Will."

Alex was advised to be sensitive when explaining the situation to James due to a note mentioning that James lost his eye in an accident he had with Will in their youth. Alex examined the sheet handed to him by Maddie and observed the face of James Anderson, which showed no apparent signs of his visual impairment because of the artificial eye that had taken its place. "I appreciate your assistance, Maddie," Alex expressed. "Alright, everyone, it's time to leave," stated Jack Cooper as he rose from his seat and exited the room. * The location was a private tennis club in Roehampton, taking place two days prior to the Wimbledon final.

Alex observed Will Anderson from behind a mesh of wire fencing. Although not a devoted tennis enthusiast, Alex appreciated Will's impressive repertoire of shots and his ability to powerfully return the ball over the net. It was clear why the media was creating such excitement around Will, touting him as the future star of tennis. Eventually, Will noticed Alex's presence and signaled for a pause by raising his racket. He jogged towards the court's sideline alongside his coach and brother, James Anderson.

James was taller and thinner than his brother, Will. Despite having the same dark-brown eyes, James's angular face lacked the boyish quality that made

Will's face universally popular and instantly recognisable, according to Alex. Additionally, it was difficult to notice that James was blind in one eye. Will approached Alex and greeted, "Hello."

"Who are you?" James asked sharply.
"Hi, I'm Alex Cox and I work for the police," replied Alex.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Well, sort of. Look, we need to talk privately," said Alex.
Will and James led Alex to the back of the courts and into a small hut where players got changed.
There Alex told James and Will everything about Shadow and Spider.

Everything except the eyes that were sliced out. The silence that followed was long, and Will's face turned pale and shocked. On the other hand, James's face displayed nothing but rage.

"How do you know this?" asked Will, breaking the silence. "We intercepted a conversation between Shadow and Spider a week ago. I'm not sure if they've had any contact since. The main thing is that I want you to be more aware, but don't worry because it might distract you from your final preparation," said Alex.

"I will keep a lookout more often to protect my brother," James stated. Alex expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your vigilance, James." Alex announced that he needed to leave, allowing the two of them to practice, and mentioned their meeting at Centre Court for the final. He got up and exited the room. *Centre Court. The day of the Wimbledon final.

Maddie and Danny sat in the front row behind the umpire's tower. Alex was seated on the opposite side of the court in a section reserved for players' families and teams, accompanied by Will's aunt and uncle. James had not yet

arrived. Meanwhile, Danny was watching the live TV coverage on his laptop.

"Can you see us?" Maddie inquired, leaning over his shoulder. She was aware that their presence had a significant purpose, yet it was challenging to not be swept away by the joyful atmosphere of the spectators. The television footage transitioned to focus on the green doors situated behind the scoreboard. "Here we go," Danny exclaimed. Maddie glanced down at the laptop.

Someone was holding the doors open when a white-clad figure emerged, causing the crowd to erupt. Will Anderson and Craig Tanner entered Centre Court, each with their holdalls slung over their shoulders. Notably, Australian Tanner held the position of the number two seed.

In the semi-finals, he defeated the top-ranked player decisively. Will, who was not seeded, faced this opponent for the first time. However, with Will's exceptional performance at the moment, the bookmakers had mixed opinions regarding the result of the match. Amidst the applause, Maddie heard a faint voice.

Alex spoke to Maddie through an earpiece connected to her phone. Maddie confirmed that she had not seen James. Alex mentioned that James should be with her, but he was not. Danny, who was working on a laptop, asked what was happening. Maddie informed him that James was missing. Danny then suggested that maybe James was in the changing room with Will.

Maddie informed Alex that Jack would know about it, to which Alex responded that he would investigate. Meanwhile, the two players started warming up by hitting easy balls to each other over the net. The umpire then asked for two minutes, and Will took off his sweatshirt and placed it on his chair.

Spotting

Maddie and Danny, who he had met the day before, he greeted them with a wave, appearing calm and energized. Taking his place at one end of the court, the Australian patiently waited, then briskly made his way to his position after rotating his shoulders and picking up his racket. As the crowd hushed, Will stepped forward to serve.

He bounced the ball, arched his back, and with his racket poised, he threw the ball high. The ball spun momentarily as his arm swung.

The head of his racket hit the ball squarely, causing it to zip across the net, signifying the start of the Championship final. Meanwhile, a buzz of different voices filled Danny's ear as he connected his laptop to the PIC security network.

While rolling the mouse-ball, he switched channels and listened to each of his colleagues. He was relieved to hear that there was nothing worth reporting. "That's great," Danny whispered to himself. Suddenly, he heard a loud applause and looked up.

The umpire declared, "Game and first set Anderson." Maddie used her pocket-sized binoculars to search the crowd. She then looked back to find James's empty seat. Maddie pressed a preset button on her phone and connected to Alex through a communication channel.

"Have you seen James?" she inquired. "I don't believe so. I talked to Jack. He hasn't seen him. We have someone at their apartment- he is not there either." "Do you think something has happened to him?" Maddie asked.

Her stomach tightened in fear, worried that Shadow had deceived everyone. While all eyes were on Will, Shadow could have easily taken James. If someone intended to harm Will,

they knew it would devastate him if anything happened to his brother. "I talked to the boss," Alex reported. "He's informed everyone, but he advises us to remain at our assigned positions."

If James has been taken against his will, it could be an intentional tactic to divert our attention from Will," indicates the conclusion of the initial scenario. Following a tough and triumphant achievement, Will was seated in his chair while facing away from Alex. He was consuming a beverage from a container of fruit squash. Will's head suddenly shifted position. Danny speculated that he was gazing upwards towards the spot where James typically sat.

Will turned his seat to face Maddie and Danny, his eyes filled with questions as he noticed James was still absent. Maddie attempted to reassure him by mouthing the words, "Don't worry," although she held doubts about its effectiveness.

"Time, please," said the umpire, signaling for the two players to stand up. Maddie anxiously wondered how Will would handle his brother not being there and if it would impact his performance. Meanwhile, Danny was completely focused on his laptop.

"I will search for James," she declared, unwilling to stay idle. Danny turned his gaze towards her and advised, "Take caution and stay connected."

"Your dad will become furious if anything happens to you," Maddie confirmed, as she nodded her understanding. She proceeded to make her way down the aisle and climbed the steps to exit the court. She was aware that other officers from the PIC were likely already searching for James, but Madde couldn't bear to just sit there and witness Will's chances of winning diminishing. She felt compelled to take

action. Meanwhile, Will's performance in the game was notably poor.

Despite missing easy shots and fumbling the ball, Craig Tanner persevered and won the next two sets. However, in the fourth set, Will took advantage of several uncharacteristic errors made by the Australian and won the set. Still, if Will continued to play in the same manner, he would face an unpleasant fifth and final set.

Searching the entire Wimbledon complex, Maddie asked everyone she met for any sign of James. Finally, one person mentioned seeing someone who looked like James entering the restaurant on the Competitors' Terrace. Maddie headed there and found James sitting at a table.

Hunched over, his head supported in his hands, the table was strewn with newspapers and magazines. Maddie moved closer to him, and when she saw the magazines, she let out a gasp of horror.

All the newspapers and magazines featured Will's face, except for one detail: all of the eyes had been cut out with a sharp knife or covered with a cigarette. This could only mean one thing - James was Shadow. In a soft tone, James greeted Maddie by saying, "Hello Maddie."

He had also met her and Danny with Will the previous day. "Is he winning?" "No," Maddie replied. "Look, you need to be out there supporting him. He needs you." "It's too late," James said, letting out an insane laugh. "I've already told Spider to get the job done." He lost control of himself and fell on his knees, laughing insanely. Maddie stared at him.

She became scared of James because he appeared to be insane. In the midst of the crowd was a nondescript man who was dressed

stylishly yet casually in an open-necked polo shirt and well-tailored cream trousers. His short, tidy light-brown hair complemented his gentle, youthful face.

He had round, wire-rimmed sunglasses that were blacked out, making him blend in with the Centre Court crowd. However, there was one noticeable difference - unlike others who were watching the yellow tennis ball, his eyes were focused solely on Will Anderson. He had a silver case next to him on the ground.

From his pocket, a series of chiming tones sounded - his mobile phone, programmed to play a refrain from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. Apologetically, he whispered to his immediate neighbors, "I'm so sorry."

His voice was average, belonging to the middle class and well-educated. Apologetically, he retrieved his phone and silenced the ringing by pressing OK. The screen then displayed a text message reading "EYES WIDE OPEN." Afterwards, he stowed away the phone.

As Will won his service game, he tightly held onto the handle of the silver case while the crowd cheered. To become the champion, he only needed to break Tanner's serve. However, the man seemed oblivious to this accomplishment. With a polite smile and an apologetic tone, he maneuvered past his seated neighbors, who were bent over, making his way towards the aisle's end.

"I apologize. Pardon me. Sorry. Very sorry." He ascended the stairs toward the exit, entering an unoccupied radio booth. There, he utilized a diamond glass cutter to create a small aperture in the window.

With remarkable speed and proficiency, he quickly assembled a deadly sniper rifle. On his feet now, he exuded readiness. As he peered through the scope at Will Anderson, a smile formed on

the man's face. Spider had a strong affection for his firearm.

Maddie remained by James' side at the restaurant, witnessing his laughter transform into tears as his mind became overwhelmed with intense emotions and haunting memories. James began to babble, his mouth foaming in a state of mental disarray.

Maddie struggled to comprehend his words as he recounted the incident that led to him losing his right eye and ending his tennis career. He spoke of how he had climbed a tree to rescue Will, but had tragically fallen and injured his eye on a thorn. During this conversation, he vented a decade's worth of pent-up anger and bitterness, while sharing deep-seated resentments that had festered and grown within him.

"We should be the ones getting all the recognition and praise right now, Maddie," James lamented before his expression brightened. "I've instructed Spider to target Will's right eye with his shot."

"An eye for an eye. Isn't that perfect?" "Come on James," Maddie pleaded, "You can't harm your brother. Isn't there a way to stop Spider?" Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted and someone shouted, "Yes! He has won. Will has won." "He has won.

"He's won," James said in disbelief, slowly. "He won without me." He fell to his knees and began to cry. "It's alright James," Maddie assured him. "Please tell Spider to stop." James reached for his cellphone reluctantly and sent a text. * Will had managed to find the determination to fight back and defeat Craig Tanner, even without James. Just as Tanner had three Championship points against him, Will miraculously turned the game around and ultimately broke Tanner's spirit, ultimately winning Wimbledon.

However, the hardly noticeable small

red dot on the back of Will's shirt went completely unnoticed by everyone. Spider was fully prepared. All he needed to do was wait for Will to turn around. He had received precise instructions to aim for the right eye. While it might be challenging at a distance, it was nothing for an experienced professional.

Suddenly, Spider's mobile phone rang, indicating that he had received a text message. Despite still paying attention to Will Anderson, Spider opened the message with his head tilted and one eye on Will. The message read "EYES TIGHT SHUT." Upon reading it, Spider smiled wryly and clicked his tongue. With patience and precision, he disassembled the sniper rifle and carefully reassembled it in its silver case. Finally, he closed the door behind him and left silently.

New orders were coming in. Two security guards had been attacked and rendered unconscious. A car had been stolen. The suspect managed to flee. None of the PIC officers were aware that Spider had infiltrated and left the building until that moment. In the canteen, three weary trainee PIC officers sat down to enjoy some coffee.

"James was taken off in an ambulance," said Maddie to Alex and Danny. "I'm not sure if Will even knows yet." "That guy is sure going to be in the hospital for a very long time," commented Danny. Just then, Jack Cooper approached. "Great job everyone. You all performed admirably out there, and I want to commend each and every one of you," he stated. They all smiled. "You too Dad," Maddie expressed. "In fact, all of us played our part today. It was teamwork. That's how we emerged

victorious – game, set, and match."