With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Daybreak

Christian turned, hugging his wife to his chest as he snuggled deeper into the warmth of the bed. He unconsciously reached for the bed sheet and tugged it up, covering both himself and his wife. Dominique made a sigh of appreciation as Christian hugged her closer, the cold air in the room making the hairs on her visible skin stand on end.

A wail was heard and Dominique softly groaned, blearily opening her eyes. She dislodged herself from her husband and groaned again, tapping him on the arm and resorting to hitting him on the arm when he refused to wake up.

“Honey, wake up. Honey,” said Dominique, tapping him on the arm. “Wake up.”

Christian grunted in annoyance. “What is it?” he asked, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

“Emma’s crying,” said Dominique by way of explanation, “and it’s your time to go bring her whatever she wants.”

Christian groaned before planting his feet on the ground and standing up, stretching for a few minutes before walking slowly to the door, the plush brown carpet sinking under his every step. He opened the door and stepped out, walking to the direction of his baby’s nursery.

Really, he loved his daughter and he would die for her in a heartbeat, but honestly. Sometimes, he really needed sleep.

He silently opened the door to his baby’s nursery and, for a few seconds, merely looked at his wailing one year old. After a few seconds, he shook his head before walking to the crib and taking the baby, gently swaying her.

At first, it didn’t seem to work but then her cries slowly abated, finally stopping altogether after a few more seconds. He smiled softly at his baby before gently putting her in the crib again, not wanting her to wake up and start wailing again.

He really needed his sleep.

After putting her in the crib, he slowly walked out her room, closing the door gently behind him.

It was then he felt somebody reach around him and put a piece of cloth to his nose and mouth, his nose taking in the smell of something foul smelling. Chloroform.

His eyes closed and he went lax in his attacker’s arms.

His last thought was that his family needed him.

And then, nothing.

Joshua sighed and leant back, turning his head slowly to remove the crick in his neck. He grunted as he heard something near his shoulder pop and sighed as he massaged his forehead with his fingers.

The office remained silent and cool as he resumed his work, getting his silver pen and writing, doing the paperwork needed for the day after. He shivered a little as the air conditioning’s cold air became directed at him.

Another document and he would be done.

They were times like these when he wondered why exactly he wanted to become a lawyer. After all, the long hours were very discouraging, the excessive studying was tiring, and the paperwork simply did not help at all.

He stopped writing for a few moments, stretching for a bit, before resuming his paperwork, eager to be done. There was no one in the office but him and really, he knew that his reputation as a workaholic was well deserved.

Joshua looked at the last document, closing his eyes tiredly after a few seconds.

He needed a drink.

Joshua stood up and stretched, yawning as he did so. He walked away from his cubicle and to the direction of the break room, his footsteps loud in the otherwise silent room. He slowly opened the doorknob and entered the break room, going to the cupboards and grabbing his beloved mug. He proceeded to make coffee, looking at the microwave nearby as he stirred his coffee.