The ceremony had been beautiful, underneath a canopy of blossom trees which fluttered down on the bride and

groom as they said their own vows and made each other laugh and cry. Both the Mother of the bride and the Mother of the groom had been a wreck for the last hour, neither managing to sing all the words to the hymns chosen for this special day. The bride and groom had walked down the isle under a storm of confetti and cheers, flanked on either side by family and friends cheering for their happiness and grinning with joy and pride. After surviving the confetti, The newly weds stood and posed for picture after picture. The young energetic photographer assuming every conceivable pose and hopping on top of any study surface to get another terrific angle, framing everyone inside the idyllic scenery at the back of the large multi-million pound house. After the extensive photography session the key wedding party retreated into the house and were replaced by waiting staff carrying drinks in tall glass flutes and innumerable bite sized hor d'oeuvres which no doubt cost more than most of the guests clothes. One man was not concerned however, he had been at the fanciest parties around the world, this was just another day for him. He had sat in the back during the ceremony, when asked he had said he was a friend of the Groom and the usher seated his accordingly. He had felt nothing during the exchange of words between the couple and sang quietly during the hymns as not to rouse suspicion. He had faked a smile when the walked past and tossed confetti into the air. When the photographer began capturing the photos that would sit in a gilded frame and show the world how happy they were on that day, he faded into the crowds. He had taken a drink and a canap and began to drift. The nodding and smiling to the other guests was muscle memory now. a reflex built up over the years it was all part of the routine, just another weapon at his disposal. It was all in the timing something like this. You couldnt show up too early or too late and couldnt spend too long working the crowd. There had been a time when it had been a sport, an unofficial score card which floated around the office but so such things happened these days. It was a job and he was a professional and thats all there was to it

now. He deposited the half empty glass on the edge of a table and made his way through the last of the crowd towards the corner of the house. He kept his pace smooth and even, the way a guest would if he were making his way to the bathroom or back to the car for his phone. Soon he was out of sight of the guests and round the corner of the house following the path that lead to the side entrance. He slipped in behind kitchen staff and waiters busy loading up large silver platters with more expensive finger food. He stopped to let the giggling bridesmaids march past him down the corridor headed for the party after a full costume change. Once the coast was clear he made his way up the rear staircase leading up to the west wing of the house. On the landing doors lined each side of the wide carpeted corridor, many of the doors were partially open, laughter spilled out of the lavish bedrooms but he knew where he needed to be. The last door on the left, the only door that was fully closed. Turning the handle slowly he slipped inside without a sound, the room was empty but no cause for alarm. The shower was running in the bathroom. He reached inside his suit jacket and pulled the 9mm out of its holster. From the other side of the jacket came the suppressor which he quickly twisted into place. As quietly as he had entered the bedroom he entered the en suite feeling the hot steam on his face. In one swift movement he pulled the shower curtain and aimed the pistol at the figure inside, squeezing the trigger as the grooms eyes widened in fright as his fate was sealed. The bullet penetrated the skull between the eyes leaving a perfectly round hole for blood to pour out of. The groom slumped into the corner of the shower and continued to bleed out into the hot swirling water by his feet. He left the body there and exited the en suite, unscrewing the suppressor and replacing all of his equipment. He paused for a moment listening though the bedroom door for any signs of life. When nothing stirred he stepped back out into the hall and made his way down the stairs taking a different route from when he entered. Leaving the kitchen behind him He walked through the house and out the front door. The drivers of the limousines were huddled together smoking, complaining about the long day and swapping stories about disastrous jobs. He strode though the gathering of cars and straight out the front gates

turning right onto the country B road. Before he was twenty yards away from the gate his pulled out a cell phone and held down the speed dial number he needed. Its done. was all he said before closing the phone and dropping it back into his pocket. His car was parked just off the road another eighty yards away. Another job competed, another life taken. Hed be miles away before anyone found the body, He was a professional after all.