The beams from the xenon headlights cut savagely through the night in harsh blazing blue as the car traversed down the rough winding tracks outside of Miami. The glow from the city lights had long since disappeared beyond the horizon, giving way to a claustrophobic darkness which grasped at the very soul.

Gabriel had been driving for just over an hour before finally arriving at a familiar and suitably sheltered outcrop some thirty foot from the roadside edge. Even if someone where to unexpectedly wander along this route, it was highly unlikely that they would be able to see the obsidian black paintwork of the large Mercedes against the backdrop of thick bush.

As the vehicle came to a stop, the deep basso rumbling of the engine died with the turn of the key. Reaching inside of his jacket Gabriel unclasped the clip on his shoulder rig then pushed open his door to make his way round to the rear of the car at a leisurely pace. The rear door rose with a whistle of pneumatic struts, accompanying the whistling that floated from Gabriel’s lips in a cheerful rendition of the Love Boat.

Pulling open the compartment that would usually have housed the spare wheel, Gabriel punched in his six digit code on the steel containers lock. From within the box he extracted a small compact shotgun, and with deliberate slowness loaded its bright red shells one by one before cocking the weapon with a satisfying mechanical clunk.

With the weapon tucked in the crook of his left arm, Gabriel unclasped the lock of the large cage, then with a hand full of hair yanked the gagged and bound man from his boot. “We have a bit of a problem don’t we Frankie.” His voice devoid of any emotion as he spoke softly. Kneeling down, he cut through the bindings with the wickedly sharp ceremonial knife, then took a step back to admire his handy work.

“You see when I’m asked to carry out a contract I expect to be paid. Attempting to kill me however, is simply unacceptable.” The last word snarled as Gabriel sat himself down in the back of the car, the shotgun resting menacingly across his lap.

Reaching up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements Frankie pulled the gag from his mouth. “So what do want from me?” He murmured, rubbing at the rope burns around his wrists tenderly.

Reaching behind him, Gabriel grasped the handle of a small fold up shovel and tossed it at Frankie’s feet. Gabriel’s dark hazel eyes appeared to glow as he gave Frankie a skull like grin. “I want you to dig.”