It was what those in the business called a ‘job lot’.
He sometimes had work for two, but this was for three. It would be a nice little earner. He spent the usual couple of weeks watching their daily habits, making notes. The two men went first. One went off his balcony, the other tripped in his bathroom. The third, a young woman, who seemed to have very little in the way of regular activities. She was hardly ever at home in the evenings. It was apparent that she only slept there, and not every night. With this kind of target, nothing was predictable. He had spent an additional week, following her around.
He was keeping pace with her as she walked along the opposite side of the busy street when it happened. In keeping with her random and scatty nature, she suddenly stepped of the pavement into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He entered the nearest shop and stood watching the drama unfold through the front window, along with others who had heard the commotion. The traffic had backed up and both police and ambulance were attending. A paramedic was trying to resuscitate her. He finally looked up shaking his head. He took his small notebook out. Wow! What a bonus!
He opened it and crossed her off his list.