Minimal Hitter

Wading gently through white foam on the shore, Mairin relaxed her toes as they were slowly engulfed by the sand. The golden sun rays gleamed off the white-capped waves. She closed her eyes and breathed in slowly. The chirping seagulls surrounded her above and in the distance. Opening her eyes just enough to notice blurry silhouettes of the birds. As she exhaled, naturally letting it flow out, she opened them fully. Some of the birds in the area were pelicans and spoonbills. Mairin eyed the clear water in front of her. She stepped forward until her legs were knee deep within the cool water. Her legs were softly tickled by seagrass. A light blue speedboat appeared on the horizon.

"I think I see Mary!" A man with binoculars said on the boat.

"That's her name? May's well be Jane." The female driver said.

Both wore police uniforms and were swiftly approaching the beach.

Mairin walked across the hot sand toward the only dock. The boat pulled up and they killed their engine.

"Good morning ma'am." The male officer said.

Scrunching her eyes for a second while half-smiling got both officers attention. "Good... morning?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no." Mairin shook her head slowly while looking into the officer's eyes. "I find it odd that, you two are here this early."

"You were expecting us?"

Both officers looked around and eyed up Mairin. They found it odd that she was wearing a bathing suit.

"Were you going for a swim?" The male officer said.

"I will be yes."

"Can you come with us? We have a warrant for Mairin O-houlihan. That's you correct?"

Mairin blinked at the officer. "That's me... what's the warrant for?"

"You were seen aiding a possible criminal. Did you know that?"

"I will tell you anything with honesty." Mairin looked at both of them for a moment and held their gaze.

"Okay "Mairin". We've got numerous accounts of you being the real killer, and not that Davey Sanchizmo guy from Little Columbia."

Mairin's face went flat. Her eyes gazed far into his.

"What do you want to know?"

The male officer sighed carefully and adjusted the hat on his head. "Are you Scary Mary? I mean, come on it's, it's you."

"Hey." The female officer raised her voice.

They exchanged a brief glance and then set their sights on Mairin.

She nodded slowly while looking into his eyes. "I am."

For a moment the officer's eyes grew bigger, his hand instinctively tapped the glock on his side. "Put your hands behind your back and knees on the sand now!"

Mairin sat on her knees and placed her hands behind herself. She calmly looked into the officers eyes. "May I grab my belongings sir?"

He scrunched his eyes nearly closed and shook his head. "No. We're leaving. Get in the boat."

"Please. My suitcase is right on the edge of the sand. Without moving at all, Mairin remained calm and looked at their faces. "Please. All I need is in that one case."

The male officer released a shortened sigh and leered at his partner. She nodded.

"Alright, Mary. Officer Levins will retrieve it for you."

"Thank you sir."

As Officer Levins scanned the beach she moved toward a small beige suitcase.

"Does she have your permission to examine the contents inside?" His hand remained planted on the back of his gun.

"Yes sir. I don't want any problems."

The sun shone brightly off the suitcase. Officer Levins placed light blue gloves on. She carefully pressed the two buttons on the front of the case, and heard a loud CLICK.

"Everything alright?" The male officer said.

"Yeah... opening it now."

As Officer Levins opened the case, a steel projectile flew into the top right of her cheek.

"What is it?" The male officer stared at Levins for a moment.

She didn't move.

Mairin's eyes bulged slightly. "Oh my god. What happened?"

The male officer removed his glock and stepped closer to his crouched partner. "Hey. Hey Steph!" He rushed to her side.

As his arm wrapped around her back, her entire body seized up. She trembled for a moment, going limp. He saw the projectile, and the blood on her face.

"What the-

The officer jerked his head and saw Mairin sprinting at him. He raised his gun and pulled the trigger. Mairin's bound hands were in front of her body. As his weapon fired, the bullet pierced through her left-hand cuff and grazed her wrist.

The officer stepped back as Mairin slammed her forehead against his face. As he toppled on his back, she dove to her beige suitcase. Her hands touched the two outer corners of the case. An alternate top layer opened up, revealing a small, black silenced pistol. She grabbed the weapon and aimed it at the officer.

He blinked and breathed raggedly. His mouth was half open as he stared at the sky. Mairin breathed heavily, her pistol aimed at his head the entire time.

"What... What did... you... did you..." The officer mumbled.

The officer's head went still. Mairin found the officer's keys and removed the bloody cuffs. After nursing her wound, she walked beyond the sand, near where her beige case was. Beside a small palm tree was a yellow and white striped umbrella. She moved it, and there was a platinum suitcase. A smile formed across her face as she retrieved it.

Mairin cleaned up officer Levins's uniform well. She donned it better than her. She disposed of the bodies, and took the speedboat to the mainland. Platinum case in hand. She stopped in the harbor of Stony Cove. Strangers waved with smiling faces, seeing her uniform and reciprocating the friendly gesture. Her platinum case remained in one hand or the other the whole trip.

A young girl, Cerella, sat on a bench with a giant tablet in her hands. She glanced upward as officer Mairin walked up the dock. Platinum case in hand. As Cerella tried to pay attention to her screen but the platinum case's reflection blinded her.

"Yow.' Cerella mumbled as she closed her eyes tight.

Mairin walked up the beach side and into a seaside hotel. It was a discount one next to a five star one. Cerella scratched the top of her head and jumped off the bench. Mairin rang the front desk bell, tapping her foot repeatedly. The young girl watched from the front entrance. There was no door, only a long, almost see-through blanket. She waited until the wind moved it just right. Then she slunk inside. Mairin's foot stopped moving. She cocked her head around her shoulder. She only saw the entrance wiggle gently in the wind.

"Whoa, don't shoot officer." A raspy tone said.

Mairin glanced at the front desk and saw a grey haired man with several wrinkles. Her eyebrows scrunched a bit as she stared. He sank his shoulders and held his hands open in front of his chest.

"Hey hey I'm kidding around officer. I'm not serious, geez lady." The man crinkled his nose a couple times as he kept breaking eye contact.

Mairin's lips curved inward. "Its okay. I was hoping I could get a room."

He scratched the bald part of his head. "You want a room? Here?"

"How much?"

Cerella came from the hallway, the man's eyes locked onto her. Mairin shifted her body and twisted her head. Her and the girl stared back at eachother.

There was a period of silence exchanged. Mairin's face blankened. She chuckled lightly and smiled.

"Are you lost sweetie?"

The entrance blanket rustled loudly. Everyone faced it. The male officer from earlier hobbled in, dripping water everywhere. He cocked the back of his pistol and aimed it forward. Mairin stepped forward and grabbed the side of the little girl. She moved Cerella to the left while raising her gun. The officer fired once, shooting Mairin in the shoulder, just missing the girl.

Cerella screamed.

The officer fired again, hitting her in the stomache. The screaming continued. Mairin slivered her eyes. She pulled the trigger. Her bullet pierced the left side of his forehead. Eyes still open, blood spurting from the impact. The officer fell forward, twisted his own head into his armpit.

Voices came from outside. Sirens blared in the distance.

The hotel clerk held his phone to his ear all while shaking heavily. Cerella turned from the officer and fell at Mairin's side.

"No no no!" She sniffled and clutched her arm softly. "Help! Help!"

Mairin blinked and felt numb. She lowered her gun, letting it drop on its side. She breathed in short bursts. Her eyes barely blinked at Cerella. Mairin's eyes softened, her gaze looked just beyond Cerella's.

"Please lady." Cerella nudged her.

Mairin's body finally slouched back, going limp. Her mouth frozen in a half smile.