It wasn't that he meant to kill the guy, he just got excited. Besides, he didn't think they'd give him a loaded gun. He didn't know anything about guns. Just collect some money he owes, they said. He only pointed the gun because it made him feel tough. Pulling the trigger was an accidental impulse.

When he still asked if he had the money on him, there was an expression of incredulity as the man watched his shirt front blossom red and his vision blur. Even the apology didn't seem to get much reaction as the guy slid down the wall to the ground, emitting a gurgling sigh.

Funny thing was, they weren't that upset when he told them what happened. They even congratulated him because he actually did have the money. Laughing, they told him he did a good job.

That's how it began. One accidental shooting and suddenly he found himself called on for other special jobs. The difference was now he knew the gun was loaded and could act as tough as he wanted, knowing he could still pull the trigger if that didn't work.

Confidence grew with each assignment as well as his approach. Tough could be accomplished without dramatics; he found the calm, quiet tactic more effective.

Quickly, through word of mouth about his batting average and unblemished record, his client base grew and he became the premier source, for those needing his particular skill requiring terminal resolutions both private and business.

And that, my friends, was the condensed version of how Harold Pope became a contract killer.