Arnold poured another drink.

"Okay."

Cliff continued for his wife.

"We recently have a position open for a ..."

Cliff searched for the right word.

"Maybe the word you are looking for is agent, sweetie," Gwen offered.

Cliff nodded.

"That is as good as any.

We need an agent, Arnie. Someone to set up ...

clients for us."

"Oh I like that," Gwen agreed.

Arnold turned and looked at Colin, sitting quietly on the floor.

Moans could still be heard coming from Bobby, who was motionless , next to the overturned chair.

"They are clients?"

"In a way I guess," Cliff continued.

He took a deep breath, looking at his wife.

"Why don't we just cut to the chase?

Lay our cards on the table."

"I agree," Gwen agreed.

"What have we got to lose.

I think Arnie needs the basic facts before he decides."

Cliff continued.

"As you might have guessed by now, Arnie, we are not your typical human family."

Arnold nodded.

"I had noticed a few unusual things."

Gwen smiled and patted Arnold's arm.

"I like his wry humour. So refreshing."

Cliff smiled.

"We have some very specific needs and wants, Arnie and we employ people, like Bobby, to help us get those needs and wants."

"May I ask why you don't simply go out and find those specific needs and wants yourself?"

Cliff nodded.

"Fair question, Arnie.

But as you might guess, we have to keep a certain profile, in the community. Gwen and I run a very successful Canadian Tire franchise and we are pillars in this community.

We do a lot of charity work and we even participate in a neighbourhood watch program."

Gwen laughed slightly.

"As you might guess, Arnie, we don't have much need for one here.

We can look after ourselves.

The only real crime is the crime that we bring here ourselves."

Arnold sipped his drink.

"So this whole community are people like you?"

Cliff took a deep breath.

"There are 20 families here in Neila Lake and we are all ...

lets say ...

of the same family."

"Lets say that," Arnold agreed, taking another deep breath.

Gwen lay her hand on Arnold's arm.

"We are all successful business people, in one way or another and we live a quiet existence here.

We look after our own and we rarely look to the outside community for help."

"We like our privacy, as you might imagine, Arnie.

That is why the area surrounding Neila Lake has never been developed.

We don't want ..."

Cliff laughed.

"Let's say we don't want an alien influence here."

Arnold took a deep breath.

"So?

Me?"

He finished his drink.

"What will I have to do, as your agent?"

Bobby groaned loudly.

"Oh for fuck sake, Colin.

Help Bobby get up off the floor."

Colin looked over at Bobby.

"Fuck him."

Gwen stepped from the bar.

"Do I have to come over there, Colin?"

Colin stood up and pulled Bobby away from the armchair.

After he uprighted the chair, he helped Bobby sit in it again.

Gwen smiled.

"Thank you, Colin."

Colin sat back on the floor, once again leaning against the side of the armchair.

Gwen turned back to Arnold.

"As our agent, you will be responsible for getting clients to participate in our social events here at the Lake.

We often have community barbecues and parties for special celebrations, like Christmas and New Years and Canada Day.

And every so often, we especially," she pointed to Cliff and herself, "well we like to engage in some role play, like we had here tonight."

Cliff continued.

"But as I said earlier, Arnie, it would not be proper for Gwen and I, or any of the others here, to be involved in such things.

So that is why we employ agents. They do the work for us."

Arnold looked over at Bobby.

"So he was your agent?"

Gwen nodded.

"He was, but he broke the rules."

Bobby struggled to his feet, waving his mangled hand, while the other hand massaged his throat.

He attempted to speak, but Peaches had damaged his windpipe and all that was coming out was moans and groans.

He stumbled toward those at the bar, blood once again flowing from his nose.

Gwen grimaced.

"Cliff please."

Cliff reached under the bar and put a pistol on the bar. It was equipped with a silencer.

Arnold looked at the pistol.

"Well, Arnie. You interested?"

Bobby continued to stumble toward them.

Gwen put her hand on Arnold's arm again.

"We really like you, Arnie.

And the kids like you, especially Stanley and he likes no one.

And think of Teresa and Dani. Think of the life you could give them."

Arnold pointed at Bobby.

"What if I end up like him?"

Gwen smiled.

"You are smarter than he is Arnie. You are an accountant."

She laughed.

"Bobby can barely count."

Gwen and Cliff laughed and in spite of the situation, Arnold did, as well.

Bobby stopped about five feet from those at the bar.

"Please," he gasped.

"Another ... chance."

Gwen looked at the pistol and then at Arnold.

"What do you think, Arnie?

Remember, he sent you here. He was willing to let you die. Poor Teresa and Dani would be all alone."

Arnold reached for the gun.

Bobby waved his arms frantically.

"No ... they ... crazy ... kill ... you ... too."

He turned to Colin, pointing at him.

"He ... he ... bring you ... not me."

"Fuck you," Colin snarled.

Bobby turned back toward the bar.

Arnold had the pistol in his hand.

"No ... no ... no"

Bobby tried to move, but his legs would not budge.

"He doesn't care about you, Arnie," Gwen assured him.

"All you were to him was a twenty-five thousand dollar paycheque."

Arnold raised the gun.

"Wait," Cliff yelled.

Bobby heaved a sigh.

Gwen looked at her husband.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"We haven't gotten him to sign the registration papers," Cliff reminded her.

"Right," Gwen laughed.

"Silly us."

She picked up the papers from the bar.

"Pen, sweetie."

Cliff passed her a pen, from under the bar.

Gwen went to Bobby.

"Sign the papers."

Bobby looked stunned.

"What?"

"Sign the registration papers. We will fill in the rest after."

Bobby held up his mangled hand.

Gwen smiled.

"That's right."

She took his hand in her's.

About 15 seconds later, she let go.

Bobby stared at his hand.

It was completely healed.

He smiled, staring at Gwen.

"Thank ... you... hurting."

"I know," Gwen smiled, patting his arm.

"Cliff doesn't know his own strength sometimes."

"Thank you," Bobby repeated.

"That's fine," Gwen smiled.

She passed him the pen and paper.

"Now sign the papers, like a good little boy."

Bobby started signing them.

"And don't get blood on them. That would be hard to explain."

Bobby passed the papers back to Gwen.

She checked them over.

"Looks good, Bobby."

She offered her hand to him.

"You did well."

Bobby smiled slightly and took Gwen's hand.

Suddenly he yelled in pain, as once again, all the bones in his fingers and hands were crushed.

Gwen turned and looked seriously at Arnold.

"You want the job?"

Arnold nodded.

Gwen turned and looked at Bobby, the smile returning.

"Contract expired, Bobby."

A single shot, quietly rang.