The Assassin

Apologies, yet again, for the lack of posts. Here is the latest one - one of my favourites - which is only semi-fictional!

Professor Whyte sat back in his leather armchair and poured himself a glass of wine. He swirled it gently around the glass, absorbing its fine fragrance, before taking his first sip. Perfect.

He opened his eyes and sighed at the state of the room. Stacks of papers filled his office, leaving only a small track of clear floor space to which led from the door to his desk, and the metal safe at the back of the room was almost obscured. He really would have to do something about it soon. Maybe tomorrow. Or next week.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed another sip of his wine.

An almost inaudible squeak made them snap open again in confusion. He glanced at his watch - a quarter past one in the morning. Probably someone returning from a late night, he thought to himself, shutting his eyes again. Nothing unusual.

It wasn't until he felt a cold draft from the opened window that he decided to investigate. Rising, his eyebrows creasing into a single line over his forehead, he pulled the black figure from his window-frame into his room. Calmly, he shut the door, and pulled off the man's balaclava.

"Well, young sir, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

The man straightened up, a terrible scowl on his features, and raised a gun to waist height. "I've come to kill you, Whyte," he growled.

"Of course. Whereabouts would you like me?" replied the elderly professor.

"Eh?"

"To make your alibi look strong. So the police aren't going to catch you."

The face relapsed back into a scowl. "The police'll never catch me!"

"Excellent." Whyte eased himself back into his chair. "Then we have something to celebrate."

The assassin looked confused. "Huh? I'm going to kill you!"

"Oh, I know," replied Whyte. "Have a drink with me?"

"Come again?"

"A drink. With me." Whyte poured out another glass of the excellent claret. "I highly recommend it."

"Oh." The assassin peeled off his thick black gloves and took the slender stem of the wine glass, draining it in one.

Whyte smiled to himself, knowing now that the assassin would not kill him.

How come?

Answer (highlight to read): Whyte took the assassin's wine glass and placed it in his safe, knowing that should the assassin kill him, the police break open the safe and find his fingerprints. To retain his freedom the assassin was forced to leave Whyte unharmed.