When I got back to the town where Patty was waiting, I called her.
When she finally showed up, she was crying.
I already knew why.
She cried and told me that she would wait for me at the movie theater.
The lobby was decorated with signs that said things like, "You could be an actor in a play".
The late show ended at 1 a.m.
There was no one left - no audience.
But I could sense someone in the dark lobby, the moonlight streaming in through the windows.
A narrow spotlight illuminated me as I walked forward, illuminating my path.
As I stopped, Patty appeared in front of me.
There she stood, wearing her uniform, her glasses removed.
I had known it from the beginning.
She was an EBI agent.
"...Billy... No, William. William Stance. That's your real name," she said.
"Yes, and I am exactly who you think I am," I replied.
Patty held out a badge in her shaking right hand.
"Tell me. Were you hired by the Thunders family?"
"No. I did it of my own free will," I replied, placing my hand on my chest and revealing the lapis lazuli pendant under my shirt.
"You were listening, weren't you? I was."
"You! You killed my father two years ago. You shot my father, Donald Scurlock, outside the High Hopes headquarters. Is that true?"
"Yes. That's right. I killed him."
Patty's face turned red as she ruffled her hair and pulled a gun from her pocket.
Her teeth clenched and tears filled her eyes as she pointed the gun at me.
"How dare you do this to my father!" she screamed.
Shadows appeared on either side of her - two investigators.
The three people Biff had mentioned stood watching.
One of the investigators spoke.
"Don't shoot, Patty. He'll be brought to justice."
"I know that! Just shut up!" Patty snapped before the other could speak.
She turned back to me.
"...Billy. Why... why can't you just say it was Thunders' orders? Do you really want to protect Wendy Dicen so badly?"
She revealed how she had been tracking me after the attack on Leo Footpride. She checked out every man who resembled me, scrutinized them all.
I told her that I had known of her existence since the investigation that led to the murder of Donald Scurlock.
I didn't ask why she switched from blonde to redhead to get close to me. I already understood her drive to catch License to Kill.
Her true feelings at the time were clear - even through her lips.
She had fallen in love.
I spread my arms wide and spoke like an actor on stage.
"If you don't catch me now, I'll have all three of you killed. Understand? I'm a licensed assassin. A first-class assassin."
Even then, I thought to myself, I'd still die for Patty.
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