Calling in sick to work so I could go to a baseball game had seemed like a foolproof plan.

After all, how would my manager have any way of knowing I’m in the stands at a Red Sox playoff, instead of at home in bed? The only thing which could spoil my ruse was if someone were to end up seeing me here on television.

My eyes nervously dart back up to the jumbotron screen at the centre of the stadium, broadcasting random shots of spectators with droning commentary. If by the slimmest chance I do show up on that monitor, I could lose my job.

“Um, can you move your snacks—they’re in my seat?”

Shaking me from my paranoia is a pretty brunette hovering near the seat beside me.

Unblinkingly, I grab my nachos and turn my attention back to the jumbotron. Still no sign of me up there. Phew. That’s when I notice the woman observing me, intrigued.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to be rude”, I awkwardly explain. “My boss can’t know I was here.”

Clad in a baseball cap and sweatshirt, the gorgeous lady smiles.

“Don’t worry—I’m playing hooky from work, too,” she reassures me. “Anything to catch a playoff, right? These seats seem secluded enough.”

“As long as we don’t end up on the kiss cam haha”.

Throughout our flirty conversation, we occasionally cheer a homerun or boo a foul. I complain about my white-collar job, and Carly complains about her blue-collar job. I can’t believe my luck in skipping work—not only am I not getting fired, but I’ve met the perfect woman doing the same.

I’m about to ask for her number when, suddenly, she springs up in panic.

“Shit! I didn’t realise how long it’s been, I’m due back already!”

Faster than a racing outfielder, she’s bolted from her seat. Carly departs so fast that she doesn’t notice her work ID card skittering to the ground. Sensing a second chance to get that date, I set off after her to return it.

Weaving around sports hooligans, I eventually catch up to Carly in the parking lot outside. She’s displeased to see me.

“Jace?! I can’t talk, I really have to get ba-”

“You just forgot this.”

As I go to hand the card back to her, I finally read it. In my haste to reach Carly, I hadn’t thought to look at what I was actually returning.

Prisoner ID #14835
Off-Site Factory Work Detail
Warden Notes: VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS, MAY ABSCOND

Before my shocked eyes can even look up, I feel the lightning fast slash of a makeshift shank across my throat. Keeling over in the deserted parking lot, my carotid artery gushing, I recognise that this is a killer with experience.

“Sorry, don’t mean to be rude” Carly whispers, cleaning her weapon.

“The boss can’t know I was here.”