...a *lot* of money in the US? I hear the going rate in the UK is £5k-£10k. Blimmin dollar-pound price hikes.

Actually, maybe you're a bit optimistic. In her case it sounds more like "pick one". She was married and cheating on her husband (there goes option 3) _and_ obviously not entirely sane or stable (there goes option 1.)

Though, to give credit where credit is due, I must admit that even "pick 2" can be scary enough. I mean, one can live without option 3 (if she's going to put out, anyway), even without option 2 if one's desperate enough or has certain fetishes (some actually like overweight women), but insanity is scary. It can go all the way to acquiring an obsessed stalker with homicidal tendencies. (Think, "if I can't have him/her, then, by Jove, noone else will.")

' - that she was looking for "silent assassins". '

Are there other kinds? Noisy assassins wouldn't have much job security I'd imagine

Have you not seen any american movies? The assasin inhumes with extreme prejudice.