The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all of the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were 3 finalists: 2 men and a woman.

For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.

"We must know that you will follow our instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside of this room you will find your wife sitting on a chair. Kill her!"

The man replied, "You can't be serious -- I could never shoot my wife!"

The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. Then the man came out with tears in his eyes.

"I tried," he said, "but I can't kill my wife."

The agent replied, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions: to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, and banging on the walls.

After a few minutes all was quiet. The door opened slowly, and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow and said,

"You guys didn't tell me the gun was loaded with blanks - I had to beat him to death with the chair!"