Lindsey picked up. She heard muffled voices and some laughter. She called to him.
"Andrew? ANDREW!" Her smile was sweet. She plugged her free ear to listen more closely.
"Oh hey, wait a minute...I butt dialed..." and he came on. "Hallooooo? " he was laughing. She could hear his face and see the crinkles around his gentle brown eyes.
"Hey Baby. You miss me already?" She swayed back and forth. "Who's all there?"
"Ah nobody Sweetness. Dennis. We're waiting for our meeting to finish up and then fly out day after tomorrow. Miss you. Lemme go."
"Will do. Kiss em for me." and she hung up. As lonely as she'd be, it was only for a couple of days. She sighed and pulled her long brown hair up to a pony tail. She fixed her jacket and finished getting ready. Her phone rang. Expecting it to be Andrew's derriere, she laughed and placed the cellie to her ear.
"Hey! This is stalk--" but she stopped short.
"No. No injuries. She needs to go. I can't take this anymore. I hate everything about her."
She pulled the phone away from her head and stared at the number. It wasn't Andrew's but it was his voice. It was thick with hate. He continued.
"I don't give a shit. She's going to be home after 4 today. Do it. I can't be in town."
Another man coughed and asked "What insurance do you want?"
" I don't care. Dispose of the ...no DESTROY the phone. Get me her teeth so there are no dental records. Burn the rest."
Then a woman. "Honey. That's a bit much..."
"No it isn't Denise. I hate her. I want her gone. Forever. We wanted to make a clean start, right? I can't think of a cleaner one." There was giggling and clinking of glasses.
Lindsey sat down hard on the stool at her counter. She closed the phone slowly. Her mouth was dry. Her scalp started a chain reaction of goosebumps that trailed and burned all the way to her toes. She began to shake. Her husband was going to kill her and have her burned. He hated her so much that he wanted all her teeth to be yanked from her skull. She rushed to the sink, losing her breakfast. Propping herself on the edge she began to cry. Her knees were weak. Her head swam. Should she call the police? Should she call the insurance company? Should she run?
"Oh God." She wailed. The quaking in her muscles almost took her to the floor. Her eyes flashed around the kitchen, the house. The stove clock blinked 3:15pm Panicking, she dashed up the stairs and ripped through the closet. She slammed clothing into suitcases and glided down the steps. She raced to the library and cleaned out the safe, pulling all the cash and jewelry. Her load was getting heavier, but the adrenaline threatened to eat through her stomach if she didn't hurry.
The now lumbering cases thunked against her legs. She dragged them to her car and heaved them in. Dammit! She forgot her keys! Running back she swiped them from the counter.
The doorbell rang.
Lindsey froze. She covered her mouth to stuff the scream back into her throat.
He peered through the sidelight at the door. Their eyes locked. He grinned and threw his shoulder against the door. It bucked and thumped. Lindsey shook her head emphatically screaming "NO! NO!" but he just kept coming. Her feet moved without asking. She bolted back through the kitchen to the car. She dove in and slammed the locks. The keys seemed all too fat and clunky to fit in the ignition. The man appeared in the doorway. Lindsey honked the horn and finally felt the car spark to life. The gears ground and bitched but she flew down the drive and out on to the street, screaming at the top of her lungs until the burning in her chest made her gasp and gag. Then a cooler head prevailed.
Andrew sauntered coolly into the lobby of the resort in Nevis. He squinted against the brilliant blues and bright colors. The sun baked off any sense of guilt. Ordering a drink, he checked his watch and waited. Denise would be arriving soon. The complimentary Bahama mama was exchanged for his usual martini. Ahhh the nectar of the Gods he sighed and slouched back in his cabana chair.
His phone rang. It was Lindsey's number. A dry smile spread across his face. He raised his glass signalling for another drink, winking and leering at the scantily clad beauties whispering and smiling at him. It was time to celebrate.
"Andrew" her voice was flat and crisp.
He spat his drink, spraying the gold diggers. They "Ewww-ed", flipped their hair, moving on.
His breath was stuck. "Linnie? Babe? You all right?" His voice cracked. His bowels felt hot and loose. He was thankful to be sitting down.
"You all right?" the laugh was high; incredulous. "Never better." -click
He closed his phone and glanced around. Sweat dripped from his upper lip. He polished off both drinks and rubbed his wet hair.
His phone rang.
"Yes?" his voice was soft. There was only rustling and muffled voices. He shut his phone quickly and turned it off. He headed to the main desk to check for Denise.
"Is she here?" he asked, thrumming his fingers nervously on the counter. His wedding band clicked rhythmically.
"Ah yes Sir. She left this for you." An elegantly wrapped box with the tag "Love Denise" was slid across to him. He smiled, relaxing a bit. Knowing his lover, it was her underware. He tugged at the black ribbon. His smile fell down across his face. His eyes widened in horror. He stared helplessly at Denise's phone and a handful of small pearly nuggets.
"Oh Jesus GOD!" he wailed and threw the box back at the concierge.
His phone rang...and rang...and rang. His unsteady hand plucked at it. Without a sound he put it to his ear and listened. He heard the jolly tinklings of the mariachi band in the lobby....
I LOVED this one. I sat down and wrote it non-stop in less than an hour. Usually, I write, rewrite and let it sit. My heart pounded all the way through. My fingers banged on the keys; I couldn't type fast enough. I was afraid I'd lose it. I hope you enjoy it also.
