I used the heavy knocker on her solid red door
Thud, thud, thud
The knocker makes a dead sound like a body being thrown into a hole
Nervous
No ans
Knock again
Eventually, I heard movement beyond that heavy red door
A door Lucky installed to protect her from intruders
To protect himself from debt collectors
To protect his family from The Life
Lucky's favorite color, red
Stop.
Since Lucky additional hardware has she installed
locks, locks, and a doorbell with a security camera
She was home.
And she could see me through the doorbell cam
Her car was in the driveway
A Jetta with a car seat strapped in the back seat
Baby safety
Momma safety
I hear bolts being thrown back
***
Momentary Thoughts:
This is where I killed Lucky
Not that I would mention it
Killed him in the front hallway next to the staircase
Gina's husband
Degenerate gambler
Father to a daughter who would never know him
I was wearing a black baseball cap with a black hoodie pulled over
And a black surgical mask on account of covid
Gina never got a good look at my face
Jules did the talking so she never heard my voice
She couldn't make a positive ID
I want to think she saw me but refused to tell the cops because...
Deep down she had feelings...
For me. Yours truly.
***
Gina Answers.
The door squeaks open
Mental note: Hinges need to be oiled
Return tomorrow with WD40
Help the girl out.
"Wow! Johnny it's been a while."
Okay, she's surprised, that's normal, that's a good thing.
"How are you, Gina?"
She's gorgeous, seriously movie-star hot.
She shrugs and smiles, "All things considered, okay, I guess."
Has my sudden appearance temporarily postponed mourning?
"Would you like to come in, Johnny?"
"Thank you"
***
Alive And Moving Forward
I step into the murder scene, the front hallway
Feel nothing
No creeping guilt, no regret; I'm no random wack job killer
Mine was a surgical strike, like rooting out the cancer
There's no pleasure in returning to the scene of the crime
This moment is all about the living
Me and Gina, alive and moving forward
Lucky is not going to be the elephant in the room
He is not going to ruin us
Us.
***
Sit Down
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Gina sat down on the sofa and motioned for me to take a chair.
To what do I? Okay this is the question that I have rehearsed the answer
"I paid your mom a visit the other day and quite frankly I am concerned."
"About what, Johnny?'
"She seems old and frail..."
And afraid.
"This happens when we grow older, Johnny, It'll happen to us."
We. Us.
She's including me on her journey to and through old age
Maybe, maybe not; nice thought though.
"Yes. Well, I was just wondering if there was anything I could do for her?"
She was so good to me when I was growing up.
"I guess you'd have to ask her."
"I was hoping you could give me some suggestions."
Suggestions? That sounded lame.
"Mom and I are not exactly on speaking terms these days."
She said in a rather frosty tone.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"All the bad decisions she made when I was a kid are catching up."
"Yeah, she told me she's seeing the priest like three times a week."
"She didn't work at being happily married the way your parents did."
My parents weren't exactly...I just spent a week in Vermont because...
"When I was running errands for her I never noticed there wasn't a man"
I never thought to ask why you didn't have a dad.
"That's because you only got to see Mad Max."
GRRRRRRRRR MAX.
"She seemed like the complete package to me, Gina."
Powerful, organized, and always looking like a million bucks.
"An act. When nobody was around she found her courage in a bottle."
"That's too bad."
She cries herself to sleep at night thinking about all the little boys she sold.
"She was a scheming, conniving bitch who's scared of going to hell."
"The reason for seeing the priest."
"I imagine her list of bad deeds is a mile long."
"Did she protect you from the Life, Gina?"
Gina rolls her eyes as if to say do you really have to ask.
"Did she protect you from the Life, Johnny?"
Detecting sarcasm. Delete. No hurt feelings today
"I jumped in with both eyes open."
All smiles.
"Right. She groomed your ass just like she did Lucky."
"How so?"
"Johnny, why were you delivering messages to all of our neighbors?"
IDK, never looked at the messages I was delivering.
"You were being sized up."
"Sized up how and for what?"
"The Life, Johnny. These harmless-looking old men were paying attention
Were you polite, well-spoken, teachable?"
"Grooming sounds so ugly, like pedophiles or something."
Definitely a page from their playbook.
"When was it decided that I would be part of the Life?"
"Two weeks after you graduated from High school."
I wasn't expecting this information when I walked in here.
"Five guys sat around my mother's kitchen table offering cash for young
men they thought would make good soldiers in their OC army."
And I was one of them.
"You were the one they all wanted, Johnny."
About the Creator
David Parham
Writer, Filmmaker, Digital artist.
The ever Changing Complexities of Life, Fear, Mysteries and Capturing that which may not be there Tomorrow.
Complex, Change, Fear, Mystery, Tomorrow & Capture. Six reasons I write.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.