Flash Fiction by Jim Harrington
I’ve been in his apartment many times. It always starts with dinner and a drink or two at Luigi’s Bistro or Leonard’s. I dress as he requests, in a short dress or skirt, “and no underpants,” he says, with a half smile and a wink. *Good luck on that last one, pal. After the meal, we stroll along quiet streets to our special place. Tonight I stand silent, staring out the window at the empty park across the street, my eyes watery. This time he’s gone too far.
He promised me three times he’d leave his wife. I learned from more than one man that the three strikes rule only applies to baseball and major crimes. Hearing him say he’ll be out of town at his wife’s parents’ house for Christmas and wants to get together before the family leaves, is too much for me. I’ve been loyal to him, or more so his money, but enough is enough.
The apartment is small containing a kitchenette, a living/dining area with two chairs and a table, and a bedroom with a twin bed and an antiquated dresser. A seascape depicting stormy waters perches on the wall opposite the bed. Given my current state of mind, it seems appropriate. He told his wife the place was for when he had to work late. I wonder if she’s gullible enough to believe him.
I pirouette, look at the bed, and release a you-should-have-known smile toward his vapid face. I close my eyes and replay the earlier scene in my mind, watch him squirm against the scarves holding his wrists and ankles in place. I listen to him begging through the gag. My cheeks form a broader smile as I picture the knife piercing his nakedness a second time.
I sit at the table and wonder how long it takes a body to decompose sending noxious air into the hallway. Of course, the landlord will contact the police when it does and later provide a description of the renter’s lady friend. Or friends? Not that I care. The only question remaining for me is whether I confess right away, or make the police work for it.
Bio: Jim Harrington lives in Huntersville, NC, with his wife and two dogs. His stories have appeared in The Yard, Free Flash Fiction, Short-Story.me, Ariel Chart, CommuterLit, Fewer Than 500, and others. You can find him at his website HERE.
Cover photo by: Pexels
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Wonderfully dark!
I especially enjoyed this grisly little gem, maybe since I had a story with the same theme (alas, not quite as intriguing as yours) published here. The last line is quite humorous. Thank you for the entertainment.