Illusion of Luck

by Robert Burton Robinson

  He opened the glove box and took out his .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and suppressor. A typical suppressor changes the sound of a shot, but does little to reduce the volume. But this one took advantage of phase shifting technology. It’s similar to how a person’s voice changes after breathing helium from a balloon. The sound of the shot gets phase shifted to a higher frequency than humans can hear.

  He got out of the car, took off his jacket and threw it on the front seat. Then he opened the trunk and pulled a windbreaker out of his bag. It was a fairly chilly night, and the windbreaker didn’t provide much warmth, but it was part of his plan. He put it on and pulled the hood over his head.

  The 40-something year old woman standing outside the store at the ATM didn’t seem to notice him approaching.

  “Don’t move—I’ve got a gun.” His voice was soft, but intense.

  “Please don’t hurt me.”

  He put his left arm around her, pretending to be the husband. “I want you to withdraw $1,000.”

  “I don’t know if I can—there’s a daily limit. I think it’s $500.”

  “Okay, fine. But hurry up.”

  Her hand was shaking so much she had to punch the buttons very deliberately to be sure she didn’t make an error.

  That’s good, he thought. She knows she’ll probably die if she makes a mistake or takes too long.

  He looked around. Amazingly, there was nobody in sight, except in the store. But those people were too busy purchasing overpriced beer and junk food to notice what was happening outside.

  “Okay. Here it is.” She started to hand it to him.

  “No. Hold on to it. Now do exactly as I say and you won’t get hurt.”

  “I will.”

  “We’re going to walk around to the side of the building.”

  “Okay.”

  Larry kept his arm around her as they walked around the corner, and then to the back. He released her and pulled out the pistol.

  She held out the cash. “Here’s your money. Now please let me go.”

  He took the cash and aimed the gun at her.

  “Please. I’ve got a husband and three kids. I promise I won’t tell anybody.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you won’t.” He squeezed the trigger.

  The bullet ripped through her chest like a hatchet through crepe paper. He watched her lifeless body fall to the ground. It was the first time he had killed with a gun. He was surprised how good it made him feel.

  He pulled the hood back and walked around the other side of the store and walked inside. Going so long without food was starting to bring on a dull headache. A couple of Excedrin would fix him up.

  “Beautiful evening,” said the middle-aged female clerk.

  “Brisk,” he said. “I love it.” He pointed to the steakhouse across the street. “Do you know how late they’re open?”

  “Usually ‘til about eleven.”

  “Usually?”

  “Yeah. But they quit taking orders at 10:00.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s 9:50, so you’ll be fine if you get on over there.”

  “Great—I’m starved.”

  Larry stepped out of the store and took a deep breath. Wonderful evening, he thought. He walked across the street to the steakhouse. When he saw the police cruiser pulling into the one available spot in the front, he figured the food must be good.

  Then it occurred to him that cops could be trouble. Why hadn’t that been his firstimpulse? Because his luck was back—big time. He could feel it running through his veins. Let them serve and protect all they want, he thought. Nobody can touch me.

  The place was packed and it smelled fantastic. A young lady showed him to a table in the back near the kitchen. He realized right away it would be a noisy place to sit. Why should he have to put up with the sound of pots and pans clanging, and cooks yelling? The cops got a great seat in the front. Maybe he’d call the manager over and complain.

  Nah. He didn’t mind pushing his luck, but no sense wasting it on something trivial.

  **********

  Larry had been very impressed with his steak and the generous serving of fries. Even their home-style apple pie was excellent.

  And the cops seemed to be enjoying their meal as well—until a man came running in and went straight to their table. Almost immediately, they jumped up, put on their hats, and ran out.

  It seemed like Larry might have stayed a little too long. How could he exit unnoticed?

  His waiter brought the check and poured him another cup of coffee.

  “What was that all about with the police officers?” said Larry.

  “Something happened at the mini-mart across the street. I don’t know if they got robbed or what.”

  “I see. Well, I just hope nobody got hurt.”

  The waitress shook her head. “Yeah. I always thought of this as a safe area.”

  “Well, you just never know, I guess.”

  As soon as she walked away, Larry pulled two twenties out of the ATM envelope and threw them on the table. He had not intended to be a big tipper tonight, but he didn’t have time to wait for change.

  He ducked into the kitchen and hurried toward the back, looking for the exit.

  “Hey, what are you doing back here? It’s employees only.”

  What I’m doing back here is putting a bullet right between your eyes, thought Larry. Be careful what you say, Dude, or you’ll be as dead as the beef hanging in the freezer.

  But Larry didn’t have time for any more trouble right now. “I’m sorry, but I was sitting next to the kitchen and I started feeling really sick.” He acted like he was about to barf. “I need to throw up, Man. Where’s the back door?”

  “Oh, don’t throw up in here. There—go through there. And hurry. And don’t puke on the sidewalk either. Go way out there in the grass.”

  Larry ran out holding his hand over his mouth. Once he was outside, he casually made his way to the sidewalk, and down to the Jaguar.

  He drove out of town at the speed limit, and knew he was safe. Nobody had seen his car and nobody had seen him kill her. The ATM camera probably got a good shot of him, but with the hood pulled down over his face, all they got was a mouth surrounded by beard. They had nothing.

  Larry had executed his plan flawlessly. Murder by gun suited him well. He decided to make it his new weapon of choice.

  **********

  After a second round of lovemaking, Greg was tired, sore and veryhappy. And although he was sleepy, he needed to make a quick trip to the bathroom.

  He had washed his hands and he was about to turn off the light and go back to bed when he glanced at himself in the mirror.

  “Do you have anyidea how lucky you are?” his reflection said.

  “Of course I do.”

  “No, really. I don’t think you do. I mean, you’re a nice guy, and not bad looking. And you’ve got a pretty good sense of humor, but come on. Are you kidding me? The girl is fabulous, Man. She’s a supermodel. Can’t you see that?”

  “Sure. But shesays it’s what’s on the insidethat counts.”

  “Well, then you’d better keep your insides in tip top shape, Buddy. ‘Cause you don’t want to everlose thatlady.”

  “I know, I know. Now be quiet while I say a prayer. Lord, I thank you again for Cynthia. I’ll never feel like I deserve her, but I promise to care for her and love her with all my heart every day for the rest of my life. Amen.”

  “That prayer sounded a lot like your wedding vows,” said his reflection.

  “And I’m serious about those vows.”

  Then he heard Cynthia calling to him from the bed. “Greg? Who are you talking to?”

  He opened the door. “Nobody. Well…actually, I was talking to myself.”

  “I see. And just what was yourselftelling you?”

  “He was telling me how lucky I am to have you.”

  She smiled. “Well then, you can tell yourselfhe’s a pretty smart guy.”

  “I think he already knows that
. He’s kind of a smart aleck, really.”

  “Well, bring him over here anyway, because I want to kiss bothof you.”

  “Whoa. This is getting kinda kinky.”

  “That’s right. Think you can handle it?”

  Suddenly, he wasn’t tired at all.

  Chapter33

  Rebecca tried to ignore the phone, but it just kept ringing. She recognized the ring tone—it was Wendy calling from the office, even though she had been instructed not to.

  As soon as she yanked the covers off her head, the sunlight beaming through the slim opening between the curtains hit her in the eye like a laser. “Hello?”

  “Just wanted to find out what time you were coming in. Mrs. Smithers has already called to confirm her appointment.”

  “But, Wendy—“

  “—oh, and that police detective called yesterday. He’s got some more questions for you.”

  Yesterday? Yesterday was Sunday. Wasn’t it? “Wendy, what is today?”

  “The 27th.”

  “No. What day of the week is it?”

  Wendy hesitated, and then said, “It’s Tuesday.”

  Rebecca had already glanced at her clock radio, but thought it was broken. “It’s 8:25 on Tuesdaymorning.”

  “Yes… What’s the matter, Rebecca?”

  “I was asleep for 24 hours. I knew I was tired, but—okay, I’ll be in soon. Thanks, Wendy. Bye.”

  Rebecca sat on the side of the bed and checked her cell phone for missed calls and messages. It would have been nice to have one from Sandy. Their upcoming Friday night date seemed a year away.

  By now, Greg and Cynthia should be enjoying one heck of an afterglow, she thought. After waiting all that time, their first night must have set the sheets on fire. She imagined what it would be like to get naked with Sandy.

  Surely Greg wouldn’t mind a quick call. It would be nice to know for sure that the honeymoon was finally on track—with no more interference from Larry the Loser.

  Rebecca located what she thought was Greg’s number in her ‘Dialed Calls’ list and pressed the Send button.

  “Hello?”

  She must have woken Greg up, she thought. He didn’t sound like himself. “Hey, Greg, this is Rebecca Ranghorn.”

  “Oh, yes, Rebecca. Thanks for calling. But, this is not Greg’s number—it’s Cynthia’s.”

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s me—Barry Undermine. And I will be seeing my darling Cynthia very soon. In fact, I plan to impregnate her this very evening.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I’m going to plant myseeds in hisgarden.” He began to laugh.

  “Larry Luzor.” She spit the name into her phone.

  He stopped laughing. “How did you know my real name?”

  “Oh, I know everything about you. Number one: you’re a coward. Number two: you’re a woman killing, slimy, sorry excuse for a human being. And…that’s it. You’re just a Number One and a Number Two. You’re something people flush down the toilet, Larry. I guess that makes you a potty person. Minus the person, of course.”

  “That’s brave talk, coming from a mere woman.”

  “You haven’t dealt with thiswoman. And when you do—you’re gonna be sorry you ever laid a hand on my partner.”

  “Candy?”

  “Her name was Melanie.”

  “Oh, I think Candy is more fitting, since Candylet me lick her all over, and I’m telling right now: she was delicious.”

  “You pig!”

  “What about you? Did you ever get a lick of Miss Candy?”

  “You make me want to barf!”

  “I can’t tell you how much fun it was to hump her fine body over and over, and then pop her cute little neck like a chicken bone.”

  “Just name the place and I’ll be there. But you won’t, will you? You ain’t got the balls to try that with me.”

  “Honey, I will be more than happy to take you on. But first, I’ll have my date with Cynthia. I’m gonna introduce that redhead to the business end of a fourteen year-old hard-on. But, don’t worry—I’ll get back to you.”

  “You just leave her alone, or I’ll—“

  “—you’ll what? There’s nothing you can do to stop me, so don’t waste your time. And speaking of time—thanks for the wakeup call. Although, it was a little late. It’s already 9:30, and I’ve got a woman to stalk. So, have a nice day, Honey. See you soon.” He kissed into the phone and hung up.

  She threw her cell phone at the wall. Chasing Larry around for the past few days had kept her mind off Melanie. Now her heart ached as though she had just found her friend’s lifeless body in that rundown motel room.

  Rebecca’s mind wandered to the time she caught Melanie. It happened just a few weeks after they had become partners. At around 8:30 on a Wednesday night, Rebecca was on her way to make Cheating Husband Video No. 37 when she realized that her video camera was not in the car. So, she swung by the office to pick it up.

  There was light coming from Melanie’s office, so she walked in to turn it off, and was startled to see a hooker sitting at Melanie’s desk.

  “What are doing in here?” Rebecca grabbed her cell phone and was about to call the police.

  “Rebecca.”

  Rebecca was surprised the hooker knew her name.

  The woman stood up. “Rebecca, it’s me—Melanie.”

  If that coal black hair is a wig, thought Rebecca, it couldbe her. Man, was she hot! The tight mini-skirt and low-cut blouse accentuated all her nice parts. How could any man with blood in his veins resist her? “Melanie, why in the world are you dressed like that?”

  Melanie smiled bashfully. “I’m working.”

  “Working?Working the streets?”

  “Yeah, sort of. I’m gonna try to pick up a certain husband in a certain bar and take him to a motel.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Yeah, a little. But I’ve got to catch this guy. I’ve tried everything else. And the wife is absolutely sure he’s cheating.”

  “What makes her so sure?”

  “She found a condom in his pants pocket.”

  “And?”

  “His wife had a hysterectomy two years ago.”

  “So, now you’re going to seduce him—and what? Secretly videotape him getting naked with you?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  Melanie was like a little sister to Rebecca. “Sweetie, please don’t do that. It’s gonna make you feel so dirty, and it could be dangerous. It’s just not worth it.”

  “But it’s the only way I can nail him.”

  “No. Don’t do it.” It was more of an order than a request.

  “Well…okay.”

  Rebecca grabbed her camera and left. “Bye. See you in the morning.”

  The next morning when Rebecca walked into the office with the donuts, she found Melanie sitting at her desk watching a video on the camera’s LCD screen, smiling. “He’s a goner,” she said, with great satisfaction. “The wife will get everything she wants and deserves.”

  Rebecca walked around the desk and watched the video over her shoulder. “You had sexwith him? What were you thinking?”

  “I got him.”

  “Yeah, we’ll it looks like hegot you. I don’t understand. How could you degrade yourself like this, Melanie?”

  “It’s worth it to catch a cheater.”

  “No, it’s not. You’ve turned yourself into a—”

  Melanie jumped up from her chair. “—a slut? No, I haven’t. My ex-husband did that.”

  “By cheating on you with hookers? How did that make youa bad person?”

  “Look, I understand what you’re saying, Rebecca, and I wishI could feel that way about it. But after I went up to Little Rock and met that prostitute, Cherry, and found out he had sex with dozens of women like her, I knew I was just another hooker to him. And it was as though I had slept with all of those women too.”

  “That’s crazy, Honey.”

  “I know it’s
crazy. But I can’t get it out of my head. So, I decided I might as well put it to good use.”

  When the husband had seen the video, he agreed to his wife’s divorce terms. The wife never saw it. Once all the paperwork had been signed, Melanie destroyed her little sex tape.

  Rebecca had made Melanie promise she would never do it again. But now she thought about all the cases her partner had closed in short order, and knew why. She shuddered to think that her friend got any pleasure from the lurid encounters. If so, she was even more damaged than Rebecca had realized.

  But she still didn’t understand how Melanie had hooked up with Larry. Maybe on that particular night, the cheating husband was a no-show at the motel. So, she went on the prowl for cheaters and found Larry. Perhaps she saw a wedding ring or a tan ring and decided to see if he’d take the bait.

  Rebecca wondered what she could have done differently that might have saved her dear friend.

  Her cell phone began to ring. At least it still worked, she thought. She walked over to pick up the pieces and saw that there were only two. The cover had just popped off. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Rebecca, it’s Sandy.”

  She grinned broadly. “Hi, Sandy.”

  “Have you seen Larry’s new chapter?”

  “No.”

  “I’m afraid we’ve got trouble.”

  Chapter34

  “In the new chapter, he hunts down the redhead and rapes her,” said Sandy. “Before, it sounded like he was in lovewith her. But now, he just wants sex, and he’s determined to get it—no matter what.”

  “I just talked to him on the phone,” said Rebecca.

  “He calledyou?”

  “No. I called him. I thought I was calling Greg’s cell phone, but it turned out to be Cynthia’s. Remember Saturday night—how I called her phone, thinking Larry might answer it if he saw that it wasn’t Greg calling?”

  “Yeah. So, what did he say to you?”

  “Basically, the same thing you just told me—that he was going to have sex with Cynthia tonight. Oh, but it gets worse. He said he was going to get her pregnant.”

  “Yeah, that’s what it says in the chapter too. He’s an animal.”