“Here we go. You definitely need a pair of red ‘fuck-me’ shoes to go with this dress,” she says, placing the shoes on the counter.
“A pair of what?” Wendy asks, pulling her attention away from her reflection.
“Never mind. This is what you need to wear to turn some heads.”
“But I don’t like wearing those shoes,” Wendy protests.
“I don’t care, darling. This isn’t about you, anyway. It’s about how that man wants to see you dress. Now shut up and put them on.”
Bonnie leads Wendy to the full-length mirror and has her look at herself. Wendy stares in disbelief, then Bonnie turns her to the side and says, “See how these shoes pump up your legs and ass? That’s why they’re called pumps, and men love them. You are going to rock the bar tonight. Trust me, if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s how to attract male attention.”
Wendy smiles, liking what Bonnie has done with her. She feels warm confidence flow through her, knowing that tonight she will get to feel the rush she gets after killing.
“Thank you so much, Bonnie. I’m going to use the bathroom, and then I guess I should probably go,” Wendy says, and Bonnie nods and leaves her to her business.
Wendy quietly grinds up the Xanax pills and puts the powder in a small pill container in her purse. She double-checks herself in the mirror and walks into the living room.
“OK, I’m ready. I’ll be home late. Maybe like one a.m.”
Bonnie nods. “Sounds good. I’ve decided to stay a couple of extra days so I can take you shopping for some decent clothes.”
Wendy smiles. “I’d actually like that.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll shop tomorrow, just for you. Oh, and if things go well tonight, don’t worry about bringing Dr. Wonderful home. I can make myself scarce.” She winks.
“That’s not happening tonight. Geez, what kind of a girl do you think I am?” Wendy says with a wink of her own.
Bonnie shrugs. “Well, it is the twenty-first century. Nobody cares anymore. Especially me.”
Wendy rolls her eyes. “Good night, dear. Don’t wait up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Have fun and go with your gut. Or maybe something lower than your gut.” She grins, and Wendy hugs her good-bye and heads out the door.
CHAPTER 13
THE HUNT
Wendy walks into the bar and hesitates briefly to survey the crowd. She quickly recognizes Arnold Davis from the photographs she studied earlier. Walking up to the bar, she takes a seat, leaving one vacant seat between Arnold and her.
The bartender glances up at her, then stares blatantly. He clears his throat. “What’s your pleasure?” he asks, placing a napkin on the bar in front of her.
“A Painkiller, please,” she says with a flirty smile.
“I’ve never heard of it. What’s in it?”
She covertly glances at Arnold, noticing she does indeed have his attention, then leans forward, pushing her breasts up on the bar. “It’s two ounces of Pusser’s rum, four ounces of pineapple juice, one ounce of coconut cream, and one ounce of orange juice. Shake it with ice and top it with fresh ground nutmeg.”
“I can do that.”
Arnold pulls his attention from her chest and tells the bartender, “Put it on my tab.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Wendy snaps.
“Whoa, no offense intended. I’ve never heard of a Painkiller. I just figured anyone ordering a drink with that name has had a horrible day. Really, I’ll get this one.” He nods at the bartender, who shrugs.
Wendy sighs. “I’m sorry. It has been an awful day, actually. I didn’t mean to be a bitch.”
He grins. “You weren’t. I’m Arnold, by the way,” he says, shifting into the seat right next to her to offer his hand to shake.
Very smooth, she thinks and takes his hand. “Hello, Arnold. I’m Cyndy.”
“What do you do, Cyndy?”
“I’m a motivational speaker and life coach.”
“I see. So what qualifies as a horrible day to a motivational speaker and life coach?”
“Ugh, just stupid people. Let’s talk about you.” She leans toward him, giving him a glance down her dress. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a real estate developer.”
“Interesting. What type of real estate?”
“Mainly high-end condo projects in La Jolla, Mission Bay, and San Diego Harbor.”
“Wow, I bet that can be stressful, huh?” Wendy says, practically purring.
The bartender places the Painkiller in front of Wendy.
“How did I do, miss?”
She takes a sip, smiles, and gives him a thumbs-up, then turns back to Arnold and gives him a smile. “Since you’ve paid for it, would you like to try it?”
“Sure.” He takes a sip and raises his eyebrows. “Not bad. It’s a little sweet for my taste.”
“Well, you know what they say. You are what you eat.” She winks at him. “That’s why I’m so sweet.”
“If you insist,” he says, leaning closer.
She feigns distress. “Arnold, are you doubting me?”
“Never! I would never challenge a life coach. Why, that just wouldn’t be wise, now, would it?” He motions to the bartender for another drink. The bartender brings him a shot glass and puts it in front of him.
Wendy eyes it warily, completely in character, then asks the bartender, “What is that?”
Arnold tosses it back and answers, “It’s a snakebite.”
“What the hell is a snakebite?” Wendy asks. What an appropriate drink for a sleaze like you.
Arnold motions again for a snakebite for Wendy and another for himself. The bartender places the drinks before them. “I’ll tell you what it is after you try it,” Arnold says.
She narrows her eyes, then nods. “Fair enough.”
“To a great evening making new friends, Cyndy. Down the hatch.” He raises his glass, and they both drink.
Wendy coughs a bit and then asks, horrified, “What the hell is in that?”
Arnold chuckles. “It’s Canadian whiskey and lime juice. Would you like another Painkiller?”
“Why not?” She asks and decides to test her skills. She laughs and places her hand on Arnold’s leg just above his knee. He raises an eyebrow. Then he reaches down and gives her hand a light squeeze.
“Are you local or just visiting?” he asks, not letting go of her hand.
“Oh, I’m just visiting. I’m a presenter at a conference.”
His grin broadens. “Where are you from?”
“Wisconsin.”
“Where in Wisconsin?”
“Milwaukee.”
He nods. “And how long are you in town?”
“I leave tomorrow evening.”
“Can I buy you dinner tonight, then?”
Wendy moves her hand a little higher on Arnold’s leg and says, “Frankly, I’d like to have another drink.” She takes another sip and leans into him, whispering, “I hope you don’t think I’m too forward, but I like you, Arnold, and I’m really horny tonight. Maybe I could follow you home. I promise you, I’ll rock your world before I head back to my hotel.”
“Why don’t we just go to your hotel?” he asks, pulling her hand even farther up his thigh.
She casts her eyes down. “Well, this is a bit awkward, but I actually came with a coworker, and I’m married, so I wouldn’t want her to know about this. Is any of this a problem for you?”
“Actually, it’s not. I’m married too, but my wife is out of town, so if you want to follow me to my place, that would be great.”
“Terrific,” Wendy says. “Let me finish this, then we can head to your place.”
The bartender checks to see how they are doing, and Arnold orders another drink, this time a Sn
oop Dogg.
Wendy giggles. “You’re full of surprises. What’s in a Snoop Dogg?”
Arnold explains. “It’s just gin, grapefruit juice, and orange juice. Totally a letdown, right?” Wendy laughs and nods.
Arnold tips the bartender generously and suggests they move to a booth. “It’ll be more secluded, and we can order some snacks,” he says, and Wendy agrees.
The bartender has the server take the drinks and their order of bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers and mozzarella sticks to the booth.
The conversation remains casual at first, then Wendy decides to ramp up the sexual innuendos and teasing. She is enjoying the effect her advances are having on Arnold, so she suggests he come sit closer to her, so she can touch him. Arnold quickly slides around the booth next to Wendy, and she responds by leaning into him and giving him a slow but very suggestive kiss. Wendy takes the time to feed him jalapeno poppers and mozzarella sticks, seductively shifting and leaning to allow Arnold opportunities to look at her exposed breasts.
When he finally gets up to use the restroom, Wendy uses this time to pour the powdered Xanax into his third Snoop Dogg and mix it well. When he comes back, Arnold is anxious, and Wendy finishes the water she had secretly switched to.
“All right, then. Why don’t you finish your drink, and we’ll go take this party to the next level?” She plants an aggressive kiss on Arnold as she lets her right hand find his crotch, rubbing it on the outside of his trousers and then giving a gentle squeeze. He grabs his drink, finishes its contents, and helps her out of the booth. They walk quickly out to their cars and drive the ten minutes to his house.
Arnold lets himself into his house with Wendy close behind. “Would you like another drink?” he asks, tossing his keys on the counter.
“No, the only thing I want is you, but feel free to get yourself another drink,” she replies, looking around the house, feigning curiosity.
“I think I will. I have a bottle in my office off the bedroom. I can grab it there.”
“Wonderful. Before we go up there though, there are a few things you need to know about me.”
He gives her a curious look. “Oh, and what would those be?”
“Well, with someone new, I need to know if there are any issues past or present with STDs.”
“Nope, I’ve never had any type of sexually transmitted disease, and I get myself checked every month since my wife is unfaithful. You can never be too careful, you know?”
“Oh, believe me, I know.”
“Also I haven’t been with anyone, not even my wife, since my last checkup, about thirty days ago, so you’re safe there.”
“Good. Since that is covered, you need to know I like to take charge. I also like to watch porn while screwing. The kinkier the better for me. Do you have any?”
“What do you mean by kinky?”
She shrugs. “Latex clothing, woman on woman, red lipstick on a woman giving a blow job with a shotgun nearby. That kind of thing. No bondage, though.”
“Have I told you about my gun collection? It’s upstairs in my office.”
“No, but I’m kind of excited about seeing it. It symbolizes raw sexual power to me,” she says, slinking toward him.
He gulps. “Well then, I have just the thing for you.” He grabs her hand and leads her upstairs into his office.
Upstairs, he shows her a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun with a modified barrel and stock.
“Impressive,” Wendy purrs. “Are these types of modifications legal?”
“They are, actually,” he answers, and Wendy turns and kisses him with extreme passion, pressing her body against his crotch and grinding slowly. He responds immediately, grabbing her ass and holding her against him.
Wendy pushes her upper body away from his. “I’m going to use the bathroom and put on some red lipstick. You need to get undressed, sit in your desk chair, and wait. You also need to know I have a phobia about a strange man’s semen. So I’m going to give you an incredible blow job, but I won’t let you cum in my mouth. I’m going to put on latex gloves, because as you near your orgasm I’ll finish you off by hand. The gloves are so I don’t have to deal with your semen on my skin. I know it’s a little odd. Are you OK with all this?”
“Sounds great to me. I’m down with kinky stuff. What about after the blow job?”
“Then I want you to bend me over your desk. It’s a boss-and-secretary fantasy of mine.” She winks at him.
“I can definitely do that,” he replies. He is slurring a little, and Wendy knows she’s stalled long enough for the Xanax to kick in.
“Good. Now get some porn going and set any magazines you have around your chair. I’d love to see them during your blow job. It turns me on so much, and when I’m excited, you will be, too.”
Wendy turns and saunters away. At the door, she looks over her shoulder and says, “You’d better be naked in your chair with porn everywhere when I come back, or I’m leaving without pleasing you. Do you understand me?”
He nods vigorously. “Yeah, I got it, but don’t be too long. I’m getting tired, probably from the booze, and I don’t want you to have to work too hard.”
“That is never a problem for me,” she replies with a seductive smile as she continues to the bathroom. Once there, she looks at herself in the mirror, wondering what she’s actually going to do with Arnold.
She sighs. You have to blow him, she thinks, lining her lips with bloodred gloss. It’s the only way to create the perfect scene. You can do this! She pulls her shoulders back, fluffs her hair, and reminds herself she’s the angel of mercy.
Arnold quickly grabs his stash of pornographic magazines, opens them to the most perverted images he can find, and scatters them on the floor. Then he puts a DVD into the player and turns it on. He strips and sits in the chair, waiting for Wendy.
After a few moments, Wendy walks out of the bedroom with bright-red lipstick and latex gloves, gets down on her knees before Arnold, and begins kissing his penis.
As he starts to get hard, she switches from kissing to licking his shaft, and then circles the head of his cock with her tongue. Arnold is getting sleepy, and he isn’t responding as quickly she wants him to. Recognizing time is of the essence, she slides his entire shaft into her mouth and down her throat. Then, with rapid up and down motions of her head, she finally hears his breathing intensify.
Arnold begins to moan and encourages Wendy as he moves his hips with the motion of her mouth. Wendy senses he is getting close, so she removes his cock from her mouth, wraps her gloved hand around him, and rapidly strokes the entire length of his shaft. Suddenly, he erupts with an intense orgasm, and she aims the ejaculation away from her, onto one of the magazines on the floor and carpet.
Afterward, Wendy remains kneeling before Arnold, watching his facial expressions as they go from pleased, to content, to slightly slack. When she finally speaks to him, she’s assured the Xanax and booze have taken hold, and she anticipates he will pass out sooner than expected.
“Arnold?” she asks, and he grunts. “Just relax. I’m going to the bathroom to clean up a bit, and then it’ll be your turn to return the favor.”
Wendy walks through the bedroom into the bathroom and takes some very deep breaths. She returns to the bedroom and watches as Arnold struggles to stay awake. When she’s convinced he has passed out, she walks out of the bedroom, her breasts exposed just in case he hasn’t, and shakes him. When he doesn’t respond, she takes a makeup removal wipe from her purse and wipes his penis thoroughly, making sure there is no residual lipstick or DNA. She puts the wipe back in her purse, then smears his penis and his hand with the glove that still has semen on it, making sure some sticks.
After a few more deep breaths, she rolls Arnold and his desk chair over to the loft banister. She retrieves the Mossberg from the gun cabinet, removes one cartridge from the box, rubbing some of Arnold’s s
emen on it as well, loads the cartridge into the Mossberg, and racks it into the barrel. Wendy checks to be sure Arnold is still unresponsive, then removes a ball of twenty-pound monofilament fishing line from her purse, and ties a tight open-end loop at one end. She drops the ball of monofilament through the railing onto the floor below, then, with some effort, leans Arnold onto the shotgun, placing it slightly left of center while having his right arm over the loft railing to balance him.
She places the tied monofilament open loop onto the trigger, then positions Arnold’s left thumb through the trigger guard on the trigger over the fishing line. Stepping back, she waits briefly to make sure Arnold is balanced, then rolls the chair back among the magazines and walks downstairs. Standing under the loft, Wendy loops the fishing line around her hand and gives a hard yank. She jumps from the sound of the shot. She hears Arnold’s body hit the floor as she watches the shotgun fall between the railings of the loft banister. The gun lands a few feet in front of her, and Wendy notices the monofilament isn’t attached to the trigger anymore, so she rolls up the line until she reaches the looped end. She holds the ball of monofilament in the hand that has the semen residue and turns the glove inside out, wrapping the monofilament inside.
Walking calmly to the front door, she opens it with her other gloved hand, making sure it closes behind her, then transfers the already inside-out glove to her still-gloved hand and pulls the glove off, effectively balling everything together. She glances back at the house and feels the rush of the kill beginning to bloom in her chest. She grins, gets in her car, and drives away.
Wendy arrives home around eleven fifteen and is surprised to find Bonnie sitting up, reading a book in the living room. Bonnie is equally surprised to see Wendy home so early. “What happened? How was your date?”
Wendy laughs slightly. “Well, my date stood me up, so I just had a couple of drinks and some snacks, and then I came home.”
“I’m so sorry, honey. You look so nice, too.”
“No big deal,” Wendy replies, shrugging. “He probably had some type of emergency at the hospital. You know how doctors are.”
Unmerited Favor: The Compassion and Peril of Mercy ( Un missable Series Book 2) Page 13
