This story is by Colleen Pinner and was part of our 2017 Winter Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Mary typed the note she had carefully planned.
I know you loved David too, but I just couldn’t share him. And now, this seems to be the only answer.
She sent it to the printer, and then carefully wiped down the laptop and all the keys. When the printer was finished, she wiped it down also. Using a dish towel, she picked up the printed page and wiped it down, then folded it and put it on the desk. She glanced at her watch. She was right on time.
Out in the kitchen, she put on the water to boil. While it was heating, she took the pill bottle and emptied it out onto a saucer. She got out two cups, opened all the pills and dumped them into the one closest to her. Taking the empty shells, she dumped them down the garbage disposal. Again using the dishtowel, she wiped the pill bottle, and then placed it on top of the kitchen garbage.
The teakettle whistled and she looked at her watch. Perfect! Kara would be here in 10 minutes. The ever punctual, ever helpful Kara, who had tried to steal her David, well this would take care of her. Of course, at first, Mary had thought she would kill Kara, but then there are no really perfect murders and it is so easy to make a mistake. Mary didn’t want to go to jail, but she did want revenge. It had taken her several months to plan this. She’d made the date with Kara last week. She had been very specific about the time with Kara. That was key to this whole thing.
She poured the tea into the two cups; let them sit for a few minutes, stirring the one with the pills carefully. Satisfied, she took the spoon and the extra cup to the sink, rinsed them and carefully wiped the outside of the cup and the spoon, she smiled.
“Ok, Kara, my friend. This will pay you back for sure.”
Mary sat at the table and sipped the tea. It could have used some honey, but she didn’t want to take the time, she was cutting it pretty close as it was. She managed to gulp down the rest of the tea. She looked at her watch and smiled. Kara should be pulling into the driveway any minute. She’d come in, find Mary on the floor and call 911. They’d get her to the hospital in time to pump her stomach and then…oh yes, and then Kara would be blamed for the attempt on Mary’s life and David’s death. Oh it was so perfect!
Mary felt the beginnings of the pills taking effect and lay down on the floor. She let herself smile once more, and then heard the phone ring. She couldn’t get up, but she heard the answering machine pick up and the message being left.
“Mary, it’s Kara. I’m sorry, I’m going to be late, well, really late. I had a bit of a fender bender and the police are here. I guess it’s going to take a bit, but I’ll get there when I can.”
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