All the Pretty Dresses by Steven J. Clark

Author:Steven J. Clark [Clark, Steve J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2014-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

*

Long after his company was gone, the Freak stood before the portrait. Tears welled up in his eyes. Why did you do it, Susan? his mind cried. Why did you choose Jim after all I did for you? The vision of her betrayal flooded back.

He heard them long before he saw them. He stood outside the bedroom door listening, and then opened it to see them in his own bed, coupled like sweating pigs. How they laughed at him. How she ridiculed him in front of Jim, saying things like “It’s not the length of the wand, sweetie, but the magic in it.” She said “Doesn’t matter how long the train ride is if you run out of gas before you leave the station.”

They both laughed so hard and made no attempt to cover themselves as they heaped scorn upon scorn, trying to convince him to leave his own bedroom. But he didn’t leave. Instead he went to his dresser, reached into the top drawer and took out his pistol—the one he’d so carefully taught Susan to use.

As Susan screamed, he raised the gun and pointed it directly at Jim’s head. Jim, his best friend. Jim, who was screwing his wife. Suddenly there was no more Jim.

“Don’t! Oh please don’t,” Susan begged hysterically. She held her hands in front of her as if they could somehow shield her from his vengeance.

“Ok, Susan, I won’t shoot you,” he said in an absolutely calm voice. He rolled Jim’s body onto the floor. ““Lie down on the bed,” he commanded. She instantly complied. “Now spread eagle and don’t move.” He went to the closet and retrieved four neckties. He carefully tied each of her limbs to the corners of the bed, cinching each bond tightly. Then he retrieved yet a fifth tie and a sock. He rolled the sock into a ball and stuffed it into her mouth then used the tie to make sure it wouldn’t come out. Her look of wild-eyed terror gave him a sense of empowerment; a sense of superiority he’d never experienced in the nearly nine months of their marriage. It felt good. It felt right.

Satisfied she was fully immobilized, he asked, “Does anyone else know he was here?” She fearfully shook her head no.

He left her and Jim in the bedroom while he drove his car into the city. He carefully picked a spot to dump Jim’s body on the edge of one of the worst neighborhoods. He parked his car a block away from the spot then took the subway as far as it would go then hired a cab for the rest of the journey home.

He loaded Jim into his own car, covered him with his own overcoat, and drove back to the city. He moved the body into the driver’s seat, took out Jim’s wallet, pocketed the cash, and dumped the rest of the contents on the street beside the driver’s door.

Discarding the wallet a few feet away, he hoofed it back to his own car and drove home.

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