Rumors of Her Death by J M Donellan

Author:J M Donellan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks

16

It takes a few minutes of knocking and threatening to call the police, but eventually Reese opens the door. He’s dressed in silk pyjamas. Their apartment is immaculate, no sign of the destruction I heard moments earlier. I assume that somewhere behind the African redwood entertainment unit or underneath the tufted mirror sofa that looks like it’s been stolen from the Sun Palace, I’ll find shards of glass and china, maybe a few drops of blood.

The wall is adorned with framed prints of cliched cursive non-art: Shoot for the Moon—If You Miss You’ll Reach The Stars! and Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken! A picture of Reese and Emily hangs on the wall; they are pearly-toothed, rosy-cheeked, and airbrushed to perfection. They look like humans created by a corporation as display models to sell our species to potential intergalactic investors.

“Heyyyyy, pal. Sorry about the noise. I lost my keys, such a dingus. We got a little carried away looking for them. Might’ve knocked a couple of things over, and then let a few curse words fly. Emily found them though, bless her. They were right there in my jacket pocket the whole time!” He guffaws and slaps me on the shoulder.

It takes every ounce of will not to grab his hand and slam it in the door. Instead I slip inside, close and bolt the door behind me. Before he can protest, I pin him against the wall and raise my left forearm to his throat, applying enough pressure to lightly choke him as I call out to Emily. “Emily, are you alright?”

Silence.

“Emily?”

The bedroom door cracks open and she peeks her head out, “Sam, is that you?”

It’s not until she says this that I remember that’s the persona I should be using. I slip Sam’s voice into my throat and reply, “Hey, gorgeous. Would you be a doll and come out here for just one teeny tiny mo?”

“Oh, I can’t, I’m in a nightie. But it’s like Reese said, we were just looking for his keys. Silly old Reese had them in his pants pocket the whole time!”

I snap my eyes back to Reese, increase the pressure on his windpipe. “Be a gem and slip into a dressing gown or something so we can have a quick chat, would you?”

She shuffles around for a minute and then steps out into the hallway, hands in her dressing gown pockets. She looks fine, if a little tired. “Sam, I know you mean well, but it’s late. Reese and I have work in the morning.”

“Could I get a quick look at those hands, Em?”

She shakes her head.

“I know you’re scared. I promise I’m just trying to help. I’ll let Reese go, okay?” I pull back slowly and turn to face her. Reese snarls and throws his arms around my neck. I grab onto them and fling him over my shoulders onto his back, then plant my boot on his throat.

“Stop! I’m fine, see?” She raises her left hand, throws me a wave and a scared little giggle.

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