Blood Diamonds

Farewell

After they got back into the apartment, and John stood in the center of the room and asks: "Why don't we celebrate our victory? I think we deserve it."

Bernie sat on the sofa and looked grumpy at him. "Do we have any money?"

"We always have money for some wine," John smiled. "Mary? What about you?"

"I'm in," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Great!"

In three steps he was at her side. He put his hand on her shoulder and hugged her with a smile.

"Mary, my dear, would you mind going down to the store for some wine?"

"John, I'm not a–"

"Not an idiot, sure."

"Then why did you ask me to go?"

"Because you have excellent taste in wine!"

Bernie chuckled.

"Mary, it's impossible to escape from you. We don't have a chance. Please, bring us a bottle to celebrate."

"And stay with wine but without diamonds?" she frowned and almost rolled her eyes.

"Mary, we won't run away," John said. "Trust me."

He led her easily to the door, feeling no resistance. And while they were walking, John quietly whispered in her ear: "Just the two of us."

Of course, it sounded like any previous excuse. He had tried to get rid of her more than once and now he had a reason why he would definitely do it. To be led to this would be the peak of stupidity, Mary knew it for sure.

But there was something in John's look that made Mary give up. She really believed him and hoped that she would not regret it in the future. She didn't want it to be another crush that would ruin her life and leave her with nothing.

After that John gently pulled Mary away from him, gave her a couple of coins, pushed her out, and closed the door behind her. Then he heard a sigh of displeasure and the light click of her heels down the stairs.

Now only John and Bernie are left in the room. They looked at each other intently.

"I hope I was not mistaken in her taste in wine," John said in an attempt to break the tense silence.

John smiled, but Bernie didn't react to his words. Bernie seemed to be thinking about something, looking at some point in front of him. He was twirling a cigarette in his hands.

Then John stretched and went to the bathroom. There he opened the tap and made a noise with the water, washing his hands.

"Still can not believe we did it. Huh!" John exclaimed, trying to shout over the noise of the water. "Mary was pretty good. Jesus, she is so... pro! We are rich now! Bernie, do you hear me? We are rich!"

Bernie did not answer him, and John stiffened. He took his hands away from the water and shook them, listening carefully. There was absolute silence in the next room.

"Bernie? Do you hear me?"

John turned off the tap and, still listening, took a cautious step toward the door.

"Bernie?"

John took a small step to get out of the bathroom, but Bernie attacked him from behind the door. He lunged at John from behind, a knife was in his hand. John tried to throw him off and free himself, but Bernie with one knee in his stomach held his head in one hand, and with the other he plunged the knife into his throat and drew a long line.