Unfortunately for all concerned Carol doesn't choke on her ill gotten glass of water, I'd settle for her slipping and knocking herself out on the tile floor. Something. Too bad I don't actually have a gun, not one I can remember. I hate guns, but I suppose if she's thought all of this through to the point of staging what could be a convincing murder suicide without a trace of her involvement, she's probably managed to buy and register a gun in my name. Jesus, all those years ago when I threw her ass out of my house I never imagined she'd take it this hard. For fucks sake I'm vain, and a little self-involved but am I worth all of this? No, no I'm not.
I feel a hand on my back, It's Stevie. She looks over at where Denny's still asleep on the couch...except he's not there. Her eyes flick back and forth between the empty couch and Carol sipping her water, a smug and sinister expression on her aged but still not Un-attractive face. I cross my arms thinking of some way to stall, or distract her. Leave it to Stevie she does it for me "How do you plan on driving out of here with all the snow on the ground? The police aren't stupid they'll notice three two sets of tire marks in the fresh snowfall" Good point, our rented SUV has been parked since we got back from the market last night it's got an inch or more of snow covering the body.
Carol rolls her eyes, ever disdainful of having to put up with Stevie's presence. She never could get the hint that I was using her, trying as hard as I could to replace the love of my wife with an imitation. Similar to artificial sugar, it tastes like sugar, it looks like sugar, but when you've had the real thing you know it's NOT sugar. That's Carol Ann, fake sugar. Real crazy. "Don't worry if the idiots in this town have more than two brain cells to rub together I'd be surprised. Still, I have my ways Stephanie."
Where could he have gone to, my grandson isn't very old and he's not big enough to fight but I know he's lived a rough life and seen more than most adults. He's street smart and very savvy, but he's in kindergarten "Jesus-give a guy one fucking instruction..." I suppose Phanos being tardy isn't part of the plan. Edging back and away from the kitchen I peer down the connected hall to the bathroom, the door creaks. Dark hair and a small curious and likely afraid eyeball catches mine. Denny.
Shifting to one side while Carol studies the barrel of her gun I put my hand out of sight. Slowly I sign one handed at Denny "Run to neighbors call 911. Run to neighbors call 911" since I can't use both hands I have to spell the words out, "What are you doing?" my heart spasms but I don't show any outward signs of distress, anything to give Carol a clue as to what I'm doing might be dangerous for the three-four of us. Stevie steps in front of me crossing her arms "I don't think you have the balls to kill either of us, not with that gun anyway. In order for your plan to work Phanos has to do it with his, I think we could take you"
Stevie what are you doing? Carol's a fucking nut don't tempt her "She's just thinking out loud-" shaking her head Stevie steps closer "No, I'm serious. If you wanted me and Lindsey dead we'd be dead right now. This all hinges on your well laid plan working out as you've designed it. So if we don't sit here patiently waiting for you to kill Phanos and take his gun then turn it on us, you lose right?" Carol's glare is cold, and serious. She levels the gun at Stevie's heart and it's my turn to jump in front of her shielding her with my body.
"We're not thinking of anything okay...she's just talking. You know how she is, she likes to hear herself fucking talk" I can feel the daggers burning in my back from the angry look I know Stevie is giving me. I don't care. She's pregnant and facing a deranged former coke addict/girlfriend of mine, saying Carol WON'T do anything at this point seems pedantic and short sighted at best. "Still sticking up for her I see, pathetic." Here we go, at least she's redirected her homicidal rage to me.
