Voodoo Assassin - Full Short Story

Chapter 1

Abby slid her key into the lock and turned it. The mechanism didn't move. She'd lost the original key a week before, so she had rung the locksmith that had installed the security shutters. He came out, within the hour, with a nice shiny new pair of keys. Even after Abby had smoothed the freshly cut edges with sandpaper the key was still determined to give her a bad start to the day.

Abby was five foot nine, slim build, with a style bordering on the gothic style. She had just celebrated her thirty second birthday, alone. Born in London, Ohio, a small town just outside of Columbus, which provides a home for around twelve thousand people. She had met Simon on an overseas dating website. Believing in all things magical, she believed it was destiny that they had met. After a month of exchanging emails, the relationship progressed to the next stage after Simon asked Abby if he could call her. She agreed after she consulted the Tarot cards. They talked for hours, having so much in common both scared and excited Abby a little. A month later, Simon was on a long-haul flight heading for America to spend a week with Abby. The week flew by and the time they had together could not have gone any better. Reluctantly, Simon returned to England, where he called her as soon as he walked through his front door.

Six months later Simon was asking Abby to move to England. They discussed the advantages and disadvantages, about the little shop Abby had her heart set on, and the tourist trade was booming at that time and London certainly had a high yield of visitors. Abby took a chance, with her mother's blessing, and set out for a new life in England. For she could see her daughter falling deeper in love with every call she had.

It had only taken Simon three months to start cheating. Abby had closed the shop early after getting sick and found Simon in bed with another woman.

All the friends she had made were Simons lifelong friends, so she wasn't surprised when they all chose Simon, but she wasn't the type to quit and pack up. She was determined to make her new life work, albeit now a solo one. Sure, she could have gone back home, but she had her shop, it would cost too much to open a new one back home and even then, she would have to head off to a larger city.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" she said as she stood up and walked away from the stubborn lock. Taking several deep breaths, she turned to start round two with the wilful device.

"Good morning, Abby, you still having issues with that thing?"

Abby jumped, "And a good morning to you Stan, you gave me a start," Abby said.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Stan said.

"Don't you be sweetheart'ing any woman other than me, Stanley Meadows, do you hear me!" A voice said as Pauline's head appeared from the Florist shop next door.

"You know I only have eyes for you my dearest," Stan replied as he winked at Abby.

"Hi, Abby, would you like a cup of coffee? Two sugars and milk, isn't it? Stan, don't just stand there, help Abby to get her shop open."

"Yes, please, Pauline, and yes," Abby said.

Stan stepped forward, knelt down, and grabbed the dangling keys. He lifted the key up and down in the barrel as he tried to rotate it left and right. He extracted the key from the lock several times to start the process afresh. On the fourth attempt, the barrel's will give way and the lock turned. "Got you, you little..." Stan said aloud. "There you go, sweetheart," Stan said, trying to get a grip on the perforated shutter to assist him in getting back onto his feet, his fingers too big for the holes.

"Are you ok?" Abby said, rushing over to help him. She slid a hand under his right arm and grabbed his shoulder to give him some support.

"I will be when I get up, old war wound you know."