AllFreeNovel
Share Us
While there is no shortage of ways to end a life, humans are quite fragile when it comes right down to it. I learn that hit and runs, strangulation, drive-by shootings, or poisoning a person fit well with what I am looking to do. The problem with hitting someone with your car and drive-by shooting them are that you need weapons, namely a car and a gun. I don’t even own a sword. I’m living on borrowed time. Plus, these items will always link you to the crime, particularly so if there are witnesses involved. Those only lead to further complications and more people to kill. As I’ve come to find, silence has a price, and often that price is murder.
The third option, to poison a person, would mean either acquiring or manufacturing the substance to handle the job. And while I know enough about chemistry that this shouldn’t be too big of an obstacle, I’d have to get close to them. I’m not sure I want to look my wife’s past in the eye. Self-awareness just so happens to be a strong suit of mine. And I know that to do so would only provide inspiration for the final method: strangulation. After all, nothing is safer than dead.
Beth hosts Book Club on Monday evenings in the garden at church, which makes it easy to schedule a run-in of sorts. Basically, this is what less intelligent people like to call coincidences.
Predictability can almost always work in one’s favor. First, you have to set things up by creating patterns. Routine makes others comfortable. The more familiar with you they become, the easier time you’ll have lulling them to sleep. Then, once you have them where you want them, you can allow preconceived notions they hold about you to act as a smoke screen, a pleasant front from behind which you can carry out your deceptions. Patterns are extremely powerful, and you can easily terrify people by disrupting them.
“Tom,” she says, her brows raised, eyes wide, proof of my success. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I wanted to discuss something with you.”
“Oh,” she says, glancing at me sideways. “Sorry, now isn’t the best time.” She pulls out her phone, if only to prove a point. “I’m meeting Mark for a late dinner.”
“That’s perfect.” She walks, I walk. “Because I have a meeting upstairs in five minutes.” And because I understand Beth lacks intelligence, I provide clarification. “I don’t have long.”
She picks up the pace and I match her stride. “I noticed the numbers are down for incoming couples in the 20-34 age groups.”
“Yes,” she says without looking at me. “We’re working on that.”
“Well, I think I know why.”
We’ve reached the parking lot. She is searching for her car. I don’t have much time. Less than I thought. “Why?”
“People are getting married older.”
“Ok.” She’s digging for her key.
“That means unless their parents are members, people in that age range aren’t seeking out the opportunities a church community can give them.”
“That’s too bad.” She’s not even listening.
“You’re right. It is bad. Very. That demographic doesn’t join because they don’t think they’ll find a life partner here. And the truth is, it’s a catch-22. Unless we bring numbers up, they won’t.”
Finally, she is successful with the key. “You have a point.”
“So that’s what I was wondering…how are you recruiting in that age bracket?”
She turns to me then. I may not be good at reading social cues, but I have known Beth long enough to understand that she’s curious as to why I want to know. “Well…” she starts. “Same as the others. Social media. Ads in strategic places. Word of mouth…”
“What you need are influencers.”
Her face twists. Women like Beth do not appreciate it when you try to do their job for them. She’s not good at hiding it, either. It’s clear in her tone. “And where do you suggest I find those?”
“You could start with my wife.”
I know that my idea will mean releasing Melanie sooner rather than later. And in order for me to make a determination about how to move forward with Mark’s demands, frankly, I need this to happen.
Her head cocks to the side. “Melanie.”
“Yeah.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, when it’s a very big deal. If Mark makes his move before I make a final decision as to which way to go, I’ll be out a wife and a job as well, and under investigation for murder. My house is in the church’s name. I really like that house. Without time to put a proper plan in place, I’ll end up with nothing. No one wants to live like that.
She’s still looking at me quizzically. “You’ve seen her at parties,” I add, and I leave it at that. Few women like to see another woman admired.
Beth folds her arms. “We’ve considered that,” she lies. “But we’re working on the reprogramming first.”
“With the reprogramming—there’s something you aren’t taking into consideration.”
She rolls her eyes. “And what would that be?”
