Christie Paterson - Love in the First Degree

Chapter Twenty - Nine

Around eleven o’clock Friday night, Jennifer heard the front door close and footsteps climbing the interior staircase.

Orlando was home.

Since accepting his job at Sky High – a chain of motels across the Queensland coast – Jennifer had been lucky to see Orlando at all during the week – he had developed a tendancy to leave in the early hours of the morning and sneak in late at night.

‘I was wondering when I was going to see you,’ Jennifer said as a way of greeting when Orlando walked into the bedroom.

‘I’m sorry, honey. Things have been pretty hectic these past few weeks – sales are at an all – time low,’ he explained, unbottoning his shirt.

Jennifer put her book down and removed her reading glasses. ‘I miss you.’

Orlandoo stripped off his shirt and threw it into the dirty clothes basket in the corner of their room. ‘I mss you too,’ he said, stipping off his pants and climbing into bed.

‘I’ve been spending a lot of time with the television set. I think it’s getting serious,’ Jennifer joked.

‘Really? That may be, but I can give you things, and do things to you, that it can’t even spell,’ Orlando kissed her neck.

Jennifer giggled, casting the book aside, sliding deeper into these sheets. ‘If these walls could talk…’

Orlando wrapped his arms around Jennifer, and she rested her head against his chest.

‘Remember the night we met?’ Jennifer asked.

Orlando snorted. ‘How could I forget? Those shoes set me back two hundred bucks,’

Jennifer playfully swatted Orlando’s arm. ‘What I meant was…how we talked for ages. And that day in the car…We talked for ages. We used to have such an amazing relationship.’ She sighed. ‘We used to talk about everything and anything.’ She began to play with Orlando’s thin chest hairs. ‘I just wish it could be like it was before –when it was all new,’

Orlando grasped Jennifer’s hand and held it against his own in mid – air. ‘Just because it’s not new doesn’t mean it can’t be like it was.’

Jennifer was silent for a minute, contemplating her next response. Was she doing the right thing? Was this the answer to their problems?

More importantly, was this really what she wanted?

‘Yes,’ Jennifer told Orlando, looking into his eyes.

Orlando’s brow burrowed. ‘Yes?’ he repeated, confused.

‘I will marry you,’ Jennifer elaborated.

Orlando’s eyes lit up and he wordlessly entwined his new fiance in a passionate embrace.

‘You though you’d been let off the hook, didn’t you, Jenny?’

It was seven o’clock on Saturday morning and the persistent ring of the telephone had rudely ripped Jennifer from her peaceful slumber.

She’d recongise that cold, chilling voice anywhere.

‘What do you want?’ Jennifer fearlessly demanded the caller.

The female voice laughed, sending chills down Jennifer’s spine. ‘You don’t sound too happy to hear from me.’

‘I wonder why,’ Jennifer said cooly.

The person on the other end sounded as if she was smiling. ‘Oh, come now – least you can do is say that you missed me.’

‘What do you want?’ Jennifer repeated, struggling to keep her voice calm.

‘We’re baack,’ the woman sing – songed. ‘And you can’t stop us – you don’t have the power,’

Jennifer’s fist clenched. ‘Watch me,’ she seethed through clenched teeth.

‘Have you heard from Billy baby lately?’ the woman asked slyly.

Jennifer inhaled sharply. ‘What have you done to him?’ she demanded.

‘Did anyone tell you that you’ve got a quick temper? You really should see a counselor or something – maybe Amy can help,’

There was silence on both ends. Jennifer could feel the woman’s glee, and her blood ran cold.

‘How is she, anyway? I heared she bought that empty building at 74 Hyde Street. How’s that goin’ for her?’

‘I won’t ask again,’ Jennifer unclenched and clenched her fist.

‘You never were one for small talk, were you?’ the woman sighed. ‘Open your door. Special delievery,’

Jennifer slammed the phone down and slowly headed for the door.

‘Mum?’ Amy’s voice called from her bedroom.

‘Just a minute, honey.’ Jennifer replied.

Cautiously, she slowly reached for the door handle. The all too familiar growing feeling of dread crept into her stomach. Somehow, unexplainably, she knew. She saw it coming – and she was drawn, unable to turn her back.

Jennifer pulled the door open.

Bill was standing directly infront of her.

She looked into his eyes, and saw deep rmorse.

It all ended here.

Jennifer heard the unmistable sound of gunfire, and felt a disturbing coolness spread through her body at a rapid pace.

She fell back, as if in slow motion, and the last memory she had was of her daughter catching her before Jennifer hit the ground.

4