Splitting Nines (1)

by Ron Gannon

  Chapter 8. Dial M for Murder

  Linda, wearing a robe, sat at a dressing table, brushing her short black hair. Floor length curtains hung to her left. A telephone on a small round table by her right side rang. Ring! Ring! She grabbed the handset and spoke into it. “Hello....hello.” She arose from the chair and turned with her backing to the curtains, waiting for a response.

 

  Jimmy slowly stepped out from behind a curtain. With both hands, he held a thin rope out in front of his face. He advanced slowly and cautiously toward Linda.

 

  Linda talked into the mouthpiece. “Hello?” Linda lowered the handset and looked down at it, confused.

  Jimmy moved closer and stopped within reach of Linda. He brought the rope up into to air and suddenly stopped, staring at Linda's head.

  Linda had lifted the phone against her ear, listening. Sensing someone was on the other end but not responding to her greetings. Ensuing a few moments of silence she lowered the phone to her side.

  Jimmy lunged forward and wrapped the rope around Linda’s neck. He started to strangle her. A pleasant expression appeared on his face as if he was enjoying it immensely. He rubbed himself against Linda's butt, fully aroused.

 

  Linda let go of handset. It fell to the floor. Then with both hands she tried pry the rope from around her neck. It wouldn’t budge. A pair of barber scissors lay on the dressing table. Linda reached for them. They were inches away from the tips of her fingers. She stretched her arm out as far as possible, just barely touching them.

  Jimmy moved Linda side-to-side several times. Each time her fingers got closer and closer to the scissors. Finally they were within reach and firmly in her right hand. She somehow managed to turn her body a hundred and eighty degrees to her left and stab Jimmy.

  Jimmy immediately let go of the rope.

  Linda rubbed her neck while stepping away from Jimmy. She watched his ever move. Prepared to defend herself if she had to.

  The scissors stuck out of the center of Jimmy's back, below the neck enough to be out of his reach, inches away from his finger tips. His face show great pain as he tried to reach them. Eventually he fell to the floor, playing dead.

 

  Dave and Cookie sat in the front row of the high school auditorium. He whispered into her ear. “Jimmy was quite good. Maybe he will make it as an actor.”

  Backstage after their performances, Jimmy stood with Linda. She was furious. "How could you?"

  "Sorry! I have no control. It has a mind of its own. It won't happen again, I promise. How about it. Please!"

  "No! Especially after poking me with that." Linda pointed. "Lucky for you that didn't affect my performance. If ya tried that during rehearsal, I would have slapped your face."

  "Come on, just a movie," pleaded Jimmy. "We can double date with Dave and Cookie, if you insist."

  "I should call it off, but I won't. Dinner tonight and I’ll go wit’ ya to Dave’s Halloween party. I’ll be busy til then."

  "Humm! When I’m a big movie star, I’ll remember all the times you shot me down. You will be begging me to take you to one of my big premieres. You'll be wanting to meet famous actors. Then I'll remind you how busy you were every time I asked you for a date."

  Linda, smiling, got close to Jimmy and gently rubbed his cheek. "If I want to go, you’ll take me. Especially after touching some of the goods. I usually get what and who I want. Ya got enough on ya to buy me a lobster dinner?"

  "Don't worry. Order whatever you desire. Dave will pick up the tab. He's loaded." He tried to place an arm around her.

  Linda tenderly jabbed her elbow into him. "Hands off. How much did Dave get from that malpractice lawsuit?"