by Wayne Harris-Wyrick (Prompt: Indeed~Shoot~Cry)
“Are you sure Roger doesn't suspect?” Paul asked.
Marilyn stopped brushing her hair. “Roger doesn't know anything I don't tell him.”
“Jesus, Marilyn, we just made love on your husband's desk! His company is the largest electronics firm in this state. Look at the security in this building.”
Marilyn spun from the mirror. “MY company. My genius built it. Without me, Roger is nothing.” Her tone softened. “Besides, I told you Roger is out of town until tomorrow.”
Paul suddenly pointed towards the security monitors almost looking as if he would cry. “It's Roger,” he whispered, then ran out of the office.
Marilyn stared at the monitors. Why is he back so soon, she thought. I should have known better than to let him go on his own. “Roger,” she smiled as he entered the office. “I wasn't expecting you home so soon.” She kissed him. “How did the negotiations with Croft Industries go, darling?”
“No problem. They were ready to deal. How's Tanya?”
“Oh, you know our daughter. She closed that deal with IBM yesterday. What happened with Croft? You didn't let them push you around on the price, did you?”
Roger chuckled. “Tanya always had your ambition. Actually, we got a better deal than we planned. Your tip was right on target. They need capitol fast. They took the first offer, for twenty million less than they insisted was their lowest acceptable amount.”
“We got it? For eighty million? I knew my plan would work.”
“Your plan?”
“It cost me plenty to stall their project. Just getting to the right people to send those damaged sensors cost me two million. I never thought we'd save ten times that on the purchase price.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I wasn't about to let this deal fall through. I merely gave you a better chance. You accomplished your job well. Maybe you should retire now,” she laughed.
Roger ignored her. “I'll be working late tonight, finishing the paperwork on this deal. Probably be home around nine.”
She walked out of the office towards the elevator. Now that she had Croft Industries, Roger was unnecessary. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity.
The Porsche roared to life as she turned the key. She stabbed at the keypad of the cellular phone.
“Hello?”
“Tanya, your Father came home a day earlier than I expected. This will work to our advantage. As far as anyone else knows, I think he’s still out of town. He won't be home until nine. Let's do it tonight. Get there by 8:45. I'll need you as a witness. I'll get Paul there. Any problems?”
“No, Mother, no problems at all. I'll be there. Goodbye.”
She knew she could count on Tanya. Her share of Roger's will was incentive enough. The extra million Marilyn offered her was icing on the cake. She punched a second number on the phone.
“Hello?”
“Paul, our ... meeting today ended on a bad note. I want you to come by my house tonight at eight. I'll make it all up to you.”
“For crissake, Marilyn, Roger almost caught us. We can't do anything now.”
“Roger's not even coming home tonight. He'll be with that bimbo he's sleeping with. I've got work to do now. Bye.” She clicked the disconnect, not waiting for any response. Paul would be there. He was too scared not to. I'll miss him, Marilyn thought, but he has no family to litigate. That makes everything cleaner.
Paul arrived promptly at eight. At 8:40, she started pulling him toward the bedroom. They had to be making love when Roger came home.
Paul leaped out of bed when the door opened. “Oh, God, he's here.”
Marilyn slipped a gun out of the nightstand. She walked into the front room to confront her husband. “Roger, I didn't expect you home until tomorrow.”
“Funny, I thought I told you this afternoon I'd be home at nine.”
“And you're right on time. Have a drink, Roger. You'll need it.”
“No, thanks,” he said, sitting on an overstuffed chair.
“Sit down, Paul.” Marilyn walked over to the door and looked out of the window. “You've been useful, Roger, but I think I can do more with the company in my own hands. Where is that girl?” She looked out the window again.
“So, what is your plan? Kill me for the inheritance?”
“No, Paul will. Only you will also kill him.”
“What?” Paul jumped up from the sofa, but sat back down when Marilyn pointed the gun at him.
“You see, Roger, nobody anticipated you back in town. You came home unexpectedly and found Paul and me in bed. In your jealousy, you shoot Paul. But in self defense, Paul also shoots you. You both have good aim.”
“You can't get us both.”
“Don't worry. I have help coming.” Marilyn glared out of the window.
“Why, Marilyn?” Roger asked. “Why are you doing this?”
“Protecting my investment. Before I married you, your company was nothing. I saved it from collapse with my own money, and I don't want to see that acquisition wasted,” she yelled.
“I've put up with your interference and conniving for years,” Roger yelled back. “Your ambition was exciting in the beginning. I really loved you then. That loved died years ago, but I stayed with you. And now you repay me with this.” He pointed at Paul.
“Shut up!” Marilyn yelled. She threw the door open and screamed, “Where is that girl?”
“Right here, Mother.” Marilyn whipped around to face Tanya, standing in the kitchen doorway, holding a gun.
“It's about time you got here. Where have you been?” Marilyn demanded.
“I had to wait long enough for you two to start screaming at each other. I needed the neighbors to hear. Drop the gun, Mother.”
“What?”
“You heard her, Marilyn,” Roger said. “Tanya told me all about your little plan. I'm afraid your latest acquisition just fell through.” Marilyn's shoulders sagged as her hand went limp. The gun clanged to the floor.
“Thank you, Tanya,” Roger said, reaching for the gun.
“Leave it, Father.” Tanya reached over and pushed him back down into the chair. “I said leave it. Get it, Paul.”
Marilyn jerked her head towards Paul. “Paul? I thought you were with me.”
Paul grabbed the gun. “Sorry, Marilyn, Tanya was a bit more persuasive. We've been stringing you along for some time, waiting for the perfect opportunity.”
“What is this?” Roger asked.
“Sorry, old man. I really have nothing against you. You were a great boss. But I always planned on being the boss someday. It's my turn now. Tanya has promised me that new division you just purchased.”
“Tanya, what happened to our deal?” her dad asked.
“The deal is changed. Mother's scenario wasn't quite on target. You did come home unexpectedly and surprised them in bed. You killed her in a jealous rage. Unfortunately, she shot you at the same time. Sad, but I inherit the company. Oh Mother, don't look so hurt. You'd do the same thing if you could. Hell, you WERE doing the same thing. Goodbye, Father.” Tanya aimed the gun toward Roger's heart.
A smile slowly curled onto Marilyn's face. “My daughter. You will indeed go far in business.”
“Are you sure Roger doesn't suspect?” Paul asked.
Marilyn stopped brushing her hair. “Roger doesn't know anything I don't tell him.”
“Jesus, Marilyn, we just made love on your husband's desk! His company is the largest electronics firm in this state. Look at the security in this building.”
Marilyn spun from the mirror. “MY company. My genius built it. Without me, Roger is nothing.” Her tone softened. “Besides, I told you Roger is out of town until tomorrow.”
Paul suddenly pointed towards the security monitors almost looking as if he would cry. “It's Roger,” he whispered, then ran out of the office.
Marilyn stared at the monitors. Why is he back so soon, she thought. I should have known better than to let him go on his own. “Roger,” she smiled as he entered the office. “I wasn't expecting you home so soon.” She kissed him. “How did the negotiations with Croft Industries go, darling?”
“No problem. They were ready to deal. How's Tanya?”
“Oh, you know our daughter. She closed that deal with IBM yesterday. What happened with Croft? You didn't let them push you around on the price, did you?”
Roger chuckled. “Tanya always had your ambition. Actually, we got a better deal than we planned. Your tip was right on target. They need capitol fast. They took the first offer, for twenty million less than they insisted was their lowest acceptable amount.”
“We got it? For eighty million? I knew my plan would work.”
“Your plan?”
“It cost me plenty to stall their project. Just getting to the right people to send those damaged sensors cost me two million. I never thought we'd save ten times that on the purchase price.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I wasn't about to let this deal fall through. I merely gave you a better chance. You accomplished your job well. Maybe you should retire now,” she laughed.
Roger ignored her. “I'll be working late tonight, finishing the paperwork on this deal. Probably be home around nine.”
She walked out of the office towards the elevator. Now that she had Croft Industries, Roger was unnecessary. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity.
The Porsche roared to life as she turned the key. She stabbed at the keypad of the cellular phone.
“Hello?”
“Tanya, your Father came home a day earlier than I expected. This will work to our advantage. As far as anyone else knows, I think he’s still out of town. He won't be home until nine. Let's do it tonight. Get there by 8:45. I'll need you as a witness. I'll get Paul there. Any problems?”
“No, Mother, no problems at all. I'll be there. Goodbye.”
She knew she could count on Tanya. Her share of Roger's will was incentive enough. The extra million Marilyn offered her was icing on the cake. She punched a second number on the phone.
“Hello?”
“Paul, our ... meeting today ended on a bad note. I want you to come by my house tonight at eight. I'll make it all up to you.”
“For crissake, Marilyn, Roger almost caught us. We can't do anything now.”
“Roger's not even coming home tonight. He'll be with that bimbo he's sleeping with. I've got work to do now. Bye.” She clicked the disconnect, not waiting for any response. Paul would be there. He was too scared not to. I'll miss him, Marilyn thought, but he has no family to litigate. That makes everything cleaner.
Paul arrived promptly at eight. At 8:40, she started pulling him toward the bedroom. They had to be making love when Roger came home.
Paul leaped out of bed when the door opened. “Oh, God, he's here.”
Marilyn slipped a gun out of the nightstand. She walked into the front room to confront her husband. “Roger, I didn't expect you home until tomorrow.”
“Funny, I thought I told you this afternoon I'd be home at nine.”
“And you're right on time. Have a drink, Roger. You'll need it.”
“No, thanks,” he said, sitting on an overstuffed chair.
“Sit down, Paul.” Marilyn walked over to the door and looked out of the window. “You've been useful, Roger, but I think I can do more with the company in my own hands. Where is that girl?” She looked out the window again.
“So, what is your plan? Kill me for the inheritance?”
“No, Paul will. Only you will also kill him.”
“What?” Paul jumped up from the sofa, but sat back down when Marilyn pointed the gun at him.
“You see, Roger, nobody anticipated you back in town. You came home unexpectedly and found Paul and me in bed. In your jealousy, you shoot Paul. But in self defense, Paul also shoots you. You both have good aim.”
“You can't get us both.”
“Don't worry. I have help coming.” Marilyn glared out of the window.
“Why, Marilyn?” Roger asked. “Why are you doing this?”
“Protecting my investment. Before I married you, your company was nothing. I saved it from collapse with my own money, and I don't want to see that acquisition wasted,” she yelled.
“I've put up with your interference and conniving for years,” Roger yelled back. “Your ambition was exciting in the beginning. I really loved you then. That loved died years ago, but I stayed with you. And now you repay me with this.” He pointed at Paul.
“Shut up!” Marilyn yelled. She threw the door open and screamed, “Where is that girl?”
“Right here, Mother.” Marilyn whipped around to face Tanya, standing in the kitchen doorway, holding a gun.
“It's about time you got here. Where have you been?” Marilyn demanded.
“I had to wait long enough for you two to start screaming at each other. I needed the neighbors to hear. Drop the gun, Mother.”
“What?”
“You heard her, Marilyn,” Roger said. “Tanya told me all about your little plan. I'm afraid your latest acquisition just fell through.” Marilyn's shoulders sagged as her hand went limp. The gun clanged to the floor.
“Thank you, Tanya,” Roger said, reaching for the gun.
“Leave it, Father.” Tanya reached over and pushed him back down into the chair. “I said leave it. Get it, Paul.”
Marilyn jerked her head towards Paul. “Paul? I thought you were with me.”
Paul grabbed the gun. “Sorry, Marilyn, Tanya was a bit more persuasive. We've been stringing you along for some time, waiting for the perfect opportunity.”
“What is this?” Roger asked.
“Sorry, old man. I really have nothing against you. You were a great boss. But I always planned on being the boss someday. It's my turn now. Tanya has promised me that new division you just purchased.”
“Tanya, what happened to our deal?” her dad asked.
“The deal is changed. Mother's scenario wasn't quite on target. You did come home unexpectedly and surprised them in bed. You killed her in a jealous rage. Unfortunately, she shot you at the same time. Sad, but I inherit the company. Oh Mother, don't look so hurt. You'd do the same thing if you could. Hell, you WERE doing the same thing. Goodbye, Father.” Tanya aimed the gun toward Roger's heart.
A smile slowly curled onto Marilyn's face. “My daughter. You will indeed go far in business.”