Burn
#3 of Little Nothings
It's, yes, another writing exercise I did for class... Yay.
"Go away."
"No."
What a pain in the ass. I hoped vainly that I'd never see him again, but of course I knew otherwise. I'd only be rid of him when he was dead and buried, and even then... "Go away."
"Not doing."
Good lord, man, I will hurt you. "Go away, before I do something we'll both regret."
"I need your help."
I can't even bother to feign sarcastic surprise, I'm so tired of this.
"Shocking." I say in as flat a tone I can manage, shaking my head as I lean against the door frame, not stepping one inch out to give the impression I care speak to him, or one inch back to make him think I'd invite him in.
"It's a good one this time..."
Saying it in that sing-song tone he does when he's trying to cajole me, as if that was ever appealing in any way. "Doubt it."
"Oh, ye of little faith."
"Ye of much bullshit."
"Always the clever one. That's why I like you."
Crap, he likes me.
"I'm sure a guy as clever as you can see the profit to be made in this."
"Just say it so I can say no, and you can leave." Bastard's grinning at me, with that crooked smile he tosses at the cheap whores. Oh, god... am I one of his cheap whores?
"Come on, man, why so hostile? Can I at least come in?"
When hell freezes over. "Nope. Kids will be home soon; you ain't staying."
"Wouldn't dream of it. Just want a comfortable seat and cool drink."
"You can drink from the hose and sit on the curb until your 'friend' picks you up again."
"... Well, alright, I'm just going to say one sentence, and if you're not interested, I'll leave."
Liar. "Alright, let's have it."
"Let's kill mom."
And I'll be damned if my jaw didn't just hit the floor right then. "... What?"
Then he just grins that grin again, even wider this time, and I can see his cavities. Poor bastard never did know how to take care of himself. "See. I knew you'd be interested."
"Shock does not constitute interest."
"Shut up, you know you're interested. If I'm wrong though, I'll just turn around and leave now."
Goddamn it, I'm going to kill the bastard. ... Right after I hear his explanation.
"She's got the goods, no one will miss her, and we've got the perfect in and out. Been running for too long, she's getting sloppy, and the family hates her anyway."
"... You're stupid. Everyone will know it was us."
"I just done telling you that no one will miss her. ... Though, I'd understand if your own family has made you a bit soft to these things."
... Yep, I'm gonna kill him. "Okay, I'm interested. I ain't gonna let you in, but come around back and tell me more." Again, that grin, as if he think he's got everything figured out.
"Nah, not today. Think I'll head on my merry way, right now. After all, kids will be home soon, right?"
He hands me a piece of paper with a number scrawled on it, a burner phone, as usual, one he'd use maybe a handful of times and toss away so it couldn't be traced back to him. "Maybe later then."
"Yeah... maybe later. Call me if you want to do it, or don't."
Smooth as sandpaper, he's gone, that rusted sedan coming around to pick him up again as if it had been right around the corner, waiting. Probably was. Going inside I put the gun away and tear the paper he gave me, tossing it into the basket by the door. Thinking better of it, I pick it up and make to burn it, lest Angie find it. My biggest mistake was opening the door in the first place... My second biggest mistake was not finding the matches.