Killing Nancy the short story

I'm not much of a writer. In fact writing was always my worst subject in school. In a time like this though. Writing could save my life. My name is Thomas R. Grant. I am from Minnesota and 36 yrs. old. I have been married for 12 years and thought we were happy.

I'm taking this time now to write. In case my worst fears come true. I think my wife is going to try and kill me. I'm not willing to let that happen though. I find that I might have to kill her first. Unless she will allow reason to set in. if your reading this now. Either I'm dead or in jail. You will know the true story or at least what happened to me. You can help put my killer in jail. Or free me for a crime I had no other choice to commit.

Now I can only imagine you’re thinking this guy is insane. Give me a few moments and hear me out though. See things from my perspective. Today is May the 31 and the year is 1995. I'm going to meet a private investigator named James Babot.

Over the past few months I think my wife Sarah has been cheating. All the signs point to it. She has been distant physically and emotionally. She is always on the phone with a mystery someone. When I leave in the morning. I've come home for lunch and found her gone.

You might think a divorce is called for. Yet she won't sign the papers. We signed a pre-nuptial agreement. She knows divorce leaves her with exactly what she came into this with. Only The shirt on her back. Sarah says nothing is wrong. As she sleeps in our guest room at night. I'm afraid to eat in my house. I can't sleep in my bed. Every sound alerts me to impending danger. I could be paranoid or I could be right.

All my life I've been told. Go with your gut feeling. The first thought you have is always the right choice. That's never lead me wrong. Why should I doubt it now? Thirty five years on this earth and never felt such a fear. The woman I love has me looking over my shoulder.

I know it is coming I’m just wondering when it will happen. The anticipation might kill me before she does. The gun we bought for home protection. No longer sits in my dresser draw. I sleep with it under my pillow. I feel safer having it close to me. I have never been an advocate for guns. Never dreamed of taking a life.

Guns are for protection. They shouldn't be used to maintain your sanity. Especially in your own home of all places. The past few months have changed my way of life. I'm not looking forward to the next few months. Which is why I had to get this private investigator. Knowing her moves might bring me peace or, at least give me a one up on her.

After leaving the investigator I feel a little better. James told me give him a few weeks and he would contact me. From my research he is the best at what he does. I hate having to go to such an extreme. My mind is so burned out with thinking. I can't imagine what I could have done. To get me and Sarah to this point. Was it love in the beginning or was she always after my money.

All these questions have circled my mind. They are slowly suffocating me. Even my associates have noticed I'm distracted at work. They think I'm becoming an alcoholic. Since after we go to the bars I no longer want to rush home. I want to stay longer, sometimes I even help the bartender close up. Anything not to come home to this dreadful house. To not have to think about what awaits me.

Sarah still leaves food out for me. I usually make sure I eat before I come home. I throw everything she cooked into the trash and make sure I take it out. I wear gloves just to wash the dishes. The fear of some kind of poison getting into my system. Has me being very meticulous with how I carry out these deeds.

It's been two days since I left Babot's office. Every time my phone rings I expect it to be him. Ready to tell me he saw her buying stock piles of rat poison. Or whatever people use to kill people now a days. Maybe she isn't trying to kill me. Maybe Sarah wants to drive me insane. Just lock me away in some mental intuition and never look back.

I came home tonight to find her home. Sarah was sitting at the dinner table. The house was dimly lit and the table set. My favorite foods were laid out for me. Macaroni pie, a New York cut steak seared medium well, baked potatoes and a Caesar salad. All just ready for me with candles lit in the center of the table.

Sarah sat across the table in the dress she knows I love. A pinstripe Louis Vuitton we bought in Paris a few years back. She smelled better than the food. Even across the room I could smell her Chanel no.5 perfume. Everything just how I like it, just how it use to be.

I sat down with caution searching the room. I felt like the road runner just waiting for an anvil to fall on me. Sweat began to pour down my forehead. It felt as if the room was heating up. Yet there she sat cool calm collective. Looking as beautiful as the day I met her. Getting up Sarah walked over to me.

She grabbed my napkin off the table and put it around my neck. Gave me a long seductive kiss on my check. Then began setting a plate for me. Watching her handle the food. My stomach began to growl. 

"You must be hungry after such a long day. I know we've been at an ends. The past few weeks. I wanted to do something special for you. Hopefully after dinner we could go to bed together"

My mouth felt as dry as sand paper. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know whether to believe her or accept my fate. Eat my favorite meal and then go meet my maker. I mustered the only words I could find to defuse the situation.

"This looks amazing thank you. I went to dinner with the rest of the associates, before I came here. I'm stuffed love, why don't you go get ready for bed. I'll put up this banquet for lunch tomorrow. I'll be up soon"

"O that's funny I talked to Johnny battle earlier and he was home"

I was dumb struck she had me dead to rights. What could I say to get out of this? Was another lie going to help me now?

"He didn't come with us. I went with the other guys. I'm sure Johnny didn't know we were going."

"O...ok"

The look she gave me told me she knew I was lying. I could feel the sweat start to drop off my nose. For a lawyer I'm not much of a good liar but I held my poker face.

"Well I'll go shower and meet you in the bed room."

Sarah smiled and went upstairs. I quickly ran to the kitchen in search of my gloves. I looked everywhere for them. I couldn't find them. She must have found them and threw the them out. Was she on to me? Did she know what I had been doing with all the past dinners? Maybe I was just so scared and nervous I was overlooking them. No impossible I always put the box in the same place. Always in the back of the pantry.

With deep pain I gathered up the table. Putting all the food in Tupperware. I would just throw it out in the morning. There was a dumpster behind the office. Slowly I made my way upstairs. When I got in the bedroom. My heart dropped to my balls.

Sarah was sitting in the bed in her bathrobe holding my pistol. She was just looking at me as she slapped the clip back in. I was again at a loss for words but I had to say something. I couldn't let her see the fear in me.

"What are you doing honey"
"I was fluffing your pillow and find this under it. Why is it not in the drawer?"

She hasn't been in our bedroom in months. Now Sarah knew that I was prepared for her. Tonight is going to be the night I told myself. Sarah is going to kill me in our bedroom. No I wouldn't let it happen like this. I was not going to be gunned down in my own home.

"I was cleaning it yesterday and just put it there"
"Well it's fully loaded with one in the chamber. You should be careful love. I wouldn't want you to accidentally kill yourself."

Sarah and I made love that night. Usually I would go right to sleep but so many things were on my mind. I wanted to know what had changed. Had this whole time I been paranoid for no reason. No...Impossible. She was up to something I just knew it.

I went to work today and all my associates. Told me that Sarah had called them yesterday. So I wasn't crazy she knew I was lying. This just makes me know for certain something was up. When I came home she had dinner ready again. This time though I made sure I covered all bases.

I took all my associates out on my own dime. I bought a new box of gloves and put them in my trunk. We made love again. This time I slept well though. My gun was back in its draw. Tomorrow I look forward to hearing Mr. Babot’s report.

Taking a break from work. I went to his office. What he showed me was exactly what I had feared this whole time. Sarah was cheating on me. The guy was a drug trafficker. He lived in a very nice apartment. On the upper part of the city. He was a built black guy, with more tattoos then an art exhibit.

The worst part about it was his name was Nancy. Who were his parent’s sir Bartholomew and Lady Gwyneth? Who names their son Nancy in this day and age? Is it because he was supposed to be a Nancy-boy. This can't be my life right now. My head begins to start to spin a little.

Looking at the video every time he looked into the camera. I felt as if he was looking into my soul. What my wife would see in this man. I could see it clearly. He drove an all-white Mercedes 550 most days. That wasn't the only flashy car. My wife got out of that week. His clothes all seemed tailored for him. If it wasn't a Versace suit. It was Tom Ford and polo's shirts with 5th avenue jeans.

With a small entourage behind him every few days. Nancy seemed to be a made man. Compared to me I was too modest for all of that. I would of gave Sarah anything she desired. Over the years I had amassed a small fortune. Winning cases from New York to Los Angeles. I took her all around the world from the day we met.

Sarah loved the finer things in life. I admired her for that. I tried to appease her request, in order to live a finer life. I was not cheap I just didn't see the point in buying $300 jeans. When a pair of Levi's do the same thing. They even last longer if you ask me.

Why do I need a foreign car when my Camaro. Can cover a quarter mile in 12 seconds.  I own mines, I'm not paying for nothing but insurance. Not to say I didn't allow Sarah to tear down 5th avenue, or any shopping strip that she so choose.

Day by day I see them. Even some nights when I slept. I call her when I leave for work. Sarah told me she was at the gym. Or running with the neighborhood joggers. How long has this been going on? Could I have been this blind the whole time? Sarah was only with me for my money. All the nights of caressing, and how much we loved each other. Meant nothing to her I see now.

As the video went on the sicker I felt. I wanted the truth. Now that it was in my face. I wished that I had been wrong the whole time. Nancy seemed like the complete opposite of me. Every kiss they exchanged boiled my blood. I wanted to stop looking but I couldn't look away. I needed to see it all.

I wanted to know how deep into this they really were. I wanted to know everything about Nancy. Who he was what he had done his whole life? I felt consumed with curiosity and anger. Was Sarah trying to kill me to be with him? Babot told me he had served time before. Armed robbery and breaking& entering.  A few possessions charges here and there.  He seemed to be a career criminal.

Sarah had also been going to a gun range. Something she only done with me a few times. She didn't hate guns but Sarah wasn't an avid fan. The power to be able to kill someone, was too much for her she told me. Now she was in the gun range practicing to do just that.

I thanked Mr. Babot and asked him to keep me posted. Leaving his office I felt disgusted. I just wanted to shower all the filth off of me. To think she could leave him to come kiss and sleep with me. Just made me sick to my stomach. Could this really be happening? I felt so dizzy driving. I sped all the way home. Something I usually don't do.

I am filled with so much anger and regret right now. I want to cry but the tears won't come down. I'm so confused and lost right now. I found myself praying. Something I also don't usually do. Not that I don't believe in God. I just haven't been the most faithful to him. I can't remember the last time I even went to church, or took communion. But now here I am on my knees praying for an answer.

Sarah came home I couldn't even look at her. She tried to touch me I pulled away and left. I'm staying at the Marriott tonight. It's been so long since I've been in a hotel by myself. My mind is racing and my heart along with it. I'm pacing I stand and I sit. I need to sleep but I can't. This is driving me insane.

I would have to do something about this. I wouldn't just stay and take this laying down. No longer would I be afraid in my own home. This was going to end now. It would either be me or him. Sarah would have to choose. Or I would be forced to take things into my own hands.

Sarah got out her Honda civic and walked into Nancy's apartment. She stopped for a minute and looked right at him. Babot sat in his car with his video camera. He had followed her since she left the house. From whole foods to Nancy’s place. Babot figured she was going to make Nancy dinner. Looking right back at her he felt as if he had been spotted.

Now that she went inside he shook that thought out his head. All these years Babot had become very careful going about trailing people. This wasn't his first rodeo following a cheating wife. After a few hours he could see them in the living room kissing. They got up and the lights went out. Babot figured they were going to bed.

Now was a perfect time to get home and get some rest for himself. He had enough video footage for the day. By the time Sarah left in the morning. Babot knew he would be right back to catch her. Pulling off though a strange feeling began to fill him. He shook it off knowing he was careful. Arriving home he began to upload the footage to his computer.

About half way through his third beer. A knock came at his door. Babot grabbed his revolver and tucked it behind his back. Looking through the peep hole his heart dropped into his stomach. Sarah was standing at front of his door.

"I know your home. Are you going to open the door?"

Babot opened the door and greeted her. Sarah walked in and stood in the living room. Looking around at his small one bedroom apartment. She saw his computer and all his video equipment. Goose bumps ran up her arm. Thinking about all the things he had seen.

"What can I do for you Mrs. Grant.”?
"I know you've been following. I've come to warn you. Please stop you don't understand what you’re getting into. It's not what you think"
"Well why don't you explain it to me. If you know I've been following you. Then you know I have a pretty good idea about what's going on."
"Nancy isn't the type of man you say no too"

Babot went into the kitchen and grabbed another beer. He offered Sarah some water or a drink. To which she declined as he expected. This wasn't the first time a cheater had found him. Tried to explain the reason they are doing what they are doing. Over the years he had heard all types of excuses and reasons. It had made him numb, to their want to find understanding from him.

Placing his gun on top of the fridge. Babot cracked opened his beer. He listened to her and tried to seem interested. Everything they were saying was being recorded. He would also put it in his report to her husband. It only seen right that he hear her out. To show Mr. Grant what her true intentions were.

Suddenly his door got kicked in. Sarah screamed and he jumped up. Before Babot could get back in the kitchen. Three men with mask on. We're in his apartment with guns to their heads. Nancy strolled in with a smile on his face. He looked at the two of them. Then around the cramp apartment in disgust.

"You've been a busy man Mr. Babot. Did you think I wouldn't know I was being watched.”?
"You’re not going to get away with this"
"Please Nancy let’s just go. Please...”
"Shut up did you think I wouldn't know where you went?"

One of the gun men gun butted Mr. Babot in the face. Blood flew out his mouth as he fell back in the couch. Nancy walked over and grabbed up his laptop. He ripped it right off the camcorder. Sending the camera and equipment flying off the table. He grabbed Sarah by the hand and pulled her up off the couch. As she cried and pleaded for his mercy. Nancy led her out the apartment not even looking back.

As they walked down the hall to the elevator. The sound of furniture being over turned and broken. Echoed in the hallway. When the elevator doors opened. The sound of three gun shots made Sarah jump. She began to cry and try to pull away from Nancy. He tightened his grip around her hand.

"You didn't have to do that. He was just working for my husband."
"You think your husband was the only person he was going to report too. I'm not going back to jail and I'm not going to be away from you again"
"I hate you and I'll never love you. You’re a monster Nancy and a thug."

With a swift hand Nancy smacked Sarah quiet. As she grabbed her face he caressed it and apologized.

"You’re being rude. You know I hate to act like that with you. Don't talk like that it's not lady like"

As they walked out the apartment building. Nancy had three black escalades parked outside. The door to one opened up. Nancy looked back up toward Babot's apartment. Flames started to roar inside of it. A man’s hand came out the car and helped her in.

Nancy gently pushed her inside the car. As they drove off the sound off an explosion made Sarah jump. She looked back and saw black smoke bellowing out the 7th floor window. With tears in her eyes she buried her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. I don't mean to bring such things into your life"
"Get your hands off of me you animal. You’re a thug. You heartless animal he was only doing his job."

Sarah began to beat on Nancy. He pushed her away and fixed his clothes. She was about to go in for another attack. Then he raised his hand. Remembering the hit in the elevator Sarah stopped and sat quiet. She moved all the way to the window seat and continued to cry.

This might be the last time I get to write. I went out and bought a bullet proof vest today. I have a revolver and my 1911 strapped to me. In going to confront Nancy and Sarah tonight. I went home and she wasn't there. I know where she is and I know where he lives. This all ends tonight. Either I get my wife back or I'll be another body on his list. In the most iconic words I can quote right now.

"See you in the funny papers"

I'm sweating so heavy as I prepare myself. I've never been much of a fighter. I love Sarah and want her back. If I have to be brave for the both of us then that's what I have to do. I'll show her how much she means to me. Even if it means standing up to Nancy and his crew of thugs.

Thomas sat in his car shaking. The sweat was pouring off his face. His palms were itchy and sweaty. He had been in his car for over an hour just waiting. Finally three Escalades pulled up. Nancy got out and Sarah followed. He was almost dragging her into the apartment building. Thomas gripped his steering wheel tightly. His blood began to boil just watching them.

He took a minute to settle his nerves. This wasn't a movie he told himself. Bullets will kill and I might not walk out alive. This is for my family and sanity. It's tonight or never. Thomas got out his car and slowly walked toward the building. He knew Nancy lived on the top floor. In the pent house suite.

Taking the elevator up Thomas paced around it. Nervous as he had never been before. The elevator doors opened and he took a second before he stepped out. With a deep breath he stepped out and gripped his 1911.

One of Nancy's crew members was standing outside the door. Thomas popped a shot right in his head. Dropping the man before he could even speak. Suddenly the apartment door opened. Four men with guns rushed out. They looked at their dead comrade and then at Thomas.

The first man got a shot in the chest. He dropped his gun and held his chest. Before Thomas knew what was happening a full on gun battle had begun. He ducked behind a pillar trying to take cover. Bullets ripped out chunks of the wall. Vases in the hall way exploded. Flowers and the water inside them hit the floor.

Thomas fired a few more rounds to return fire.  A bullet hit another man and he went down. Two down two more to go he told himself. Trying to stay focus amidst the chaos.  He heard their guns click as they were out of ammo. As if the devil was on his heels. Thomas ran straight for them unloading his gun.

Both men went down before Thomas finally ran out of bullets. He ducked behind another pillar and tried to reload as fast as he could.  His hand felt like it had butter on it. The clip dropped and slid a few feet away from him. Thomas looked over the pillar to see if the coast was clear. As he bent over to grab the clip. A shot rang out hitting him in the shoulder.

Thomas grabbed the clip and rolled back toward the pillar. He was in so much pain but he couldn't stop to think about it now. The door to Nancy's apartment was wide open and he was only a few feet away. Finishing the mission was all that was on his brain. The adrenaline pumped through his body. Looking at the wound he realized the bullet went straight through. It even cauterized the wound so he wasn't bleeding as much.

The first guy out the apartment was the one who shot him. The man was now barely standing and making his way toward him. Fumbling with the clip Thomas finally slapped it in. The man shot bullet after bullet into the pillar.  As the man got within a few feet of him. Thomas rolled and shoot him right in the head. The goon slowly dropped the gun and fell back down.

Thomas got up holding his arm and made his way toward the apartment door. He figured he only had about ten or fifteen minutes before the cops showed up. His arm felt heavy and began to tingle as if he slept on it all night. With his gun in hand Thomas entered the apartment. Sarah sat on the couch looking scared.

"Thomas lookout"

Nancy bashed Thomas hand sending the gun flying across the room. He jumped on Thomas and began to pummel him. The blows felt like a train was hitting him each and every time. Blood began to run out his mouth like a faucet. Sarah screamed and cried for Nancy to stop. She ran over and jumped on his back.

With one strong shove Nancy sent her flying across the room. She hit her head on the coffee table and was knocked out. Nancy got up from beating Thomas and began to kick him repeatedly. Every kick sent more blood flying on to his Persian rug.

"You want to kill me... do you know who I am? You come here like Rambo and expect to save the girl. She is mines and your life is mines."

Nancy in a rage gave Thomas one more kick. He searched the room like a mad man. Finally eyeing what he was looking for. Nancy went and grabbed Thomas's 1911.  He walked back over and began to gun butt his face. Yelling at him for ruining his expensive rug and killing his henchmen.

Nancy cocked the gun back and aimed it at Thomas head. As he did he heard the click of another gun and froze. Nancy paused and he turned around. He saw Sarah holding her own gun. She was shaking and scared.

"Step away from him Nancy. This ends tonight. I won't let you kill the man I love."
"So you’re going to shoot me in cold blood. You’re a killer now Sarah? Well go on shoot me."

Nancy kept screaming for her to do it as he inched closer. With each step Sarah's hand trembled more. All the practice she got in the range didn't prepare her for this. She felt as if she would pee herself. Finally Nancy stood in front of her. He grabbed her gun and pointed it at his heart. Sarah thought she was going to faint. Her head started to spin but she didn't take her hand off the trigger.

"You don't have the guts to be a killer. You’re weak Sarah. I loved you and would have given you everything. Now you turn on me"

Nancy grabbed the little snub nose Sarah was holding. He tossed it aside and went to raise his hand to strike her again. Before he could a shot rang out and stopped him. Nancy looked down at the blood starting to form on his shirt. He turned around to see. Thomas bloody and holding his revolver. Nancy took a step forward toward him and pointed his gun at him. Thomas fired two more shots into him. Nancy fell to his knees and died.

Sarah ran over to Thomas and grabbed him as he was about to hit the floor. She was hysterical and crying. Telling him how sorry she was. How much she loved him and wanted to be with him forever. Thomas had only enough strength to utter a few words.

"Get the guns and let's go home honey"