Read Online Escapement by Rene Gutteridge - Free Book Online

seem like it was going to fulfill my need for revenge.
    “Tell me about Beth,” he said softly.
    “Why?”
    “Sounds like you love her.”
    “I do. I really do.” I looked away. “She gets me. She’s always accepted me for who I am. Even when I gained weight, she encouraged me to not give up. She never seemed . . . repulsed. She seemed sympathetic. She has this great smile. Kind of lights up the room. And shiny eyes, like everything is delighting her.”
    “Sounds lovely.”
    “And, um . . . your wife?” I cringed. It seemed like the natural progression of the conversation, but I could tell you one thing, this lady was no Beth. More like Lady Mac beth.
    “Angela.”
    “Angela.”
    “Yes.”
    “Was Angela always so . . . cold?”
    “Angela is misguided, like the rest of us, I suppose. She just doesn’t see what matters.”
    “You’re awfully forgiving.”
    “Not always. Not always . . .”
    “Let me guess. Rosemary.”
    “She’s helped me see a lot of things differently.”
    “In a ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’ kind of way.”
    “Something like that.”
    “Hm.” I checked the pocket watch. “Well, my friend. Time is running out for you.”
    He looked hopeful again.
    “Okay, look. I need to think some things through. So I want you to just . . . just sit here and don’t talk, okay? I’m going to go into the kitchen and think.”
    I rose and walked straight to the fridge, opening it just like it was my own home. Some people think best in the shower, but I think best in the cool air of the fridge hitting my face, as I stare down all the choices, shelf by shelf.
    How was this all going to work? I wasn’t positive, but I was pretty sure I couldn’t go out in a blaze of glorious revenge if I just let nature take its course. But killing him . . . well, that seemed too merciful.
    My eyes caught on a tub of pimento cheese. But my stomach passed. I still wasn’t hungry.
    I heard a noise behind me. Had Abbott made his way to the kitchen? Trying for his getaway? Ha! I could tackle him. Yeah, that’d kill him instantly. But maybe that was the way to go. Crushed to death by the guy whose weight you used to taunt. Deliciously ironic.
    I turned quickly, ready to pounce.
    Instead, I was staring right into the face of a plump woman with dark, curly hair and deep-brown, soulful eyes. She looked surprised. I was pretty sure I wet my pants.
    “Who are you?” she asked.
    I swallowed. “Don’t move. I’ve got a bomb.”
    I don’t think Rosemary believed I had a bomb. Instead of not moving, she hurried to the other room to find Abbott. I rushed after her.
    Abbott was trying to calm her down. “It’s okay. Rosemary, it’s okay. I’m okay.”
    She eyed me as she stood by him. Her fingers were on his wrist, taking his pulse. Abbott seemed fine. It was my pulse that was skyrocketing.
    Abbott looked at me as he spoke. “This is Mattie. He’s an old . . . high school acquaintance.”
    “With a bomb,” she said, half-terrified, half-annoyed.
    “Okay. If he says so. He’s here to kill me.”
    The blood drained out of Rosemary’s face. She raised an eyebrow at Abbott. “Did you hire a hit man? Is that what this is?” She turned to me. “Whatever he’s paying you, I’ll double it if you leave.”
    “I’m not a hit man,” I said, now the one annoyed. “I’m here on a revenge killing.”
    “Revenge for what?”
    “Meanness.”
    “Meanness.”
    “That’s right.”
    Rosemary wasn’t smiling, but if she had, she’d have had a “jazz-hands” smile. Large. White. Showing both top and bottom teeth. Real Kathy Najimy–like, in her Sister Act days. I always thought Kathy was attractive in that habit, which bothered me because I was pretty sure it was a sin to be attracted to nuns.
    Rosemary put her hands on her hips. “Well, looks like you stabbed the wrong guy.” She gestured toward my stomach. “You’re bleeding.”
    “Oh . . . that. No, I’m fine.”
    “You