Читать книгу One Last Kiss - Mary Wilbon - Страница 12

Before she could scream, his right hand closed over her mouth. He lifted his knee like a punch, deep into her stomach, and then stepped back. She collapsed onto the floor at his feet.

He watched her gasp for breath, writhing like a fish out of water. He looked down at her.

This was the woman they were all so afraid of? It was comical.

She was rolling on the floor bumping into furniture, fighting to breathe. She would scream soon, but she couldn’t do that until she got her breath back, and by then…

“If you give me what I want, you could still leave here alive.”

She emitted small gasping sounds, her eyes wide open as she continued to gasp for air.

“Where is your diary?”

She started to cough. She was getting air now.

He walked to a table and picked up the bag he brought. Pulling out a knife, he held it up for her to see.

This made her panic and added to her breathing difficulty. “I don’t have the diary,” she struggled to say.

He ran his thumb along the knife’s sharp blade. “This is just for you, but if you tell me what you did with the diary, you will live.” He walked toward her with the knife. “You’re so beautiful. I understand the power you have.”

He knelt down, ran the knife along her cheek, and stopped at her throat. “Don’t move,” he whispered chillingly.

She froze.

“Now tell me where it is.”

“I told you, I don’t have it.”

“I’m running out of patience,” he said sternly.

“I don’t have the diary. I got rid of it, I swear. If I had it, I’d give it to you,” she said between coughing fits.

“Then where is it?”

She said nothing.

“WHERE IS IT?”

Again she resisted but started to cry.

“Is this a secret you really want to die for?”

“I put it in the mail.”

“To whom?”

“To Laura Charles.”

“Laura Charles?”

“Yes. To her foundation.”

He looked at her in disbelief and involuntarily withdrew the knife a little.

“Why there?” he asked, truly puzzled.

“I know why,” another man said.

Gloria looked at the other man standing in the shadows. She hadn’t noticed him until now.

“Help me, please,” Gloria begged him.

He avoided her eyes. “I’ll take care of it. Let’s just get this over with.” He had no stomach for this.

The man with the knife looked at him. “Okay, I believe you.” He returned his attention to Gloria and ran the knife around her face again.

She recoiled.

“I’m sorry. I can’t let you live after all, but you are so beautiful. I won’t destroy your face.”

She was sobbing now.

“I’ll save this for later.” He put down the knife and placed his hands on either side of her face. “Don’t worry, this will be quick.”

“Please help me,” she called out to the other man, but he did nothing.

She started to cry. “Please God, no.”

“Ssh, shh,” he said.

With his hands on either side of her head, he quickly twisted her neck as far as he could.

There was a snap of bones.

Her open eyes seemed to find the one she called out to for help.

And he, the other man in the shadows, full of fear and regret, wondered how he would live with the memory of her murder.

This Is Action News 10 in New Jersey…All of New Jersey All of the Time

“Good morning. I’m Michelle Tevotino. Thanks for joining us. With only a few weeks left until the elections, Action News 10 in New Jersey will host a live debate tonight between senatorial candidates Clinton Kendall and Pete Moreno. This is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.

“Liberal Democrat Kendall and conservative Republican Moreno couldn’t be further apart on the issues, from the war, stem-cell research, abortion, and same-sex marriage. The latest polls show Kendall with a slight lead over Moreno but still within the margin of error. The president and the war continue to hurt the Republican candidate, but he continues to have strong approval numbers across New Jersey’s Democrat-leaning electorate. A Moreno victory would be a major upset in the heavily Democratic state of New Jersey. Tune in tonight to Action News 10 in New Jersey at eight P.M. for what promises to be a very exciting exchange.

“In other news, a Keansburg, New Jersey, man, convicted in the shooting death of his girlfriend’s toy poodle, was told he could reduce his jail sentence by dressing like a dog. Daryl Covey was sentenced to thirty days, but Judge Warren Medina said time would be reduced if Covey wears a ‘K9 the Safety Pup’ costume and takes part in animal safety programs in elementary schools throughout New Jersey. Covey’s girlfriend, Tiffany Duvall, had to be led from the courtroom in handcuffs when she began screaming that Covey’s reduced sentence was not justice for the murder of her dog, Mr. Mimzy.

“Action News 10 in New Jersey has learned that Covey decided to accept the judge’s offer ‘because I love children,’ he said. The problem is he loves children too much.

“Action 10 News in New Jersey has learned that Covey is registered under Megan’s Law as a sex offender. Covey was overheard saying that the K9 the Safety Pup gig would ‘help me bag some twelve-year-old.’

“Covey claimed later that he was referring to twelve-year-old scotch.”