Читать книгу Revenge - Sheldon Cohen - Страница 3

How long have you been in practice? Thirty-five…forty years about, and you’re still working? Three days a week now is what I heard. That’s all? In your case, that’s more than enough. You’re too sick for more than that. It’s a wonder you can continue doing what you do. Everybody knows that that you have inoperable coronary artery disease, and I have to tell you, you might as well try to keep busy; it’ll keep your mind off your misery. I’ve been waiting for you to drop, but you don’t, and I’m glad because that’s a privilege that belongs to me. Well, we’ll see what we can do about that. It’s getting time to act. People with medical problems as bad as yours should quit and enjoy what life they have left. Why you continue to stay on as chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine, is beyond me. Running that department must be a real pain-in-the-ass, with some of the wierdos you got in there. The Medical Executive Committee is no piece of cake either, I’m sure. Who needs all that aggravation? You sure as hell don’t.

My planning is over. I know just what I have to do. I’m going to get you before you get yourself. When I do my thing, everyone will assume your heart caught up with you. Your patients would understand that. I bet your wife is expecting you to drop any time. I don’t want to disappoint her. You’re the perfect number one.

I’ve watched you come home at 6:00 sharp every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I’ve got a perfect view from where I sit here in my car right across the street from your fancy condo on North Clark Street. Yes, I…wait, let’s see…someone’s coming out of the front door. Who? Ah…that’s your wife, Doris, the nurse, and she’s carrying a suitcase. She’s going to the car parked in front of the condo. She’s putting the suitcase in the trunk. This could be the break I’m waiting for. Is she leaving town? I’ll follow her and see where she’s going. I’ll hang right on your tail, madam. I don’t want to lose you in traffic.

So far so good. She’s heading west on Fullerton Avenue. If she turns on to the Kennedy Expressway it could mean that she’s headed for O’Hare field. Sure enough, the Kennedy it is. If she takes the O’Hare exit I’ll follow her and see what she does. Her suitcase is a small one so it looks like she won’t be away too long. Yeah, she’s parking in the O’Hare garage. I better follow her into the terminal just to be sure she leaves town.

That’s it. She’s at the ticket counter. Now she’s heading through security. You’re in for a surprise when you get back, Doris. Tonight is the night he gets his. The conditions are perfect. He’s alone now. For weeks I’ve had him under surveillance, He’ll pay for his mistake. Better late than never, and the old score will be settled. His patients should be grateful to me for getting him out of their lives. Guys like that should be out of medicine long before they become menaces to society. Well, like the lioness going after the sick water buffalo, I’ll cull that flock.

He’s home tonight. I saw him arrive. I’ll wait until dark and at least about 11:00 o’clock. He’s got a cylinder lock on the front door. I know the type. It’s a pin and tumbler design. Those are the easiest to pick. It’ll be a cold day in hell when I find the lock I can’t pick. First, I’ll go home and change into my new jogging suit that I paid cash for. It’s still bagged. I’ll change into the suit in the garage. They say you can’t walk into a house without leaving a trace of yourself—like fibers, so I’ll get rid of the suit when I’m done. I’ll wear the shoes that are two sizes too big. Latex gloves will ensure I don’t leave any fingerprints, and the facemask for a disguise. Then I’ll destroy the gloves and shoes and mask. The only thing I’ll need is the chloroform soaked hand towel. I’ll get rid of that when I’ve done my good deed for the night.

It’ll be easy if my prey is asleep. Even if he’s not, he’s such a little guy that he’d be no problem to handle. This is going to be a piece of cake. The street’s deserted. It’s now or never. The lock, what a breeze. It’s dark inside. Is the place empty? Yeah, there’s a flickering light in the back. It’s a TV in the bedroom. Are you watching it or are you asleep, Mark? Either way doesn’t matter. Let’s see. There you are facing the wall sound asleep. First, the chloroform over your mouth and nose. Bear down hard. Turn over. Let’s get this pillow on your face…hard…hard. What? Moving your arms in the air? Is that all the resistance you can come up with? Come on, fight a little; at least a little. Nothing? Number one, it’s revenge time. I hope you don’t get too lonesome where I just sent you, but if you do, I want you to relax and be patient because I have plans for some of your friends to join you there. It won’t be long. As far as this earth is concerned, I’m the last person you came in contact with. We have bonded together for all eternity.