Katie loved the fact that it was Friday morning and she got to sleep instead of go to work. That changed when she got a phone call from Melanie at 8:30 a.m.
“Sorry to wake you, but I need your help. The head honchos in Boise called and they want to come and check out our office. They want us to file for the end of the year, in October mind you, and go over my books this afternoon. I’m stressed and about ready to explode. Can you come in?”
“Well…”
“Please? I’ll bring donuts and soda.”
“Give me thirty minutes and I’ll be there.”
“Great, you’re a life saver.”
Katie got dressed, noticed Mitch wasn’t home yet, and drove to work. She saw Melanie’s car and another she didn’t recognize. Maybe one of the other workers got a newer car. She walked up the stairs and yelled, “Hi, Mel, I’m here.”
“I’m in the storage room. Come on back.”
Katie walked back and noticed Melanie hadn’t started moving boxes yet.
“You sure look more rested. You get to sleep with Mitch?”
She shook her head. “He works the graveyard shift.”
“Bummer. I bet it gets lonesome sleeping in your boyfriend’s bed without him.”
“He lives with his parents and sister. So when I’m there, he sleeps on the couch.”
“Your love life is boring. If I could have a babe like Mitch, I’d have been in bed with him the first night. Wouldn’t care if I was married or not.”
Katie rolled her eyes. “Isn’t your sex life on the blinks with your hubby?”
“To tell you the truth, I have to relate our romance to video games and it seems to get him going. It’s stupid what I have to do, but at least I can have my husband to myself and not anything else for a short time.”
Her face turned red. “You’ve embarrassed me. I’m planning things I can do tonight with Eric.” She turned and walked back to her office.
***
As Katie worked on the filing boxes and reorganized them, she heard multiple sets of footsteps. She figured Melanie had called Fred in to help too. With her back to the storage door, she heard a familiar voice.
“Working hard as usual. You never stop, do you?”
Katie turned and saw Kevin. The look on his face was like something from a nightmare and Katie froze.
“Still freezing when you’re caught off guard? Things never seem to change.” He walked over to her, holding a gun by his side. He ran his hand through her hair. Katie shivered and stepped sideways to get away from him.
“Don’t move too fast. We’ve got business to take care of.”
“What are you doing here? Why are you screwing with me? Mel, go call the police, do something before he hurts us.”
Melanie laughed. “Oh, Katie, my dear. You are so naïve. You’re the one who’s been killing people physically and emotionally. We have it all planned. You’ll commit suicide today because you regretted your wrongdoings.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Yes, my dear, you have. You made Mandy commit suicide after you and Kevin got married. She worshiped the ground Kevin walked on. Your brother killed Kevin’s brother. You’re the one who caused your baby girl to die. You planned to have a car run into Kevin after he got your girl from daycare. See? We have it all worked out. Cousins helping cousins. Kevin and I can go on and live our lives without you causing problems.”
“You? My friend? I trusted you. How could you do this to me?” Katie yelled.
“It was hard being nice to you. I sacrificed my evenings to go out with you instead of going out with Eric and our friends.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t.” Melanie took a couple steps toward Katie. “Oh, and did you like your gift?”
“What gift?”
“Your dead cat. She was a sweet thing.”
Katie shivered.
Kevin snickered. “See how things always go my way, Katie dear? I had to bend over backward to make you happy in our marriage. You got so demanding it drove me crazy. When you had your girl, I knew she would be exactly like you. Something I couldn’t handle another day of.” He moved the gun from one hand to the other.
Katie saw movement in the doorway but didn’t look. She kept the conversation going to keep Melanie and Kevin preoccupied.
“Our daughter had a name. Autumn. You’re the one who chose her name. Stop calling my baby a thing.” Her voice rose a couple of octaves.
“Anything to get you off my back. You had thousands of names to choose from and I got tired of hearing them. How about Apple, how about Brandy, how about C, D, or F. I closed my eyes and pointed at a name to get it over with.”
Katie shivered. “What if I’d had a boy? Would you have him killed?”
“No, he would have taken my brother’s place.”
Suddenly, six policemen walked in the door with Mitch in the lead. “Put the gun on the floor and turn around slowly. We don’t want to hurt anyone. Drop the gun.”
Melanie dashed to the side of the storage room and yelled, “She did it. Katie’s the one who did it. It’s her fault.” She pushed some boxes out of the way to hide behind a wall divider. An officer grabbed Melanie, handcuffed her, and took her out to the waiting police car.
Kevin quickly moved behind Katie, wrapped his arm around her neck, and pointed the gun at her head. “If anyone takes one step, I’ll kill her.” He tightened his hold on her. “And you next.” Kevin looked at Mitch. “If you let us leave the office and be on our way, nothing will happen.”
“Not a smart choice, Kevin. You’d better drop the gun so things don’t get nasty,” Mitch said.
Katie had to do something quick so she didn’t get shot by Kevin or by a policeman by accident. She turned and bit down on Kevin’s bicep—hard enough to draw blood.
“Ouch! You wretch.” He pushed her away, into the boxes, and then jumped on top of her. Katie heard a shot. Blood dripped onto her. Next thing she saw was black.