He stepped out of the theater into the night, pulling his collar up for warmth. The silver revolver was safely hidden in his front pocket. The theater lights flickering behind him as he disappeared into the night. The screams didn't ring in his ears instead they played on a loop like calming music. The best part was that no one knew who he was. Only showing himself at night, with daylight he disappeared back behind the counter of the bank teller's window, and well no one ever suspected the man behind the counter.
"Good morning Ben, how have you been?" Ms. Sawyer was a nice woman, always went to see Ben in the mornings when she had time before work. She owned the coffee shop across the street, and had the best donuts in town as a matter of fact.
"Well I'm just doing fine Wendy, and yourself?"
"As good as one can be during a time like this, but there's no need to bring up the negative. I brought you a blueberry scone." She said handing him the brown bag with her coffee shop's logo on it, before saying her goodbyes and going to open her store.
"You know Ben, I really do hate you." Jesse said, shaking his head at him.
"And why is that Jes?" Ben asked, chuckling under his breath, tuning around in his chair.
"That woman's been after you for years, just ask her out already." He said pushing Ben in the shoulder.
"Oh Wendy, no she's just a friend. Besides, I'm better on my own these days."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, don't you have inventory to take?" Ben said, causing Jesse to realize he had forgotten. He quickly hopped off the table and before you knew it he was out the door running back to the deli.
"Later Ben!" He hollard as he darted down the street. Crazy kid. Ben thought laughing a bit before getting back to work.
Jesse was a 17 year old kid, a real nice boy. He worked at the deli with his uncle just down the road. Since it was summer he was working full time but he still managed to go hang out at the bank with Ben at least once a day.
Though he was a little on the younger side Ben had known him since he was 8, and though he'd never admit it he didn't mind his company. The kid thought he'd be mayor one day. Who was anyone to stop him?
He had a bright future, and he could go far if he wanted to. The only problem was he didnt have the best friends. The other guys on the football team went out every weekend to drink among other things.
The boys in his drama class went to get high after rehearsal, and the boys in his honors classes just never went out. He went to the parties but he didn't drink. He went to rehearsals but he didn't stay after when everyone else would retreat to the boiler room in the basement.
Wendy on the other hand was in her 20's, nice girl. Younger than Ben who was about 32. She had lived in that little town her entire life. When her mom died she decided to keep the coffee shop, and she'd been running it since she was 15. Though she had a picture perfect life she had ambitions.
One day when she had enough money, and a daughter of her own to take the coffee shop. Shed go to London and pursue her dreams of being a news reporter.
But until then she just stayed behind the counter of her coffee shop and volunteered at the local news gazette until it was her time to finally take the next step. Out of Green Hills.
She was single, lived alone. She lived with her mother in Green Hills her entire life. Her father left for the big city when she was 2 and never looked back.
Wendy didn't resent him for it because she believed that he had found something so great that he had to give up everything, even his family. But that might not have been the right story.
Ben went back to work, he signed a few checks, helped a few people make their deposits, and finished signing the papers for a house mortgage. After he had wrapped that up he went out to lunch. He grabbed a sandwich from the deli and walked over to the park.
Every Tuesday he'd get the same sandwich and eat it on the same bench in the same park. It was the first place he'd ever gone when he first moved to Green Hills, it was a reminder of why he moved there in the first place. It was all for a fresh start.
After his wife died he had to get out of the city. He left New York and moved to a little town on the edge of Connecticut. At first he was sceptical but quickly faded into the security of knowing he'd get to do the same thing everyday.
The kids didn't have to chain their bikes because it was a safe town. You didn't have to lock your doors at night because it was a safe town. You never had to worry about a robbery in a safe town. But beneath the shiney exterior of what seemed to be such a safe town was chaos, and secrets.
Ben was never really fond of secrets. Probably because he had a few to many of his own. He could see things other people couldn't, small details. Where the stitches didn't line up with the fabric of the town. After 6 months of living in Green Hills he could see all the things that made it not such a safe town.
Down the road and across the bridge that stretched over the lake in one one of the smaller houses there was Jackie Smith. Jackie was 42, married and a nurse at the local hospital.
Her husband was a 46 year old carpenter. He had his own business building decks. It was a good job, cept them fed and clothed comfortably. From the outsiders perspective she had what would be thought of as a picture perfect life, but she had a habit. A bad one at that.
And no it wasn't drugs, and she didn't smoke. Though it wasn't anything harmful to her health it was the type of thing that could ruin her life regardless.
She had a strong attraction towards younger guys. It started as just a long glance, but quickly turned into waiting for them to look back, then having a brief conversation. SHe would find them on dating apps for singles in the area and, well her double life started from there.
Every Thursday she got off from work a little earlier than the other days, so she told her husband that every Thursday she had the late shift. When she was supposedly at work she would go out on dates with these younger men that had her ever so infatuated.
Nine times out of ten theyed end up at a motel somewhere with 10 hours of freedom before she went back to her little house, on a cute little avenue, her day job, and marriage.
Well the guy she was going out with tonight was a 22 fit chef. He picked her up at 8 and took her to a special at the theater. They arrived and went in to find their seats. She was excited as always because she could be whoever she wanted to be.
It was liberating for her to break away from her normal life and she didn't care about the consequences even if the cost for her actions was her life.
It just so happens that Ben was on his way home from a late night when he saw Jackie all dressed up outside. Out of curiosity he stopped for a moment and to his surprise a few minutes later a man pulled up in a nice porsche.
He got out and Ben realized it wasn't her husband, that minor detail only intrigued him more. He didn't want to jump to any conclusions until he gave her a friendly hug and a not so friendly kiss. Well I don't kiss my friends that way, Ben mused to himself.
"We should get going doll, the show will be starting soon." He said opening the door for her.
"I haven't been to the theater in ages." She cooed, climbing into his car, and just like that they were gone. Ben saw what he had to do so he stopped home. As soon as he had arrived home he was back out the door again, this time in his trench coat and his revolver hidden in his pocket.
He arrived at the theater about 30 minutes after the show had begun. He slipped up into one of the empty boxes in the top of the theater across from where Jackie and her disposable arm candy were sitting. He pulled his revolver out, pulled the trigger, and walked right back out.
The click of the bullet releasing echoed through the theater as she fell to the ground. The show stopped and everyone rushed to the emergency exits. All of them trapped in a terrified panic trying to get away as quickly as possible.
He stepped out of the theater into the night, pulling his collar up for warmth. The silver revolver was safely hidden in his front pocket. The theater lights flickering behind him as he disappeared into the night. The screams didn't ring in his ears, instead they played on a loop like calming music.
He stepped out of the theater into the night, pulling his collar up for warmth. The silver revolver was safely hidden in his front pocket. The theater lights flickering behind him as he disappeared into the night. The screams didn't ring in his ears instead they played on a loop like calming music. The best part was that no one knew who he was. Only showing himself at night, with daylight he disappeared back behind the counter of the bank teller's window, and well no one ever suspected the man behind the counter.
"Good morning Ben, how have you been?" Ms. Sawyer was a nice woman, always went to see Ben in the mornings when she had time before work. She owned the coffee shop across the street, and had the best donuts in town as a matter of fact.
"Well I'm just doing fine Wendy, and yourself?"
"As good as one can be during a time like this, but there's no need to bring up the negative. I brought you a blueberry scone." She said handing him the brown bag with her coffee shop's logo on it, before saying her goodbyes and going to open her store.
"You know Ben, I really do hate you." Jesse said, shaking his head at him.
"And why is that Jes?" Ben asked, chuckling under his breath, tuning around in his chair.
"That woman's been after you for years, just ask her out already." He said pushing Ben in the shoulder.
"Oh Wendy, no she's just a friend. Besides, I'm better on my own these days."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, don't you have inventory to take?" Ben said, causing Jesse to realize he had forgotten. He quickly hopped off the table and before you knew it he was out the door running back to the deli.
"Later Ben!" He hollard as he darted down the street. Crazy kid. Ben thought laughing a bit before getting back to work.
Jesse was a 17 year old kid, a real nice boy. He worked at the deli with his uncle just down the road. Since it was summer he was working full time but he still managed to go hang out at the bank with Ben at least once a day.
Though he was a little on the younger side Ben had known him since he was 8, and though he'd never admit it he didn't mind his company. The kid thought he'd be mayor one day. Who was anyone to stop him?
He had a bright future, and he could go far if he wanted to. The only problem was he didnt have the best friends. The other guys on the football team went out every weekend to drink among other things.
The boys in his drama class went to get high after rehearsal, and the boys in his honors classes just never went out. He went to the parties but he didn't drink. He went to rehearsals but he didn't stay after when everyone else would retreat to the boiler room in the basement.
Wendy on the other hand was in her 20's, nice girl. Younger than Ben who was about 32. She had lived in that little town her entire life. When her mom died she decided to keep the coffee shop, and she'd been running it since she was 15. Though she had a picture perfect life she had ambitions.
One day when she had enough money, and a daughter of her own to take the coffee shop. Shed go to London and pursue her dreams of being a news reporter.
But until then she just stayed behind the counter of her coffee shop and volunteered at the local news gazette until it was her time to finally take the next step. Out of Green Hills.
She was single, lived alone. She lived with her mother in Green Hills her entire life. Her father left for the big city when she was 2 and never looked back.
Wendy didn't resent him for it because she believed that he had found something so great that he had to give up everything, even his family. But that might not have been the right story.
Ben went back to work, he signed a few checks, helped a few people make their deposits, and finished signing the papers for a house mortgage. After he had wrapped that up he went out to lunch. He grabbed a sandwich from the deli and walked over to the park.
Every Tuesday he'd get the same sandwich and eat it on the same bench in the same park. It was the first place he'd ever gone when he first moved to Green Hills, it was a reminder of why he moved there in the first place. It was all for a fresh start.
After his wife died he had to get out of the city. He left New York and moved to a little town on the edge of Connecticut. At first he was sceptical but quickly faded into the security of knowing he'd get to do the same thing everyday.
The kids didn't have to chain their bikes because it was a safe town. You didn't have to lock your doors at night because it was a safe town. You never had to worry about a robbery in a safe town. But beneath the shiney exterior of what seemed to be such a safe town was chaos, and secrets.
Ben was never really fond of secrets. Probably because he had a few to many of his own. He could see things other people couldn't, small details. Where the stitches didn't line up with the fabric of the town. After 6 months of living in Green Hills he could see all the things that made it not such a safe town.
Down the road and across the bridge that stretched over the lake in one one of the smaller houses there was Jackie Smith. Jackie was 42, married and a nurse at the local hospital.
Her husband was a 46 year old carpenter. He had his own business building decks. It was a good job, cept them fed and clothed comfortably. From the outsiders perspective she had what would be thought of as a picture perfect life, but she had a habit. A bad one at that.
And no it wasn't drugs, and she didn't smoke. Though it wasn't anything harmful to her health it was the type of thing that could ruin her life regardless.
She had a strong attraction towards younger guys. It started as just a long glance, but quickly turned into waiting for them to look back, then having a brief conversation. SHe would find them on dating apps for singles in the area and, well her double life started from there.
Every Thursday she got off from work a little earlier than the other days, so she told her husband that every Thursday she had the late shift. When she was supposedly at work she would go out on dates with these younger men that had her ever so infatuated.
Nine times out of ten theyed end up at a motel somewhere with 10 hours of freedom before she went back to her little house, on a cute little avenue, her day job, and marriage.
Well the guy she was going out with tonight was a 22 fit chef. He picked her up at 8 and took her to a special at the theater. They arrived and went in to find their seats. She was excited as always because she could be whoever she wanted to be.
It was liberating for her to break away from her normal life and she didn't care about the consequences even if the cost for her actions was her life.
It just so happens that Ben was on his way home from a late night when he saw Jackie all dressed up outside. Out of curiosity he stopped for a moment and to his surprise a few minutes later a man pulled up in a nice porsche.
He got out and Ben realized it wasn't her husband, that minor detail only intrigued him more. He didn't want to jump to any conclusions until he gave her a friendly hug and a not so friendly kiss. Well I don't kiss my friends that way, Ben mused to himself.
"We should get going doll, the show will be starting soon." He said opening the door for her.
"I haven't been to the theater in ages." She cooed, climbing into his car, and just like that they were gone. Ben saw what he had to do so he stopped home. As soon as he had arrived home he was back out the door again, this time in his trench coat and his revolver hidden in his pocket.
He arrived at the theater about 30 minutes after the show had begun. He slipped up into one of the empty boxes in the top of the theater across from where Jackie and her disposable arm candy were sitting. He pulled his revolver out, pulled the trigger, and walked right back out.
The click of the bullet releasing echoed through the theater as she fell to the ground. The show stopped and everyone rushed to the emergency exits. All of them trapped in a terrified panic trying to get away as quickly as possible.
He stepped out of the theater into the night, pulling his collar up for warmth. The silver revolver was safely hidden in his front pocket. The theater lights flickering behind him as he disappeared into the night. The screams didn't ring in his ears, instead they played on a loop like calming music.
He made it back home and went to bed like nothing had happened. A real stand up guy clensing the town of sinners. The shooting had been reported that night and in the papers by morning. The sheriff got on top of it immediately.
Since there was never really any crime in Green Hills the town was a little surprised that he actually knew what he was doing.
They searched the theater and surrounding arrears. No One really knew what happened or why, that is until they went through her telephone and found all the apps she used to meet these men.
They questioned the man she was with that night along with many others who had entertained her in the past. The papers loved this, nothing interesting ever happened in Green Hills and thought it was a tragedy it was something to write about.
The headline got even more and more outlandish, and less sensitive as the weeks went on. It started with 'Shooting at the Theater' the next week it was 'Adulteress hiding in Small Town' and the week after that it was ' Shocking News, Adultery or Murder which is surprising?'
Things were clearly getting out of hand but the one person the town was really worried about was her husband. Not only did the poor man lose his wife of 18 years but he also found out their happy life wasn't so happy at all.
It was a sad situation all across the board and the town's speculations were not helping. Every day there was a new conspiracy and no matter where you went you heard things like
"At least she took control and didn't stay tied down." or
"Well it's better to screw than get scared I guess."
"Well she did quite a bit of screwing, didn't she?"
"Yeah but it all came back to her, now she's dead." It wasn't good at all. But they weren't wrong. She did swear to her husband to be trusting and she was an adultes. Ben wasn't a fan of lies, probably because he's told one to many in his lifetime.
Ben woke up the next morning like nothing happened. He went to work and it was business as usual. His daily routine was as normal as ever. When he went for his lunch break he decided to swing down to the deli and grab a sandwich. Jesse was in the back when he walked in watching the news.
"That's crazy." Jesse said, shocked by the latest report. The bell rang when the top of the door hit it and Jesse yelled from the storage room. "I'll be right out!" He yelled before stumbling out of the back. "Oh hi Ben, what can I get for you?" He asked me to put on a pair of gloves.
"Turkey on rye, whatcha watching back there?" Ben asked while Jesse made his sandwich.
"Oh did you hear about that nurse who got shot at the theater?"
"Yeah, I heard about it this morning."
"I knew that lady, real nice. It's sad she's gone now, ya know." Jesse said, wrapping the sandwich in wax paper and putting it in a bag before going to ring him up.