Daniel and I hung around old parking lots after school. He had connections with people
from the outside. We live in the suburbs, to us, the outside was the ghetto. He had
connections with people who lived there. They were dangerous people. For a small price,
Daniel purchased candy from them. Candy was code for weed and ecstasy. He didn't
purchase anything harder than that.
We'd smoke weed in those same parking lots.
One day, we walked to the gym. It was blazing hot. We sparred in the ring and I came up
with an idea. A smile spread across my face. Daniel's face darkened. "I know that look.
Whatever it is, I'm not interested." My smile faded but my lips were still quirked. "Hear
me out at least?" I ask. He grabs a towel from the chair while I shadow box the air.
"I'll pay you a crisp twenty if you can stand in the abandoned pharmacy alley where those
kids were found for- let's say thirty minutes." Daniel was wiping sweat from his face and
he paused. "That doesn't sound too bad. You're on." I chuckle darkly. "No. At night. The
pathologists claim they all died at around midnight. We'll go at midnight. I'll stand in front
of the pharmacy and keep watch while you sit in the alley. I wanna see if you're a pussy." I
shrug.
I knew calling him a pussy would anger him to a degree. He'll want to prove me wrong.
"Hell no. I guess I'm a pussy." He said, slapping my back. We went to the front desk. The
same girl is there. She looked at me from the corner of her eye. I smiled at her and
winked.
She blushed. What would it be like to be one to kill her? I suddenly thought. My eyes
momentarily widened. Now that I had that thought, I couldn't shake it. I need to know
what it will be like.
"Can I have your digits?" I ask. She giggles. "What makes you think it'll be that easy?"
She teases. I part my lips and I'm about to shoot back my response when she leans in and
says, "Lisa Robinson. Phone book."
"Oh, so you're really going to make me work for it?" I ask, returning the tease. I need to
get to know this girl. Specifically her habits so I can murder her.
When I get home, Mother is at the stove.
"Christ Wally!" She hissed. I jumped back. "You're all sweaty. Go get cleaned, supper will
be out soon." She held her nose.
I pass by Dolores in the hall. "Ew, Wally! You stink!" She fans the air with her picture. So I
must actually stink.
I take a quick rinse in the shower and when I step out, I take a quick look at myself in the
mirror.
I rub my jawline with my hand and get a good look at my face. Daniel really did me in when
we sparred at the gym.
There's a cut on my upper lip that I know will eventually scar. There's an older yellowing
bruise on my cheekbone. I never let him get hits on the front of my face, but I was
terrible at moving my head in time so I'd just turn my face to the side.
I see the outline of my abs in the fogged mirror. I look good, I decide.
I get dressed and head to the dining room. Mother, Dolores and I join hands. I close my
eyes and Dolores leads us in prayer.
I keep my eyes closed, deep in thought. I feel Dolores kick me from under the table. I
open my eyes and glare at her.
"You're supposed to say amen." She reminds me. I roll my eyes.
After dinner, I help Mother clean the kitchen and Dolores whines when she has to help
out, too. Afterwards, I hurry to my room. I go to the phone book and search for Lisa
Robinson.
I tried out the number on the landline. It dials. Someone picks up.
"Hello?" It sounds like a woman. She sounds about as old as my mother. I'm caught off
guard. "Is there a Lisa Robinson at home?"
She tells me that is who I am speaking to. "Wait, do you have a daughter who works at the
gym?"
"Yes. Who is this? Why are you asking for me?"
I chuckle. She wasn't kidding when she said she wouldn't make it easy.
"At the gym. I asked for her number. She told me to search for Lisa Robinson in the phone
book." I explain.
"That's who the landline is registered to, dear. Me. Paulina is in her room right now, should
I get her?"
"Oh, yes please. And thank you." I hear a faint sound as she sets the telephone down. I
hear her shout.
"Paulina! There's a boy on the phone who's asking for you!"
It only takes a minute. I hear Paulina's voice shooing her mother away.
"So, you figured it out?" I nod. But then I realize she can't see me nodding and is still
awaiting an answer.
"Ah, yes. You weren't lying when you said you were going to make it difficult." I chuckle.
We speak for hours. Just getting to know each other and joking. She brings up the four
boys and the girl who were found brutally murdered in the alley.
I immediately feign my disinterest. It's my first crime. I was only protecting Dolly and
somehow that protection turned out to be sheer brutality.
"They were jerks but they didn't deserve what happened to them." She sounded sorry. I
just decide to agree with her sentiment and move on.
"Wally! Stop hogging the phone line, I need to call the bank!" My mom calls from
downstairs. I blush, embarrassed.
Paulina laughs. I guess you gotta go, Wally?" She laughs again, putting an emphasis on my
nickname.
She suddenly sounds sorry again. "It's cute that you've got an endearment, I'm sorry for
laughing, really I am. I used to be called Paulie or Lina."
I smile. "It's alright. But yes, I've got to hang up. You know where to find me. Catch you
later, cutie." I quickly hang up before promptly shriveling up on the inside over what I just
said.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I really do get to know Paulie's routine. I've
walked her home from work on a few occasions so I am well aware on where she lives.
I'd go watch the house in the wee hours of the morning while the air was foggy and
slightly frigid and the grass was wet with the morning dew. I'd stay until the slightest
hints of the sun shone through the horizon and then I'd slip back in through my bedroom
window.
I knew what time her father left for work. I knew what time he came back. I knew he had
a mistress at his office. His secretary.
I knew her mother stayed at home. I knew she was also having an extramarital affair. I
couldn't tell you who he was though. I knew everything that went on in that house.
I knew that I was to come outside at one am and Paulie would come meet me at exactly
1:03. She'd climb out of her bedroom window and jump. She always trusted that I'd catch
her. I always did.
We'd then take off in my car to a lover's lane.
We'd make out under the stars.
Tonight was no different. We went to the same spot and set up our blanket. We then sat
down facing each other. She leaned in first.
She pulled me into a fierce kiss and I pulled her in my lap. I put my hand under her shirt
and felt her up. I was shocked to notice she wasn't wearing a bra.
I felt my body betray me. I began to grow excited and she could feel it, too. She giggled
and began to move enticingly on top of me. I push her back and pin her to the ground. I
kiss her neck and lift her shirt.
I kiss down her stomach and se breathes heavily. I then reach behind me and grab my
switchblade. I slit her throat.
She gasps in surprise. The sound comes out as a gurgle as she chokes on her own blood
caused by the deep cut I inflicted to her jugular. She desperately grasps at her neck, a
deep fear set in her features.
This is where my excitement truly grows. I unbutton my trousers and free myself from
the confines of my pants and underwear. I open her legs and lift her skirt up and enter
her.
She thrashes about while I thrust deeply and roughly. The life falls from her eyes and her
body goes limp. I don't stop thrusting until I finish.
I put myself away and leave her the way she is.
I use her blood to write a message on her exposed skin.
Whore.
I blast Aerosmith on my radio the whole way home.