The Saturday night | The Ink Well Prompt #67
Jeffrey Lawson reread the note while he investigated the threats and extortion. Detail-rich note. The anonymous author knew Lawson stole company secrets.
Winstream Enterprises' competitors sought its technology and were willing to pay for it. Winstream had cutting-edge lithium battery technology. Lawson's company selling Winstream documents had raked in $3 million in recent years. Who knew Lawson's activities?
"Meet me at 9:45 p.m. Saturday in Cloverton Cemetery with $200,000, or I'll tell your employer and the FBI." "I won't compromise" since the money is small compared to what you make.
Lawson tried to stand and pondered his situation. Martin Wagner wasn't blackmailing. Who will replace Wagner?
A sweet voice startled Lawson. The familiar voice was a big surprise.
Hello, Jeffrey.
“Karen??”
A woman in a black hoodie and dark jeans appeared as Lawson adjusted his eyes. Karen Lawson was 10-15 yards away. His abandoned wife.
He saw himself 5 months ago, in the early morning hours. What had she done the past five months? She was reported missing to police.
Where've you been, Karen? "What's your deal?"
The woman missed the first question while considering the second. "What's my purpose?" "I've earned..."
Lawson shuddered at her response. He thought he could convince a woman. He'd always done this before. He felt better after he realized Karen had left a message. Then he'd leave with $200,000. All he needed was confirmation from her.
"What, Karen?" Money? Now yours. Lawson handed the woman a grey rucksack and waited.
Karen Lawson didn't react when the backpack hit her.
"Is that it?" You think I've earned that? Jeffrey, stop it.
Lawson cringed at her stinging remarks. "Then what, Karen?"
Nightfall prevented Jeffrey Lawson from seeing his wife's tears. He spotted her right hand wiping her face and assumed she was angry.
crying.
"You abused me when we lived together. You forced me to do whatever you wanted. You prevented me from seeing family and friends. And you think $200,000 is fair? "Hell, Jeffrey!"
Lawson was stunned by her voice at the end of her remark. He reached behind his slacks for his Glock. He stopped when he felt someything.
A hand grabbed his chest from behind.
Lawson turned to see who was following. 18-year-old with tattoos and a bandanna pointed Glock at Lawson and frowned.
"WTF?" Why?
Carlos is my partner tonight, Jeffrey. He's here to ground you. He'll do it for $200,000, thankfully."
Carlos smirked as he pointed the Glock at Lawson's chest. "$200,000 for an hour's work." Laughing, he tried to push him.
Lawson was sweaty and out of choices. "Reasonable Karen..."
Karen Lawson shrugged. "Jeffrey, be rational!
Carlos Gonzales pushed him further. The man collapsed, crying, next to the tombstone. Jaffery tried to stand again.
Gonzales laughed at his efforts.
Carlos tried to continue talking to Karen Lawson but couldn't. After entering their shared home, the middle-aged woman took a flight to her home town.
Gonzales recieved his share of money from Karen and went away. Karen Lawson locked her sight on him briefly before moving on.
Behind a gravestone was the final crime scene clue. A bag containing cocaine was put alongside Jefferys' body to complete the drug sale crime scene.
Oh, Jeffrey! I warned you that drugs would cost you. It's done it. Thanks for the money, honey. I'll use $160,000 and $2.5 million when I move south You, perish in your world..."
Karen Lawson left the scene and drove to her husband's car to get the remaining cash. As she approached her old car, she smiled. $2.5 million in Tampa will buy you new life.
The End
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Do you know the legal name of @themarkymark ???? It is needed to contact his local police station. Any information to his whereabouts would be much appreciated.
Welcome to The Inkwell! While we love your initiative to give us an exciting story, please do read the community rules. We do not allow gore or violence, I highly encourage you to edit your story so that we may have the pleasure of curating it.
Also please note that we ask each author to reply to at least two other people's stories, to keep the community strong.
I have done the editing.
Upvoted and commented:
@ghazale64
@bettyhandayani
@gi-de-on/the-life-adventure-of-john
Thank you.
Do you know the legal name of @themarkymark ???? It is needed to contact his local police station. Any information to his whereabouts would be much appreciated.
Thank you very much for editing the violence, @kirlos. The story is fine now. Well done with the complex plot in such a concise story. Thanks for sharing this intense story in The Ink Well, and for supporting the work of other authors in the community by reading and commenting on their work.
Karen certainly got her revenge for living with abuse. One question: There's a line that says "A bag containing cocaine was put alongside Gonzales' body to complete the drug sale crime scene." Wasn't it Jeffery Lawson's body? Anyway, I enjoyed the story!
Hi. good writing with a description of the atmosphere of the night.
Glad Karen was able to get back at Jeffery. He really deserves what he got. Nicely written story.