Three on a Bullet
Johnny Lee had spent most of his adult either in the Army, four years, or pushing papers for someone else. He had grown very tired of doing other people ‘s paperwork, worst yet, counting their money. Generally a lot of it.
He was in his late 20’s and was generally in good shape, the one good thing the Army had taught him was how to maintain one's body. Oh, and there were one or two other skills, none of which was generally not usable in civilian life.
Then he met Frank Foster. Frank Foster had a large business, which he ran with his wife Linda. They had built an empire of supplying boxes of all shapes and sizes to the entire eastern seaboard. Companies need boxes of all sizes and strengths for storage, shipping and for giving to consumer for their use. He made those boxes he owned one of the largest cardboard and box factories on the east coast. Located in Virginia, it was easy to ship north, south and all points west, and across the sea.
Johnny was originally hired to help go over books and make sure they were ok. But as soon as he met Linda a dinner party a short time after starting at the company, he was memorized.
She walked into the room. Her hair was blazing red, the dress was a designer name. All Johnny Lee saw has her ankles as she walked down the stairs, they took his attention, the anklet was just the right the right touch. He was introduced by Frank. He stood looking at her almost unable to speak. Finally he got some words out barely audio pleasantries. The rest of the evening was a blur. He really didn't remember much after meeting Linda. He did know he didn't have any more alcohol afterwards, he just couldn't remember if he made a fool of himself or not.
The next time was coherent enough to remember anything was at his apartment. All he could think about was Linda Foster. He knew he had talked to her, he couldn't remember what they said. They may have even danced, for all he knew. He kept picturing her coming down the stairs into the room,, and finally coming face to face with her. It was like a short short loop playing over and over in his mind. Sleep finally came , in spurts. He’d finally doze off, and he wake up and see the loop again in his mind. Once when he was finally good and asleep, he woke up to have to pee. that was the end of that, the loop came back, again, and again. Finally it was morning. Johnny dragged himself into the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like heck, like he’d been on a two day drunk. He knew what a two day drunk looked like , and this was worst. In two hours he had to be at Frank’s office to work. The clothes came off, naked he still didn't look much better. Like he’d been rode hard and put away wet, as he heard the saying go. The shower was next. soaking under the water as hot as he could stand it as long as he could stand it helped, some. Out of the shower, he almost didn't dare to shave for fear of cutting himself . But he managed to find his face under the short growth of beard that was already starting, without nicking himself. Clean suit, and food did wonders. If shut his eyes the loop came back. He couldn't shake her.
Two hours later, a clean suit, and breakfast and a very quick look at his email, he was at his bosses office. To his surprise Linda was there. it turned out that she was very involved with the day to day operation of the main office. He found it impossible to keep his mind on what was going on, while Linda was in the room. The morning dragged on. Lunch was ordered in. In the form of a local upscale restaurant delivering it piping hot and serving it in the empty conference room.
Johnny Lee could feel the tension building between him and Linda Foster over the next several weeks. It was bad enough, he had serious problem focusing and functioning when she was around during the day at work. But at night he couldn't get her out of his mind, He kept seeing the loop, of when he first saw her in his mind, then other loops of her, as they were together over the weeks.
Finally, after four weeks, he found himself alone with Linda. Totally alone. Johnny wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Their eyes met, she walked over and put her arms around his neck.
“Linda,,We shouldn't do this….” She kissed him. hard. As much as he wanted it, he tried to resist. Soon they were both wrapped up in their own dreams as they kissed.
“I've been dying to do that since that night I met you at Franks dinner party. I've never even considered another man,until you walked into the room. Suddenly all the things that Frank isn't became obvious. I once was madly in love with him, Now I tolerate him. He seems nice here at work, and out in public. But at home he’s boring. His idea of a big night is a pizza and a stupid evening of watching those stupid comedy shows on TV. That's when he’s sober, when he’s drunk, he sleeps. He doesn't even get to the point of getting rowdy or mean, he just passes out and sleeps. The night we met , after the party, he went upstairs and flopped down on the bed, and slept. Loudly. If it weren't for me and the butler getting his ass up and sober he’d never been at the office the next morning.”
Johnny Lee developed a whole new picture of Frank Foster, and while he still liked the guy, He had more appreciation and respect for Linda Foster. As he became more involved with her, he found she was actually running more and more of the business than anyone realized.
They started meeting, in out of the way places , places neither of would be recognized. They had to work around Frank, to not get his attention, and not disappear too long without a good explanation. They made love in places neither of them would have dreamed of in their previous lifetimes. Frank bought a used motor home. he paid cash. got clear title, and hid it away.
Over the next several months, plans begin to form. What if Frank was no longer around? who would run the company? And get his insurance. Some secret investigation by Johnny under the guise of making sure Frank was covered as he should be. He was more than covered. Johnny and Linda did nothing by email, or phone, or any electronic media that could eventually traced. They used dead drops, like in the spy movies, met in parks in the open, It was becoming increasingly hard to control themselves. They basically wanted to run away together. Then it occurred to them, there was more then enough money in Frank accounts and and insurance put together to live on for a life time. The it became how to kill Frank so the insurance would pay off. and time it so Linda got access to the bank accounts at the same time.
A plan was hatched. Frank was going to a meeting in Washington for a new distributor. He would never make it there.
After Frank left in his Mercedes , Johnny followed him him in a stolen car. when they got to the right section of road. where there was a drop of at least 200 feet straight down. Johnny went into action. The road was clear,Johnny came up in front of Franks car , pushing it into the rail. Hard enough that it went through over the side and sailed down the ravine. Johnny quickly got out looking to make sure no car came along, went down to the crashed car. Wearing gloves, as to not leave any prints he checked; Frank was indeed dead, and it wasn't pretty. his head was pretty bashed in, and bones were broken. Johnny got out of there.going a different way as not leave any trace of anyone being down there.
Back on the road, looking quickly around, he got back into the van, got out of there. Later when he had a chance to calm down, he found a place to stop and examine the van. The right rear fend was pretty scratched up. Definite paint for Frank’s car on it, and probably paint from this on Franks car. They had planned for that. Johnny had a buddy come and take it no questions asked, from where he left it, and take it and crush it and shed it. When it was done it was unrecognizable as a vehicle of any kind, much less what it was. Johnny hid his other car and waited. sure enough his buddy came. Who had never seen Johnny as had all been done through third party contacts and dead drops for payoffs. Johnny watched as the van was pulled up on to the rollback, and he followed at a discreet distance. At the Junkyard, the rollback went in and he watched through the gate as the van went into the crusher. Then through the shredder. finally it was a small pile of steel and iron, and plastic. Johnny left an extra hundred dollar bill attached to the gate and left. Back in town, he left the prearranged signal for Linda to see, that it was done, thus telling , her it was her time to play her part.
Linda Foster saw the signal when she came out of her office. and for a second lost her breath. She gained it quickly. Went back to her office and made several phone calls. One was to Johnny at his office. By this time Johnny was waiting thee for it, having slipped in the back entrance, The had the conversation they rehearsed. :
“Johnny, Have you heard from Frank this morning?
“No Linda, haven’t seen or talked to him since late last night, he said he was going to Washington this morning”
“I know, that what's worrying me. He usually lets me know when he get there. “
“I've been here doing paperwork all morning, If you’d like I can go and see if I find him.”
“No Johnny, Let me make some more calls first,”
“OK Linda, let me know”
They hung hung up the entire call was to set the stage for Johnny being in his office all morning. And for the benefit of those in the office who might hear, that Linda hadn't heard from Frank all morning.
Linda called the Washington distributor, they hadn't seen or heard from him yet.
A couple of of other call confirmed that Frank had filled up his car and taken off as scheduled this morning. After a number of calls, and not find out anything about where Frank was, Linda became upset. Johnny came to her office to calm her down, and organize a search for him. They played their parts beautifully.
The rest of day went pretty much as they predicted. Police came, took statements, sent out patrols on the most likely routes, and within a couple of hours they found the wreck. Preliminary examination showed he had run off the road, and was killed by the crash at the bottom of the ravine.
Linda was horrified to hear he was indeed dead, They again played the shocked wife and business associate to perfection. When the evening came and the press left and the police finally left, and They were alone in Linda office, they kept up their act in case someone showed up. When it seemed safe they left in their separate cars. They spent the next several weeks going through the motions, of running the business, and taking care of Frank's funeral. When the excitement started to die down, and the felt a little more comfortable, the finally met again at Johnny's motor home, which had been moved . They made love. and talked of their future plans.
Then Johnny pulled out his gun. “ Linda, you done this before. used a man to get what you want. I did some research, and found out about the two other business partners and husbands who had been found dead under mysterious circumstances . You were connected with every case in some way. I think you used them like used me. to collect insurance and bank account money and start over. the last one was about the time you married Frank. “
Linda looked at him, her top half open “ You can’t prove a thing, its all a lie, I had nothing to do with those other deaths. I swear” Linda pleaded. As much as Johnny wanted to believe her, and have that beautiful body next to him again, as was still possessed by it, He knew it was wrong. He had killed for her. She had him. From under the pillow Linda came out with a small. 380 pistol. They stood staring each other down a minute. the obscurity of it all hit Johnny. Ten minutes before they had been in the throes of passion, making love. Now they stood each almost naked. pointing guns at each other. Something had to happen. The tension begin to rise. Each knew the other couldn't be trusted anymore. Two shots rang out. The noise was deafening. But neither heard it. they fall where they stood. Johnny with a towel barely covering him. Linda half naked with a bright red hole between her beautiful breast. The police found them several days later. by then they were pretty ripe. In among Johnny clothes they found a envelope Inside the was a handwritten letter by Johnny detailing every event and feeling since he had met Linda Foster at the dinner party several months before.
Johnny Lee had spent most of his adult either in the Army, four years, or pushing papers for someone else. He had grown very tired of doing other people ‘s paperwork, worst yet, counting their money. Generally a lot of it.
He was in his late 20’s and was generally in good shape, the one good thing the Army had taught him was how to maintain one's body. Oh, and there were one or two other skills, none of which was generally not usable in civilian life.
Then he met Frank Foster. Frank Foster had a large business, which he ran with his wife Linda. They had built an empire of supplying boxes of all shapes and sizes to the entire eastern seaboard. Companies need boxes of all sizes and strengths for storage, shipping and for giving to consumer for their use. He made those boxes he owned one of the largest cardboard and box factories on the east coast. Located in Virginia, it was easy to ship north, south and all points west, and across the sea.
Johnny was originally hired to help go over books and make sure they were ok. But as soon as he met Linda a dinner party a short time after starting at the company, he was memorized.
She walked into the room. Her hair was blazing red, the dress was a designer name. All Johnny Lee saw has her ankles as she walked down the stairs, they took his attention, the anklet was just the right the right touch. He was introduced by Frank. He stood looking at her almost unable to speak. Finally he got some words out barely audio pleasantries. The rest of the evening was a blur. He really didn't remember much after meeting Linda. He did know he didn't have any more alcohol afterwards, he just couldn't remember if he made a fool of himself or not.
The next time was coherent enough to remember anything was at his apartment. All he could think about was Linda Foster. He knew he had talked to her, he couldn't remember what they said. They may have even danced, for all he knew. He kept picturing her coming down the stairs into the room,, and finally coming face to face with her. It was like a short short loop playing over and over in his mind. Sleep finally came , in spurts. He’d finally doze off, and he wake up and see the loop again in his mind. Once when he was finally good and asleep, he woke up to have to pee. that was the end of that, the loop came back, again, and again. Finally it was morning. Johnny dragged himself into the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like heck, like he’d been on a two day drunk. He knew what a two day drunk looked like , and this was worst. In two hours he had to be at Frank’s office to work. The clothes came off, naked he still didn't look much better. Like he’d been rode hard and put away wet, as he heard the saying go. The shower was next. soaking under the water as hot as he could stand it as long as he could stand it helped, some. Out of the shower, he almost didn't dare to shave for fear of cutting himself . But he managed to find his face under the short growth of beard that was already starting, without nicking himself. Clean suit, and food did wonders. If shut his eyes the loop came back. He couldn't shake her.
Two hours later, a clean suit, and breakfast and a very quick look at his email, he was at his bosses office. To his surprise Linda was there. it turned out that she was very involved with the day to day operation of the main office. He found it impossible to keep his mind on what was going on, while Linda was in the room. The morning dragged on. Lunch was ordered in. In the form of a local upscale restaurant delivering it piping hot and serving it in the empty conference room.
Johnny Lee could feel the tension building between him and Linda Foster over the next several weeks. It was bad enough, he had serious problem focusing and functioning when she was around during the day at work. But at night he couldn't get her out of his mind, He kept seeing the loop, of when he first saw her in his mind, then other loops of her, as they were together over the weeks.
Finally, after four weeks, he found himself alone with Linda. Totally alone. Johnny wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Their eyes met, she walked over and put her arms around his neck.
“Linda,,We shouldn't do this….” She kissed him. hard. As much as he wanted it, he tried to resist. Soon they were both wrapped up in their own dreams as they kissed.
“I've been dying to do that since that night I met you at Franks dinner party. I've never even considered another man,until you walked into the room. Suddenly all the things that Frank isn't became obvious. I once was madly in love with him, Now I tolerate him. He seems nice here at work, and out in public. But at home he’s boring. His idea of a big night is a pizza and a stupid evening of watching those stupid comedy shows on TV. That's when he’s sober, when he’s drunk, he sleeps. He doesn't even get to the point of getting rowdy or mean, he just passes out and sleeps. The night we met , after the party, he went upstairs and flopped down on the bed, and slept. Loudly. If it weren't for me and the butler getting his ass up and sober he’d never been at the office the next morning.”
Johnny Lee developed a whole new picture of Frank Foster, and while he still liked the guy, He had more appreciation and respect for Linda Foster. As he became more involved with her, he found she was actually running more and more of the business than anyone realized.
They started meeting, in out of the way places , places neither of would be recognized. They had to work around Frank, to not get his attention, and not disappear too long without a good explanation. They made love in places neither of them would have dreamed of in their previous lifetimes. Frank bought a used motor home. he paid cash. got clear title, and hid it away.
Over the next several months, plans begin to form. What if Frank was no longer around? who would run the company? And get his insurance. Some secret investigation by Johnny under the guise of making sure Frank was covered as he should be. He was more than covered. Johnny and Linda did nothing by email, or phone, or any electronic media that could eventually traced. They used dead drops, like in the spy movies, met in parks in the open, It was becoming increasingly hard to control themselves. They basically wanted to run away together. Then it occurred to them, there was more then enough money in Frank accounts and and insurance put together to live on for a life time. The it became how to kill Frank so the insurance would pay off. and time it so Linda got access to the bank accounts at the same time.
A plan was hatched. Frank was going to a meeting in Washington for a new distributor. He would never make it there.
After Frank left in his Mercedes , Johnny followed him him in a stolen car. when they got to the right section of road. where there was a drop of at least 200 feet straight down. Johnny went into action. The road was clear,Johnny came up in front of Franks car , pushing it into the rail. Hard enough that it went through over the side and sailed down the ravine. Johnny quickly got out looking to make sure no car came along, went down to the crashed car. Wearing gloves, as to not leave any prints he checked; Frank was indeed dead, and it wasn't pretty. his head was pretty bashed in, and bones were broken. Johnny got out of there.going a different way as not leave any trace of anyone being down there.
Back on the road, looking quickly around, he got back into the van, got out of there. Later when he had a chance to calm down, he found a place to stop and examine the van. The right rear fend was pretty scratched up. Definite paint for Frank’s car on it, and probably paint from this on Franks car. They had planned for that. Johnny had a buddy come and take it no questions asked, from where he left it, and take it and crush it and shed it. When it was done it was unrecognizable as a vehicle of any kind, much less what it was. Johnny hid his other car and waited. sure enough his buddy came. Who had never seen Johnny as had all been done through third party contacts and dead drops for payoffs. Johnny watched as the van was pulled up on to the rollback, and he followed at a discreet distance. At the Junkyard, the rollback went in and he watched through the gate as the van went into the crusher. Then through the shredder. finally it was a small pile of steel and iron, and plastic. Johnny left an extra hundred dollar bill attached to the gate and left. Back in town, he left the prearranged signal for Linda to see, that it was done, thus telling , her it was her time to play her part.
Linda Foster saw the signal when she came out of her office. and for a second lost her breath. She gained it quickly. Went back to her office and made several phone calls. One was to Johnny at his office. By this time Johnny was waiting thee for it, having slipped in the back entrance, The had the conversation they rehearsed. :
“Johnny, Have you heard from Frank this morning?
“No Linda, haven’t seen or talked to him since late last night, he said he was going to Washington this morning”
“I know, that what's worrying me. He usually lets me know when he get there. “
“I've been here doing paperwork all morning, If you’d like I can go and see if I find him.”
“No Johnny, Let me make some more calls first,”
“OK Linda, let me know”
They hung hung up the entire call was to set the stage for Johnny being in his office all morning. And for the benefit of those in the office who might hear, that Linda hadn't heard from Frank all morning.
Linda called the Washington distributor, they hadn't seen or heard from him yet.
A couple of of other call confirmed that Frank had filled up his car and taken off as scheduled this morning. After a number of calls, and not find out anything about where Frank was, Linda became upset. Johnny came to her office to calm her down, and organize a search for him. They played their parts beautifully.
The rest of day went pretty much as they predicted. Police came, took statements, sent out patrols on the most likely routes, and within a couple of hours they found the wreck. Preliminary examination showed he had run off the road, and was killed by the crash at the bottom of the ravine.
Linda was horrified to hear he was indeed dead, They again played the shocked wife and business associate to perfection. When the evening came and the press left and the police finally left, and They were alone in Linda office, they kept up their act in case someone showed up. When it seemed safe they left in their separate cars. They spent the next several weeks going through the motions, of running the business, and taking care of Frank's funeral. When the excitement started to die down, and the felt a little more comfortable, the finally met again at Johnny's motor home, which had been moved . They made love. and talked of their future plans.
Then Johnny pulled out his gun. “ Linda, you done this before. used a man to get what you want. I did some research, and found out about the two other business partners and husbands who had been found dead under mysterious circumstances . You were connected with every case in some way. I think you used them like used me. to collect insurance and bank account money and start over. the last one was about the time you married Frank. “
Linda looked at him, her top half open “ You can’t prove a thing, its all a lie, I had nothing to do with those other deaths. I swear” Linda pleaded. As much as Johnny wanted to believe her, and have that beautiful body next to him again, as was still possessed by it, He knew it was wrong. He had killed for her. She had him. From under the pillow Linda came out with a small. 380 pistol. They stood staring each other down a minute. the obscurity of it all hit Johnny. Ten minutes before they had been in the throes of passion, making love. Now they stood each almost naked. pointing guns at each other. Something had to happen. The tension begin to rise. Each knew the other couldn't be trusted anymore. Two shots rang out. The noise was deafening. But neither heard it. they fall where they stood. Johnny with a towel barely covering him. Linda half naked with a bright red hole between her beautiful breast. The police found them several days later. by then they were pretty ripe. In among Johnny clothes they found a envelope Inside the was a handwritten letter by Johnny detailing every event and feeling since he had met Linda Foster at the dinner party several months before.