Boston, Massachusetts
Three Days ago
Todd Stashmore opens the front door to his condo and walks in, still with a smirk on his face. His wife, Marcy, which he married last summer, follows. As soon as she switches on the light, a beautiful Italian designed interior is revealed.
"Honestly, I really didn't expect the after party would be so much fun", Todd admits as he takes of his coat.
"What fine wine and expensive champagne can do to a bunch of dusty old art collectors", Marcy comments.
Todd pouts and glares at her with puppydog eyes, pretending to be insulted. His wife, who has taken of her coat too, stands before him in a beautiful black dress. She laughs in response of his funny face, walks over to him and lays her arms around his neck.
"I has a wonderful time, and I have to say, that exhibition was interesting".
Before he can return the favor, she escapes from his gentle grip and picks up the bag she brought in with her. Todd watches his wife as she takes out the stone case with all sorts of primitive images carved into the stone.
"Just 'interesting'? You bought a piece", he replies with a chuckle.
Marcy is already walks back to the hallway, where she places the case on the glass cabinet. Satisfied she takes her keys out of her little purse hanging from her arm. She opens the piece of African art and drops her keys inside.
"There, perfect", she states with a smile.
"Don't you think it's a bit too expensive to keep the keys in?", Todd comments carefully.
She turns to him. "Absolutely not, especially now that you've become partner of Delaware & Stashmore Corporations".
He smiles when he hears the company name, knowing that Stashmore stands for he, Todd. At the same time it makes him sad though, because the reason why he has the fancy office and the big salary, isn't just because he worked his butt off, but because his father, the man who lifted the insurance company off the ground in the first place, passed away about three months ago. Marcy notices the smile fade away from his face and caresses his cheek.
"Hey…", she gently forces him to look up from the ground and into her eyes. "He's proud of you. You are carrying on everything that was important to him".
Todd agrees with a nod, but still has some doubt.
"That's why I've decided to invest in the Hamill Gallery", he acknowledges.
Stunned Marcy stares at him and opens her mouth in disbelief.
"You did that?", she questions compassionate.
"Dad would have wanted this", Todd confirms.
Marcy smiles astonished and her husband can see that she's proud of him.
"You're amazing, you know?", she replies whispering.
He smiles humble and lets her kiss him. As if her touch is a drug, the shallow feel of grief he felt for his father a moment ago disappears. Passionately he kisses her back and embraces her. Without any struggle Todd surrenders to his wife. Teasing him, she breaks off the kiss and looks him in the eye.
"Give me one minute to get out of this impossible dress", she says with soft voice.
"What are you up to?", Todd grins, getting suspicious.
As she walks over to their master bedroom, she turns around at the door and strikes a daring pose. Todd knows that attitude. Marcy is a counselor during daytimes, but during nights…
"You better be here in a minute, or I'll start without you", she smiles sensual before she closes the door.
Exited she hops on the bed and with some difficulty manages to unbutton her dress, zipping it down by the side so that she can get out. Hastily she takes of her stiletto's and glares at the clock on the wall; it's 2:46. The black lingerie set made out of lacework is surely gonna drive Todd mad. With a sigh Marcy lays down on the bed waiting for him. Boy, he's probably watching his the seconds on his watch tic by. A jazzy song plays in the back ground as she waits impatiently. For a second she glares aside at the clock, it's 2.47 now and she expects Todd to march within a matter of seconds, yet outside the room everything remains quiet. And so Marcy waits and waits, but when the clock hits twelve before three, she can't take it anymore.
"Honey, you can come in now!", she shouts loud enough for him to hear it.
But again, all she hears is the jazz band playing in the background. A little surprised she sits up and listens carefully.
"Todd, are you even there?"
When she doesn't receive any response at all, she gets up and slowly walks over to the door.
"You're kind of spoiling the surprise, sweety", Marcy comments as she opens the door and pops her head around the corner.
For a moment she scans the room on eyelevel, but then he gaze drops down to the floor. There, in a pile of blood, lays Todd. His pupils stare at the ceiling as blood dwells from a enormous wound in his stomach. Macy's eyes widen as she gasps for air, followed by a scream so loud that entire Boston can hear her horror.