Steal My Life
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Nine
She's lying to me…
George leaned forward and hit his forehead soundly against the steering wheel of the car. He felt a sharp sting of pain and then it dulled, leaving his head feeling fuzzy.
Why would she lie?
Her hair was a mess and yet her clothes did not look slept in. Her hair was mussed like it always was following sex, but they hadn't slept together since last night, and surely she would have showered by that afternoon. Sofia was paranoid about her appearance.
What does she have to hide?
The next time Sofia left the house, George installed cameras that sent feeds directly to his laptop that only he could access. He neglected to tell her about the cameras and monitored her while he was at work. It was on his second day of surveillance that his blood boiled over and he nearly smashed his laptop in a fit of rage.
He had just tuned in and swept the apartment for any signs of her. Sofia was in their bedroom, naked, and in bed with another man.
Anger filled him—the sharp sting of betrayal was fresh. He had his suspicions, but he had never expected this…such a blatant betrayal and in his home, his bed, with his wife…
Furiously, he attacked the keys of his laptop, retrieving a picture of the man and running the image against the DMV database he hacked into. Fifteen minutes later, George had a positive ID on the person having sex with his wife in his bed at that very moment.
Lying little bitch. I'll kill you. You'll suffer for this. I trusted you—I gave you everything! And this is how you repay me!
Inside the confines of his private office, George King began to plot the perfect set of murders that would make him famous in the company ranks, yet would exonerate him at the same time to public eyes. When it was finished, both his unfaithful wife and her lover would be dead. He would be avenged.
You should have known that I'd find out. You must think I'm stupid.
Sofia would die. He would make sure of it.
He was waiting for Andrew Karr when the man exited the Kings' apartment building. His right hand stroked the hilt of his favorite knife as he followed his prey.
"Andrew Karr?" He stepped out from his hiding place, announcing his presence.
"Yes? Do I know you?" The young man was confused.
"No, but I know you. Walk with me; it's time that we've had a little chat."
With his hat pulled over his short-cropped hair and his sunglasses shielding his cold blue eyes, no one would recognize him as George King. Not even Sofia, the lying little bitch that she was…
Breathe in and out… relax… calm and focused… do the job…
"I have a proposition for you," George said once they were farther away from the crowds, walking on the sidewalk.
"I don't want to hear it." Andrew shook his head and started to walk away.
George grabbed him by the arm and slammed the other man into the brick wall of the nearby alley. He slipped his knife from the sheath and the blade glinted in the sunlight. "You'll listen to what I have to say or you'll find yourself missing something." He tapped the knife on Andrew's belt threateningly and a horrified look crossed the young man's face.
"What do you propose?" Andrew asked quietly, his voice wavering uncertainly.
"I want to hire you to kill Sofia King. You do know her, correct?"
"No—" he started to say, but George tapped the knife and he sighed. "Yes, I know her."
"Good. I want you to shoot her. Her husband hired me to plan the murder. I have a plan, but I don't do wet work."
"Who are you?"
"No names. Just know that if you try to double-cross me, you'll end up dead in a ditch with a knife in your gut." George smirked brightly.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
Gullible fool… what does she see in you?
"You will shoot her with this." George pulled a gun from his pocket and placed it in Andrew's pocket. "There is a full clip in it, so use as many bullets as you want. It doesn't matter as long she's dead in the end."
"What about me? Won't I get caught?"
"No. You'll come to a prearranged meeting spot following the hit and I'll set you up with $500,000 cash and a new identity. Then you can simply disappear."
"$500,000? To kill her?"
"Mr. King pays those working for him extremely well. You would be stupid to pass up this opportunity."
"Who is this Mr. King? Mafia or something?"
"No, he works for a prestigious company that you've never heard of. He knows people in high places. This is not the type of man you want to piss off."
"No wonder she can't stand him," Andrew mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me?"
"His wife, Sofia; she can't stand him. He scares her half to death. She told me."
Stay calm; don't let him get under your skin. He'll be dead soon enough.
"Well, he should scare her—and you too. You'll do the job."
With that, George turned and walked away from Andrew Somerville.
"Wait—how will I know where to meet you?"
"I'll contact you," he called back, smiling widely. "Don't kill her until I give you the go-ahead."
Good-bye, Sofia, my love. You're getting what you deserve.
Author's Notes:
Sorry about the delay. My teachers all hate me at the moment and are drowning me in homework. Plus my back is acting up, so it's hard for me to sit at a computer (or a laptop) even long enough to update at the end of my day.
The next chapter is the major turning point for the entire story. We'll see whether or not Andrew follows through with George's plan, what happens to Sofia, and George's break with reality and how he avoids lying. Thanks to emptyvoices for her help and also to everyone who read/reviewed! We're getting closer to the end and also the fun stuff. Enjoy!