(Page 1 of 3) The Wandering Man by Richard RidyardSUMMARY: no. 8 and this is the last part of the collection. Read the pieces fit together. You will see the past, present and the future come together in the collection. Did you see it coming?The Wandering Man
By Richard Ridyard
Jay reached into his coat pocket for his inhaler and took a deep whiff. When he's tense, his asthma kicks up. Tonight Andrea's apartment (his apartment since he's paying) seemed hot and airless. It's the best he can afford on a broker's income without arousing Kate's suspicion.
‘You're not going to wimp out on me are you, Jay?' Scorn rasped Andrea's voice and she twisted the diamond solitaire he'd given her as if she might yank it off and throw it at him. ‘You promised, Jay. Tonight's going to be Kate's last night on earth. You promised! I'm through waiting for you. So relax. We've planned everything perfectly. Once your wife's dead you'll inherit a bundle. You'll be rich. There'll be no more of her drinking or her whining. You'll be your own man.'
‘You're right, of course, darling.' He dreamed of their romantic nights together. And she was right. It had to be tonight.
Kate and Jay were due at a holiday party that night at the club-- a surprise celebration for someone. He planned to go home from Andrea's, kill Kate, then take a shortcut route to the club. When He ‘discovered' Kate's body after the party and called the police, the party guests would swear he had been with them all evening. They'd understand Kate's absence at the club. Their friends were used to her alcoholic ways. They'd sympathize when he said she was feeling indisposed.
‘Yes, darling, we've planned it well. Kate's death will be my present to you.' He took another whiff on the inhaler. Then he left Andrea and headed home.
When He pulled into the driveway, a car was leaving from the side entrance. A delivery car. That didn't surprise him. Kate was always ordering some fool thing. He went in the front door, bracing himself for her familiar greeting: ‘Did you bring me a present?' he usually brought Kate a small gift when he came home, thinking he could bribe her to stop drinking. It did no good, however. But he could usually avoid her in the evenings by working in his den.
Tonight she stood in the solarium tucking something into the pocket of the new dress she had selected especially for this party. Even party attire couldn't hide her mousiness. Brown hair. Dumpy figure. Every day he had only to look at her to remember that he'd only married her for her money.
Now he could hardly breathe. He had decided against shooting her-- too noisy. And a knife might spatter blood, incriminating him. Andrea said Strangulation was the only safe way.
Kate hurried toward him. As usual, she hugged him, then still standing close, she reached into his coat pocket for her gift.
‘Did you bring me a present? You wouldn't forget a present on today, would you?'
That did it! He closed his eyes and grabbed her neck, squeezing, squeezing. He mopped sweat from his forehead as he waited until he was sure she wasn't breathing.
Dead. Dead. Dead. He was rid of her. Suddenly he felt free. Andrea would be proud of him. He was his own man. He could breathe again, and he inhaled deeply without the aid of his asthma inhaler.
After freshening up, He took the shortcut to the club, but when He arrived alone, everyone looked uneasy.
‘Where's Kate? Adele, Kate's best friend asked.
His tension returned, but he gave a casual shrug.
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