Three’s a Crowd
by
Carlos dropped a tip in the jar for the bartender. He grabbed his beer and turned to go back to the table. But, there was Arlene.
He shifted his eyes to the left and then to the right, and then he made eye contact. He could not escape. Arlene looked directly at him.
“Nice hair,” he said.
“Nice hair? Nice hair? Is that all you have to say to me after telling me you’d call me one morning four years ago?”
“I like your outfit.”
Arlene reached into her jeans jacket and pulled out a pistol. Carlos could not identify the brand of the weapon by looking straight down its barrel.
“You’ve carried that gun with you for four years?” Carlos’ eyebrows reached for his hairline.
“Don’t flatter yourself, buster.”
She raised her aim to the side of his right ear and pulled the trigger.
Carlos fell to the floor. He checked for bullet wounds and then looked at the woman next to him. It was Mary Lou, spread out dead on the floor, a butcher knife in her hand. He remembered he hadn’t called Mary Lou after their hot date two weeks ago.
“Thanks, Arlene,” Carlos said.
Arlene blew the smoke from the end of her gun.
“Call me,” she said.
Carlos, you lucky SOB. I saw the whole thing from my perch in the sniper nest. ....Great story, Dane!
Dane, I knew years ago when we met in Panama that you'd be a writer someday. Congratulations on this piece.
Donna, I've told you before. Panama. I wasn't there. You weren't there. Understand?
Enjoyed reading the stories. Dane's had a surprise ending that made the whole story. I'm still laughing.
Dane Zeller's story has a terrific surprise ending.
I love this story! Great ending.