Maybe

20

Maybe Taylor.

MAYBE CALLS SAM from the lobby and learns he’s on the second floor, room 228.

She’s excited to see Sam. Not because she finds him attractive, or even appealing, but because he adores her so. It allows her to dictate the terms of their relationship. She loves having sexual power over a man, especially a bright, older man like Sam. The fact he’s married adds to the appeal. She’s flattered he prefers her to his wife, and flattered to hear he’s willing to get a divorce to prove his love.

“You look like shit,” she says, when he opens the door.

“You look wonderful,” he says.

She enters, he closes the door, and slides the deadbolt into place.

“I killed Gwen,” she says.

“What?”

She laughs. “Just kidding. But I’ve got a plan, depending on the weapon you’ve brought. I’ve invited her to go shopping with me tomorrow, and-”

“There’s been a change of plans,” Sam says.

“What do you mean?”

“We need to put Gwen on hold.”

“No. I’ve got it all worked out, and you promised me the money.”

“I’ll still give you the hundred grand. It’s just…there’s a different target.”

“I’m not killing Callie Carpenter,” Maybe says.

“Not Callie. A woman from Virginia.”

“What woman?”

“Sherry Cherry.”

“What? Don’t fuck with me, Sam.”

“No, seriously, that’s her name. Look, it’s no big deal. She’s like a housewife or something. It’ll take you five minutes. Five minutes for a hundred grand.”

“Details, please.”

Sam hands her a small metal cylinder. It’s silver, and has the words “Lens Cleaner” printed in black on one side.

“Don’t open it,” Sam says. “It contains a mixture of cyanide and DMSO.”

“What’s that?”

“Dimethyl sulfoxide. You can use this to kill Sherry and Gwen. But you need to do Sherry first.”

Maybe scrunches her nose. “Cyanide’s a poison. What do you do, spray it in her nose?”

“Nose, mouth, eyes, are the best targets. But anywhere on her face will work, if you pump it several times. But be careful. Hold your breath while spraying, and move away quickly. If you do it outside, be sure there’s no wind to blow it back into your face.”

“How long does it take to work?”

“Seconds.”

“Bullshit.”

“I wouldn’t pay you a hundred grand to kill someone, and provide an inferior weapon,” Sam says. “But you can use a gun or knife on Sherry if you’d prefer.”

“I’ll try the spray, but I want a gun with a silencer as a backup,” Maybe says.

“I can arrange that.”

Maybe frowns. “Here’s what I don’t understand. You know all about these poisons. You can arrange for me to get weapons with silencers. Why don’t you meet Sherry Cherry yourself and give her face a quick spray?”

“That would deny you the opportunity to earn an easy hundred grand.”

“You think I like the killing, don’t you?”

“I know you do.”

“What prevents me from spraying you in your sleep tonight?”

“Nothing. But you don’t have to wait for me to fall asleep. You can spray me right now, if it pleases you.”

She looks at the spray bottle. “If this really works, I could kill Callie.”

“Test it on Sherry for a hundred grand. Use it on Gwen or Callie, either one, and I’ll give you another hundred grand.”

Maybe drops the cylinder in her handbag. “What happens now?”

“We make love, and I give you the down payment.”

“How about you give me the down payment first?”

“As you wish.”

He crosses the floor to the closet, opens his carry-on case, removes ten bank envelopes, and hands them to her. She opens them one at a time, noting they’re filled with hundred dollar bills.

“Fifty thousand dollars,” Sam says.

Maybe smiles. “When do I go?”

“I’d like you to go with me first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I can do that.”

“What will you tell your father?”

“I don’t need to tell him anything. He’s in Louisville.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“No. But that’s where he went last night.”

“You haven’t heard from him today?”

“Nope. He thinks I’m staying with Callie.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I said I was going out for the evening and told her not to wait up for me.”

“Good.”

“So, you’re going with me?” she says.

“Yes. I’ll be right by your side when Sherry shows up. But we can discuss the plan after.”

“After we have sex?”

“Yes.”

“What about room service?”

“We can order whatever you want. After sex.”

“What if I don’t want to have sex with you?”

“It’d break my heart, but I’d accept it.”

“I’m glad to hear that, because I don’t want to have sex with you.”

“Why not?”

“It would disgust me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

She laughs. “It’s easy enough to prove!”

“But I came all this way! I flew six hours with a broken nose and bled all over myself! I haven’t taken any pain killers all day just so I could enjoy your body! Not to mention I just paid you fifty thousand dollars!”

“You said if I didn’t want to have sex with you, you’d accept it.”

“Well, I can’t.”

“Then why’d you say it?”

“I was bluffing. I need you.”

“Sex with me is that important to you?”

“Yes, of course!”

“What’s it worth, specifically?”

“What do you mean? You want me to pay you for sex?”

“My father pays women for sex.”

Sam considers her comment before saying, “I just gave you fifty grand!”

“That’s for killing Sherry Cherry. Not buying sex.”

“You’d actually charge me?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why?”

“To prove you’re not using me.”

“But you’d be using me!”

“I’m okay with that.”

Sam gives her a sullen look. “If that’s the way you feel about it, charge me now.”

“No. I have something else in mind.”

“What’s that?”

“I want to humiliate you.”

He looks bewildered. “I’m sitting here in severe pain with a broken nose. I cried in public today in front of a dozen passengers and crew members and stuffed tampons up my nose, just for the chance to be with you. I’ve pledged my love and received nothing from you in return. You’ve reduced me to begging for sex, and I have begged you, and even offered to pay you for it.”

“Your point?”

“You think I’m not humiliated enough already?”

“Not even close.”

Sam sighs. Pretending to be lovesick over a psychotic killer just to punish her father is beginning to test his limits.

“What do I have to do?” he says.

Maybe smiles.