She’s wearing her favourite berry-red dress for the occasion. Manages not to soil it, which is a miracle. She catches her reflection in the dining room window and smiles.
Outside, the sky looks like it’s been set on fire. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight, she thinks. She pictures herself sailing off into that apocalyptic sunset, maybe on one of those three-year cruises she read about. Wonders how much they cost.
Too much, probably. She turns back to the task at hand.
It was an excellent dinner, if she does say so herself. Steak so rare it bled all over the white plates. Merlot that stained their teeth violet. Raspberries and cream for dessert.
Top-notch, really.
She gathers up the dishes, rinses them, loads the dishwasher. Puts a pan in the sink to soak, then leans against the counter. What she wouldn’t give for a cigarette right now.
He seemed to enjoy the meal, though he didn’t say anything. He didn’t say anything about the dress either, but he seemed to enjoy that too.
She hopes so, anyway.
She tries to send them out on a high note – it’s a point of professional pride. Anyone can get in and out, leave a body in their wake, but it takes real skill to make it elegant. And this is elegant. Some of her best work yet. She’d sign it if she could.
Blood is dripping from a neat, round hole in his forehead. Running down his nose and onto the thick ivory tablecloth. It reminds her of her grandmother’s ruby earrings, at first, but she knows it’ll turn a ripe purple if she gives it time.
Tina is a pop culture nerd, political junkie, and animal lover. She spends a lot of time reading and listening to podcasts.
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