A Regretted Satisfaction

The Weapon

“I hate to disagree Frank, but money does buy you happiness. Money can buy you 

everything. I’d rather cry in a Mercedes than weep sitting on the sidewalk. Anyways, I’m home now, see you in the morning,” Bill said, walking up the driveway. The mansion was dark and silent.

“The demerits of being a widower,” Bill thought to himself. One tends to become self-dependent in situations like these.

An hour later, Bill savoured the freshly-baked lasagna at the dinner table with a goblet of wine. Pink Floyd played in the background of the candle-lit room.

He definitely wasn’t going to savour the stench of two roughly built men closing in on him. Bill was on his toes in a flash, but the men were faster. One of them grabbed him by the shoulders, while the other stood pointing a gun at him.

‘‘The merits of being a widower, Mr. Roberts, is that you don’t have to share the wine,’’ said one of the men, gulping down the Merlot.

“Who are you, gentlemen? And mind you, do not touch that casserole. It required half an hour to bake!’’ cried an ashen faced Bill.

“Well then it’s worth a taste test,” smirked the man who held him.

“Why don’t you spend the rest of your life with us Bill? I’m sure Mrs. Roberts and the daughters would deem it an appropriate revenge, grinning at you from Heaven…”

“But I am not a murderer, I just proved it today in court!” Bill objected.

“I live by your principle. What was it? Yes, money can buy you happiness. Your daughters are waiting for you, Bill, and I don’t keep innocents waiting.”

The burly man kept the glass on the table and raised his hands. He was holding a large serrated knife, glistening bright in the moonlight.

“No!”

Bill got up with a start and looked around. He was in his room. He could hear the clock strike three.

“Calm down, deep breaths. These are the effects of trauma,” he said, reassuringly.

Out in the city, Andrew couldn’t understand what the matter was. The police had barged into his house in the middle of the night, taking him into custody for murdering Katherine Roberts and her two daughters.

A blood-stained,serrated knife under the floorboard of Bill’s bed wept to itself, knowing it all!