Anne ran into her room. She was sweating nervously coz she had witnessed a heinous crime. It was at the Tellagio’s shop where she saw a man killing someone. The vision was earth shattering and mind numbing. The shop was owned by Victor Tellagio, an underworld kingpin who owned several shops and restaurants across the city of New York. She’d never seen anything like that in her life.
A week passed by and she thought it was behind her. She was at the balcony reading the newspaper and drinking her morning coffee. Suddenly, she heard the calling bell. The maid was downstairs. “I’ll get it ” Anne said. She signed for a large bouquet. She placed the flowers on the table, with an excitement. “These are lovely, aren’t they Ms Lucy? Charles hasn’t sent me flowers in ages.” Her, smiling broader than she had in some time, read the card silently: I KNOW YOUR SECRET. Her smile evaporated.
That night Charles came home. “Ms Lucy,” he called. “Where’s Anne?”
Ms Lucy said “Anne mam is in her bedroom. She has a terrible migraine.”
“Well, of course she does,” Charles said, disapproval was visible on his face. He nodded toward the table. “Where did those come from?”
**
Two days had passed since the flowers were delivered. Charles and Anne sat at their favorite table at Tellagio’s Italian Palace, owned by the same proprietors as Tellagio’s Shop. It was there 5th anniversary so Anne wore the bracelet that Charles had given her on their 1st anniversary. They had been living in New York for the past two years and it was their favorite restaurant. Anne thought they were there to enjoy a meal and settle some of their differences, but Charles had other ideas. He hadn’t said a word since they’d left home, and now his mouth was set in a grim line. “Why would a stranger send you flowers?”
“I don’t know, but if you didn’t send them then maybe I have a secret admirer. God knows I could use a little attention.”
Charles put his fork full of Pasta down and glared. “So that’s what this is about – a cheap trick for attention. Honestly, you should be ashamed.” Anne’s eyes misted. She pushed her plate away. “Do you love me, Charles?”
“What?”
“I said do you love me?”
“What brought that on?” Anne shook his head. “If you’re not going to finish your meal, at least eat your fortune cookie.” He pushed the tray holding two cookies toward her. “Maybe the sugar will do you good.”
She sighed and reached for a cookie. While she opened it, she finally admitted to herself that the man whom she had married had changed. She pulled the paper out of the cookie. What she read caused the color to drain from her face: “YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK” Anne was agog. She was frightened. She put the stuff of the fortune into her pocket before reaching for her water glass. As she drank, she searched the faces of the other diners. Her eyes scanned looking for shady and dodgy figures. Her eyes locked with Victor Tellagio, 6 foot tall with a French cut with a brawny build. He was smoking a Cuban cigar and simply stared at her with an eerie grin.
Oh God! Anne’s eyes darted wildly as she thought. He knows I saw the murder.
“I, uh, I feel a migraine coming on, ” Anne said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go home now.”
“Of course you would, dear,” he said, jaw tight.
**
Next day, Anne received an unexpected package addressed to her. He examined the letter and then opened it. It read: “I’ll kill you, then I’ll skin you. You are a sinner and I am the Punisher of your sins”. She didn’t make a sound as she fainted to the floor.
**
“I’m so sorry. I called many times and left messages, but you didn’t call back,” Ms Lucy said to Charles. She explained how she found Ms Lucy lying unconscious on the floor. Charles’s eyes darted around the room. “What? Where is she?”
“An ambulance came and took her to the hospital. The doctor called to say you should come quickly; he said it doesn’t look good.”
“Well, what happened? Why’d she fall?”
“I don’t know,” Ms Lucy said as she wrung her hands. “She got a package, took it upstairs, then I heard a thud. I ran up and found Miss Catherine on the floor with blood on her head.” She sniffed, took a tissue from her apron and dabbed her eyes. Charles turned and headed for the door.
**
He pulled out of the garage and smiled as if he had won the battle. It was moment of crowning glory to him. He dialed a number and a man in a husky voice replied.
‘Your job is done. Your wife is dead MR. Charles. Bring the money.’
“Thank you!! Thank you Mr. Tellagio” Charles said with an enthusiasm.
Charles took a deep breath and felt relaxed. He lit up a Cigar. He owed Tellagio 10000$ but he had no money of his own. His wife was the one with the money. He had married Anne for her money. It was not love. So now, with her death, he had inherited all her property. A month ago, when Charles told Tellagio about his plan, he never thought that it would work. But somehow Anne fell for the fake murder witness trap. And from then on, the plan worked like a well-choreographed dance routine. Charles thought about his future with his girlfriend and took a deep drag finishing the cigar. Finally, he was free from his failed marriage and his unfaithful wife.
**
Charles and his girlfriend were enjoying their vacations at the Caribbean’s. It was almost a year since Anne died. He was enjoying his margarita with his Ludlam. The sun was setting and the sky looked like a painting from a masterpiece. Suddenly, a bellboy came to him, startling him a bit and handed him a package. He started opening it taking a sip from his margarita. Little had he predicted that the contents of the package would scare him to death? Charles was stupefied, petrified and sweating uncontrollably after checking it. It was the bracelet of his dead wife and a note: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Dear!!
