CHAPTER 9 (5+pp, double spaced, Times New Roman 12point)

On June 23, 2011, I began writing a novel about a woman who starts a film company to trick actors into killing the man responsible for the deaths of her husband and children.

CHAPTER 9

Mrs. H checked the monitor again, but he still hadn't shown up. Then she noticed a woman sitting on his couch with a cup in her hands. What's she doing there? she asked herself, her lips pressed against her teeth. Taking her notebook from the bottom drawer of the night stand, she sorted through the newspaper clippings, police reports,photographs, and other miscellanea until she found what she was looking for. Placing the photograph side by side with the woman on the screen, she noted that, except for the recently dyed hair and contacts, the faces matched. According to the detective's summary, this was his sister Lina. But she's supposed to be studying abroad, she thought. Her mouth parting, she sighed. Then she brought her tapping fingers from the armrest to her forehead, her thumb against her jaw as she tapped, tapped, tapped. Expunging more air, she got up, stretching her arms behind her as she looked at Lina. What am I going to do with you? she asked the woman on the screen. As if in response, Lina turned her face right to the camera and blinked. Out loud, Mrs. H said, "Yes, that's exactly it. I'm going to have to hunt you." Her hands folded on her stomach, she sat down watching Lina until her eyes closed. When she opened them again they found Lina on another screen asleep in her bed. Yawning, she re-read the detective's summary again. Ten years ago their parents died in a freak boating accident. Taking a leave of absence from his job, he took care of Lina while she finished her last year of high school. Switching from nursing to psychology, Lina graduated with honors from UW Bothell, then went away to Brooklyn College to complete bereavement certification. Returning to Washington, she interned for several years with various grief organizations before applying to and being accepted to the MA program in Individual and Family Studies at Assumption University in Thailand, with classes taught in English. She was due to graduate this year. "Why are you here?" Mrs. H asked, drinking her tea. Studying the photographs, she noticed that, since becoming orphans, it was always Lina smiling for him, while, in the last year, he smiled only for Jana. Was he simply overprotective of Lina? That was a question she couldn't answer. Looking more closely at Jana, she could understand his attraction. Jana could've passed for a model, but something about her made her approachable even on a one-dimensional surface. She noticed, too, that, unlike Lina, whose smile never reached her eyes, Jana's eyes sparkled. Is that why he loved you? Mrs. H wondered, knowing that Jana would never answer. Turning to face the photograph of her family, she studied herself next to Tom. But when she tried to think of one perfect moment with him, she felt only the movement of a tear. Ripping the photograph she had in her hand, she got up, wanting to beat her aggression on the punching bag she'd bought but never used. But, as before, when she faced it in the corner of her room (the guest bedroom), she pushed the whole stand to the floor, sitting down crying. She fell asleep like that, curled into an oddly shaped ball, her head resting on the punching bag. For one of the few times since the accident, she didn't dream. The ringing, however, woke her up. "Hello?" she croaked. "Mrs. H?" Marise asked, "Oh thank god, I thought something might've happened to you!" "What?" she asked, not registering what Marise was telling her. "Mrs. H, it's 12 o'clock."

"I, uh," Mrs. H said, rubbing her eyes, "I'm, um, sick. Will you be okay by yourself today?"

Mrs. H went to her church and sat in the last row. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander.

It took her a few moments to realize that someone was nudging her. Turning her eyes to face the robed man, she opened her mouth, then blew out air instead.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the man said, "But it's time to go home."

"What? I just got here!"

"Ma'am, it's 10p."

For the second time that day she felt disoriented. Leaving the church she almost didn't notice the other driver pulling out at the same time. She stuck her middle finger up when she heard the honking, gritting her teeth which pushed her cheeks up.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the base of her palm against her head. Exhaling she started for home, focusing all of her energy on what was around her.

Then she decided that home was the last place she wanted to be. Calling her friend James, she changed direction and pulled up at the bar. After a few drinks she followed him home, had sex and left.

When she closed her door behind her, she slid her butt against it and sat on the floor with her forehead on her knees and her arms crossed in front, her crying harder and with greater force on her shoulder blades. After a while she crawled up to a standing position, took a shower and turned on the TV, barely glancing at her family.

Later, when she checked the monitor, she saw that he still wasn't home. Frowning, she squeezed her bottom lip, then pressed her teeth on it.

"What, oh what, am I going to do with you, Lina dear?" she asked, startled at the sound of her voice.

Widening her eyes, she relaxed them. What she needed was information, and there was only person who could do that.

"It's 3 o'clock in the fucking morning!" Rick shouted, catching his wife's hand in the air and putting it back on her body, her eyelids pressed inwards but still closed.

"I have a job for you," Mrs. H said.

"Oh, yeah?" he whispered, licking his lip and trying to match her voice to a face.

"I need an update on the work you've already done. Same price: $10,000."

It clicked for him then. He felt confused, however.

"What's this about?"

"I just need a current report. If you can't do it, I'll go to someone else."

"Fine, fine. Just give me a couple of weeks. And same deal: My expenses are extra for any traveling I might do. Deal?"

"Yes."