Killing Katie (An Affair With Murder) (Volume 1) by B.A. Spangler Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m not a doctor—I had almost failed my high school biology class—but there was a pulse where the bright light washed over Katie’s tender skin.
    Her jugular? Was that the right term?
    Blood coursed just below that spot, pumping and beating against her neckline. The sight of it was hypnotic.
    My mouth went dry as I imagined myself taking the knife and running its blade over Katie’s neck, opening her skin and freeing her caged heartbeat. Blood would spill like a waterfall, filling our glasses and washing over the table, turning everything bright red and throwing the powerful scent of copper and spent blood into the air.
    “Amy,” the wind chirped, catching my attention. “Amy! Are you all right?” I was startled, nearly jumped when Katie tugged on my shoulder. She sat back down, and the warmth of her touch quickly faded. The sun had disappeared behind another cloud, taking the strong beam of light with it.
    “I’m sorry,” I tried to say, but my voice was stuck in my throat. “Just distracted.”
    “Are you sure? Did you hear what I told you?”
    I shook my head, embarrassed. “No, I’m sorry.”
    “I think Jerry is having an affair.”
    At once, my fantasy disappeared like the sunlight. It was replaced by disappointment and empathy. Fantasy or no fantasy, I loved Katie and hated hearing that news. But at the same time, deep in my gut, a sense of disbelief sprung up. I just couldn’t see her husband doing something like that. Not because he was such a nice guy and a great father—I just didn’t think he was smart enough. Her husband Jerry lacked a certain something that most men had. Balls. He lacked balls. Heck, most of the time, Katie was more the man in their relationship. If anyone were having an affair, I would think it would be Katie.
    I felt my face cramp as I questioned what Katie told me, and I could tell by the sudden change in her posture that she’d been offended by my reaction. I quickly moved my hand onto hers. “Are you sure? I mean, are you really sure?”
    “Almost?” she answered, but in her tone I heard uncertainty. That could mean that she had found something suspicious. I wondered if it wasn’t something as innocent as a business receipt for a lunch.
    “Don’t get me wrong,” I began to say. “I love you and I adore Jerry—always have—but cheating? And on you ? He married up, way up. I’m just not seeing him doing that to you and the boys.”
    Katie stared ahead, looking past me, her eyes wide and her lower lip trembling. There was something else. There was more, but she wasn’t ready to say anything.
    “You’re probably right,” she quickly answered, pressing her lips together until they went white. She gingerly brushed the dampness from her cheeks and picked up the menu. “Ready to order?”
    “Katie,” I objected. “Wait. What else is going on?” She shook her head and put on a terrible lie of a smile.
    “I’m sure you’re right,” she exclaimed, waving to our waiter. But I didn’t believe her. There was clearly more, a lot more.
    For the next hour, our conversation drifted into the familiar territories of home and family and the never-ending challenges of motherhood. Most of the back-and forth was a rehearsed banter, Katie’s way of leaving behind her worries for a few minutes. But it was what she wasn’t saying that kept me bothered. And while I remained skeptical and disbelieving of her suspicion, I had to admit to being intrigued by the idea of Jerry being so deceptive. If what Katie was saying were true, then how long had the affair been going on? How many lies had Jerry told? Just the thought of someone else in our small circle having secrets turned me on. I wanted to know more. I wanted to learn.
    Images of our home computer crept into my mind—as did my first failed attempts at spinning up a secret life. With this last thought, I stabbed a glance at my phone to check the time. I had at least another three hours.
    What could I do with the