The Other Side of Perfect by Victoria Peters Read Free Book Online Page A

window. At first she thought nothing of the voices, but when she heard Mason say, “Where’s the money, Gary...?” things changed.
     
    The tone of Mason’s voice sent chills down her spine.  She could barely move. She hadn't heard that tone since the day he was denied a hot supper after a hard day at work. She had silently hoped she would never hear that side of Mason again.
     
                  “Amber, tell me! You two will not see tomorrow if you don’t turn that money up               today. Understand?”
     
    Trembling slightly, Jennifer climbed upon a crate and peeked carefully through the tiny window. Her heart jumped when she saw Mason holding a gun to Gary’s head.
     
                  “You have to the count of three to tell me where the money is…”
                  “I swear Mason,  I don’t know where it is!”
                  “One…”
                  “Please Mason, no!” Gary cried.
                  “Two…”
                  “No sir, no…” Amber cried.
                  “Three….”
                  “No!”
                  “Say good night, Gary.” then as cold as ice, he simply pulled the trigger, killing Gary right before Jennifer’s eyes.  Jennifer gasped aloud as she jerked and fell to the ground.
     
    “ Who's out there?!” Mason shouted.
     
    Jennifer wasted no time. She ran as fast as she could to her car and drove away.  Mason barely made it around the corner to see the tail of his wife’s car.  “SHIT!” he shouted. “SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!”
     
    Jennifer had seen him shoot Gary and Mason knew it.  Enraged, he kicked a stack of tin cans, sending trash flying through the air. Then in a huff, he returned to his office, where he finished his business with Amber. Two bodies now littered his otherwise tidy office.
     
                  “Clean this up!” Mason demanded of his two assistants.  “I have business to tend to at home, it seems…” Then, gathering some extra bullets, he reloaded his gun, placed it into his shoulder-holster, and then left to find and face his meddlesome wife. He wasn't looking forward to the confrontation, but business was business.

ELEVEN
     
    Jennifer’s heart was racing like a runaway freighter, almost as fast as her thoughts. She’d just witnessed a murder! Not just any murder, either.  Her husband, the man she’d known and loved for over 4 years, was now a complete stranger.  Now, he was the killer the FBI had warned her about!
     
    Knowning that he’d kill anyone who got in his way scared her, but the fear was mostly reserved for that of her children. He could not have them, and it would be over her dead body before he would be allowed to hurt them.
     
    Of course, the children hadn't seen the murder, so she would likely be dealt with first, while he conveniently concocted a story to explain why mommy was no longer part of the family.
     
                  Quickly, she stopped at Helga’s apartment and loaded up the kids. 
                  “Helga, I have to go away,  but if Mason comes looking for me, you haven’t seen               me, okay?”
     
                  “What happened dear?” she asked.
                  “It’s best if you don’t know anything.”
                  “Are you okay?”
                  “Not yet, but we will be. I promise!”
     
    Then, loading the kids into her car, she began driving aimlessly. She hadn’t thought much about anything aside from their safety, until Chelsea asked…
     
                  “Where we goin', Mama?”
                  “I…I don’t know.”
                  “We’re not going home?”
                  “No sweetie, we’re not.”
                 
    Chelsea had grown to be a