Heart & Soul

Episode 1.12

By Allan Craig

 

The Sterling Mansion
“You killed Calinda? How?” asked a shocked Diane.

“That doesn’t matter. I killed her. End of” John yelled.

“You cant just tell me you killed someone and then end the conversation John. I’m your wife, I have a right to know these things”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes”

“Fine then” said John, “I’ll tell you”

Oakridge Main Street, 3 Months Ago

John walked out of his office and ran across the road to Calinda’s convertible. He jumped in.

“Let’s go” said John.

Calinda turned the key and pushed the pedal down. They sped off around the corner and through the streets of Oakridge.


“You were having an affair?” Diane pretended to look shocked

“Yes Diane, I had an affair. I couldn’t help myself” John replied.

“I don’t believe you John Sterling, after all we’ve been through together”

“It’s not something I’m proud of”

“I don’t give a damn if you're proud of it John, you had an affair”

“I thought you wanted to know how I killed Calinda

“I do” said Diane, “Of course I want to know that”

When they reached Calinda’s cottage apartment, John and Calinda got out of the car and ran inside.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all day” Calinda smiled.

“Me too Calinda, me too” John replied.

Once inside, Calinda closed the door and drew the curtains.

“Well, what do you want to do?” asked Calinda.

They started kissing, and he unzipped her dress. Within a few minutes, they were making love.


“This is not what I want to know John. You don’t have to add insult to injury and tell me if she was better than me in bed” Diane sneered.

“It’s been too long for me to remember what you're like” said John.

“Thanks John, thanks very much”

“You said you wanted to know Diane”

“I didn’t want to know that”

John popped open a bottle of champagne and poured it into two glasses while Calinda took a shower.

“John” she yelled, “Could you come in here for a second?”
Calinda waited in the shower, seeking a reply. A few seconds later, John came in.


“I told you before, I don’t want to hear this stuff!” said Diane.

“Fine then”

 

I really better be going now, Calinda

“Not yet John, I’m not through with you yet” Calinda noticed the glasses of champagne on the table. She handed one to John.

“Cheers!” Calinda raised her glass and downed it in one.

“Cheers” John replied, doing the same. She threw him onto the bed, and once again, they were making love.

Later, John poured them both another glass of champagne and handed Calinda one.

“Thanks” said Calinda, “This afternoon, it’s been great”

“It has been, huh?”

“I wish it didn’t have to end”

“It doesn’t” said John. “We can do this whenever we want”

“If you leave Diane”

“I cant do that, you know the score”

“Fine. John, before you go, one more time?”

“I really cant”

“If you don’t, I’ll tell her”

Calinda reached for John’s shirt and pulled him onto the bed.


“So she was threatening you. You didn’t really want to have an affair?” asked Diane.

“No, I did at the start, but things got out of hand”

John and Calinda sat upright in Calinda’s cottage, two empty champagne glasses on the bedside table.

“Well, I better go” said John as he buttoned up his shirt, “Diane’ll be wondering where I’ve got to”

“When are you gonna end it with her?” Calinda replied.

“She’s my wife. Give me time, okay? I’ll tell her, but not now, I’ll tell her when the time is right” John tied his shoelace,

“Okay, but make it soon” said Calinda.

“Bye” John kissed Calinda and walked out. He closed the door behind him.

 

“I still don’t understand John, how did you kill her?” asked Diane.

“I’m just getting to that Di, okay?”

“Well?”

“The champagne”

“What about it?”

“I poisoned her”

“What?” Diane was stunned. Even she couldn’t have thought of that.

“In her champagne, I put something in it. She’d have been dead within an hour of drinking it”

John got up from his seat.

“Where are you going?” asked Diane.

“To pack”

“Why?”

“I’m leaving, Diane”

“What, you're leaving me?”

“No, I’m leaving Oakridge altogether. I don’t want to come back here, as long as they’re still looking for answers about Calinda, I cant stay here. It’s too risky”

John walked up the stairs. Diane sighed.

She got up from her seat and walked into the bathroom.

Concealing a scream, Diane slid down the wall onto the floor in tears.

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

 

 

 

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