This is based on Fiction Friday exercise number 121 at the Write Anything blog.


Leslie's Deal

Leslie sat, her hands in her lap, trembling.  The offer had been made – it was on the table- or whatever the guy had said.  She leaned her head back against the headrest of the seat.  She let out her breath.  Leslie thought about her two kids – Harry and Samantha.  They needed her to do this.  Harry especially.  His treatments were expensive – staggeringly expensive.  If she could just go through with it, he would be taken care of, and Samantha, well she could eat more than a bird, finally.

Leslie looked out the car window at the men sitting at the patio table.  She was supposed to meet them today to tell them whether or not she’d help them with their plan.  If she did, it meant four million dollars.  If she didn’t, it meant that she would have to continue to struggle making ends meet at her bank job.  Her ex-husband could never find out.  What would she tell him?  How would she explain the amazing amount of money that she suddenly had? 

Even given her misgivings, Leslie found herself walking towards the men, who all had huge grins on their faces.  When she sat down, her knees were week.  They all started chattering at once.  She held up her hand to silence them. 

“If I do this, no one finds out.”

“Of course,” the tall fat one responded, “that’s why there’s no names involved.  No one will know who to implicate.”

“Are you sure no one will ever find out I did this?”

“Of course we’re sure.  Our Idea is fail-safe.”

“Well, you can count me in.”

Over the next few hours, in front of the local Starbucks, the men explained the plan to Leslie.  She would simply be the bait.  No harm would come of her or her children so long as she never gave up her status.   She would go along with the ploy, no one would find out her true identity. She just had to maintain her cool for one summer, three months.  Her kids would stay with their father for that time – that much had already been arranged.  At the end of it all the five of them would part ways, she would receive her money, and she would never be contacted again.

It sounded easy enough.

Leslie wasn’t stupid, though.  She knew that death was a risk – and she’d seen enough con movies and hoist flicks to know that it was unlikely to go off without some sort of hitch.  She felt as though someone was pulling her heart out through her throat.  What if they got ahold of her kids?  She couldn’t turn back now, though.  The deal was already done.  Short skinny guy slid a brown envelope her way.

“Here’s your first assignment.  Make us proud, kiddo.”