Here is a story based on an idea from the bulletin board:
The car was dark as I drove my sister home that night. We had no conversation as I drove her home to her place in the Hollywood Hills. She had broke the news to our family over dinner that she was divorcing her husband of seven years. It was not really a shock to me as my sister and I talk quite often but my family is....well snobbish by most peoples standards. The first thing out of my mothers mouth was "what are the girls at the country club going to think?" here her daughter was about to go through a very rough time and she was worried about her stature in the club. Heaven forbid!
Elizabeth had married a hot shot attorney who was making more money than God defending the rich and famous from drug busts to solicitation to DUI's managing to keep those people out of jail and out of the papers for the most part. I will have to admit he was very good at what he did. The only problem was the guy was a womanizer. It wasn't a problem at first but after about the 5th affair I guess Liz had enough.
Liz was no slouch when it came to looks. She would have no problem finding another guy to be with. She stood almost six feet tall, beautiful red hair green eyes and a personal trainer to keep her body in tip top shape. She was beautiful, elegant, witty and kind. So what was with the prima donna husband of hers that he had to go elsewhere? Well I had asked her that earlier and she blushed with embarrassment and did not answer, knowing it was cutting her to the bone I never pursued the answer from her.
So here we were driving my Porche about 90 mph to her home. Silence. Finally she had mumbled something I could not make out.
"What was that Liz?" I asked looking at her. She hated being called Liz, but I had called her that since we were kids because it had bugged her and it stuck.
"I said he left me because I was boring in bed." she said this so quietly I almost made her repeat it so I was sure I got it right.
"I don't follow." my reply was looking back at the road. She looked at me. Her eyes firm but yet soft. I guess determined was the best answer.
"What do you know about sex?" she asked rather bluntly. I was taken aback. We had been together now for almost 30 years and she never once really asked a question even resembling something as bold.
"It caused babies." I didn't know what else to say. In my family you didn't talk sex you didn't think sex. We were strong Catholics. Which I am sure was more important to my family than Liz right now.
"Oral....sex to be exact." she continued.
"Wh...what do you want to know?" this whole conversation was bad it was making me uncomfortable. I squirmed in my leather seat.
"Is a blow job the same thing as oral sex?" this shocked me my older sister by two years was asking about blow jobs from me.
"What is this all about?" I asked trying to change the subject matter a little.
"John said he was leaving me because I wouldn't give blow jobs. I tried to give him one time and he laughed when I did." she was looking at the floor.
"What did you do?" I asked my voice quiet.
"Well he held his privates and I blew on them like the name said." she never moved her eyes from the floor of the car.
"It is a little more complicated than that." I said I needed out of this conversation. I knew it wasn't going to end but with the house in view I knew she might drop it for now.
I pushed in the code for the gate and it slowly opened. My sister looked up at the house and her eyebrows furrowed. I caught her gaze out of the corner of my eye. "What is wrong?" I asked following her gaze to the house.
"That light is on." she stated pointing to the light upstairs.
"So?"
"It was daytime when I left there was no need for a light to be on."
"Maybe one of the servants left it on"
"I gave them the week off. I didn't want them around right now."
"Maybe John is home to get something." I said pulling up in front of the door. "do you want me to come in with you?"
"Please?" I shut the car off and followed her to the door. She had to unlock it. She gave me a worried glance then entered. The house was silent. We looked around as she called out for John.
"Maybe he left already, forgot to shut the light off." I assured her.
"Yes I suppose that is what happened." she took off her coat.
Her eyes became large and she was about to scream something out when I felt something pressed against my temple. It was cold, hard and blunt. A gun, My sister covered her mouth. She stood there trembling. Her hand pushing against her lips to keep from screaming out. "No heroes tonight buddy." the voice whispered in my ear his breath rank from the tobacco he had in his lip. My breath was caught in my throat. I nodded slowly. I saw another man behind my sister wearing a bandanna around his face. I suddenly felt weak in the knees as I saw him. It was like they were fresh out of a western. Train robbers.
The man I could see was a black man about six three and 250. Huge. Probably played football at one time. "What.....do...you...want?" My sisters voice was shaky and low.
"What I want is complete cooperation. I say when, where, how. You guys do it and you both live you don't well there is a penalty neither of you will like. Got it?!" I nodded. She stood there helpless.
"Well big guy they don't seem very convinced how about a demonstration." the big man smiled and walked over to me. I never saw the punch but it hit my in the stomach and I doubled over and hit the floor with a thud. I couldn't breathe. The pain was unbelievable. I choked trying to gasp for air. My sister fell to her knees beside me holding my head.
"Well now that we have your attention this is what we want. You give it to us and we leave. You don't well... let's just say we have all night." he squatted now in front of me. He also wore a bandanna, was also black only he was skinny. his fingers were long like a basketball player. His eyes were sharp. He was very intelligent. He looked like it anyway. Great - they have brains and brawn. We were in a no win situation.
"Doesn't look like you have given us much choice." I wheezed.
The man brought the gun to his lips in thoughtful contemplation. "No. We hold all the cards. Which is exactly what I like. I always win that way." He stood and motioned with the gun that we should get up. Slowly I stood the wind coming back but my knees were still weak. I moved my sister behind me with one hand. Still trying to protect her.
"I want money and jewelry. Give it to me and I leave." the intelligent one stated.
"How do I know you will do just that. How do I know you won't...." I didn't get to finish the sentence before the brawn had again doubled me over with one blow. My forehead rested against the cool tiled floor, the "brain" exhaled deeply as if in thought.