Her mind wandered feeling this was a side of him she had never seen. “Was he going to try and shoot me…?” she questioned trying to make sense of it all. A thought occurred to her. “Did he think I was going to be fool enough to hand this over to him in person so he could use it against me?” she continued, pacing back and forth. She grabbed a brown paper bag from the kitchen and wrapped it inside, quickly making her way to the car. Her body shook as she sat behind the wheel. “I can’t let you do this to me… I’m not ready to die.” she said, recalling something he had told her years before. Binx started the ignition and headed for the bulk mail center where he worked. She parked the car directly in front of the employee entrance and carried the bag inside. “Hi can I help you?” The man spoke standing from behind the small counter. “I’m sorry but this is for employee’s only.” he told her. “Uh yes… my name is Bianca and I wonder if I could drop off some lunch I made for a personal friend of mine, Mr. Spooney Rutledge.” she smiled hoping it would be enough. “Yeah I know Spooney.” he smiled at their exchange giving his undivided attention. He was way on the heavy side and badly in need of dental work as his breath carried across the counter. “So what ‘chu got for ‘em?” he asked, extending his hand. “Well if you know Spooney he doesn’t like to share so I’d hate to get your mouth all wet for nuthin.” she grinned flirtatiously handing over the bag. “Mmmm… well I like that.” His eyes moved across her petite frame. She moved toward the door giving him a full view. “I’m going to call him now to make sure he got it and I know you don’t want me to have to tell him you peeked or anything did you?” “Oh you don’t have to worry about that.” he quickly replied. “His food is goan be right here for ‘em as soon as he walks in that door.” he said moving the bag to the side. “Good... you take care of yourself.” she smiled exiting the door. That took longer than she had anticipated and she decided to take the long way home, making a stop at the chinese restaurant. Spooney parked in front of the building and made his way up the stairs. He stood at the door for a moment to try and listen, and Moosie began to growl picking up his scent. He rested his head against the door and knocked lightly. “It’s me Binx, open the door.” he said, trying to remain discrete. He gave it a moment then turned his key in the lock unable to open the door. He knocked harder calling out her name once more. “You changed the locks Binx…?” he grimaced, removing his key. “Cool…” he said, finding this unexpected. “I just need for you to open the door so I can get my package ok…? I’m on my way to work.” He pounded on the door and Moosie began to bark. “Look it doesn’t have to be like this can you open the door please? I know you’re in there.” he insisted. “I’ll give you until morning to get yourself together and I’ll be back after work to pick up my package. That’s all I need and I won’t bother you anymore.” he said backing away from the door. His eyes were seeing red as he headed back to his car. “Don’t make no damn sense. Acting like I’m the bad guy and shit. All you had to do was open the damn door and I would be finished. Now I have to come back.” he scorned. Binx parked her car in the rented space and walked the four blocks down the alley toward the building with ease, comforting the thought that Spooney had already made it to work and she felt safe. She took the stairs from the rear of the building and entered through the back door. Moosie greeted her as she walked in. “Hello Moosie…” she smiled, scratching the top of his head. The phone rang and she picked it up from the kitchen. “Are you trying to get me fired…?” Spooney said, his voice subdued but his anger was quite apparent. She could tell he wasn’t in a good position to talk and kept his anger in check. “No I don’t want you coming here, so I thought that was the best thing to do. No one knew what was inside the bag… I told ‘em that was your lunch.” she explained. “All you had to do was open the door and give me my package young lady. I wasn’t gonna hurt you I was on my way to work.” “I told you, you didn’t have to stop by—” “That don’t make no difference you sittin up in there and I don’t appreciate ‘yo neighbors knowing my business.” he interrupted. “What are you talking about?” she said confused. He paused briefly, checking over his shoulder. “Lemme tell you something… if I wanted to get in there I would.” he said slowly, “…and changing the locks wouldn’t stop me either do you understand…? All this could’ve been avoided.” She thought for a moment, realizing he had come while she was away in that short time and this made her nervous. She swallowed, trying to catch her nerve. “Listen, you’ve got your gun and that’s what you wanted right…? So just leave me alone.” she said, keeping her voice at an even keel. Spooney’s anger was full blown as he struggled to conceal it, his heart thrust against his chest and tiny beads of sweat formed across the top of his forehead. He gripped the phone tightly pushing the receiver closer to his mouth. “Why didn’t you open the door?” his voice was dark and cold. “Because I wasn’t here.” “I had just talked to you on the phone.” he argued. “But as soon as I hung up I left. I wrapped the gun up in the paper bag and I left.” she explained. “I heard somebody in that house while I was at the door.” “Spooney it must’ve been the dog because I wasn’t here.” “I’m not talkin ‘bout that fuckin dog! I know the difference between a dog and a human being; do you think I’m a fool or something?” “No I never said that.” she quickly replied.
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