Richard
This annoying brat. I thought I was careful with everything. Just how exactly did he find out about Harper? I know that he was suspicious of me after the death of his Mom, maybe Zoe must have opened her wide mouth to him before she died. If only I knew that this mother and son were going to bring me so many problems I wouldn't have brought them into my life. And to think l did so much for this boy, I even accepted him as my kid even though he was always so rude. But I guess nothing is ever enough for anybody anymore.
Zoe is dead. So there's no need to keep her son around anymore. I thought as I stare at Liam's dead body lying down on the floor in the living room. If only this boy was smart like I thought he was, he would have still been alive. If this idiot was truly serious about killing me, he would have poisoned me while I was drunk or something. But I guess Liam wasn't one to do such a thing.
Foolish kid. To think that in all your years you have never caused me trouble until today. If only you were obedient and didn't have to play it too smart. Now all because of you, I'm going to have to call him again.
I had liked the idea of having a son. I thought maybe I could create someone who was just like me. And I thought it was going to be you, Liam. You seem like the perfect fit, I even cared for you more than my daughter. If only you could behave Liam, we could have all still be a happy family. If only you had listened to me and just cried and forget about your mother. Me, you and Layla would have all been happy together. I was even ready to let you take over my business whenever you are ready but now, just look at yourself, Liam. Look at what your stubbornness has caused you. Now that you left me with just Layla, what am I supposed to do with her? Each time I look at her I just think of Harper. Why did she have to look so much like her mother? Maybe if she had looked a lot like me I would have been able to love her. I thought.
"But you know," I said to Liam's dead body "it's hard to love someone who makes you remember a secret you just want to forget."
I got up from the couch as I took my phone and dial his number again. Just when I thought I would never dial his number ever again. This is all your fault, Liam.
*****
"I can't believe you man," he said, looking at Liam's dead body. "You did it again." He laughed.
"Just shut up." I said, "are you going to help me with this or not."
"But why did you do it?" He asked, "I thought you told me you like her boy."
"Well." I said, "let's just say the boy was too nosy."
"From the looks of it, he must have put up a good fight." He stares at my bleeding arm.
At least now I know he paid attention to me when I taught him how to use a knife to defend himself.
"But man I thought you told me that your second wife was going to be the last one."
"Her son suspected me."
"Still that's not enough reason to kill the boy." He said, "if only you had stayed with us during those days, you won't be such a rookie man."
"Don't bring up those days," I said, "are you going to help me or not," I asked him again.
"And to think that during those days, you refuse to get your hands dirty all because you were too afraid to go to jail."
"Stop it," I said
"But look at baby Richard now," he continues, with a wide-tooth grin. "who's going to believe it" he cackled.
"Tell me." He said, "who's going to be next. Your daughter or are you going to get another wife man" he laughed.
Angry. I strangle his neck.
"I said shut up!" I shouted. Without caring if the neighbors could hear me or not. "How about I take you out next," I said darkly.
"I'm sure," he said struggling to speak as I added more pressure to his neck. "I'm sure you don't want anyone to know what you have been up to."
I hit him against the wall as I let go of him. He started coughing as he gasps for air.
"Baby Richard first threat." He said still coughing.
Standing still, I folded my arms as I glare at him, wondering if I needed to tolerate all of his nonsense.
"Don't worry" he said smirking "I'm going to help you."
"After all." He said, "what are old pals for."
"So what are will going to do?" I asked
"I don't understand why you got so worried man, I did help you out with the other two."
"What are we going to do?" I asked again getting agitated
"You see man, you should be nicer to me. It's not like I go around asking you for money after helping you." He said, "I only do it for old time's sake."
"And I'm grateful for that," I said exasperated.
"Whatever man," he said, "what story do you think we can cook up this time?" He asked.
"I don't know that's why I call you here."
"True I guess." He rose one hand and stroke his chin. Thinking. "He does look young and his mother did die recently. So how about a runaway case."
"Do you think the police are going to suspect anything?" I asked.
"Nah, man. I don't think so." He said "but to think that you couldn't even wait for a year before you killed the lady son. Talk about no respect for the Dead." He snickered.
I gave him a death glare.
"Okay man, calm down." He said. "I'm gonna shut up my mouth." He made a zipping gesture of his mouth and rose his hands up in surrender.
"I will get rid of the body. You know, make it disappear through my usual method." He said "all you got to do is to just take care of the rest. Call the police and sound like you are extremely worried that your son must have run away from home or something."
"Is that all?"
"Richard," he said. Sounding dumbfounded. "I thought you knew how we do these things. But then again you can't even control yourself. Making an unnecessary killed, an unnecessary mess."
"You going to have to scatter his room. You know, make some clothes disappear and make it look like he left in a hurry. Make not just his room but also the whole house look like something he carelessly left and also make some of your money disappear." He said.
"Common Richard don't just stand there and look at me like a goldfish. I'm sure you of all people should understand what I mean." He said.
"I understand," I said.
"Is the kid with his phone?" He asked.
"Yeah?"
"Good." He said, "I'm going to get rid of it along with his body just in case."
"Won't it be better if he left his phone behind," I said, "you know for someone who doesn't want to be found?"
"Hmmm. I guess you are right."
"Any way you need to hurry up and leave before anything goes wrong."
"Ohh calm down man. Who's going to suspect a nice old repairman like me." He chuckled darkly.
"More like an insane old man" I whisper.
"You say what man."
"Nothing," I said, feeling the need to get some fresh air. I walk out of the house.