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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Mystery
- Subject: Crime
- Published: 04/30/2011
The Slip Bridge.
Born 1963, F, from Loule, PortugalThe Slip Bridge, by Annie Frame.
Kirsty stood on the slip bridge with the world on her shoulders. The murky looking water was an open invitation, but not for her, for some one else. She’d met Mark a few years earlier and fell in love with his cash, not him. Now they were engaged to be married and although she’d fallen head over heels for Gareth there was no way she wanted to lose the comfortable life Mark offered. If only he could disappear from life and leave her to his assets. “Wishful thinking” she murmured to herself then wondered if it was.
All she had to do was lead him onto the bridge, give him a kiss and cuddle, then push him off. It all sounded so simple, her heart thudded in her chest as greed led the way. She didn’t want to live with the thoughts in her head so decided to do the dirty deed as soon as possible. Her breath caught in her throat as she punched in his number on the mobile. As usual his cheerful voice greeted her with, “Hello Darling!” There was no time to waste so she cooed, “I’m on the slip bridge and wondered if you’d meet me.” A pause followed then, “Whatever for?”
She could hardly tell him the truth, so fibbed, “Just a little lonely.” A loud sigh came from the other end, almost dashing her plans. Just as she’d resigned herself to another course of action he said, “See you soon.” There was no turning back, so she strode over to the bridge to seek out the best spot to get rid of him. It needed to be slippery, wet and dangerous, so the best way to find out was to test it carefully. This she did, tottering in her immaculate high heeled boots that had cost Mark a tidy sum a week ago.
There wasn’t any time to lose, so she hurriedly sought out the most deadly patch. And deadly it was. One foot went, then the other. The fall was long and hard with no return. Her body hit the water killing her instantly as car headlights came into sight. Unaware of the devious plan that would never come into play, Mark switched off the engine, got out of his car and headed for the slip bridge. His eyes scoured the area for Kirsty, yet met with emptiness. Her voice penetrated his senses, so he immediately hung his head over the bridge feeling dread in his gut.
There was no mistaking he’d heard her and what he’d heard had definitely come from below. Panic gripped him as he gazed down into the cold dark water. He didn’t see the deathly pale faced woman with blood running from a massive head injury at the water’s edge, frantically waving at him. What he did see was the familiar body floating lifelessly below. Kirsty watched from a new perspective and yearned for all she’d lost. Greed had cost her dearly and now she stood on a distant shore bewildered and alone. Money no longer mattered, it was useless. The idea that had stole the life she’d owned filled her with regret.
There was no clock to turn back, so quietly she observed the scene that she was no longer part of. The moonlight shone on Marks face, highlighting the regret she owned. As she looked closer she noticed another expression replacing the one of panic he’d shown at the sight of her body. There was no mistaking the look, it was one of relief. Kirsty’s dead eyes never left him. After a short while he took out his mobile and rang a number. Strange emotions filled Kirsty as she heard the full conversation. It didn’t matter that she was out of earshot, her spirit heard it all.
His tone was soft and mellow, like it had been when they’d first met. The woman returned the tenderness, her voice melted with ease. “She’s gone Laura,” was all he said and it was all she wanted to hear. In whispered tones he explained about what he’d found. Kirsty hung to each word like a life line on a treacherous sea. Finally he cleared his throat and asked, “Now that I’m finally free of her, will you marry me?” The answer sprung back quicker than a jack in the box and hit hard, “Yes!” The phone call ended as did one woman’s world of illusion. The feelings had been mutual, Mark had wanted to be free of the relationship as much as she had, but because of money she’d died. No tears came, they had no purpose to serve.
He dutifully made a second call to the emergency services reporting a suicide, then left the bridge lighter hearted than before. A bright future lay ahead of him, in spite of another’s warped mind, and it was probably for the best he didn’t know that it was his suicide that may well have been reported that day.
Annie Frame Copyright Dec 2010.
The Slip Bridge.(Annie Frame)
The Slip Bridge, by Annie Frame.
Kirsty stood on the slip bridge with the world on her shoulders. The murky looking water was an open invitation, but not for her, for some one else. She’d met Mark a few years earlier and fell in love with his cash, not him. Now they were engaged to be married and although she’d fallen head over heels for Gareth there was no way she wanted to lose the comfortable life Mark offered. If only he could disappear from life and leave her to his assets. “Wishful thinking” she murmured to herself then wondered if it was.
All she had to do was lead him onto the bridge, give him a kiss and cuddle, then push him off. It all sounded so simple, her heart thudded in her chest as greed led the way. She didn’t want to live with the thoughts in her head so decided to do the dirty deed as soon as possible. Her breath caught in her throat as she punched in his number on the mobile. As usual his cheerful voice greeted her with, “Hello Darling!” There was no time to waste so she cooed, “I’m on the slip bridge and wondered if you’d meet me.” A pause followed then, “Whatever for?”
She could hardly tell him the truth, so fibbed, “Just a little lonely.” A loud sigh came from the other end, almost dashing her plans. Just as she’d resigned herself to another course of action he said, “See you soon.” There was no turning back, so she strode over to the bridge to seek out the best spot to get rid of him. It needed to be slippery, wet and dangerous, so the best way to find out was to test it carefully. This she did, tottering in her immaculate high heeled boots that had cost Mark a tidy sum a week ago.
There wasn’t any time to lose, so she hurriedly sought out the most deadly patch. And deadly it was. One foot went, then the other. The fall was long and hard with no return. Her body hit the water killing her instantly as car headlights came into sight. Unaware of the devious plan that would never come into play, Mark switched off the engine, got out of his car and headed for the slip bridge. His eyes scoured the area for Kirsty, yet met with emptiness. Her voice penetrated his senses, so he immediately hung his head over the bridge feeling dread in his gut.
There was no mistaking he’d heard her and what he’d heard had definitely come from below. Panic gripped him as he gazed down into the cold dark water. He didn’t see the deathly pale faced woman with blood running from a massive head injury at the water’s edge, frantically waving at him. What he did see was the familiar body floating lifelessly below. Kirsty watched from a new perspective and yearned for all she’d lost. Greed had cost her dearly and now she stood on a distant shore bewildered and alone. Money no longer mattered, it was useless. The idea that had stole the life she’d owned filled her with regret.
There was no clock to turn back, so quietly she observed the scene that she was no longer part of. The moonlight shone on Marks face, highlighting the regret she owned. As she looked closer she noticed another expression replacing the one of panic he’d shown at the sight of her body. There was no mistaking the look, it was one of relief. Kirsty’s dead eyes never left him. After a short while he took out his mobile and rang a number. Strange emotions filled Kirsty as she heard the full conversation. It didn’t matter that she was out of earshot, her spirit heard it all.
His tone was soft and mellow, like it had been when they’d first met. The woman returned the tenderness, her voice melted with ease. “She’s gone Laura,” was all he said and it was all she wanted to hear. In whispered tones he explained about what he’d found. Kirsty hung to each word like a life line on a treacherous sea. Finally he cleared his throat and asked, “Now that I’m finally free of her, will you marry me?” The answer sprung back quicker than a jack in the box and hit hard, “Yes!” The phone call ended as did one woman’s world of illusion. The feelings had been mutual, Mark had wanted to be free of the relationship as much as she had, but because of money she’d died. No tears came, they had no purpose to serve.
He dutifully made a second call to the emergency services reporting a suicide, then left the bridge lighter hearted than before. A bright future lay ahead of him, in spite of another’s warped mind, and it was probably for the best he didn’t know that it was his suicide that may well have been reported that day.
Annie Frame Copyright Dec 2010.
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JD
10/05/2018The saying, 'your sins will find you out' comes to mind when I read this story. Since she paid the ultimate price for her sins, I guess that they certainly found her. And it added another satisfying dimension when her spirit was able to linger at the scene of her demise long enough to discover the truth of the situation and realize her folly more fully. Very intriguing 'murder mystery' turned something even more mysterious.... Great story Annie! Thanks for sharing your stories on Storystar! : )
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Kevin Hughes
10/04/2018I love it when Karma finds its way to straighten things out. Well done.
Smiles, Kevin
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