A Shoulder to Die On

'This is as good a place to die as any other,' Mandy Ritchie decided as she took in the bleak nothingness of the expressway. She jerked the wheel hard right, and ignoring the blaring horns, brought the car to a skidding stop on the shoulder. Locking all the doors and closing all the windows, she stretched behind her and retrieved her purse from the rear seat.

From the purse, she took out a slender knife. It would do the job nicely, she thought, as she flexed the blade. As the car shook from the passing tractor trailers, she brought the point of the knife up under her chin and pressed until she was holding her breath. Using more pressure, she broke her skin. Adjusting the mirror, she examined her reflection as her blood oozed out. Could she go though with it? She shivered as she withdrew the knife point and slumped back in her seat. Would John miss her, she wondered?

It had been such a shock to find that John was having an affair. Mandy found a tissue and staunched the bleeding. Taking John's photograph from her purse, she used the bloodied point of the knife to outline his boyish features.

"I still love you, John. I always will. You're like a little boy in a toy store, always looking for the newer, flashier toy, and you certainly found it in that platinum blonde bimbo." Mandy, had been the newest, flashiest toy in the store when they had married a year earlier. She'd never been concerned about John being a womanizer because she knew that he loved her. That was before he got a new partner at work.

She should have realized as soon as he arrived home that night. He was late but his eyes sparkled.

"You're in a good mood? Have you finally started to enjoy the job?"

"Never!" John laughed. "Knowing that I'm hated by every driver in the county? No way; but they have given me a new partner, a Lesley Franklin".

Mandy had smiled, remembering when she'd been his latest partner. "As long as he isn't as sexy as me."

It was her husband's slight hesitation that triggered Mandy's suspicions. "And exactly what sex would 'Lesley' be?" She asked sweetly.

"Calm down. I knew you'd be like this. So I told the boss, that I wanted a male partner." John pleaded.

"As long as you remember that you only have one partner. Someone you work with is called a colleague."

* * *

Mandy noticed that the car windows were getting steamed up and it reminded her of another steamed up car. John had phoned her and explained that his car had broken down and was in the shop and asked if she could pick him up at the station. She left early to avoid the rush hour and parked some distance away. Mandy was daydreaming when she idly looked in the rear view mirror and caught sight of John getting out of a fogged up car.

As he walked away, the driver got out and, with her platinum blonde hair falling over her eyes, blew John a kiss. Mandy's mind was still in turmoil ten minutes later when he approached the car as if he was just leaving the station.

"Hi Sweetheart." He said as he climbed in the car. "Thanks for coming to pick me up."

On the drive home, Mandy chatted normally as her mind worked at lightning speed. One thing was blindingly obvious to her. John may have changed partners but it hadn't stopped him from straying. Inside, she felt a gathering fury, but she damped it down. First of all, she had to be sure, and to do that she would have to follow him, which was quite ironic when she thought about it.

It took her almost four weeks of lost and cold trails, but eventually she caught them in a quiet street. Mandy crept up to the car and yanked the door open. Although she knew what she was going to find, she was still shocked. She staggered back to her own car and started it up. John stumbled out of his car, shouting.
"Mandy, please! I didn't mean this to happen. I'm sorry."

'Be sorry about this,' Mandy snarled, as she accelerated straight for him. Her two timing husband jumped into a doorway just in time and, with tears blinding her, she drove aimlessly for hours until ending up at her Mother's. She stayed there for two weeks while she took stock of her wrecked life. During that fortnight, she went home once and ripped, cut and shredded everything that John held dear. She felt almost purged after that. Almost! And here she was for the final act.

* * *

"Are you OK in there?" The concerned, female voice startled Mandy, and she noticed the flashing lights outside. "This is the police."

"How do I know you're the police? You could be a pervert looking for your next victim."

"It really is the police. Think about it! Would a pervert have flashing lights and a police cruiser? I only want to help."

"I'm beyond help," Mandy said as she tested the knife one last time.
The officer coaxed her. "If you don't want to open the door, how about just opening a window?"

Hesitantly, Mandy opened the window half way. Cautiously, the trooper put her head through the opening. Her platinum blonde hair fell over her eyes and she had to brush it away before she saw the knife. Mandy straightened up and gently placed the knife under her chin.

"No! Nobody is worth that." The officer tried to grab the knife.

"Goodbye!" screamed Mandy as she rammed the knife up to the hilt with all her strength.

* * *

John Ritchie was writing a report when his boss interrupted him.

"John. I've got some tragic news for you. Lesley Franklin answered a 911 call about a woman in distress on the shoulder of the interstate. The car in question was being driven by your wife."

"Mandy? What has she done now?"

"Stabbed your girlfriend to death."