“I can’t believe you put me up to this, a getaway driver for your revenge killing,” lamented Benny to his long time, but troubled friend, Rico.
“The ten grand I fronted kept you out of jail. You owe me,” rasped Rico, wearing a sneer accented by a curled upper lip.
Benny turned on the radio in his 2002 Cherry Red, Ford Mustang, and knobbed through to an oldies station that was featuring Casey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdown, the 80’s. The song “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar was playing.
“Turn that crap off,” snarled Rico while loading a bullet into his revolver.
Benny glanced over, “you’re loading just one bullet?”
“One is all I need,” Rico barked, pointing the gun at the stereo.
“And now, it’s time for our long-distance dedication…” came Casey’s voice over the airwaves.
“Let’s just listen to this, and then I promise, I’ll turn it off,” pleaded Benny. Rico relented with a roll of his eyes.
“This letter is from Eunice from Los Angeles, to her ex-boyfriend, in Flagstaff, Arizona whom she affectionately refers to as Heartthrob.”
“Heartthrob…” giggled Benny.
“Eunice writes, Dear Casey, Heartthrob and I had a good thing, and I felt he was the one until I made the mistake of never introducing him to my cousin Carmine, whom he caught dancing with me at a party. Rico was jealous with rage and stormed off, vowing to get revenge.”
Casey’s narration had Rico sniffling and shielding his face from Benny as he loosened his grip on his gun.
“I think of Heartthrob every day, and I dream of reuniting with him. Casey, can you please play “Baby Come Back” by Player? I need him to know I was wrong, and I just can’t live without him. Well, Eunice, here’s your long-distance dedication.”
The song started playing, and Rico was wiping away tears from with his sleeve.
“Take me to LA. I’m getting Eunice back,” Rico commanded as the song ended.
“Good call. Aren’t you glad we heard the long-distance dedication?” Benny sang.
Rico didn’t answer, just peered out the passenger window at the gray skies that matched his mood. The countdown rolled on as Rico eye balled Benny to shut off the radio, only to be replied to with a comical laugh. Rico gritted his teeth, pointed the gun at the stereo, and pulled the trigger.
Read more by Jon Moray at moraywrites.com
