Three Twisted Stories by Karin Slaughter Page B

same mistake twice. “I heard you had a suit for me?”
    Salmeri finished filling in the boxes on his crossword puzzle. He walked over to the racks and pressed the button that spun the clothes around. “You’re looking good, Charlie.”
    Charlie pressed his hand to his stomach. He’d skipped breakfast this morning. It was idiotic to think he’d lost weight, but maybe. “Are you going to the game tomorrow night?”
    Salmeri tossed him a glance over his shoulder. “No. You?”
    Charlie didn’t know why he felt compelled to make small talk. “I’ll probably watch it on TV.”
    “Paper says it’s gonna be on the national channel.”
    “I heard.” Charlie looked down at his fingernails. They were finally clean. He couldn’t believe a few days ago he’d stood here waiting for a suit, not knowing that there was a crazy man out there waiting to stab him.
    “You wanna go with me?” Salmeri was looking at him. “To the game?”
    Charlie felt his cheeks turn red, but he had no idea why. “I was … I mean, my wife was … I mean, you know I’m married, right?”
    Salmeri shrugged as he walked toward Charlie. “Doesn’t have to be a problem if you don’t want it to.”
    Charlie put his hand on the door, easy, like he was just resting it there.
    “You know, Charlie, I could give you a lot more money than you’re making with Thevis.”
    Charlie laughed. He pressed against the door. It was locked. He twisted the thumb latch. Nothing happened.
    “Button under the counter,” Salmeri explained. He was standing close enough so that Charlie could smell his aftershave. He was taller than Charlie thought. When he stepped forward, his chest hair tickled Charlie’s chin. He whispered in Charlie’s ear, “You ever give a blow job?”
    Charlie felt his throat start to close.
    “Pretty thing like you.” Salmeri stroked the hair behind Charlie’s ear.
    “Please,” Charlie said. “Please don’t do this.”
    “Do what, darlin’?” Salmeri wrapped his arm around Charlie’s waist. He pulled him closer. Charlie could feel the man’s stiff cock rub against him. “You got such a nice mouth. All I been thinking about since you walked through that door is how good it’d feel to cup your head in my hands and watch you suck me.”
    “No,” Charlie whispered. This wasn’t right. This couldn’t be happening.
    “Come on, sweetheart. You’ve been coming in here for months. I’ve seen the way you look at me.”
    “No,” Charlie repeated. “I didn’t mean to—”
    Salmeri pressed his mouth against Charlie’s. He tasted like Dentyne and gin. Charlie gripped Salmeri’s arms, trying to push him away. The guy was solid muscle. Charlie couldn’t move. He was trapped against the door. The glass was almost bowing from the pressure.
    “I can’t,” he said. “Mr. Salmeri, I’m begging you.”
    Salmeri grabbed Charlie’s shoulders and pushed him down. The man was so strong. There was nothing Charlie could do but kneel on the floor. Salmeri gripped Charlie’s jaw, forcing it to open.
    Charlie was screaming in his head, but the sound couldn’t leave his throat. He didn’t want to do this. He couldn’t do this.
    “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” Salmeri’s fingers pressed into his cheeks. Charlie’s jaw was going to break if he didn’t open his mouth. “Nice and easy,” Salmeri said. “Relax your throat.”
    Charlie squeezed his eyes closed. He couldn’t watch it happen. He couldn’t be here. He had to end this.
    This is how you end it
.
    Charlie shoved his hand into his jacket pocket. The knife was still there. He didn’t let himself think about it. He pulled out the blade. He held it a few inches away from his belly, and then shoved it in as deep as it would go.

Chapter Nine
    Charlie opened his eyes. He gasped. Salmeri was still hovering over him. He raised his arms to fight him off. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t strong enough.
    “Mr. Lam,” a man said. “Mr. Lam, you’re all right.”
    Charlie