The Black Widow Read Online Free Page B

Dave's bedside table.
    He had a shot of neat vodka every single night, had done since Cheryl had known him. An insomniac, Dave swore by it to ensure a peaceful sleep.
    There were currently two bottles; one was almost empty, the other unopened. Dave's glass was also empty.
    Cheryl uncapped the bottle that was almost empty and glanced at Dave. In no danger of having him wake up and demand what she was doing, Cheryl smiled humourlessly. She filled the glass completely and kept pouring as the glass overflowed, spilling and puddling on the cabinet. She then tipped the glass on its side and watched the vodka spill down the side of the bed into the mattress and onto the floor.
    Then she opened the new bottle and again filled the glass. This time she poured it half full and placed the bottle beside it.
    Then she tipped the full bottle over and watched the vodka spill in front of the cabinet, forming a large puddle on the carpet and creating a waterfall effect as it ran down the front of the dark oak unit.
    She stepped back and observed the scene with a critical eye. She nodded.
    It looked perfect, like a very drunk Dave had poured himself a vodka and carelessly spilled it all.
    Cheryl opened the bedroom windows to allow oxygen to circulate the room. She had planted some flammables in Dave's side table to make sure the fire that consumed him was a greedy one.
    The scene was set.
    Dave lay in the same position, not having moved a muscle as Cheryl set the scene of his death.
    It was almost too easy.
    No, she thought. Don't get too cocky.
    She had known when she formed this plan that there was a chance that Dave wouldn't die, so she would have to prepare herself for that also. But, at the very least, he would be seriously injured and in no position to ever cheat on her again.
    Cheryl shook a cigarette from the pack she had brought upstairs with her. Another of Dave's rituals; a cigarette in bed after vodka.
    Cheryl despised the smell, how it clung to her hair and the bed sheets, but Dave had refused to stop smoking in bed and Cheryl had let it go.
    All his bad habits would end up being the death of him tonight.
    Placing the foul cigarette between her lips, Cheryl hesitated.
    This was it. If she lit this cigarette, there was no going back. A roaring filled her head and she gasped, panting for breath as a panic attack gripped her. Finding herself suddenly overwhelmed with horror, she wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered violently.
    I have no choice , she told herself. Dave is making me do this, he's leaving me with no other options.
    Cheryl once again brought up the image of Dave making love to his secretary. She had lived with the image popping into her mind unwelcome for the past week, now she called on the image because she needed it. She pictured Dave coming home one day and stating that he didn't love her anymore and was leaving her for someone else.
    As horrifying as this was, that scenario was much worse.
    Glaring at Dave for what he was making her do and for the monster she was becoming, Cheryl flicked the lighter and lit the cigarette. She puffed a few times without inhaling it then held in between her thumb and index finger. Moving towards Dave, she grabbed his arm and draped in over the side of the bed and threw the lighter down on the floor.
    Moving towards the doorway, she took a deep breath and threw the cigarette on the floor beside Dave and backed up quickly.
    She glanced the bright flames as they began to dance in the darkened room before she pulled the bedroom door shut.
    ***
    Huddled on the sofa with the duvet wrapped around her body, Cheryl waited. Her heart pounded furiously against her ribcage and she shivered with a mixture of fear and excitement.
    Dave hadn't seen her and the bedroom was now on fire.
    So far, so good.
    The crackling sound and a faint roar told Cheryl the fire was burning. She strained her ears, trying to hear any screams from Dave, but she heard nothing.
    Come on, come on, come on, she