Invasion of Privacy
If you’re the person who murdered my wife and think you’ve gotten away with it, think again. I’m looking for you, and I’ll eventually find you.
1. Losing Diane
“This is my last job, I’m just waiting for the computer to reboot and then I’ll run a quick scan,” I say to my wife, Diane, while working in a client’s home. “I should be back in less than an hour. Have you been very busy?”
“There were several customers earlier,” Diane says, “but it’s been quiet for a while now. I’m thinking about locking up and calling it a day, but I’ll wait until you get back. What do you think about going out to dinner tonight? I’ve been hearing about a new restaurant— I’ve got to go, someone just came in. See you soon, love you, bye.”
Arriving at the store about an hour later, I sit in the parking lot a moment. I still get a thrill when I look at the small business we’ve created. It might not look like much, but I remember it without the new windows added to the front. There’s a customer walking out, carrying a laptop. Trying to be friendly, I say, “Hi, how’s it going?” He doesn’t respond and quickly gets in his car and leaves but not before I get a good look at him. He’s about my size, just under six feet, with long brown hair. There’s nothing unusual about him except he has a spider tattoo on his face, just under his right eye.
“Diane, I’m back,” I say while walking in the door. I’m surprised she isn’t at the front counter since a customer has just left. She’s probably in the backroom. I notice the X-770 laptop is gone. Spiderman made a good choice, I think while walking past the display of new computers. There’s a pile of papers lying on the floor, as if they’d fallen from the counter. It isn’t like Diane to let something like that go; I’m always teasing her about her compulsive neatness.
I’m starting to get a bad feeling; something doesn’t feel right. “Diane, where are you?” I hear a noise coming from behind the counter and rush over to look. Diane’s lying there on the floor, bleeding.
“Diane,” I scream, “What happened?”
There’s blood everywhere … so much blood. I grab her and press my hand against the wound on her neck to try and stop the bleeding. The warmth of the blood and the sticky wetness of it, surprises me.
“You’re going to be fine,” I say, trying not to panic, “It’s OK, I’m here, don’t worry.”
Her eyes are closed, but they flutter open briefly, looking at me. The vacant look in her usually bright blue eyes frightens me. She’s trying to tell me something.
“Don’t try to talk,” I say while dialing 911.
“911, what is your emergency?” the young woman calmly asks.
“My wife is bleeding, please send help.”
“What is your address, please?”
“738 Harrington, Jim’s Got Web, the computer store, please hurry.”
“Sir, I’m contacting the medical dispatchers. Are you with your wife right now?”
“Yes… Please hurry. I’m trying to stop the bleeding—there’s blood everywhere.”
“Sir, an ambulance is on the way. I need you to stay calm. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Someone stabbed her—the man with the spider on his face—please hurry.”
“Spider? Sir, what are you talking about? Sir?”
I drop the phone so I can use both hands on Diane.
“Diane, please… You’ll be fine—you’re ok. The ambulance is on the way. No, please, no…”
She’s trying to talk again. I put my face against hers and faintly hear, “I’m sorry … I love you.”
“I know. I love you too. Diane, listen to me. You have to hang on. I need you. Diane, please … Don’t leave me.”
I’m trying not to think about losing her. What would I do? Keep pressure on the wound, I tell myself. I can’t believe how much blood there is. The metallic smell and the sight of the blood is starting to make me dizzy …
“Sir, can you hear me?” a voice in the distance asks, “Can you stand up? Let’s walk outside … Easy—take your time.”
The fresh air helps to revive me, “Diane,” I yell, remembering what happened.
“Your wife is on her way to the hospital. I’ll take you there. Are you feeling better?”
Diane's blood is all over me. I must have passed out. “Is she okay? Damn it, how long have I been out? I was trying to stop the bleeding. I can’t believe I fainted … Please, take me to her.”
When we arrive at the emergency room, I run up to the desk, “Where’s my wife?”
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