“Who are you?” She asked as the door closed. Turning, she was face to face with hot breath laced with alcohol. “Who are you?” This time her voice was more emphatic. Hands cupped her face, brushing his stubbly cheek against hers.  She flinched, a sign of weakness. He capitalized, sweeping her off her feet. She felt vulnerable – not the sensual, erotic kind. No, this vulnerability chilled her desire – turning up the dial of her perspiration meter.

“I don’t do surprises, dear.” She said, attempting to gain control over the situation. Nobody knew where she was. There wasn’t anybody she could tell without jeopardizing her professional accomplishments.

“Relax baby.” He said. She turned, scanning the room for an advantage.

“Do I know you honey?” she asked. He carried her to the bed and dropped her unceremoniously onto the spongy mattress. “You’re not the student…” Before she could finish his mouth was on hers. Slipping her arm out of the loop of the handbag she tucked the barrel of the gun against his neck. The cold steel stopped his tongue in mid-thrust. After biting his tongue and then releasing she pressed the gun deeper into his neck.

“Who are you?” Her voice was more emphatic.

“You bit my tongue, you…”

“Shush. Just answer my questions and maybe I’ll let you have what you want.” She said.

“I’m someone who wants to get into your pantyhose.” He answered. She pulled the hammer until it clicked.

“Name; now or the next click will be followed by an explosion. You won’t have to answer any more questions.”

“I’m Alexi.”

“Does Alexi have a last name? And, how do you know me?” She asked.

“My friend knows you.”

“Who’s your friend?”

“He’s the student who sent you the message.”

“How did you know I’d come?”

“You have a, shall we say, history of smelling out rendezvous message.” Alexi said. “And my last name is Smith.”

“That’s very original Mr. Smith. My guess is that you’ll see some of your relatives in the morgue.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Okay, okay, my real name is Ray Gomez. My buddy is one of your students.” Ray said.

“The student part I know. Just answer the questions I ask.” Arlene said. Her free hand probed his loins. “Oh my friend you are excitable.”He moaned under her touch. Lowering the gun she released the hammer and slipped it back into her handbag. “Let’s see if this little escapade is worth my time.” She unsheathed him. “You’re kidding right?” She cackled. “Put that thing away and get off me.” His attempt to push his case ended with a knee to the family jewels sending him reeling onto the floor. As she stood, the door opened flooding the room with light. She squinted at the silhouette in the doorway. He stepped inside, closed the door and flipped on the switch.

“What are you doing here? Come to try for sloppy seconds?” She asked. He just looked at her, a mixture of contempt and pity spilling from his gaze.

“Sloppy seconds, ha! I’ve come to see if you were stupid enough to fall for this little ploy.” His tone was powerful, stopping her sarcasm before it could gain a foothold.

“You have no idea what it takes…” Before she could finish he raised a hand to stop her.

“You’re here, aren’t you? Now it’s time to see if the vaunted Miss Shea is everything she thinks she is.” Greg Martins, the student whose coded message lured her to the motel, approached with an air of superiority. “Take off your clothes and let me see what your demure dress code is hiding.” He folded his arms across his chest. She looked at him, her complexion softened. She smiled the smile of a woman preparing for a carnal pleasure cruise. Slipping out of her shoes she watched his expression as she unbuttoned her blouse. Ray Gomez moved around to face her, standing next to Greg.

She allowed the blouse to slip from her shoulders, revealing a lacy bra that lifted her breasts to a crescendo. As she breathed her chest heaved, bringing her perfect orbs to life. Stepping out of her skirt and slip, she folded them neatly and placed them on the bed.  Turning her back to the young men she wiggled her tight ass flirting with slipping out of the black lace thong. When she turned, she held the .22 pistol, training it on the two men. Color drained from their face.

“Did you think I was stupid enough to come here helplessly?  Ask your buddy Ray, who by the way isn’t too bright. He’s already felt the cold steel of the gun barrel.” She pointed the gun first at Ray and then at Greg.

“You don’t think we’re afraid of you, do you?” Greg’s voice wasn’t confident enough to convey arrogance.

“There’s plenty of lead for each of you.  Three well-placed shots and neither of you will be siring anything.” She pulled the hammer back as she spoke. “You have two choices, turn and leave or stay and suffer the consequences of your foolishness.”

“This is our room, if anybody’s leaving, it’s you.” Greg responded. Arlene smiled.

“Fine, it’s your room.” She stepped forward. “Move over there and kneel.” As they moved she grabbed the handbag. “Turn and face the bed then put your hands behind your back.” She dragged the handbag from the bed and dropped it on the floor immediately behind the two. Extracting handcuffs she applied the metal bracelets to each of the two. They complained as she snapped the cuffs tightly, the steel biting into the wrists. She added a nice touch by interlacing the cuffs so that the men were awkwardly joined.

“Now, you two will watch as I dress and walk out of here.” After buttoning her blouse and adjusting her skirt Arlene grabbed a pillow from the bed. Placing it snugly against the barrel of the gun she fired one shot into the neck of each of them. Blood shot from the ruptured carotid artery as their bodies wilted. Arlene backed away, careful to avoid the blood that began to pool around the bodies.

After they expired she removed the handcuffs, wiped them on a towel she pulled from the rack in the bathroom, tucked them into the handbag along with the towel and waited until dark. Checking activity outside the motel, she slipped out of the room with the pillow under her arm.

Behind the wheel of the car she sat contemplating the rush as she watched life’s precious fluid escape, taking two budding young men’s future with it.  Stabbing the key into the ignition she turned it. The engine did not respond. Pumping the accelerator she turned the key again, this time pleading with the automotive gods to help her. After the third try a face appeared in the rear view mirror.

“Doctor Shea.” The voice said. “Don’t turn around. I’m Tom’s girlfriend and you are his whore. He stood me up last night for you.” Shea’s attempt to respond was cut short by the nylon rope around her neck. Lucy pulled tightly as the good doctor struggled. Arlene reached back. Lucy yanked the rope maintaining enough distance to remain clear of the doctor’s attempts to grab her. When Arlene’s body yielded, Lucy checked for a pulse before collecting the rope and slipping out of the car.

Walking three tenths of a mile to her car Lucy sat wondered if Tom was worth the effort.