More Chapter 24

     It was around half past seven, on that bright, beautiful Summer's morn', when Leah awoke in all relaxation and physically satisfied splendor, after Bengiman had slipped out of Lexa's bed, still thinking he had just ravished his rival's girlfriend, and not his best friend's wife. Leah knew the truth as she sat up in her sister's warm bed, with a yawn and a stretch, a smile etched upon her face she stood, in the nude, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Letting out a happy sigh Leah delighted in the image of her naked body, with her large, round supple breasts, curvaceous hips and shimmering glowing skin, her long golden hair a mass of tangles from the vigorous pulling on, by Bengiman's strong hands, and, of course, her hated cesarean scar. Delighted by her sexual prowess Leah took a quick shower before heading back up to check on her poor sister, whom had been up all night trying to get little Jason, who was teething and always fussy, to fall asleep. However, Lexa could not find anything to quell the infants grumblings, save for the soft singing of lullaby's; which was great, but the moment Lexa stopped singing the baby would begin to wail and moan. So there Leah found her sister sitting at the edge of the massive bed, next to the bassinet; which she had pulled up close to her. Jason had finally fallen asleep and when Lexa saw Leah, she gave a dazed, shocked look saying in a small raspy voice "Ssh. Leah, he just went to sleep."
     Leah looked at her dear sister who looked in a word, Frazzled. Her hair a disheveled mess, with bits of dried baby vomit encrusted among her golden curls, dark circles under her blood-shot eyes, a vacant, far off look on her face. This is how Leah looked quite often herself, almost every day now, for motherhood was a talent neither of the sisters were imbued with. Lexa looked up at Leah who was all a glow with a bright and shining smile, radiantly beaming so Lexa commented "Well, you certainly look much better!" Lexa marveled that a few hours of rest in her bed had brought about such a drastic change in her sisters demeanor and disposition.
     "Why Lexa.., I feel just capital!" she smiled with a gleam in her eyes of which Lexa had not seen in a such a very long time.
     "Well, what's got into you?" Lexa inquired as she saw a rakish smile come over her sister's face.
     Now Leah could have, and should have, just kept her mouth shut, and saved the torrid memory as a sordid little secret for her to keep, but no, Leah had always shared everything with her sister, now both figuratively AND literally, and she just had to know what was going on between Bengiman and Lexa. So with a sly look of gratification Leah opened up her mouth and said "It's not what has gotten into me, dear sister.., but rather.., WHO!"
     Lexa stared up at her sister, an icy wave coursed through her veins as a bitter churning began to roil in the pit of her stomach, unable to respond, Lexa got up from her sister's bed, stepping away from the sleeping infant, as she grabbed Leah, painfully, by the wrist, leading her out of Xation and Leah's bedroom out into the hall, where Leah gave her sister a cautious, deeply serious look saying. "Who.., got into you? What the fuck are you talking about?" Lexa said her hands shaking a little as she covered her mouth.
     "Well.., I think it is you who need to do the talking." here Lexa stood closer to her sister then she whispered "What is going on between you and Bengiman?"
     With this question Lexa had a strange physical response, she found herself unable to speak, there came a ringing in her ears, and time seem to stand still, each breath she took sounded like the roar of the ocean in her head, her face grew pale as a bottle of milk and she could not feel her heartbeat. "Wha..," she stammered.
     "Bengiman came down to your room last night, he kept saying 'Charlie drank too much whiskey and he is fast asleep.., and" Leah paused.
     "What, Leah?" Lexa said snapping back into the moment."What did he do to you?" she said with a hint of rage and frustration in her voice.
     "Oh.., so many things." Leah smiled giving Lexa a little wink. "As you can see my headache has left me completely." she laughed.
     "I can't.., I don't know.., what, fuck!" Lexa responded a look of deep humiliation mixed with confusion on her face. "And you.., never told him who you were, he thinks you were me..?  You cheated on Xation.., with his best friend..? Leah why would you chose to let this happen?" Lexa said tears welling up in her eyes as the gravity of the situation was actualized in her mind.
     Leah looked at her sister and said with a sternness in her voice, with strength and the courage of her convictions, she told her sister "God Damn it Lexa! I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does!"
     Now here is where the momentum shifted, as a bitter disdain and rage brewed up in a storm of anger and wrath in Leah's anguished heart, shaking her head in a disapproval at her sister, then slowly Lexa turned down the hall way, inch by inch she neared the door of Bengiman's nearby bedroom. Leah ran down the hall after Lexa but it was too late, Lexa threw open the door screaming at the top of her lungs "You stupid son of a prick!" Lexa leapt upon Bengiman as he lay there peacefully sleeping in his bed. Bengiman had not even opened up his eyes as Lexa jumped on top of him, now before he could restrain her, Lexa managed to get two solid punches to Bengiman's face, one on his left cheek and another on his lower left jaw, where she nearly knocked one of his teeth out.
     "Fucking Hell!" Bengiman yelled in surprise and dismay.
     "Lexa stop!" Leah shouted getting up on the bed trying to pull her sister off of Bengiman, who sat up and with one push of his hands and strong arms shoved both women to the floor and off his bed.
     "What the fuck is going on here?!" Bengiman exclaimed as he got up out of his bed standing to his feet towering over the women, he was not exactly sure which one of them attacked him, but he did not think after the night he had with Lexa it could not possibly be her.
     Lexa scrambled to her feet as Leah sat there on the floor a moment longer trying to catch her breath, as Lexa said to Bengiman in a voice full of venom and fire "Did you have fun last night Bengiman? Creeping down in my bed."
     Bengiman thought this was an odd question but he responded truthfully "Oh Aye!" he paused then rubbing his aching jaw he added "and.., as I seem to recall, you enjoyed yourself as well."
     Here he heard Leah give out a little giggle then to his utter shock, horror and dismay Lexa informed him "No, I did not enjoy myself.., how could I, I was upstairs all night taking care of the baby!" the two sisters remained silent as this news soaked into the buds of Bengiman's mind and it took a moment for the situation to sink in.
     "Sorry Bengiman, I should have said something." Leah said in a suddenly bashful tone.
     "It was you.., Leah.., my best friends wife?" now in the next few seconds of his deceitful betrayal of Xation's trust, Bengiman took leave of his senses as his anger and shock surpassed all of his reason. So it was with a loud voice full of madness, shouting obscenities, Bengiman picked up an arm chair smashing it against the wall, shattering pictures, as the two women screamed trying to flee the room, but the pathway was blocked by flying vases, lamps, stereo, speakers, television, etc... Down stairs the maids, who were busy cleaning the kitchen before breakfast, heard the commotion and immediately rushed out to the pool house to wake Charles, telling him they feared someone was being attacked in Bengiaman's room. So up from his bed he arose in a flash, dashing into the house and up the grand staircase, but before doing so Charles instructed the maids and the chef to go and wait in gatehouse. He did not know what was happening but he surely did not want the help finding out about whatever was taking place upstairs in Bengiman's room.
     Charles ran down the long dark corridor, he could hear Jason crying over the loud crashes coming from down the hall. Bursting through the door Charles found Leah and Lexa huddled up in the corner together on the floor, holding one another, heads down, as glass shattered all around them. Bengiman had destroyed virtually every item and piece of furniture in his room. He was now hurling books and cologne bottles at the wall very near to the ladies, who were cowering and screaming in terror for their lives. Had Bengiman not been able to control himself he could have, very easily, choked the life out of each of the women, or picked them both up and toss them out the second story window, but Bengiman would never harm a hair on a woman's head. But he would destroy everything in his path, tear the walls down, and set fire to the house! However, Charles arrived on the scene, just in time, to try to subdue Bengiman's furious anger and find out just what the hell was going on.

Chapter 24 continues

     "Lexa." Leah whispered as she next to her sleeping sister on the bed "Wake up.., I need your help."
     Leah rolled over opening her eyes as she yawned.
     "What's wrong hun'?" she asked sitting up exposing her naked breasts.
     "My head is killing me, and I can't get Jason to go back to sleep." Leah lamented her eyes winced in pain, brow furrowed.
     "Do you want me to go wake up Charles?" she asked with great concern in her voice.
     "No..," Leah paused rubbing her temples "why aren't you in bed with him?"
     Lexa let out a little sigh then she said "he did not invite me."
     "Oh?" Leah replied not knowing what to say.
     "Yes.., well, we have sort of grown apart, here lately." Lexa confided in her sister, who was now thinking the visit Charles paid to Felina in Bermuda was more than just a family meeting, but Leah said nothing of her suspicion to Lexa, who was more than happy to get up out of bed at three o'clock in the morning and help her sister out. So she made Leah curl up in her own bed, whereupon Lexa slipped on her sister's robe, covering up her nakedness as she fetched a cold compress for Leah's fevered brow, telling her "Now I'll shut off the light, you just rest here a little while, and I will take care of Jason for you, alright sweetie?"
     "Thank you Lexa.., you always take such good care of me, you are the best sister, and friend to me, in the whole entire world!" Leah said as she gave her sister a gentle, loving smile.
     "Do you know why I take such good care of you Leah?" here she softly brushed a golden curl off Leah's cheek then she said sweetly "Because I love you, and you are everything to me. That is why I have not left you here all alone, that is why I watch over you and protect you, because I only want for you to be happy and safe." a few understanding, sympathetic looks were exchanged between the two, who had shared a womb, and thirty years on Earth together and they both prayed that nothing, or no one, would ever be able to tear them apart.
     "I love you too Lexa, more than you will ever know." Leah said as she watched her sister go. With that Leah was left alone in her sister's warm, comfortable bed, the sheets scented with her french perfume. There in the silence and the stillness of her memories, she thought how she wished she had never come to Argentina, never met Xation, never had his baby, never married him. For, as we all know and have been made well aware of in our own poor miserable love-lives, jealousy can be as cruel as the grave. Sometimes we all think we would feel much better six feet under, than walking with our heads and hearts so low, above the ground. So with the pain unabating in her brain, Leah pondered what her life would be like if she and Lexa were still two party girls, out for some fun, for though she was still young, just turned 30, and she had got her body back into shape, still looking hot in her little black bikini, she was now married with a son, bored out of her mind, feeling as if the life she had known had come undone. Leah felt that all she had to show for her life was a handsome husband, she rarely got to see, a gorgeous big/empty house, and access to a fortune in the millions of dollars, but she was so amazingly unhappy, for one simple reason, without the attention and affection a woman so desperately needs from her husband, Leah found she had no purpose, or goal in life, no direction with which to proceed. This is a very dangerous time in a young brides life, for without a clear direction, it is very easy to begin to spiral out of control and act out in ways that a clear-headed lady would not, and never, proceed. Though with these thoughts in her heart and mind Leah truly believed she could overcome her rage and disappointment in her marriage, but by what hand of providence she had no idea, nor could she know how the Fates were plotting against her, soon they would open up a path for her to plunge head long first, and at the end of the journey Leah would realize just how little she was truly worth.
     As Leah lie there trying to quite her brain; which flowed in all directions in strange streams of thoughts in her consciousness, such is the case with a restless heart and mind, she heard Lexa's bedroom door slowly open, she, saying nothing, seeing nothing with the cold wet washcloth over her eyes, to her surprise Leah heard Bengiman whisper as he neared the foot of the bed. "Lexa.., I've come to play."
     "Bengiman." Leah whispered, but being that she was an identical twin, she even sounded like Lexa.
     "Ssh.., it's alreet.., Charlie drank too much whiskey, he's fast asleep." Bengiman said as he lifted up the bottom of the covers. Leah removed the wash cloth and opened her eyes, where she saw to her shock the Englishman had slipped his head down under the sheets and now was grasping her inner thighs as he buried his mouth between her legs.
     "Ah.., " Leah gasped as she lifted herself up on her elbows, knees pointing up to the ceiling as she felt the warmth of his wet tongue licking and lapping against the soft pink folds of her moist skin. Now not once did Leah cry out for him to stop, nor did she identify herself to Bengiman, who told her how she tasted like honey, sweet and juicy like a ripe, lush berry, as she released all the tension in an explosion of dripping fluid all over his face. Suddenly with the enthralling exuberance with which she came, Leah felt the pain in her aching head dissipate. Overwhelmed and breathing hard, Leah had enjoyed this pleasure form her husband, now and again, but he was not very good at it, and she thought to herself if eating pussy was an Olympic sport, then Bengiman Pruce would win all the Gold Medals!
     "Oh, Lexa.., I love it when you squirm! You're oh so sexy! My American Queen!" Bengiman sighed with great satisfaction.
     Here again Leah had the opportunity to tell Bengiman that she was not Lexa and that he was mistaken, but instead Leah threw back the covers watching as the amorous Englishman licked her thighs saying in a voice that was soft and seductive telling him "I want some more." to which she reached down between her legs pulling him forward, up and on top of her.
     "Say please." he said enticingly.
     "Please Bengiman..," Leah said as the overwhelming desire to be touched, and loved, and wanted filled her up with wanting and longing, as the weight of Bengimn's large, muscular body was pressing down, and deep, into the heat of her willing flesh, skin on skin, kisses on the mouth, pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth. Leah had not been with her husband in nearly 5 weeks, and her jealousy surpassed all reason, so she gladly, eagerly, gave herself up to Bengiman, who eagerly and effectively sated her pleasure, filling her deep, needful desires with every inch she could take of him. So intense and satisfying was she to him that Bengiman actually believed Lexa was perhaps, finally, falling in love with him, so great was the display of her emotion and vigor. For she would move and reposition herself like a young, lustful college girl, taking him in every way possible. To our lucky Bengiman it was one of the hottest sex sessions he ever encountered. Many times he was forced to cover her mouth with one of his free hands, just to keep her quiet, so loud were her cries of ecstasy as Bengiman brought himself to bare upon her, with all the surging strength of a hurricane. So Bengiman stayed down in 'Lexa's' bed, each fucking and sucking their way to sexual nirvana, and never once did Leah stop to wonder why Bengiman had come to her sister's room? She knew not. Were they having an affair? At this point Leah did not care. All she saw was an opportunity to have a bit of fun, cheat on her husband, fuck this giant of a man, whom she had always had a little crush on. Now it had come to this, Leah and Bengiman were there together in Lexa's bed and no one knew, just yet.

Chapter 24 begins

     So this all passed, with Xation and Hays achieving the goal of eliminating the two men who could have destroyed the business, and Charles was allowed to spend some more time with his sweet, sexy little Felina, leaving Lexa behind at the Estate, Charles still unknowing of her sordid affair with Bengiman Pruce. Lexa did not even mind Charles going alone on vacation without her, for she was growing tired of his company and would enjoy a week, or two, away from him, however, she had wished Bengiman had gone away with Charles on holiday, Lexa was not at all looking forward to being alone with the over zealous and highly sexed Britishman.
      Leah, herself, was left alone by her husband, for now that Xation had shut down their off-shore, illegal account, he and Hays had decided to move his business, permanently and solely, to Texas, for there was millions to be made in the new real estate developments in the DeepEllum, DownTown and UpTown districts in Dallas. So over the next two months Xation and Hays settled into their new headquarters in the Fountain Plaza building in Down Town. Now this all came as shock to the hundreds of employees at the offices in Argentina, and they all lost their jobs. But worse than this, Leah was left alone with her jealous thoughts which betrayed her. She was plagued by imagined visions of Xation with some gorgeous Texas woman in his arms, or some bleached blond, down on her knees infront of her husband, her head bobbing up and down as her mouth made slurping sounds. Even her dreams were haunted by her bitter jealousy, where Lexa would come upon Xation, who was always smiling up at her, with naked women writhing about like serpents in their matrimonial bed. With all of her husbands imagined infidelities Leah grew sad, depressed, all alone, more and more displeased by the day, anxiously passing the hours of the long, dark, nights away.
     Now this is how time passed for our poor, despondent Leah, and when Charles returned, tanned, well rested, all his passions, and lusts, fully sated by his sweet, sexy, little Felina, Charles instantly grew worried when he realized how far gone into depression Leah had sank. Soon after he arrived back at the Estate; which was well after mid-night, Charles had found Leah sitting outside by the pool, in her night gown, gazing down at the moon's reflection on the surface of the rippling water, she had such a deep, far away gaze in her eyes, a look on her face as if she were contemplating drowning herself. Charles spoke softly to Leah, startled she stood to her feet, the two friends embraced, she squeezing Charles so tight, as if she were hanging on for dear life. Then the tears came along with the many stories of Xation's, imagined, disloyalty poured forth from her mouth, and the depths of her mind, like lava flowing down the side of a raging volcano, so deep was her anxiety and emotional pain. Charles did his best to reassure his distraught, disbelieving, friend that Xation was a good, faithful, loyal man, but even his own words did not sound so convincing to Charles himself, for well he knew of Xation's, insatiable, appetite for the flesh of beautiful, fit women, whom Xation never had a thought, regard, or care for at all. Though Charles had to do what was best for Leah, so he took her back upstairs to her room, where her baby was softly sleeping. Charles made her take a hot, soothing shower, while he went to his own bedroom where he took two tablets of Vicodin, whereupon Charles quickly changed into his pajamas, grabbed a bottle of red wine from the kitchen, before heading upstairs. Leah felt a little better, a little calmer, as she wrapped up in her warm robe and sat down on the couch beside her bed. She gladly took the medicine Charles gave her, then Leah let out a heavy sigh as she sat back, a glass of wine in her hand, feet curled up underneath her as she leaned her head against Charles, who sat there with her for a little while, quietly talking about his trip, telling her a few amusing anecdotes about Felina, telling Leah how much Felina wanted to come back to see her, how sorry she was about everything. This served well to keep Leah's mind off of her husband, and his whereabouts. It was shortly after her second glass of wine when Leah finally fell into a deep sleep. Carefully, with much gentleness, Charles lifted her up into his strong arms and set her down in bed next to her son. With his help, Leah was finally able to get a good nights rest, for the first time since her baby was born. She would not be down for breakfast, or lunch the next day, but no matter, her loyal sister Lexa tended to her nephew while Leah slumbered soundly, in peaceful dreams. Yet neither of them, nor Charles, nor Bengiman, knew all the trouble that would come to stir up all of their lives later that night, for when everyone had gone to bed, Leah was still wide awake and restless, unable, yet again, to go to sleep. An excruciating, migraine-headache had overcame her, a rare side effect of the powerful anti-pain medication, so she crept down to her sister's room in the dark of the night.

End Chapter 23

     It was around 3:27 in the a.m. when Charles and Bengiman found themselves outside of Oscar del Diego's high-rise condominiums, in the Porto district of the city, all was quiet, the streets deserted on this particular Wednesday morning, on that warm, dark cloudy night. Charles was feeling absolutely wretched, his heart raced, the palms of his hands sweaty, his mouth dry, he tried to concentrate on his breathing, taking in calm, slow breaths, exhaling slowly as the nervous tension began to boil up in his stomach like caustic soda. He had tried to ease the strain on his mind, and body, by listening to a little Segovia on the drive over to the next victim, but the soothing sound of the classical guitar was not enough to elevate his trepidation. Charles stood outside of the buildings entrance as he clutched his doctor's bag tightly to his chest, Bengiman paused for a moment sitting on a long bench outside on the side walk, finishing off a cigarette. Charles turned to tell him to hurry up, when he noticed a man step off the elevator inside the lobby of the building, he was dressed in a pair of grey silk pajamas, slippers, walking a tiny, black dog, a miniature Doberman Pincer, who needed to go for a walk in the worst way. Charles looked up at the man who was approaching the glass doors at the main entrance, Charles was shocked and he called over to Bengiman "Hey, fucker look! It's Oscar." Charles exclaimed as he stepped back over behind Bengiman.
    Oscar was half-asleep, not really paying attention, as he exited his building, it was not until he took two steps forward when he glanced up at the tall, broad shouldered man, with a cleanly shaven head, standing next to the bench. "Olla." Oscar gave a quick hello and a brief friendly smile, then he paused as his little dog took a piss on a nearby tree, then Oscar turned, looking back at the stranger, who looked very familiar to him. "Ah!" Oscar said turning back to the giant of a man "I recognize you!"
     "No ya don't." Bengiman said as he stepped forward, revealing another man Oscar did not know, or recognize.
     Suddenly the small dog began to bark, a barely audible noise, as this was a quiet breed, Oscar became extremely unnerved at the sight of this unknown man, slowly he turned, inch by inch, he tried to make it back to the front door. Alas, poor Oscar was forced, at gun point, to take a walk back to Bengiman's vehicle, where they would now have to do away with him. This was even better, as it kept them out of the building, and they could drive away and end Oscar's life, in peace, at another location in the city. As they guided the doomed away from his home; which he would never see again, Oscar pleaded with them to let him bring his little dog with him, but Bengiman, along with the tall, blue-eyed, wicked looking man, would not hear of it, instead Charles tied the dog up to the bench out front so it would not run away, and hopefully find a new owner. Now as Charles did this quickly, and as he walked away, he looked back at the tiny, frightened animal, who sat there trembling, her little body shaking in fear, fiercely, softly barking, watching his master being led away, never to be seen, alive, again. Now this scene was very troubling to our murderous Charles who suddenly realized he actually cared more about the welfare of the dog than the life of the human being he, and Bengiman, had just abducted and would, in a few moments.., kill.
     Oscar could not understand what was happening, but he knew very well the man holding the gun to his back was Xation Day's personal head of security, he had seen him many times in the building and in the executive dining room. Oscar remained silent, that is until they had him strapped in passenger's seat, with Bengiman sitting directly behind, his nickle-plated semi-automatic handgun aimed at the back of Oscar's skull the entire time, even with Bengiman shouting at Oscar to, 'shut the fuck up',  Oscar could not help but beg and plead, and cry for them to spare his life. All his words went unheeded as Charles drove the trio off down the dark deserted streets out to one of the nearby parks, where Charles found a nice secluded parking lot next to a grove of oak trees.
     "Oscar." Charles said as he turned off the engine, unbuckling his seat belt while his victim began to hyperventilate through his mournful tears, acting like a coward. "You need to stop." Charles said as he slid out from behind the steering wheel retrieving his doctors bag from the back seat. Oscar began shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming from his eyes, snot dripping from his nose as he watched the blond, blue-eyed man open up the little black bag and take out a long syringe, the needle of which was at least four inches long. At the sight of him filling up the syringe from a small vile of clear liquid, Oscar felt faint and thought surely he would vomit.
     Carefully, with great caution, Charles placed the empty bottle back in his bag, focusing his attention while handling the deadly drug, Narcan {an opioid antagonist, given to people who have overdosed, or are in septic shock} this powerful cardiac stimulant should never be injected to a healthy heart, that IS NOT in cardiac arrest, unless you want to kill them. Unfortunately for Oscar these men wanted, very much, to kill him, and he knew this could only be about all the missing funds he had uncovered at his company, and it was right about now Oscar was starting to regret the meeting he called with the C.E.O., Xation Day and V.P. of the company, Jerome Hays, whom he had worked so hard for the last six years. Yet there was nothing he cold say, or anything he could do, to make these killers let him go and spare him his life on this warm summer's eve.
     So it came to pass, Bengiman, holstering his weapon, pulled Oscar out of the passenger's seat; which Oscar had urinated on in his sheer terror, Bengiman ordered the sniveling coward down on his knees in front of the Range Rover. Charles held the long sharp needle up in his hand as he watched Bengiman slip off his tie, telling the horrified man "Put your hands behind your back." Oscar felt a wave of panic overwhelm him, the desperate urge to runaway, far out into the woods, arose  up in his heart like a herd of wild mustangs, but a still voice, inside his head, said not to do so. Oscar knelt on the hard pavement, his eyes closed, head down, hands bound behind his back, a prayer on his lips, as he tried to take a breath and face death, for Oscar wanted to be calm during his last moments, alive, on Earth.., though he was not looking forward to forever. "There, that's better." Bengiman whispered, securing their victim, then he added "I'm proud of ya' Oscar! I'd hate to see ya' carrying on like little girl, your last moments here with us, alreet?"
     Oscar opened his eyes looking up at the Englishman, he was thinking of what last words he might say, but as Oscar's mind raced, not one word came. "Oscar." Charles called his name softly as he stood in front of him telling him "Now I need you to stick out your chest while my mate holds your shoulders, take a deep breath, because this is going to hurt.., a lot" Oscar stared in shock and silence as he gazed at the long, sharpened needle, taking in a deep breath, then he gave up hope as he closed his eyes. Charles knelt down before his victim, unbuttoning his pajamas, exposing the middle-aged man's hairy, flabby chest. "Okay, good, your doing fine Oscar, I am glad you decided to cooperate, and I will go back and get your dog." Charles lied "What's it's name?"
     Oscar stared in wide-eyed disbelief at his killers words, then he said with a little note of gladness in is voice "Josephine." as the name passed Oscar's lips Charles took the needle and plunged it deep into his chest, penetrating the subcutaneous layer of skin, all the way, deep down, with great pain and force, piercing the pericardium, stopping in the right ventricle, as the rush of clear substance came from the needle, the pain was excruciating and intense burning in Oscar's poor heart like fire. Oscar collapsed forward as Charles got up quickly watching as Oscar began twitching, in full seizure, a strange gasping coming from his lungs, as his breathing ceased, his heart beginning to beat spasmodically, cardiac arrest just seconds away, but before the ill-fated man's heart finally short circuited out, Oscar fell quickly into an abrupt coma, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. It took about three minutes of violent shaking, his body in full musculature spasms, then, as the moon came through the dark clouds, Oscar became as still as the night. Charles went over to the body, checking for any vital signs, there were none, for the copious amount of Narcan did the trick, the matter was over and done, it was finished.
     "Josephine..," Bengiman said as he stood there smoking another cigarette gazing down at the ground "I once knew a girl named Josephine, briefly.., she liked to be called Joey."
     Charles just stood there for a moment giving Bengiman a strange look, then he cleared his throat and said "Alright, let's drive him back home, sit him up on that bench.., with his little dog, Josephine." Charles informed Bengiman as he placed the needle back in his bag, making sure to replace the plastic orange safety cap back on the four inch long needle. "It will look like he took his dog for a walk, sat down, where he, unexpectedly, had a massive heart attack..,problem solved."
     "Good idea.., let me toss him in the back." Bengiman said as he stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, next to the freshly deceased body.
     Charles opened up the passenger side door and the aroma of ammonia was pungent "God Damn it!" Charles shouted as Bengiman scooped up Oscar's body.
     "What's occurring?" Bengiman said having a little difficulty with the dead weight.
     "Fucking Oscar! He pissed all over the seat!"
    
  
    

Chapter 23 cont's...

     Once that you have decided on a killing, first you make a stone of your heart, and as each minute brought Charles closer to the appointed hour he felt all emotion, sympathy, mercy and pity drain away from him as he prepared his mind, summoning up the courage from his hardened heart to complete the tasks at hand. Bengiman remained silent most of the time; which was unusual, as Mr. Bengiman Pruce loved the sound of his own voice, loving nothing more than telling his little anecdotes. Charles was glad for the silence as Bengiman drove him back down from the estate, just after mid-night, as they made their way south towards the city for the second time that day. However, earlier, when they drove off that afternoon, they had no idea why they had been summoned by Xation to the town villa, but now Charles and Bengiman had finally found out the reason, and could come up with no excuse to say no to Xation and his deadly demands. Bengiman did not have a good feeling about this whole scenario, but it was not he who would be doing the actual killing, it was only his assistance that was merely required. Charles would be the one with his deeds weighing upon his conscience for the rest of his life.
     "Well at least the money will help." Bengiman said as they neared the city in his British-racing-green, Range-Rover.
     "What's that supposed to mean?" Charles asked giving Bengiman a disdainful look.
     "You know.., help ease the old conscience." he said with a cheerless expression.
     Here Charles only laughed woefully saying "The only thing that could ever ease my conscience is a bullet in the head!" he smirked then added "Now don't get any ideas Mr.Pruce."
     Bengiman gave Charles a serious look telling him "No, if anything happened to you, by my hands, Felina would have me trampled under the hooves of her horses and throw my body in the Rio Negro!" here he laughed.
     "Fuck off! She would not!" Charles balked.
     "Oh.., you have no idea Charlie.., remember, you saved her life, you are her 'Great American Hero'! Believe it or not." Bengiman said in all seriousness, for Felina had warned Bengiman along time ago not to harm, or hurt, Charles in any way. For well she knew of Bengiman's extreme jealousy and his terrible rants that could bring the walls and the roof down, so Felina made Bengiman give her his word, and you do not cross Felina, everyone knew to keep their promises to that lady.
    "Shut up and drive. I need to concentrate, focus my mind." Charles reminded him as the two neared the residence of Mr. Jorge Reynosa. It was a small white stucco, mission style, two bedroom home on the outskirts of town, where, up until a few months ago, he had lived there for twenty years with his wife. Now she had up and abandoned him, due to his alcohol and verbal abuse. Old Jorge was going through a bitter divorce, his wife had gone, his kids were all grown, and now he spent all his days working, and nights alone, left only in the company of his 18 lb, fat, orange striped Tabby cat he called 'Ginger Bear'.
     Now Ginger Bear was curled up in bed next to his human, who was peacefully sleeping off a bottle of Anejo, it was a little after 2:15 in the a.m. all was still in the house, the only sound coming from the clock on the mantle above the fireplace, softly, rhythmically, ticking off the seconds. Bengiman and Charles had parked down the quiet suburban street, going down the alley in the dark of night, the moon obscured by a thick blanket of clouds which had rolled in off the ocean. As a strong wind began to blow, the leaves rustled over head as the tree limbs creaked under the force of the breeze, the sound of dogs barking could be heard from far off in the distance. With out a word or a sound Bengiman unlatched the back gate and within three seconds they found themselves standing in Mr.Reynosa's little garden, which had all gone to seed, as Mr. Reynosa's wife had not only abandoned her husband, but the property as well.
     "Here we go." Bengiman whispered in a voice as tense as wire. Bengiman stepped up to the sliding glass door of the darkened home, using a few of his small tools to pick the lock; which is how he had made his living in London many, many years ago, and this profession is what caused him all his trouble, stress and grief in his life. Now he had not needed to do this in a long time, only occasionally would he break into his girlfriend's house to snoop around or spy on her, but this was an entirely different matter, for when he left this residence there would, most defiantly, be a dead body left behind. "There you are." Bengiman said having no trouble at all getting open the locked door. Slowly he slid the glass door all the way open, before he stepped in Bengiman withdrew his pistol from his shoulder holster underneath his sport coat as Charles followed close behind.
     They could hear the ticking of the clock, which matched the beating of their hearts, as they entered the dimly lit living room, were there was a complete mess of discarded newspapers, half empty take-away Styrofoam containers, dozens of pizza boxes, empty beer cans and broken bottles of tequila and vodka on the trash covered counters in the kitchen, were the smell was pungent, a stomach turning, disgusting mess. So strong was the odor emanating from the kitchen it was like a punch in the face, smelling of rotten milk, mold and vomit. Bengiman and Charles were stunned by the state and condition of the house. "This is no way to live." he said in a voice barely audible, then Charles realized this man would not be living like this for very much longer. As he looked around the stinking mess, Charles knew, and understood, this man had to be deeply, emotionally disturbed to resided in this 'pig stye', and here Charles almost felt like killing this man would be doing him a favor, put him out of his misery.
     With this on his mind Charles clutched his doctors bag close to his chest as he and Bengiman slowly crept down the long dark corridor, the walls of which were covered with a massive array of family photographs from over the years, and now the pictures were old and faded, the frames covered in dust, some broken, looking as if the had been smashed by a hammer, a few were scattered along the carpet as if those moments in time never even mattered at all. It was a right depressing mess and Charles only wanted to hurry up and get this over with so he could get out of this sad, pathetic place, that once used to be a warm home filled with the light and love of a happy family. Charles and Bengiman could only wonder what had gone so terribly wrong in this man's life, but now was the time.., not to care.
     Ginger Bear picked up it's head at the sight of the two humans standing in the doorway and he gave no warning to Jorge, who was flat on his back snoring up a storm. Bengiman and Charles stood there for a moment by the light coming from the bathroom; which was in a filthier condition than the rest of the house. The smell was over powering and there were dirty clothes, porn magazines, more empty bottles of beer and Anejo strewn about the floor and bed. Jorge was lost in a dream he would never remember, then he awoke to the taste of cold steel in his mouth, and when he opened his eyes up, he saw two unknown intruders standing over his bed. "Hello, Jorge." Bengiman said with a grave look as he shoved the barrel of his pistol in the frightened man's mouth. "Feel that? That's my .357 magnum Python, and if you, so much, as move an inch, I will pull this trigger." Bengiman smiled a strange gleeful, murderous look coming over his face to Jorge's shock and horror. He just barely noticed the other man, a handsome, blue eyed-devil, who was slowly rolling up the sleeve of his robe. Now Jorge laid perfectly still, not knowing who either of these men were, but, due to the acrimonious divorce, and all the abuse his wife had suffered by the words of his mouth and the deeds of his hands, Jorge instantly convinced himself this was all her doing. Sure his wife had sent these men here to get rid of him, so she could get his house and his money, of course this was not the truth, but old Jorge did not know that.
     Charles knelt down beside the bed, looking for a nice fat vein to insert the hypodermic needle, as soon as he did a strange ringing came to his ears and Charles felt a strange pain underneath his right shoulder blade, his pulse quickened, he began to perspire and the room felt now like it was 100 degrees. Wiping the sweat off his forehead Charles told Jorge. "Mr. Reynosa.., I want you take in a deep breath, and count backwards from ten, then you will be feeling much better and you won't have to worry about anything, anymore, ever again. Okay?" Charles said softly, as if Jorge was just merely going to take a little nap. Charles motioned for Bengiman to remove the weapon from out of the doomed man's mouth.
     "Okay." Jorge said in a voice as small as a little child "Just tell my wife.., Margarita" he said softly without hesitation, or protestation, saying  "I have always loved her.., and I am so sorry for the way I treated her." Jorge said this all without fear or any fright in his voice, as if he were, bravely, welcoming this death and he actually seemed thankful.., this was something Charles would remember when it came his time to die.
     "I will." Charles lied, as he began the injection of 40 units of succinylcholine {a powerful neuro-muscular blocker} "Now all you have to do is count back from ten.., then all your suffering will come to an end." Charles reassured his victim
      Now Jorge did as he was instructed, half dead already form the alcohol and misery he had poisoned himself with, lo these many years, so the last seconds of Mr. Jorge Reynosa's life were counted down by him "ten, nine.., eight.., seve..."
     Bengiman stepped out of the room as Charles monitored Jorge's vital signs, and after about three minutes his pulse rate quickly dropped, his breathing became very laboured and shallow, followed by complete respiratory paralysis. Time of death, 2:27 a.m.
     "Come on, we have one more appointment to keep." Bengiman shouted from the hallway.
    
   

More Chapter 23

     "Well.., Xation" Charles asked standing to his feet as Xation re-entered the living room "What did Felina say?"
     "She has agreed to see you, however, Felina would rather go to the island of Bermuda instead." Xation relayed the information to an enthusiastic Charles, and Xation was feeling very contented in his troubled heart, after hearing the sound of his sister's voice, for he did miss Felina terribly over the last year.
     "What did you tell her?" Charles asked as he sat back down while Hays and Bengiman listened attentively.
     Here Xation set his mobile phone down on the coffee table, letting out a sigh, then gave a quick smile sitting next to Hays on the long sofa saying "Well.., I will tell you." Xation cleared his throat as a little tear began welling up in the coroner of his eye "I told her that I could forgive her for what she did to my wife and my unborn child, if she could forgive me for making her stay away from the family for so long." Xation wiped away the bittersweet teardrop off his cheek, then he continued "I told her I want to gradually introduce her to my son, and slowly bring her back into the family. Starting with a visit from you. I promised to send you on my jet to pick her up and fly you two to Bermuda for an all expenses paid, two week holiday at the finest hotel.., for this is her reward for her patience and forgiveness."
     Charles smiled, thrilled that his little plan to be with Felina again had come to fruition, in an excited voice Charles exclaimed "Oh, thank you Xation, I can not wait to see your sister!" ans by 'see' Charles meant 'fuck'.
     "Oi.., Charlie." Bengiman said, using the nick-name Charles most despised, "What about Miss Lexa?" he said giving Charles a knowing look, for he was delighted Charles would leave the sexy woman alone with him for two weeks at the estate. Now the fact that Charles was going to fuck around with Felina would have normally bothered him a great deal, however, during Bengiman's time in Spain with Xation's sister, he wound banging Felina each and every day. Contented with having slithered back into Felina's bed once more satisfied Bengiman's libido, and ego, so he thought he would let Charles have Felina back, for a little while at least.
     "What about Lexa?" Charles said a tinge of indignation in his voice. "We're not married, I can go fuck whomever I like." he retorted with the sure feeling Lexa, herself, was losing interest in Charles.
     "Oh aye..," Bengiman smiled saying to himself, 'and so can she!'.
     "Let's go ahead and move on with our next course of action in this matter." Hays said as he sensed Xation was growing more uncomfortable with the idea of Charles fucking his sister again.
     "Yes, let's move forward." Xation said as he took the file on the Mr. Jorge Reynosa and Oscar del Diego, opening it up Xation handed the men's photographs to Charles and Bengiman telling them "Now they both need to be gone by 5:00 a.m., before our server comes back on line and the computers reboot. {Hays had encoded a virus into the main frame shutting down the system before Oscar returned from lunch, postponing their embezzlement meeting for the next day, but there would be no tomorrow for Oscar or Mr.Reynosa} "Bengiman, here are the addresses." Xation turned and gave the two men a stern, severe look saying slowly, as if he were speaking to children, "Now listen.., this is very important.., Bengiman, your job is to get Charles in and out of their houses.., safely, without incident. Charles, you are not to let Bengiman become involved in any way! We do not want a bloody mess on our hands! This has to be nice and clean, no blood, no fingerprints, no D.N.A. evidence! Just a simple injection of something strong, and deadly, that the coroner can not trace in an autopsy."
Xation and Hays both shook their heads in agreement, and Bengiman vowed he would not start any trouble during their mission, but Charles said nothing, only sitting there with a death-dread stare, gazing down at the faces of the men, his victims. "Charles?" Xation said getting no response. "Charles.., are you with us?"
     "What's the matter Charles?" Bengiman said with a wry smile "Don't have the stomach for it?" Charles did not respond with either a word or a glance.
     Hays chimed in "Come on Charles, it can't be that difficult.., I mean how many lives were lost because of you in the operating room? Oh and we mustn't forget those other two." Hays gave him a wink, and when he said 'those other two' Hays received his full attention.
     "Two?" Bengiman said a little confused, for he knew about the knife, but no one had told him about the nine iron.
     "I thought that was supposed to be a secret.., Xation!?" Charles said a look of anger, rage and contempt welling up in his heart and mind as he stood standing in front of Xation glaring down at him in fury.
     "Charles, clam down." Xation said as he stood to his feet, eye to eye with Charles, who looked like his head was about to explode.
     "Oh I am calm Xation.., calm like a bomb!"
     "Relax, relax!" Hays said as he too stood to his feet putting his hand on the irate man's shoulder "Charles, Xation had to tell me, we need to know everything about you for our file."
     "Charles we did not know if you would cooperate so we needed to have as much evidence to hold over your head as we could, that's the only reason I told him about the attack in Hawaii." Xation said giving Charles a sincere look of apology.
     "I knew it! I knew something happened on your trip! You fuckers lied to me!" Bengiman said absolutely gob-smacked Xation had kept the truth from him and he was so pissed of no one would tell him what actually happened.
     "Bengiman, never mind, now don't you get all riled up! We have a very serious matter to discuss and I need you both to be professional!" Xation said and then added "Or you won't get paid." Both men shut up and calmed down, sitting themselves back on the sofa, as Hays placed two small black leather satchels on the coffee table, the one for Charles contained $250,000, the one for Bengiman contained only $150,000.
"Now take this, follow your instructions and call me when it is finished." Xation said as he noticed Charles had gone quiet, staring off into space. "Charles, is something on your mind? Out with it.., what is it?"
     "I just have something to say.., to you Hays!" Charles said glaring over at Hays with a look as if to say 'I would be happy to skin you alive and cut you into tiny pieces' "I just want you to know and be aware of this.., Medicine is an EXACT science! And I did not always get the dosages for my patients EXACTLY right, but for the 8 I lost, hundreds made it through their operations with flying colors!" Charles said a thick vein on the side of his neck engorged with every pulsation of blood as he yelled "So just be sure to put that in your fucking file!" Charles said then he took in a deep, calming breath, as he slowly exhaled he stood, straightened his jacket and tie, placed his victim's file in the satchel with the money, then Charles went over shaking Xation's hand, saying "I will take care of this for you boss.., but when this over NO ONE is allowed to, ever, discuss this matter, and what happens tonight, with me.., do I make myself clear?"
     "After  tonight, we will all pretend that it NEVER happened! Comprende?" Xation said giving out the order of silence. All four men agreed and were united in their cause to put an end to the lives of the two men who could destroy Xation's reputation, fortune, and company. Even though these good men were only doing the job Xation hired them to do, this no longer mattered for the terrible secret had been uncovered and the discovery would cost both of Xation's employees their very lives. Murder most horrid, for the darkness that awaited them would be sweeping over the city soon. Tonight the Angel of Death would take flight and neither Oscar, nor Jorge, would make it to see the dawn's early light.
    
    

Chapter 23 continues

     Charles and Bengiman sat on the sofa in the town villa after driving the past hour down to Buenos Aires at Xation's insistance. Charles was extremely nervous, it was almost 5 o'clock and both men found themselves on edge. Charles stood, pacing back and forth in the living room, wondering why on earth he had been summoned down to the city. When Hays and Xation entered, in poor spirits, Charles soon had his answer. "I am glad you both could come down here to meet with Hays and myself." Xation said as he shook both men's hands.
     "What's this all about then?" Bengiman asked giving Xation a disapproving look.
     "Come.., sit." Xation said to Charles, who did not sit back on the sofa as this was where he first had sex with Felina, so Charles chose to sit, instead, over in a chair by the fireplace; which on this hot, late Spring day, in January, was cold, going unused. "Now.., this situation, that has arisen, requires, immediate, drastic measures to correct.., and keep my company intact." Xation explained in brief detail what was occurring "And the solution to my problem lies in your hands., so I have brought you both here today.., for I am in need of your help."
    Charles and Bengiman gave each other a concerned look as Hays sat on the sofa next to Bengiman going through a file in his briefcase as Charles asked Xation "What do you need us to do?" even as the words came over his lips Charles had a very bad feeling about this.
    So it was Xation explained the situation, in great detail, to both of them and when Charles realized Xation wanted him to virtually go and execute these two men, he was shocked into a temporary silence. After a moment, as many thoughts raced through his mind as he sat there, Charles stopped Hays and Xation mid-sentence and said "I am sorry..," Charles shook his head "I have become confused.., I thought we were friends."
     "Friendship has NOTHING to do with this!" Hays retorted.
      Xation gave Charles a concerned look telling him "Charles.., you are my friend., that is why I am coming to you! I need your help."
     "And what if I refuse and say.., no." Charles replied as Bengiman only rolled his eyes.
     Xation gave Hays a look as cold as the grave, then he sighed rubbed his temples as Hays stood, crossed the room, handing Charles the file, though Charles took it in his hand, he did not look at it, nor did he acknowledge the file, or Hays in any way. For Charles had seen all this before, and knew all the information contained within, though he did not know the reward for his capture and return to America had gone up to $500,000. Though this fact would not have impressed him. Then Hays looked down at Charles who quietly sat there, many thoughts racing through his mind as Hays said "Listen.., if you want to be any kind of a friend to Xation.., then you will do this, to help him protect his business." Hays let out a deep a sigh then gave Charles a slap on the shoulder saying "Or.., we can send you back to the States.., where you will most definitely end up in prison, just like your old friend Azir." Charles maintained his composure, but if he were less of a man he would have punched Hays in the face, and knocked a few of his perfect white teeth out of his mouth just for mentioning the name of his compadre in crime, but under the circumstance Charles said nothing, only sitting there quietly seething, Bengiman too sat there in silence watching the scene play out before him as Hays continued "After all the lives you've destroyed, Charles, what's a few more."
     This comment was just too much for Charles to take, he wanted, so bad, to stand up and knock Hays down to his knees, but Charles, maintained his composure as he looked up at Hays, all his words filled with venom and rage, as he explained "First of all.., medicine is an EXACT science.., and I, unfortunately, have not always been exactly right in my treatment and dosage of patients.., Hays.., Though I can tell you all, with out question, I may have lost eight of my patients, but out of those tragic cases, I have helped hundreds of people in the course of my duties as a trusted physician." Charles stated with great acuity as he sat up a little straighter in his chair, telling them, while he glared at Xation for this most unwelcome indignation of his professional character. "As for the last two.., that was NOT my fault,  those killings.., I only committed to protect Felina, as well as you.., Xation."
     "What..?" Bengiman said wondering what other person Charles was referring to, he was well aware of the knife but he had no knowledge of the nine iron, still not knowing about the attack on Maui the previous year. " Two.., what's he on about?" Bengiman said giving Xation an uncertain look.
     "Never mind." Xation said brushing off his question as he realized this was going to be more difficult than he imagined.
     "So this is what you want to do.., Xation, give me no choice but to help you.., or you would turn me in, send me back to prison?" Charles said the light of fury in his eyes igniting, like gasoline over fire.
     "No!" Xation exclaimed, stating "This is not what I want to do.., not at all.., but this is what I NEED to do, and you will help me, or I will be forced to destroy you." Xation said and when he spoke the words 'destroy you' the look in Xaton's dark eyes was as cruel and fierce as a servant of Satan himself, Charles could feel the flickering flames of hell engulfing his agonized heart and he knew there was no turning back. There would be no escape for Charles, nor his newly appointed victims. "So what do you say?"
      Charles remained silent, bowed his head, closed his eyes, as if in silent prayer, he was ruminating on how he could possibly work this situation to his advantage. So, as Hays and Xation, as well as Bengiman, waited on bated breath, Charles looked up as the feeling rushed that he was low indeed, full of despair, wishing he were dead he finally spoke and said "Fine.., I will take care of this matter.., however, I only have one condition."
     "Anything.., thank you Charles, I will gladly compensate you, anything you want!" Xation said elated as he stood going over to shake hands with Charles, who sat there motionless.
     "Oh Xation, you think it will be that easy?" Charles laughed then he looked up at Xation as he stood to his feet coming eye to eye with his 'friend' telling him "I want you to call your sister Felina.., I want to be with her again."
     The look on Xation's face went from jubilation to frustration as he did not want to speak to Felina, for Xation still harbored much ill will in his vicious heart against her, but he had no choice really for no sooner than he could respond Charles had pulled out his mobile phone and immediately dialed Felina's number. "Wait." Xation said trying to stop Charles from making the call but it was too late.
     "Felina?" Charles said as he rose up from his chair, his face radiant as he smiled wide at the sound of her voice."I'm sorry to be calling you in Spain so late, but I have some wonderful news.., I would like very much for you to come to Aruba with me for the next 2 weeks, Xation says it's okay!" Charles, his eyes turning a brighter shade of blue, at the thought of being with his most dearest, beloved Felina once again enraptured his heart and mind, for Felina could always make Charles feel, in a word, Divine. "Sweetheart.., someone here wants to say hello." Charles said handing the phone over to Xation, who had not spoken to his sister since she threw his beloved down the stairs.
     Xation took the phone from Charles recalling the last thing he had said to his sister 'Now you be a good dog and fuck off!', reluctantly Xation opened up his mouth saying 'Hello, Felina."
     "Xation? Is that you?" Felina said her poor, tortured heart melting at the sound of her brother's voice, as her eyes welled up with tears as she trembled in her bed listening to the sound of her brother's breath.
     "Yes, I am right here." Xation said as he walked out of the room so he could be alone in conversation with his sister, whom he had missed terribly.