Matt Shaw: A Sting in the Tale: A Collection of Short Stories

“If you go to the police, her cat will die. If you tell her about any of this — her pet will die… What happens is up to you and I’ll give you a couple of minutes to mull it over,” the woman had explained, “but if you love her — like you say you do — you wouldn’t want to see her crushed at the sight of her pet cat cooking in the oven…”

“You’re sick,” Shaun had spat at her.

“But I’m also a great fuck,” and — with that — the woman had kissed him.

That night Shaun slept with the woman. Around midnight, she got out of his bed and she disappeared into the night. He thought that was it. He thought she’d be out of his life and all she would be was a dirty little secret he’d have to bury from Frankie. But that wasn’t it. She had merely popped out and — a couple of hours later — she had returned. Cradled in her arms was a pet carrier. Inside that — Gizmo.

“Just in case you doubt me,” she had told him when she woke him up. “Tell her it’s over or I’ll cook the cat…”

* * * * *

“You’ll give the cat back now?” Shaun called over to the woman standing in the doorway as Frankie’s car disappeared over the horizon.

“Of course but — remember — you try telling her and I’ll get it back.”

The woman walked up behind Shaun and put her arms around him. She kissed his neck.

“So — fancy coming back to bed before you shoot off for work? Might as well start the day with a smile, yeah?”

The woman laughed as Shaun felt his heart break; already missing Frankie. He suddenly turned to the woman and pushed her away.

“Fuck you!” he yelled. “I’m not being blackmailed to be with you, you fucking nut!”

“Oh? Really?”

“You can’t stop me from telling Frankie. And — what’s more — you can’t stop us from being together. You honestly think you’ll get away with hurting her cat? You’re insane.”

He pushed past her, back into the house. The woman following quickly behind.

“Is that it then?” she called out.

“I’m phoning Frankie now,” Shaun said, storming through to his room. He picked up his mobile and started searching for Frankie in his contacts.

“And that’s your choice?” the woman asked. Shaun turned his back on the woman as he listened to the phone, waiting for Frankie to answer.

“Hello?” Frankie’s shaking voice came down the end of the line.

“It’s me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything I said. Come back and I’ll explain everything… I was being blackmailed. Please… I’m sorry… Look, I can’t talk now but if you come back… I’ll tell you everything. Just come back.” He didn’t wait for her to answer him back. He knew he couldn’t keep her talking and that it would be easier face to face. He turned back to the woman.

She wasn’t in the room.

“Where are you?” he called out.

She appeared in the doorway again. A look of hatred on her face.

“Well?” she asked. “Is your precious Frankie coming back then?”

“Hopefully,” he said.

“Should be interesting…” the woman said with a wry smile on her face.

“And you’ll give her her fucking cat back now too. That way we won’t have to phone the police. You can just leave…”

“If that’s what you want.”

“You’re insane. You know that, right?”

“Me? You’re the insane one. Turning this down? I could have taken your band so far…”

Shaun heard the sound of a car pull up outside. He looked out of the window and saw Frankie’s car.

“I could have made you famous.”

“Just leave us alone, you’ve had your fun…” Shaun pushed past her and hurried outside. The woman didn’t follow.

“Who is she?” Frankie asked as she climbed out of the car.

“Just come into the house and I’ll explain… You have to believe me — I didn’t want any of this. It’s you I’ve only ever wanted. You know that, yeah?”

“Just tell me who the Hell she is!” Frankie shouted. It didn’t matter what Shaun had to say — at the moment, all she knew was that there was a near naked girl in one of his tee shirts.

“You have to trust me,” Shaun took her by the hand and stepped back into the house.

Frankie gagged, “What the fuck is that smell?” she asked.

Shaun’s heart skipped a beat and he hurried through to the kitchen. The back door was wide open. The oven was on full. A stink of fur hanging in the air…

T H E E N D

Tina breathed a sigh of relief when the clock struck home-time. Her job as a receptionist may not have been the most active of roles but it didn’t make it any less tiring. Just over eight hours of filing paperwork, answering multiple phone calls and dealing with customer enquiries — she was ready to go home and have a nice relaxing soak in the tub, maybe even with a glass of wine. And a take-away. She was definitely ordering a take-away tonight. Her husband — Tony — worked nights and tonight was no different. After the day she had had, wading through a mountain of paperwork, it was the perfect reason to order take-away — not that she really needed one.

#notworthcookingforone is what she’d hashtag, along with a picture of whatever she had chosen to order, along with a second picture Tweet of a glass of wine to wash it down with.

#Rudenotto

“See you tomorrow!” she called out as she left the office, pushing the door open with her back and stepping out — backwards — into the street, clutching onto her handbag. Once outside, she turned and headed towards where she’d parked the car — hopeful to get to it before the heavens opened. Ominous dark clouds up above threatening to unleash a torrential downpour any minute now. Always the way — beautiful days right up until home time. And then, the blue skies were swallowed up and day become a very wet night. The only exception to this being the weekends. Then the days started wet and remained wet right the way through to when she turned in for the night; the clouds only parting come Monday morning.

#Godhatesme

She reached her little car just in the nick of time. A few splashes of rainwater had splattered down but not enough to soak her. She shut herself in and slid the key into the ignition before tossing her handbag onto the seat next to her just as a message pinged through on her mobile phone. Typical. A quick ferret around her bag and she found it. A message clearly displayed on the front of her iPhone; one of her most prized-possessions.

Free tonight if bored x

It was from one of her best friends; Shelley Atkins.

Sorry — plans tonight. Catch up soon tho? xx

Having tapped out the quick message, Tina pressed send and tossed the phone onto the seat where it landed next to her bag. It’s not that she didn’t enjoy spending time with Shelley, it’s just she had been promising herself that long soak in the bath and bottle of wine all afternoon. Sure, she could have enjoyed a drink with her friend and been sociable but — tonight at least — she just didn’t fancy it. Besides, despite being a romantic at heart, Shelley was single so Tina could always catch up with her at the weekend — especially as Tony played bass guitar in not one but two bands and, as a result, gigged most weekends.

Eyes facing forward, she turned the key and the car spluttered into life; a plume of smoke from the rear exhaust. She selected reverse, backed out of the space and drove away — leaving the car park behind her in the rearview mirror. She let out a heavy sigh as she settled back into her seat and made herself comfortable. Another day done. Two more days and then it was the weekend. And then it was Monday and the week started again. She dismissed the latter part of the thought and turned her mind to looking forward to the weekend.