The Referral Game

but no haste was necessary. No doctor could repair the hole he had blown in his head. At least his eyes were closed. He had always been a gambler. Sometimes even when you bet on red and black, and think all your bases are covered, green comes up and the house rakes in your chips. Bill lost his gamble and checked out. It fit his personality, bet big and take your lumps if you lose without complaining.
    I picked up the gun and put it in my jacket pocket. Paula was a statue, staring at Bill’s lifeless form in horror. She turned her eyes to me.
    “He’s gone,” she said in a whisper. “It’s over.”
    “Yes Paula, it’s over,”
    She ran to me and embraced me. Her breath was hot on my neck.
    “Thank God Frank,” she said. “ I was so afraid for you.”
    She squeezed me as tight as she could. Memories of nights we were together flashed through my mind.
    “This has been a nightmare for me Frank,” she said.
    “I know,” I replied, as I kissed her forehead.
    “Oh Frank’ I never meant to get involved in murder. It was just supposed to be another scam,” she said. “I was scared of Bill then, just like I was today. He’s been acting crazy. I was frightened. You saw what he just did. He was completely unbalanced.”
    I nodded.
    “That could have been either of us. But I should have known it would be all right with you here. You’ve always protected me. Frank I think you’re been the only good thing in my life, the only pure thing. And now with all of this over, we can put the pieces back together.”
    “There’s still one piece of unfinished business Paula,” I said, as steadily as I could. My chest hurt and my left arm felt numb. “There’s one last act. I’ll call the police now.”
    “What are you going to tell them,” she asked.
    “The truth.”
    “You won’t do that,” she said. “You’ve protected me before, you’ll do it again.”
    “Not this time Paula.”
    She held me closer and looked up into my eyes. “Frank, you’ve kissed these lips, held this body. What is your heart telling you? You know we belong together. Don’t deny it. Remember what things were like before you had me? Do you want to live the rest of your life like that? The loneliness would kill you.”
    “Paula, we can’t ignore-”
    “Kiss me and tell me you can turn me in.”
    We kissed deeply. My thoughts wandered back to when I had first seen her. She had been so innocent, so trusting in me. But it had all been an illusion, a performance.
    “The letter has been written and sent,” I said. “I’ve already named you as Bill’s partner.”
    “You can say that you were wrong. That it was all Bill and I was duped, just like you.” I winced. “You could say that when you came here today Bill confessed the whole thing, clearing me, and killed himself because of what he had done to the two of us. You can say that he begged my forgiveness before he shot himself. The police would believe you. You could do it.”
    I had to admire her. She was making all this up on the fly and it sounded good. It sounded plausible. The cops, and more importantly a jury if it came to that, just might buy it. All she needed was me to corroborate it for her. Our testimony against a dead man would probably carry the day.
    “I could do it Paula, but I won’t.”
    “Think this through honey,” she said. “Think about our life together.”
    “That’s what I am doing Paula. You’ve left a trail of dead bodies in your wake. Your lovers don’t have a very good track record, Edgar, Bill, maybe even Silas, maybe that’s why he hated you so much. How long before I’m the next victim?”
    “It’s different with you Frank, you know that. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it too. You love me. Don’t try to make it into something dirty.”
    “I don’t know if it’s different with me or not. I’m not sure if you know yourself Paula. But I know one thing for certain. If I cover for you, and get you out of this jam, then I’d have something on you. And with a girl like you that means that I’d have to sleep with one eye open for the rest of my life.”
    “Frank, baby please don’t do something you’re going to regret. Honey, you’ll look back and realize this was a mistake and then it’ll be too late. Baby, please just love me like you used to and we can be happy again. I’m begging you.”
    Her voice was breaking and tears ran down her cheeks.
    “Give that performance in court and hope for a jury of twelve men. They’ll