LADIES IN LEATHER GLOVES

A Night At The Opera Missed

Mrs. Jacqueline Van Horn stood in front of the mirror in the second floor bedroom of her Long Island estate and stared at the image looking back at her.  What she saw was a beautiful young woman aged twenty four standing 5' 9" tall with impeccably coifed long auburn hair.  The image she saw was wearing a magnificent extremely expensive black sequined evening gown that showed off her trim figure accentuated by a diamond necklace and matching earrings that cost as much as the GDP of several small countries.  As Mrs. Van Horn carefully adjusted her diamonds she was pleased with her appearance.  She would certainly be noticed when she and her husband Bennett Van Horn entered the Opera House that evening.  Only the great irony involved in that thought made her smile.  For Mrs. Jacqueline Van Horn secretly had no intention of attending the opera.  She had other plans for the evening.  As she carefully applied the last touches to her makeup she reflected on just how she got to this point in her life.

Two years ago Jackie Stenner was an ambitious chorus girl in New York.  She had looks, a modest dancing ability, and a hunger to lift herself up from the dreary working class lifestyle that was her existence.  One evening while she was performing in an off - off Broadway play she was spotted by Bennett Van Horn, a multimillionaire investment banker who enjoyed visiting the lesser known playhouses in the city. Van Horn, for reasons that can never really be explained, spotted Jackie immediately and couldn't take his eyes off her every minute that she was on stage.  You could say it was love at first sight.  This past middle aged widower of 62 years felt like a teenager again. He had to meet this young woman.  After the performance he went backstage and sought her out.  At first she wanted nothing to do with this man who was old enough to be her grandfather and she asked him to leave.  Later, however, a friend told her just who Bennett Van Horn was and, more importantly. how much he was worth. Suddenly Jackie became interested.  This could be just the opportunity she was waiting for, a chance to move up to a life of riches and elegance.  She got the word out that if Van Horn would call again she would be interested in seeing him.  When Van Horn heard this he immediately had his jeweller send her a beautiful diamond bracelet.  When the bracelet arrived Jackie knew what she had to do.  She had to get him to marry her so she could make this treatment permanent.  After three months of Van Horn wining and dining her, showering her with expensive gifts, and taking her to all the finest places, she agreed to marry him.  Love was never an issue in Jackie's equation.  The marriage for her, if not for him, was a simple business arrangement.  She would give him a beautiful young trophy wife to make him feel young again and to show off to his friends and she would live the life of the super rich.  It seemed like a perfect arrangement at the time. And for two years it worked out just as Jackie had planned.  The former Jackie Stenner became the estimable Mrs. Jacqueline Van Horn with all the lifestyle advantages that went with the position.

Jackie loved every minute of it at first.  But as the months moved on she began to feel trapped. She loved the lifestyle but she was stuck in a loveless (on her part) marriage to a now 64 year old man who shared none of her more adventuresome interests. Little by little she came to hate her husband for holding her back.  She had to get away from him but there was no way that she was going back to being a chorus girl.  What were her options? Divorce was out.  Van Horn would never give her one.  Taking a lover would only infuriate Van Horn and he would cut off her expense account.  She could wait until he died of natural causes but his excellent health would put that off for years.  No, she began to realize that the only way out for her was to take action herself.  The more she thought about it the more attractive the idea became.  Van Horn's will left everything to her.  His death would solve all her problems.  But how could she pull it off without throwing suspicion on herself? Suddenly, the answer came to her.  Before her marriage she had known a number of unsavoury characters who hung around the theatres.  Some of these men were known to have supplemented their earnings by home burglaries and armed robberies.  She still knew where they could be found.  Earlier that day she had gone back to her old neighbourhood and looked up Frank Danella.  Frank was a small time hoodlum who was not very bright and could be easily manipulated. Jackie spotted him standing in an alley.  "Hey, Frank.  Remember me?  It's Jackie from the old neighbourhood.  How've you been?"  Frank came over.  He looked at Jackie suspiciously at first then he finally recognized her. "Jackie?  Jackie Stenner?  Is that you?  Gee, what's it been -- a couple of years?  I heard you got married to a big shot.  What're you doin' back  here?"  Jackie smiled at Frank.  "Frank, I've got a proposition for you.  I need someone to come to my estate and break in while my husband and I are out to steal some very expensive jewellery.  It's an insurance scam.  You take the jewels.  We claim the insurance.  Later you and I fence the jewels and make a bundle.  My husband never finds out I had anything to do with it and you make five grand.  You interested?"  Frank had never been even near a job that could pay him five thousand dollars.  His eyes lit up. "Are you kiddin' ?  Yeah, I'm interested.  You just tell me what and where."  "Great, Frank. Now listen carefully.  Tonight my husband and I are going to the opera.  It' s a big event so everyone knows we won't be home.  The servants will have the night off.  I'll make sure that the alarm system is turned off.  I want you to come to my estate at 10pm. Here are the directions.  The jewels are in a safe behind the picture in the living room. You can't miss it.  But the safe is well made.  I can't leave it open for you so you'll have to bring your burglary tools.  Oh, and one more thing.  Can you get me a handgun. I may be needing it soon"  "For five grand I'll get you a f***ing cannon.  Come by here in an hour and I'll have it for you."  "Thanks, Frank.  Now, are you OK with the arrangements?"  No problem.  Sounds like a great plan.  What happens after I get back with the jewels?"  "Don't worry.  After a couple of days I'll contact you and we'll arrange to fence the jewels."  "Well, I guess that's it.  You can count on me."  "I'm sure of it, Frank." After an hour Frank returned with a .32 calibre revolver with the serial number removed.  "Look, Jackie, I don't know why you want this gun and I don't want to know but just forget where you got from, OK?"  "Don't worry, Frank.  No one will ever know." Satisfied with the arrangements, Jackie returned to her estate to get ready  for her big evening.

Suddenly, Jackie's reflections on her life ended when she heard Bennett call her. "Jacqueline, it's getting late.  How are you coming along?  We don't want to be late for the opening."  Composing herself Jackie replied, "I'll be right down, Bennett dear.  I just need another moment or two."  Jackie then put the final touches on her outfit for the evening.  She put on a pair of shoulder length shiny black kidskin opera gloves and then placed a gaudy diamond bracelet over her right wrist.  Now she felt completely dressed as she took one final look at herself in the mirror.  She called down to Bennett, "I'm on my way down now.  Please meet me at the bottom of the staircase so I can show you how I look."  Bennett replied, "I'll be right there.  I'm sure you'll be beautiful as usual." Having set the scene Jackie now assembled the last item that she would need.  She reached into her bureau drawer and removed the .32 caliber revolver that Frank had given her that afternoon.  She checked to make sure it was fully loaded and placed it into her purse.  She then left the bedroom and stood at the top of the staircase. Bennett was standing at the foot of the staircase.  He looked up at her and exclaimed, "My God, you are absolutely gorgeous!  You'll make quite an appearance at the opera tonight."  Jackie smiled at him for a brief moment and then said, "Bennett, there's been a slight change in plans.  I don't think we'll be going to the opera tonight."  Confused, Bennett said, "What are you talking about?  This evening has been arranged for weeks.  We're expected there. We can't just not show up.  Is anything wrong?  Are you feeling ill?  Can I help you with anything?"  Jackie explained, "Bennett, it 's like this.  You're an old man.  You're tired and I'm tired of you.  I've really enjoyed spending your money over the last couple of years and you've introduced me to all the right people and taken me to all the right places. But the downside to all this is that I've been stuck with you during all that time.  I really don't think I can continue this any longer.  So you see my dilemma.  I want and need to continue this lifestyle but I can't do it if you remain part of the bargain. I know you love me but in truth I've only loved your money.  So I've decided that there's only one way out of my problem."  With that Jackie reached her gloved hand into her purse and pulled out the revolver.

Van Horn stared incredulously at the lethal object pointing directly at him. For a moment the shock was so great that he couldn't speak.  Finally, he was able to stammer, "What are you doing?  I love you.  I've given you everything you've ever desired.  You can't mean what you've said."  "My dear, dear Bennett.  I know you love me and you really have given me everything that I ever asked for.  But, you see, you've outlived your usefulness to me. I just can't wait indefinitely for you to die and leave me your money so I'm going to have to speed up the process a little."  Jackie levelled the gun at Bennett and pulled the hammer back.  The movement made a perceptible  "click."  Bennett recoiled at the sound and threw up his hands as if to protect himself.  Jackie watched him without emotion. She spoke to him as he cowered in front of her, "Well, my dear husband, all things must come to an end.  I hope you've enjoyed your life with me because I surely will enjoy my life without you.  Now, it's time to say goodbye." With that, Jackie raised her left hand to her mouth and blew Bennett a last kiss.  At the same time she pulled the trigger with her right hand. BLAM!  The gun jumped in her gloved hand.  The bullet found its mark in Bennett's chest.  He let out a load groan, "UNNH!" as he recoiled from the force. Seriously hurt, he fell to the floor at the foot of the staircase and tried to crawl away from this woman who was now in the process of killing him.  Jackie watched him for a moment.  She then slowly walked down the staircase to where Bennett had fallen. Looking down at the wounded creature in front of her she noticed that Bennett was trying to speak.  "Is there anything you want to say now?  Your time's quickly running out." Bennett's lips moved but nothing came out.  "We'll I guess you 're through talking." Standing over him Jackie pointed the gun at his chest and fired again. BLAM! Bennett's body bounced from the impact and settled back on the floor.  Jackie the fired again, and again, and again BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!  until the gun was empty.  There was no movement from Bennett.  Jackie checked for breathing.  There wasn't any.  With a look of satisfaction on her face she placed the gun back into her purse and went into the living room, leaving the bloody and bullet riddled body of her husband lying at the foot of the staircase.  Now all she had to do was wait until 10pm for part two of her evening's work. Jackie sat down on the divan, lit a cigarette, and calmly adjusted her gloves.

As the clock moved toward 10pm Jackie went over to the desk drawer next to the divan on which she was sitting.  She removed a .45 calibre silver automatic from the drawer and checked to see if had a full clip.  It did. "How thoughtful of dear Bennett," she thought. "He always did want me protected.  Even to making sure that the gun he bought for me always had a full clip."  She placed the gun on her lap and waited for the door to open. Precisely at 10pm she heard the lock on the front door being jimmied.  She smiled.  Frank was as good as his greed.  After a minute or two the door pried open and Frank entered. He was carrying the tools he would need to break into the safe.  Jackie watched him look around and find his way into the living room. She waited until he spotted her sitting there.  Frank came around the corner and was shocked to see Jackie sitting alone dressed as she was.  "What are you doin' here?  You're s'posed to be at the opera with your husband.  How am I gonna pull off this burglary with you sittin' there?"  Jackie smiled at Frank. "Two things I could always count on from you in the old days, Frank, were your greed and your stupidity.  I knew you couldn't resist a chance for easy big money.  And I also knew you couldn't figure out anything past the time of day.  It never occurred to you that I could have pulled off an insurance scam without you and saved five thousand dollars.  That maybe I had another reason for having you come here tonight."  Frank was now completely confused. "What're you saying?  Why did you get me here?  I don't get it."   "Of course you don't get it, Frank.  But let me explain it to you.   This is the story I'm going to tell the police.  You see, while I was getting dressed for the opera in my upstairs bedroom two hours ago I heard a noise downstairs.  I thought nothing of it until I heard my dear husband call out that someone was breaking into the house.  Naturally, I did the first thing that Bennett had trained me to do.  I grabbed my .45 calibre automatic and waited to see if everything was all right.  The next thing I heard was a series of gunshots. I was terribly frightened and afraid for poor Bennett. But I just couldn't wait in my bedroom so I took my gun and slowly went down the stairs.  And do you know what I saw there, Frank?  I saw you standing over my husband's dead body with a gun in your hand.  You must have heard me because you looked over at me. You raised your gun in my direction and I had no choice but to defend myself. I was afraid for my life so it was either you or me.  A clear case of self defence."  Frank listened to all this dumbfounded. He looked at Jackie and saw her rise from the divan and point the silver plated automatic at him.  He managed to say, "No, you can't just shoot me ..."  Jackie said, "Of course I can, Frank.  In fact, I had to shoot you.  You killed my husband in cold blood and were about to kill me.  With your record, Frank, and the burglary tools that you brought with you my killing you will make me a hero as well as a very rich widow.  You've played your part very well so far.  Now the only thing left is to see how well you play a death scene." With that Jackie tightened her gloved finger on the trigger and fired slowly and methodically five shots into the chest and head of Frank Danella. KPOW!     KPOW! KPOW!     KPOW!       KPOW!   Frank spun around like a top with the impact of each hit and fell to the floor.  Jackie was enjoying the benefits of the shooting lessons that Bennett had insisted she take for self defence.  She walked over to Frank's body and confirmed that he was very dead.  Smiling to herself she reached into her purse and retrieved the .32 calibre revolver that Frank had given her earlier that day and placed it in Frank's dead hand.  Her gloves had prevented her fingerprints from being on the gun so it would be easy for the police to see the shooting of her husband to be the result of a botched burglary.  All that was left for her now was to play the part of a shocked and grieving widow.  Jackie went to the phone, dialled 911, and said in her most distraught voice, "Hello, police.  This is Mrs. Jacqueline Van Horn.  I want to report a burglary and the murder of my husband.