SMOKING GUN
Things at home, weren't going well for Sergeant Nicolai Wollstock. He has a serious gambling problem and is completely in denial about it. Wollstock's a decorated policeman who had knowingly lost twice his monthly salary playing poker on a one-armed-bandit at the local casino the night before. His Russian bride Nikita is quite fed up of her husband's excuses even though Nicolai never ever told her about his gambling escapades. But, in his desperate attempt to hide it from her, he pacifies her with his lies but it doesn't help with her despondence.
His excuse are always "We are being paid late", or that "The commissioner didn't authorise the cheques and he will only be back in two weeks time", or "The banks don't do transfers over weekends", or "I lost the money somewhere" or "I forgot it in my drawer at work". This has always given him a reprieve until he wins again but he had steadily lost a lot more than he has ever won. Nicolai is the head of the liquor licensing and lottery squad, frequenting most of the casinos in Luggo Province, Prunsiak Russia, doing spot checks on gambling permits and checks on the legitimacy and physicality of winners. He is well know, well loved and well respected in the industry and as such has been allowed to run-up a gambling tab.
All the slot machines in the whole of Brunsiak are network by via leased lines, and gateways routers to a central data centre that houses all the gamblers information. Richard is a VIP client card holder which gives him credit of up to 5 million Russian Rubles, and considering his losses, he is almost at its limit. The house rule is, that should you reach or exceed this limit, the entire balance becomes payable with immediate effect, even though thirty percent is his salary is automatically deducted through a stop order system in favour of Goldbricks Casino on a monthly basis. Richard is on the verge of default.
Richard watches the digital display on the slot machine as it subtracts the last 5 Russian Rubles from his VIP card. Then his cell phone rings, sounding the ringtone he dedicated to Goldbricks Casino. He always rejoiced when he heard this ringtone because it signalled his winnings but today he didn't even look at the phone message since he is fully aware of what is about to happen. If he cannot make payment within 24hrs Goldbricks Casino will foreclose on his house and auction it off, as a return on their investment. He, his wife Nakita and their 22 year old mute daughter Natalia would then be homeless. If this happens, he will surely be dismissed from the police force, even prosecuted because he signed a non- gambling declaration when he was promoted to head of the liquor licensing and lottery squad. He would also have to declare himself bankrupt and since no policeman is allowed to go bankrupt and remain of the Russian police force, he will never be employed in the police force ever again. Nicolai saddened by his train-of-thought knew that he could not allow this to happen because it would be a disgrace on him and his family.
So while sitting in his car he decided to take his own life using his service firearm / gun and it would be as if he died on duty. He thought best to shoot a bullet into his brain from the area between his neck and throat but after several minutes of nervous thoughts he realised that Goldbricks Casino would still claim his house even if he's dead and that he would still leave his family in jeopardy homeless and they would still be subjected to disgrace. Question after question mill through his mind. What if the state decides not to bury me and burden my Russian bride Nakita with the expenses? What is the state decide to cancel my pension because of my suicide and deprive my Russian bride Nakita and daughter of an income? What if the casino keeps his Russian bride Nakita responsible for dept?
After a long soliloquy Nicolai went to Nikita's favourite Chinese restaurant Tien Sen, and booked a table for three. He then phoned her to meet him for supper. Both of them arrived, warmly dressed with smiles on their faces. It’s not often that they get such a treat because Nicolai is always cash strapped, and it just seemed to good to be true. Nakita ordered Peking duck and Din sum soup, Natalia ordered Crayfish salad, Prawn Chow Ming and Chop Sui. Nicolai ordered Hong Kong Roast Chicken with stir-fry vegetables. After a hearty meal, all three of them had more rice wine than any person should ever drink, then left the restaurant to go home. Nicolai stopped to ask Hop Sing the restaurant owner to put the meal on his tab. Back home, Nakita suggested that she was going to make them some coffee but Nicolai insisted "No my dear, you go to bed I will make it and bring it you." By the time Nicolai brought the coffee, Nakita was fast asleep in bed brought on by the rice wine.
He then looked through the doorway towards the couch in front of the TV. Natalia was lying fast asleep, snoring with her mouth wide open. So, Nicolai removed his service pistol from its holster placed it between Nikita's neck and chin without touching her and pulled the trigger. He then walked over to mute Natalia who was still sound asleep, put the gun into her open mouth and pulled the trigger. He then fell on his knees and started sobbing, holding his pistol under his chin with both hands as if in prayer, and pulled the trigger. Nicolai thought that taking the lives of his family and commit suicide would eradicate the disgrace but all it did was heighten it. It's just so sad that innocents have to suffer for the sins of others.
QUOTES TO PONDER ON
"When Gambling becomes a budget item you're in trouble"
"Gamblers lose their lives at a roll of the dice."
“Everything's a gamble, even love.”
"Don’t make your problems my problems."
"If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen."
"Cash today, credit tomorrow but tomorrow may never come."
"When it seems too good to be true, it probably is."
"Beware of the last meal for the condemned"
No comments:
Post a Comment