Hammer and Nail

His parents christened him William Clarence Hammer but at high school his mates changed it to Jack. Ever since he's been called Jack Hammer. He wasn't all that rapt, but hey, what can you do. The more you protest, the more they do it, so he lives with it.

He was born Edmond Russell Nail, at high school his mates decided it should be Rusty. Ever since then he's been stuck with Rusty Nail. He didn't mind all that much because you see, Edmond was a little different from the other lads and if they were making fun with his name they may not pick up on the fact that he was gay.

Jack and Rusty first met at a party thrown by a mutual friend and they were soon chatting away like old pals. Besides that mutual friend there weren't too many people at the party that they both knew and after about an hour or so Jack said "You wanna get out of here and go have a quiet drink somewhere?"

Rusty looked at him, smiled and said, " Jack, there's something you should know, I have to tell you, I'm gay and I don't think you are"

"**** no, I'm not. I'm sorry buddy, I had no idea"

"That's okay, I try not to be too obvious. And there's nothing to be sorry about."

"Of course not. Anyway listen, I'm going and if you think you could stand the company of a clumsy bastard like me for another hour or two, you're welcome to join me"

" Well, that's the best offer I've had tonight Jackie" Rusty winked provocatively.

"  Har, har. Very funny" and they left the party laughing.

But that was then and this is now.

"For fuck's sake Jack, we've been through this a hundred times. There is no other way" Marcia Hammer was finished shouting, now she was deadly serious and talking  through clenched teeth. " If we don't get that insurance money we're history and you know it"

" But Rusty and I have been business partners for almost fifteen years for Christ's sake. We've been through rough times before, maybe we can get through this" Even as he said the words, Jack knew he was kidding himself. He was remembering that first hardware store they opened in their home town. How proud they were when the signwriter had finished. "HAMMER and  NAIL  Hardware Merchants."

 They had opened two more stores in the space of three years and things were really good. And then two years ago, the recession hit. Builders were going out of business, two or three a week, leaving unpaid debts everywhere, including the hardware store. They had closed the two branch stores when the leases expired and now it was a major struggle to keep the original going.

Marcia looked at her husband, a big man physically but a weak, indecisive, easily led wimp in reality. Which had been good for her when she was spending his money as fast as he was making it, but now she had to get him to do her bidding and this time it wouldn't be easy.

 This time she wants him to kill Rusty Nail.

 Ten years ago the two partners had taken out key man insurance to the tune of five hundred thousand dollars on each other, and that was going to save Marcia's house and Mercedes car.

" He's a ****** Jack. A ******* pillow biter for Christ sake. No one but that prick he's living with will ever miss him."

Jack winced, he hated the way she resorted to coarse, crude language when she was angry. She had always hated Rusty, hated the fact she couldn't influence him with her flirting and sexiness. And on the rare occasions the four of them went out together socially, she made a point of completely ignoring Peter, Rusty's partner. The two men had been together for five years and were obviously devoted to each other. Jack believed she was jealous of their relationship, so much better than theirs.

" Jack, honey, you can do this" She had changed her tone, pleading now. " You're meeting him this evening at the office, arrange a day on the boat, just the two of you to discuss the winding up of the business. Maybe a spot of fishing while you're out there. An accident, Rusty goes over the side. Happens all the time. Think what a half a million dollars will do. Buys us time to work things out. Come on sweetie you can do it. Do it for me" At that moment, she knew she had him.

Friday evening, 7p.m. and Jack was sitting behind his desk. Rusty had been home after closing the shop, a quick shower and back again for the meeting. " We're in deep **** aren't we?"  Jack was nervous, he didn't like what he had to.

" We've been in the **** for a long time Jack, it's just got a lot deeper" Rusty stood up, walked to the bar fridge, " I'm going to have a scotch and soda, join me?"

"Sure, sounds good"

Rusty poured the drinks, handed one to Jack, " Cheers, here's to better days"

" I'll certainly drink to that" said Jack, and he did, in two swallows. " That really hit the spot, let's have another"

"Geez, you must have been thirsty, give us your glass"

" It's okay, I'll get the next one" As he stood up Jack lurched to the left and stumbled into the desk.

" Steady on mate, are you alright?"

" I dunno. Oh Jesus!" He was clutching his chest as he crumpled to the floor, first to his knees, then sitting.

" Holy **** Jack, I'm going to call an ambulance. You don't look too good"

Rusty grabbed the phone off the desk, dialled the emergency number. "An ambulance quickly, to the Hammer and Nail hardware store on main street. I think my partner is having a heart attack" By now Jack was sweating and tearing at his collar. Rusty went to him, took off his tie and loosened his shirt. " Hang in there Jack, please, the ambulance is on the way" He didn't know what else to do.

When the paramedics arrived they found Jack on his back with Rusty performing C.P.R. on him. " He stopped breathing about five minutes ago, please do something" And the paramedics took over.

" It's awful Peter, I just can't believe it." Rusty had rang as soon as he could, told Peter what had happened. " I'm at the hospital with Marcia, God knows what time I'll get home, she's waiting for her brother to come in"

" It's alright Russ, take your time, I'll wait up for you"

" Thank you Pete, I don't know what I'd do without you"

It was 1.30a.m. when Rusty finally got home. Peter was waiting and took him in his arms. " What a night you've had, you must be shattered"

Rusty said nothing, held his partner tight. Then Peter felt him shudder, disengaged himself, held Rusty at arms length and said " You rotter, I thought you were crying"

Rusty stopped laughing, " Why would I cry, everything went perfectly, that tablet you gave me done exactly what you said it would. Dissolved immediately in the whisky and produced a classic heart attack"  now they were both smiling, " You are one clever man, no wonder I love you"

" No good being a pharmacist if you can't bring  your work home. By the way how much do you love me?"

" Five hundred thousand ways"

" Well, do you want to stay out here and tell me about them, or shall we call it a night and you can show me?"

" That's a tough one, I'll have to think about it"  

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Posted by darknstormy 2008-01-23 07:57:46 .... Good twist although one somehow saw it coming ..... but maybe it's just me because it's the sort of thing I enjoy in a short story. + Report this comment

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