Sherrie's Always Write

Talking Shop
By Catherine Dilts

The sun slants through the blinds, casting lemon bands of light across the bistro table. You lift the coffee mug to your lips. Pause.

“So how are you going to do it?”

Your friend wears a prim expression as she states, “Ligature strangulation,” in the same tone she’d use to utter “sugar cookies.”

“Hmm. I don’t know. Jack is a big guy. Maybe you need to slow him down first. A vase to the back of the skull?”

“Too violent.” She nibbles a pastry.

“Like strangling him isn’t violent?”

“I’m thinking more along the lines of a little something slipped into his drink.” Your friend takes a hearty swig of Earl Gray. She glances past your shoulder. “Oops.”

You turn to follow her gaze. The ladies at the next table send furtive, and nervous, looks your direction.

Do you:

A) Invent a movie title and…