Spoken Betrayal

[NOTE: Once again we were asked to pick one prompt. Once again, that was too easy so I picked all of them. | "You can see me?" - Centered around something hidden - Dialogue only - unreliable narrator/characters - Story with a big twist | Format: Chamber Play.]

“Well, he's been killed finally. I think we both knew this was coming. Wasn't exactly like Mr. Trembly was a good person."

"Too right. Rather miserable old bastard. I dare say while he didn't deserve it, it was easy to see coming."

"That it was. I suppose we should have something to say when the police arrive. Who'll believe we just wandered upon him and had a chat? They don't know him like we did."

"Oh, right… My Alibi is simple. I was having wine and cheese in the bar with my wife, Constance as one does. I've nothing more to offer than that, really.”

“Well, the lights went out, Jeffrey. For quite some time. Your beautiful wife aside, I’m almost positive that's about as useful to the police as Mr. Trembly's hat over there. Fallen by the wayside."

"Maybe they assume someone shot him at the door?”

"Would you assume that? The lights went out, we hear the door, there's a bang... Mr. Trembly's dead, Mr. Grableshire. You were at the bar having the hard cheese and an evening setter with the lady, were you? That’s your alibi? Come on. Don’t be daft.”

"Well what about you, Nathan?”

"The truth my good man. I'm going to say the truth. I saw him when the lights came on, just like you and Mrs. Grableshire did. Once you came upstairs anyway.”

"Mm... well, yes... I guess we can't really say more than that. Oh, my dear Constance must be so shaken down there, poor darling.”

“I’m sure she’s alright. Though… she has been rather quiet downstairs. Perhaps we’ll go and check on her in a moment.”

“Oh, I hope so. Quite an evening. You’re sure that’s all that needs to be said? Feels like we should be more informative. I don’t know. Considering the unpleasantness and all.”

"If that's all anyone saw, what more would we say? I can’t make up more than the events that transpired. Odd as they may be. Unsettling as the circumstances are.”

“Unsettling. Unsettling indeed. It’s a pity things had to go this way for him. Mr. Trembly I mean. I understand he was quite the athlete in his youth.”

“Yes. I heard the same thing. What did they say he played?”

“Well, I’m not from the same part of the country he was from. We both migrated to the states some time ago, but I believe someone said he was a footballer. There’s a picture above the mantle that corroborates that so I’d believe it.”

“Footballer… can’t imagine Mr. Trembly playing football. Rather crotchety old sort. Kind of curmudgeon you expect to be a pennywise old gold miser or something.”

“Well, he did get quite rich. No wife. No children… seems a dreadful life.”

“Well. I’d say we were the closest things he ever had to friends. Pathetic though that may be.”

“I won’t say pathetic… I will say it begs the question. What kind of person lives fifty-seven years and hasn’t a single friend but more money than they know how to spend?”

“I’m sure I’ll never know, Jeffrey. I suppose he was destined for grim times.”

“Mm. They are grim, true. I suppose it doesn’t matter. The police will be here in twenty minutes, likely the deputy isn’t close but he certainly isn’t far.”

“Certainly. Alright, Mr. Hard Cheese. As long as your wife downstairs says she saw Mr. Trembly the same time you and I did, we potentially get away with murder my dear friend.”

"What...? Get away with murder... Nathan, what are you talking about?"

"Jeffrey... you wrote me a letter. We've been communicating about this for months. Why are you surprised?"

"Dear God... I don't know what you're talking about, Nathan. Have you done this? This thing? Have you done this?"

"Of course, Jeffrey. As we stated in our letters. Mr. Trembly wouldn't leave the chateau alive tonight."

"No Nathan. It wasn't me. My wife writes all of my correspondence."

“Damn. That means the police will find two corpses by the door.”

“Two corpses… what are you talking about? Nathan?”

“Oh, Mrs. Grableshire… I thought you were downstairs… It seems you’ve brought a gun. This is the part where I say don’t shoot.”

“Constance! Oh thank God. He’s a madman! Hold him off dear!”

“Shut your sniveling mouth, Jeffrey.”

“Constance! Why are you aiming the gun at me?”

“This just got interesting, Jeffrey.”

“Shut up, Nathan! Constance, darling. Listen… he’s killed Mr. Trembly!”

“No, Jeffrey. I killed Mr. Trembly. Nathan just thought you did.”

“Constance! What are you doing, dear? My love? I thought…”

“I decided Nathan was more my speed, Jeffrey. Sorry it had to end this way, darling. I fired the shot. And I’m about to fire another.”

“Dear god, Constance why? Please!”

“Constance, maybe rethink this? This is your husband."

“He stopped being my husband when he started buying chocolates for his secretary.”

“Constance! It was nothing! She meant nothing, oh God!”

“Goodbye, Jeffrey. Hello Nathan.”

“Well… that’s the second loud bang I’ve heard tonight, Constance. I certainly hope there won’t be a third.”

“Nathan. He cheated on me. You can see me?”

“On the issue? Absolutely. Perhaps I should tell you why I had the recently departed kill Mr. Trembly.”

“You mean me.”

“Precisely. Mr. Trembly cheated on my mother. Jeffrey cheated on you… One stone, Darling.”

“Clever boy.”

“I hate cheaters.”

“What about liars?”

“Fine with those, Love.”

“Are you? Well then I suppose we have a couple of very specific realities to face.”

“I’m certainly fine with that, provided you’re willing to let me put my hands down.”

“Do they come down along with my gun?”

“That depends on what your intentions are, Constance.”

“Mrs. Grableshire. At least until after the police depart.”

“Mrs. Grableshire.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re quite a charming woman. Clearly, you managed to play the doe during this whole ordeal. How long have you despised your husband enough to put a bullet in him?”

“How long have you despised Mr. Trembly to have one put in him?”

“Well. I suppose about as long as we’ve shared the same last name.”