This Karen not only didn’t apologize when I righted the man on his feet, but when I calmly suggested she go elsewhere to buy her armful of heart attack items, she rounded on me. Her finger waggled like a worm on a hook in my face while the six-pack of beer cans rattled with the mistreatment of being shaken. Little did she know that prey rarely knew it was prey until it was too late.

I liked this particular convenience store. It was in a low-traffic area, there were no cameras on the property, and the parking lot was around the back of the store. When this Karen poked me in the chest, I knew she was coming home with me. There were many reasons I would take one bag of skin over the next, but usually, it had to do with my mood and the opportunity that was presented.

If I had a scale of respect, ‘Karen’s’ would be at the bottom of my list. They bothered me because they were the most aggressive form of liar, and it angered me when one thought they could speak to me at all, let alone touch me. She was lucky I didn’t rip her finger right off her hand in the middle of the store. Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I sighed and laid my finger on Karen’s lips. She’d been begging nonstop the last couple of minutes.

“Karen, if you’re not careful, I’m going to rip your tongue out while you’re still breathing.” She clenched her mouth shut tight, her lips trembling under my finger. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Why do you think I’m doing this, Karen,” I asked, my voice calm.

“I don’t know, and my name’s not Karen.”

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes at the level of her stupidity. “I know your name isn’t Karen, but you are one, and I don’t care what your real name is.”

A flash of intelligence or maybe just understanding passed over her face. “I promise I won’t be such a bitch. I’ve learned my lesson.” She nodded her head like that might help me to agree with her.

I nodded along with her and then shook my head no. “Just answer my original question.”

I stepped aside to retrieve the rest of my tools. When she spotted the leather case, she let out a sound that was part word and part incoherent animal noise. Once I unrolled the leather case and all my tools of choice were on display, she lost her mind and began hysterically screaming. I sighed when it became obvious this woman was not going to answer. My eyes roamed over her jiggling, stout body as she thrashed in the restraints.