Al had brought it on himself. Everything he had done to her over the years, she was back at him now. She was back at him for giving her only the house, the car, the stocks and that piddling amount of monthly alimony. Since he made it big after the divorce, why shouldn't she have more? She took him back to court, but Al had the bigshot lawyers and the judge in his pocket.
Her plan needed Ray Reid or someone just as simple. Couldn't just send the exterminator out to shoot Al. That's no plan, they would zero in on him immediately. She didn't want the police hunting all over for a suspect and somehow blundering onto the truth. Give them someone, hand them Ray Reid. Steer him to Al's apartment, and he'll make an ass out of himself, because he doesn't know what to say, what to believe. Plus he thinks she's lying naked somewhere waiting for him. The incompetent police, as expected, went for the stranger in town.
She had to give Sonny Barner credit, he pulled it off. She thought it brainless to fly off to Vegas the same day he shoots Al. Fortunately the police didn't make too much of it. People like him are always in trouble with the law and are smart enough to hold together when questioned. Other than that, he was just another worthless human being as far as she could tell.
At first, she was concerned about the deal. First, she offered him five up front and five after he kills Al. He said he'd have to think about it. Started in with excuses and talked about the complications. Wouldn't be as easy as she was saying, and on and on. Wanted more. She needed him; so okay, twenty thousand total, ten down and ten after he kills Al. That sounded good to him.
Now she had just saved herself the second ten thousand and eliminated the one person who could bring her down. A man like him doesn't deserve to have that kind of money anyway. What do people like that need money for anyway? There's nothing to buy in this little town. They don't know how to use it properly. They spend it on their junk. Barner would have blown through all the money in no time and then be back for more. Well, he won't now, and now there was one less foul-smelling man in the world.
Then a thought startled her and she sat up straight. The money, where was it? Did she put it back in the freezer? She hurried to the kitchen to check. Yes, it's in there, but-oh my God-the revolver was sitting on the counter where she placed it while putting the money away.