0 comments/ 134821 views/ 72 favorites Political Affiliation By: PAPATOAD Thanks to the Hip and Knee doctor for editing assistance. * It was lunchtime on Friday at the Peanut Bar. The Idiots Club meets here, once a week to share our miseries. The membership is not very impressive, just four middle age guys with one thing in common: our wives are each cheating on us. Bradley Cook, Ray Timmons, Karl Marshall, and myself, John Terrell, all went to high school together. We all married our high school sweethearts, and we all remained friends these past twenty years. Between the four of us, there are six children, two of them, mine. They are all either in high school or college. The four us had no trouble keeping busy, because we had mouths to feed and bills to pay. The wives, however, were in a different situation. As the children grew into their teens, the women found themselves with a lot of free time. They spent it together shopping and going on different daytime outings. For the guys, we were pretty much limited to lunch on Fridays, and an occasional weekend Bar-B-Q or party at one of the houses. Karl was the first to notice something was funny. At first, he figured it was just his wife, Betsy. He brought it up in conversation one day, and that opened the floodgates. None of us had anything definite that indicated that our wives were being unfaithful, but we all saw little things that indicated that something was going on. Bradley printed out a list of things that husbands should look for if they suspected their spouses were cheating. After going over the lists, each of us became paranoid. The weekly luncheon conversations turned into recaps of our wives activities over the past week. Soon, we felt that we were manufacturing things, just to fulfill some disastrous prophecy, which we were projecting upon ourselves. None of us had the guts to confront our spouses. We were married too long to risk alienating them if we were wrong. We were also afraid of the effect a wrongful accusation might have on the children. The biggest fear was that the suspicions might be true. Ray had a friend, who had a friend, who worked at a private detective agency. We paid four thousand dollars up-front, for one week of coverage. We all anted up our share and gave the guy pictures, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and type of cars. He was going to start the next Monday and give us a report at our next Friday meeting. It was going to be a long week. The girls were all pushing forty, but not there yet. They all looked good for their age. Karl's wife, Betsy, was tall and wore her hair straight down to her shoulders. There was no curl in her auburn hair at all. She had full bangs that came down to her eyebrows and made her eyes look deep and mysterious. That made up for her lack of body shape. She had small boobs and no hips to speak of, even after having two girls. Ray and his wife, Jenny, had one son, who was away at college. He was an accident, while they were still in high school. Jenny was the short one of the bunch, just over five feet. She was also a little hippy, but dressed well, to conceal it. She dyed her hair blonde and wore it up, to make herself look taller. It didn't work. Jenny had the best personality of the bunch. She could always make you laugh. Bradley ended up married to a feisty Italian girl named Carla. Carla had a body any man would die for. Her hair was dark, almost black, but not quite. It went well with her olive complexion. She never stopped talking. They had a daughter that looked just like her mother. My wife, Marcie, seemed to be the leader of the pack. Marcie was not as tall as Betsy, but close. She had naturally blonde hair and wore it off her shoulders. I always thought she was pretty, but she had some acne scars from her teen years, that she had to cover up with makeup. She was self conscious about them, and I was careful never to mention it. I wasn't the most handsome guy in the world, but felt lucky just being with her. By Thursday night, I was a wreck. Marcie was in good spirits and we had a great supper that night. My sons, Josh and Jordan, were out of the house by six o'clock, to places unknown. Their grades were good and they were never in trouble, so I didn't want to know what they were up to. Marcie and I spent the evening, alone in front of the television. That was our usual pastime. I was beginning to think that was probably where the problem was. I wasn't providing enough entertainment or excitement in her life. Of course, at this point I had no idea I really had a problem. Tomorrow, I would get the news, good or bad. I wanted to talk about it with her, but had no idea how to open the conversation. I sat there, deep in thought, most of the evening. Shortly after Marcie went to bed, the boys came home. We chatted about nothing in particular for a few minutes, and then they went to bed also. I got a beer and stayed up, watching some really old situation comedy shows, until I fell asleep on the couch. The TV was still on when I woke up in the morning. The boys were just leaving for school. "John, what is wrong? You seem out of sorts the past week or so. Is something going on at work?" Marcie seemed to be hovering. "No, everything at work is fine, dear. I just have a lot of other things on my mind." "Can I help? Is there anything I can do?" I slowly got myself off the overstuffed sofa and started up the stairs. "I am afraid it is too late now. What has been done can not be undone." I left her with that deep piece of philosophical dribble, as I went to take my shower. Thirty minutes later, I was on my way out the door. Marcie had coffee and a light breakfast ready, but I walked past her, without saying a thing. She looked worried and so she should be. The rest of the morning seemed to drag. I thought lunchtime would never come. Karl, Bradley, and Ray were already at the table when I arrived. I thought I would be early, but they all beat me there. We decided not to order any food, but all of us had a draft. Frank Perella was the "secret agent" assigned to our case. That was a weak attempt on our part, to attach some frivolity to what would otherwise be a gloomy endeavor. "Well, gentlemen, I have reports here from four different days and each of them involve a different wife. Does somebody want to go first, or should I do it day-by-day?" After we all agreed on the day-by-day, Frank started with Monday. "To start off, each of your wives is seeing somebody. In the first four days, we just gathered information on when and where. We don't have any hardcore photographic or audio proof, because that would cost you a lot more money, and take more time." He paused a moment, I guess for dramatic effect. "Interesting enough, only one wife would have an affair on any one day. The other three would be her cover. They all left for the day together and all returned together. If they were shopping, the three, who were not meeting anybody, would buy something for the one who was. I can only assume that if there were a problem of some sort, they would all cover for each other. Any questions so far?" There were no questions, so he proceeded. "On Monday, they all left together in Marcie's car. It was the easiest tail of the week. At ten o'clock, they dropped Carla Cook off at 321 David Drive, and then proceeded to the Berkshire Mall. I went back to the house on David Drive and waited to see what transpired. A fellow named Steve Springer rents the house. He works as a body man at Henderson Ford in Terrytown. We discovered later, that there was a cell phone call made to the house, ten minutes before Carla was dropped off. The same cell phone was used in all the other meetings. It is an unregistered phone, but we have the number. We don't know which of the women actually has possession of the phone." Bradley didn't look too well. He had a temper and seemed to be having a little trouble controlling it right now. Ray said something to him quietly, and he settled down some. "About three hours later, a call was made from the house phone to the cell phone. Ten minutes after that, Marcie and the girls drove by and picked up Carla. She dropped each of them off at their respective homes. That was it for Monday. Are there any questions?" Bradley was a bundle of nerves by now. "Can I have a beer?" We ended up ordering five drafts. Frank drank half of his beer and then continued. "On Tuesday it was Carla's turn to drive. They all went to Renninger's Antique Market, about ten miles out of town. After parking the car, they stayed together while they entered the market area. It was difficult to follow them in the crowded aisles, but it didn't take long for something to happen. There was a call made from the cell phone about ten minutes before they arrived. It was to the Dorchester Motel, across the highway from the market. Betsy Marshall slipped away from the group and left by the front entrance. I followed her, and watched as she crossed the road and entered room 114, at the Dorchester. Richard Tolliver had reserved the room the previous day. Mrs. Marshall stayed in the room for over two hours and then returned to the Market, where she met the rest of the women at the same spot that she had left them. They departed the market and drove home. Any questions?" I couldn't help myself. "Karl, who the hell is Richard Tolliver?" "He is our optometrist. I thought she was getting her eyes checked a lot lately." Karl slumped down in his chair, after finishing his beer. There were no smiling faces around the table. We decided to order another round of beer. "Betsy got to drive on Wednesday. They went to the Green Dragon Farmers Market. The cell phone call that day, went to another cell phone, but it was traceable. Rather than park as close to the market area as possible, they went to the far back of the parking lot, where the motor homes parked. The four of them walked through the RV parking area, but only three of them actually entered the market. I had to go back and try and find out what happened to Jenny Timmons. She was nowhere to be found. I wrote down the license plate numbers of all the likely vehicles she could have ducked into, twenty-three of them. My people were able to cross check the cell phone number that was called and the license number of the motor homes. Within an hour, I was standing across from a large Winnebago owned by Owen Zimmer. Mister Zimmer owns the Volvo dealership in Lancaster. Shortly after noon, Jenny left the motor home and joined the other ladies for lunch. They were all laughing and joking later, as they walked back to the car for the ride home." "Ray, you drive a Volvo don't you?" "Yeah. We bought it down in Lancaster last year. I wanted to do something nice for Jenny. That's a joke, but none of you better laugh." I was dreading what was going to come next. I was the only one left. I definitely did not want another beer. "Okay, Frank. I can't stand the suspension. What the hell happened on Thursday?" "Jenny drove the Volvo Thursday to the King of Prussia Mall. They strolled into the mall being very casual. Marcie made a cell phone call and handed the phone to Jennie. The Executive Suites are attached to the mall at the north end. The group migrated in that direction and then Marcie Terrell slipped away and entered the elevator. All we knew at the time was that she went up to floor five. It took several hours, but my people were able to check the cell phone call against the room registrations. State Assemblyman, Allen Hoffman, had rented room 511 the whole afternoon, for a business conference. At two o'clock, a call was made from that room to our mysterious cell phone. Ten minutes later the ladies were all back together again and leaving for home. That concludes my overview. We will be preparing detailed reports for each of you. If you decide you want more information, we will be more that happy to accommodate you." All of a sudden I was smiling to myself. Karl noticed and just had to ask, "What is so funny?" "Alan Hoffman is a Democrat. Marcie and I are both registered Republicans. I just thought that was funny." The rest of the guys didn't get the joke. Frank gathered up all of his papers. He had short, abbreviated reports for each of us. They were almost like a rough draft, but the important stuff was there. We all thanked him as he left. We were now alone in our misery. Nobody wanted another beer. Ray and Karl had already taken the rest of the day off. Bradley and I soon followed suit. Marcie's car was gone when I got home. Today was her day for grocery shopping. At least she did that alone. The boys were still in school. I took advantage of the empty house, and free time, to move my clothing and personal items into the guest room. I got downstairs just in time to help Marcie unload the groceries from the car. She never asked what I was doing home so early. She still had the look of concern on her face that was there when I left that morning. I tried to stay out of her way as she busied herself with putting the groceries away. She knew where everything went, but I didn't. In no time, she had supper started. She was a good cook and homemaker. Just as the boys got home from school, the phone rang. I greeted the boys with the usual banter as Marcie chatted. She put the phone down with a worried look on her face. The boys had gone up to their rooms. "What the hell did you guys do this afternoon?" "I am not sure I know what you are talking about." "That was Jenny on the phone. Bradley came home early from work today and started accusing Carla of cheating on him. It ended up in a fight, and Carla is now in the hospital. The police are talking to Bradley. Jenny called Carla's parents. Jenny said it was all because of some kind of meeting you guys had earlier today. John, what is going on?" "Why don't you tell me?" "This is not a time for you to be cute, damn it. I would like an explanation?" I took my cell phone out of my pocket and hit the new speed dial number that I loaded in earlier. I watched the blood drain from Marcie's face as the pre-paid cell phone, hidden in her purse, started to ring. I wasn't sure that she had the phone, but I took the chance. "Aren't you going to get that? It might be important." There was a short pause. "Oh God. You know, don't you?" "I know everything. We all know everything." About that time, Josh and Jordan came down the stairs for supper. "You are not going to say anything in front of the boys are you?" "I won't, if you will. Tell them everything, and I will keep my mouth shut. If you lie or try and sugar coat it, I will be forced to tell them myself. You won't like that." We started the meal as usual. I didn't feel it was necessary for Marcie to tell them immediately. It would be nice to finish the meal and then she could do it at a more opportune time. It didn't work out that way. Shortly after we started the meal, Josh opened up. "Why did you move all your stuff into the guest room, Dad? Is something going on between you two?" Both of our sons were watching our faces, but never missed a stroke with their forks. Marcie had no idea I had moved my things. "I'll let your mother explain it to you." Marcie was nervous. For some reason, I didn't think she would be able to do it, and I was right. "Your father and I decided that it would be a good idea if we spent some time apart. Its just temporary, and it's nothing you boys have to worry about." I placed my fork down on the plate and looked over at my wife. "I am sorry Marcie, but that is not good enough. Either you tell them the truth or I will." She was flustered. At this point, she still wasn't sure what I knew, and she definitely didn't want to spill the beans in front of her children. "I'm sorry, John, but that is the best I can do." Josh and Jordan had both put their forks down and were looking at us. The longer I waited, the more irritated I got. "Yesterday afternoon, your mother spent four hours having unprotected sex with her lover, at the Executive Suite Hotel in King of Prussia." The table was silent. Marcie was aware that I knew everything. She was looking down at her plate, not wanting to make eye contact with any of us. It didn't appear as if she was breathing. The boys both got up, and walked out the front door together. "That was cruel, John. You didn't have to do that." "I gave you a choice and you didn't take it. After what you did to me, that was not cruel. I'll move out of the guest room, as soon as I can find an apartment." Marcie finally started crying as she ran upstairs. I cleaned up the dinner dishes. Nobody ate anything, so it all went into the trash. I was loading the dishes in the dishwasher, when she came downstairs with a small bag. She paused before she walked through the door. Without turning, she quietly said: " It wasn't unprotected sex. We always used condoms." That was a guess on my part. At least the accusation successfully forced an admission of guilt out of her. "Where will you be?" "I am going to stay with Janice." I watched as she got into her car and drove to her sister's house. It was after midnight when the boys got home. I was sitting in the living room with my fifth beer. They looked at me and went upstairs, without saying a word. I was still on the couch the next morning, when I heard the doorbell ringing forever. It was just a short stumble, to discover that Ray and Karl had coffee and Danish. Karl set the coffee and Danish out on the kitchen table. We sat silent for a few moments and then Karl broke the ice. "Bradley is still in jail. He is waiting for his parents to bail him out. Carla was released from the hospital and she, and her daughter, moved in with her parents. We don't know if she is going to press charges or not. It's a shame that a grown man has to call his parents for bail money." "How about you guys? How are things on the home front?" Karl went first. "There was a message on our answering machine when I got home today. Jenny called and left a message for Betsy, that I knew everything. I checked the house and half of her clothes were gone, along with her personal stuff. I don't know where she is. Thank goodness the girls are away at school. That's all I got." Ray didn't want to talk at all, but felt obligated. "Jenny left me a note stating that she was going to be visiting her parents in Frackville for the weekend. She said she would call when she got there. There was no call." "Well, I am in the same boat. Marcie and I had words last night, part of it in front of the boys. Rather that talk it out, she packed a bag and went to her sister's place. I don't know when I will hear from her." "John, how did they find out that we knew?" Karl was concerned because everything got out of hand. "I am guessing that Bradley confronted Carla as soon as he got home and she was able to call Jenny, before things got rough. I know that Jenny called Marcie about suppertime. I bet that is when she left the message for Betsy also." "What about the guys? Does anybody know anything about what is going on with the shit-heads who caused this?" Ray seemed to be getting a little hot about the situation. We spent the next few hours commiserating about our problems. Josh and Jordan came down for breakfast and listened in on the conversations, but said nothing. I decided not to hide anything from them. After Karl and Ray left, the boys and I had a heart-to-heart talk. They wanted to stay in the house until they finished school. Both of them preferred to spend that time with me, instead of their mother. I did nothing to taint her name or image. I did not try to influence them in any way. It didn't seem to matter. The boys and I spent Sunday doing yard work. The mowing, edging, and the pruning that seemed to always get put off. We were trying our best to kill time. Nothing was said all day about the family situation. Marcie did not call. Bradley called to let me know he was out on bond. Carla had a restraining order against him. Political Affiliation It seemed sort of funny that the four guys, who did nothing wrong, were having to pay for the shit that their wives did. Something was wrong with the whole scene. Things didn't get better the next day. I was thankful that Josh and Jordan were old enough to take care of themselves. Josh would be leaving for college in three months, and Jordan would be gone next year. Bradley showed up at the house before I left for work. We went to the IHOP together for breakfast, and to update each other. Carla agreed to drop the charges against Bradley if he agreed to a no fault divorce. As far as he was concerned, it was a no-brainer. He was going to start the paperwork right after we finished eating. I was going to have to take some kind of action, because in my mind that the marriage was over. Each of us had our own problems to work out, but Bradley and I thought a meeting of the four of us might be a good idea. I agreed to buy the pizza if they brought the beer. Work was a struggle for me. Joyce, my trusty secretary, tried to find out why I didn't come back to work Friday afternoon. She dropped it when she saw that I was not responsive. The big surprise came just before noon. "Mister Terrell, my name is Nelson Neuse and I am from the State Attorney's Office." He was fat and had a bad case of rosacea. You could see the sweat beads between his thinning hair and on his forehead. I decided not to shake his hand. "What can I do for you?" "This is a cease and desist order that is being served on behalf of the state. You are hereby ordered to stop all inquiries into the private life of State Assemblyman Allen Hoffman. Any future intrusions will result in criminal prosecution by the state." He handed me a manila folder that obviously held some legal papers. "I am sorry Mister Neuse, but I was under the impression that Assemblyman Hoffman was a public figure, and as such, open to such inquiries." "Are you a lawyer Mister Terrell?" ""No." "Than I suggest you read the order and don't make any waves." He had a sarcastic smile on his face as he said that. I leaned back in my chair and smiled right back at him. He suddenly seemed a little unsure of himself as he walked out of the office. I took the rest of the day off. There were four major TV stations in the Philadelphia area that served three states. There were three smaller stations in the surrounding towns. It took an hour to drive to Philly. Three out of the four stations were more than happy to hear about the cease and desist order, and two of them even taped interviews with me. I pulled no punches, and unfortunately had to paint my wife with the same brush that I painted Hoffman with. The TV station, that wasn't interested in the information, was extremely liberal, and did not want to rattle any Democratic Party chiefs. I hit the three smaller stations on the way home, but they had already obtained the information off the wire service. Just as I pulled into my driveway at home, I heard the Assemblyman's affair being discussed on a talk radio show. I didn't do any more inquiries into Allen Hoffman's love life, but I did tell everybody what I already knew. He chose the game, and I just agreed to play. Any legal action that the state, or the Assemblyman, decided to take would just elevate the situation. Marcie had come home in my absence and removed all of her clothing and personal effects. She had made her intentions very clear. She left a note explaining that she would be staying with her sister indefinitely. I had no choice but to remain in the house with the boys, which was fine with me. Tomorrow would be a good day to go to the bank, if it wasn't too late. I also had to see a lawyer. Josh and Jordan got home from school and immediately left for someplace else. Things were amicable between us, but they preferred the company of their friends. Shortly after five o'clock I got a frantic call from Marcie. She never said what she wanted and just seemed to be content ranting about how despicable I was to air our dirty laundry that way. I tried to explain what her boyfriend had done to set things off, but she didn't want to hear it. Apparently, it didn't matter what the circumstances were, I was to blame for everything. This was beginning to be fun. Karl, Bradley, and Ray showed up shortly there after. I ordered the pizza and we settled in for a long evening. Richard Tolliver had disappeared and taken the last months deposits from the Super Lens Optical with him. It amounted to over sixty thousand dollars. Since he was the manager, not the owner, the money was not his to take. Karl felt fairly certain that Betsy was with him. Karl had canceled all his credit cards, but not before she used one at a motel in Indiana. He notified the authorities of the card use. Bradley had gone past the house at 321 David Drive and found it empty, so he drove by the body shop where Steve Springer had worked. Bradley was sure Springer would have a final paycheck coming and would leave a forwarding address. He told them that he was Steve's landlord and wanted to mail his rent deposit check to him. They were more than happy to give him the address. As soon as the divorce paperwork was completed, Bradley was taking a trip to Nitro, West Virginia. We all wished him the best of luck. Ray had a silly little grin on his face, as he told us about Jenny's Volvo disappearing. It had been parked in front of her parent's house in Frackville. The car was insured of course, but the payoff was more that the present appraised value. Jenny still hadn't called him and nobody notified him about the missing car. He promised us that Owen Zimmer would be hearing from him shortly. I have no idea what he did with the car. After I recapped everything concerning the TV exposé of Allen Hoffman, we discussed ways we could help each other. We decided to call it a night when we ran out of beer. Before I got the place cleaned up, the boys were home. They were getting a lot of flack about their mother and they were not happy. I had no idea what I could do to help them. I never got to work the next morning. Joyce called me on my cell phone, before I arrived. There were some state officials and police officers, waiting for me at the office. She told them I would be in Baltimore the rest of the day. She also notified the personnel office that I was taking a sick day. I spent the rest of the morning with my lawyer. For most of the afternoon, I was at the bank. If there were any state officials looking for me, they didn't do too good a job. At about three o'clock I got a phone call that I wasn't expecting. "Jack Terrell? This is Alice Hoffman." "Actually, it's John, but I'll answer to anything. What can I do for you?" "Meet me at Luciano's, in the bar, at five o'clock. I'll recognize you." "Any special reason?" "I think we can be of help to each other. No more questions now. I'll see you at five." That was totally out of the blue. I had seen pictures of Alice Hoffman, on the news and in the newspaper. She was the power behind her wimpy husband. She came from money and knew how to use it. I had a strange feeling that Allen had over-stepped his boundaries this time. Alice Hoffman always had perfect hair and makeup. She always wore the best clothes. The term 'high maintenance' was created with her in mind. Maybe Marcie wanted to take her place, but Allen Hoffman did not have the money, Alice did. I stopped by the house to get a clean shirt and tie, but couldn't get in. Two official looking cars were parked in front of the house. She would have to meet me sweaty and dirty. I had no trouble at all finding Alice Hoffman in the restaurant. A big goon, in a dark suit, met me at the door and escorted me to a very private corner booth. "Do you mind if I call you Jack?" "Not at all. My father always calls me Jack, but he is the only one." The light was dim but I could tell her hair was blonde with bits of silver. It wasn't dyed. She was over forty, but carried it well. Her attire was simple; a white blouse and a beige skirt. She wore a crystal heart on a silver chain that seemed to tie the whole picture together. "I wanted to thank you for the great job you did embarrassing my husband. I couldn't have done better myself, though I wanted to. However, I am sorry for the price you had to pay. For a loving husband, it must be terrible to find out something like this." "It was not my intention to humiliate you or your husband. I would have been content if everything would have remained low key. I am afraid your husband pulled the wrong string. I don't respond very well to threats." "I understand. I am not humiliated or embarrassed, Jack. If anything, I am relieved. I was getting ready to dump the lout, but I couldn't do it without looking vindictive or shrewish. You solved that problem for me. Since you are already committed, I was hoping we could help each other." "You want me to look like the bad guy, so you can get a divorce?" "Exactly. Can you handle it?" "How do you help me in this operation?" "I have videos, three of them, to be exact, of your wife and my husband. They are very high quality and very explicit. I will be glad to give you copies that you can use for your divorce if you promise to make them public, somehow." "That would be a rotten thing to do to my wife. I don't mind screwing over your husband, but I would be hard pressed to do something like that to my wife, no matter what she did." "You might change your mind after you watch them. The conversation between Allen and your wife on the last tape is not pleasant. Some of the comments are hurtful and cruel. I found it difficult to believe that a woman could be married for twenty years to a man, and think so badly of him. They didn't treat me any better. I would prefer it, if you could consider my feelings a little, when you decide to make the tapes public. It is your choice in the end, however. I'll trust you to be fair." "Now I am starting to feel bad. Can we get something to drink?" Alice waved her hand and a waiter appeared from nowhere. We sat silent for a few minutes until the drinks arrived. I was deep in thought and she was nervously waiting for my response. I gently squeezed the slice of lime in my gin and tonic. Without the lime, it is just booze and soda. I thought about what she said was on the tapes. "Okay. I'll do it. " It was worth it, just to see her eyes light up. Allen Hoffman was a jerk, not to realize what he had right at home. He was a stupid, stupid man, who just threw his life away. "Jack, I will see to it that you are no longer bothered by any state or local police agencies. My husband may hold the position, but he doesn't have near the power he thinks he has." She slid three CD's across the table to me. "Make copies of these and edit them anyway necessary. The third one has some phone conversations also. I am hoping it will be a fun project for you. Feel free to use the Internet, if you think it will help. I know you have two sons, so don't do anything that will embarrass them." "I am not going to embarrass you, am I?" "I am not on any of the video's. I might get my feelings hurt, but I won't be embarrassed." I got the feeling our meeting was coming to an end. "Will I get to see you again, Mrs. Hoffman?" "Do you think it is necessary, or is it something you just want to do?" "I'm sorry. It was out of place for me to say that. It didn't come out like I meant it to." "Oh, now my feelings are hurt." We both smiled. I put the CD's in my pocket and got up to leave. "Friday, seven o'clock, at this table. This time we will eat. Is that Okay?" I smiled and nodded. For some reason I felt guilty, but I liked it. The black cars were gone when I got home. Josh and Jordan had prepared a diner, of sorts, for us. It was all stuff that they liked and not very balanced, but I appreciated the effort. We watched a pay-per-view movie later. I stayed up all night editing the videos and phone conversations that Alice Hoffman gave me. The three videos were boring for the most part, with short spurts of the good stuff. She lied about the condoms. What hurt most, was watching Marcie's face as Allen sodomized her. The back door was always off limits to me, yet he got to use it at each of the three sessions that were recorded. She denied it to me, but definitely enjoyed doing it with him. During a break, she reminded him how lucky he was to get something that she didn't even share with her husband. There was also a blowjob each time they met, in fact the last time he was pleasured orally, twice. Marcie actually seemed to enjoy giving deep throat and was very good at it. The comments that Alice felt would bother me hurt me deeply. However, some of them felt a little insincere, as if Marcie was telling him what he wanted to hear. Of course it didn't matter, because the results were the same. At the end of the last recording, Allen was talking to a friend of his on the phone, after Marcie had gone. It was a short conversation and only one side was recorded, but it was significant enough that I made a separate copy of it to play back for Marcie, if the situation called for it. I got to go back to work the next day, and I was tired from being up most of the night. I thanked Joyce for covering for me, with a nice bunch of daisies, her favorite. By this time, she knew what was going on, as did everyone else in the building. I couldn't tell if I was being considered a hero or a chump. One of the TV stations, from Philadelphia, agreed to come and see me about the sex videos. That saved me a trip and an afternoon. The TV reporter, who picked up the edited CD, was excited to get it. He very carefully explained that almost all of it could not be viewed on public television. Of course, I fully understood. I casually asked if the rest of it might accidentally end up being displayed somewhere else. He smiled to indicate that he knew what I meant, without saying it. Since he seemed receptive, I gave him a second CD that contained far more graphic images. He shook my hand and promised that everything would be taken care of to my satisfaction. Josh and Jordan both had high enough SAT scores to make college entrance a snap. Unknown to dear old dad, Jordan had applied for early admission based on his scores. All he had to do was get a GED, instead of another year of high school. I wasn't thrilled with the idea, but he set it all up and felt confident. So, now, I would have both of them starting Penn State at the same time. I took out a second mortgage on the house and prepaid both tuitions for four years. That took all of our savings and all of the equity Marcie and I had in the house. I was now ready to set the terms of the divorce. My wife would not be happy. I was falling behind at work. Joyce was doing a great job covering for me, but she couldn't keep it up forever. Marcie called to complain about the credit cards that no longer worked. I took that opportunity to tell her she would have to start using her pre-paid cell phone, because I was canceling her regular cell phone later that day. That night, I told the boys that there might be some disturbing videos of their mother on the Internet. They were not thrilled, but indicated that I had their support in whatever had to be done. The next morning, Marcie was waiting outside, until Josh and Jordan went to school and then knocked on the door. She sat at the kitchen table, and I gave her a cup of coffee. "John, can we stop this? Everything is getting out of hand. I am afraid to look at the TV or even go out of the house. I heard a rumor that there are some pictures posted on several web sites. This is not fair, John. I know I did something wrong, but I was careful and discreet, so that you wouldn't be embarrassed or hurt." "Your attempt to be careful didn't work out too well, did it? Do you have any idea how much embarrassment you caused your sons?" "I didn't do that, you did. When you made all this public, you ruined everything." "I think that would have been good to keep it quite. I told you before, I would have been very happy to do that, but when your lover decided to threaten me, I was forced to change my mind. What ever made you hook up with such a despicable character in the first place?" "He was not despicable. He was understanding and caring. You took me for granted. He appreciated me. He flattered me and made me feel good about myself. After being with him, my self-esteem was always high for several days. He was not despicable." It was disturbing to listen to my wife justify why she was unfaithful. The sad part was, that she was completely wrong about his feelings for her. I knew it would be cruel, but I felt it was time to stop her from living in her fantasy world. I took the small digital play back unit out of my pocket and placed it on the table. "This was a telephone call that Allen Hoffman made to a friend, the last time the two of you got together. I am sorry, but under the circumstances, I feel obligated to play it for you. I don't feel that it is fair for you to blame me for what you did. For twenty years I treated you with decency and respect, and you threw it away for this guy." I pushed the play button and watched her face, as Allen Hoffman started to talk. It was a one-way conversation. "Hi Greg. Sorry I'm running a little late." (pause) "Fabulous, as usual. It's a nice way to brighten a cloudy day." (pause) "I don't think so, buddy. She a great fuck, but there is no way I would be seen in public with her." (pause) "Behind close doors, with the lights turned down, she a bomb, but that is as far as it will ever go. The only reason I am still seeing her is because she has a nice tight asshole and gives great head." (pause) "I know, but her face looks like somebody attacked her with a cheese grater. Hell, I think she puts her makeup on with a paintbrush. That's why I always try to keep the lights down." (pause) "I don't know if she is up for a threesome, but I can suggest it the next time we hook up." (pause) "No, that is Okay. I should be there in about twenty minutes." (click) Marcie sat silent, staring straight ahead. She wasn't really looking at anything, just staring. Her eyes looked like they were misting up. I knew the recording hurt her. In all the years we were married, I was careful not to bring up the subject of her teen acne, and the scars and pock marks she was left with. I could never hurt her that way. She focused her eyes on me. "I didn't need to hear that. What the hell did you think you would accomplish, by playing that tape? At least I thought I could get out of the whole fiasco, with some pleasant memories, but now you even ruined that." It was amazing. Allen Hoffman, my wife's lover, reveals his true feelings about her, and she gets upset with me. "I never made a remark to you or to anyone else about your complexion in twenty years, and you still prefer to side with this weasel." I put the recorder in my pocket and stood up, to leave. She was still sitting at the table, staring straight ahead, as I turned, "Why the hell did you lie about the condoms?" I didn't expect an answer and I didn't get one. After I got to work, I called my lawyer and told him to deliver the divorce papers as soon as he got a chance. We decided to use infidelity as the reason, instead of anything milder. Karl called and set up a lunch meeting. Joyce seemed a little full of her self, because she found two web sites with video of my wife and Assemblyman Hoffman. I was sure they would not be up too long, because they hadn't met any of the privacy requirements, but by the time they were taken off, the damage would have been done. According to the local television station, Allen Hoffman was on an unscheduled vacation to the Bahamas. There was no statement for the press available. Political Affiliation Lunch with Karl was interesting. Betsy and Tolliver were picked up in Kentucky, near Fort Campbell. Some local cop was doing random checks on out-of-state license plates and running them just for practice. As luck would have it, Tolliver's number was a winner. Karl had no idea what was going to happen, but he seemed to be enjoying the situation at the present time. They called him to verify her identity, but there was no indication that any other action was necessary on his part. Bradley borrowed a car from somewhere, and headed for Nitro, West Virginia. We didn't know what he was planning to do, and didn't want to know. Good luck to him. Neither Karl nor I had seen or heard from Ray in several days. The rest of the day was quiet and uneventful. A realtor friend of mine was dropping by later, to take a listing on the house. With the boys getting ready to go, and me alone, I didn't need it. I was just hoping that after the real estate fees and closing costs, there would be enough left so I wouldn't have to put anything out of pocket. The television news that night was interesting. It seems that a three hundred thousand dollar motor home burnt to the ground, in the parking area, of the Green Dragon Market. The motor home belonged to Owen Zimmer, a Lancaster businessman. Arson was suspected. I actually laughed to myself, as I got a beer from the refrigerator. It was good to see that Ray wasn't taking any of this crap lying down. There was a Steven Seagal marathon that night. Hell, every night, there was a Steven Seagal marathon. I checked to make sure I had enough beer. I had no idea where my sons were. Friday was a slow day at work, which I appreciated. Marcie called after lunch, about the 'for sale' sign on the front yard. I told her she could take any furniture she wanted from the house, and that we would split the profit fifty-fifty. She didn't protest the sale of the house. I think she realized at this point, that there was no going back. She had no idea Jordan was getting early admission at college. I guessed from that tid-bit, that the boys were not talking with their mother. She called again later that afternoon, when she got the divorce papers. I told her we could talk the next day. She seemed unhappy with the reason stated on the forms. I was looking forward to supper that night. Alice Hoffman was in the same seat as she was the last time I saw her. This time, however, she looked radiating. As usual, her hair and make-up were perfect. The dress she was wearing was appropriate for the occasion, as well as flattering. I suddenly realized that I was checking her out as I walked up to the table. "I didn't see your assistant when I walked in." "His daughter has a piano recital tonight, so I gave him the evening off. You might have to give me a ride home later, so watch your drinking." For some reason, that sounded like an invitation, which was awkward because the lady hardly knew me. "I don't think a little wine will hurt, John. Do you have any preference?" "I am not a wine connoisseur, but I would be happy with a rose, Portuguese, if they have it." "How very utilitarian. This could end up being a cheap date for me." A few moments later, we were sharing a cold bottle of Lancer's. I sipped a little and smiled. "Since it is a date, as you said, than I am afraid I will feel obligated to pick up the tab. Please, don't order the lobster." The conversation stayed light and pleasant for most of the evening. At one point, Alice mentioned that it would help her divorce, if she could get some sort of statement from Marcie attesting to the affair. I promised to talk to her about it. We never ordered another bottle of wine, but switched to coffee. Alice did not order lobster, and I did end up paying for the evening. I drove her home and escorted her to the door. She did not invite me in but I did get a quick kiss on the cheek. She didn't protest. Everything ended perfect, just like it began. I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed her company. On the ride home, I found myself trying to figure out a way to see her again. The boys and I were just finishing breakfast when Marcie showed up. Josh and Jordan made an attempt to be civil to their mother, but it didn't come across very well. The both went outside, and a few minutes later the lawnmower was killing the morning quiet. "What can I do for you Marcie?" I didn't see any reason to exchange pleasantries, so I got right to the point. "It's the terms of the divorce. I was wondering if I could convince you to change them to something a little less explicit." "You don't like the term 'infidelity'?" "I know it's fully justified and you have ever right to use it, but I would feel better if you could mellow it out a little." That didn't make sense, since the media exposed it to the whole world. "I'll make you a deal. If you give a statement to Alice Hoffman's lawyer attesting to the affair with her husband, I'll change it to whatever you want." "How did you get involved with Alice Hoffman's divorce? Why would something like that be important to you?" My relationship with Alice was very casual and strictly professional, but I still felt a little guilty trying to explain it to Marcie. After what she did, my hesitancy did not make any sense, but I guess I still felt married and obligated to remain faithful. I realized now it was a stupid characteristic to hold on to. "Alice Hoffman contacted me, to see if I could assist her in gathering information which would help her in her divorce. She is the one who gave me the videos of you and Allen." At the mention of the videos, Marcie started to tear up. She wasn't fully crying, just sort of whimpering. I handed her a paper napkin to wipe her face. "Janice and I watched some of them on the Internet. It was horrible. They didn't even have the decency to block out my face. Thank God they didn't give out my name or where we lived." "How do you think I felt?" "I know it sounds cold, but I didn't consider the effect that any of this would have on you or the boys. It wasn't till after I found out about the tapes that I got concerned." "I guess that pretty much says that you don't feel bad about what you did, but about getting caught." "I hate to say it, but that's probably right. There is no way I can undo what I did and no way I can ever make it right again." I refilled her coffee cup and she wiped her face again. "John, I am sorry about the things I did on the videos. I'm sorry you got to see them." "What I don't understand is why you would do things with him, that you would not do with me. You never let me fuck you in the ass, yet he got to do it every time you got together. You never swallowed my cum after a blowjob, but you swallowed his, every time. You even spent five minutes giving him a rim job. I could never imagine you doing that with me. It hurt seeing you giving away, what you denied me. It was as if you loved him more than you loved me." The tears were starting to come now. It was not my intention to upset her this way, but I felt that she steered the conversation in that direction. Amazingly, I did not feel guilty for hurting her. "He was rich and powerful, and I felt like I wanted to do things to please him. I didn't love him, but I wanted to be with him. I know I am not beautiful or statuesque, so I thought maybe I could make him happy by giving him great sex. I was desperate, so I did things with him that I had never done before. They were dirty, awful, things that I would be embarrassed to do with you. I am sorry that I can't undo it." I put my cup in the sink. I didn't want any more coffee. I guess I just didn't want to drink any more coffee with Marcie. I took a business card off the refrigerator, for Alice Hoffman's lawyer, and handed it to her. She took the clue and started out the door. "Actually, Marcie, what you said on the tapes, hurt me more than what the two of you did together. You made remarks about me, and our relationship, that will be in my mind forever. It seems that nothing was safe from your verbal assault. You were not happy with my appearance, my job, my ability to provide for you, or our sex life. It appears that there was nothing I could do right in your eyes. The divorce will be such a relief for you. You will finally be rid of your loser husband." "John, please, it wasn't that way." "Sorry, Marcie. Goodbye." She was standing on the porch, still crying, as I shut the door and turned away. As her car pulled out of the driveway, the lawnmower stopped. Josh and Jordan came in and each grabbed a cold coke. "Are you going to give us an update, or are we still going to be treated like mushrooms?" Josh was trying to be cute, but still get his point across. "Your mother was unhappy because I was getting the divorce for adultery. She asked if I could change it to something, that didn't make her look like a whore." "I hope you didn't agree." "She is your mother, Josh. Have a little compassion." Both of them looked at me, a little disappointed. They walked back out into the yard, and moments later the lawn mower was roaring again. Since Jordan now had his GED, he did not have to attend school anymore. Josh still had to go, but it was only to accumulate attendance days. He had already met all the graduation requirements. Jordan used the time to earn some extra money, working for a local landscaper. They enjoyed teasing each other about their situation. Josh got to see the hot girls at school and Jordan got to earn some cash. Things were starting to settle down a little. Somehow or other, Owen Zimmer's wife found out why his motor home burnt up. It turns out that Owen was a salesman who worked at the Volvo dealership, and happened to marry the owner's daughter. He didn't own a thing, she did. It didn't take long for the wheels to start turning, after his wife received a mysterious package in the mail. Owen would be out on the street, with no job, and no wife, in no time. Jenny was still living with her parents. Ray had made no attempt to contact her, since filing for the divorce. Bradley returned from West Virginia with a satisfied smile on his face. He made sure that Carla got a copy of the newspaper article describing the injuries that Steve Springer received from an unprovoked attack over the weekend. Mister Springer told the police, that three men jumped him for no reason, as he left his home. It reality, it was one pissed off husband with a baseball bat. Carla ended up canceling the petition for divorce, but Bradley made no promises, one way or the other. Karl had divorce papers served on Betsy while she was in jail in Clarksville. He put everything in storage and moved to Pensacola. I never did find out what happened to Betsy. After Karl left, I didn't care. I was having lunch with Alice several times a week, and usually an evening meal, one night on the weekends. They was nothing romantic or sexual going on, just good company. After a while, there was no mention of the adultery or the pending divorces. We did, however, talk about Allen, mainly because he never returned from the Bahamas, or wherever he was. It seems that he had a special deal going with some dubious businessmen about franchising out, the state motor vehicle inspection business. Large sums of money passed hands and lots of people wanted to talk to Mister Hoffman. Alice wanted to meet Josh and Jordan, but I was dragging my feet. There was just too much of a chance for somebody to turn a wonderful relationship into something inappropriate. My fellow club members all seemed to have resolved their marital problems with some sort of satisfaction. I felt that mine was still up in the air. That changed in a way I hadn't imagined. Jordan got summer session classes approved for himself and Josh. With my permission, Josh was able to get his diploma without having to finish the year. He would miss out on the graduation ceremonies, but both boys would be able to start college early. It looked like Jordan was becoming quite the negotiator. I took some time off from work to help move them both to the campus. Now, I was alone. I didn't remember leaving a light on in the house when I left, and I wasn't expecting to find a portly man sitting in my living room. He had a Foster's in one hand and my first edition copy of 'The Big Kill' in the other. For some reason, I was not startled. The beer came out of my refrigerator and the book from my library. He appeared to be confident and comfortable, as he acknowledged my presence. "Good evening, Mister Terrell. I hope you don't mind my relaxing a little, while I waited for your return. I assume your boys got settled in Okay. I always loved reading Mickey Spillane. His first five were the best, don't you think?" My intruder wore a blue blazer with a gray turtleneck shirt. He looked like he belonged at a country club, not in my living room. A pair of bifocals was perched below the bridge of his nose. Without answering, I left the room and got a beer of my own. When I returned, he had put the book on the side table. I sat across from him and gave my long neck a taste test. He smiled and seemed to be very relaxed. "My name is Elwood Kincaid. Alice Hoffman is my only daughter. She needs a little help right now, and from what I can see, you are the only one who can help her." So now I knew what real money looked like. Anybody who likes Mike Hammer and Australian lager can't be all-bad. "I am all ears, Mister Kincaid: please go on." "There are several different groups of people looking for my daughter's husband. Unfortunately, some of them are less than pleasant. I had to relocate Alice to a safe place and need someone to watch over her. Someone who can be trusted." "I thought she had somebody on her payroll to take care of that?" "Not any more. I won't bother to explain. When I say, 'watch over her', I don't mean that she has to be physically protected, it is more companionship and comforting that she needs. From what she has been telling me, you are the best man for the job." Elwood Kincaid was sort of smiling, as he explained the situation. I don't know if I felt uneasy or relaxed about that. "What exactly did you have in mind?" "I just need you to hold her hand for a week or two." He put the empty bottle on the side table, being careful to place it on a napkin he had placed there. "Where is she now?" "Upstate New York. I have a small lodge on a remote section of the Chazy River. If it was any further north, it would be in Canada." "I have a job that I have to go to." "You are on two weeks paid vacation, starting today. It has all been taken care of." "Can you explain again, why you selected me?" Mister Kincaid seemed reluctant to respond to my question. After shifting around in his seat a bit, he finally seemed ready. "I made a big mistake a few years back when I literally forced Alice to marry Allen Hoffman. I had considered him to be a bright, up-and-coming political force, and felt he would be an ideal husband for my daughter. She didn't love him and at first rejected my suggestion. Unfortunately, I kept nagging at her until she gave in. I screwed up her life and don't want to see it happen again." "What makes you think I am any better?" "She picked you. I am in no position to argue with her." I picked up the two empty beer bottles and started towards the kitchen. "No more for me John. I already had two. Three beers and I pee in bed." I walked back with a new longneck in my hand. "How do I find this place?" He reached in his pocket and gave me a small, handheld GPS unit. "The coordinates are already programmed into it. You won't need it until you get north of Plattsburgh. Just in case, I have a map for you also." I sat looking at the GPS, as Elwood Kincaid got up to leave. "Take the book with you if you like." "Thanks, but I read it three times already. How soon can you leave?" "I'll be out of here before sunrise." I finished my beer as he walked out the door. I never saw where he parked his car. I needed a shower and a good nights sleep. I was almost to Binghamton when the cell-phone starting buzzing. "John, It's Janice. Where are you? I had a hard time getting a call through." "I am on a little road trip. What can I do for you?" "Marcie is missing. I haven't seen or heard from her since yesterday morning. I was hoping you would know something." "Sorry, Janice. I was up at State College with the boys all day yesterday. I have no idea where she might be. She hasn't called in a while now." "John, I don't know what to do. Can you come over to the house?" "I don't think so. I am in New York State right now and I am headed up toward Lake Champlain. I will probably be up here for at least a week maybe longer. Did you notify the police?" "Yes. They are coming by shortly. I was just hoping you would be here to talk to them." "I don't have any thoughts that might help. You have been closer to Marcie the last few weeks, so you probably have a better idea of where she is, or what she is doing than I do. Don't get me wrong, I do care what has happened to her, but I am not in a position to be of much assistance." "I'll call you after the police leave. I will probably give them your cell-phone number. Is that Okay?" "No problem. Thanks for the call. Sorry I can't help." I spent the next several hours reminiscing about the life that Marcie and I had together. For some reason, I found myself dwelling on instances when I had doubts of her fidelity. It was never anything of any substance. I remembered times when I had pangs of jealousy, as she talked to male acquaintances for long times, at parties, or other gatherings. I found myself wondering about some of the small trips she made with her female friends over the years. Considering the recent events, I now felt there might have been other affairs that I was too innocent to have recognized at the time. I kicked myself for being too naive and trusting. Maybe if I had been more attentive and affectionate, none of this would have happened. A super, hot cup of Mickey D's coffee restored my senses. I didn't cheat, she did. Leave it there. The phone rang a few times just north of Saratoga Springs, but the reception was too poor to hold a conversation. I decided not to fret about it, and just pushed on. The lodge that Elwood Kincaid sent me to was not near Chazy, but further west. The GPS was a big help: in fact, I don't think I would have found the place without it. The west branch of the Chazy River was nothing but rocks and white water. It was beautiful to drive along, as the sun was setting. In my mind I saw a native rainbow under each rock. I was hoping there would be some fishing gear at my destination. Naturally, I missed the turn. The GPS immediately notified me of my error. There was at least a quarter mile of hard-packed gravel road before I saw the place. It was a stone lodge with a wide porch completely across the front. With the abundance of rocks in the area, it was easy to see why stone was chosen, instead of logs. The lodge set up on a small mound about 100 feet from the river. When I opened the car door, the first thing I noticed was the sound of the flowing water. The second thing was Alice standing in the doorway of the lodge, outlined by the light, from the room behind her. I imagined that she had been waiting for the sound of the car on the gravel, or for the sight of the headlights. I felt flattered that she was anxious to see me. I was glad to see her. She waited on the porch, like a giddy little girl, while I brought my bags up. I had to drop them as she threw her arms around my neck and gave me a passionate bear hug. It would have been the ideal time for a real kiss, but we both pulled back, slightly embarrassed, before that happened. She had hot chili on the stove and cold beer in the fridge. It was a perfect ending to a long day. Political Affiliation Alice and I chatted for several hours. I was still trying not to be too forward. I liked Alice, but we were both married, and I was a little inexperienced at the romance game. The guest room was cozy, but the master bedroom would have been nicer. Tomorrow, I would have to force myself to be a little bolder. I woke up to the smell of sausage and biscuits. Alice waited until I presented myself, with whiskered face, before she started the eggs. She was happy and perky. It appeared that she got most of her clothing from L.L.Bean. It suited her far better than the fancy clothes she wore in the city. She was proud of the quince jelly, because she had made it herself. I had to admit, it was good. When the first pot of coffee was gone, I used it as an excuse to go shower and shave. I felt comfortable enough to talk with her all morning. The rest of the morning was spent walking around the property. There were several hundred acres, which were fairly secluded. The river formed the border on one side and the main road on the other. I never saw so many rocks in my life. It looked like a glacier stopped to rest there a million years ago. After lunch, Alice introduced me to a small room full of fishing equipment. Her eyes lit up when she saw my excitement. Two weeks would not be long enough. I tried several times to get a cell phone call through to Janice with no luck. The lodge had electricity, but no phone. Alice said that was how her father wanted it. Who could argue with that logic? While Alice busied herself with a few small household chores, I inventoried and explored the equipment room. I didn't have a NY fishing license, but Elwood was kind enough to leave his fishing vest with a license attached. I did not believe a fish and game warden would be interested in checking this stretch of private water, but it wouldn't hurt to wear it. I selected an old bamboo fly rod with dilapidated eyes for my evening project. The rod was at least fifty years old. Most of the glass eyes were cracked or missing. It was perfect for what I wanted. The old Mitchell spinning reel I discovered needed a good cleaning and some lube. In the corner was a broken spinning rod with just the right eyelets. I was looking forward to tomorrow. The spaghetti dinner that Alice put together that night was delicious. The only thing missing was some fresh Italian bread. I compensated for the lack of bread by having a second beer. Although it was summer, we decided to build a fire. It was cool enough so that we didn't feel uncomfortable, and I have to admit it was romantic. It only took a few hours to fasten the spinning eyes to my bamboo fly rod. Since I was ready for the next day, I got to spend the rest of the evening with Alice in front of the fire. She had an antique popcorn popper that we had fun trying to use. I think we burned more than half of it, but we did have a lot of fun. The fire was starting to burn down when Alice looked at me. "You're not going to make me sleep alone again, are you?" Needless to say, I missed the early morning fishing. By the time we crawled out of bed, it was too late for breakfast. We had omelets for lunch, or was it brunch. I was amazed that we were as compatible in bed as we were at the dinner table. Alice insisted that I go fishing after lunch. She claimed she needed a rest. It was nice to know that Allen had taught Alice the same bedroom tricks that he taught Marcie. I hate to admit it, but I am an illegal fisherman. I spent twenty minutes collecting larva from the bottom of stream rocks. As bait, they were irresistible to the trout. As far as the state was concerned, they were not allowed. In less than an hour, I had four beauties. That night for supper, we had fresh trout and home fries. Alice also brought out the Mateus Rose, that she had brought just for the occasion. Things did not get better than this. I had forgotten all about my missing wife. After five days of heavenly bliss I decided it was time to take a short trip to Plattsburgh. We had some burgers and fries. We got a cell-phone signal, so I was able to get in touch with Janice. Marcie was presently the guest of the FBI. Janice didn't know any more than that. I really didn't care. I called the lawyer and found out that the divorce was right on schedule and no problems were anticipated. The real estate agent was pleased to let me know that we had an offer on the house, but unhappy because it was impossible to get acceptance signatures. I agreed to return the next day to sign the papers, but had no idea how they would get Marcie's signature. I was getting ready to drive back to Pennsylvania the next morning when Alice told me it would not be necessary. We drove to the Plattsburgh Airport where a private jet was waiting for us. I had no idea how she arranged for the jet, or even knew it would be there. Two hours later, we were home. It must be nice to have a rich daddy. I took care of several small requirements, while Alice visited with her father. Three hours later, we were on our way back home, or should I say, to the lodge. Alice picked up a few more bottles of wine and a case of Foster's. She also got some new undergarments, though I don't know why. It felt good getting back to the lodge. It felt like I belonged there. Two weeks later we got a visit from Elwood Kincaid. Somehow or other, he had gotten hold of my final divorce decree. I was now a free man. He also had a death certificate for Allen Hoffman, who apparently drowned in the shallow waters off Montego Bay. No one had any idea what he was doing there, or how he got there. The FBI had no further use for Marcie. She was back living with Janice. Mister Kincaid had arranged for all the furniture and belongings from the house to be put in storage. I don't know if Marcie got any of it. My old job would be held open for me if I ever wanted to return. I was looking forward to winter along the west branch of the Chazy River.