106 comments/ 172241 views/ 37 favorites You Don't Pull On Superman's Cape By: Slirpuff Do you know how big an eight by eight room is? Since I wear a size ten and a half shoe I can step it off in just over nine steps, and I've done that a lot lately. You see, I've had too much spare time on my hands for the last four months and since I don't have my laptop with me right now, I'm trying to find something to keep my mind occupied. I either recite, in my mind, the periodic table or the formulas I was previously working on. Sometimes I lie in bed and listen to the sounds around me and try my best to identify them to bide my time. I keep telling myself what I did was in my best interest of my daughter. I know it was, but now I'm wondering if I also had an ulterior motive in doing what I did. Well, I'm not sure about anything anymore, but that's the story I'm sticking to, at least until I get out of here. "Good morning, Mr. Moore. How are you feeling today?" my lawyer Victoria Howe asked as I was ushered over to the long shiny wooden table and my handcuffs removed. "Pretty good. I've dropped another two pounds. I figure by Christmas I'll be at my ideal weight again. Did you know that I can do one hundred military push ups without stopping?" Our conversation was cut short. "All rise, the fifth circuit court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Thomas presiding," the bailiff announced to everyone in the courtroom. The judge took her seat and adjusted her reading glasses before looking our way. "Ms. Howe, are you and your client ready to proceed?" "Yes, your honor," Victoria replied. "Very well, then please proceed." Victoria, or Vicki, as I like to call her, tried to submit another round of motions. The judge listened to her go on and on for what seemed like ten minutes without her even so much as taking in a breath. Vicky alleged that since I had been granted full custody of my daughter, Linda, what I was being subjected to was nothing more than cruel and inhumane punishment. "Ms. Howe, is your client ready to tell the court the location of his daughter and allow his ex-wife her visitation with said daughter? Those are the only issues we are addressing today. The court doesn't dispute his custody claim. However, his ex-wife's visitation rights are not being met, and have not been for the last seven months. The condition of his release, as previously stated, is to relay to this court the location of his daughter. He also needs to allow his ex-wife her court ordered visitation rights. It further states that his ex-wife is willing to consider court supervised visitations if she is allowed to see her daughter again." I looked up at Victoria and shook my head. "Your Honor, Mr. Moore, at this time, refuses to disclose the location of his daughter. Further we would like to submit a motion that he be allowed access to his laptop computer so that he can keep updated on his company's daily activities." Distain, disgust, no, it was more like anger flowed over the judge's face. It was almost like she was saying to herself, "how dare you not comply with my order?" "Motion denied," the judge told Vicki loudly. "Mr. Steven Moore is to remain in custody in the county jail until such time that he discloses the location of his daughter, Linda Moore." With that the judge pounded her gavel and said, "next case." Before the bailiff could come over to return me to my cell Vicky whispered, "She has it in for you, you know that don't you? She's going to keep you locked up until you tell her where Linda is." I could tell Vicky, like the judge, was getting more and more frustrated with me. "Vicki, just do whatever you have to do to get me out of here, I don't care what or how." "Steve, tell them." "Can't do that and you know why. Just go back to your office and do what I'm paying you a lot of money to do. Also, have Carl stop by tomorrow and give me an update on how my company is doing," I said looking at a grim Vicki. "Steve, I'm running out of options." "Vicki, I have faith in you that I'll be out of here and celebrating Christmas with my family again. So, no matter what the cost get me the hell out of here." At that, I was cuffed again and escorted back to my cell. That's the way my last three court appearances have gone. Vicki was right; the judge had a hard-on for me. She had the reputation of being a hard ass. She let no one fuck with her in her courtroom, no matter how much money they had, and I had a lot. Carl stopped by the following day and gave me an update on how my company was doing without me there. "Carl, I'd wish you would smile once in a while, it would really lift my spirits for Christ's sakes," I said with a grin. "Steve, how can I smile when there is a ton of stuff not getting done because you're rotting in this place? Tell them what the hell they want to know so we can get back to running your company." I gave him a look. "Ok, I tried, let's get on with it." Over the next hour he gave me a run down on how everything was going. I trusted this guy with my life and he never disappointed me. We were still making money, but the negative publicity in the papers was hurting some of our new business. "Carl, those idiots are doing it to make themselves look good in the eyes of media and their stockholders. You and I both know they can't get our products anywhere else state side, so they'll have to deal with me eventually. However, there are two companies I want you to make pay dearly when they do come back. They've slammed me in the press and they're going to pay ten fold for each word that was printed. By the way, how is our other project going?" I asked knowing fully well that my conversations were always being recorded. "Making progress but it's slow and expensive." "Carl," I said looking him directly in the eye. "I don't care how much money or people you have to throw at it, I want it done and done soon. Do you understand?" "Yes boss, I just wanted you to be aware of the costs." "I trust that my company will still be in good shape when I'm out of here and don't worry, you'll be amply rewarded. On another note, find another group of lawyers to help Victoria Howe. The judge seems to have a personal vendetta against me. See if we can get her removed from my case." "You know if that doesn't work you're just going to piss her off even more, don't you?" "And your point? What's she going to do, throw me in jail?" I snickered. "Also do a background check on her. There's got to be something there we can use," I told him standing up since our hour was now over. "Take good care of my baby will you?" I turned and walked back to my cell. That night I recounted the cracks in the ceiling and came up with one more after counting and recounting five times; twenty-one, "I'll have to complain about my accommodations to the judge," I joked to myself before lying back on my bed. The divorce was ugly if for no other reason than I thought it would never happen to us. Thank God, my father had talked me into having an iron clad prenuptial agreement drawn up or it could have been a whole lot worse. I had just established myself in the industry and my eyes were blinded by my love for Shelia. I didn't see any need for one back then. Hell, we were going to be in love forever, I guess forever only lasts eight and a half years. Thankfully she agreed to sign it. I guess she thought forever was forever too, even though it wasn't. Like I said before, I'm rich but most of all, I'm smart, and maybe a little arrogant too. I guess I could have skipped high school altogether, but my mom said I needed to have a normal upbringing. That included the high school experience, even though I was bored most of the time. She did agree, however, to allow me to take college courses on line, as long as it didn't interfere with my normal life. I finished college and had my BA by the time I became a senior in high school. Mom also saw to it that I dated at least twice a month. Most girls I met were dumb as rocks compared to me, and I tired easily of their stupid teenage attitudes and games. At five foot ten and a hundred and sixty five pounds I wasn't a jock and had the build to prove that, but I didn't wear geeky glasses or use a pocket protector either. I was pretty average looking. You know, the kind girls would say to each other about guys like me, "well, he has a great personality." My parents weren't rich and I drove their hand me down car. I guess you might joke I was a good catch for the prom queen, yeah right. "Mom, I really don't want to go tonight," I'd tell her over and over while she drove me to one social function after another. "Honey, do it for me will you? Find a nice girl, talk to her and even ask her to dance. Young man, you may be book smart, but you also need to know how to interact with others. You can't learn social graces from a book, you have to live it first hand," she would always remind me with a smile on her face. "Now go in and have a nice time." My mother never took no for an answer. She was going to make me a social butterfly one way or another. Me? I would rather blend in with the surroundings and live my own life as inconspicuous as possible. That however proved to be pretty hard after someone gave me the nickname Brain and it stuck; kids can be so brutal some times. High school graduation set me free. I had received a full fellowship to our state university and could pretty much do what I wanted to after that. I had a double major in chemistry and biology with a minor in math. Through the college I got a research grant to do work on food enzymes and that's how I met Shelia. She was studying to become a lab tech. At 5'4 with light brown wavy hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a nice body, she was both smart and cute in a geeky sort of way. I may have been the consummate academic, but I could also appreciate a pretty girl when I saw one. I spent most hours in the lab and when she came in to do class work I was always there. Every once in a while she'd get stuck on a problem and ask me a question or two. I was always more than happy to help her out. What started out as just a question here and there became full-blown discussions on what I was working on. Though Shelia could comprehend the concepts of what I was trying to do, the principals of how I was going about it usually eluded her. When I invited her to dinner we shared a pizza and pitcher of soda, and I was starting to like her a lot more than just a lab partner. Alas, much to my dismay, she told me that her schoolwork came first and that even though we could date, she was not looking for a relationship right now. So, we remained just good friends and dated on and off, as she would allow. A double doctorate in chemistry and biology and a master's degree in business ended my short years of college. I'd learned all I could and was now applying for my own government research grants. With help I obtained two and set up shop in a small storefront building. I took out loans and my parents even put a second mortgage on their house to help me finance my new lab and equipment. When I started working fourteen to sixteen hours a day, my mom quit her job to help me with the endless governmental paperwork. This allowed me the time to concentrate solely on my work. When I made my first breakthrough it was especially wonderful since it was after my grants had run out; the results and future profits were going to be all mine. When I made my second and third breakthroughs, my dad quit his job and became my business manager. Life was busy but good. The one thing I never realized was that when you want to hire someone good, you don't need to look for them; all you need to do is put out feelers and they'll find you. I felt I needed two top-notch people to help me with my work. I was looking for the best in the field. I wasn't making a ton of money, but with the right people I felt I could be within a couple of years, especially after knowing that my four patents were probably going to be approved next year. I must have interviewed twenty people who thought they were good and by the time I was done with them they walked out with their tail between their legs. Kathy came recommended by an old friend of mine from school. She was extremely shy and almost never looked me in the eyes; but she was super bright. "Kathy, tell me about yourself, what's your home life like?" I asked. She looked at me and said she lived with her parents and younger brother. No boyfriend, which didn't surprise me, but needed a job now that she was out of school. Her grades were great and although I couldn't pay a hell of a lot, I offered her a job. "Kathy, I can offer you two thousand dollars a month to start. You'll be on salary and not punching a clock. I expect you to do your job, because I won't have the time to baby-sit you. If you do what I ask, you'll grow with the company and so will your salary." "Mr. Moore, will there be a certain dress code here?" she blushed slightly when she asked me that. "Kathy, I don't care if you work nude, just so long as you get the job done." My reply caused her to blush even more. She accepted and I was down to needing only one more employee. Carl was working for a big pharmaceutical house. He was pulling down a huge salary but had been passed over for a promotion because of office politics. He was more than a little pissed. He was what I was looking for, but we were a long ways away on what I could afford to pay him and what he thought he was worth. When he received an offer from another company we met one more time. He threw the offer on my desk to show me he wasn't bull shitting me about the amount. "Carl, if I were you, I'd take that offer and run with it. "However, in three years from now when I'm doing great and that amount is chump change, I hope you'll still feel the same way," I said handing his papers back to him. "But, if you accept my last offer next year I will give you one percent ownership in my company, and every year there after up to five percent. So, you can take the money on the table now, or work your ass off and have a real future down the road; it's your choice." It took him two days, but he took my offer, I was set. We were growing rapidly and I needed additional help both in the lab and in the office. One day when I went out to grab lunch for everyone at the nearby Subway I ran into Shelia. She was standing in line, about four people ahead of me. I hadn't seen her since her senior year in college. When she walked by me with her order she stopped to talk, hell, we ended up having lunch together. She was working at a small lab about two miles away and not making a whole lot of money. Shelia figured she needed the experience before asking for what she thought she was worth. "What are you looking at, money wise?" I asked. "Right now I'm making fifteen hundred a month without any benefits. I figure I'm worth at least two grand and full medical," she told me without blinking an eye. "Can you type?" "What do you mean can I type?" "It's a simple question, can you type more than just pecking at a keyboard?" "Can't everyone?" she replied not knowing where this conversation was headed. "Well, if you can type, and you're not above doing filing and miscellaneous lab work I'd like to offer you a job." "Steve, who are you working for?" "Myself. I've got my own lab over on Canal Street. I've got two employees and my parents working for me right now and we all could use a little help. Here," I said giving her my card. "Think about it, come around after work one day and I'll give you the tour. I'd love to talk more, but I've got everyone's lunch here and they're not going to be happy I'm so late. Think about it Shelia," I suggested once more. "Where have you been, I'm starved?" Carl asked. "Met an old friend and offered her a job," I said passing out the food. "Her? Someone I should know about?" he pronounced with a stupid grin. "Just a girl I dated in college a few times, that's all." "And what will her duties be, pray tell?" "Carl, you really are an asshole," I shot back throwing him a can of Coke. "Just asking, boss, but you don't have to tell me if it's too personal." Everyone laughed except mom. Shelia came by on Thursday after work. She knocked on the door and when no one answered the bell in front she tried the door, found it unlocked and walked in. "Anyone here?" she yelled out as she walked through the door into the lab. Dad and I were the last ones there and I rose to greet her. "Shelia, I'm glad you could make it," I said walking over to her. "Shelia, this is my dad, Ken," I introduced them to each other. My dad held out his hand. "Dad, Shelia and I went to school together," I explained. "So, this is the woman you offered the position?" he said sizing her up. "Shelia, let me give you the nickel tour of my baby." For the next two hours I went into great detail showing her where we currently were and where I expected us to be in the next couple of years. "We've just signed three new contracts and are expanding to a larger facility. My dad has secured financing and by Christmas we'll be twice the size we currently are. Sheila, I think you'd be a good addition to our group and I can match the salary you are looking for." "Don't you want to look at my resume or anything before offering me a job?" "You forget we already worked together at the college." "Steve, you worked, and I studied." "Well, I know you're smart, a hard worker and have an open mind when it comes to new ideas. With those attributes you'll make a fine addition to our staff." "Well, in that case, I accept your offer. I do need to give my present employer a week's notice, but I can start right after that." We shook on it. My dad watched on without saying a word. "I'll expect to see you bright and early on the fifteenth. Wear whatever you are comfortable in. We have casual Friday every day of the week here. You also don't have to worry about lunch, one of the perks is we supply lunch, and dinner if we have to stay late." Ten minutes later she was gone and dad and I finished up. "You like her, don't you?" "Dad, she's just a girl I dated a couple of times, that's all." "Steve, remember it's me you're talking to," he replied without cracking a smile. "We've got a tough six months ahead of us and I need your head in the right place until we've moved and settled in our new place." "Dad, you worry too much." "Son, that's my job." Shelia started and she was better than I even expected. She picked up on everything fast and became an asset almost over night. Everyone was happy for me except my dad. He watched my feelings for Shelia grow and although he was receptive he was also cautious. "How come dad doesn't like Shelia?" I questioned my mom one night. "Steve, he likes Shelia but feels you've got too much on your plate right now for romance." "Mom, dad proposed to you on your third date and you guys were married two weeks later; and he thinks I'm moving too fast?" She laughed. "You know your dad, he'll be looking out for you until the day he dies, but I will talk to him." Shelia and I dated when there was time, and when there wasn't, we improvised. After doing an inventory late one Friday night we finally did it on a bail of packing material in the shipping department. It started off as just one kiss. One turned into ten and then with probing tongues our clothes melted away. We finally did what I had planned on doing the following weekend. "I was hoping our first time would be on a big bed with satin sheets," Not, on a bail of bubble wrap," I said popping a few of the bubbles with my hands. "Steve, I thought it was romantic; noisy but romantic. And, if you still want to do it again on satin sheets, you're not going to hear me complain." We did it again the following Friday at the Hampton Inn. We had Friday night through Sunday afternoon together; it was heaven. You Don't Pull On Superman's Cape When it came to sex she was a rookie and I wasn't much better but we sure had a hell of a lot of fun experimenting and learning what we both liked. She had small breasts; about thirty-four B's and was a little self conscious about them. I didn't care how big or small they were, just that they were all mine. After a particular great session of love making one Saturday night, about three months later, we were laying in bed catching our breath when she asked the question of all questions. "Steve, I'm your girl right?" "Well if you're not, I don't know what we've been doing for the last seven hours," "No silly, I mean we're together right?" I sat up with my back against the headboard and grabbed my glass of wine from the night table. "All right, what's up?" I asked taking a sip and handing it to her. "I just want to know we're going down the road together, that's all." "In other words, you want to make sure I'm not just using your hot body for my own sexual fulfillment," I said with a laugh reaching for her. "Asshole," she retorted hitting me with a pillow. "Do I have to spell it out for you? I'm falling in love with you and I know you like me, but I'm not sure how much. There, I've said it," she continued. She sloshed down the last of the wine and with a worried look stared at me. "Well?" "Does this mean I have to give up all the other hot babes I've been banging every other night?" I joked, but when she didn't smile I knew she was serious. "Look babes, I really care for you and I think you know that. Is it love, I think so but give me a little time will you? After the move we'll have a good break and we can explore all our avenues and possibilities." "Steve, I think we've explored all my avenues but one and that's not going to happen anytime soon. I just needed to know I'm not being played, that's all." "Shelia, there are two things I don't do, I don't lie and I don't play games with people I care about." I said soothingly kissing her. "Now that we got that out of the way, what's this about an avenue I haven't checked out yet?" We went back to what we'd been doing for the last twenty-four hours as we each tried to wear the other one out; I won. After that we were an official item and everyone knew and accepted it, even my dad. The next few months were brutal. Business was good and combined with the move we had precious little time for each other. By December fifteenth we were in our building and by the twenty-second everything was up and running just in time for Christmas. We shut the place down between Christmas and New Year's and everyone kicked back for the holidays. We spent Christmas Eve at her parents and Christmas day at mine. By the evening of the twenty-fifth we were exhausted. Since we both still lived with our parents we were now spending more and more time together at the Hampton Inn. "Steve," she quietly voiced as we lay in bed recovering from another passionate evening, "I need something from you." "Give me about an hour and I'll see what I can do," I said rolling her over onto my chest, kissing her and biting her lower lip. "I'm serious." "I'm serious too," I responded reaching for a nipple. I sat her up on my lap. "Steve, look at me will you? I want us to get our own apartment." That made me stop and look at her for real this time. "I'm serious. I think it's time we got our own place. Steve, I'm twenty-three and you're twenty-seven; don't you think it's about time we go out on our own? For what we're spending on hotel rooms, it would probably pay for itself." She added with a hesitant voice, "that is, only if you want to." I figured this was bound to come up sooner or later and I'd already given it a lot of thought. With the relocation done, things would get back to normal, whatever that was. I really did like the idea of us having our own place together. "Ok, when do you want to do it?" I guess that took her a little by surprise. I think she was prepped for an argument and now she just sat there looking at me until her brain finally caught up to what I'd just said. "Oh my God, this is going to be so great. We'll have our own place and we won't even have to wear clothes if we don't want to," she was jumping on the bed. When she stopped and got this serious look on her face I got a little worried. "How do you think your parents are going to take the news, especially your dad?" "Let me worry about that. It's going to be your job to find us a suitable place close to work that will cover all our needs. I don't want a huge place, one just big enough for a kitchen and one of these," I said patting the bed. "Now that we got that out of the way, I think it's time we practice a bit more before we have our own place," I moved down to her pussy and spread her lips. "On second thoughts, maybe we won't need a kitchen," I said licking her clit as she lay back raising up her bottom and pushing her pussy against my lips. "Maybe we can live on love," I added while slipping in one than two fingers, working them in and out of her as Shelia bit her pillow. "Or maybe not, we'll see anyway." It took about three weeks but we did find a suitable place and moved in together. My parents wanted to know what my intensions were, but all I told them is that I wanted to get to know Shelia better. "I think you know her well enough," my mom said with a wink, "judging by all the Hampton Inn bills I've paid over the last few months." Dad didn't say a word but he knew he couldn't control me any longer. Life was good. My business grew rapidly over the next two years and we expanded once more before we finally settled into another larger facility. At Christmas that year I proposed to Shelia and she accepted. Dad insisted on a prenuptial agreement and although I objected, Shelia thought nothing about signing it. I did make two modifications so it wasn't so hard-core, but in the end we all got what we wanted. Three months later Shelia was pregnant and mom was overjoyed. When Linda was born Shelia quit work and stayed home to care for her. She was beautiful and looked just like her mom. She had the same light brown hair, blue eyes and had a little mole on her right ankle. Mom and Shelia became tight as thieves while dad and I ran the company. The next five years were good to us. My business almost quadrupled in size and I went from four employees to fourteen. I still found myself usually swamped but Shelia required my attendance at dinner a minimum of three nights a week. We bought a nice home, bigger than what we really needed, and with time on her hands Shelia got involved in charity work and fund raising for the Children's Wish Foundation. "Babes, not another event this weekend," I whined. "I thought the three of us would sneak away and have a little fun," I said grabbing her around the waist kissing her. "If you cancel, I'll make it worth your while," I said pleading. "Hon, you know this Saturday's auction is important to me and it's for a good cause," she replied kissing me. "Those kids can't sneak away for a weekend but if we raise enough money we can at least make a few of them smile." She had a good heart and although I didn't like it she was right. So, Saturday night we all went. I told my parents that if I had to go they did too. They didn't care except my dad said he wasn't going to dance no matter what my mom said. It was turning out to be a fairly nice evening until I met Ken and his wife Connie. He had worked with Shelia on putting this together and I already knew that he owned a successful aircraft parts machine company just outside of town. Their biggest customer was the U.S. government and with two wars going on, business was good. "Steve, this is Ken and Connie Collins," my wife introduced us. "Ken has been a huge help in securing the items we'll be auctioning off tonight." "It was nothing. I just went to a few places and shamed them into giving twice what they had planned on, and getting the rest to donate money to the cause." "Ken, don't be so modest. We should be able to send over a hundred kids to various camps this summer because of what you did. You should be very proud of yourself." "Well, if it wasn't for Connie I never could have done it. She ran the company while I was off gallivanting about raising funds." Looking at his wife and smiling he said, "I don't know what I would do without her." The smile she gave him back was pleasant but forced. It was the fake type of smile you give someone when you're pissed and you don't want them to know it. "Ken, I see a few people over there I want you to meet. Maybe you can sweet-talk them into giving a few extra dollars. It was nice meeting the two of you," Connie said pulling away her husband. The only thing I knew about him, was that he had money and was one to let everyone know it. I think pompous and presumptuous would be good words to describe Ken. But I knew Connie very well. She came from old money and was tough as nails. She was a great negotiator and a worthy adversary to her competition. She was more than qualified to run the business while her husband was off fund raising and having fun; but it looked like she wasn't too happy about it. "That is one person I wouldn't want to cross," I thought to myself. The dinner was good and the speeches too long as usual. Everyone was thanked for their help especially Ken and Shelia. After dinner the music started and my dad cringed. My mom sweet-talked him into dancing and I was more than willing to get my lovely wife into my arms. I wasn't initially upset when Ken asked Shelia to dance. Although there wasn't any funny business on the floor, I was uneasy with the way he held her, talked to her and laughed with her as they moved to the music. That was the one and only dance Ken would be getting with my wife that evening. When the auction started everyone got into the swing of things as this or that item was auctioned off at twice their value knowing it was for a good cause. When the big items came up the bids weren't so free in coming. We all knew money was tight everywhere. I'd bought two medium priced items and that was all I was going to do until Shelia asked if I'd bet on the weekend trip to the wine country. "Please hon, do it for me will you?" How could I refuse? The bidding went nuts and it looked like Ken wanted it pretty badly for some reason. When I made my final bid Ken immediately bid a thousand dollars higher and since there were no other bidders he won. When he walked up to get his prize he said he'd done it to take his wife there for her birthday. Everyone clapped and awed at such a nice gesture but his wife didn't. She just sat and sipped on her glass of wine. "I thinks there's trouble in paradise," I said to myself. "Steve, we should have won that trip," Shelia said pouting. "Hon, for what he paid for it, we could go for a week instead of three days," "Steve, he did it for his wife, what a romantic gesture." "If you want romance just wait until I get you home, my love." "That's sex not romance." "All right, I'll buy you flowers on the way home, how about that?" She just gave me the look that it wasn't going to be enough. That's how it all started. They say a cockroach can get into a one sixty-fourth of an inch gap by just wiggling in. To me that's what Ken was, and now I only wished I'd stepped on him when I had the chance. However, life went on. I worked, Shelia still did her charity work and the three of us were one big happy family until May twenty-first. It was late and I was mulling over some papers when I looked up at the clock. Seven o'clock, I had to get out of there. I turned off my light and walked down the hall to my mom's office. She was sitting there with her head resting on her desk. "I don't pay my employees to sleep on the job even if they did birth me," I said with a loud laugh, but she didn't move. "Mom, wake up, dad is going to have my ass if I don't get you out of here." I walked over to her and put my hand on her shoulder; it was cold, stone cold. When they finally got there, the paramedics couldn't revive her, she was already gone. They said it looked like a heart attack but they couldn't be sure until all the tests were done. Everything for the next twenty-four hours moved in slow motion. I heard voices but they were somewhere far away and I just ignored them. I guess there was a lot of crying and people telling me how sorry they were but nothing registered. It was my mom, the one staple that had always been in my life. "Steve, honey, is there anything I can do for you? Sweetheart?" my wife asked more than once but there really wasn't anything anyone could do short of bringing my mother back. My daughter cried and I held her until she stopped. And then I started, but mine never stopped; at least not on the inside. A piece of me died that day and I didn't know how big a piece until months later. Carl and the other managers stepped up and covered for dad and I. Dad knew mom was sick but they'd both agreed not to say a word to anyone, including me. All the arrangements had been made in advance so nothing had to be done. I didn't eat, I didn't drink and every once in a while I forced myself to breath. I don't remember much of the funeral. I know physically I was there, but only physically. It was well attended and I'm told she got a beautiful write up in the paper but I never read it. My mom was gone and she didn't take me with her this time. Dad had always been the one to keep me in line but mom did everything else. She filled my emotional needs growing up and taught me to be the person I'd become. Through her eyes I saw the world as something I could conquer and when Linda was born we became even closer if that were possible. When she died I got lost, I felt empty inside; I think I also died for a while. Dad and Shelia got me the help I needed. Through counseling and a lot of medication I started to rejoin the ranks of the living; but it had taken almost five months. I functioned at work and if you didn't know any better you'd swear there was nothing wrong with me, that is until I left the solitude of my lab. I guess it was especially hard on Shelia and Linda. They couldn't get through to me and although they tried, I never responded. Did Shelia and I make love? Well I'm sure we had sex but it must not have been very good because I could tell she was frustrated with me more often than not. When I started to come back around the one thing I did notice, was that she no longer wore her glasses; she'd gotten lasik sometime over the last couple of months. Life was going on without me. Carl was a Godsend and one day I called him in and told him so. He asked if there was anything else he could do for me and I told him he'd done more than I could have ever asked. Dad went back to work with a vengeance the week after the funeral. More than once Carl had to tell him to go home or he'd physically remove him from his office. Between the two of them the business grew while I tried to get my head around the fact that my mom was no longer with us. It was just over six months after the funeral that I got my first realization that something was wrong. "Steve I'm going out to a fund raiser tonight, I should be back before midnight," Shelia said getting dressed. "Don't you want me to come with you?" I asked. "I don't need a zombie for a date. Take your meds and I'll see you when I get back." That was brutal I thought. "Do you want me to at least drive you?" "Won't be necessary, Ken is picking me up," she said putting on her earrings. I guess the look I gave her said it all. "What? What's with that look you're giving me? It's a fundraiser not a date." With that I walked over to my bottles of medications, opened them and dumped the contents in the toilet. "Steve, what are you doing?" "Something that should have been done months ago. Now, give me twenty minutes to get dressed. You go call Mr. Ken and tell him I will be escorting my own wife to the dinner." I was glaring at her, and she knew she'd better than to say anything right now. It was a big crowd and everyone still said how sorry they were for my loss. I thanked them but immediately changed the subject. When I saw the cockroach I readied my heel. "Steve, you're looking well. How are you doing?" "Never better Ken," I said out loud while scowling at him in disgust on the inside. I guess he got the message anyway because he excused himself and moved away. "That wasn't too friendly," Shelia whispered to me. "I have no reason to be friendly to him," was all I said. After dinner, when the music started I asked Shelia if she wanted to dance. "You up to it?" she asked. "I'm not dead yet," I replied smiling. So we danced for the next half hour. It felt good to have her in my arms again, and then it happened. "Hey old man, can I have this dance with your lovely wife?" Ken asked already reaching for her. "No." I surmised by the surprised look on his face he wasn't use to being told no; it took Shelia by surprise too. "Steve, it's just one dance," Shelia implored looking at me. "What is it about no don't you understand? Ok, let me say it again more slowly so you can fully understand what I'm saying. No, you are not going to dance with my wife now or ever again. Now, do you understand it or do I have to write it down for you?" I said looking him right in the eye. "No problem," he said skulking away. "Steve, that was rude." "Shelia, did you want to dance with him instead of me?" "Of course not, why would you ask such a thing?" "Because just the way you looked at me when I basically told him to go to hell, that's all." My mind started to imagine a whole lot of things after that night. Did we make love that night when we got home? No, she complained that she had a bit of a headache. The following morning I left long before Shelia woke up. I was the first one in. "Morning boss,' Carl said coming in, dropping his stuff down and started making a pot of coffee. "You look good, how are you feeling?" "Like I could chew the asshole out of a dead dog so please don't fuck with me this morning," I growled at him without a smile. "Well, it looks like we've got the old Steve back; maybe we'll be able to catch up for a change." For the next two days I never went home. I slept in my office, showered and since I had a couple changes of clothes there all I needed was a little food. I had already turned off my cell phone, unplugged my office phone and told everyone to leave me the hell alone. I checked and rechecked the last months test results and found that too many things were falling between the cracks; I called a meeting. "Look guys, if you still want to be here Monday, I highly suggest you get your heads out of your asses and do your job or I'll find someone who will. This is my one and only warning, next time I'll be cutting severance checks. Do I make myself clear?" There were a lot of nods, some scared looks and a few pissed off people, but everyone got the message. When Shelia came in just before five, Carl warned her not to go into my office. "I don't know what the hell happened between the two of you, but if I were you I wouldn't go in there." "He doesn't scare me," was her reply. "Well, it's your funeral?" he turned away. When she walked in I never looked up. I knew who it was but I wasn't about to play her games today. "Steve," she said once before saying it louder the second time. "Steve!" I looked up and my eyes said it all. "You coming home for dinner tonight?" she asked. "That's a good question. Define home." "What are you talking about?" "It's an easy question Shelia. Define home and why in the hell should I go there?" "All right, I'll play your stupid ass games. Home is where we all live and where you're supposed to come to eat and sleep every night," she answered sarcastically. You Don't Pull On Superman's Cape "You see that's my point. It's where I used to live with my loving family. It was my fortress of solitude where I could be myself, play with my beautiful daughter and make love to my wife. Now, I'll ask you again, why do you want me to go to a place where I know I'm not wanted?" "Steve, you haven't been there in months. When your mom died you left us, and for a while I didn't think you were coming back. She died; you didn't, or you weren't supposed to. It may have been hard on you, but how do you think we all felt knowing there was nothing we could do? I don't know how often I reached out to you in bed hoping that for once maybe you'd take me in your arms. I wanted so badly to make it better for you by chasing all your demons away; but you never let me in. I tried, God knows I tried, but I finally gave up and just decided to wait until you came back or died; one of the two had to happen eventually. So when did you and your buddy Ken become an item?" "We're not an item, he's a good friend. He was someone to talk to, to confide in when you weren't there." "A friend with benefits?" "I haven't made love to anyone since we did it the last time. What we did those times when you were a walking zombie was nothing more than us masturbating, just using each other's bodies. But I'm not going to wait forever for you anymore. Unless you make the decision you want to continue our marriage I want out." At this point she was not only shouting, but tears were streaming down her face. "All right then, you need to make me one promise and one only before I make that decision," I told her. "Anything." "Don't be so quick to answer Shelia before I ask, you might not be able to follow through with it." "Steve, I said anything and I mean it." "All right, I never want you to talk to or see Ken again." "You can't be serious, that's stupid." "I'm not going to compete with Ken for my own wife. You have to make a choice, either him or me; you can't have us both. And since I'm such a nice guy, I'm going to let you think about it until I come home tonight. That way you can either call and tell him you'll never be talking to him again or you'll be over later to see him. I don't know what his wife will have to say about that, but that'll be for the three of you to work out." She stared at me, said something under her breath and walked out slamming my door. "Well, I'll at least know if I still have a wife in about two hours," I said sadly to myself sitting back down at my desk. I did nothing for the next two hours; I just sat there oblivious to everything around me. The drive home was short, too short, and when I pulled up to a dark house, I at least had my answer. With shoulders sagging I walked up to the door wondering what she had said in her note or even if she had bothered to leave one. I unlocked the door, walked in and tossed my laptop onto the couch. It felt as though my mother had died all over again and I was falling head long back into that dark cavern. "Never again," I said to myself. My house had never felt so empty I thought while walking up the stairs and down the hall to our bedroom. I was wondering if she'd already taken her things. "It's about time you got home," Shelia said when I opened the door to a room lit up with about a hundred candles. "I was giving you ten more minutes before I was going to have to start blowing out all these damn candles." She looked good, hell, she looked great. I think I felt something stirring in me that I hadn't felt in an awful long time. The teal green of her negligee seemed to glow in the candlelight. My feet were too heavy and wouldn't move and my knees turned to rubber as I dropped down onto them. Did I have tears in my eyes? I didn't know or care; I just wanted to look at her. She ran to me and with both of us on our knees we kissed and just looked at one another. "I thought I'd lost you. When I pulled up, I thought you were gone and for a split second I wasn't even going to come in," I whispered feeling her cheek with my hand. "I love you so much and I'm sorry..." is all I could get out before she stopped me with a kiss. "I've got my husband back that's all that matters." In time we moved from the floor to the shower and finally to the bed. She didn't scream out for me to fuck her harder nor did I have to mark her to reclaim her as my own again. In fact, I don't think a single word was even exchanged. I know we finally did it, but how long before or at what point I'm not sure. We just made love, kissed and held one another until dawn. I never made it in to work the next day. Thankfully Linda was staying with Sheila's parents. Life was good again. The following day, with a smile on my face, I brought in breakfast for everyone and slipped into my office. I spent the next half hour looking out the window. I had my life back. After mom died dad tried to live at the plant but I finally forced him to take time off. I sent him on a two-week cruise and he came back with a smile on his face and a skip to his step, I think he got lucky. When he went to half time I was a little concerned, but when he gave me his notice three months later I was more than happy for him. Dad had paid his dues and deserved a long retirement. He was still there as council to me when needed but Carl had moved into his slot and was doing as well as dad had ever done. Me, I was working hard but making sure that I never overdid it. Just before our eight-year anniversary we had an accident in the lab and one of our new employee got hurt. He didn't get hurt badly, just enough that OSHA came down on us with both feet. By the time they were done, it felt like I'd undergone a full body cavity search by a nurse with damn big hands. Through all the shit I somehow I missed our anniversary and by the time I remembered it the damage had all ready been done. Shelia had made plans for the two of us to get away, but with the OSHA audit I just couldn't leave at that time. "You love that business more than you do me. I'll never be able to compete with that damn lab," she yelled at me. "Hon, we can go wherever you want as soon as they leave which should be very soon," but she didn't want to hear that. We were still close, yet there was this underlying feeling that all wasn't well between the two of us. We appeared to be the happy couple but something was wrong, and I couldn't put my finger on it. Shelia wasn't as active as she'd once been with the Children's Wish Foundation over the last couple of years. However, after the accident at the lab she threw herself back into it. We had talked about giving our daughter a little brother or sister but now she pooh-poohed that idea. "We're not getting any younger, and if we're going to do it, we should think about it pretty soon," I told her. "Steve, I'm not so sure I want to go through all of that again at my age. Linda is at the age where she's easy and I kind of like my freedom. Let's think about it for a couple of months, ok?" "No problem. I love you and Linda enough that I don't need another one if that's what you want." So in three months she said it would be just the three of us. Did I care? Not really, I had everything I'd ever wanted right now. How that cockroach crept back into our lives I'll never know but he did. Ken and his wife had split up and she wound up getting about forty-five percent of his business. He wanted her to take shares of the company stock but she wanted the cash so he ended up going into debt big time to pay her off. Her son wanted to live with his dad, and their daughter went with Connie. Rumor had it that Ken was fooling around. Instead of a messy divorce and because there was no prenuptial agreement, they just split up everything and went their separate ways. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. When we saw him at one of the dinners Shelia just looked at me. "Steve, we're going to run into him now and then, it's unavoidable," she told me watching him walk our way. "Good evening you two, I haven't seen you guys in a while." For the sake of Shelia I was nicer than nice on the outside anyway. "Evening Ken," I said holding out my hand. "You're looking fit. I'm sorry to hear about you and the misses," I may have looked like I cared; really I was gloating on the inside. "You know, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't; well, life goes on. I hear you had a little mishap at the lab, I hope no one got hurt too badly?" "It was a rookie mistake. It took a long while to prove that to OSHA. They still nailed me pretty hard but as you say, life goes on." "Well, I've got to mingle and I see two new pigeons over there that haven't donated yet tonight. Take care you two and I hope to see you around," he said with a big grin and walked away. "In your dreams," I thought to myself. "See, that wasn't so hard. We can all still be friends for the sake of the kids." She was right about the kids, but not Ken. I still didn't trust that son of a bitch and never would. Suddenly, it seemed like we ran into him wherever we went. What struck me as odd; was he was never with another woman. He was still a good looking guy and had more than enough money to satisfy any woman he wanted. I didn't really care mind you, it was just an observation. All right, I let my guard down. With running into Ken here and there I guess Shelia thought what I'd asked her to promise years ago was now null and void, but to me it wasn't. That one sixty-fourth gap had grown larger. I never knew about the lunches or the fund raising visits to other companies until a CEO friend of another company in the tri-state area, casually mentioned that he'd been hit up for a donation by my wife and Ken two weeks earlier. "I guess it's for a good cause and your wife sure knows how to sell it, you should put her back on your payroll. That guy she was with however, if it had been just him I probably would still have given, but not as much as I did. Between you and me, I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. But I guess that's just me, I don't trust hardly anyone, unless they look like your wife," he laughed, I didn't. I waited nearly two months before saying anything. I was hoping that she would tell me, but she never did even though I left a ton of hints. Finally I kind of exploded when she told me that she was going on a two-day fund raising trip. "Going alone or is Ken going with you?" Shelia looked like I'd punched her in the gut. She was caught and she knew it. "Yes, he's probably coming with Gary and me. I guess you know we've been fund raising together for a while," she said sipping from her water glass waiting for what she knew was coming. "I thought we had a deal?" "We did, but that's when you were jealous of everything that wore slacks. I think we've both grown up and are above that childish jealous behavior, besides the schedule is all set for the three of us. This is a huge two-day swing that will take us two to three days. We need to secure the funds before the summer so we know how many children we can send to camp." "Shelia, you promised me, remember?" "Grow up, will you? This is about the kids, not Ken anymore. Steve, I'm an adult. I don't need your damn permission to do this and I'm going; it's too late to cancel. All those months you moped around and then when you missed our anniversary did I tell you that I wasn't going to allow you to go back to work? No, we got over it." "Shelia, you don't have a clue what you're doing." "Steve, sometimes I just don't understand you anymore." That's how we left it that night. Did we make love anytime before she left? What do you think? That gap was now an eighth of an inch wide. We walked on eggshells around each other until she left and then for months after that. Did we make love again? Yes, but it wasn't the same. It was like we were both holding back, not wanting to give everything to the other. I tried to tell her we needed to talk but all I got was grief. Week by week the gap was growing. I tried to patch it numerous times, but we were on a collision course with destiny. "I'm going out of town Tuesday and will be back Wednesday afternoon," she informed me. "I've got three final companies to hit to put us over the top." "No," was all I said. "No what?" she replied. "If you plan on going with Ken, no, you're not going." "Steve, we've been through this all before. I told you the reasons last time." "And you promised me before that you wouldn't have any contact with Ken. I guess we know how well you kept that promise." She just gave me an angry stare. "Steve, I'm going," she said digging in her heels. "Like I said last time, think before you speak; you may not like the consequences of what you're about to do." "I'm going and nothing you can say or do will change that fact," She walked away in a huff. She went on her trip and I stayed at home and rearranged our bedroom. "Where are all my things?" she asked when she came back. "In your new bedroom." "What new bedroom?" "What used to be the old guest room, that's where all your stuff is." Fire was coming out of her eyes. "Fine, just fucking fine," she spit at me running back upstairs. From then on it was hell on earth in more ways than one. Now she flaunted her trips in front of me almost looking for a confrontation but I never gave her that satisfaction. When she no longer asked me to the fundraisers I was pissed but said nothing. When she had the asshole come to the house, I made sure he left without her, but not before I'd customized his windshield with a tire iron. It was getting worse so, I had her followed. I was waiting for her when she came home Saturday night just after midnight. I had a drink in my hand and was sitting in the dark. I'd gone over everything I was going to say a hundred times or more, but when she walked through the door I forgot it all. "Shelia." "Steve, is that you?" "We need to talk." "Can we talk in the morning, I'm tired and all I want to do is go to bed." "It's now or never, your choice," I told her. "All right, it's your dime, what do you want to say," she sighed vindictively with her hands on her hip. "Is it now officially over?" "Steve, what the hell are you saying? Is what over?" "Our marriage." "Steve, what do you want?" "I did want my wife back, but I don't think that's going to happen, is it?" "We haven't been husband and wife for months." "And I guess I've been replaced." She said nothing. "Well, I had to give it one more shot anyway." "Steve.." I stopped her before she could say anymore. "On the counter are the pictures of your last fundraisers with Ken. I half expected him to be hung like some Greek God, I'm kind of disappointed," I watched her eyes turn red. "Here's the way it's all going to go down. You will be served tomorrow at the house and will have forty-eight hours to vacate the premises. There will also be a court order issued so you will not be able to come within one hundred feet of this or any of the other properties I own. You will be able to see Linda whenever you want but only in this house. It's apparent Ken was more important to you than your own family." It finally started to sink in. Then she started to cry. "I'm so sorry, it just happened and I don't even remember much of it." "Shelia, something like this just doesn't happen. It's not like you were having lunch together, fell off your chair and onto his dick. He planned it and you were dumb enough to fall for his sob stories, or was he consoling you because I refused to let you see him. Maybe I wasn't so dumb after all?" "You can't take Linda away from me, Steve." "I already have. Get yourself a good attorney because you're going to need one. By the way, I'll send along a copy of our prenuptial agreement with the divorce papers. It'll make good reading for you and your attorney." With that I walked away for the last time. I hated to do what I was going to do, but she gave me no other choice. Ken paid for Shelia's attorney. It didn't do her much good. I thanked my dad everyday I spent in court. No matter how they tried that agreement couldn't be broken. My team, and yes I did say team, of lawyers got me full custody, because I could provide for Linda whereas Shelia would have to go back to work to make ends meet. She received a lump sum of fifty thousand dollars, her paid for BMW, all her clothes and jewelry excluding the items that had been my mother's and finally liberal visitation privileges. We agreed on twice a week and every other weekend. I knew she would eventually move in with Ken because her parents had pretty much disowned her, but I figured for the sake of my daughter I'd take the high road. It was quick. In just over three months our divorce was final and I was free of the both of them. When I would see them at a function or on the street Ken would give me that shit eating, 'I stole your wife smile' while Shelia would always look away. As I said, I tried to take the high road until something came to light. "Dad, I don't want to spend the night at mom's anymore," Linda told me one Friday night. "David came into my room naked one night last time." "Linda, did you tell your mother about this?" "She said I was probably asleep and dreaming it, but it happened dad; I'm afraid of him." "Sweetheart, just go back upstairs and I'll talk to your mom when she gets here. Unpack your bags because you're not going anywhere tonight." "Dad, I don't want to make any trouble for you with mom. Maybe I should just go." "Linda, honey, your safety means more to me than any trouble your mother can make for me. I love you. Now go upstairs and let me handle your mother." All right, I was wrong. Shelia called me every name in the book when I told her that I was not going to allow Linda to go with her. "Linda said she told you that David came into her room naked, and that you didn't believe her." "Steve, David is a little wild but he's a good kid. She probably dreamed the whole thing." "So, you believe Ken's half wit son instead of your own daughter? I thought you were naïve in believing Ken last time, now I think you're just plain stupid putting our daughter at risk. You can see her here, but there will be no more overnight visits." "You can't do that, I've got a court order to back to back me up," now she was yelling at me. "Shelia, I think it's time for you to leave," I shut the door in her face. I called my lawyer and told her to get to work on it immediately because as soon as Ken found out, his pride and hatred of me would take over. So be it. Without any physical proof the court overruled me. I fought it as long as I could and then I asked my lawyers to stall for time. My dad had always been there for me in the past, but now I was asking something of him that could get him into big trouble; yet, I had no one else I could trust. Dad, I need you to take Linda away with you, out of the country tomorrow. I'm going to lose this case and they're going to make me give Shelia overnight visitations with Linda. Dad, I won't put Linda in harm's way. Here is her passport, birth certificate and five cashier's checks for one hundred thousand dollars each. That should be enough money for you to live on until this all goes away. I don't want to know where you guys end up but it better be some place out of the way if you know what I mean. Get word back to me somehow in about six months and if you don't hear from me, wait six more months. "Steve, I'm kind of seeing someone now and if you don't mind, I'd like to bring her along." "You old dog," I said smiling. "Take whomever you want, but it must happen tomorrow morning, I'm out of time." Thursday I kissed my daughter goodbye. I wasn't sure how long it would be until I saw her again but I knew it wouldn't be for quite a while. She cried and said she was sorry, and I told her she had nothing to be sorry about. I gave her one more kiss and hug and she was gone with just a small pink backpack of clothes and her stuffed rabbit. I didn't sleep that night and in the morning I was back in court. You Don't Pull On Superman's Cape "Mr. Moore, this court orders you to resume the court ordered visitation rights of your ex-wife commencing today. You will deliver Linda to her mother today or face contempt charges. Do you understand?" "Yes, Your Honor, I understand," is all I told her. I left court and got with Carl and told him what was more than likely going to happen. "It's going to be up to you to keep my baby running smooth. Do what you have to. Here is my power of attorney so you'll be able to legally sign my name for anything you need. I don't know how long this is going to take, but I have faith in your ability to do the right thing." From there I went home, poured myself a stiff drink and waited. My phone kept ringing off the wall. I knew who it was so I just let it ring. When Shelia showed up at the house with a police officer, I just opened up the door, let her in and went back to my drink. "Steve, where is she?" "Where is who?" I said playing the game. "You know who. Where is Linda?" "You mean she's not upstairs? Well, then she must be at one of her friends' houses; you know she has a lot of friends." "You were supposed to deliver her to me this morning and if you don't produce her, this man is going to take you to jail." She said puffing out her chest. "You really are a stupid woman, do you know that? Do you think I would knowingly put Linda in harms way for you or anyone else? I guess you never really knew me very well." I smiled at her and continued, "As I said, she's probably over at her friend's house." My smiling at her made her even angrier. I was put into custody and taken downtown and put into a holding cell. The following morning I was brought before the Judge Thomas and told to produce my daughter. My lawyer, Victoria, did her best but the judge only wanted to hear one thing out of me, the location of my daughter. "Your Honor, I am not exactly sure where my daughter is," I told the judge. "Well Mr. Moore, maybe a few nights in a holding cell will refresh your memory. Mr. Steven Moore, I find you in contempt of court. You are to be held in custody until such time you reveal the location of your daughter, Linda Moore, and allow Shelia Moore her court ordered visitation rights." That's the way it all started. "After four months Shelia wanted to meet with me. I refused the first couple of times but then curiosity got the better of me. "You're looking a little thin," she said as we sat down at a plain wooden visitors table. "Just getting rid of the excess weight I've been carrying around for the past few years." "Steve, I don't want to do this, but I want to see my daughter." "She told you what was happening, I warned you but you just wouldn't listen and now we have both lost what we valued most." "I've changed my petition to court supervised visitation didn't they tell you?" "I heard, but I don't believe you anymore. You've gotten good at lying, remember?" "Steve that's old news, we have to move on. We're no longer married." "Your fault not mine." "Does it matter whose fault it was?" "It does to me. I never cheated on you during our entire marriage. You certainly can't say that, can you?" "It was only that one time, you have to believe that. And that was only after that big fight we had before I left." "So, I guess you thought to yourself I'll show that son of a bitch and I'll spend two days with Ken in bed. You played right into his hands." "Don't you think I know that now? If I told you I was drunk and don't even remember it, would that have made a difference? Your man had those ugly pictures and all I had was a cloudy memory. I can say I'm sorry until hell freezes over and you're never going to forgive me so what's the point?" "The point is; I'm not going to let that fuck head of a son of Ken's anywhere near our daughter. You might not think it's a big deal, but I happen to. I don't trust you anymore because even though I gave you a free pass and an out, you still lied to me and now you're going to have to live with that decision for the rest of your life. One more thing, you know those shots of you and Ken? If they somehow got on the internet, how effective would your fundraising be after that? I guess maybe for a roll in the hay they might give you a couple of bucks but what self respecting CEO is going to give money to someone like that?" "You wouldn't?" "I didn't say I would, because I'm in jail where you put me. But if some mean cocksucker wanted to get revenge on you, I couldn't stop him. Can you imagine the look on your mother's face if someone e-mailed them to your home or how about the church they attend? With them dated the way they are, everyone could easily see you were engaging in sex with someone other than your husband while you were still married." "You hate me that much?" "You don't have a clue to the lengths I would go to protect our daughter. I think we know were we each stand. Besides, you're going to need to be there to support your new man when his world comes crashing down on him." "Steve, what are you up to?" "What can I be up to? I'm in jail, remember?" A month later Carl came to see me with his usual update. "Steve, I've secured everything you requested. It's all been checked out and everything is fully documented. We've got not one but two pieces, if you know what I mean. I'm ready to move on it. All you have to do is just say the word." "Carl, I need you to do me a big favor today." I explained to him what I needed. "You're kidding right?" "Nope. Do what I've asked and then come back Thursday to see me. I'll let you know how to proceed then." I slept great Tuesday night. I would have slept through breakfast if the guard hadn't told me I had a visitor. "Good morning, Ken," I said with a huge smile on my face. "I assume it's a beautiful day outside even though I haven't had the chance to see it in a while." "Cut the crap, Steve. Your man said that you had something important you wanted to say to me. I'm here, talk; you've got five minutes." "Ken, I know Shelia is living with you right now." That brought a contemptuous smile to his ugly face. "Not only living with me, fucking me every night, too," he snickered. "Just stick to the plan," I said to myself. "Be that as it may, I want you to kick her out of your place today and sign a written agreement that you will never see or speak to her again. Is that understood?" "What are you fucking nuts? And why would I do that?" "Because if you don't I'm going to turn the hounds of hell loose on you, and my friend, you won't like that, believe me." "You stupid wimp, I took your woman and now you're threatening me from in here? You're pitiful at best. If that's the best you can do, I'll be leaving now. Just to let you know, I plan on fucking the shit out of Shelia tonight and maybe when I'm done I'll let my son have a piece of her. He never got the chance to take your daughter, but I guess her mother is the next best thing. It was so easy to get Sheila in bed with me. Three drinks with a little something extra in each and she was mine for the taking. Do you know she cried over you for almost four days straight? She thought all the way up to when the divorce became final that you would change your mine and take her back; your loss. But now a few drops of my special elixir in her drink every once in a while and she is mine to do anything with. And don't try to blackmail me with those stupid pictures. I set up a camera that first night and have it all on a DVD. Maybe I'll send you a copy if you're nice," he stood up to leave. "Don't worry, I'll show myself out." I wanted to kill him and his son with my bare hands but I had to bait him into telling me what really happened. I felt sick to my stomach letting him walk out that door but I knew I would have the final laugh. "Well, boss, what do you want me to do?" Carl said looking around. "Carl, do you know what you do with a cockroach if you find one? You crush it under your foot. I told Ken I was going to release the hounds of hell and he laughed at me; do it and do it today." I gave him one more set of instructions and I didn't even care if it was recorded on the jail monitors. Two days later Collins Manufacturing Company came under investigation for falsifying its testing data. It seemed about thirty percent of the parts weren't even inspected and that the testing that had been done was in most cases falsified. Out of specification parts were stamped approved, shipped and the military billed. An ex-employee had come forward stating that he couldn't live with himself any longer knowing that the parts going into military planes were not produced to the specifications outlined in their orders. A government spokesman said that all open orders had been put on hold and all assets of Collins Manufacturing had been frozen pending further investigation. "I guess that former employee will sleep a lot better tonight, in his new place, knowing he'd done the right thing in exposing a potentially fatal situation with his prior company." I was feeling pretty good about now even though I was still in jail. Collins Manufacturing stock fell like a rock. Ken's face was all over the news for the next few weeks and criminal charges were now pending. On a side note, a video of Ken Collins was given to the District Attorney yesterday. The video showed Ken admitting to an inmate, being held in the county jail, that he slipped a date rape drug into an unknown woman's drink and forced himself on her not once but many times. At this time no woman has come forward to substantiate these charges but the case is still pending. About a week weeks later, I was brought up again before Judge Thomas again. "Mr. Stephen Moore, you are free to go. Your ex-wife has withdrawn all charges against you and has asked the court that you be released. I'm not sure what game you've been playing with this court, but I highly recommended that you do not find yourself in front of my bench again. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, Your Honor," I replied. "Case dismissed," she said hitting the gavel on her bench. " Bailiff call the next case, please. And with that it was finally over. "Well Steve, you're a free man," Vicki told me. "I hope you can go back to your normal life now that this is all behind you?" "Vicki, nothing will ever be normal again after what has happened to me in the last nine months. I only hope all those responsible are getting their just desserts." I walked out of the courthouse, and Carl picked me up outside. "How does it feel to be finally free?" "Wonderful, simply wonderful." "I did what you asked and your father's flight is due in at ten o'clock tonight. He will be ushered through customs so no one will know Linda is back in the country." "No need for that any more. Anyone who was a problem is either behind bars or soon will be. Take me to the nearest bar, I need a cold beer and I'm not waiting until I get home." Carl and I hit the first bar we came across. After a Miller Lite and a Corona we hit a Longhorn Steak House and I had my first decent meal in almost six months. "You look the best I've ever seen, boss. You've slimmed down and don't have that little bulge around your middle anymore." "You do two hundred sit-ups and a hundred pushups twice a day and you'd lose that middle also." "I suppose Burger King for lunch every day is out from now on." I laughed and ate my last bite of steak. "You know Shelia has been staying at the house for the last couple of weeks. When I told her about Ken and his son she freaked. I had to have someone stay with her for the first two days until she settled down, she's still a mess. She wants to know if you're going to talk to her. I said that you'd see her later tonight. I guess I kind of forgot to tell her about Linda and your dad coming in tonight." I had thought about her and Linda almost every waking hour for the last few months. I knew I'd have to address it sooner or later but I had other things to think about, my daughter was coming home. Linda saw me and ran into my arms almost breaking my neck hugging me so tightly. "Dad, I missed you so much. Am I going to have to leave again?" she said with more than an anxious look in her eye. "Never again sweetheart, never again, let's go home." My dad had walked up with a tall blonde and was standing behind us. He shook my hand and then hugged me. "You look a little thinner; I think jail agreed with you," he said with that damn smile of his. "Steve, this is Grace." She held out her hand. I took it and told her I was happy to make her acquaintance but felt we should get moving. All the way home dad told me about where they'd been and how he moved every few weeks just to make sure it would be harder for anyone to find them. "When this is all over, I'd like to go back with Grace and really see some of the places we found," he said looking at her. My dad was in love. Carl dropped us all off at my house and I told Linda that her mom was waiting for her inside. She ran up into the house. I walked in slowly with my dad and Grace. When I went through the door I saw Linda and Shelia crying and hugging one other. Shelia looked up at me and mouthed, "thank you," I just nodded and walked upstairs. For two hours everyone gave me updates but at last I could see everyone's eyes were starting to glaze over. It was time to call it a night. Linda had her room, Shelia had hers and I had my old bedroom. Dad said he'd see me in a couple of days and walked out with Grace. "Steve, we need to talk," Shelia tried to say but I told her there would be time later. I took a long hot shower in my own bathroom and went to sleep in my own big soft bed; it was heaven. It took me a long time to fall asleep. I had become use to all the nighttime noises from the jail and it was almost too quiet in my bedroom. I don't know if Carl or Shelia stocked the refrigerator but at seven o'clock the next morning I was just happy to have real food for breakfast. Shelia made her way down just after eight wearing the white robe I'd given her years ago. "You make coffee yet?" "A whole pot, help yourself," I said grabbing my second cup. "Carl called me the day before you met with Ken at the jail. He told me everything and said it would be in my best interests not to even go back to his house to get my clothes. He's kept me updated on what went down and the fact that Ken was far worse than I could ever have imagined." "Shelia, we don't have to talk about this right now," I tried to say but she cut me off. "Steve, if I had this talk with you months ago none of this would have happened, but we didn't and it did. I'm not even going to try and say I'm sorry because those words don't even come close to making up for what I did to you and Linda through my stupidity. Just please don't take my girl away from me any more; I couldn't live without her again." The tears were now flowing and the hate I'd felt was long gone, but she was no longer my wife. "Shelia, you can stay here as long as you want, I don't plan on kicking you out. Carl is picking up your clothes at Ken's house tomorrow. You're the least of his problems now," I said with a huge grin on my face. "We are no longer married and never will be again. You picked him over me and over Linda's safety and I'll never be able to forgive you for that." She started crying even more. "For the sake of our daughter, you can stay here as long as you want. You have your bedroom and I will have mine. Right now Linda needs the both of us to get her back to reality, not two people pulling her in two different directions. So, if you're agreeable that's how it will work, at least for now. My one request is that you will bring no men friends or lovers into my house; is that understood?" She nodded her head but I could tell she was a beaten woman. She'd lost it all through her own naive misguidedness and she knew it. It has been four months since Linda got back; Life is almost like it was before everything spun out of control. Dad married Grace in a small family ceremony and they're somewhere in Mexico sightseeing. I asked where he was going and he just smiled at me. I told him to call me if he ran out of money. My business is doing better than ever and when I was exonerated in the newspapers and all those asshole companies that slammed me started crawling back. I wanted to put this whole mess behind me so I didn't gouge them, well not too much anyway. Ken lost everything and is facing a slew of charges, Shelia is charging him with rape and he is probably going to spend twenty plus years behind bars, as the white bitch of someone named Bubba; I hope so anyway. His ex-wife called and said she knew he was scum and hoped that we could rebuild our lives. We have lunch once in a while and she really is a remarkable woman who I'd like to get know better someday. Shelia is still at the house. She doesn't date. She is working part time at the lab again while Linda is in school. I pay her like I would any other employee but I make sure I contribute the maximum amount to her 401K every month. Are we an item, not really and like her I don't have time to date or even have the inkling to right now. About two and a half months after I was back home, she came into my bedroom one night and we had sex. It wasn't lovemaking; more just two people taking care of a need that was long overdue. It has happened a few times since that night and outside the bedroom it's never brought up. Are we back together, no way no how. I still don't trust her and I don't know if I ever will again. But Linda has more than a few years left until she graduates high school and I don't plan on kicking Shelia out until at least then. That is, unless I find a smart, good-looking woman I can trust and feel comfortable with. If I've learned anything these past few years, anything can happen when you let your guard down.