Chuck Swope - 3 Killer Stories. Lust Greed Envy Always Leads To Murder

Surprise Of A Lifetime

I had spent a lot of nights working late. The advertising business had always been a high pressure situation and in today's economy had become even more so. Without even knowing it, I had pushed my lovely wife of twelve years away from me. I not only didn't know it, I hadn't a clue.

We had sex a couple times a week, and I thought it was satisfactory, I know it was to me, and I thought to her as well. When I got home earlier than expected one evening and she wasn't there, I started to see the light. Not the entire light, but a glimmer.

She was surprised to see me sitting on the couch, drinking a whiskey and soda, patiently waiting for her return.

"Stan, what are you doing home? I didn't expect you so early."

"Obviously not," I said testily.

"Oh, Stan, If I didn't know better I would say you're jealous." She plopped down beside me and kissed me on the cheek. "You're the only man for me, big boy."

I didn't soften, but remained stiff to her try at sluffing off the situation. "So, where the hell were you, then?"

"Oh, Stan. You ARE jealous. After all these years. Well darling, if you must know, I was over at Darlene's. She needed some help with the kids. Bob's out of town. Satisfied?"

"I guess," I murmered.

"Oh, I'll take that frown off your face." She took the drink from my hand, placed it carefully on the coffee table, then embraced me in a long smoldering kiss. Well, you can guess what that led to, and I was actually feeling ashamed about the thoughts I was having.

It didn't last long, for my thoughts of distrust for my wife, Olivia, returned. As usual these days, I had to work late. Around seven pm I decided to have a quick meal at a nearby fast food joint. You'll never guess who I saw there. I was waiting for my order when I spied Darlene Cranston at a nearby table. She had her three kids with her, and like all kids, they were getting pretty noisy. My number was called and I picked up my food. On the way out the door I made a point of saying hello to Darlene. "Hey, Darlene, how's it going?" Something of that nature.

She smiled and said hello back. I was trying to decide whether I should just plain come out and ask her if Olivia was at her house last night when she up and beat me to the punch.

"Hey, Stan. Have Olivia drop by and see me sometime. I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks. Tell her i've got a new recipe I would just love to share with her."

"I sure will, Darlene," I said, while trying to hide my surprise. "I sure will," I was still mumbling as I almost stumbled out the door.I started walking toward my office building before I remembered I had came here in my car. That's how shaken and mad I was. Was my wife cheating on me? What would you think? I thought so. I decided I had to find out for sure just what the hell was going on. I didn't want to fly off the handle and go making accusations that might turn out to be unfounded.

You see, Olivia is one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid eyes on. I didn't want to lose her because I went into a jealous fit. I didn't want to lose her. But at the same time, I didn't want some other asshole to have her either.

The question remains, did she initiate great sex with me last night just to take my mind off where she had been? If so, it worked better than a charm, but in the cold light of my recently found out information, I suspected she had. God, that thought hurt. It tore the guts right out of me.

Back at work I sat down at my desk to eat my now cold, hamburger and fries. When Jason Crosby stopped by to get a confirmation on some sales figures, I couldn't help myself. "Jace, what would you do if you thought your wife might be cheating on you.?"

He shot me a surprised look. "That's a helluva question. Where did that come from?"

"Just a hypothetical question, my friend."

He parked his fat butt on the edge of my desk. "Hypothetical? Yeah, right. It really didn't sound all that hypothetical to me. You and the wife having some problems?"

"No, not really. But did you ever get the feeling that something might be wrong and that you're the last clown in the universe to know?"

"Nope. I been married twenty years. Me and the wife have had our ups and downs. But nothing really serious. Now we have what you might call a comfortable marriage. When you're married a few more years, you'll understand what i'm saying to you."

"Okay, I'll take your word for it. Let's get back to my point. If you thought your wife was cheating on you, how would you handle it.?"

He thought a minute. He grabbed a handful of my fries and shoved them in his mouth before he answered. "I think if I really thought she might be cheating on me, i'd hire me a private detective and make damn sure, before I went off all half-cocked."

"That's good, Jace, that's good. Maybe that's what ill do, maybe I will. Thanks."

"Glad to help." He waddled off, but not before grabbing the rest of my fries. "And You need money for the dick, I'll still buy that sweet stick off you."

What Jason had suggested actually cheered me up. It was a way to go, something to do. It gave me a direction to pursue. I gobbled what was left of my cold hamburger. Before doing anything though, I decided I would call home. I called the land line not her cell. I let it ring twenty times. No answer. I decided the private detective it was going to be.

The next day at lunch I visited the offices of one Brian Fairfax, Private Detective. His secretary sent me right in. I pretty much expected to see a seedy, unshaven little man in a bright sportcoat and a beat up hat. Instead I encountered a bright looking thirty something man that was dressed as well as I was. He was examining some photographs.

"Come in, Mister Henshaw," he beckoned and slid the photographs into a top drawer of his polished desk. "I understand you think your wife is being unfaithful. Is that correct?"

I nodded. "Uh, yes, that's right." I was more than a little bit nervous.

"You can be assured sir, that we will get to the bottom of the situation, however it comes out."

"However it comes out?"

"Why, yes sir. It could turn out that you're mistaken, and that she's not being unfaithful at all."

I brightened. "And that happens sometimes? I mean it happens that the wife is innocent?"

"Yes. It happens quite frequently. You would be surprised."

I felt myself relaxing. Maybe I was all wet. Maybe Olivia wasn't cheating on me. I was beginning to feel a little bit foolish. "How much are your services?"

"Five hundred a day and expenses. First day in advance. Is that all right?"

"Yes, I suppose." I fumbled for my checkbook.

After giving him all the details of my suspicions and a picture of Olivia and my address, I went back to work. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I would soon know.

I worked late as usual. At seven sharp, I called my house. No answer. I hoped Brian Fairfax, Private Eye, was on the job. For five hundred a day, he better be.

I showed up at the detective's office on my lunch hour again. This time I bristled with anticipation of his report. My guts were churning. It was all too much. When the secretary said I could go in, I fairly burst through the door, I was so anxious.

Once again the well dressed detective was behind his desk, messing with pictures. This time I wondered if these pictures were my pictures, my Olivia's pictures? What would they show? My stomach rumbled.

"You find out anything?" I blurted.

"Not a whole lot, Mister Henshaw. She left just before seven and went to a small cafe on the other side of town. She seemed to be waiting for someone. After twenty minutes or so, she got a call on her cellphone. Then she paid for her tea and left."