The Last Girls' Weekend Pt. 03

I asked Cheryl, "What will it take to get you out of my life?"

"Oh good. We're negotiating. How much you got?"

"How about $10K?"

"How about twenty?"

"How about you just leave? Get out of my house."

"You're going to kick a poor widow out into this blinding snowstorm with nowhere to go? That's truly heartless. I'll freeze to death. It'll be on your conscience." Cheryl tried to keep a straight face but couldn't.

"Cheryl, it's August. In Florida. No blinding snowstorms."

Cheryl laughing said, "See. You're too smart for me. It's hopeless to try to deceive you. I'll just have to take you on as my partner. We'll make a great team."

"I'm not going to be your partner."

"We'll see. I have to be here anyway. At least for a while. You told the police Roger and Jimmy came after you because you and I became lovers. Instead of the real reason. We have to be living together to truly sell that story. We can have a lover's spat later and I'll leave. But I'm here for now. We'll have a lot of fun together."

That was part of the talk Cheryl and I had after I got home to find Cheryl in my bed. The cops finally let me go about 10am, a little over nine hours after Jimmy shot and killed Roger. I went over my story with them at least a half a dozen times. They told me they wanted to see me again the following morning for a signed statement. They also wanted to talk to Cheryl.

I got home and checked to see if the spare key was still under the potted plant next to my front door. It was gone. I found Cheryl in my bed naked and asleep. She evidently doesn't believe in sleepwear. I just stood and watched her sleep for a while. She is not someone who you'd want to kick out of bed. She must have sensed I was watching her and woke up, stretched and asked, "Do you want to sleep, talk or fuck?" That's when I asked her what it would take to get her out of my life. And that's when she told me she's staying to sell the story we're romantically involved. I was too tired to argue.

"I've been sitting in a hot police station for hours. I'm going to take a shower."

"OK." Cheryl got up from the bed and started to undo my pants belt."

"What are you doing?"

"Helping."

I finished undressing, with Cheryl's help, and started toward the bathroom. Cheryl followed me. I stopped and looked at her. Cheryl said, "What? I could use a shower too. Well, another shower. Can't have too many. You've had a hard night. You're tired. I'll do all the work. Scrub you up, wash you down, real good."

And she did scrub me up real good. She washed every inch of me. I returned the favor. Amazing how your tiredness goes away. We were in the shower until the water started to turn cold. We helped dry each other off. I was thinking, "Maybe she should stay for a while."

After our shower, we got into bed. Cheryl climbed on top of me, cupped her chin in her hand on my chest, looked up at me and asked, "What happened with the cops?"

"I haven't slept for twenty-four hours but we need to talk. Get our stories straight. I'm going to give you the short version. "I told the cops I found out about Abbie's infidelity from my counterpart at the Miami Beach resort. When Abbie returned home, I called the hotel's point man at the police, Lt. Markey.

"By the way, Cheryl, Markey will protect us so when you meet him don't tell him anything, don't trust him, but don't get an attitude with him. We want him to remain friendly. He'll help us."

Cheryl replied, "Like I'm going to trust a cop."

"I forgot who I'm dealing with. Just be nice to him. Anyway, I called Markey and he gave me information about Roger and you. I decided to contact you to see if you knew about your husband's affair with my wife. You were shattered by the news that your husband was playing around. You and I decided to confront the two cheating spouses so I took Abbie to Miami to meet with you and Roger."

"Why'd you need two hotel rooms? And how'd you get my phone number."

"They asked about the rooms. I told them I was planning to spend the night in Miami and I didn't want to be in the same room with Abbie, let alone the same bed. I had your name and address from the police report. That's all I needed to get your phone number from the internet."

Cheryl said, "Smart. I'm going to need a look at the police reports on me."

"Sure. You showed up in Miami with Roger and Roger brought Jimmy and his gun as backup in case I got violent. You told Jimmy to leave because he was being so belligerent. Roger and Abbie agreed to end their affair and Roger left to meet up with Jimmy.

"You stayed. There was a connection between you and me and we both sensed it. Abbie felt left out, got angry and went into the other room to lie down. You and I were really hitting it off and you invited me to dinner."

"I invited you? Why didn't you say you invited me?"

"I'm a married man with a wife in the next room. I have standing in the community while you are just a wanton hussy."

Cheryl punched my shoulder lightly, "Thanks a lot. You could have been the one to hit on me. When I tell the story to the cops, I'm going to say you made the first move. And who says, 'wanton hussy' anymore. Go on."

"We decided to meet at the restaurant I actually ate at. The reason there's only one meal on the tab is because you weren't hungry. You just wanted to talk.

"We really hit it off. After dinner, I went back to the hotel to find that Abbie had left. I figure she's decided to fly home so I leave, planning to drive home that night. I call Markey to find out what he knows about Jimmy. I'm tired so I decide to stay overnight at one of our hotels in Boca.

"You and I decide to see where our romance leads. We talk on the phone. We realize we want to be together. I ask Abbie to move out and you tell Roger that you're leaving him for me. Moving in with me."

"How did we communicate after our fictional dinner and before I had my imaginary talk with Roger?"

"I told them you called me at work. They didn't press it because they're really interested in why Roger and Jimmy accosted me in the parking lot. And maybe they want to check your phone records first. Maybe see if they can catch us in a lie. Eventually they'll want more details. We never talked and we can't show any record that we did."

Cheryl had an idea, "Good that you told them I called you at work. We'll tell them that I got a burner to hide our budding romance from Roger and I only called you when you were at work so Abbie wouldn't become suspicious."

"Abbie was no longer living with me after we returned from Miami."

"Then I'll say Roger was gone in the evenings so that was the only time I could talk safely. That's when you're at work. Anyway, I tossed the burner so there's no record of our conversations. I don't even remember the phone number for the burner. I went through the hotel's main number and dialed your extension so no one at your hotel knew we were talking. What's your extension?"

"124. That works."

Cheryl jumped off me and grabbed my phone from the night stand, "What's your PIN? I'm going to put my number in your contacts."

I thought, "Just what I need. Cheryl having my PIN and going through my phone at her leisure. "Just put it in front of my face." She did and put her phone number in.

She climbed back on top of me and said, "I already have your number."

I continued with what I told the police, "Roger shows up with Jimmy in the parking lot of the H and wants to do me harm. He wants to know if I have any money at home. I tell him there's money in my safe. There isn't but I want to give them a reason not to shoot me then and there so I tell them they need me to open my safe. They make a lot of threats about what they're going to do to me and to Abbie.

"Roger backs into Jimmy, Jimmy's gun goes off and Roger is dead. I call the cops."

"They'll know that I got a phone call from Roger's phone. What did you say about that?"

"Roger called you to give you a play by play of how your new lover is a wimp, coward, shaking in my boots. How Roger's the better man. He does that until Jimmy shoots him. You must have heard the shot."

"Perfect. I did hear the shot. Like I said, you have a real talent for this. You're so smart. You're going to be an excellent partner. We're going to make tons of money." Cheryl hugged me and kissed me.

"Wait. There are problems with that story for both of us. Markey drove me back to my car when they were finished with me. Markey says Jimmy will be charged with felony murder. Jimmy shot Roger and he died during the commission of a felony. Doesn't matter if it's an accident or not.

"But for felony murder they have to prove that Jimmy was in the process of committing a felony when he shot Roger. A good lawyer will say that Jimmy and Roger were walking to the hotel to check in. They wanted to take in a Rays game or whatever. Jimmy took out his gun to make sure it wasn't loaded or for some other innocent reason. Roger slipped or tripped, fell back on Jimmy and the gun went off. They were just walking to the hotel and it was all an accident. His lawyer will say I made up my story because of my run in with Jimmy in Miami. Bad blood between us. Jimmy and Roger weren't committing a felony. No felony therefore no felony murder.

"You, me, and maybe Abbie will be called to testify that Roger and Jimmy were there to harm me and were in the process of doing that. They will need us to provide motive. That motive is Roger was shot while he and Jimmy were trying to keep me from pursuing my romantic interest in you. By kidnapping, robbing and murdering me.

"It's a problem for you because the trial will be in the news and your loan shark will know where you are. And the press may have our names in the next few days."

Cheryl interrupted, "If this makes the Miami papers, he'll know where I am. It's so sordid that it may make the news there."

"Will he come this far to collect $25000."

"He'll want to make the point that you can't get away with not paying him. Yeah, he'll come looking for me. Not himself, he'll send his guys."

"So that's one problem. The other problem is mine. I'm a married man who had an affair with a married woman and the married woman's husband came looking for me and was killed on H's property [H is a national hotel chain I work for as an assistant manager]. That's a big problem publicity wise for H and therefore for me personally.

"H actually sent a P. R. person to the police station in the middle of the night. I think Markey called the woman managing the third shift at H and she called the people we use for PR here. The PR woman convinced the cops to say in their press release only that there was an attempted robbery of one of H's employees and one of the robbers was killed. That's it. No background, just Jimmy's and Roger's names.

"That's good news for you regarding your loan shark. With all the robberies and murders in Miami, that story won't even qualify as newsworthy there. If that's all the press are told. Markey says that cops get money to leak about arrests. Sooner or later the whole thing will get out. Probably sooner. And it will all come out if there's a trial. They have to prove Jimmy was committing a felony so they need our testimony.

"But even if it stays buttoned up and it doesn't go to trial, all of this is bad for me. H can't fire me for being a victim of a crime or for what I do in my personal life. But they don't have to promote me. I've brought unwelcome publicity to the H brand. As you said, it's so sordid. But it's much better than anyone knowing the real story. If they found out about what really happened in Miami, I'd be fired. And probably arrested. But I think my career in hotel management, at least at H, may be done. I'm going to meet tomorrow with my manager. Try to assess the amount of damage. He's a good guy and likes me but no one is going to want to be my friend there now."

"Where's Jimmy? What's he saying?"

"Jimmy hit his head and was knocked out when Roger fell on him. If they ask why it looks like Jimmy was kicked in the head, I'll say it was such a traumatic experience I forgot I did that. Jimmy's concussed so he's in the hospital under observation. He'll probably be released from the hospital some time tomorrow and arraigned the next day."

Cheryl said, "You really did a good job with the story. Fits the facts and is simple. I couldn't have done better myself. You're a natural. Partner."

"Cheryl why are you here? I'm in the middle of a divorce. We own the house but there's very little equity. We have some savings but we'll end up splitting that. I'm not someone who's going to make you rich. I know you're a con artist so I'm not going to believe any stories you tell me. Aren't there more lucrative places you can be to swindle people? Are you really going through all this just to get the $25K back?"

"So you're not going to believe anything I tell you. All lies, right?" I nodded. "Then I'll tell you the truth. You won't believe me anyway so I might as well. I'm not here for your money. I'm here for you. And I told you I need a break from the game. But you're not worried about me conning you. You're too smart for me. What are you really worried about?"

"That you're a criminal who's living here with me. I'm going to try to save my career. But if you're arrested or get in trouble, you'll be tied to me. And H probably will fire me."

"How about if I promise not to do anything illegal while I'm here. I won't do any cons unless you agree to do them with me. I don't work without a partner and I'm minus one partner. I won't have any money coming in but, if that's what you're worried about, then stop worrying. Nothing until you're on board and ready. Just don't take too long. I am really broke."

"I wish I could believe you. But let me be clear. If I find out you've broken the law or are planning to do anything illegal, I'll turn you in to the cops.

"I need to sleep. I have to go in to work in a few hours."

Cheryl said, "Goodnight," but didn't move off me. Just put her hands on my shoulders and turned her head, using me as her pillow.

I repeated, "I need to sleep."

She didn't move, just said, "I'm not going to bother you. Go to sleep."

It was sort of nice having her on top of me but I asked, "Did you forget to pack your pajamas? I can lend you something."

"Shhhh, go to sleep. Who wears pajamas anymore?" Chilly from the air conditioning, Cheryl pulled covers over us. I closed my eyes and was asleep almost immediately.

I woke to someone stroking my cock. I was confused, thought it was Abbie but that's not Abbie type behavior. I turned to look and Cheryl was behind me with a big smile. "It's a little after 2pm. I don't know how much time you need to get ready for work, but you need some stress relief." She laughed, pulled off one of my college jerseys she was wearing and then my boxers. She put me in her mouth to get me ready, then put a condom on me and put me in her. Cheryl is very energetic but then moves slowly, more grinding, as she's ready to orgasm. I know she's getting close because she gets goosebumps on her butt. When she's ready, she freezes upright and then collapses on me. The goosebumps go away.

After my stress had been relieved, Cheryl said, "I really don't like condoms. How about we both get STD tests done and go from there. I'm not worried about me. Roger always wore rubbers when he was with his women. He knew if he didn't, I'd cut it off. Or at least cut him off. But Abbie has had multiple partners. I'm not sure she was always protected. Anyway, let's both get tested and throw the condoms away."

"How do you know Abbie had multiple partners? Did she tell Roger that?"

Cheryl sighed, "We pay off people or we wouldn't be able to do business in their bars and hotels. Bartenders are especially important. They let us work and sometimes even point out marks to us. After Abbie left the bar with Roger last June, I asked the bartender what he knew about Abbie. He told me she comes to the resort every six months or so. Usually she's with another woman. They try their luck at his bar and, if they hook up, they leave with the guy. If they don't hook up, they depart for greener pastures. His guess is they go to clubs. One time, before leaving, they asked him if he knew anything about a club that had just opened in Miami.

"Also, she wasn't wearing a wedding ring when Roger picked her up. As I said, multiple partners. So condoms until we're both tested." She tore open another package in preparation for more stress relief.

I went into work and met with my boss. He told me that H corporate doesn't know what to do with me. If the part of the story about the aggrieved husband confronting me about his wife doesn't come out, maybe it will all fade in time. But for now, I'm damaged goods. Just my infidelity and with a married woman is bad enough to sink anyone's career at H. His advice was to wait it out, hope there isn't any more bad publicity, and see what happens.

I got home about 12:30am. Cheryl was asleep, no pajamas. I got into bed, unintentionally waking her up. She climbed on top of me and asked, "What did your manager say? I thought you were going to call and tell me."

"I didn't realize I had to call and check in."

"Of course you do. We're partners. What'd he say?"

"That they don't know what to do with me but I'm damaged goods. Maybe I'll survive if nothing more comes out about my infidelity with a married woman and your husband being killed when he confronted me. I listened to the news on the way home. There was nothing. Have you been watching the news?"

Cheryl said, "Yes. They're saying a robbery in a back parking lot at the H. One robber was shot and killed. The other arrested. Awaiting further details. H is being proactive by hiring a security company to patrol their parking lots at night. Blah, blah. No real news just mostly what H is doing to cover their ass. Probably won't be anything more about this on the news tomorrow. Unless they get something more juicy."

Cheryl changed subjects, "It's been nice for you, and for me, but things have been a little too one way." She moved so she was on her knees just above my chin, "Let me introduce you to my vagina." Opening herself, she said, "This is what's called a 'clitoris'. That's where you put your mouth and tongue. You lick and suck and kiss it until something happens. You can also use your fingers. You'll know when something happens. Do you get the idea?"

I got the idea. Lots of goosebumps.

The next morning I went in to the police station, went over my story yet again and signed a statement attesting to that story.

The cops called Cheryl and set up an appointment with her to come in the following morning. The next morning Markey called me before Cheryl was back from her police interview, "At least your stories match. What are you doing with her, Mark? She is hot. I get the attraction. She gave Miami as her home address, but she told us she's living with you. Are you nuts? I mean, have some fun but living with you? She's a criminal."

"What can I tell you. We hit it off. I think she's changed her ways but I'll be careful. Any sign of anything illegal and I'll call you right away. Any news on Jimmy Addison?"

"He's been charged with first-degree murder with bail set at $1 million. One scumbag off the streets. That's Cheryl's brother-in-law, by the way. But don't worry. He won't be attending Christmas dinners with you. My guess, either will Cheryl."

We got off. I was relieved to know that Cheryl went with the romance story instead of the real story or some version that would have been bad for me.

Cheryl got home and told me she went through the same thing as I did the day before. She said, "Jimmy has a public defender. The PD called me. Jimmy wants to talk. His PD is going to get me in to see him at 2pm on Friday."

"What does Jimmy want?"

"I don't know. I asked the PD and he said Jimmy wouldn't tell him. Maybe he wants to talk about funeral arrangements for Roger. Jimmy can't do it. I don't know why he just doesn't dump all this on his mother. Maybe she can't take care of this for some reason. I don't know much about her. Never met the woman. I'm guessing Jimmy thinks it's my responsibility. I'll have Roger cremated. If I can find some money."

"You were married ten years and you never met Roger's mother?"

"Roger and I were actually together more like twelve years. We started telling people we were married ten years ago but we never got married. I guess maybe a common law marriage if that's still a thing. But we never married. We don't do marriage licenses, bank accounts, life insurance, mortgages, taxes, 401k's. If we tell people we're married, they believe we're more stable, more trustworthy somehow. I told you in Miami, this was a business arrangement for me. I was fond of Roger and I'm sorry he's gone but we were business partners. He wanted something more and I played along. I was even faithful to him the whole time.

"I slept with a few other men during the twelve years we were together but that was always business, a part of a grift. He knew that, or at least suspected I was doing that. He didn't ask and I didn't say. But I never slept with anyone because I just wanted to have sex. And it's not because I didn't run across men I would gladly have fucked. Completely faithful, until you.

"Over the last few years I haven't been doing any direct scams myself. Roger enjoyed it more than I did so I've been doing the planning and he's been in the field, so to speak. I haven't been active in a con other than research, planning and telling Roger what to do for over three years.

"Until you invited us up to your hotel room. Roger was completely useless after that. I had the debt and he had my money so I went back to the hunt. I had no other choice. But Roger was so far gone he couldn't even provide backup. The night he died, I had a second date with a guy. He would have been a good source of income but Roger was too obsessed with you to even show up to take pictures.

"You were the first guy I was with other than Roger in years. I know that you don't believe anything I say, but it's true. I walked into your hotel room in Miami with the intention of Roger and me leaving with the money I gave you. But there was something about seeing you in person. You were about to leave when I stopped you by telling you I wanted to talk in private. I'm right about that. You were going to leave. Right?"

"Yes, we were about to leave."

"I did all this research on you and Abbie. You have an interesting biography. I had a picture of you in my head. Not how you look but what you were like. You were different than I expected. I knew if you agreed to talk in private, we'd hook up. Maybe not right then, I didn't know about the second room, but somewhere and soon. We were attracted to each other. I didn't want you to leave."

"No, you wanted me to stay to give me some lame story about having to borrow the money from a loan shark who's going to break your legs because your stash is gone and you can't pay him back. You didn't want me to leave because I was leaving with the money."

"Well, I guess there's that too," Cheryl smiled. But we wouldn't have fucked unless I offered. I didn't have to do that. I wanted to."

I said, "Sure. I believe everything you tell me. If you did all this research on me, how come Roger didn't know I was Abbie's husband. He asked if I was a cop."

"I know all about you. Roger only knew what Abbie told him about you. If I told him you were an honor's student and he accidentally mentioned that to Abbie, even Abbie would get suspicious. How would Roger know that?"

"How do you know that?"

"I know everything about you. I have your college transcripts in the file I have on you. I have a guy who's a genius hacker. I had him hack your school records. He's expensive and I don't usually do that with marks but you're interesting so I splurged.

"Let's talk about something more important. I owe you for last night. You were wonderful. You really grasped the whole concept. I want to pay you back.

"By the way, I found a walk-in lab that will do an STD panel. I should have results in a few days. I used your credit card to pay for it. One of the joint cards I found in your home office. Meet the new and improved Mrs. Abigail Joiner!"

"Text me the address of the lab and I'll go there on the way to work. And put the credit card back in my office."

Friday, Cheryl left to visit Jimmy and I went to work. When I got home after work the next morning, Cheryl and the two fairly large suitcases she arrived with were gone. No note. She had been living out of the suitcases but I found her clothes dumped on the bed in my guest bedroom. I looked through what she dumped. All practical stuff. Underwear, shorts, tops, workout clothes, a bathing suit, shoes, more shoes, cosmetics. No pajamas. Lots of clothes but nothing very expensive. I figured she was just throwing this stuff away on her way to who knows where. But why take empty suitcases with her?

Then I thought to look in the safe. She's spent a lot of time here on her own. Maybe she figured out a way to get in the safe and took the $25K. I opened it. No, the money was still there. But there was also a handwritten note in the safe: "Just wanted you to know that I'm not after your money. Love, Cheryl"

I'd have to tell Markey that Cheryl was no longer living with me. Getting her to testify would probably be a problem. Our romance had come to an end. I'd miss Cheryl. Never a dull moment and the sex was great. But probably for the best she's gone.

Cheryl returned about 2am Monday morning. She woke me up by sitting next to me on the bed, kissing my cheek and stroking my hair. "Sweetie, get dressed. I need help with my bags." I got dressed and lugged her two suitcases and two large nylon bags out of her trunk and into the house. Cheryl was in jeans and a sweatshirt. No makeup. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"Where you been?"

"Solving my problem. I found my money. It's in those bags. I haven't counted it. I don't know how much Roger spent but there should be around $600K in the bags. I know you have questions but I haven't slept much the last three nights. I just want to get on top of you, pull the covers over us and go to sleep. Can I answer your questions after I've gotten some sleep? Please?"

We slept in. I woke earlier than Cheryl but stayed in bed. She woke up on her side facing me. Sometime during the night she always slides off me. She gave me a big smile, put her arms around me, kissed me and asked, "Can I get coffee first and breakfast? I haven't eaten much either. We can talk over breakfast."

Cheryl drank coffee while I made eggs. She said, "So I went to see Jimmy. He tells me that he needs a lawyer, not a PD, and they cost money. He also needs money for a bail bondsman. He claims I have Roger's half of the money, which Jimmy thinks is now his. I tell him that Roger took all of it and hid it. Where it is died with him. He thinks for a while and says, 'I didn't know he took the money but I know where he hid it. I'll tell you but you have to give me my half.'

"I know Roger would never let Jimmy near the money. But it was a surprise that Jimmy didn't know Roger took it. Jimmy and I don't spend much time together so I wouldn't have told him. The only reason Roger wouldn't tell Jimmy he took my money is because Jimmy would know where Roger hid it. I believed Jimmy knew where it was.

"We negotiate. I'll spare you the details. We agree that I'll give him the money for lawyer's fees. I'll pay them all but he has to accept a plea bargain. Whatever he's offered, he pleads to. We do not go to trial under any circumstances. I told him that if this goes to trial I'll testify against him. I'll say I was on the phone with Roger the whole time and heard everything. It won't just be your word against his. I'll testify that he and Roger were about to do serious harm to you and were threatening Abbie. Jimmy knows it's not true but fuck him. And he also has to stick to the story that he and Roger confronted you because I told Roger I was leaving him for you. He can't say anything about what happened in Miami.

"So he tells me Roger hid the money in the house they grew up in and where their mother still lives. There's a space hidden behind a fake wall that their father, who did burglaries for a living, used to stash stolen goods and weapons. Roger and Jimmy discovered it when they were teenagers. You can't tell it's a fake wall unless you know what you're looking for.

"Jimmy tells me where this hidden space is and how to open it. His mother has difficulty walking and has full time nursing. Jimmy tells me he'll call his mother and have the nurse let me in and then go upstairs with his mother. They'll stay out of my way. Jimmy will be able to use a phone in about an hour. He'll call and tell his mother and the nurse to expect me.

"I drove to Miami, waited until midnight and got the money. It was in four large nylon bags and I thought I could put all four in my two suitcases. Suitcases are more innocuous than nylon bags. Someone sees me with nylon bags they'll immediately know they contain money. But I couldn't get it all in the two suitcases.

"I slept in the car. I was worried about going to my apartment. I didn't want to lug the bags into the apartment and I didn't know if the loan shark had people watching. The next morning I call the loan guy. He wants the money and wants to break my legs too. We finally settle on an amount that leaves me with the ability to walk.

"But that he says he won't break my legs doesn't mean he won't. We argue over where to hand over the money. A place where I'll feel safe. We finally agree on a place and I give him his money Sunday night. I spent the days driving around and Saturday night sleeping in the car again. With the money in the trunk. Your $25K cost me $50K. But my legs are fine, no one's looking for me, and I have my money back. I'm happy."

"Are you going to pay for Jimmy's lawyer? Stick to the deal you made?"

"Of course. I promised Jimmy. I never break promises."

I rolled my eyes and asked, "He's going to tell the romance story? I don't have to worry about some crazy tale of me holding his brother captive?"

"He knows if he wants me to pay for his lawyer that's what he'll say. You know Roger intended to kill you. You got lucky.

"That's me. Mr. Lucky. I thought you took off for good. Why didn't you tell me what you were up to."

"I left all my clothes here. I thought you would understand I was coming back. I'm sorry. I should have left a note or called you. Honestly, I didn't want to tell you about the money because I was afraid you'd tell me to leave it in Miami. I didn't want to do that. I want it close by. If Jimmy tells someone who tells someone that there's a whole bunch of cash stashed at my apartment, I don't want them to find it there. We need to hide the money. Any ideas?"

I said, "I don't have a convenient hidey-hole to stash my stolen goods in. I don't want the money here. I don't have an explanation about why it's in my house. Go and get a storage unit. Today. I'll help you carry it to your car and into the storage unit after I get off work tonight. Jimmy can just as easily tell someone who tells someone that the money is here, in my house."

"Jimmy doesn't know I'm here with you. But he'll find out eventually. OK, I understand. I'll rent a storage unit today."

"Why did you come back? You have your money and you don't need to hide here any longer. Why are you here?"

Cheryl thought a while and said, "I've been hustling since I was sixteen. Before that really. Maybe my whole life. I was forced into a break because of you and Roger. I don't work without a partner and my partner is dead. I'm tired. This hiatus showed me just how tired I am. I told you I need a break from the game so I'm taking one. Why here? I like you. I like being here with you. I've never had a genuine relationship with a man. Or anyone really. It's always been business arrangements. I thought I'd stay and see what happens with us. If you want me to stay."

"As long as you don't do or plan to do anything illegal, I'm happy you're here. Just stay out of my safe from now on." Cheryl smiled mischievously and looked down at her plate.

I had finished my eggs but Cheryl hadn't started eating. Too busy talking. She came and sat on my lap and kissed me. Then said, "Ugh, onion breath. Who puts onions in eggs?" She kissed my nose and sat in her chair to eat her breakfast. She poked her fork toward the eggs to show me she was talking about her breakfast and said, "Really good." She continued "You saw my note in your safe. I just wanted you to know you can trust me." She gave me her sweetest smile.

She continued, "You, Jimmy and I are telling the same story but we don't know what Abbie will say. What do you think she'll say."

"Abbie was in the hotel room with me. She's as guilty as I am. She could flip on me but, I don't think the cops will press her. They only care about what happened in the parking lot and why Roger and Jimmy were there. She really doesn't know about you and me. I told the cops we kept our romance from her. She doesn't know anything about what happened in the parking lot. But I guess I should talk to her and give her the story we're going with."

"Let me do that. I'll invite her over when you're at work. She'll be too curious about what I have to say to refuse. And she'll want to know what I'm doing in your home."

"Are you nuts? She'll go apeshit if she knows you're here. Probably on you. And then on me."

"I might as well tell her before the cops do. I'll call her. I'm sure she'll want to talk to me. I know what to tell her. I bet we become good friends."

"I'm going to call Markey to see if they've interviewed Abbie yet. I also want my.45 back. They confiscated it." I called Markey at the police station. "Lt. Markey please. This is Mark Joiner.

Markey got on, "What's up, Mark?"

"Hey, Lt. Just checking to see if they're finished with my.45. Can I pick it up?"

"Yeah, I'll have it for you. It hasn't been fired lately and the bullet that killed Addison came from his brother's.32. Went right into his heart. Anywhere else, he probably would have survived. One less asshole in the world."

"Thanks. I'll come by on my way to work. Has anybody interviewed Abbie about this yet?"

"Not really. We talked to her briefly. She's sort of peripheral to this. She wasn't in the parking lot and didn't know about you and Cheryl. We'll get a statement from her in the next couple of days.

"The D. A. is more concerned about Cheryl. Is she going to show up and testify at the trial or is she just going to disappear? Her testimony, what she heard on the phone, collaborates what you told us. If she takes a flyer, it's just your word against Jimmy's. What is she going to do?"

I looked at Cheryl who was listening. Cheryl shrugged. I said, "Cheryl met with Jimmy last Friday. He wanted to talk about funeral arrangements for Roger. But he did indicate that he's interested in a plea deal. He's getting a lawyer to pursue that. I'd tell the D. A. to do a deal. I don't know what Cheryl will do but I wouldn't want to go to trial if the outcome depends on her testimony." I looked at Cheryl who gave me a smile and a thumbs up. I told Markey when I'd be by for my gun and we hung up.

Cheryl got up, put her plate in the sink and grabbed my hand. "I need a shower and I'm horny."

Afterwards, Cheryl had her head on my chest and her arm draped over me, playing with the hair on my stomach. She said, "Can I ask you a couple of questions about how you suckered Roger and me?" I shrugged. "You found out about Roger and Abbie after she called Roger to set up their Thursday and Friday tryst in Miami. I know Abbie didn't tell you she was cheating on you with Roger. How did you figure it out? Was it that she was going away again so soon?"

"I found out about them the Saturday they were together at the resort. I ran into a husband of one of the wives who was supposed to be with Abbie."

"Wait," Cheryl interrupted, "you knew about them and Abbie knew you knew when Abbie called Roger?" I nodded. "Unbelievable she could be that good. And you were there when she was talking to Roger?" I nodded. "Incredible. I wanted Roger to blow it off not because of anything Abbie gave away but because I thought it was too soon for her to be away again. That you'd catch on. Plus she had the phone on speaker. You don't have your phone on speaker when you're making lovey-dovey with your lover and planning an intimate rendezvous. You have your phone on speaker when you're talking to your husband or your mother.

"Roger is real careful about where he goes. How'd you get him far enough in the room to get the jump on him without Abbie being in the way. He would have been suspicious if she didn't open the door and leap into his arms. They would have been arm in arm all the way into the room. And he would have been looking around for any sign of danger. You, of course, were in the bathroom. He would have looked in there."

"Abbie was waiting for him on the bed, completely naked with her legs spread and a beckoning smile."

"Your idea?" I nodded. "Good one. Makes up for your speaker phone blunder. So Abbie did all the work until Roger was in the room. You did the planning while Abbie hooked Roger." I nodded. "You and Abbie are a really good team. You'd make a fortune doing what I do."

I said, "Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Sure. I'll answer honestly. You can believe everything I tell you." She smiled.

"You used the word 'tryst' before. And 'innocuous'. I read your rap sheet and the background the cops have on you. You come from Pigs' Hollow or something, West Virginia."

"And you thought I was just a pretty face with OK tits and a nice ass."

I said, "By nice ass you mean fat ass?"

"You think my ass is fat?" She jumped out of bed and went to the full length mirror that Abbie used and looked over her shoulder at her ass. "This mirror makes everything look fat. Do you really think my ass is fat?"

I said, "Come here, let me see." She came over, turned her back to me, looking at me over her shoulder. I poked and prodded and squeezed her butt cheeks for almost a minute, saying, "Hmm..... Hmm," seriously studying the issue.

She asked, "What are you doing?"

"Poking, prodding and squeezing," I replied.

"Why?"

"I'm taking your question about your fat ass seriously. Checking for fat."

"Do more squeezing and less poking and prodding. And watch where you poke pervert."

I gave her my conclusion, "I think your ass is perfect. I also think your tits are perfect."

She jumped back on the bed, climbed onto me and said, "Good. I agree about my ass. I'm not so sure about my tits. Maybe a little too big. Not proportional with my body. But thanks for saying that."

I thought, "What woman thinks her breasts are too big? Her breasts are perfect."

She continued about her past, "And it's not Pigs' Hollow but could have been. I grew up in Appalachia and the earliest thought I can remember is wanting to get out of there. There was the rich part of town, the mine owners and bosses, and the poor part. We were too poor to be in the poor part of town. My parents were wonderful people. My mother was the disciplinarian and she didn't spare the rod. My father was the kindest man I ever met. I couldn't have had better parents. Unless they were rich. I had three brothers, one of whom is dead. I haven't talked to the others in years. They don't approve of my lifestyle.

"I had just started high school, I was sixteen, when I ran off with a guy traveling through who was doing insurance scams. He was my way out. He figured he could use someone like me to do bigger cons. He looked to be a hundred years old to me but he was probably in his forties. I stayed with him about ten months. He had a drinking problem which was getting worse so I took off.

"I took up with a guy who robbed houses. I told you I was breaking into houses since middle school. I took what money I could find but I did it mostly because I wanted to see how rich people live. This guy I took up with, Jerry, was a master of getting into houses without leaving any damage or making any noise. We took anything we could carry. I had a fence who bought our stuff. We weren't getting rich but we were doing OK.

"Jerry decided to pocket and sell a couple of watches on his own that he didn't tell me about. The cops picked him up and he told them about me. I was arrested. The only time I've ever been arrested. There was nothing left in our apartment that was stolen. I told them I knew nothing about what Jerry was up to. What watches? They had nothing on me so they let me go.

"A couple of years later I ended up in Miami and met Roger. And we've been together ever since. Up until last week."

"But you don't sound like you're from West Virginia and you use words like 'tryst'. You dropped out of high school when you were sixteen. Why don't you talk like a high school dropout from West Virginia? Whatever that would sound like."

"This is how I used to talk," she said in an accent that might just be from West Virginia. She continued, in her usual voice, "and I did drop out of school. Roger and I were doing cons in Miami. Roger would bust in on us in the mark's hotel room and demand money. I picked up a guy at a bar, an older man. He asks me to dinner before heading to his room. We talked. He tells me that I'm not going to get anywhere in life if I can't speak properly. No one will take me seriously if I don't know proper English. He says it's not my accent. He likes the accent. It's not my brain. I'm smart enough. It's not what I say it's how I say it.

"He was right. I wanted to con people with money. Do bigger cons. To do that they have to take me seriously. I got through school, up until tenth grade, but school was never much of a priority for me. Rich, educated people won't take me seriously if I sound like a high school dropout from West Virginia. Maybe they'll offer me a few bucks for a blow job but that's it. I'd never be able to get close. So I had to become someone else. I got my high school equivalency. Then I went to college in Miami. My grades were as good as yours. I graduated with Special Honors in Philosophy.

"I learned to speak properly. Learned some new words like 'tryst' and worked on losing my accent. The hardest work I've ever done. Now you have the nearly perfect future partner. Well-read and well spoken."

Cheryl called Abbie to invite her over for a talk. I listened to their conversation. Abbie was skeptical and angry but agreed to talk. She probably wanted to know what Cheryl was doing in my house. I left for work before Abbie arrived. I got a call from Cheryl just after 9pm, "Abbie's on her way to you. She's not happy."

Abbie burst into my office at the H around 9:30pm. She was furious. I picked up the phone and dialed security, "There's an intruder in my office. A woman. Please send people to escort her from the building."

Abbie sat in the visitor's chair across from me, put her elbows on her knees and her hands over her face and just started bawling. I've never seen her so distraught. The security people showed up and I asked them to wait outside. Close the door. I watched Abbie cry.

Finally, still sobbing, she said, "You... you're living with her? How can you do this to me. You left me in the hotel in Miami so you could meet up with her? She's a horrible criminal and you're with her. I make one mistake and you won't even let me explain or try to make it right. If you would just listen to me, we can fix this." Abbie looked at me, waiting for me to explain myself.

I said, "Abbie, my opinion of you is not very good. You're a cheater and a liar. I don't want to hear explanations from you because any excuses or justifications you give will just lower my opinion of you even more. Your rationalizations will just provide more proof of how shallow, selfish and foolish you are. I don't need to hear that. It would just make me wonder even more what I ever saw in you.

"You have this fantasy that if you can just explain I'll take you back. Give you a second chance. But your explanations will just make me even more determined that I don't want to be anywhere near someone as superficial and self-absorbed as you are. Actually, if you told me that you fucked other men because that's what you wanted to do and hoped I wouldn't find out, I'd have more respect for you. At least that would be the truth.

"As for what I'm doing with Cheryl, that's no longer any of your business. Now, I have work to do. You can leave on your own or I'll have security escort you."

Abbie stared at me, still crying but angry now. She got up, opened the door and stormed out.

When I got off work, Cheryl and I loaded her bags into her car and we drove to a storage facility. I asked her how her meeting with Abbie went.

"It turned out OK I think. She's mad that I'm living with you. She doesn't get how that happened. I told her you and I had dinner together after our hotel meeting and started talking. She was furious that you and I hooked up in the other room and devastated that you left her at the hotel. She eventually called her father who made the arrangements to get her home. Now she's even more angry to find out that you left her to meet me for dinner. Something she didn't know until I told her.

"She wanted to talk about Roger. She said she was sad when she heard he was dead. She asked if it was just the money or if he ever felt anything for her. I told her he did have feelings for her." Cheryl looked over at me, "That's true by the way. Toward the end Roger didn't want to meet up with any of the other women. But he was more than willing to meet up with Abbie. He liked her. I didn't care about his feelings as long as it didn't affect his ability to get money from her.

"I told her that Roger and I had been having problems and he really looked forward to seeing her. His mood lifted whenever he talked about her. He agreed to meet her even though I told him not to. I thought it was too risky but nothing would dissuade him from seeing her. It started as a con but Roger developed feelings for her. Abbie was pleased that Roger was fond of her and not just another mark to him.

"I complimented Abbie on her phone call with Roger that got him to walk into your trap in Miami. I told her I was listening and thought it was masterful. She's very proud of that. She likes getting over on people. But she says she was very conflicted about doing that to Roger. She said you forced her. She wanted to save her marriage and she did what you wanted. And she was mad at Roger. She was sure it was something more but you convinced her Roger was just conning her. She's glad I told her that wasn't true.

"Abbie and I talked about you. I told her you and I just clicked and we're exploring our connection. She did the same with Roger. She knows how that goes. She wants me out of your house but she understands my feelings. We have both been following our hearts. She blames you. You won't even listen to her. She can explain but you have just cut her off. And taken up with another woman. I told her I believed that's exactly what Roger was planning to do. Leave me for Abbie.

"I told her that there's no need to talk to the cops about what happened in the hotel room. If they ask, just say the four of us talked about her affair with Roger and she and Roger agreed to end it. All of us were there to see if there was anything left of our relationships to salvage. It turns out there wasn't. The cops won't look too kindly on what she and you really did so there's no reason to bring it up. It has nothing to do with their investigation of Roger's death. Roger went after you because of me. Not that it wasn't clear that his and my relationship was coming to an end but he went crazy after he found out I wanted to dump him and partner with you. You didn't need to tell him that. It really set him off.

"Cheryl smiled, "Abbie and I bonded. Somehow Roger's death was a tragedy for both of us. We left it that we're two women who's emotions have led us into doing things that have complicated our lives. Things that got very messy. She developed feelings for Roger, me for you. These things happen and we can stay mad at each other or realize we're both just women who followed our hearts. We're kindred spirits. Her anger should be directed at you, not at me. You won't give her another chance and she's furious with you.

"I wouldn't feel too bad for her. She mentioned that she's easing the pain of her marital problems with a co-worker. Just friends. He really listens to her. Sure. You know how that goes.

"Abbie and I agreed to get together on Thursday for dinner. I told her I can't do lunches. You're home during the day so I'm home. Dinnertime is good because you're at work. I think Abbie and I will become good friends."

I said, "So you sent her at me like a guided missile."

"She didn't need much guidance. She's angry at you. Nothing I can do about that. Does it bother you that we might start hanging out together?"

"No. But I'm not sure which one of you will be a more harmful influence on the other. She came by my office after she left you. She wasn't happy. I listened to her cry for a while and asked her to leave. Maybe now she'll move on."

Cheryl said, "Maybe. She has her co-worker. He really listens to her."

Early the next morning I started to get calls from the press. The story of Cheryl's and my romance broke in the local paper. My name and where I work. Poor Roger came to confront me about stealing his wife. They played it like this unfortunate guy was just trying to win back his wife and was shot and killed for his efforts. Almost like I shot him. He's the poor guy with an unfaithful wife and I'm the villain who played around on my wife with a married woman. A long article. The only thing they didn't have was that Cheryl was living with me. But that wouldn't be for long. I showed Cheryl the news report and said, "My goose is cooked." Cheryl agreed and suggested I pursue a different career. As her partner.

I went into work that night. A lot of stares and not a lot of warmth from my fellow employees. I told security to keep the press off our property. I was expecting to hear from my boss but I didn't. I worked as I normally would.

All of that, my finding out about Abbie, Roger's death, Cheryl moving in with me, was last August. It's now early December and a lot has happened. Abbie and I are divorced. After I accepted a few minor changes to the settlement we offered, Abbie decided not to contest the divorce. I bought out her equity in the house and re-financed it.

Jimmy was offered a deal and he took it. He was sentenced late in September. Life with the possibility of parole after thirty years.

Cheryl and Abbie became good friends. Abbie made amends to Becca and Claire. She told them I forced her to call their husbands. Abbie gossips to Cheryl about them. Claire and her husband Jay are back together but Claire isn't allowed out anymore. She was supposed to cut all ties with Abbie and Becca. Occasionally, Cheryl told me, Claire sneaks out to have lunch with Abbie and Becca. And she still sees the guy she met through work, the one she was with in Miami in June, for afternoons at his hotel when he's in town. But she's always home when Jay's at home. No more nights out or weekends away.

Bob, Becca's soon to be former husband, won't have anything to do with Becca or her children. They're divorcing. A very messy divorce. Becca got a job selling clothes at a boutique. Cheryl says she's struggling. She also occasionally meets them for lunch but she's home with her kids every night. She can't afford a babysitter to go out.

I called Jay. We have never been friends, just acquaintances because of our wives' friendship. He was surprised to hear from me but he was cordial. We exchanged pleasantries and he asked, "What can I do for you?"

"I thought you should know. Your wife is still meeting Becca and Abbie for lunches. She still sees the guy she was with in Miami in June. The guy evidently travels here on business. He and Claire hook up in the afternoons when he's in town."

He didn't say anything for a while, then, "Thanks for telling me." He hung up. Cheryl heard from Abbie they're divorcing. And then that they're not. And then that they are. I'd hate to be living in that house.

Since Becca and Claire were no longer available to go clubbing at night, Abbie was happy to have Cheryl to hang out with. They go to bars together. Hotel bars and clubs. Cheryl told me, "I'm just her wing woman. Abbie hooks up with someone almost every night we go out. I just go home." I looked at Cheryl skeptically. She said, "You don't have to worry about me. I've always been a one guy type of girl. I haven't been with anyone since I moved here. Actually, I haven't been with anyone else since you and I hooked up in the hotel in Miami. Not even Roger.

"I don't know what our arrangement is, yours and mine, other than I'm here and we're having fun. I'm completely happy with you. I'm not going to sleep with other men as long as we're together. If I want to move on, I'll let you know. I'm here on weekends when you're not working and I'm here in bed every night when you get home. I enjoy Abbie and I don't want to just sit at home waiting for you. I know you don't believe anything I say, but of all the things to worry about, my sleeping with other men is not one of them."

We left it there. I don't have any claim over Cheryl but if I find she's messing around, I'll throw her out. Just because of the lying about not being with other men. Well, since she's always lying, I guess I'll kick her out because I'll have finally caught her in a lie.

My job was more or less back to normal. I'm supposed to get a raise at the end of the year. And a nice bonus. So I was waiting to see what happens. I hadn't been promoted but no jobs had opened up that I thought would be a good fit for me.

Right after Labor Day, Cheryl drove to her apartment in Miami. She wanted to pick up some more of her belongings. She called when she got there. The place had been trashed. Furniture and bed slashed open, her clothes all over the floor. Cabinets emptied. Cheryl said nothing seemed to be missing but there wasn't anything of real value to take. Someone was looking for something that wasn't there. Cheryl packed up her things and put them in the car. She packed up Roger's stuff and threw it in the trash. She called the landlord, told him what happened and that the apartment was no longer inhabitable. She said she hopes he has insurance.

That Cheryl's place was searched was alarming. Besides Cheryl and me, Jimmy was the only one who knew about the money. And now he knew Cheryl was living with me. When Cheryl got back from Miami, I asked her, "Why would Jimmy tell someone about the money. He's going to prison for at least thirty years. It's not like they're going to keep it for him."

Cheryl said, "I thought about that while I was driving back. I think it's revenge. Whomever he told about the money isn't going to give him any. His lawyer is paid for, he'll get his plea deal, so he wants to get back at me for betraying his brother with you and for telling him I would testify against him. He knew that if I didn't testify, it would be your word against his. Maybe his lawyer could create some reasonable doubt. With the made up story about me hearing everything because Roger called me, he didn't stand a chance. He's probably not that happy with you either. My guess is he told some friends that they could keep the money if they agree to do you and me. Or at least to take the money so I wouldn't have it. That's the only reason I could come up with. Revenge. We should expect a visit here. And probably soon."

We talked about what to do. We're both at home during the day. Or in and out doing errands or going to the gym. Cheryl's home most nights. When she's not out with Abbie. I thought that if someone came looking for the money they'd either come just before I got off work, when Cheryl was home alone, and wait for me to arrive or come in the middle of the night when we're asleep.

I told Cheryl, "I'm going to put the doorbell camera app on your phone. It will notify you if anyone approaches the front door. If you see or hear anyone around the place who seems shady, just leave. Stay dressed until I get home and we go to bed. Although I'm sure the neighbors will appreciate you running around the neighborhood naked. Seriously, I don't care if the place is trashed. Just get out."

"My father taught me how to use a gun. Leave yours here with me. I'll feel safer."

"I'm going to carry my.45 and I'm going to lock up the revolver. I'll leave the shotgun on the floor right under your side of the bed. Loaded and ready to go. If you make it out of here, take it with you. If you bump into them outside, you'll need it. If you need to hide, go in the bathroom. When they try to get in, shoot through the door. But the best thing is to try to get away. You don't want to fight them on your own."

About two weeks later I got a call on my cell a few minutes before I was due to get off work at midnight. It was Lt. Markey, "There was a shooting at your home. I'm the supervisor on call and I'm on my way to your house now."

"What happened? Is Cheryl OK?"

"All I know is that two people are dead. We got a call about shots fired at your house. Uniforms are in the process of securing your house now. They reported that they found two dead but they're not finished clearing your house. I don't know who's dead or about Cheryl. I'll know more about what's what when I get on scene. I'm a few minutes out."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

My midnight replacement came in early so I left everything in her capable hands and drove home. My street was closed off. I parked and, using Markey's name, got as far as my front door. I asked the two cops there to see if Lt. Markey can come out and talk to me. One of the cops went in and came back a minute later, "The Lt. will be out to see you in a minute."

I asked the cops, "Can you tell me what happened?"

"No. Wait for the Lt."

Markey came out about twenty minutes later. "It was a home invasion. Two guys. Cheryl shot them with a shotgun as they were coming up the stairs. They're dead. She's fine. I had her taken to the station. It looks pretty clean. They took off the screen of one of your downstairs windows, cut a circle in the glass with a glass cutter near the window latch and came in. She couldn't have picked a better place to ambush them. They were close together on the stairs. We found two shotgun shells. She probably needed only one. She knew what she was doing. The second shot was an insurance shot.

"I talked to her for a few minutes before she was taken to the station. She's as cool as a cucumber. Like it's just another Tuesday and not like she just killed two men."

"I'm finished here so I'm going to go interview her now. You'll need to come in tomorrow morning for an interview. Because it's your house. This place is a crime scene so you need to find another place to live for a few days. Cheryl will be released in a couple of hours. If you tell me where you'll be staying, I'll let her know."

"I'll follow you to the station."

"Bad idea. There will be press there and if they see you, your connection to Cheryl and the whole mess from last August will be in the papers again. I'll try to keep you out of it. And your address. H is calling their local P. R. person. She's probably already at the station.

"Cheryl will be fine. There are probably five guys at the station asking her if she needs anything, vying to bring her coffee. Where will you be staying? I'll let her know."

"I'll be at the hotel. Tell her to call me when you're done. I'll come get her. Can I get some clothes out of the house."

"No, we're waiting for forensics and the M. E. No one but them goes in." He drove away and I went back to the hotel and got a room.

Cheryl slipped into bed in my hotel room around 4am. I had fallen asleep waiting for her call but her getting into bed woke me. "Why didn't you call me to come get you?"

"It's faster if I just take a rideshare than waiting for you." She climbed on top of me and kissed me. I was trying not to wake you."

"What happened? Wait, how did you get into my room? Why didn't you call me for the key?"

"You don't think I can talk my way into a hotel room key? I don't want to get the very nice young lady at the front desk in trouble but it was fun getting her to give me a key. And I have to stay in practice. It wasn't that hard. It turns out the young lady at the front desk and I are close relatives. Same last name, Michaels. Her father and my father are first cousins. I remember her from family gatherings. I told her she's probably too young to remember me but she said she does. She remembers I was always nice to her.

"The real problem was explaining what I'm doing here at 4am trying to get a key to your room. I have to be either your wife, a girlfriend making a booty call or a paid escort. Everyone who works at this hotel knows what happened with you and your wife so I can't be your wife. I'm in jeans and a sweatshirt with no makeup so saying I'm an escort is a hard sell. Besides, I don't want my cousin thinking I'm a fallen woman. Or that you'd hire a prostitute."

I interrupted, "Who says 'fallen woman' anymore?"

Cheryl punched me and continued, "So it's a booty call. But that's also a problem. A decent lady like me shouldn't be making booty calls. I tell her we have plans to shop for an engagement ring today. I'm here to surprise you and remind you exactly why you want to put a ring on it. Also, I tell her with a wink, I'm here early in case you try to flake out on buying the ring today.

"Anyway, she wanted to be part of this happy occasion so she made me a key to your room. Us Michaels always stick together. Promise me you won't fire her."

"I won't fire her but I'm going to have a talk with her."

"Can you hold off until we're ready to go home? She was so excited for me that you and I are getting engaged. She'll probably tell the whole Michaels clan the good news before we're even out of bed."

I interrupted, "So your real maiden name is Michaels?"

"No, Sweeney. Why?"

I didn't want to hear any more so I asked, "What happened tonight?"

"I was asleep. I woke up when they opened the window downstairs. About 1130pm. They were quiet but I heard them walking around. I got your shotgun and waited until they were on the stairs, came out of the bedroom and shot them. Two blasts."

"What did the cops say?"

"You know cops. You're guilty until they can find someone else to pin it on. But they took my statement and let me go. Markey walked me out and waited with me until my ride came. He said there won't be any problems. I won't be charged with anything. The two guys I shot are from Miami. They've done time for home invasions and rape. The Miami PD believes Jimmy may have done a few jobs with them. They're pretty far from Miami. Jimmy must have convinced them somehow to go after me. Markey said, 'Two less shitheads in the world.'"

"I thought you were going to run if you thought someone was breaking in?"

"They probably would have heard me leave and figured I'd call the police. They'd be gone before the cops arrived but they'd be back. Maybe grab me when I'm out. Or you. I figured they're not going away on their own so why not make them go away. Two less shitheads in the world.

"The press was there. Markey said your PR person was there too. Is this going to be a problem for you?"

"The PR person will tell everything to my manager. That the woman I'm living with killed two men in my house. He is not going to be happy. Even less happy if the press connects this to me. But there's nothing to do about that. I'm just glad you weren't hurt. From now on I'm going to yell out when I come in the front door after work. You're dangerous."

"You bet I am. But I'm not going to shoot you. I don't know much about guns. They scare me."

but Cheryl didn't see me. She had her head sideways on my chest, her eyes closed, drifting off to sleep. I asked her, "When was the first time you fired a shotgun?"

Sleepily, she said, "I was five or six I think. I fired my daddy's shotgun and it knocked me on my ass. I thought I'd broken my shoulder because one of my brothers helped me hold it there to aim. My father and brothers couldn't stop laughing. When I was older, I went hunting with Daddy and my brothers. I always took the shotgun. Yours is much nicer than the one I used."

I kissed her and said, "I'm glad you're OK. Go to sleep."

I went to sleep wondering what H corporate and my boss would think about Cheryl killing two men in my home.

They didn't like it. I found my boss waiting for me when I came downstairs from our room to start my shift. He wasn't happy. He said, "I need to talk to you."

We went into his office. I said, "It was a home invasion. Two guys broke in looking for who knows what. Cheryl shot them. The police interviewed her and said she's in the clear. That's it."

"Corporate is concerned. They talked to the PR people here who are yet again having to deal with the cops. People are being shot and killed around you. They don't think it's a coincidence. The PR people told them about this woman you're living with. The one who shot these two guys. She's also the one whose husband was killed when he came to confront you about her. She's evidently a con artist with a criminal past. Is she causing all this?"

Getting angry with this guy was not going to accomplish anything. In a calm voice I replied, "Her husband wasn't here to confront me, he was here to kill me. His brother, who confessed to his murder, confirmed that. The police seem to think he, the brother, may have sent the two guys. I don't know who they were or what they wanted. All I know is they were armed and weren't there to discuss world events. They have a history of home invasions and rape.

"The woman I'm living with, whose name is Cheryl, was arrested fifteen years ago and released as soon as the police realized they had nothing on her. She has not been arrested for anything since. Neither she nor I have been accused of anything. Let alone arrested. If you're asking if my personal life is affecting my work, it's not. Other than I can't go home to get a change of clothes because my house is a crime scene."

He stared at me for a while and finally said, "OK, I'll tell corporate that you're unlucky. We had someone at the police station who was able to keep your name out of the press. But not for long. A home invasion in Florida is nothing unusual so maybe not front page. Unless it's leaked that you're involved. Then we'll get to read about the parking lot shit again. At least this one didn't happen on H's property. I'll tell corporate in a nice way to fuck off. But this shit has to stop." He smiled, "No more dead bodies associated with you for at least six months. Get to work."

I told him, "Thanks," and got to work.

The next day, the local press reported that the shooting was at my house and that I'm an assistant manager at the H. The intruders were shot by Cheryl Addison whose living with me and whose husband was shot at the H when he came to confront me about my affair with his wife. The police believe the two men were sent by the husband's brother, in prison for killing his brother. The reporting couldn't have been worse for me but my boss wasn't there to greet me when my shift started. I guess there was no more to say.

A few weeks later, on a Friday night in October about 10pm, I got a text from Cheryl: "I'm at your bar. Come say hello if you get a minute."

I finished some paperwork and walked into the restaurant-bar area off the lobby. Cheryl and Abbie were sitting together. Abbie was talking to a man to her right. Cheryl was talking to a man to her left. I walked up and said, "Hello."

Cheryl jumped off her bar stool, rushed up to me, stopped and looked from side to side, eyes wide, "Will you get in trouble if I hug you?" I put my arm around her shoulder. She put her arm around my waist and said, "Let me introduce you to Robert. He was kind enough, with Eddie over there," she pointed at the man next to Abbie, "to buy us dinner and drinks. This is my boyfriend Mark. He works here."

Abbie smirked, "And my ex-husband."

Cheryl said to me, "I was just about to leave but I thought I'd see if you want me to wait until you get off so we can go home together."

I said, "Let's talk." We walked just outside the restaurant. "What are you doing?"

"You mean Robert? Robert bought dinner and is plying me with drinks because he thinks he's going to get lucky tonight. He's not. I didn't encourage him but I didn't tell him it's not happening either. I know I told you I wouldn't do any cons while I was with you, unless we were doing them together, but I can be forgiven this one little bit of foolery. He wanted to buy me dinner and drinks. I didn't ask him to do that. But I'm just not able to turn down someone who wants to buy me things because he tells himself he's going to get something I'll never give them. It's a con but no one gets hurt. I get dinner and drinks. He gets the pleasure of my company. Just not the type of pleasure he was hoping for."

She smiled. "Abbie's guy, Eddie, is going to get all the pleasure in the world. He will get lucky tonight. If you haven't scared off Robert, he could probably join them.

"Do you want me to wait for you to get off? Abbie drove so I'll have to take an Uber but I'd rather wait for you. Even if I have to sit quietly, I can just wait in your office. Watch you work."

"Do you do this sort of thing every time you go out with Abbie?"

"More or less. Abbie and I get dinner and drinks. Afterward, Abbie gets laid by whoever she picks up and I go home to you and get laid. I get the better ending to the night. I'm bored at home without you there. Going out with Abbie, watching her work these guys, is a lot of fun."

"You can't do that here. You want to come and visit me, fine. But no more dinners and drinks for Abbie and you here."

"OK, I'll tell Abbie this place is off limits."

"If you wait for me to get off work, you'll have to wait under my desk."

Cheryl looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Then she realized what I was saying and laughed, "If I wait under your desk, I'll have to take off all my clothes. Will that be a problem?"

"Only if someone comes in. But it would be a problem even if you're under my desk fully dressed."

We went back to tell Abbie that Cheryl was coming with me. Robert was gone. Abbie sort of waved us away. We were interrupting her deep discussion with Eddie. Cheryl did not have to wait under my desk. But she did spend most of the time on my lap. Mostly we stayed dressed. No one came in.

Abbie and Cheryl continued to go out together a couple of nights a week when I was at work. Cheryl was always home in bed when I got home. We spent days and weekends together. That went on until Cheryl left in mid-November.

Cheryl had left for Miami on a Friday morning before I got up. She left me a note saying she was driving to Miami. She had some things to do there. Back tonight. She was back in my bed when I returned from work Saturday morning. She woke up when I got into bed.

Cheryl said, "I said I'd let you know when it's time for me to move on. It's time. I have to get back to work. I've taken enough of a vacation. I got an apartment in Miami and I'm going to pack up and leave this weekend. I'd stay here with you but you're not going to become my partner and you don't want me to work if I'm living with you."

"Do you have a new partner?"

"Abbie. We're going to live together in Miami. I thought about moving up the coast but I've developed a network in Miami." She gave me her mischievous smile, "Especially the network of people I have at H's resort on Miami Beach. I stopped by the resort for a few minutes last night to say hello and spread some money around. Everyone's still in place. They'll make it easier for us to get up and running.

"Abby's very excited. I think she views this like a sort of longer lasting girls' weekend away. It's not like she's giving up a career she can't return to. If things don't work out in Miami, her father will always have a job for her.

"The problem with Abbie is to not give it away for free. Not let some guy con her. But she likes getting over on people, not only her former husband, and she'll take direction from me.

"I think Abbie's ready. She and I have talked a lot about different scams. She's been working some here already. She's already hooked an older gentlemen who wants to help with the medical expenses for her sick and dying mother. Or is it her sister? He lives in Miami so she'll be able to see him more often.

"Just so you know, I have not been working with her. Just watching her. We've talked about grifting and I've given her some advice about what to say but I haven't done any research for her or taken any of the money she's received. I've kept my promise to you. I haven't worked since I've been living with you.

"She's a better fit for me. You and I are both planners. Abbie is a doer. She likes the game, likes the interaction with the men. Enjoys the grift. I'm not going to have any direct contact with the marks. I'll leave that to her. I'll stay in the background and do research and planning. Provide direction. Of course, if you ever want to team up with me, I can always use your help with planning. There's always a place for you.

"This has been the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I enjoy being with you. I've let you in and I've never done that with anyone before. You've been my only genuine loving relationship. Thank you for allowing me in your life. But the work is in my blood. I'm not who I am unless I'm working. So, if I can't work here with you, I have to move on."

Cheryl packed up and she and Abbie headed for Miami on Sunday. I helped with her bags. I didn't know what she planned to do with her money. I didn't ask and she didn't tell me. After her car was packed she hugged me and started crying. She said, "What's wrong with me? I never cry." She laughed through her tears. "I really have gone off the deep end. I don't want to leave but I have to. I'm losing myself here with you. I've only known one life and I have to get back to it before I disappear completely." She kissed me passionately and said, "Goodbye love," walked to her car and drove away. I was sorry to see her go. I'll miss her. But I figured she'd leave sooner or later.

After she was gone, I wondered if she took the $25K with her. I expected her to. She always considered it her money. I opened the safe and the $25K was still there. Pinned to the bag was a long note: "No, I didn't take your money. It's yours; you tricked us fair and square. Or maybe I'm getting soft. Or developed a soft spot for a big, sexy, handsome man.

"I'm really going to miss you. If it's OK, I may visit you from time to time. I'm keeping my phone number, the one you have, so you can contact me. If you are ever in Miami you better call me.

"I told you that you're the only one I've ever let in. I've told you things I've never told anyone else. Most of what I told you about me is true. Some of it isn't. I'm not sure you care at this point but I want to correct some of the things I told you. I did grow up in West Virginia. But my parents were not the loving, kind people I depicted. My immediate and extended family are all thieves, drug dealers and murderers. My pappy had a meth lab the entire time I was growing up. Going back, my kin were moonshiners. And thieves and murderers. When I said it's in my blood, I wasn't kidding.

"I did leave for the big city, Charleston, when I was sixteen. Not with some con man passing through but with my uncle. After I left him, I took up with Jerry and we did some home burglaries. I told you he snitched to the cops about me and I was arrested. All that's true but what I didn't tell you is that Jerry is one of my brothers. Needless to say, we don't keep in touch any more.

"Another brother was killed by cops trying to rob a bank in D. C. The third is at home running the family business. He won't have anything to do with me because I won't kick up part of my earnings to him. Fuck him. But I don't exactly get invited to Thanksgiving dinners.

"The relationships among my family members have always been business relationships. We were all there to earn for my father. My father wasn't going to give us any of his money. I learned early: If I wanted anything for myself, I had to find the money to buy it. Or steal it.

"I thought all that was normal. That all relationships, including with family, were just business relationships. That everything was a negotiation where you tried to get the best deal you could. And to get the best deal, you not only had to be ruthless, you had to outsmart them. No emotions. Feelings were just weakness that someone would exploit. No one cared about me beyond what I could do for them. I felt the same. That's what I learned at my daddy's knee.

"And that's what I believed until I met you. You were someone I didn't want to cheat, steal from, or swindle. I just wanted to be with you. An entirely new experience for me. Thank you for opening that door and letting me in.

"I did get my high school equivalency and did graduate from college with Special Honors in Philosophy. I'm very proud of that. To be successful, I had to become a different person than the one who dropped out of school. So I did. It's also true that I have not interacted directly with any mark in over three years. Roger's had all the direct contact in the cons we've worked. But if you don't believe any of that, please believe that I have not been unfaithful to you. I was never even tempted. You are more than enough for me. I think you know that.

"Now you have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Although I know you won't believe anything I say.

"I really will miss you. I feel a connection with you that I've never felt with anyone else. I can't explain it but it's there. I don't want to lose you completely. Maybe we can remain friends with benefits. Maybe something more. If it's safe jobwise for you to spend time with a wanton hussy and criminal like me. Please don't shut me out like you did Abbie.

"Cheryl."

I read this and wondered how much of what Cheryl's told me about herself or about anything is true. I'm not even sure the story of the loan shark or that Roger stole her money is true. So many lies, I wonder if Cheryl herself even knows what's true and what's not anymore.

The Friday after Thanksgiving, which I had to work since we never close, my boss was waiting for me when I arrived at work. He wanted to talk in his office.

He started, "I think it's time for you to move on. Corporate thinks this hotel is too identified with you and the troubles you've had. Every time the local press says anything about our hotel they rehash the shooting in the parking lot and mention that you're an assistant manager here. I agree with corporate. No one's blaming you. It's just the way it is. We want to put out a press release that you no longer work here. We think that will end any further bad publicity."

"You're asking for my resignation?"

"No. Absolutely not. I didn't say that right. You'll get a nice bonus this year. I've told corporate how well you do your job. I had a long talk with Markey. He thinks you're a straight shooter. He says he believes what you said about what happened when the guy got shot in the parking lot. You did nothing wrong. He says from what he could figure out, your marriage and Cheryl's marriage were already over before you and Cheryl met. Yeah, you took up with a married woman but according to Markey, Cheryl is no longer living with you. It also looks like she's left town recently. Markey doesn't know if that's temporary or for good."

He waited for me to confirm that Cheryl's gone. I didn't say anything so he continued, "The cops have been keeping an eye on Cheryl. She's been hanging out with your ex-wife. They go to bars and clubs. Abbie hooks up with guys they meet but Cheryl goes home to your house. As far as they can tell, Cheryl has not been doing any scams.

"Markey also believes Cheryl heard and accurately described what happened in the parking lot and the shooting at your house. Markey says the two guys Cheryl shot were there to kill you and her. This brother who's in prison sent them for revenge for his brother, Cheryl's husband.

"I relayed all that to corporate. If the cops believe you, corporate isn't going to second guess them. Your career is on track. It's a PR problem but it's a serious one.

"I could have said things better. What I should have said is that corporate is proposing that you transfer to another of our hotels. Just to put some space between this hotel and you. I hate to lose you but I think it's a good idea. They're proposing a change of scenery, a transfer, not a demotion or promotion. Same salary. Same raise you'll be getting at the end of the year. Corporate will pay for your moving expenses and you can stay, for free, at your new hotel until you find suitable accommodations. They're being so generous because they don't want to lose you. But they want you out of here."

I thought, "They don't give a shit about losing me. They just don't want a lawsuit."

"It's up to you of course. You can stay here if that's what you want. No one can force you to leave. I've been more than happy with your work and I told that to corporate. They want to hold on to good employees like you. Just not you here. Best for everyone if you take a new position. What do you think?"

"So I should start looking for assistant manager jobs or has corporate already decided where they're sending me?'

"No, no, you don't need to do anything. I told corporate you wanted to remain in Florida so they came up with a job for you at the only place large enough to accommodate another assistant manager. It's in a big city so there's worse occurring there every day than what happened to you. No one will care about you or your past. You start January 1st. It's a sort of step up because where you're going is an important part of the H family. You'll really have to keep your nose clean. You're going to be the new assistant manager at our flagship five star resort on Miami Beach."