The Last Girls' Weekend Pt. 06

I asked Cheryl, "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Oh, you know, my entire family gets together in, what did you call it, Pig's Hollow. Lots of relatives. We all sit around and tell each other what we're thankful for. All holding hands. Everyone singing kumbaya."

"You told me you weren't invited for Thanksgiving. Something about you not kicking up part of your earnings to your brother."

Cheryl laughed, "Yeah, I did tell you that. You remember everything. It was a way of telling you I'm not welcome at home. Thanksgiving wasn't a holiday for us. We didn't have Thanksgiving dinners. We worked Thanksgiving."

"I don't understand."

"What do you do on Thanksgiving?"

"Eat turkey?"

"Where? With whom?"

"Family comes to our house or we go to theirs."

"So if you go to your relative's your place is empty for the day or for the whole weekend?"

"Sure."

"My father could clean out an entire house in a day or two. Everything down to the copper pipes. Those were our Thanksgivings."

"You helped him clean out houses?"

"If I was needed. My brother Jerry and I were given another task. When he and I were still in school, our job was to ask the wealthier kids what their family's plans were for Thanksgiving. Just curious. Completely innocent. Kids were always forthcoming about their Thanksgiving plans. If they told us they'd be away, and for how long, we knew which places to hit. And my father hit them. Those were our Thanksgivings."

"Have you ever had a Thanksgiving dinner."

"No. Roger would sometimes go to see his mother and brother on Thanksgiving. But we usually worked too. A lot of people are alone at resorts on Thanksgiving. Easy pickings. Two lonely people, one of whom has money, the other wants that money. A match made in heaven."

Cheryl sighed, "You have to understand that my upbringing wasn't the usual one. I didn't have ballet lessons. None of us, my brothers and I, did sports or chess or debate club. I didn't have birthday parties. We did the same thing for Christmas. Holidays were big money makers for us. We worked holidays."

I said, "My parents invited you for Thanksgiving dinner next week. I have to work Thursday so we'd leave after 4pm and be there by about 5:30 for dinner."

Cheryl was lying on top of me in bed. Our usual position. She lifted her head and looked at me. She was trying to see if I was serious. I nodded. Cheryl asked, "Why?"

"They want to meet you. They want to see who's screwing their son. Literally but also if you're screwing him figuratively."

"You told them no, right?"

"No. I told them I would ask you. I want you to meet them too. I want you to come. You'll meet my parents and my sister. You have to meet them sooner or later."

"Who will be there?"

"Just my parents and sister. You and me. We usually see relatives Thanksgiving but my mother made some excuse so they're not visiting anyone or having her sister's family or my father's relatives. My parents want to get to know you. Without relatives to distract them."

"What do they know about me?"

"I described you how you describe yourself: Pretty face, OK boobs....... I wouldn't say fat but most people....... let's just say most people say an oversized ass."

Cheryl, concerned and angry, asked, "Who says 'oversized'?"

"Everyone I talk to. But I defend you. I say it's really not that big."

Cheryl, really pissed off, started to get off me, "Thanks a lot. That's what you think?"

I held on to her. "Cheryl, for a con artist you're really gullible. You think people actually comment to me about my girl's ass? Your face is beautiful, your boobs are wonderful and your ass is perfect. You're smart, funny and always fun. There's nothing about you that's not terrific."

Cheryl snuggled closer, kissed me and put her head back on my chest, "I like being your girl but I don't do Thanksgivings. What do your parents really know about me, and me and you?"

"They know only what I told the police about how we met and got together. Our spouses were cheating on us with each other. We, the four of us, met in Miami and we confronted them. You and I hit it off so here we are. I told my mother that we weren't together until after we told our spouses our marriages were over."

"So you told them a bunch of lies."

"Can't tell them the truth. They also know you're a lifelong criminal, a con artist among other things. But you're now in graduate school getting your PhD."

"What do they know about Roger and Jimmy?"

"What we told the police. Roger thought by getting rid of me, he'd get you back. You were on the phone when Jimmy had a gun on me and Roger fell back against Jimmy who shot and killed him. They also know about the two guys you shot in my house. Goons sent by Jimmy.

"They just want to meet you. Will you come?"

"What are your parents like?"

"My father won't say much. He'll maybe tell a few bad jokes. If he doesn't tell jokes, it's because my mother told him not too and that will give you some idea how serious they are about finding out about you. Otherwise, he'll just listen to what you have to say. My sister's twenty and she and you will get along great.

"My mother will ask you questions, wanting to know if you have honorable intentions toward her son. And if you're suitable for her son. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. She will always be cordial but she can be intimidating and you'll be in the hot seat. But you took down two guys coming to kill us. After that, my mother should be a walk in the park for you. Just be honest with her. As much as you can. I'll be there to help. But you won't need me. She knows how much I care about you. Are you going to come?"

"You told them you care about me?"

"Are you coming to Thanksgiving? I have to work Friday too so we'll be there maybe four hours tops."

"Fuck me. Now I'm going to Thanksgiving dinners to meet parents. What's next? Opening a checking account? Buying fucking life insurance? A 401k? Jesus, you're really a bad influence on me." She lifted her head and said, "OK, I'll come but you can't leave me alone for a second. Promise."

"I promise."

"And I'm bringing your.45."

"Probably not a good idea to show up packing."

In frustration, Cheryl repeated, "Fuck me."

I smiled and said, "OK."

Cheryl looked up at me and we both started laughing.

Cheryl has been living with me for the past several months. Just until, she says, she can find a partner and renew her life of crime. She began going to graduate school last August and is a teaching assistant in the Philosophy Department. Just until, she says, she finds a partner so she can renew her life of crime. But I've never seen her happier. She loves going to classes and teaching.

I'm still working days at H's [a national hotel chain] resort on Miami Beach as an assistant manager. I'm also happy. Happy with my work and happy with Cheryl.

I picked up Cheryl after work to go to my parent's Thanksgiving. I've never seen her so nervous, "Is this dress OK? I didn't know what to wear."

I looked over at her. Cheryl was wearing a pretty dress with a floral pattern. Cheryl rarely wore dresses. She opened the door to get out, "I'll go change. Or maybe just tell them I got sick."

I said, "It's perfect. You look great."

Cheryl was pleased and closed the car door, "I won't know what to say or what to do. What do you do at Thanksgiving? Sing Christmas Carols or something? I don't know any."

"You eat and talk. Probably no singing. I'll be there with you. If you don't know what to do, just follow me. Or ask me. Don't be nervous. They know you're important to me."

"If you were meeting my family, and you never will, you'd be insane not to be nervous. But I guess I won't disappear if I piss anyone off."

"See nothing to worry about. You'll probably survive the evening."

I started to drive and asked, "Where's my.45?"

"In a holster on my thigh. I bought a holster you attach to your leg and can wear under a dress. It'll take me forever to get it out if I need it. I'll put it in my bag if you think it won't look odd if I keep my pocketbook on my lap during dinner."

"Cheryl"

Cheryl laughed, "For the boyfriend of a con artist you're awfully gullible."

"I never know with you."

"Good. I want to keep you guessing."

When we arrived, my sister, Ann, answered the door, introduced herself and said, "She's gorgeous Mark. What is she doing with you?"

"Cheryl's a con artist and I'm her Mark. We're the perfect couple." Cheryl gave me a look that quickly shut me up.

Cheryl met my parents. Mom said, "Dinner's almost ready. George [my father] get them drinks. Have a seat at the table and I'll get dinner."

Cheryl asked, "Can I help with anything?"

Mom replied, "No, you're our guest. Thank you for offering. Mark, help me with the turkey."

In the kitchen, Mom said, "She's stunning. I can see why you like her. She's even better looking than Abbie."

I didn't say anything so my mother asked, "Have you heard from Abbie?" My mother always liked my ex-wife. Until she cheated on me.

"I don't know what she's doing. Cheryl said she's living with someone in the mid-west."

"They know each other?"

"They became friends. Go figure."

I brought in the turkey. My mother asked, "Who wants to carve the turkey? George? Mark?"

I said, "Cheryl is really good with a knife. Cheryl, do you want to carve the turkey?" Another withering look from Cheryl. Not a good idea letting her have a knife. She was ready to carve me.

Mom said, "Please do the honors Cheryl."

I said, "I'll do it."

When we began eating, Ann said, "Mark, Cheryl, I have news. I'm starting at the university in Miami next semester. Where Cheryl's going. Almost all my credits transfer so I'll be a sophomore." My sister has been going to a community college near my parents and living at home.

I asked, "Do you want to live with us?"

"No, I'll be in a dorm. But I'll visit. A lot."

Cheryl asked, "Do you know what classes you'll be taking?"

"I have to meet with my advisor. I'll do that when the semester starts. I looked at the courses I need to graduate. So I have an idea of what to take next semester. I took an intro course in philosophy last semester. I enjoyed it. Maybe you can tell me what to take next."

Cheryl said, "Absolutely. If you have questions or want me to show you around when you get to school, just call me. I was an undergraduate there. It was a while ago but most of the same teachers are still around. If you want to know which teachers are good and which aren't, I can tell you about them. Same for philosophy."

My mother said, "Cheryl, tell us about yourself."

"I grew up in West Virginia, dropped out of school in the tenth grade, got my GED then my B. A. And now I'm back at school. In a PhD. program."

"What did you do before returning to school?"

Cheryl looked at me and took a deep breath. She let it out slowly and said, "I was a career criminal. I come from a family of criminals. I'm not doing that now. I can't do that and be with Mark so I'm a student and T. A. I was arrested once when I was seventeen but let go because they had nothing on me. Other than that, I've never been arrested for anything."

"What kind of crimes?"

I piped in, "Cheryl has given that up. It's not important now. She hasn't been involved in any violent crimes. But that's all in the past. She got me the five year contract I have with H. She didn't have to do that."

Cheryl said, "I really didn't do anything. I was able to contact the right people and I just pointed out to them how wonderful your son is. Giving him the contract was their decision."

Mom asked, "Are you going to get my son in trouble? I know that two men broke into his house to kill him. And you."

"They were sent by my brother-in-law as some sort of sick revenge for his brother, my husband. They're gone and there won't be any more visitors." Cheryl looked at me, "I visited Jimmy in Raiford while we were still together in L [the town in Florida where I lived and worked when I met Cheryl] after he sent his goons. I was able to convince him that bothering us again was not a good idea.

"I know you don't like the idea of your son being with someone like me. I agree he could do much better. But I promise you I will never do anything that might hurt Mark or get him in trouble. With the law or anyone else. I will never do anything that will reflect badly on him. I'll always do what's best for him."

I took Cheryl's hand. I said, "Mom, we're a couple. She's not going anywhere unless and until she wants to."

Cheryl smiled, "Mark, should I tell them about how you conned me?"

I gave her a look and said, "No one could con you. You're too smart. Mom, Cheryl has come a long way from her past in West Virginia. She's no longer that person. She's whom I want to be with."

Mom looked at Cheryl, "We're just worried about our boy."

"You have nothing to worry about in my regard. I'll never hurt him and I won't let anyone else hurt him either. I just want him to be happy."

My mother let it drop. Who knows what my father was thinking. Most of the rest of the meal involved Ann and Cheryl talking about the university. What Ann is thinking about majoring in. Best places to eat on campus. Off campus.

I asked, "Why didn't you go to where I went, Florida State?"

My mother answered, "Because you're in Miami and you can watch out for her. You too Cheryl."

Cheryl replied, "Yup," and winked at Ann. Ann smiled and winked back. Oh my.

During the meal, my mother casually asked, "Cheryl, Mark says you're friends with Abbie. She's in the mid-west?"

Cheryl said, "She's back at home with her parents. The guy she was with cheated on her. But since she was also cheating on him, she couldn't really complain. She left him when he gave her an STD. She didn't use protection with him. So she's back home."

Mom asked, "You two keep in touch?"

"Yeah. I guess we have this big lug in common. She gives me tips on how to keep him happy." Cheryl smiled, "Tip number one: don't cheat on him."

On the way home, Cheryl was pensive, maybe brooding. Finally, she said, "They hated me didn't they?"

"No, I thought it went really well. Who knows with Dad but I think Mom was impressed with your honesty. She has to digest this. But she knows I'm not giving you up. I was impressed with you too. And my sister is in awe of you. Are you planning to groom my sister? Try to make her your new partner?"

I looked at Cheryl in the passenger seat and she looked at me, smiled and wiggled her eyebrows up and down. "Think she'd like a life of crime?"

"Cheryl."

"Stop worrying. I'm not going to try to get your sister to become my new partner in crime. If I want a partner, Abbie's available again. I liked your sister. She certainly got all the looks between the two of you."

"Yeah, she did."

"Eleven years difference in age. Were you the accident or was it your sister?"

"Probably me. I was born seven months after they married."

I continued, "I didn't know you visited Jimmy. What did you tell him?"

"I told him that if I even think he's planning to send people after us again, then every few months one or another of his body parts will be removed. He knows I have the money to buy favors from his fellow inmates. All of them have people on the outside who can use some extra cash. It won't even cost that much. He knows I mean it. He won't bother us anymore."

Cheryl looked over at me, "I told you at the time not to worry about Jimmy. I should have explained why. But I'm never sure how you'll react to some of the things I do. I'm not going to lie to you but sometimes I leave out the details. I'm not used to explaining things."

My parents invited us back for Christmas. More swearing from Cheryl about how I'm ruining her life. My father told bad jokes. Cheryl helped my mother in the kitchen after they shooed me out. My mother asked Cheryl to call her by her first name, Ada. Mom seems to be coping.

Cheryl enjoyed Christmas in spite of herself. When I told her there would be an exchange of gifts, Cheryl freaked out. Then she must have spent weeks searching for gifts for my parents and sister. They were perfect.

After the semester ended, Cheryl had to grade final exams. When she finished grading them, she was noticeably upset. That night in bed I asked, "Are you unhappy because your students did badly on the final? This is your first semester teaching. You know now where you have to explain things more or better. Look at it as a learning experience."

"No, it's not that. They did OK. At least nothing too bad. No one failed except the best student in the class. Margie. It was a take home exam. I didn't get an exam back from her. All 'A's' on every quiz and test. She attended every class and always had her hand up to ask good questions. This girl was smart, interested, just a really good student. A pleasure to teach. Now I have to fail her because she didn't turn in her fucking final. She does all this good work, comes to every class just to fuck up at the end. The final's on the entire semester's work so if you fail the final you fail the course."

"Can you call her or email her? Maybe something happened to her. Maybe she has a good reason. I'd find out. Then you can talk to your professor about her. Maybe give her an 'Incomplete' until she submits the final."

"Yeah, I'm going to talk to Dr. Flemming and see if it's OK with her for me to contact Margie. Find out what happened.

"I've been lying on top of you for nearly twenty minutes. What does a girl have to do to get laid around here?"

"You're doing it."

Cheryl called Margie and talked to her. Cheryl told me Margie got pregnant and her parents insisted she come home immediately. Margie wasn't coming back to school. After her talk with Margie, Cheryl told me she thought there was more to the story but, "Margie is an adult. She made a bad decision and now has to live with it."

Cheryl's finals for her classes were all papers. She worked on them throughout the semester break and turned them in before the new semester started. She got all 'A's'. I told her she was just an ass kisser, brown-nose and the teacher's pet. "Or do you have something on all your teachers." Cheryl just smiled.

The spring semester started and my sister Ann arrived at school. She knew she was always invited to visit, for dinners, to hang out with us, but Ann quickly made new friends at school and was having a ball. We saw her occasionally for Sunday brunches.

Cheryl's schedule was teaching in the mornings, studying in the afternoons and graduate school classes are at night. She was at school by either 8 or 9am and some of her graduate school classes didn't end until 9:45pm. Except Fridays. She still had to teach in the morning but there were no graduate school classes Friday nights. And no classes weekends.

A couple of weeks into the new semester, on a Thursday after her last class about 10pm, Cheryl texted me, "Going for drinks. Be back late. Don't wait up."

I thought, 'This is something new.' But it wasn't a problem for me. Let her get to know her fellow students. Discuss philosophy with them. Cheryl got home that night a little after midnight. I, of course, waited up for her. I could smell liquor on her breath. Cheryl rarely drinks.

She got into bed, realized I was still awake, and said, "You didn't have to wait up. You have to get up early."

I said, "So do you."

She climbed on top of me, rested her head on my chest and said, "Let's go to sleep."

Going out for drinks after her last class became a regular thing. First, one night a week, then two nights and then three. She'd always get home before 1am. Always with liquor on her breath. Never an explanation about whom she was with.

Fridays, Cheryl was home after teaching in the morning and we were together Friday nights after I got off work and all weekend every weekend. Our relationship on those days was still the same. The only difference was Cheryl began to leave the room when she took calls. If we were in the car, or anywhere I could hear her, she'd look at her phone to see who was calling and decline the calls.

After a few weeks of her going for drinks, early in February, I got a call at work from my sister Ann. Ann said, "Don't tell Mom but I was out last night with friends at one of the bars just off campus. I didn't stay long and only had one beer. Please don't tell Mom."

"I won't tell Mom. Why are you telling me?"

After a long pause, she said, "I don't know how to say this but I saw Cheryl at the bar. She came in, walked directly to a booth and sat with a guy who seemed to be waiting for her. They were alone. They weren't kissing or holding hands or touching or anything, just talking. But from the way they were talking, smiling, laughing, they seemed to know each other pretty well. This wasn't someone she just bumped into at the bar. It looked like it was prearranged. Like a date. Good looking guy but he didn't look like a student. Or a teacher."

I thought, 'Now what?'

"I also saw Abbie there. She was sitting at the bar talking with the T. A. I have for my intro psychology course. Mr. Finch. They were close together and touching. A lot of touching. Abbie and Cheryl either didn't see each other or ignored each other. I thought Cheryl and Abbie were friends.

"I watched them both for a while but the people I was with wanted to leave. I don't think Cheryl or Abbie saw me and I didn't say anything to either of them.

"Are you and Cheryl still good? I feel as though I'm snitching on Cheryl but you're my brother. If Cheryl is going behind your back, you need to know."

I said, "Thanks for telling me. I'll ask Cheryl about it and try to keep you out of it. Don't worry. I'm sure there's nothing going on." We got off.

Ann called on a Wednesday. After her last class that Wednesday Cheryl texted, "Going for drinks. Be home in a couple of hours."

I texted back, "Don't go for drinks. Come home. We need to talk."

"OK, on my way now." Cheryl arrived shortly later looking worried.

I was sitting on the couch when Cheryl walked in. She put down her pocketbook, backpack and sat next to me. She kept glancing at me, looking concerned, "What's up?"

"You've been going out for drinks a lot lately. Is there something you need to tell me?"

Cheryl sighed, "Ann called you. She saw me with a guy and Abbie with a guy. It's not what it looks like."

I stared at her. Cheryl climbed onto my lap, "I know it's what cheaters say but it's really not what it looks like. If you ever wonder what I'm up to, I understand how you might worry that I'm going to commit murder or mayhem, or that I'm going to rob banks or houses, or I'm back on the con. Whatever. All that's possible, I guess. But it never makes any sense for you to worry that I'm cheating on you. That is not possible. I have never cheated on you. I am not cheating on you now. I will never cheat on you. Not with the guy I was with when Ann saw me. Not with anyone. Ever.

"What are you doing? Why is Abbie back in town? Are you doing grifts together again? Who is this guy you were with?"

"I don't want you to ask questions. I want you to trust me. I'll explain when the time comes. Just understand that I'm not doing or planning to do anything illegal. Either is Abbie. It's something I have to do. But I don't want you involved. It will all be over in a few weeks. Maybe less. Then I'll tell you everything."

"Why can't you tell me now?"

"Because the less you know the better. At least for now. I'm doing a con with Abbie. Again, we're not doing anything illegal. But I've been doing cons for years and I've learned that the less moving parts there are, the easier it is to control things. I don't want you as a moving part. I don't want you anywhere near this.

"I think you'll approve of what I'm doing. But I want to wait until it's over for you to tell me what you think. Right now, I need to concentrate on the con.

"Plus there's a safety issue. Not much of one but it's there. I want to keep you as far away from this as I can. There's some risk but I can take care of myself and I don't think anyone will come at me directly. And I don't want to be distracted by having to worry about someone going after you to get at me. No one knows about you and me except Abbie. I told Abbie to keep her mouth shut about you. When it's over, we'll talk. I'll tell you everything and you can ask whatever you want. I'll be completely truthful. Just as I always am. Well, with you anyway.

"If you tell me to stop, I'll stop. Tonight. Right now. But this is really something I feel I need to do. Trust me for a few more weeks.

I didn't tell her to stop so Cheryl said, "I haven't been going out Friday and Saturday nights. You'd want to come with me and you'd get pissed if I told you that you can't. But you can't. Now that you know what's going on I may have to go out for a few hours on Fridays or Saturdays. I'll keep it to a minimum.

"I'm glad Ann didn't approach me last night. I don't want the guy I was with to know about her. I don't want her to think I'm cheating on you but I also don't want her around when I'm with the man she saw me with. The guy who Abbie was with knows Ann. He's her T. A. in her psych course. He can't know that Abbie and Ann know each other. That would be a disaster. Is there a way to tell Ann to pick another bar? Or, if she sees me or Abbie, not to approach either of us? It's important. I don't think she'd be in any danger but I don't want to worry about her either. And she ties back to you. I really don't want anyone to know about you. Or her."

"I'll talk to Ann. She's too young to be going to bars anyway. OK, I'll trust you. I do trust you. But I am worried about you. Just get this over with. You can't hide me from your new boyfriend forever."

Cheryl laughed, "He's not very bright. All I need to do is hide you for a few more weeks. Things are moving quickly now so I won't have to go out after class as much as I have been. Which is a relief. I've spent too much time in bars in my life and I've lost the taste for them. But I'm still going to have to go out. I have to be there to run things. Just try not to worry about me. Can we go fuck now? Sitting on your lap makes me horny." And that's what we did.

Cheryl didn't go out for drinks as much as she had been but she still went out a couple of nights a week. Including Fridays and Saturdays. A few weeks after our talk, Cheryl came home and said, "I have to move out for a few days. Maybe a week. Probably not longer than that. I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to. I'll be staying at the place I put Abbie. The extended stay hotel. Abbie's gone, she's back home, so there's room there for me. Her part of this is finished. I'll be back when this is finally over."

"Are you still going to attend classes?"

"Yes, none of that changes. I just can't be here for a while. It's a safety issue. I don't want any of this to come back on you. I don't want anyone to know about you. That I'm living with you."

"What's the name of this hotel?"

"I don't want you showing up there. It won't be for long. I promise."

"Are you going to be the only one living there?"

"No, the guy Ann saw me with has been living there too. He's still there."

"And that's where you're going? To live with this guy?"

"It's just business. Trust me. There's nothing sexual or romantic going on between him and me. That's never going to happen. I'll be back shortly and we'll get on with our lives. Just give me a week. Hopefully, less than a week. I'll call you every day. Ten times a day if you want. You can call or text me but I may not be able to answer you right away. Just try not to worry. I'm not cheating and I'm not doing anything illegal."

"Do I have a choice?"

"Yes. You can tell me you don't want me to leave. I won't if that's what you want. But we're almost done. All that really remains to do is make sure the safety issue is resolved. Or find that there is no issue. Just give me a few more days. Then it's over."

We went to bed, then Cheryl packed up about a week's worth of clothes and her school stuff and left the next morning. A Wednesday. She called me five or six times every day to check in. She told me she missed me. I asked her when she's coming home. "Soon."

A week later I was awakened in the middle of the night. There was a man holding a gun who kicked my foot to wake me. He said, "Get up. Keep quiet. Don't say a word. Just get out of bed. I may not hurt you if you do exactly as I say." He was holding a snub nose.38.

I started to get out of bed when Cheryl appeared behind him. She had my.45 pointed at the guy's head. "Put the gun down Jerry. I have no problem shooting you. Actually, please try something. You'll be just another punk killed during a home invasion. Put it down on the floor and step to your right. Slowly." He did and Cheryl kicked his gun away and, keeping behind him, followed him to the right. "Why are you here Jerry?"

"I was told you have money. I figured your boyfriend here knew where it was. I was going to get him to hand it over or tell me where it is."

"Why do you think I have money?"

"Jake seems to think you do. I figured I'd find out."

"Did Jake tell you to contact me?"

"Nobody's heard from you in years. He wanted me to find out what you're up to. He thinks you must have money if you weren't calling him, begging for help."

"Like he'd give me any money."

"You don't say no when Jake tells you to do something. This is what he told me to do."

"How do you know about Mark?"

"I got Abbie drunk so she'd talk. She said you were with her ex. It wasn't difficult to get his name out of her. Finding him wasn't hard either."

"Where did you get the gun Jerry? You didn't bring it from West Virginia; you couldn't bring it on the plane."

Jerry didn't answer right away so Cheryl tapped him on the head with my.45. "I bought it here."

"From whom?"

"A guy Jake told me about. Here in Miami. Some guy named Max."

Then Cheryl hit him on the head with my.45. Hard. He dropped like a sack of potatoes. She said, "Asshole," and kicked him.

"Mark, are you OK?"

"I'm OK. Who's this? Your boyfriend?"

"He's actually my fucking brother." She picked up his gun and gave it to me. "Put this away somewhere, out of sight. I need a hug. Or are you so mad at me you won't let me touch you." We hugged while she kept an eye on her brother.

"It's done now. I just have to get him on a plane. Will you book him a one way ticket to Charleston. It's Yeager Airport. First flight that has a seat. You can use your credit card; it won't come back on you and I'll pay you back. His name is Jerold Sweeney. Jerold with a 'J'. Hold on, let me check to see if he's using some other name." She pulled his wallet out of his pants pocket and got his driver's license. She also took keys out of his pocket, hotel and car keys. "Yeah, Jerold Sweeney. Use your phone. Wait. Buy two tickets. The other one in my name. The seats don't have to be together"

I googled flights on my phone, "There's an American flight just after 5am. Another about an hour later. Both have seats."

"Book the 5am. I don't want to miss school. Get something to tie him up. Or I will if you want to hold the gun on him." I found some tape and I put it around his wrists and legs. "Let's drag him into the living room. I'll keep an eye on him if you want to get some sleep. You have to work tomorrow." Cheryl looked at her watch, "It's almost 1:30 now. Get some sleep. I'll need you to drive him and me to the airport. We should leave around 3:30 or so."

"Why two tickets? You going to Charleston?"

"I want to make sure he boards the plane so I have to get through security to watch him board and make sure he stays on board. Once the plane takes off with him on it, it's over."

I booked the tickets. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

"I need to wake him up so I can talk to him. I'll need to talk to him alone, so he thinks you can't hear us. You'll need to be out of the room. Of course you can listen but he can't know you're listening. Let's get him in the living room and I'll tell him you're asleep. We don't need to wake him right now. We have a couple of hours. You can sleep or....." Cheryl looked at me hopefully, "It's been a whole week."

We moved Jerry into the living room, Cheryl and I spent some time getting reacquainted. We showered and Cheryl got dressed. Jerry had woken up.

I stayed in the bedroom while Cheryl had her talk with her brother. Just above a whisper, Cheryl said to Jerry, "He fell asleep so keep your voice down. Listen asshole, you think I would tell some mark if I had money? Or where it is? You were never very bright but I didn't think you were that stupid. If I had any money I'd certainly never tell this guy about it. You don't tell marks that you're trying to con that you have money, moron.

"I've spent almost a year on this scam and you want to come here and fuck everything up. This guy is in love with me and I'm about to have the biggest score of my life and you threaten him with a gun. Now I have to explain to this doofus why his nice, sweet, innocent girlfriend has a relative like you. And I have to tell him that you're my brother. I can't tell him now you're some random robber or a friend.

"You scared the shit out of him. He's maybe so frightened now he won't want anything to do with me. I'm almost completely broke. I need this score. I'm living off the crumbs the fucking school is giving me and some 'gifts' from him. If he throws me out and I don't get my money I will come after you and cut off your balls. You're worried about guys in Charleston coming after you? Worry about me.

"I should have just shot you but you're my brother. Don't think that will save you next time. If I ever see you again, you won't survive it. I'm putting you on a plane back to Charleston this morning. My advice for your future health and safety: stay out of Florida.

"He and I are going to take you to the airport. Keep your mouth shut. Don't say a word. Not a peep. I don't want any of your bullshit to upset him more. I have to come up with a story for him and I don't want you to complicate things with your dumb shit. He's in love and not very bright so he'll believe what I tell him. But not if you run your mouth. Do you understand?"

I heard what sounded like a kick and a grunt from Jerry. Cheryl asked again, "Do you understand?"

I heard a weak, "Yes," from Jerry.

"I'm going to wake him up. If I hear your voice, you won't make it to the airport. I'll ditch him so you and I can take a tour of Florida. Lots of swamps down here with hungry alligators. I'll introduce you. Do you think anyone will miss you?"

Cheryl came in and pretended to wake me up. She told me to act stupid. I got dressed and we took Jerry to the airport. I said to Jerry in the car, "So you're Cheryl's brother. You're the first person in her family I've met." No response. "Are you married? Kids?" No response. "Not very talkative are you?" No response. I looked at Cheryl who was trying desperately not to laugh.

I waited for Cheryl in the cell phone parking lot. She called and I picked her up. "Jerry's gone. Did you hear what I told him? Do you want me to explain?"

"I think I'm too dumb to understand. Too much of a doofus. Not very bright."

Cheryl smiled, "I just call 'em how I see 'em. At least you know now I haven't been cheating. I haven't even flirted with another man. Or woman. Or anything more. No emotional or physical involvements with anyone but you. You're all I need."

Looking very concerned, I asked, "You think flirting is cheating? Really?"

Cheryl stared at me. After a bit, she said, "Who are you flirting with?" I didn't say anything but I guess I looked guilty. Cheryl continued, "Is it that fake redhead slut with the big boobs down the hall from us?"

"Well I guess since we're being honest. You were going to bars every night and I got lonely. And she's a real redhead. Red hair all over. I can vouch for that. But it's nothing serious. We're just friends."

Cheryl gave me a murderous look. I started wondering how long I had to get my affairs in order. Then she lost the look. She sighed and said, "You really are a jerk. You've never said more than 'Hi' to her have you?"

Cheryl stared at me. I finally said, "OK, I don't even know her name. How did you know?"

"If you think she's a real redhead you don't know anything about her. 'Red all over.' What a joke. You better not be flirting with anyone."

"No flirting. You're all I need."

It's Friday so I have to teach until about 1pm and then I'll be home. I have to pick up my school stuff from the hotel before school. And my clothes and check out. I guess I'll just leave Jerry's stuff. Let's go there first. I'll tell you where to go. I also have to return his rental car. I'll do that after school if you can take off work today."

"Yeah, I'll call Hugh [my manager] and tell him I'm sick. It'll be OK. Do you want to tell me what you've been up to?"

Cheryl sighed, "It's a long story. I'd rather tell you all of it at once. But I can start if you want."

"Start."

"You remember that I told you that Margie, my student, failed the course because she didn't turn in her final?" I nodded. "Her T. A., the guy Ann saw at the bar with Abbie, is named Finch. He asked her to stay after one of his classes. He was very complimentary about her and her school work. She'd evidently asked a question in class and he recommended she read a book on the subject. He had the book at home, in his apartment. She could come with him and borrow it. Only take a few minutes. His apartment is right off campus. Within walking distance.

"The idiot went home with him. I take that back, she's not an idiot. She's supposed to be able to trust her teachers. She goes home with him. He offers her a drink but she declines, needs to get back to school. He intimates that she's being rude. Just one beer while he finds the book. She says OK.

"So he goes to the kitchen and gets a beer for each of them. Margie drinks some of it while he looks for the book. He gets it and sits on the couch next to her. They talk while they drink their beers. She finishes her beer quickly, wanting to get back to school. He wants to discuss the book he's lending her so she doesn't feel she can leave. She begins to get woozy, confused, she can't seem to get up or even control her limbs.

"The next thing she remembers is that she's naked in his bed. He's not around and it's clear she's had unprotected sex. She cleans herself up, dresses and leaves. She decides to let it go. She attends the professor's class lectures but stops going to the sessions Finch teaches. This is sometime early in November."

Cheryl looked over at me, "I asked her why she wasn't using some form of birth control. She told me she ran out of the pill and, since she wasn't sexually active at school, she put off refilling it. She broke down when she was telling me this.

"By early December she knows she's pregnant. She's only had unprotected sex with Finch. She finds him during his office hours and tells him she's pregnant. He's the guy.

"Finch pulls out his phone and shows her pictures of her in his bed with three other guys. One after another while the others watched. Finch's roommates or friends. Finch took the pictures. He tells her that if she reports him, everyone on campus will see the pictures. He'll tell everyone she's a druggy and a slut. That she cheated on tests or she plagiarized on her papers or whatever. He'll get her thrown out of school and no other college will admit her. She should just shut up and deal with her pregnancy. Leave him out of it. Or else.

"She tells her parents she's pregnant but refuses to say who the father is. They tell her to come home. Immediately. She does.

"Margie was interested in philosophy so, during the semester, she'd stay after class and we'd talk. About philosophy and other things. Boys, her career goals, life in general. Great kid. We sorta became close. When I called her about why she didn't hand in the final, she told me what she told her parents. I knew there was more. I could tell she was hiding something. I called her back after the spring semester began to see how she was doing and to tell her I could still give her an 'Incomplete' if she wants to do the final and hand it in. She broke down and told me what I just told you. She couldn't talk to her parents about any of this. They were already disappointed in her and they were fighting over what to do about the baby. So she told me. Unburdened herself I guess."

Cheryl looked over at me, "I wish she had told me he raped her right after she left Finch's apartment."

We pulled up to a hotel and Cheryl fetched her things. We drove home. Cheryl said, "I need to think about what I'm going to teach today. I'll finish up when I get home." Cheryl went to school and I went to sleep. Cheryl got home about 1:30pm. We returned Jerry's rental car and ate lunch but she said she was too tired to continue the story now, "Let me get a few hours' sleep and I'll tell you the rest."

Cheryl woke up about 5pm and we started on dinner. Cheryl continued her story while we cooked and ate, "I asked around about this Finch, Margie's T. A. He's a third year grad student in psychology and has been a T. A. since he started in grad school. Like me. There was a complaint from a female student a couple of years ago about the same behavior. Come borrow a book and stay to get drugged and raped. Nothing came of it. The student dropped the complaint and, like Margie, dropped out of school.

"Finch was also your sister's T. A. After I talked to Margie, I called Ann. To warn her to stay away from him without getting in to details.

"Abbie called me just after New Year's. She's living with her parents but asked if I wanted her back in Miami. To start working again. I told her I was in school and with you so..... She said she understood and we agreed to keep in touch. By the way, her STD is cured.

"I haven't talked to Jerry since he turned me in to the cops when I was seventeen. He got my contact information from my older brother, Jake, the one I told you is now running the family business."

Cheryl looked at me, "I don't scare easily but my older brother knowing where I am is very scary. Jerry's a relative lightweight. Jake is something else again. He will kill you as soon as look at you. I can handle Jerry. Nobody can handle Jake. I didn't think Jake was interested in me. Or knew where I am. I visited once after I left home. It was after my arrest and I thought a home visit might be wise. Wise to get out of town. This was while I was still in Charleston, before I moved here.

"Jake and I had a disagreement about money and I left. Or rather, he allowed me to leave. I haven't been back and have had no contact with him since. That he let me leave means he really didn't care about me. I was seventeen and I'd be more trouble than I was worth to him. That's good. But it's worrisome that he knows anything about me. That I'm in Miami. I have money now. If he knows about that, really not good."

I interrupted, "How would he know where you are?"

"Daddy owned the sheriff in our town. I'm sure Jake does too now. You found out all about me through your police connection. Probably Jake did the same.

"Jerry said Jake told him I'm in Miami so I figured Jake had Jerry contact me. And Jerry just confirmed Jake also told him I probably have money. And he knows it's not in a bank. I have to think about what to do about that."

"Why'd you ask Jerry where he got the gun?"

"I wanted to see if he had friends here we need to worry about. Like Jimmy's two friends I killed. I know Max. He just sells guns. Illegally but he's not a threat. He's not someone Jerry would have told about us. Just a cash transaction. We don't have to be concerned about him.

"Anyway, Jerry called me from Charleston and says he needs to leave town. He's sorry about turning me in, he was young, foolish, the cops scared him with tales of spending forever in jail. Young boy, he'll be everyone's girlfriend. Blah, blah, blah. He was sixteen and ended up on probation. Now he's sorry he ratted me out and wants to work with me again. Some guys are after him and he needs to get out of Charleston for a while. He's afraid if he goes home, Jake will put him to work and never let him leave. Do I have anything I'm working on?

"I tell Jerry to come down because I want to find out from Jerry what Jake knows about me. What Jake knows about my money. What Jake's thinking. I call Abbie and tell her to come for a visit. I rent a room at the extended stay place and put them both there. I put together a plan that includes both of them.

"The plan's simple. Abbie picks up Finch at the bar he frequents. Abbie can do that without him knowing that it's her picking him up instead of the other way around. Abbie pretends to be a local Miami housewife on the prowl. Abbie's job is to make Finch believe she's available but that she's not a cheap date. She expects him to spend money on her. She's not going to some filthy student apartment and she can't take him home. Her loving husband might object. Finch will need to spring for a hotel and a nice one. Finch is living on the income from his T. A. He'll need more money than that to get into Abbie's pants. Abbie knows not to leave him alone with her drinks.

"Even if we didn't need Abbie to give Finch a money incentive, I needed her to keep an eye on Jerry. Jerry's job was to convince Finch to give him class tests and exams in advance to sell to Finch's students. Finch also had to identify for Jerry the students, particularly better off students, who might want to buy the exams. Jerry would approach the students. No one will ever know where Jerry got the exams, that Finch is involved. Finch will just get his hands on a shitload of money.

"Finch asks how Jerry knows about Finch, who he is, that he's a T. A. Jerry tells him he saw him in class. Through the glass in the classroom door. Jerry looks into classrooms. That's how he finds T. A.'s. It was obvious Finch is too young to be a professor so he asked a student about him. It wasn't hard for Jerry to find out where Finch hangs out.

"Finch had a few more questions. If he identifies students to Jerry, how will Jerry find out where they are? How will Jerry approach them? Jerry can't hang out near Finch's classes. Jerry tells him that he has someone in the registrar's office who will give him the student's class schedule. Jerry will wait for the student to leave a class, not one of Finch's classes, and ask the student if he wants the questions on the next psych exam. Jerry will flash a copy of the exam in front of the student or maybe read the first question from the exam to show he's legit. Jerry can get hundreds of dollars from each student for an important exam. A midterm or final. Jerry and Finch will split fifty-fifty. Absolutely no risk for Finch. Big reward.

"Another question you'd certainly have if you were Finch is why he should trust Jerry. If he gives Jerry the exam and the students to approach, what prevents Jerry from selling the exams and disappearing without paying Finch? That's where I come in. Another T. A. Jerry's already working with. Jerry tells him that I've been selling exams for my class and making a fortune. Does Finch want Jerry to introduce him to Cheryl? 'You bet.'

I'm at the bar sipping my beer relaxing after a long day at school before going home to my lonely apartment. I have no boyfriend you see. Jerry was never supposed to know about you. I'll have to take that up with Abbie. So Jerry comes up to me while I'm enjoying my beer and says, 'Let's get a booth. There's someone I want you to meet.'

"Finch, Jerry and I get a booth. Jerry springs for a pitcher of beer. My money. Jerry introduces me to Finch as a T. A. in philosophy and tells me Finch is thinking about doing what I'm doing, selling exams, and has a few questions.

"I, of course, am furious Jerry told Finch or anyone else about me selling exams. 'You promised me that no one will know. That you wouldn't tell anyone. Why'd you tell him? I'm going to get kicked out of school. Who else have you told.' I made all the right noises.

"Jerry replies, 'He knows about you now. I'll give you a piece of whatever I can get for his exams too. A sort of finder's fee. You know about each other so no one's telling on anyone. No one else knows about you. Do you know about any of the other T. A.'s I have doing this? No. I just need you to answer his questions', Jerry nods at Finch, 'Go ahead.'

"Jerry asks, 'Does this guy come through? He actually gives you money? How much are you making?'

I sneer at Jerry and mouth, 'Asshole,' so Finch can see. Still angry I say, 'Keep your voice down. Yeah, he pays. You won't give him another exam unless he pays you for the last one. I'm not sure he's actually giving you 50% of what he gets, but you get enough to make it worthwhile. Last semester I didn't start with him until the midterm. I made about $1500 last semester. A little more. Mostly from the final exam. There were one hundred sixteen students in my intro course last semester and I gave Jerry over twenty students to approach. You think every one of these idiots who bought the exam would get an 'A'. But they can't get the answers right even with the fucking exams in their grimy little hands days in advance. Unbelievable.

"'This semester, I convinced Dr. Flemming that we need to give more quizzes. Double the amount of quizzes. I'm the one who has to grade them so she didn't care. It's only February but about $300 this semester so far from those extra quizzes. You just have to give Jerry here the quizzes and exams early enough and the right students to approach. As early as you can so he has time to talk to as many students as he can.'"

Cheryl looked at me and said, "We, of course, never approached any students. Let's clean up the dishes and go to bed." We did.

After we were in bed and came to a happy conclusion, Cheryl continued, lying on top of me, "Finch had Abbie's pants to get into and needed money. Jerry was offering the money. Finch gave Jerry a quiz to sell. We gave Finch $135. Not enough to treat Abbie to a nice hotel. It was just a quiz. I wanted to wait for Finch to provide a more important exam.

"Jerry told Finch to get him the midterm as early as possible. The more time Jerry had, the more students he could sell the exam to, the more money they'd get. Finch had the midterm for Jerry at the end of February. He was anxious to bed Abbie who was holding out for a nice weekend at a resort.

"I had no more contact with Finch other than to nod or say 'Hi' when I bumped into him. Jerry didn't need to be at the bar that much; just enough to stay in contact with Finch. And get the tests and give Jerry money. Jerry took recordings of Finch talking about the tests he was giving Jerry and about the money. I took pictures and Jerry was recording when he gave Finch money. None of the pictures I took showed Jerry's face, just the back of his head. All of them showed Finch's face.

"I was sitting with Jerry in a booth when Ann saw us because I wanted Finch to see I was happy with Jerry, happy with the money, that all was good. Also, to find out from Jerry what Finch was telling him. And tell Jerry what he should tell Finch.

"Abbie spent time with Finch. I don't tell Abbie what to do with these guys, in terms of how far to go, but I'm sure Finch never got anywhere with her. Maybe some kissing and touching. Finch is a creep and Finch never got enough money for a nice hotel.

"But Abbie had fun while she was here. She spent her days at your resort's adult pool. There was always someone she found interesting for nights she wasn't working. Wasn't at the bar working Finch. Like old times for her.

"You're probably wondering if Abbie and Jerry hooked up. I don't know. The were in the same hotel room for weeks. When Abbie wasn't with some guy she picked up, I'd guess they got to know each other better. They're both good looking people.

"When Abbie's part was over, she returned home. She's back seeing that co-worker who was comforting her during your divorce. Seems serious."

"So we had recordings and pictures of Finch providing Jerry with exams and Jerry giving him money. I opened a dummy email account and sent everything to the professor Finch was assisting as well as the dean and university president from a library computer. Finch was expelled.

"I told Jerry to go back to West Virginia but he kept putting it off. Something was going on in his pea brain so I went to stay with him. I was there to press him to leave but I was pretty sure he was planning something. I wanted to be close by.

"I would hear him if he left the hotel room and I could follow him. He could probably figure out where I live even if he didn't know about you. If he broke in here and we were in bed asleep, we wouldn't hear him come in. He's that good. But he wouldn't be able to get out of the hotel room without waking me. I thought it was better to follow him with your.45 than have him wake us up holding a gun."

I asked, "You were at the same hotel. Why not just pull the gun on you there? Why break in here?"

"He can't shoot me at a hotel. One he's been living at for weeks. Cameras in the lobby. Lots of people have seen him. The gun threat isn't very credible there. Here he can come in and leave without anyone seeing him at that time of night. Even after a gunshot.

"Anyway, it's over now. We can get back to our lives."

"So you told Jerry you were nearly broke so he'd tell that to your brother Jake." Cheryl nodded. "If you didn't need Jerry to give that message to Jake, would you have shot him in our bedroom?"

Cheryl looked up at me, studying my face. Finally she answered, slowly shaking her head, "What you must think of me. Unlike Jake, Jerry's not a killer, just a pain in the ass. If he decided to get cute, tried to use his gun, yeah, he'd be dead. And he knows he wouldn't survive another encounter with me. He'll leave us alone."

Cheryl said, in a very serious tone, "If it were Jake instead of Jerry I would have had to kill him."

"Why didn't you just tell me Jerry was your brother? You told me you were going to stay at a hotel with some guy. I didn't know what to think. I just got a divorce because my wife was cheating. At a hotel."

"You knew that Jerry turned me in to the cops years ago and that I've had no contact with him since. You knew all about our history together. You knew I didn't trust him. If I told you the guy Ann saw me with is my brother Jerry you'd have a million questions. You'd end up even more worried. I didn't think you'd seriously believe I was cheating on you. But if you knew he was my sleazeball brother, you'd really freak out.

"This has been difficult for you. I'm sorry I made you worry, put you through this, but I thought it was important. Finch was also Ann's T. A. Ann could have been the next Margie. Current or future students would have been. I didn't get him for the rape but at least he won't be around students."

"What did this cost you?"

"A couple of grand. I paid for their hotel room and some expenses. I told Abbie that I needed her for a con but it wouldn't pay anything. She agreed to come as a lark. To have some fun. Another girls' vacation.

"I told Jerry that I would try him out on a con but it was a test to see if we could work together. So he wasn't going to see any money. He agreed to come because he was supposedly on the run from guys in Charleston and wanted to work with me again. He didn't know what the con was or that there wouldn't be a payday so when he didn't demand a cut it added to my suspicions he was here to find out about me and my money.

"I thought I did everything to prevent him knowing anything about you. He figured all he had to do is point a gun at you, a civilian, and you'd tell him about my money. He knew he wouldn't get the information out of me. We won't see him again."

"What about Jake? Are we going to have to deal with him?"

"Honestly, I don't know. He's not someone we want to deal with. I'll have to figure that out."

"Maybe we should talk about your money. How much is left?"

Cheryl looked up at me and smiled, "You trying to con me out of my money? A poor widow woman, living off the generosity of others. Shame on you."

"Where is it? I'll go get it. Keep it safe for you."

"Thanks but no thanks. I really don't know how much is there. I haven't counted it in ages. I've spent some of it in the last year, year and a half, but not that much. We made good money when Abbie and I were working together so I haven't taken any more from the stash. I get my tuition paid for and income from the school for my T. A. We split expenses and we're not big spenders. So it's about the same amount.

"The only people still alive who know about my money is you and me and Jimmy. Jimmy has no idea how much it is. So Jake is probably guessing that I have money but doesn't know how much. He sent Jerry to find out. Jerry figured he could grab the money for himself or he's working for Jake.

"We have to figure out what to do with the money. I'd keep all this from you but not knowing anything isn't going to save you if Jake comes after us. Regardless of what you know or don't know, if he thinks you can tell him anything, he won't spare you. Or he'll use you to get me to give up the money. Giving the money to him won't save us. It won't be pleasant and we'd both end up in the ground.

"Unless he believes what I told Jerry. That you're just a mark. You wouldn't know anything. You were acting like such an idiot in the car with Jerry you probably convinced him you really are a mark." Cheryl started laughing.

I said, "What do you mean acting? I liked Jerry. Quiet, doesn't say much, but he seemed like a nice guy. Think he'll want to come to Thanksgiving next year? I'm sure my parents would love to get to know your family. We can start with Jerry."

"Good idea. I'll call him and tell him to keep Thanksgiving weekend open. I can shoot him right after we eat. Your parents can help get rid of the body."

"I have to think about what to do about Jake. Maybe a preemptive strike. If I can get close. That's how they got Daddy. It wasn't some big shootout, guns blazing. He was set up. Someone got near him in town and did him. I just have to figure out how to get close to Jake. If I can kill him, the rest of the family will have more to worry about than my money."

"How do you know about what happened to your father?"

"He was already dead when I went home after I was arrested. I wouldn't have gone home if I knew Jake was in charge."

"I think you trying to get close to Jake is crazy. We have to figure something else out."

"Let me know when you figure what this something else is."

"I will. Was there any blow back on you? You told this Finch guy you were selling exams too."

"He told the dean I was involved. Told the dean details like I asked Dr. Flemming if I could give more quizzes so Jerry and I would have more to sell to students. Flemming gives a lot of quizzes. Every semester. Which you know because I'm always grading papers. If Finch wanted to check with one of my current students about the number of quizzes, the student would confirm that there were a lot of them.

"Telling Finch that I suggested to Dr. Flemming that we give more quizzes worked well. He thought that was something he had on me that Flemming would confirm and that would prove I'd also been working with Jerry. They asked Flemming if I pushed for more quizzes or tests. Of course I didn't. So all his claims about me were discredited.

"The dean also interviewed me. I just said, 'Finch and I barely know each other. I have no idea why he said I was involved in anything. No, I don't know any Jerry. No, I didn't ask Dr. Flemming to give more quizzes. Why would I? The students have enough to do and so do I. They didn't need more quizzes.'"

"Didn't people see you with Jerry at the bar. They could have caught you in a lie. Just by interviewing bartenders."

"The school wanted this to go away, not to expand it. They weren't going to go that far. But even if they did interview people at the bar about me, Jerry wasn't using his real name, we weren't together that much and Jerry looks like a lot of guys who come into that bar. It's not like they had a picture of Jerry to show people. So what if someone said I was sitting with some guy in a booth.

"Finch had no proof that I did anything. Jerry of course had disappeared from campus and from Finch's life. Unfortunately not from ours. But now he's gone. It's over."

"When did you become an avenging angel?"

"I'm not. I just didn't want this asshole who...... interrupted Margie's life by using her as a toilet to get away with it. I didn't want him to keep doing it. I wanted to interrupt his life too."

"And you didn't tell me what you were up to because you thought I'd try to stop you?"

"If you said stop, we'd discuss it, argue, but if you were adamant about me stopping I would have stopped. I was more afraid you'd be worried about me and try to get involved. I didn't want you near this. I didn't want Jerry knowing about you. For both our sakes. Your sister being at the bar could have blown everything up. Imagine if you came to the bar to help out or because you were worried about me. I know you were concerned but I also know you trust me."

"I thought you weren't going to do anything that would be a problem for me. You get your brother down here and he ends up in my bedroom pointing a gun at me."

"I only had him come here because I want to know about Jake. To find out what Jake is thinking. Jake is more of a threat than Jerry will ever be. I don't want to be surprised by him. But you're right. He never should have found out about you."

"I do trust you but you can't do this shit. We're in a relationship so we tell each other everything. The good, the bad and the ugly." Cheryl looked up at me, not angry or concerned but like she was learning something new and wanted to make sure she understood what she was learning. I continued, "We don't keep each other in the dark about what we're doing. We discuss it so the other person doesn't have to wonder. That's how good relationships work. We're not in business together. You're not running me or playing me. We talk about things. We communicate.

"Neither of us has a veto over what the other one does. If we don't like what the other's doing we try to sort it out, come to an agreement or compromise. Or end things. But we don't hide things from each other.

"I should have said something after you got me the contract with H. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm glad you got me the contract. I'm glad this rapist is no longer near students. I'm talking about you doing this stuff behind my back.

"I didn't press you about what you were up to because you were in the middle of this by the time Ann saw you at the bar and told me. I know you were trying to protect me. You were concentrating on this con and worried I'd be a distraction. I get that. But the reasons you just gave me about why you kept this from me are bullshit. Yeah, I probably would have worried if you told me the guy Ann saw you with was your brother. But I'd have been less worried if you told me why he was here.

"We're a couple. I shouldn't be a distraction for you. You can't go off on your own like you're single and don't owe me any explanations. I'm not giving you an ultimatum. I'm just saying that we won't have a healthy relationship if we hide things from each other."

Cheryl didn't say anything, thinking about what I said. Finally she answered, "You're right. I apologize. I work these scams with other people but they never know the complete story. They play their parts, the parts I give them, but I'm the one who fits the pieces together. I'm used to keeping my plans close to the vest. It's just safer. But I understand I can't do that with you. You're not my business partner or my mark. You're something new in my life. I have to adjust to that.

"All this is new for me. I'm meeting parents, going to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with you and them. Buying presents. I have to be honest with you and now you want me to tell you what I'm doing. I'm trying but this is very hard for me. I'm having culture shock. I'm becoming a fucking civilian for Christ's sake. I need a break from all this goody-goody shit."

"My parent's anniversary is next month. We're invited for dinner." Cheryl threw up her arms in exasperation.

I said, "I just don't want to be kept in the dark. Yeah, I'll probably worry about you but I'll do that even more if I don't know what you're doing."

"I'm finished for now. I have to figure out what to do about Jake but I really just want to get my Ph. D. and figure out what's next. But from now on, I'll be completely transparent with you. No secrets. Jesus. Honesty and no secrets. Fucking family dinners and Thanksgiving. You really are ruining my life."

"So you're done with cons?"

"Absolutely."

Cheryl, on top of me, snuggled closer and whispered, "By the way, did I tell you that my sister is very sick. There's a cure but it's really expensive. I have to get her $25K immediately. Anything you can do to help out?"

"I have $25K in cash in my safe. I'll go get it right now." I pretended to start to push Cheryl off to get up but stopped and said, "Wait, you don't have a sister."

"Don't you think you're being sort of rude? We're having a moment together here and you're nick picking about some minor technicality about my having a sister?"