by R. B. Conroy
“Great!”
“Come on, boys, the tee’s open!” Dave shouted, as he stuffed his iron in the bag and slid in the driver’s side of the cart.
“Looks like it’s time to hit it, Vinnie. Nice talking with you.” The gas cart groaned up the steep hill to the first tee with Alfonzo and Vinnie close behind.
* * * * * *
Ed liked Vinnie, but all the questions left him a little bit uneasy. It made Ed wonder if Vinnie knew something about the Smith house that he wasn’t telling him. Once again, his suspicions reared their ugly head. He became lost in his thoughts for a moment fantasizing that his wife was in the bedroom of the Smith house in the arms of another man.
“Great shot, Vinnie!” Alfonzo yelled, bringing Ed out of his disturbing daydream. “You gonna hit or just sit in the cart all day, Ed?”
“Sorry, I was just thinking about what club to hit,” Ed replied. He hopped out of the cart and yanked a five iron out of his bag and climbed up the steep incline to the tee box. He bent down and pushed ball and tee into the ground and then stood and took a couple of practice swings. He addressed the ball, took the club back slowly and took a mighty swing. His club head bounced off the top of the ball, knocking it only a few yards.
“Take a mulligan. It’s a friendly game,” Alfonzo ordered.
Ed teed up another ball, took his stance and gave it another mighty swing. This time, the ball flew high and straight and landed on the green some twenty feet from the hole. Ed smiled, but inside he was hurting. His suspicions about Cathy were growing. He wondered where it would all end. He felt a vibration on his leg; he slid his iPhone from his pocket and punched it on.
“Hello, Jared, I only have a second, I’m on the golf course.”
“Okay, sure, Ed. Sorry to bother you, but can you come to Indiana for a few days next week? First Source is ready to finalize their merger offer.”
“Can’t you guys handle that, Jared?”
“Ed, I’ve only been president for a couple of years and you’ve been through two other mergers. I’m pretty much up to speed on most things, but this one is big. I sure could use your help.”
“Turn that damn thing off!” Dave groused as the cart jerked to a stop.
Ed put his hand over the phone, “Sorry, it will just be a minute.”
Dave frowned.
“What days do you need me next week, Jared?”
“We have some preliminary meetings on Tuesday afternoon to review everything, and then we’re meeting with the merger group from First Source on Wednesday.”
“Okay, plan on picking me up in South Bend on Monday. I’ll call you when I have my flight arrangements. Gotta go!”
“Thanks a million, Ed! Hit ‘em straight!”
As Dave ordered, Ed turned his cell off and stuck it in the webbing on the side of his golf bag. With all that was going on with Cathy, this was a bad time for him to be called out of town. But Jared was right-Ed knew more about mergers that any of the young officers who were now running his old bank. They were aggressive and smart, but they had little or no experience with mergers. Ed had to go back and help them navigate through this difficult situation.
“You and that cell,” Dave barked.
“Hey, I’ve listened to you talking to Sally a hundred times, so give me a break!”
“Okay, smart-ass.” Dave stood on the edge of the green leaning on his putter. “You’re back. I hope you don’t three putt.”
Ed smiled at his acerbic friend, but his mind was not on golf right now. He was thinking about Cathy and leaving her alone during his trip back to Indiana as he slipped the putter out of his bag and hustled toward the green.
18
Eric playfully smacked Cathy’s bare fanny as she lay on her stomach on the large bed. “I better go, beautiful. Thank you for a wonderful time.” He rolled off the bed and began gathering up his clothes.
Cathy also rolled to the edge of the bed and pulled the bed sheet around her to cover up. “Eric, I need to talk to you for just a minute.”
Eric lifted his arm and looked at his watch. “Okay, I can spare a few minutes. Fire away!”
She hesitated for a second and then continued, “I realize that we’ve only known each other for a short time.”
“Long enough.” Eric quipped.
She smiled looking down at her folded hands. She had decided, after her talk with Dirk, that Eric needed to be in on her plan. She had to know his level of commitment to her. Why do this, she thought, if I end up without the man of my dreams. She had been debating whether to tell him now or wait until another time. She knew it was a huge gamble. He might be frightened by such a dastardly scheme and run from her, but their sexual explosion that day had been even better than the first time. Add to that Eric’s apparent insatiable desire for money, and the time just seemed right.
“I feel close to you, Eric, closer than I’ve ever felt to any man. Even though, as I said, we haven’t known each other that long.”
Eric gave her a quick nod of the head.
“We’ve got one big problem though, my love.”
Eric slipped on his golf shirt and began tucking the long tail into his Bermuda shorts. “And, what might that be? We seem to be doing all right, as far as I can tell,” he said with a wink of the eye.
“I’m a married woman, Eric. I have a husband.”
Eric buttoned his shorts at the waist and tightened his belt. “Well, you’re not the first woman with a husband that I’ve….” Eric paused, realizing what he was about to say would seem insensitive to a woman like her. “I’m sorry, Cathy, you know what I mean.”
“I know, Eric. I realize that we’re in the physical phase of our relationship right now, but that’s how almost all great romances begin. I know deep in my heart that we are going to be together for a long, long time and our love for one another will only continue to grow. I just feel we would do better if Ed wasn’t in the picture.”
Eric stepped over and snuggled in next to her on the bed, “Why complicate things? Why not just enjoy what we’ve got?”
She sighed. “It’s just not that simple, I’m afraid. I feel like I’m in a prison with that man. It’s stifling; I can’t stand to be around him anymore with his quirky mannerisms and those ugly thin lips of his. Ed has never been a good fit for me. I’ve been looking for Mr. Right all my married life. And, I know that I have finally found him.” She nestled her head gently against his shoulder. “I hope you agree,” she moaned.
He gently squeezed her hand, “I do, Cathy, I feel very close to you.”
She scooted closer to him and gently rubbed his bicep. “Oh, Eric, I was so hoping that you would say that. We will be so happy together. Our life will be so exciting.”
Eric chuckled, “You act like we’re already a couple, my dear.”
She gave him a peck on the cheek and then stood up, “We will be as soon as we get Eddie boy out of the way.” Eddie boy was a derogatory name that Cathy liked to use when describing her husband. It showed her distain and lack of respect for him.
“Out of the way? What do you mean by ‘out of the way’?”
She fell down on her knees in front of Eric and laid her hands on his thighs.
“Don‘t you see, my love, we can never be happy with him around. Why the poor sap loves me to death. He would do anything to keep me. We have to be rid of him.”
Eric’s brow tightened, “No divorce? You mean get rid of him completely?”
“Yes.”
Eric’s brow tightened. He seemed concerned, but surprisingly he didn’t seem overly shocked by the revelations coming from his opportunistic lover. He was quiet for a moment and then he spoke calmly, “What do you have in mind?”
Cathy fell back on her heels. She spoke briskly, “Do you remember that biker guy that came up to our table at Cody’s a few nights ago?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Well, he’s been sort of bugging me lately. I think he has the hots for me or something.”
�
��Has he become a problem? Do you want me to say something to him?”
Cathy smiled smugly, “Oh no, my dear, and don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself.”
“Are you sure?”
Cathy continued, “Yes. I was annoyed by his attention at first, but then I thought maybe he could come in handy-you…uh, know what I mean-to help me out with Ed.”
“Just who is this fellow?”
“His name is Dirk Harrison. He runs a biker shop in Lady Lake called The Cycle Shop. He’s a rough character with a nasty personality and he has financial problems. So, I figured he might be my man.”
“And?”
“I was right.”
“And?”
“So, I made him an offer.”
“Did he accept?”
“Not yet. He’s considering my offer. I know his business is in bad shape, so he could use the money.”
Eric’s eyes narrowed, “Just how much money did you offer him?”
“A hundred thousand dollars.”
“What!” Eric stood and began pacing the room. He seemed agitated. The amount of money involved suddenly brought the gravity of this situation into better focus. “That’s a lot of cash. You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Dead serious. My husband is worth over three million dollars and it all goes to me if he…uh, dies. Also, he told me a few years ago that he took out a million dollar life insurance policy on himself and made me the sole beneficiary.”
Cathy knew that Eric was enamored with people who had money. She was certain that the thought of being with a rich woman would excite him. She needed him on board for her deadly plan and she was using every trick in the book to hook him.
“Man, this is big!” Eric cupped his hands and pushed them against his chin.
Cathy stood and stepped in front of him. She looked him directly in the eyes, “You have to trust me on this, Eric. I know it sounds kind of daunting to you right now, but I’ve thought this out very well. There will be no loose ends when this is over; there will be no way to implicate either one of us. With Ed out of the picture, we will have our freedom and more money than we could ever dream of. You could buy that sailboat you’ve always wanted. We could sail the Gulf and dock at exotic places and stay in lavish hotels. We will be able to fulfill all of our life’s fantasies. It will be wonderful.”
“Yes…uh, I can see now.” Eric seemed to be thinking out loud. “If you divorce him, you won’t get his money or the insurance.”
“Exactly, my love! And anyway, a divorce would be humiliating for a woman like me. I would never want to go through a divorce. I would lose all, or much, of my social standing. It would be a disgrace. My friends at the United Methodist Church would never speak to me again. This way I save face, and I end up with all of the money and you!” She giggled and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Ed looked away from her; he shook his head, “But what if we miss something? What if something doesn’t go as planned, then what?”
Cathy grabbed him by the face and held tight, “Look into these eyes, Eric.”
He did as requested.
“Would I lie to you?”
“Well, I…uh”
She interrupted, “Even if this doesn’t work, and I’m sure it will, there is no way we could be implicated. No one would ever believe that a guy like Dirk Harrison would be in the same circles as someone like me. If things go bust, it will all be on his hands. There will be a few cell phone calls to him, but most of my communication with him will be discreet and in person. I will be able to explain the cell phone calls by saying that I was calling him about a possible repair or to get a part for my husband’s Harley. Everyone thinks that we’re happily married. No one would believe in a million years that I would plot to kill my husband.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “Has your husband ever been to Dirk’s shop?”
“No, he doesn’t ride much, and when he needs something done, he usually does it himself. I don’t think he even knows about The Cycle Shop.”
Eric carefully pulled her hands off his forearms and held them in his. He exhaled a long breath and smiled, “I guess you have thought of everything, my lovely.” He looked at his watch, “Oh boy, looks like I’m going to be late for my appointment. We can talk more about this later, I have to run. I’ll see you tomorrow at six.”
Cathy gave him a warm kiss on the mouth. “Our future is bright, my dear. A whole new life awaits us. See you at six.” She watched as he hurried across the bedroom into the family room. A short time later the back door banged shut.
Cathy sat down on the bed and stared at the closed door. She was smart enough to know that Eric’s main interest in buying into her diabolical plan was his lust for the money. He was probably thinking that he would outlive her because of their age difference and that he would end up single with a wad of cash. Deep down it bothered her, but all she could think about was how sexy he was and all of the times they would be making hot, passionate love together.
19
Diablo’s Bar and Grill was just about the meanest and nastiest biker haunt south of the Georgia line. There were no Honda Gold Wings or Yamahas lined up in front of Diablo’s-just Harley low-riders with ape handle bars, burn-out mufflers and as much other bad-ass stuff as the rider could find to make his bike look meaner than the next guy’s. Dirk usually found himself at Diablos one or two nights a week having a few drinks with his buddies, many of whom were also his customers.
The owner of Diablo’s was Bones Etchison, a legendary Harley guy, who contrary to his name, weighed almost four hundred pounds and claimed he had the picture of a Harley Sportster tattooed on each of his testicles. Scruffy and unkempt, and with a penchant for farting without restraint, even the most vile bikers who frequented the bawdy bar had never asked him to prove his claim on the tattoos.
Dirk leaned left and cruised to a stop in the parking spot in front of Diablo’s. It was only two in the afternoon, but there were already quite a few bikes lined up at the popular bar. He hopped off his bike and headed for the batwing doors on the front entrance. He bumped through the old West style saloon doors and looked around for the owner. He quickly located him a ways down the forty-two foot bar. Bones bragged that his bar was the longest in Florida. Dirk walked over and climbed onto a stool in front of the smiling owner.
“Usual?” Bones barked.
“What else?”
Bones yanked down on the handle of a nearby tap. He filled a large mug embossed with the Harley insignia on the side and set it in front of Dirk. Smoke curled in front of Bone’s chubby face from the small white stub of a cigarette that was always dangling from his mouth. It’s long, gray, ash perched precariously on the end. Dirk was always amazed that the ashes never seemed to fall off. A man of few words, Bones leaned on the bar for support, belched, and spoke to Dirk, “Selling anything over there?”
“Not much. A few used bikes now and then. That’s about it.”
Bones squinted through the smoke, “Payin’ the bills?”
Dirk gave Bones a longer than normal stare, a little uneasy about the probing question. “I’m trying to, but it ain’t easy. How about you? How’s your business?” The testy Dirk wanted Bones to answer some questions.
“Good. I think people drink more when they’re down on their luck.” Bones coughed up a laugh.
Dirk took a sip of his beer. In a way, he was glad Bones had brought up his business-it gave him a chance to pick his brain. “I got a question for you, Bones.”
“Okay.”
“Where do you think all of this business crap is heading? Do you think it will get better?” Bones had run a very good business for over twenty years and Dirk thought he might have some ideas that would help him at the bike shop without having to take Cathy Robert’s money.
“Nah.” Bones turned his thick thumb down. “The future don’t look good,” he groused.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, everybody’s running scared right now
. They don’t know where things are going and they’re afraid that the politicians are going to make it worse. Most of the smart guys I see on TV think things will be flat for several more years.”
“No shit?” Dirk shook his head. “That doesn’t sound good.” Dirk was trying to gather as much information as he could before he made his decision. He was taking a huge risk and he wanted to be certain he had no other options for his business before he told Cathy Roberts yes. So far, the news had been bad from both Daisy and Bones. He had just about made his mind up, but he felt that he had one more possible option to explore. He dropped his elbows on the bar and spoke in a hushed voice, “You know I’ve never asked you for anything, Bones!”
Bones’ brow raised. He also leaned forward and spoke quietly taking Dirk’s lead. “No, you haven’t, not a damned thing.”
Dirk leaned a little closer; he was almost whispering now, “Things aren’t worth a shit at the shop. I’m in hock up to my ears.”
“Sorry to hear that. I’ve been trying to send as many customers your way as I can.”
“I know you have, Bones, but people just aren’t buying right now and they are repairing their own bikes instead of bringing them to me. It’s really bad. I’m almost a hundred grand in the hole. If I don’t get some cash soon, I may have to close up.”
Bones quickly leaned up and began nervously wiping the top of the bar. “I see where you’re going with this, Dirk, and I can’t help you. There’s nothing I can do.”
Dirk angrily snatched the towel out of Bones’ hand and tossed it at him. He aggressively pushed his face next to Bones’ face. “Listen to me, you fat son-of-a-bitch! I’ve been sending customers over here for over five years! Hell, half the people in here wouldn’t even know about this broken down piece-of-shit bar if it wasn’t for me! I’m in a jam and I need your help!
The bar suddenly got quiet. Several of the bikers rose out of their seats in case the popular owner needed their assistance.
