Chapter 143

"Who was it wanted to move three hours away from my work? Who was it that convinced me that every weekend home would be another honeymoon? It damn sure wasn't me. I've driven thousands of miles in the last ten months to spend time with you. You haven't ever driven to Portland to spend time with me."

"You never invited me."

"Didn't I give you a key and a map to the apartment?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever been given a key to somewhere you weren't invited to go?"

"I didn't know you wanted me."

"Every weekend and every weekday for ten months."

"I didn't know." She was crying. This was either the truth or a great act. I sat still with the motor running for a long time. She sat with the door open and crying. Finally she stopped crying and looked at me.

"Now, you know. We'll see what difference knowing makes. You still have the key and the map?"

"Yes. They're hanging on the hook in the kitchen."

"Look at them every day. Now get out of the truck."

"Don't go. Stay. Come to bed with me. I'm sorry. I want you to stay."

"Why?"

"Somehow I had it in my head that you stayed away at any excuse. I thought you didn't want me anymore. I was wrong."

"I'll tell you what, I'll come back next weekend and you can show me if and how you want me as your husband. That'll give you a few days to think about our marriage. Maybe that'll help. Right now I'm hurt, I'm tired and I'll say things I'll regret if I stay. I have loved you for years and worked hard to give you everything I could. Next Saturday morning at four in the morning I'll be back. If you want me to stay away call my cell phone and tell me. You'll never see me again. If I get here the door better be unlocked and your legs open. Now, get out."

Tears fell as she walked to the door and went inside. Tears fell in the truck too. The drive to my apartment was long and cold. When I got out of bed the next day I called my boss and we talked. I told him of my suspicions and he gave me some time off to take care of business.

I drove back up to Trout Lake. Once in town I took my transmitter trigger and went to the burger place. I tuned their set to the test channel, turned on the system, and saw our bedroom. Charlene was taking off her shirt. I hit the button that switched on the DVD burners and they began recording both audio and video of what happened in the bedroom. I changed channels on the TV and left. The evidence would be there when I went back. I gassed my truck and drove north out of town. I went by the brick house of Mr. & Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. was in the yard. I didn't look at her or slow down. Twenty minutes later she pulled into the clearing.

I walked up to the window of her Ford and she rolled it down.

"They are in my cabin right now and I assume they are fucking. When I saw them almost half an hour ago Charlene was getting undressed. Everything they say and everything they do will be on DVD's. Assuming the evidence we need is on those two DVD's what do you want to do?"

"Cut his pecker off! That cheating bastard!"

"That would be satisfying for both of us but it wouldn't be as satisfying as humiliating them both publicly. I'll take the DVD's and go back to Portland. I will visit the meanest divorce lawyer I know and get her opinion for both of us. If she says we ought to proceed I will call your house tomorrow and ask for Mrs. Cannon. That will be your signal to gather your stuff and get out of town. When you get close to Portland, call me and I'll give you directions. I'll take the DVD's and go back to Portland. I will visit the meanest divorce lawyer I know and get her opinion for both of us. If she says we ought to proceed I will call your house and ask for Mrs. Cannon. That will be your signal to gather your stuff and get out of town. Fill your Ford at Murphy's in town and then drive toward Portland. When you get to Hood River call me and I'll give you directions. You have kids, don't you?"

"Yes. I can't leave them!"

"Bring them. While they are in school tomorrow pack an overnight bag for each kid and hide it in your truck. I'll call just before school lets out tomorrow. If we're a go, you pick them up and keep going."

"Oh my God, I'm scared." "Take a deep breath. You are a mother who is protecting her family. It's Bill who needs to be scared. Now, go home."

She hadn't even shut off her truck so she put it in Drive and made a U-turn and was gone. I looked at my watch. We had been together five minutes. I went to the hardware store a couple miles south of town and asked the owner if he had a TV. He said he did, in the employee lounge. I asked if I could use it for just a couple minutes and he agreed. I took the trigger with me and when I was alone with the set I put it on the channel I could watch and saw Bill pulling on his boots and Charlene buttoning her blouse. I stood close to the TV and gently raised the volume.

"Let's get back to work for a couple hours and then we can have dinner here, if you'd like."

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Pussy! With a side order of ass!"

"I want a big dose of cock!"

I reset the TV to its original settings and thanked the manager for his time. I asked him if he sold the antenna he was using and he said he could order one for me. It would take a week. I said I would be back in a week so go ahead and order it.

I looked around the store for ten minutes and then drove to the cabin. No cars in evidence. I went in and up to the storage closet. I traded the two recorded DVD's for two new ones. Each DVD recorded the input from one camera and the combined audio. I tucked the DVD's into protective jackets and backed out of the cabin. In my truck and rolling back for Portland I called my boss and he called the meanest divorce lawyer in Portland. She gave me an appointment for "as soon as he can get here."

I walked into Susan Cantor's office at a few minutes before four. I was ushered in and welcomed by Susan. A well dressed and powerful woman about fifty. When she introduced herself I knew I was in the right place.

"Hi, you're Pete, right?" I nodded. "Good. I'm Susan and it's my job to fuck people in court."

"Good! I've got two people I want you to fuck. Bill Stevens and Charlene Peterson."

"Charlene is your soon-to-be ex-wife?"

"I hope so."

"What grounds?"

"Adultery!"

"Any proof?"

"How about DVD's shot today of them having fun in my bed?"

"Shot in your house?"

"Yup."

"Have you looked at them?