After getting all my supplies loaded in the car, I got in and started it up. I sat in the parking lot for a few minutes, before my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t had anything real to eat for almost a day now, unless you count bar snacks. Honestly I didn’t feel like eating, but knew I had to try to get something down. I figured that a quick sandwich would be good enough. I drove around the Walmart to a drive-thru fast food place, but by the time I got to the ordering sign, I still didn’t feel hungry. I ordered a hamburger, and small drink. I must look like hell, because even the gal at the window gave me a sad look, when I paid.
I drove for a bit, just slowly circling the city I had called home for so long. Some places looked new, some very old. I remembered taking Caitlin to that park, and sitting with her on that bench. I just shook my head. I passed an old theater that had been closed for years, remembering taking Caitlin there back when we were dating. By this time my hamburger was cold, but at least I was drinking some of the soft-drink.
Somehow I managed to keep the car from hitting anything, and parked in the lot at the investigator’s office. His office was small, and had two desks. There was a pretty younger woman, sitting behind one, typing away on a computer. A few feet behind hers, sat his desk. He was standing behind it, sipping a mug of coffee. He looked as gruff as his voice sounded over the phone. He was a mid-height, slightly balding guy, and had a five o’clock shadow that looks like it had been left unshaved for about three additional days. His build suggested that he didn’t miss much time at the gym.
“Mr. Holmes, Curt Simpson. Come on over here and tell me what you want.” I was glad that he didn’t seem to like wasting time.
By now, I was in a foul mood, and didn’t feel like mincing words. “I need to find some dirt on my business partner. He screwed with me, and I want to skewer him.”
“Ok, I can get started today. You are in luck, I finished up my last big case on Friday, and a few others are in holding patterns. My fees are simple. I charge by the hour I work your case, and will bill you daily as needed to get you the information you need. Write down what information you have on the guy you want me to investigate, and I will get started. Dani over there will get you sorted out with all my paperwork, a contract and such.”
I sat and wrote down what I knew about Cyrus. His car, his downtown loft address, and as much as I knew about his family. Oddly, I had never thought about it, but he never really talked about hanging out with any other friends, aside from me. I wrote that down too, just in case it would help. Done, I moved over to the woman’s desk and she looked up at me.
“Hi, I’m Dani. Here are some forms to fill out, and the general contract for services. Fill in the top page, and sign and initial where it’s marked.”
She got back to whatever she was typing up on the computer, while I filled out the paperwork. Whatever else could be said, this office was run efficiently, it seemed. Once filled out, I handed her the paperwork. She took the contract, walked to a copier, and made a few copies. She came back to her desk, handed me one copy, and stacked the rest on the side of her computer.
“Thank you, Mr. Holmes. Mr. Simpson will contact you when he has some information to pass along. We will consider the contract complete when you are satisfied with the information delivered, and will bill accordingly.”
I thanked her, and left the office. It was bright out, and I had to shield my eyes, to allow them to adjust to the light. I got in my car, and drove to the lawyer’s office. My appointment was at one, and I was at least an hour early. With nothing better to do, I guessed I should check all my phone messages. It had been buzzing every hour or so, getting ignored. Scrolling through the missed calls, I could see that Cait had tried to call a couple times, as well as her parents and one from Maddy. I had one missed from a D. C. number, so I guessed that might be that suit from FEMA trying to get a hold of me. Yeah… he was definitely one of the last people I would be getting back to. Actually, now that I thought about it, he might have some information on Cyrus’s activities, especially since the ladies that had come with him had messed things up for me on the phone. I would call the investigator and let him know to check up on the FEMA guy.
I listened to the first few from my wife, and it was a lot of crying and apologizing. She needs me, she loves me… I stopped listening after the third message. Fuck her, let her stew in the shit that she allowed.
The one message her mom left was puzzling. She must not have told her folks the whole truth, because her mom was optimistic that we could work through whatever the problem was that caused our ‘fight’.
My daughter just left a message saying that she wanted me to come home, and that she loved me. God bless her. She would be collateral damage from all this, and it really wasn’t fair to her. I called her, and told her I would try to make it up to her, eventually. I ended the call telling her that I loved her, and would see her soon. I didn’t want to stay on too long right now, as I didn’t trust myself not to get too emotional right then.
I listened to the message from the FEMA guy, but it was basically just him confirming the agreements made on Saturday. As his message concluded, I really had to wonder if he was in on the scheme that Cyrus seemed to have running. That night with those ladies, seemed seriously suspicious, now that I looked back on it. The whole thing was just bizarre, and all a little too coincidental for my liking. Caitlin had called, checking up on me, and the one woman had just happened to ask me about partying at the same time. I wonder if Cyrus was sitting next to her, goading her to call and check up on me.
After deleting all the voice messages, I checked my text messages.
I had dozens, but the last one came from my wife, about ten minutes after I had spoken with my daughter. It was sad but simple:
I am so sorry for everything.
I am so ashamed.
I love you with all my heart, always will.
Cait
Well, at least she knew she fucked up. I still wasn’t sure what to do about everything, but decided to go in to see the lawyer and find out my options, at least. I walked into the lobby, and the receptionist said to have a seat. Mrs. Collins would be right out to see me. I only had to wait about two minutes before a short, stocky, raven haired woman came out to meet me. She couldn’t have been more than about 5′ 2″, but looked to be about two hundred pounds. Not saying this to be mean, just pointing out that she was a heavy woman. She also looked like she could eat nails, and spit them back out without breaking any teeth. This was definitely the right lawyer to help me out. In short, her look said ‘don’t fuck with me’.
After shaking my hand, Mrs. Collins led me through some doors back to her office, and closed the door behind me. We both sat down, and she began the conversation.
“So what exactly can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?”
“Two things, I need to talk to an attorney about selling off or dissolving my business partnership, and second I need to discuss my options for divorcing my wife. I caught her cheating on me, with my partner. Her flimsy excuse was that I cheated on her first, but I have never been unfaithful to my wife. Oh, he also shot me with a small pistol, when I did catch them. Thankfully for me, the bullet hit a medallion, so it only caused a bruise on my chest.”
“Holy shit, really? Didn’t you call the police? Did you get checked out at the hospital or at least an EMT? The more witnesses we have to any act of violence that is related to the adultery, will help your case.”
“No, I passed out and my buddy took me to his place. Would it help to call them now?”
“Probably not much, but you could go to the station to file a report. They would probably investigate your partner for possible charges. The only problem is evidence at this point. They may not do anything if the gun is gone and there is no evidence at the scene of the crime. I can forward a generic request on to one of our criminal associates, to see if they advise differently, OK?”
“Yeah, that sounds fine to me. So what can I do about my wife?”
“Well, do you know how long the affair has been going on?”
“Honestly no, but I think the time I walked in on them, was the only time.”
“Did you take any pictures? Do you have any proof, other than just seeing it for yourself?”
“No, when I walked in, I was shocked and didn’t take any. I did just hire a P. I., Mr. Curt Simpson, to dig up what he can, about my business partner. I could have him check up on my wife, but what if he doesn’t find anything?”
“I know Curt. He is pretty good at what he does. Well if he can’t find anything about their affair, it becomes your word against hers, unless she confesses. Have you talked to her since you walked in on her?” I simply shook my head no. “I have seen a lot of divorce cases Mr. Holmes, and I can tell you that there are several options available to you. Some are clean and easy, most are pretty tough, but a few get so knockdown, drag-out dirty, that they can last a year or two. Are there any children involved?”
“Well, we have a daughter, but she is already over eighteen and in college.”
“Well, at least there’s that. No worry about any custody battles, or child support payments to negotiate.”
The expression on my face must have spoken volumes, because she simply nodded and went on. “Yes, it could take a very long time, depending on all the circumstances. What is it that you really want here, Mr. Holmes?”
“I need to know what my options are. For right now, just assume that I intend to divorce her.”
“So you don’t think you have any chance at forgiveness, or reconciling with her? I’m sorry to ask, just want to understand how best to represent you.”
That was a good question. One that I was not ready to answer.
“I really don’t know, but right now I don’t want to be around her. I am afraid I might do something that I would regret later. I do have some pictures that were given to me, as supposed proof of my infidelity… but as you can see in them, it’s not true.”