Evil Intent (9 page)

Chapter 12

W
ednesday came quickly. Kathryn, had another busy day in the office as sales orders took off like wildfire for the new pump. Most people in the office seemed happy and pleased with their new found energy. There was that air of excitement everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Ted was ecstatic at the moment, with the initial response. Dr. Andreyushkin appeared to be pleased. The sales folks were enthusiastic with the office being busy and generally everyone felt a sense of pleasure and well-being. Everyone, that is except Donald, Eric, and a few of the technical folks. For some reason, the technical IT type personnel who supported Dr. Andreyushkin, were less than thrilled.

Donald was still making his usually negative comments every now and then. Kathryn just avoided him whenever she could, rather than risk getting into some tiff.

“Barbara? Is anything crazy going on out there?”

“No Kathryn. Things seem under control at the moment. Why? Do you need something?”

“No. I was just thinking I might duck out of here a little early. You know, it’s Wednesday evening.”

“Of course, Kathryn. I’ll take care of anything that pops up. You just go. And have a great time tonight. I’ll be cheering for you!”

“Thanks Barb!”

As soon as Kathryn got home to her apartment she made a mad dash for the bathroom, kicking off her heels along the way, then entering the bathroom turning on the water for a nice hot bath. She was unzipping her dress as she walked back into the bedroom, but stopped for a minute before walking over to the window. Like a newfound habit, she looked across the way at her boyfriend’s apartment.

Good. Mr. Pervert isn’t home!

She quickly, drew the curtains closed, and pulled off her dress.

What a shame. Mr. Pervert is going to miss out on some fun as I run around my apartment naked for a few minutes. Poor guy!

Just as soon as she stepped out of her panties, and was standing in her room bare-ass naked, the doorbell rang.

Holy crap! Don’t tell me Mr. Pervert figured out my apartment number. I’ll kill that son-of-a-bitch!

She quickly threw on her bathrobe and ran to the door.

“Oh, hello Matt.” She said staring at one of the staff from the lobby security desk.

“Good afternoon Ms. Becker. Someone dropped off this package and said it was urgent that you receive it before 6 PM.”

“Thank you Matt. Have a good evening.”

Kathryn held the long white box, closed the door, and walked over to the table to open it. It was a beautiful box of long stem white roses with a small little card attached.

What is this? Oh my, they’re beautiful! And, this little card.....looking forward to a beautiful evening, Richard. How sweet is that? How incredibly thoughtful you are, Richard. Such a gentleman!

Kathryn made sure she was ready on time, not later than 6:45 was her goal. Richard had said he would meet her in the lobby at 7pm, and she was not about to be late. As she stepped out of the elevator into the lob
by, s
he immediately spotted Richard sitting in the lobby sofa. He looked very handsome, simply dressed in charcoal grey slacks, blue Oxford shirt, and a navy blazer. The minute he spotted her, he jumped to his feet, buttoning his jacket, and walking over to greet her. Taking her hand in his, he slightly leaned back, looking at her.

“Wow, don’t you look absolutely beautiful this evening.”

“Flattery, will get you nowhere, kind sir,” she said, raising their joined hands and slowly twirling around to give Richard the full view.

She was the epitome of ‘Country Club Casual’ donning white linen print slacks, with large blue pinstriped windowpanes, cuffed, with a blue, man tailored Oxford blouse. Kathryn made sure the top two buttons on her blouse were unbuttoned, and her long sleeves were turned up at the cuff. Navy heels, navy belt, navy purse, with a simple necklace of small sea shells completed her outfit.

“Thank you so much Richard for my flowers. They are so gorgeous. You really didn’t have to do that.”

“You’re welcome, Kathryn.”

As the couple exited the front doors onto Riverside Boulevard, Kathryn noticed a taxi parked at the curb. Richard immediately raised his arm.

“How convenient is this,” she mumbled, climbing into the cab and suddenly realizing it was the cab Richard arrived in as she noticed the meter running. He had told the cab to wait.

“Every Wednesday evening, Kathryn, I play Bridge with several friends who live in my building. We rotate apartments, taking turns on who will host the evening.”

“That sounds nice. Will there be a lot of people there?”

“There are seven regular players, counting myself. I know you will like everyone. Of course, I’ll introduce you when we get there.”

“I hope I can remember everyone’s name.”

“You’ll do fine. And, I will help you all evening. You may have heard of one of my friends, Bob Dawson. He is a famous author of murder mysteries. He is with Samantha, a red head who is terrific. You’ll like her.”

“Cool. I have heard of Bob Dawson. I may have even read one of his books.”

“Carl, is a CPA, with a very large accounting firm in town. He’s been dating Lauren for quite a while. She’ll be the platinum blonde, unless she changes her hair color again. You never quite know what Lauren is going to do.”

“I hope these people are very forgiving. I don’t know how good I’ll be at bridge. It’s been so long since I played, I could be terrible.”

“Do you like to drink?”

“I can think. I’ll be ok in that department!” Kathryn said with a grin that Richard probably failed to see.

“I said drink, not think!”

“Oh, I can do that too pretty well, too!”

“And stay close to the Barlow girls. They’ll love you.”

“Who?”

“Maggie and Harriet Barlow. They’re sisters, and both of them are older than us. Maggie has lived in the building for many years. Her younger sister, Harriet, has been living with Maggie while working in a Broadway play. She’s an actress. They’re both hysterical.

“They sound like fun.”

Moments later the cab pulled up to the apartment building on East 66th Street.

“We’re here!”

This week the game was hosted by the Barlow girls, in Maggie’s apartment. It was a spectacular four bedroom with two balconies overlooking the formal gardens, and very traditional with paneled library and a wood burning fireplace in the living room. At one end of the majestic living room, the ladies had two beautiful card tables set up near the windows.

“Welcome, welcome, please do come in. And, this must be Kathryn! We have all been so excited to meet you dear,” said Maggie, “this is such a pleasure. And, Richard, she is very, very pretty,” Maggie added, giving Richard a small hug and kiss. “Look who’s here everyone!”

I would have thought the King and Queen of England just enter by that reception.

Kathryn just smiled reaching for Richard’s hand.

Maggie reaching out, grabbed Kathryn by the hand and began to walk her around the room introducing her to folks, before Richard even had a chance. Richard followed, of course, shaking hands and greeting everyone. Carl and Lauren were sitting on a sofa, Samantha was lounging in a club chair, Harriet was already at one of the card tables and Bob was helping Maggie by taking drink orders and preparing them in the den. Kathryn did notice how each of the ladies stood up expecting a hug from the good-looking doctor.

“And what would you like to drink my dear?” Maggie said to Kathryn.

“A vodka tonic is fine if you have it, but first I need to use the bathroom. Could you point me in that direction?”

“Which one?” Lauren, who was sitting nearby said. “I think they have nine of them in this house.”

“Oh, how silly. We don’t have nine bathrooms. There are only five.”

“And the powder room?”

“Oh yes. I forgot that one.”

That’s a lot of bathrooms!

“Bob, did you hear what Kathryn would like to drink? A vodka tonic, please.” Maggie shouted as she escorted Kathryn to the nearest bathroom?”

“Coming right up,” answered Bob.

Maggie and Kathryn left the living room through the great entrance hall. The first right was a hall that lead to the Den and the Library. Each room had an adjacent bath nearby. Maggie took Katherine to the Library because Bob was fixing drinks at the bar inside the den. They entered the mahogany paneled library.

“The bath is right in here, dear. You can use this one anytime you want. It’s a little more private than the other.”

“You have a gorgeous home Maggie. I just love it. I don’t think I have ever seen a Manhattan apartment more beautiful. It’s truly magnificent!”

“Thank you, Kathryn. It’s so nice of you to say that. Harriet and I do adore this place, but I’m afraid it’s getting too big for us to keep up. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Kathryn instantly took a liking to Maggie and also had very positive feelings about the other guests as well. While Bob was finishing the drink orders, Harriet managed to whip up some lovely hot hors d’oeuvres for everyone to nibble on. It wasn’t long before all were gathered together in the living room.

As soon as Kathryn had returned, she was looking around the room for Richard when Samantha approached her and started a friendly conversation. Sam was attempting to get to know a little more about Kathryn than what was shared during the introductions. Kathryn did notice Richard glancing in her direction as if to ensure she was alright. She would smile at him, acknowledging that she was.

“Ok everyone, I think we’re all ready now’” Harriet said, as some started to approach the tables. Katherine immediately walked over to Richard.

Maggie then announced, “Table one will consist of Richard, Myself, Kathryn, and Bob. Table two will be Harriet, Carl, Lauren and Samantha. If everyone is agreeable, let the games begin.”

“I’m nervous Richard,” Kathryn whispered holding Richards arm on the way to the tables. “I hope I remember this game. Its Spades, Diamonds, Hearts, and Clubs, correct? Clubs being the lowest.”

“Exactly, that’s correct. Just watch the lead carefully, and try to win the trick.

“That’s right I remember. By the Trick, you mean beat the hand and take those cards.”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

“Thanks. Don’t leave me.”

As the game began, Richard asked if Kathryn could be his partner, since she hadn’t played in a long time. It was agreed, and everyone took their place, Kathryn opposite Richard with Maggie and Bob at their sides. They agreed that Kathryn could be dealer to begin. Maggie initially was the declarer making Bob, her partner, the dummy. The dummy, of course, must lay his hand down for all to see. Richard was the opening lead and began with the queen of spades.

Oh Richard! Why spades?
I only have a few spades and all low cards. Maggie could win the trick damn it!

“
Why thank you Richard,” said Maggie. “I think I win with a King of spades and now I’ll play the dummy’s ace of clubs.”

Oh good. I think I can take that.

Kathryn wins with the ace, and then plays a five of spades hoping she can send control back to Richard who she assumed had many spades.

“
Wonderful Kathryn. And I have the ace!” Maggie proudly said.

Oh
Shit. Sorry Richard. Maggie got it back.

Everyone was having a good time. After a while, and several more drinks, Lauren hollers over to Maggie as Kathryn notices her making eyes at Richard.

“I understand Maggie, that you and Harriet saw a good play last weekend.”

“Oh yes, it was great. And Bob, you really would have liked this one. It was a murder mystery like all your books.”

“What was the name of the play, Maggie?”

“
Murder by Choice
, but I don’t think they gave us good choices, because I immediately knew the Butler, Mr. Beaumont did it,” said Maggie.

“The Butler wasn’t the murderer Maggie, for gosh sakes, I told you the step daughter did it,” Harriet said, rolling her eyes at her sister.

“Who got murdered?” Samantha asked.

“The husband was stabbed with an ice pick in his own library. But I thought maybe he was reading a good book while having a scotch, and just somehow slipped with the ice pick and killed himself. But then they found the panties under the sofa.” Maggie explained.

“Ah ha! Now the plot thickens with a woman suspect!”

“That’s right Bob. There were lots of women. It was very sexy.” Maggie said. “He was married five times and at one point I was thinking...oh Diamonds! That’s wonderful!”

“Diamonds? Was there a theft too?” Bob asked.

“Oh no Bob. I’m sorry, Richard just played diamonds and I got a little too excited.” I meant to say jealous wife number 4 did it, until she told us she only wears purple or pink underwear. It couldn’t have been her since the panties under the sofa were green.”

“There were other suspects, I presume,” said Carl.

“Of course,” said Harriet, “the husband’s business partner had a huge insurance policy, the step daughter feared he would divorce her mom, and the maid was having an affair with the husband!”

“Where was the butler?” Bob asked.

“I think he was having an affair with the step daughter.” Maggie said.

“Who was having sex with Beaumont?” Harriet asked.

“I think the step-daughter,” said Samantha.

“But, the step daughter did it, so she couldn’t have been with the butler!” Lauren said trying to chime in as she got up to get another cocktail. “Do you need another drink Richard?” She said walking toward him noticing his glass was empty.

Don’t even go there bitch. He’s mine. I’ll take care of him.

Kathryn couldn’t help but notice how many times Lauren was drooling over gorgeous Richard.

“Can somebody just tell me who was having sex with Beaumont?” He seems to always be missing,” Harriet said as she shouted over to Lauren “I’ll take another scotch on the rocks, please.”