Gracie's Game: Sudden Anger, Accidentally on Purpose (5 page)

CHAPTER 5

"It's 8:30 Sweetie," Jennifer said. She was in the kitchen and her husband had wandered in looking for her. The room was sunny and bright, glossy light oak cabinets with white marble counters and gleaming stainless steel appliances. "Shouldn't you, you know, be leaving? I mean, you don't want to be late to work."

"I've got
plenty
of time," Charles said with a smile; he was in a good mood. It was Tuesday, his big day. "The morning's light, anyway. Think I'll go pat a couple of clients on the back, remind them what a good job I've done for them so they'll be sure to renew. I'll drop by the office for awhile just to put in an appearance. Then it's on to the Big Presentation!"

"I'm just thinking of you," she said silkily. "I mean, you
know
how you get to talking and lose track of time. I know how important this is to you, I wouldn't want you to feel, like, rushed." Jennifer was in the process of fixing herself a bowl of cereal as she spoke, gathering box, milk, and dishes.

"I'll be fine," he assured her. "Figure it'll take me about an hour at Bixby's, then I'll have to take the paperwork back to the office. But, hey! Then I can come home early, and we'll go out to celebrate." He leered suggestively at her.

"Sounds like you've got a lot of stuff to do," she said. "So don't you think you should, you know, get started?" Jennifer never paid much attention to her husband's schedule, she didn't really care what he did during the day. Though she did wish he'd hurry up and leave as she had plans herself.

"Um, do you, like, want some breakfast before you go?" she asked.

"Not if 'breakfast' is that garbage you're eating!" Charles said in disgust. "Looks like you scraped it off the bottom of a birdcage."

"It's
granola
, Charles. It's good for you, you know, helps you keep your weight down. Want me to fix you some?" she asked sweetly. She didn't point out that he could stand to lose a few pounds, but she hoped the threat would get him to go. She put the milk back in the fridge and took her bowl to the small table at the other end of the kitchen.

"Ugh, no!" he said disgustedly. "I'll catch something on the way in. Well, guess you're right, I should get out the door. Go buy yourself a pretty new dress Baby - I'll see you tonight!" Charles gave her a big smooch, then picked up his keys and whistled cheerfully as he headed for the garage.

* * * *

"Hey, there you are. It's nearly 11:00 - I was afraid you weren't coming," Cindy said.

"I'm sorry, Love," Jennifer said. "I had a couple things, you know, to take care of. You know I'd, like, call if I couldn't make it." She dropped her purse on the couch and held out her arms. "Come gimme a hug, I missed you!"

The two women fell into each other's arms and hugged intensely. After a minute they moved apart just far enough to be able to kiss deeply.

Cindy laid her head on Jennifer's shoulder and declared, "I love you!"

Jennifer stroked her hair gently and said, "Yes, and I love
you
! I'm sorry I'm late, had to go buy a new dress. Hubby wants to celebrate his big sale tonight, and I've gotta, like, keep him interested. I can always return it tomorrow for cash."

They stepped apart and Cindy said, "Ooh, show me?" She smiled mischievously. "You
know
how much I like to slowly peel you out of a fancy dress…"

Jennifer looked a little wistful. "Maybe in a little bit. Besides, it makes me feel a little, you know,
creepy
knowing he'll want to do the same thing tonight." Her face took on a thoughtful look. "But if he orders champagne…I can dump mine in the centerpiece or something, and maybe he'll drink so much he won't be interested by the time we get home."

"I wish you didn't have to live that way," Cindy said sadly. "I wish you could live here, with
me
. You could get a job too, we could get by."

"I know, Love," Jennifer said, trying to comfort her. "But I don't know how to
do
anything else that pays. Men have always been willing to take care of me so I never had to work. And I don't want you to live in a dump. Think of this like it's my job - and you gotta admit, it pays well!"

"I know it does," Cindy replied. "I just wish I could see you more often. I mean
see
you, not like at the party." That seemed to remind her of something. "Hey, did Chucky really mean it about retiring like he said? That would be awful, he'd be home all the time and we'd
never
get to really see each other."

Jennifer laughed. "God, don't let him hear you calling him 'Chucky'!" she said. She thought about Cindy's question for a minute. "I don't think it would, like, make much difference. He'd just spend even more time at the country club playing golf - or at least drinking at the bar. He could pick up more women, too. No, I don't think it will matter."

"What if he wants to travel?" Cindy asked. "Take a slow boat to China and tour the temples or something."

"A plane to Cancun's more his style," she replied. "Somewhere he can drink and play around and tell everybody, you know, how rich he is. Maybe you could go too! We'll just have to play along for a few more years, until, you know, my escalator clause isn't a problem."

"You mean 'escalation'," Cindy corrected her. "Then you can divorce him and we'll have enough to live on."

"Speaking of money," Jennifer said briskly. She turned to pick up her purse, opened it and pulled out several $20 bills which she handed to Cindy. "Here, I put some cash on the card when I got groceries yesterday."

Cindy took the money and put it her pocket. "Thanks, electric bill's due."

Jennifer took Cindy's hand and led her to the couch. "There's a little problem I need to tell you about."

They sat down and Cindy waited for her to speak.

"You know I've been swiping money from his desk, right?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, sure. You've got as much right to it as he does," Cindy said.

"Well, maybe that twit Justin has been too. Charles seems to think so, anyway."

"So what's the problem?" Cindy asked. "Just agree with him and let the kid take the rap. He's probably buying dope with it, if you ask me."

"That's what Charles said!" Jennifer replied. "The
problem
is, Charles has set a trap and wants to catch him at it. If he does, there'll be, like, a really bad scene. Justin
might
be smart enough to stop."

"Well, but Charles would just blame Justin again if you keep taking the money." She paused to think a moment. "Oh, do you mean you know there's a trap but you don't know what it
is
?"

"I know what it is, all right," Jennifer said assuredly. "He put a paper clip in a special spot on top of the cash so he'll know if it's been moved. It's easy enough, you know, to get around. I just don't know if it's the
only
one."

"You think he suspects you and made up the story about thinking it was Justin to scare you off?" Cindy asked. She too was worried now.

"Oh, I'm sure the kid's stealing. I suggested it might be Zack, just to throw him off, but I don't think so. Zack's got a little more on the ball." Jennifer looked at her shrewdly. "But if he set
two
traps - and only told me about one - then he'd know it was me."

"Oh, I get it!" Cindy said. "If
the other
trap is sprung, then it's Justin. But if the paper clip's in place and something
else
is wrong then he knows it's you."

"Exactly," Jennifer said decisively. "I think maybe I should quit for awhile and see what happens. Or, maybe I could check it after Justin leaves the house. If the clip's been moved it ought to be safe for me to take some, and the kid'll get the blame!"

When the bell rang signaling the end of class Justin was first out the door. He had the 11:15 early lunch break this year and was ready to get out. Justin was always ready to get out of class, but he had special plans today. He raced through the halls to his locker to find Zack waiting for him.

"Hey Man," he said by way of greeting. "You ready to go?"

"Uh, hey. Change of plans, no can do," Zack replied.

Justin opened his locker and shoved his books inside. "Whadda ya mean?" he asked. "You promised you'd take me home at lunch today."

Zack responded with a big grin, clearly pleased about something. "Got a hot lunch date!" he announced. "You'll never guess
who
, either."

Justin frowned for a moment and finally said, "You're joking. You couldn't get a date, who'd go out with
you
?"

"You know that hot girl in third hour? I heard her telling her friends she didn't like what the cafeteria's serving today, so I said I'd take her to the Sonic."

"No way Man!" Justin exclaimed. "You mean
Carrie
? She's no fun, and she's a prick-tease, too."

"Oh, like
you'd
know!" Zack retorted. "I've heard she's
lots
of fun."

"Yeah, if all you want to do is suck face," Justin said in a superior tone. "
I've
heard she gets all
'Oh, I don't want to do
that
, we might get in trouble'
if you try to cop a feel or light up a joint. Speaking of which, I really need you to take me home so I can get the money, we're supposed to meet that guy after school so we can score."

"Yeah, well, I'd rather be suckin' face with Carrie than driving your ass somewhere," Zack told him. "I pick you up and take you home as it is since you wrecked your car. You can get the money later, or
walk
home, it's not that far. You're just jealous. I've gotta go meet Carrie, see ya later."

Zack walked off and Justin aimed a vicious kick at his locker.

Gracie had the later lunch hour, she didn't get out until noon. She put her books in her locker and met a couple of friends. They were on their way to the cafeteria when she saw her brother talking to Tina, which was a little surprising.

Tina Reynolds was pretty in a sleazy way but had the reputation of being a slut; she'd do anything for either money or drugs. Gracie had once overheard Justin and Zack talking about her; she remembered because she was surprised that they'd figured out Tina was only interested in what she could get from them.

"C'mon, Tina. Please," Justin was saying in his best persuasive voice.

Tina's face said she wasn't interested. "What's in it for me?" she asked.

Gracie and her friends walked on, out of earshot, and didn't hear his answer.

Cheryl said, "I thought your brother was smarter than that, Gracie. He must be desperate to ask
her
out!"

"No kidding!" Gracie replied. "Wonder why he's not hanging out with Zack?"

"Maybe
Zack
got a date and Justin wants to make it a double!" Shawna said, giggling wildly.

"Ewwww!" they all said together.

Clarissa left work at noon and drove to the country club. All the other ladies had met earlier in the club restaurant; the tournament was a valid fund-raiser for the charity, but it was also a good excuse to socialize. Clarissa arrived in time to order a sandwich and chat a bit with friends she hadn't seen in awhile.