Chapter 18
"We have to call the police. We have to do something...tell someone," Dani was staring at Jax as he massaged the temples of his forehead. They were both still outside, leaning against the cabin as the sounds of the couple inside continued.
Jax shook his head and grabbed Dani's hand. She stumbled behind him as the groans of Mrs. Morgan and Dr. Silverman became faint. He rubbed his forehead in frustration before finally responding, "I am the police Dani! What do you expect to report him for? Having an affair? Just because he's scum doesn't make him a criminal."
"So he gets away with it? What if he really did get all those women pregnant, Jax? This can't be right!"
"If the women consented, there's nothing I can do."
"It could be fraud! He's defrauding the husbands," Dani argued.
Jax felt a pounding behind his eyes. He didn't want to think about all of the children Dr. Bart Silverman possibly had, "Maybe this was the first time he's-"
"No way! Considering how he acted...there's no way," Dani stepped into their cabin and paced the floors like a nervous ball of energy.
"Even if that's the case, we have to keep this hidden for now," Jax watched as Dani stopped her pacing and stared at him, mouth open.
"What did you say?"
"As far as we know, these women are consenting. We can't even prove he's slept with anyone else other than Mrs. Morgan. We're here to find out what happened to Callie Sommerby and Tammy Owens. That's the priority Dani. Don't forget that."
"So I'm supposed to close my eyes and keep my mouth shut?"
"I didn't use those exact words Panda Eyes. After we figure out what happened to Callie and Tammy, then we can expose this place for what it really is. Until then...hear me out. Pretend you don't know anything," Jax had placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. It reminded Dani of Dr. Silverman's touch which made her feel a bit queasy in the pit of her stomach. She stepped back and ran a hand through her hair, pulling on it more than she should have.
"Fine...but if he touches me again, I'm kicking him in the-"
"If he touches you again, I'll kick him first," Jax pulled her in a hug, causing Dani to feel confused again. She slowly pulled out of his grasp.
"Jax, about that kiss..."
"I told you. Don't worry about it. It was just for our cover. We're partners, remember?"
Dani nervously tugged at her fingers, "About that. There's something I need to tell you."
A pounding at their cabin door interrupted their conversation. Jax opened the door to see a tear-stained Shelly demanding to see Dani.
Dani's eyes widened in surprise as Shelly pushed past Jax and ran straight into her. Shelly wrapped her arms around Dani like an octopus as she whispered, "Can I talk to you...in private?"
Dani looked at Jax who seemed just as surprised by their unexpected visitor. He motioned to Dani that he'd leave them and she nodded, noticing Shelly's mascara had begun to run down her face.
"Shelly, what's wrong? " Dani tried extracting herself from the crying woman's grip. She dreaded the nightmares she might see from Shelly.
"Bo...Bo...cheated on me!"
She sounded like a choking seagull and Dani cringed as Shelly continued to sob.
"Shelly? Shelly? Shelly!" Dani shouted to get her attention. "Why are you saying Bo cheated on you? Did he admit it?"
"No, that tramp came up and told me," Shelly whined. Can you believe it?"
"Shelly...which tramp?" Dani asked, thinking of Genevive.
"That stupid woman. I didn't believe it at first but she said it happened the first time we came here."
"What did Bo say?"
Shelly hiccupped, taking a tissue that Dani handed her, "He's going to lie about it."
"Shelly, what did he say?"
Shelly looked away.
Dani threw her hands in the air, exasperated with her uninvited guest, "You haven't even talked to him yet?"
"I can't. What if he admits it? What if he decides to leave me because I can't give him a baby?"
"Oh Mylanta! Will you get it together woman!" Dani shouted. She barely knew Shelly. She didn't want to be her bosom buddy. "You need to talk to your husband."
"I'm too scared," Shelly sniffled. "It's too hard for me."
"If you're scared of this...what are you going to do if you get pregnant and have to give birth? I don't think that's a walk in the park," Dani sighed.
"That stupid Genevive. How dare she come between me and my husband."
"Wait...who did you say? Genevive? Genevive is the woman that's claiming to have had an affair with your husband?"
Shelly nodded, ready to throw another crying fit. Dani couldn't hold in her fit of laughter.
"What's so funny?" Shelly asked, scowling at Dani.
"Trust me when I say, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to Genevive. She's a lying goldigger that's going around trying to see which man she can steal."
"She didn't want Bo. She wanted money. She said she'd keep who the father of her baby was a secret as long as I paid her."
"How dare she! Is everyone here psycho?" Dani growled.
"What?" Shelly asked.
Dani cleared her throat, "Well...not you of course. Just a couple of people are psycho."
"Right, well what should I do?"
"I think you should talk to Bo."
"What about Genevive?"
Dani rolled her eyes, "If she bugs you again, tell her you know her secret."
"Her secret?"
Dani nodded, "And then pat your belly like this. Oh and raise an eyebrow so she knows you mean business."
"But I don't know her secret. What secret? Do you know her secret?"
Dani wasn't sure if she should tell. Would Jax want her to? Probably not. She waved her hand in the air as if Shelly's question wasn't important, "That doesn't matter. She'll be too worried to care."
"What if she asks me to verify her secret?"
"She won't but if she does, just say 'You know what I'm talking about' in a "I know what you did last summer" kind of voice and walk away."
"Dani, I don't understand."
Dani opened her cabin door, "Stop wasting time here and go find your husband." It wasn't exactly a rude way to kick someone out it was clear she wanted Shelly gone.
"Sorry for bothering you Dani. It's just I needed someone to talk to and you seem so nice."
"It's no problem, Shelly."
"You know for a moment I really wanted to kill her. I thought she was stealing my husband and our dream baby. I hated her. I don't know what came over me," Shelly admitted.
"It's understandable. That's how most women feel."
"It's just hope we pass to stage two."
"Adoption really isn't an option?" Dani asked her.
"No. Bo had a run in with the law when he was younger and rebellious. Being the son of a rich man can only go so far to get you out of trouble. Eventually, his father stopped helping him. So adoption isn't an available option. It's why we've been coming here...trying our best."
A twinge of sadness plucked at Dani's heartstrings. She understood wanting to have something for a long time. Shelly wanted a baby. Dani wanted to be normal. She walked Shelly out and reassured her, "You and your husband will be fine. Just ignore those suspicious thoughts."
Shelly grabbed Dani into another hug before trailing off. Dani wondered where Jax had hid himself. She decided to take a short stroll in hopes of finding him. She had gone to the lake when she heard a male voice behind her.
"Well, well, well...fancy seeing you here."
Dani turned around to see the handsome Simon stumbling towards her. She could smell the whiskey before she spotted the bottle in his hand.
"Simon, are you drunk?"
"Simon, are you drunk?" he mocked in a high-pitched voice.
"I think you should go back to your cabin. It's not safe for you to be here by the lake."
"Awww is the prudish Dani showing concern for me?"
"You're right. What was I thinking? Consider it a temporary moment of insanity. Feel free to fall into the lake in a drunken stupor. It's not like you can get pregnant for being in its majestic waters anyway."
"That's the Dani I know!"
"Wrong. You don't know me at all."
Simon fell to the ground and laughed, a bitter sound, "That's right. I don't know you. I don't know anybody! I don't even know my wife."
Dani was too curious to walk away, "Of course you know your wife. Why would anyone marry a stranger?" She knew why but she wanted to hear him say it.
"For money."
"That can't be the only reason," Dani said, feeling the damp grass tickle her legs as she sat next to him.
"There's also sex," Simon whispered before giggling.
"So what's the problem? Is it because she's older? She talks about cassettes while you talk about mp3s?"
"She tricked me. She didn't tell me," Simon laughed, taking another swig from the whiskey bottle. He offered some to Dani who shook her head.
"What didn't she tell you?"
"That she...she was a murderer," a single tear sliding down his cheek glistened in the moonlight.
"Molly the murderer," Dani said. "It doesn't sound quite right."
"Molly the murderer. Molly the murderer!" Simon fell back in a peel of laughter. "And she did it for me. In the name of love. She wanted me all to herself."
"Who exactly did your wife murder?" Dani asked after he quieted down.
"My wife murdered my wife."
"I don't understand. How can Molly murder herself?"
Simon closed his eyes and let the bottle of whiskey fall from his hand. "Sarah...my wife. My first wife. Understand now? To have me, Molly murdered Sarah."
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