Day 4 of 9 Days

After my ordeal the previous day of trying to do business by cab, and eroding my cash advance more rapidly than I cared, I decided to face my mechanic with an ultimatum before getting a start in tracking down Wyatt. I crept out of bed and down the hall to the kitchen, where I used the phone to learn that my car had nearly died and was on life support.

No amount of complaining could reduce the price or speed up the recovery, so I bit the bullet and phoned for another rental to be delivered. It would be about an hour and a half, so much for an early start. Nora woke when I turned on the bathroom light, and I came back to bed, touching her in all the wrong places with delight.

"What are you doing?"

"Just making sure you're real."

"I'm pretty sure you know what parts are real by now, Mr."

"Mr." I said the word slowly and tucked a fist under my chin. "That's it exactly. I've missed 'er."

Nora's face softened and she reached for my hand. "I know. It's been one of those periods but things will be back to normal soon."

"By normal, you mean we can eat and talk together and stuff like that?"

"By all means... big fella."

"And by soon, you mean before retirement?"

"Much."

I glanced down at the smirk on her face, feeling sneaky fingers on my leg. An early start wasn't necessary.

●○●○●○●○●

Karen sat across the desk from Lawrence Bravo, her fingers seeking, and testing the bump on the side of her head. After the confrontation with Jarmon and the resulting lump, barely hidden by her hair, she had phoned Lawrence and told him what happened then hung up without waiting for his response. Now she had arrived at work to find a message summoning her to his office.

He looked at her but was really looking through her. He could not tolerate having to rely on others to achieve his goals, and this was turning into a perfect example of why.

"You've broken off with Jarmon? Is that what you're telling me?" He twisted a pencil with enough pressure to produce moisture. "Just exactly what does that mean? You were hir- ordered to seduce him. How does that develop into a situation where you 'break off'?"

"I'm sorry, I tried. I did." She smoothed her blouse nervously. "I didn't break off, I felt- I felt it wasn't working fast enough so I told him I wanted some kind of commitment, and he just- well he just got really violent. I threatened to tell Cynthia about us if he didn't ask for a divorce and he took off. Later we had another argument, he was very rough with me and I - I just reiterated my demand. That's when I called you."

Lawrence snapped the pencil in two, startling the both of them. He brushed the bits and pieces away and clasped his hands in a forced calm.

"Let me enlighten you to our little world of duplicity, Karen. Cynthia doesn't care if Jarmon is faithful or not. What she cares about, is that my father doesn't find out before the trust kicks in - at the end of this month."

He showed a pitying smile. "Cynthia knows about you and Jarmon. She probably always has."

Karen's mouth dropped and she frowned. A trust? This is all about collecting a trust! "But he wouldn't know that, would he?"

Lawrence waved an impatient hand. "Listen, I needed you to destroy the marriage before the month's end so that I could expose it to my father with proof. Now, it seems, your efforts have fallen far short of expectations. My daughter certainly won't raise any alarms, nor will her careless husband. I'll have to find another way."

"I didn't mean it to happen. I couldn't help it...why can't we just tell your father?" She sank back in the chair, sighing.

"Because without proof, it's just so much gossip. You have placed me in a very awkward situation, Karen, and I can only see one practical way out."

He moved back from his desk as though afraid of her reaction. "You've become a liability now that I can't afford. If my father discovers what you've been doing I might be in danger of any fallout," he said, "he will certainly take measures to see that you don't work in this field again."

She stared at him, the betrayal filling her chest with stinging heat. "You made me do it! You threatened my position here! I'll go to him! I'll tell him it was you! I'll tell him- I'll- I'll..."

"Tell him what you like. If he believes you, we all lose. If he doesn't, you'll be out anyway. I'm betting I know him better than you, Karen."

Bravo stood and came around the desk, taking her by the arm and helping her up. Confused, Karen let him lead her to the door. "See Trudy about a final cheque and have your desk cleared by day's end."

Karen gaped at him. "What! Are you- are you firing me? We had a deal!"

"I just explained to you, Karen, you're a liability I can no longer afford." Lawrence began closing his office door.

"You can't do this to me, you- you- you bastard! You'll pay for this, Mr. High and Mighty... just wait..." The door closed with finality and Karen heard the lock turn. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, and she fled the office for the washroom, raising the interest of several curious employees.

Calmed, cleaned up, and more determined, Karen left the washroom and went to her desk. Trudy approached timidly, holding out an envelope with Karen's separation cheque. "I'm so sorry, Karen. I can't believe Mr. Bravo just fired you like that. What did you do?"

"It's more like what I didn't do," she said, pleased to see her cryptic answer interpreted as something along the lines of harassment. She accepted the envelope and dropped it in her purse.