A hard boiled detective genre story.
The storm broke on the city just as the night closed in, enveloping it in a wet, velvet darkness. The rain beat against my office window washing off some of the city's grit and grime. The city's sins ran down the window in narrow rivulets.
I was alone in my office. Feet crossed and resting on my desktop as I sipped at my coffee contemplating my next step to keep the wolf from the door. The door had a pebbled glass window with a painted name plate which read, "T. Griggs P.I." It could have read "Thomas Griggs Private Investigator" however the sign painter charged by the letter and business was down.
Our wise legislators brought in no "fault divorce" which easily wrecked half of the P. I. business.
As I continued my thoughts the door buzzer sounded. I checked the feed from the camera over the door and saw that it was a gentleman, tall, well dressed with a face I thought looked familiar but I couldn't remember where. I buzzed him in.
"I am Thomas Griggs, how can I help you?"
I stood to greet him and we shook hands. Strong grip but not crushing. He was not just well dressed, he was immaculately dressed. His overcoat was probably worth what I grossed in a quarter.
"I am Brad Seymour, Seymour Industries. V.P. And General Manager. I have an opportunity to discuss with you."
"Well, have a seat and let's talk. Can I get you a coffee or a water?" I asked as a hospitable host.
"No, I have a short amount of time tonight and it is best I get right to it. To put it succinctly Mr. Griggs I would like you to seduce my wife."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me right. I want you to seduce my wife."
" Mr. Seymour the escort service is on the 3rd floor, this is the 2nd floor." Seymour didn't seem to appreciate my sense of humour.
"Let me draw you a clearer picture. My wife and I were sharing an intimate moment one night. I playfully asked her if she had ever wanted to sleep with another person. She was indignant that I would even think she would want to be unfaithful. I asked if she had ever been tempted. She said absolutely not. Never propositioned, never seduced. If there has been no temptation to sin then where is the virtue?"
He paused. I wasn't sure if it was a rhetorical question. He continued, "I want her virtue tested."
"Mr. Seymour, Brad, look at my nose. I am a fighter not a lover. I have a terrible history of failed relationships. I am no Don Juan. I am serious, the escort agency can supply a willing lothario for you who is much more skilled."
" Thomas you are ideal because you are exactly Mary's type. She had a boyfriend back in school and he looks a lot like you might have at that age, he looks like a big man and a brawler."
"Thomas, what is your weekly rate?"
"Look, I don't want this job but fyi a week would be $2500 plus expenses." Ok I padded the price a bit.
"Thomas, I will double it"
"Come on Brad, this so far out of the question."
"I will triple it plus I will pay you for a month up front."
Shit, now he was talking real money and I had bills to pay and debts to settle.
"Tell me about your wife then"
Brad Seymour left me a dossier on his wife. She was an only child from a middle class family. She and Brad met when they were both 20 years old and married at 21. they were both 30 now. In their wedding photo she looked very attractive, small almost elven. She had married up that was for sure. She was well educated with a masters degree in philosophy and occupied herself in several charitable organizations. Most recent project for her was the local food bank. That seemed the best place to meet her.
Seeing her in person at the food bank put the photo to shame. She had matured from merely attractive to drop dead gorgeous. She was no longer elven thin. she had curves that she didn't have back then.
I was put to work unloading trucks that brought supplies in for sorting. About an hour into it she came to me.
" You are new here. Hello my name is Mary."She held out her hand to shake.
"Thomas, pleased to meet you." I gave her my 100 watt smile and she smiled back, giving me that funny feeling you get in the pit of your stomach, someone once said that was common sense leaving.
"Glad to have you aboard. We need muscle to unload all this stuff and you look perfect for the job. Let's work together and get this truck unloaded, we have a couple more waiting."
We worked and chatted till noon. I asked if she would like to grab lunch together. She respectfully declined.
"I don't really know you that well and it could be misinterpreted. Besides I bring my own lunch."
"Great idea, I will have to remember that. Maybe tomorrow I will bring mine too."
After a lunch break we got back to work sorting. She told me about her husband and how he was always so busy. She loved doing her charity work.
"So Thomas, what do you do for a living?"
Decision time, do I tell the truth and maybe make her suspicious or lie and maybe get caught up in the lie and screw up the job.
"I own a small private investigation agency. I am the sole employee."
"How fascinating. What kind of jobs do you get?"
"It used to be divorce work but times have changed. A lot of finding people, chasing down deadbeat dads, some insurance work."
"It is great to see the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well!"
As the day ended I told her I had a job to do tomorrow but I would be back the next day.
