The order of my stories to read is:
Todd & Melina series, Interludes 1-5, Sperm Wars series, Russian Roulette series, Case of the Murdered Lovers series, Case of the Murdered Chessplayer series, Case of the Executed Evangelist series.
The Swap series.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 11 - Springing The Surprise
"The ink is dry."
As I drove home after the afternoon conference with the Chief, I remembered that text message. I had received it from Jeanine Olivet, Esq., my lovely divorce lawyer, nearly two weeks before. The message was telling me that my divorce from Melina had been finalized, and that moment was the first time it really hit me that I was a single man again.
But not for long, I thought to myself as I read the text, and then slipped the wedding ring off my finger. It resisted my efforts to pull it off... nearly 10 years is a long time, I thought. I didn't know why I'd not taken the ring off already; Melina had taken hers off, and her wedding band now adorned the middle toe of her right foot. Nope, no idea why she chose to do that.
I recall how that day I had made a phone call to Elsie Gringer. She was Bettina Wurtzburg's aunt, and she was the social queen of the Jet-Set in this Town. Her official business was catering, and she had the best wedding arrangement business in the State. She also wrote the gossip and Society columns in the local paper and the paper's online site. And she was a good friend of Laura Fredricson.
And the only way I could get her to keep the party I wanted to throw a secret... was to have Elsie arrange it herself. Quite the racket Elsie had going, there...
The day was finally here, and Chief Griswold had moved the conference up an hour so that we could go get ready for the party, which would be tonight at the River Valley Country Club... yes, where the murder of Anthony Warner had occurred just the night before.
Part 12 - At First Sight
The well-toned, platinum-blonde policewoman made her way up the stairs just as a couple came out of her co-owner's office. It was Thursday, just hours before the Schelle and Warner murders were committed, but she could not know that. She was looking forward to a good, hard workout.
Entering the small space, she said "How's it going, Melina?"
Melina was looking gorgeous today, Cindy Ross noted. Melina's raven black hair was pulled back away from her face and into a tight bun, as usual. Her cheeks were rosy, probably from the pregnancy, Cindy thought. She still looked trim and fit in her tight-fitting gym clothes, only the beginnings of a paunch replacing her tight abs giving away the secret that she was carrying a baby. She had the aura, Cindy thought.
"Great!" Melina replied. "Just signed up another couple. Cal and Drusilla Romano."
"Good." Cindy said. "you're really kicking ass."
"You've been doing well for us, also. So how are things going with Britt?" Melina asked Cindy as the blonde sat down in a chair at the side of the desk.
"Good." Cindy replied. "We're talking about getting an apartment together."
"Ooooo... so is she 'the one'?" Melina asked mischievously.
"No, I don't think so." Cindy said. "We're more like 'friends with benefits', and we're sharing an apartment for more practical reasons, such as cutting down expenses."
Cindy then added "But I don't think she's 'the one'. She definitely likes men, too, and tries to drag your ex-hubby into bed whenever she can."
Melina smiled, a tight, brief smile. "Laura has been researching Dr. Robin Baker's book
Sperm Wars
. In the book, he claims that 80% of homosexuals are actually bisexual, and that particularly holds for women. He says that a woman will often break off a relationship with another woman because she's starting one with a man. Laura thinks that claim is pretty accurate from the data she's getting."
"I'm definitely one of the 20%." Cindy replied.
"That's the men's loss. Have you ever been with a man?" Melina asked, sensing the time was right to ask such a personal question.
"Oh yeah, when I was in high school." Cindy said. "I did it because it was what was done. Slept with a couple of guys. They were okay guys, but it just didn't feel right when they were touching me or kissing me, and I didn't get much out of the sex. Don't get me wrong, they didn't force themselves on me or anything, but I didn't like it."
"I thought something was wrong with me," Cindy continued, "but then this drop-dead gorgeous Pakistani girl kissed me on the mouth at a party... and I just thought 'Oh my God -- I'm home!' She took me home that night, and after I ate her pussy I never looked back."
Melina had become introspective as Cindy talked. "What's the matter?" Cindy asked.
"Oh... nothing." Melina replied, breaking out of her reverie. "I was just wondering if I would ever find my true love, my soulmate."
"Any regrets on divorcing Don?"
"No... Don's a good guy and I loved him, still do in many ways... but like you said about the guys you were with, things weren't
right
any more. And he won't admit it, but once he laid eyes on Laura, I think he was gone... head-over-heels in love with her. Every time I saw them together, I could tell they were true soulmates."