Editor's note: this story contains scenes of non-consensual or reluctant sex.
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When we left Paul, he had just left his wife after discovering she was doing online porn. Outside the apartment building he encountered Dave, her partner in porn, and caved in the back of the his head with a tire iron. As we pick up the story, he has just driven away from the scene of the crime after shoving the body behind a dumpster.
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I drove two blocks and had to pull over. I was overwhelmed. After sitting for a minute by the side of the busy street I realized I needed to pull off onto a side street to collect myself. I mustered my composure enough to drive up to the next corner and pull around. Luckily there was a parking place I could easily pull into. I turned off the engine, rolled down the window to let in fresh air, and leaned forward, resting my forehead on the top of the steering wheel.
Too much had happened too quickly. My dear Ginger had blown up my marriage. I had killed a man. I was about half drunk. It was 1 a.m. and I was exhausted. I had nowhere to go and no reason to go there. The police might soon be after me. I needed a plan.
I stuck my head out the window and took deep breaths. It was cold, but the fresh air started to clear my head. Two more deep breaths. I realized there was a chance. I knew from my service on the apartment building Tenants Association that the security cameras in the parking lot were not working. It had been a big issue at the last meeting, but the company that was supposed to fix them had not yet shown up.
Two more deep breaths out the window and I had a plan. I called Ginger. She picked up instantly - she must have been holding her phone. "Paul, where are you? Where did you go? I think something has happened to David. When are you coming home? I'm beside myself with worry about both of you."
"Ginger, listen carefully. I'm in trouble. I need your help."
"At this hour? What can I do? Did you see David in the parking lot? He was coming home just about the time you left."
"Forget him for now," I said, as calmly as I could. "I need you to help me, your actual husband. Will you do that?"
"What do you need?" she asked, quietly.
"I need you to put on dark clothes and your black hoodie. I need you to bring me my black sweatsuit with the hood. And in the bottom of my closet is that ratty old blanket that you hate. Bring it."
"Paul, you are scaring me, what's going on? Did you do something to David?"
"Listen, Ginger. Right now I don't have time for explanations. I will be parked around the corner on Elm Street. Come out the back door of the building and walk down the alley toward Elm. I'll meet you there. And Ginger, leave your phone at home."
"Paul, what's going on? I don't know what to do. I'm so worried about David. We were on the phone and he was coming home and then everything went dead."
"Ginger, please. If you ever loved me, please just do as I have said. Change clothes, leave your phone, and meet me down the alley. I will explain everything to you, I promise. And bring me a bottle of water."
We ended the call, and I started the car. I looked around and did not see any movement or activity. A dog barked in the distance, but he wasn't barking at me.
I pulled away from the curb and drove the two blocks back to our building. I parked around the corner and turned off the lights. I grabbed a couple of masks from the box I kept in the car, and two pairs of gloves. I walked to the alley and waited by a large bush that provided a little cover. After about seven minutes I saw Ginger approaching. She was dressed as I had instructed, and had clothes for me over her arm. As she drew close I stepped out from the shadows. I could tell she was crying. I could tell by the way she walked that she was sore between the legs. It had been a rough night for her, too, and she had no idea how much rougher it was going to get.
"Thank you, Ginger. Thank you for helping me," I said. She sniffled and handed me the sweat suit she had brought. I slipped bottoms and top on over my clothes, and took the blanket she had folded over her other arm. I reached for the bottle of water and chugged it. I took her by the hand and looked into her eyes.
"Ginger, I need you walk with me and I need you to be strong. A terrible thing has happened. No matter what happens, no matter what you see, you must not scream or cry out. Everything depends on not being seen or heard. Can you do that?"
She stopped. She looked at me with terror in her eyes. "You hurt him didn't you? Is he okay? Should I call an ambulance?"
I took her arm and tried to coax her forward. "Let's just get through this, and then we'll see what to do next," I said. I handed her a mask and gloves and had her put them on.
She hesitated for another moment, then let me lead her down the alley toward the parking lot and the dumpster. She spotted Dave's car as soon as we walked into the lot. "He did make it home. Is he in the car?" She rushed over and looked through the driver's window.
"He's not there. Where is he, Paul?"
I looked toward the dumpster and nodded. She started to run, but I grabbed her by the arm. "Slowly, Sweetheart. Walk with me. Take my arm."
She put her hand through my arm and we walked over to where I had shoved Dave's body behind the dumpster. I had her stand back and I grabbed his feet and pulled him out.
She gasped when she saw him and fell to her knees, hands over her face, crying. The back of his head was a bloody mess. His eyes stared blankly, with a surprised look. She rocked back and forth a couple of times, sobbing. Then she surprised me. She stopped rocking. She took a deep breath, then stood up. She pulled down her mask and wiped her eyes and her nose on her sleeve, then looked me in the eye. "Tell me what happened. Tell me everything or I walk back into the apartment and call the police. I might do that anyway, but tell me first. Did he start something? Did he have a gun?"
I led her over to a car parked nearby, and had her lean against the fender. I started slowly and deliberately, trying to keep emotion out of it. Which, frankly, was not difficult because I was drained.
"Tonight when I discovered on the computer what you were doing with him, I was devastated. I was very upset. You saw that. I tried to keep my cool as long as I was in the apartment because I did not want to hurt you and I did not have it in me to have a big scene. Plus, I realized that I'd had a lot to drink, and my judgment was probably impaired. I just wanted to get out of there.