Jac Bell: Redux

Jack Bell sat quietly, seemingly lost in thought. This Mariah had gotten under his skin, but not, fortunately, into his heart. There was just something about her that made him uneasy, some quality that raised his hackles just a tiny bit. After a few more moments, he strode to the phone.

"Hello, may I speak with Hank Simmons? Tell him it's Jack Bell. Yes, I'll wait." He sat and drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair while waiting for Hank to come on the line.

"Hey buddy, how's it going," Hank boomed into the phone.

"Hi Hank. Look, are you busy and if not can you see me today in your office? I really need to speak with you."

Hank was silent for a moment. He seemed to recognize the gravity in Jack's voice. "Wait a second, Jack." Jack heard rustling sounds, and then Hank resumed.

"Jack, I'm clear after 2:00 p.m. Can you come in around then?"

"Great pal, I'll see you then," Jack rang off, putting the phone down quietly. He had to get his thoughts in order, and he knew that that wasn't going to be easy. Not easy articulating his unease and his concern.

At 2:00 p.m exactly Jack Bell strode into Hank's office. Hank rose to greet his old friend. "Have a seat, Jack. I suspect that this isn't quite a social call, is it?" Hank asked quietly.

"Not exactly, pal. Let me ask you something first. What do you really know about Mariah Cookson? Believe me, this isn't a rhetorical question. "

Hank looked at him steadily for a moment. He paused before speaking. "Well, I know that you've been banging her for over a month now, but I suspect that you want to know more than that," he replied.

Jack nodded. "The relationship hasn't been exactly a big secret, Hank. I know that you and Peggy are aware that we have, ah.....been screwing like rabbits."

Hank smiled, "That's why we introduced you to her. We felt that you needed a casual affair to get your mind off your recent problems. Mariah seemed just the gal to do that. Were we wrong, Jack? Let me tell you what we know about her, ok?

Jack nodded again and sat back to listen.

Hank continued, "She showed up here about 2 years ago. At least that's when her shop opened up. Small tidbits had begun to appear in the local paper about the shop opening and it wasn't long before many of the local ladies were chafing at the bit. It was reported that she would carry the latest fashions from Paris and New York and the shop opened with a bang. From what I understand she wasn't cash poor, she put down a bundle on that shop.

"That's how Peggy got to know her. It's not like Peg bought a ton of stuff from her, but they seemed to hit it off and became a bit friendly socially. That's why we thought of her when you moved here. Now tell me, what's going on? Why the third degree?"

"Hank," Jack began. "I really can't give you chapter and verse about what I feel, it's just a very uneasy feeling. She's been all over me like a cheap suit. It's gotten so that I try to take a drive alone just to avoid her, It's a little suffocating, I guess. She insisted that I look over her books, even though I tried to beg off."

Hank interrupted. "She wanted you to examine her books?? Why, for God's sake?" He seemed flabbergasted.

"Yeah, I felt the same way. Anyway, I gave in and did just that."

"Did you find anything out of the ordinary? Were her books ok? Any irregularities?" Hank pressed.

"Not one thing wrong, not one irregularity. Every T was crossed and every I was dotted. Her books were absolutely perfect. That's what raised my eyebrows. I've never seen a set of books that good. They actually looked sanitized. I've no proof of course, but I feel certain that they were dummy books, she has the real one hidden somewhere,"

Hank had a puzzled look on his face. "But why?? Why is she going to all this trouble? There's got to be something cooking."

Jack bit his lower lip absently before replying. "Yeah, there is something going on and I think I know what it is. Look Hank, this is just between you and me, but I want to retain you as my legal counsel and here's what I want you to do first. Get a handle on this Mariah Cookson. Check into her background.. Find out where she came from - and anything else you can come up with in the next couple of days."

Hank made some notes and then asked, "Jack, tell me what you're thinking. I don't want to go into this blind. You have something in mind and you need to share it with me - not only as your counsel, but also as your friend."

Jack decided to level with his friend. "Hank, this broad's been coming on to me like gangbusters and I know it isn't my boyish charm that's got her all excited. This is the way I'm figuring it. She knows that I'm not exactly poor. She's been talking up this new venture of hers in Philly and I think that she really wants me to invest in it. She thought that I would be impressed with her books and after examining them, I'm even more suspicious of her motives."

Hank sat there with a rapt expression on his face. He grinned at Jack and chuckled. "She sure doesn't know who she's fucking with. Anything else you want me to do?"

"Let me get you up to date, Hank. The guy running things at my old company has been on the phone with me a few times already. It seems that they're having trouble with a couple of my old clients. I told him that they needed hand holding, but he's nervous and is pleading with me to fly in and smooth things over. After thinking it over, I decided to do just that. I'm not that interested in solving his problems, but I am getting bored, and this could be a break. Now here's where it could get interesting, old buddy.

"When I tell Mariah that I'm flying into Philly for a few days, she going to flip, if I read her right. She'll want to come with me, maybe meet this person who wants to invest in her boutique, and then talk me into coming up with a chunk of dough. I smell a scam and if I'm right, this isn't the first time she's been involved in something like this. Also, I wonder where she got the bucks to open her present place here. So there's where it stands. If you can get some information on her before I leave, it could come in very handy," Jack concluded.

Hank finished jotting down a few more notes and looked up and grinned again. "Consider it done. I'll give you a call in a couple of days. Also, make sure that you let me know when you're leaving and where I can get in touch with you."

"You have my cell number. I'll be staying in center city, within walking distance of my old offices. I'll call you and get you the number of the hotel and of my suite."

With that they both stood and shook hands. Hank put his arm about Jack's shoulder and asked quietly, "Jack, are you going to see Karen while you're there?"

Jack felt himself choke up suddenly. Karen had been on his mind lately and he had conflicted feelings concerning his ex-wife. He did realize that his heart ached every time she came to mind.

"I don't know......I just don't know, Hank."

***********************

Mariah Cookson strode to the phone and quickly punched in a long distance number.

"Hello, Frank. This is........"

"Hey Marge, how are things going? Got the sucker corralled yet?" "

"Damn it, Frank. Mariah, Mariah, NOT Marge. Why can't you get that into that thick skull of yours. You have to call me Mariah," she hissed.

"Ok, Ok, Ok, Mariah. I'll remember, don't get your tits in an uproar." Frank complained. "Anyway, how's it going out there?"

Mariah calmed down, "Nicely Frank, and things are moving better than I had anticipated. Guess what? We're flying into Philly. He has some business with his old firm and I'm going with him. I insisted on separate rooms, I don't want to crowd him or get him suspicious. I'll introduce him to you as my business associate and potential investor. We'll discuss it in more detail when I see you, but I think we can put the bite on him for about a quarter of a million at least. "

Frank Kemp laughed into the phone. "Jeez,, you are something. I thought it would take at least another month or two. You must have this guy eating out of your hand. Ok, you're coming in, what do you want me to do?"

Mariah thought for a moment, "Ok, Frank. Let's run it like we did last time. Get hold of a half way decent public relations firm and let's get started slipping items into the local papers. You know, little hints about a really exclusive boutique opening up in center city. Let's get those main line matrons' juices flowing a little. They're always looking for new things."

Frank interrupted, "Hey, I think I've got the firm for us. They're right in town and not far from my office. They're a marketing outfit and they have a fairly decent PR division. I'll call and make an appointment."

"Ok, Frank. You take care of that end. I'm going to have my hands full with Jack. I'll call you when we get into town." *********************

Frank Kemp walked confidently into Carl Rollins office and introduced himself. "Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Rollins. You have my card and you can see that I'm a CPA with offices not far from here."

Carl Rollins looked Frank Kemp over. He saw a tall, good looking guy in his 40s he would guess. He noticed a certain coarseness in him, but decided to listen to his spiel.

"Have a seat, Mr. Kemp. Tell me what I can do for you."

"Here's the deal, Carl. It's ok to call you Carl?"

Rollins nodded his head, but cringed a bit inside. "Oh boy, what a schmuck" he thought.

"Ok, Carl. I represent a group of investors who will probably be opening up a really exclusive and expensive woman's boutique here in town. I don't really want to get too much information out there right now, but I do want to tickle the ears of our potential clientele You know what I mean? A few tidbits in a few papers just hinting at something new coming. I know that this is small peanuts now, but it will get much bigger later on. Now, can you take care of my needs?"

Rollins breathed a sigh of relief. This will be easy and he thanked the gods that he wouldn't have to deal with this creep.

"Know just what you're talking about, Frank. We have an excellent PR section and I know just the person who can help you. She is stylish and smart and would be perfect to begin a program such as you've outlined. In fact, you're in luck, Karen just completed a successful campaign for a group of high end shoe stores. She would be perfect for this. Let's see what her schedule is and we can call you and set up a time so that the two of you can meet to discuss your needs."

************************

Jack and Mariah settled themselves in their seats in the first class cabin of the large jet. Mariah insisted upon the aisle seat; it would be easier for her to use the ladies's room. Jack nodded and shrugged. They were taking an early morning flight out of LAX and he hoped that he would be able to get some shut eye during the flight. Plus, he wanted to mull over the information he received from Hank the evening before. His thoughts went back to that telephone conversation.

"Jack, I don't have a lot yet, but what I do have is rather interesting. Ok, just sit back and listen. First of all her name isn't Mariah." Hank chuckled, "How about that, what a moniker. Her real name is Margaret Schuller and she was born in South Philly. She's been married three times, the last to an attorney in Philly by the name of Jerry Cookson. It seems that he was a widower and, I'm guessing, she got him when he was vulnerable,. Anyway, that union lasted only about 2 years before he filed for divorce. She managed to get a chunk of cash from him and it appears that that's what she used to open her shop here on the coast. I'm going to keep digging and when I get more I'll call you in Philly."

The information that Hank Simmons managed to collect in a short time didn't shock Jack. It only reinforced what he suspected all along. Still, it would be interesting to see how she would proceed with her plan.

"Shit," he thought. "I really must be getting bored with my life. I should just tell her to take a flying leap. Why do I continue to play with her? Maybe it's just curiosity, just to see how she plays this out. Well, I can always burn her ass. The further she takes this, the harder her fall will be." Jack shook his head, wondering why people play the games that they do.

Mariah snuggled into his shoulder and bubbled about her plans for the new boutique, not noticing the contempt on Jack's face. She suggested that they have dinner in the hotel's dining room, and, perhaps, they could have a nice bottle of white wine sent to his suite. Her attempt at coyness was not too successful. ***********************

Sara Cookson stood before the large wall of plate glass and gazed at the blazing lights of the city beneath her. The apartment that she and Jerry bought still left her breathless with its spacious size and luxurious appointments. In fact, the past year was a breathless one, filled with major events.

She had finally decided to divorce Jim Belsen, the marriage had been faltering for some time, she had realized. Then meeting Jerry as she had and the whirlwind courtship. More than once her cautious nature attempted to reassert itself, but the love and attraction that she felt for this man seemed to overwhelm her senses. Fortunately, Jerry had proved to be a compassionate, kind and thoughtful lover. She knew then, as she knew now, that agreeing to marry him was one of the wisest decisions she had ever made.

"Sara, I'm home," he bellowed boisterously as he closed the door behind him. Taking her in his arms he kissed her tenderly. "It seems that I just can't wait to leave the office to get home now, knowing that you're here waiting for me. Thank you for loving me, Mrs. Cookson."

Sara smiled, looking up at him affectionately. "You're welcome, Mr. Cookson. Let's just thank each other and consider ourselves very lucky."

"I'll drink to that, and speaking of drinking, let's not forget that we have reservations at the Rittenhouse for dinner,. Let me wash up a bit, and then we can leave." he said as he headed for the bedroom.

It wasn't too much later that evening that Sara and Jerry were ensconced in an intimate booth in the lounge of the hotel, mixed drinks in front of them. Jerry was in an expansive mood and was regaling Sara with the latest legal gossip going around town.

In an instant, his demeanor changed. Sara saw him pale and his face tightened and eyes narrowed. Sara become instantly concerned and placed her hand on his.

"Son-of-a-bitch," he muttered. "Godamnit, she's like a nightmare that won't go away." He returned Sara's grip and squeezed gently. "I'm sorry that I startled you, honey. It seems that my ex-wife just walked in the door. She's standing by the entrance to the dining room with some guy."

Sara followed his gaze and gasped. She did not recognize Mariah, but she did recognize Jack Bell. She knew the entire story of Mariah and Jerry's experience with this woman. She recognized her as a predator and immediately worried why Jack Bell would be with this type of woman. Jack was no fool, why would he take up with someone like her?

Sara made up her mind quickly. "Jerry, that's Jack Bell with your ex. You remember him. We're obviously not going to be dining here tonight, but before we leave I have to find out if he's staying here at the hotel. I thought that he had moved out of town. I think that we have to have a conversation with him and soon."

"What do you intend to do," queried Jerry anxiously.

"Just wait for me outside, don't let her see you. I promise that I won't be long," she reassured him.

Not waiting for him to comply, Sara strode across the lobby and into the dining room. She quickly located the couple and approached them.

"Hello Jack, it's been awhile. How have you been?" asked Sara.

Jack looked up, startled, and then smiled broadly. "Sara, it's so nice to see you." Remembering his manners, he turned and introduced her to Mariah. "Sara, this is Mariah Cookson, Mariah, Sara is an old friend that I haven't seen in quite awhile.

Sara looked her over cooly and noticed the woman's eyes narrow. They seemed to understand each other, and they acknowledged the introduction.

Sara then turned to Jack, "Is this just a visit, Jack, or are you thinking of moving back?"

"No, no. Just a brief visit, "Jack said hurriedly. "I have a suite here at the hotel until my business is over, and then I will probably be headed back to the coast."

Sara heard enough. "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Jack. Take care of yourself," and then without glancing at Mariah, she turned and walked out of the room. Moving through the front entrance, she saw Jerry waiting a few steps away. He moved toward her.

"Sara, what the hell........." but was interrupted by Sara's fingers against his lips.

"Shhhh Jerry. I found out that Jack is staying at the hotel. We will call him later and arrange a meeting. He must be told about her. I would feel terrible if she got her claws into him."

**************************

Jack leaned against the inside of the door of his suite and breathed a sigh of relief. He had feigned an upset stomach and was able to make it an early evening, telling Mariah he would see her in the morning. She was very anxious for him to meet her "investor."

The phone shrilled and Jack was surprised to hear that it was Sara. "Sara, this is a surprise. I........."

"Jack, Jerry and I really need to come up and speak with you. I know it's late, but I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. It won't take long, Jack."

Jack hesitated only briefly. "Sure Sara, come on up," and he gave her his suite number.

Five minutes later Sara and Jerry knocked on the door and were admitted. After the usual hellos, etc. they made themselves comfortable and Sara began.

"Jack, I hope that you don't get upset with us, but I think the best way to start this conversation is for Jerry to tell you his story about his ex-wife. "

Jerry cleared his throat and then spent the next 15 minutes giving Jack a fairly descriptive run-down about Mariah, from her blatant adultery to her attempted scam of a couple of his close friends, including her attempt to involve him in the con. He informed Jack that she was lucky that felony charges were not brought against her. He then explained that the reason that this story is being told to him is that the woman he was having dinner with was in fact, his ex-wife.

Sara looked at Jack anxiously, expecting some kind of emotional reaction. She did not expect that he would just nod and smile warmly at her.

"Jerry, Sara," began Jack. "I really do appreciate your concern about my welfare and your warning about the possible danger facing me. I do have to tell you that I'm quite aware of your ex-wife's motives and expect to see to it that she is going to be very sorry that she ever met me. I suspected that she has a scam going which includes conning me out of a significant chunk of cash. She will be shocked to discover that I'm not the patsy she thinks I am."

Sara and Jerry breathed a collective sigh of relief. Jack chucked a bit and then arose and poured them glasses of a good red wine.

"I hope that the two of you don't have to run. It's nice seeing you again and, Sara, I'll tell you again how happy I am how things turned out for you." Jack turned to Jerry, "Jerry, you do realize what an angel you have here."

Jerry smiled proudly and replied, "Jack, that's something of which I am very much aware and I intend to spend the rest of my life making her happy."

Sara blushed and murmured, "Ok, that's enough of that. You're embarrassing me." Turning to Jack, she hesitated and then said, "Jack, are you going to see Karen while you're in town? I don't mean to open old wounds, but I still feel so terrible about what happened." Jack turned to her stunned. "You feel terrible??? I should imagine that you would understand why I did what I did, Sara. That little "incident" led to your divorce also."