["Retribution: deserved punishment for evil done." That's what this story is about. Opinions may vary about the punishment fitting the crime. In the original story many people thought the punishment was too harsh. Some thought it "over the top but good." I listen. Here is a different take on the same situation. Your comments and votes are encouraged.]
It didn't make the newspapers. It wasn't the subject of Oprah's show, or Maury's. But, in case you didn't notice it either, my world started to blow up on the tenth of February last year.
On that date, a Saturday, I picked up the mail and took it home. We live in a rural community where all mail is picked up at the post office. When I got home I sat at my desk and opened the bills, wrote checks and balanced our check book. Usually, Julia, my wife, does this chore. She said it made her feel rich. She was at her sister's for their monthly three day visit and I decided to take care of that chore for us.
The Visa bill seemed a bit high so I scanned the charges to see what we had bought that I forgot about. The only charge that seemed strange was for a hotel room in the city where Julia's sister lives. Her sister and husband live in a big four bedroom house in Salinas California. They have no kids. One of the bedrooms is set up as a guest room. It just didn't make sense that Julia needed to stay in a hotel.
I looked back through the bills and saw that every other month for a year the room charge had been on the bill. I called the hotel. I said I noticed the charge on my bill and needed to verify some information from their records. They told me their records showed me in room 1228, just like always. Checking in late, 8:45pm and checking out automatically the next afternoon. I thanked them and hung up.
Why would she stay in a hotel? Why would she register under my name? Why would she not mention that she was spending nearly two hundred dollars to stay in a hotel? That was over a thousand dollars! Why a nice hotel when a cheaper place would still give her a bed, if she was spending most of her time with her sister?
I took myself to dinner at our neighborhood sports bar and grill. I know there was a game on the big screen but I couldn't tell you who was playing or who won. I left at nine and called Maureen's house. Maureen is Julia's sister. When she answered I asked to speak to Julia. Maureen said she was in the bathroom and would call me back in a few minutes.
Ten minutes later my phone rang. The caller ID said it was Julia's cell phone. I answered.
"Hi Honey. Sorry I was in the bathroom when you called. How are things?"
"Pretty good. I just wanted to call and see how things are with you and Maureen."
"Things are great. We're going shopping tomorrow."
"Well, don't spend us into the poorhouse. Really, I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you."
"Oh, you're sweet. I miss you too."
"Sleep well. I'll see you on Sunday night."
"You too. Good-night, I-love-you."
"Right back atcha."
The call didn't feel right. Why would she call back on her cell? Roaming minutes were expensive. Something was up. I called my boss at home and let him know I had a family emergency and would do my best to be back for work on Monday, but no promises. He said if I wasn't there he'd put me out on personal leave for a couple days and then on vacation. I said that at a minimum I'd call him on Monday.
Half an hour later I was on the road to Salinas.
As I drove I thought about what might be going on. Either there weren't many possibilities or I'm dense. The only scenario I could think of was that she was seeing someone in the hotel. Seeing, as in screwing.
That would explain the new clothes she bought in Salinas. That would explain the return call by cell. That would explain why she wasn't at Maureen's.
The rest of the trip I was in my head about "What if." What if she was having an affair? What would I do? What if she's been seeing someone for a year? Can I forgive that? What if it isn't one guy, but more? Could I live with that level of betrayal? Is fucking one guy for a year worse than fucking six different guys in a year?
Four and a half hours later I was in Salinas. I drove to the hotel where she had stayed over the last year on a regular basis. I found her car in the lot. Since I carry a spare key for her car in mine, and she carries one for my car in hers, I opened her car and took a look around. I found nothing incriminating.
Remembering a truck stop not far from the hotel, I went there and bought a blanket, some snacks and an alarm clock. Back at the hotel, I parked where I could see the doors out of the hotel and her car. I always carry binoculars in my car and they allowed me to be out of sight while still watching. I got comfortable and set the alarm for five-thirty.
At five-thirty I heard the alarm, opened the car windows to let the cold air wake me up and clear the windows. I ate some of the junk I bought the night before and wished for coffee. For over an hour I watched the front doors of the hotel and then I saw Julia walk out. She wasn't alone. The man with her had his arm around her waist. He carried two bags. One was a bag Julia usually carried gym clothes in. He walked her to her car. He put her bag in the trunk and then they kissed standing beside her car. It was not the kiss of good friends. It was the kiss of lovers.
I wanted to rush to them and kill them both! My wife was spending nights in a hotel with him! I gripped the steering wheel tight enough my hands hurt. I didn't kill them. I watched as she got in her car and left. He walked to a black Mercedes sedan and got in. I got the license number and then I followed him. He drove to a business building. The sign above the windows said, "Carl Tinker Realty." The picture painted on the front window was of the man who just left Julia. I had a name to go with the face. I wrote the phone number from the building down and drove to Maureen's home.
As I arrived I saw Mike, Maureen's husband, pulling out of their driveway. I followed him. He drove to the print shop he owned. I watched him unlock the door and go inside. The sign on the door said they didn't open for an hour. I parked and walked to the door. I opened it and he looked up to see who might be coming in at the early hour. The color drained from his face when he saw me.
"Mike, I need to talk to you."
"I don't know what I can tell you."
"Tell me where my wife was last night? Start there."
"She was with us until after dinner and then she said she wanted to go for a drive to think. She was gone all night."
"And she goes for a drive to think how often?"
"It has happened before."
"Mike, you know where she was and where she's been one night of every visit up here for over a year. You helped my wife cheat on me!"
"I thought she was up to no good, but I never knew what she was doing. What could I say?"
"A phone call, tipping me off, might have helped."
"But I didn't know, for sure."
"Would you want a call from me if Maureen was driving down to spend time with us and took off for a whole night?"
"Yeah." He looked sheepish and ashamed.
"Mike, you have one shot at not being part of the retribution that is about to happen. You have kept quiet for a year. Keep quiet a little longer. Think about what the worst thing that could happen if you talk. What is possible will be worse than you imagine, if you talk. All you need to do is stay quiet for a few weeks. Are we clear?"
"If I stay quiet, we didn't talk, you weren't here, and nothing will happen to me. Right?"
"When the shit hits the fan you can even act surprised."
"Deal!"
"Now, tell me what you know about Carl Tinker."
"An arrogant asshole. Owns a fair sized realty company and acts like everyone owes him. I did three jobs for him a few months back and he took months to pay for them. I only work for him now, if he pays up front."
"Is he married?"
"Yes. A trophy wife and two kids."
"I need her home phone number and name. Send them to my email address. Ok?"
"Is he...?"
"Yup." I turned and walked out. A few minutes later I was making a final pass past Maureen's home when I saw both women getting into Maureen's car. I followed them and was surprised when they stopped at the Planned Parenthood building. They were inside for almost an hour and when they came out Julia was crying.
Julia was pregnant! Or, maybe she just found out she has a sexually transmitted disease! Either way a bad situation just got worse. If it was an STD then Mr. Tinker had it too.
The drive home was filled with thoughts of "Now that you know..." Now that you know she has been fucking Carl Tinker what will you do? Those thoughts were mixed with the "What if" thoughts. What if he's not the only one? What if she decides to keep the baby? California law doesn't care that I'm sterile, I'm the Dad! If I divorce her, I pay child support on a kid that isn't mine for eighteen years! I had been fixed when I was eighteen. My family history of genetic problems wasn't something I wanted to pass on. I told Julia all about it before we got married.
If she had an STD or worse HIV, then my life was at risk. All I had to do was fuck my own wife and maybe get a death sentence. Maybe I already had fucked my diseased slut wife! There was no maybe! She'd been fucking him for over a year!
By the time I got home I had the beginnings of a plan. I spent the rest of the day planning and contacting people I knew. A friend came over and installed a phone monitor on our phone. It recorded all calls that used our phone. I hired a PI to gather evidence locally. Maybe she was willing to cuckold me right here in town. I stopped by our doctor's office and had him test me for everything I might get if Julia was sexually active. I swore him to secrecy until the results came back.
At eight Sunday evening I heard the garage open. Julia was home. I went to the kitchen and got a glass of water. As she came through the door I made believe I took some pills.
"Pete, are you Ok?"
"I don't feel too good. It might be a flu. Couple of the people at work got it."
"Maybe you better go to bed and see if a good night's rest will help."
"Maybe I should sleep in the guest room so we don't risk you getting sick."
"I'll miss you, but I think you're right. Let me get it ready for you." She went into the guest room and did whatever it is that women do to get a bedroom ready to sleep in.
Sleeping without her wasn't fun, but I couldn't picture me getting hard for her when I knew some other dick had been in her the night before and there was a risk to my life. I did get a fair night sleep when I finally went to sleep. I had a dream of standing trial for murdering both of them.
