I tossed through a pitiful sleep, my dreams haunted by my impending reality. The dream began with a tremendous thunderstorm rolling in, the clouds looked menacing and there were hundreds of lightning strikes and the claps of thunder were deafening. Without warning I watched as a powerful tornado formed from the storm clouds and destroyed everything in its path.
In the swirling cloud of doom and destruction, I saw the faces of Marie Duval, Jameson Kenner, Derek Kolinsky, and Mallory wreaking havoc and spinning menacingly toward me and my kids yet I was paralyzed, unable to save them or myself. I woke in a cold sweat, looking to find Bobby and Jena only to see they were sleeping peacefully in the bed next to me.
I showered before waking them and I got them up and dressed so we could get going. We went to the pancake house for breakfast and then we started the two hour drive home. This time Bobby and Jena were watching Frozen and I pondered exactly what tomorrow will bring.
I arrived home on Monday mid-morning. There was no sign that Mallory had been home though she should have been home last night since the spa day was two nights and two days. She had today off which was scheduled due to our trip to the water park. I could feel the anger surging through me as I wondered, "Where in the hell is she?"
I gave Helga a call and asked, "Mom, have you seen Mallory today?"
She replied, "No Hank, why?"
I told her, "Nothing Mom, we just got home Mallory had today off and I thought she might have called or dropped by. She's probably out shopping. I'll have her give you a call when she gets in, bye Mom."
It was 6pm and Mallory still wasn't home. The kids needed to eat so I ordered pizza. I had put my suit and suitcases in the guest bedroom. We were enjoying the pizza when I heard the garage door open and close.
Jena yelled, "Mommy's home!"
Jena and Bobby made a mad dash for the door as Mallory came in, yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, we've missed you so much!!"
I simply said, "There's still some pizza if you want it and you need to give your mother a call. I've got some work I need to do. Don't wait up for me. I told Bobby and Jena, goodnight you two. They came over and gave me hugs and kisses. Mommy needs to eat so let her enjoy her pizza and call Grandma and then you can tell her all about our weekend."
It was 10pm when Mallory stuck her head in the door and she said softly, "Hank, are you coming to bed? I've missed you so much!"
I said, "I still have work to finish."
She said, "Please, I want to make love. Please."
I told her, "Sorry, not tonight, perhaps if you had arrived home earlier and watched the kids I could've been finished, goodnight." She left without even saying goodnight. I noticed that she did not raise her head to look me in the eyes, not once.
Probably wanted to give me sloppy seconds, while me, the clueless cuckold going down on her, expected to taste Kolinsky's remnants so she, Marie, Jameson, and Kolinsky could have a laugh at my expense at lunch tomorrow.
I rose from bed at 4am and took a shower, shaved and dressed. I left Mallory a note telling her to take the kids to her mother's on her way to work as I had an early meeting with a contractor for the new building.
I have always taken the kids in the morning as so to give her more time to get ready for work. She'll have to learn to live with disappointment! I left the house at 4:45am because I wanted to make sure I would miss Mallory.
I drove out to our lot and I took some photos of the property and the surrounding neighborhood. I sent them to the office copier. I drove to the office and picked them up and then I headed to Trudy's. I arrived at Trudy's at 7:15am and I ordered a cup of coffee. Marlene, my server and a patient, said, "Hi Dr. McAlister, say you're becoming a regular."
I replied, "Well it's a good place to conduct business when I don't want to be constantly interrupted, then there are those pancakes and the best coffee in the county."
She said, "I always pictured you for a fancy latte or cappuccino drinker in one of those expensive coffeehouses."
I told her, "No, I just drink plain old black coffee, an old habit from my Marine Corps reserve days." I had taken ROTC in college and joined the reserve when I finished medical school. I have been fortunate not to have been deployed but am ready and willing to serve if the call does come.
She said, "I know, I know, never mess with a Marine's coffee if you want to live. We both chuckled and she asked do you want to order?"
I said, "Not right now, I have a breakfast meeting later this morning."
She replied, "Coffee, coming right up."
At 7:30am I saw Jon coming through the door and I motioned for him to cover over. He said, "Morning Hank."
I said, Morning Jon, Coffee?"
He said, "Yes sir." I poured him a cup from the insulated carafe.
I said, "Let's talk about the project. I asked, how long do you think it will take to get the environmental impact study and permits issued?"
He replied, "Three to four weeks depending upon how well the impact study goes but I have a guy in the codes office that can expedite the permit if everything else is okay."
I said, "Great!" I showed him the photos and gave him the plans. I talked to him about our vision for the offices and I asked him to get me a preliminary estimate, materials, labor and the cost if the project goes over.
I told him, "We need this before we can set our budget and see if we need to obtain additional financing, we have a capital improvements account set aside but we need to know if that will cover the costs or if we need a line of credit or a mortgage loan for the construction."
He said, "I understand, I will get you an estimate by next week as to the cost and expected duration of construction, running the electrical, sewer and water, cable and phones. My guys can do most of the work but I'll need to sub-contract the underground plumbing and setting up the connections to the power box, the paving and fire protection system instillation."
I said, "Jon, you know your business, and I know I can trust you to get things done."
He replied, "I appreciate your confidence in me, I will also present you with adjustments of plus or minus 10% due to the fluctuation of material costs."
I said, "You have my authorization to lock in the price and purchase the materials and store them until you're ready to begin construction. I know that concrete and some other materials have to wait until you're job-ready."
Jon replied, "That should make things a bit easier."
I said, "Just tell me how big a line of credit you will need and I'll have my accountant set it up with the bank." I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Andy had just come in. I told Jon to look over the plans while I get my other meeting and have him join us.
I walked over and met Andy, he said, "Hello Hank."
I replied, "Hello Andy, do you have something for me?"
He said, "Yeah, I've got you everything, the video and the reports of my colleagues and my PI."
I told him, "Good, let's have breakfast and you can give me the materials and I'll review them later, I have my contractor for our new building with me so I'll deal with this later today."
Andy replied, "Sounds good Doc."
At the table I said, "Jon this is Andy McPherson and he is running some background checks for me and Andy, this is Jon Thompson, he's the contractor who is building our new office space."
Jon rose and as they shook hands, Jon said, "Glad to meet you."
Andy replied, "Likewise." I went over and told Marlene that we were ready to order. We ordered and enjoyed our breakfast.
Andy stood up and said, "I've another meeting with a potential client, great to meet you Jon."
Jon stood up and they shook hands again and Jon said, "Glad to know you Andy." I paid the check and had Jon follow me over to the lot.
He took quite a few notes before we headed over to the office where I introduced him to Lena, David, Alice and the gang. They had about a minute to chat before they had to see another patient. Jon said, "It was nice to meet all of you."
I told him I had another appointment and he told me that he would be in touch next week. As I was leaving I saw Alice corner him to give him her input on the reception and office area.
At noon I checked into a room at the Marriot in Stillwell, about 50 miles from home. I wanted a place to be alone as I went through the materials that Andy's people had collected this weekend. Everything was on a flash drive so I brought my tablet and a suitcase to look legitimate and not someone who is checking in for a dalliance.
I went to the ice machine and got a bucket of ice, returned to the room and drew the curtains. I got a glass from the top of the desk and I opened up my suitcase and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. I poured two fingers on the rocks and put the bottle back in the suitcase. Normally I like to drink it neat but I want to water the liquor down a bit to keep me from overindulging.
I needed to stay sober for my kids. I plugged in the power cord and connected my tablet, turned it on and inserted the flash drive. As I pulled up the file I realized that I was trembling. There were four video files labeled Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning and afternoon. There were two files marked written reports, one from Andy's guys and the other from his colleague.
I sat there for a minute, having for the most part, compartmentalized it during the weekend, the implications these videos will have for my life and that of my kids is enormous. I sip the bourbon and savor the burning sensation as the amber liquid passes my lips and goes down my throat. I got up and went to the room phone and I ordered a turkey club and a pot of coffee.
As I waited for the server to arrive I sat there staring at the screen paralyzed and like SchrΓΆdinger's cat, I was desperately wanting to know and not know, at the same damn time. A knock on the door snapped me back to reality as I got up and answered it. The server brought the tray in and set it down.
"He asked, "Will there be anything else?"