"You and Franklin stole that house right from under us!" The speaker was Andrea Miller and she was having lunch with her best friend Donna Freeman at the Central Tea Room restaurant. She was not happy.
The two women at the table were remarkably attractive. Andrea stood five foot seven and weighed I35 pounds. She had long auburn hair and porcelain skin. Her green eyes were flashing with anger. Her table mate was an inch and a half shorter and fifteen pounds lighter. Her shiny brown hair done up in a bun. Her skin was flawless and even. Her blue eyes were focused intently.
"That's not true Andrea. We both had an opportunity to buy the place our bid just got there faster."
"Yes because you guys bribed the Realtor and the recorder of deeds."
"You can't prove that besides don't you think the house fits our family personality better?"
"No I do not, Donna. That was the house of my dreams."
"Well," smirked Donna, "This is just another case where I have finished first and you have to settle for second best."
"I thought you would bring that up." said Andrea. Over the years Andrea had seen her friend walk off with one or another thing that she favored. In grade school, Donna managed to get the very outfit and toy that Andrea had coveted time and again. In middle school she started stealing her crushes and boyfriends. In High School, Donna had been the one to take the quarterback to the prom despite the fact that Andrea had been dating him for most of the year. Only by going to a different college could Andrea soar on her own. Now college was a fading memory and they were both back in their hometown and Donna was once again burglarizing the things Andrea wanted. The latest was the old Anderson place on Park Street, the loveliest house in town by any measure. Andrea and her husband Jack thought that they had the first bid on the place, but Donna had used her wiles to steal it out from under her. Andrea was tired of her friend's shit.
"Donna, you have never had to suffer for causing me pain," said Andrea, "On the one hand you were my dearest friend on the other hand you were my biggest rival. I'm not convinced for example that you won't try to seduce my husband one day just to put another notch in your garter. Well that is going to change."
"Andrea its not my fault that the boys liked me better. Are you still pissed over that quarterback?"
"Yes, and about a raft of other things. Your going to get your comeuppance. Recognize this?"
From her purse Andrea extracted a hand addressed envelope. Instantly Donna's heart sank. The letter was one of a series she had given Andrea to destroy. Early in her marriage to Franklin, Donna had been unfaithful. It was a brief but very passionate affair with an old school flame. He was also married. Although it was risky they had written letters to each other at rented post office boxes. Like a fool Donna had saved the letters. When the affair ended Donna was terrified to leave the letters around the house she had entrusted them all to Andrea and extracted from her the promise to burn all of the letters.
"You promised to burn that!"Donna nearly screamed.
"Why yes I could have, and perhaps should have. done as you asked. But then I thought to myself what would Franklin do if he found out about these letters. He would realize what a tramp he was married to. Do you think he would keep you around, let you live your life of leisure, and cater to all of your expensive tastes? I don't think so."
Like a spider eying a trapped fly Andrea glared at Donna knowing that she had her right where he wanted.
"I suppose that you would do ANYTHING to keep your dear Franklin from discovering your peccadilloes. You have told me about so many boys over the years. Tales that would appall your dear sweet, but oh so conservative Franklin. That ever so rich Franklin"
Beginning to squirm Donna asked, "What do you want?"
"Not money, my dear, Jack does pretty well in that department as well and I have my practice. No I want something really satisfying, a memory that will last the rest of my life, your total humiliation!"
"Andrea, were FRIENDS, why would you want to do that to me?"
"Friends Donna?"
"Do friends steal boyfriends, Do friends tell secrets to teachers and crushes? Do friends filch houses simply because someone else is interested in it when one already has a nice house to live in? We were friends Donna, but you have taken advantage of me just once too often. What's that old proverb about the camel and the straw? You will pay for your malfeasance."
"Please Andrea," said Donna. "If Franklin finds out about my fling with Bob he'll cut me off without a cent. You have to protect me."
"Oh don't worry honey Franklin won't find out that his little virginal wife is a world class slut. But I will need you to do a very big favor for me. A favor you will despise but that I will enjoy enormously."
"What do you have in mind?" Asked Donna.
"All I will tell you is that you are going with me on Friday night to the city. I have an outfit for you to wear. I will pick you up at 8;00 P.M. sharp. I will drive you to the city. The rest is a surprise. All you have to do is make some excuse to Frank to get away for the evening. If you do EVERYTHING I expect of you that night I will burn all of your incriminating letters in front of you."
After pausing for effect Andrea said, "Deal?"
"What choice do I have Andrea? I'll do it."
After telling Franklin the truth that she was going out with a an old friend on Friday night Donna waited with trepidation for what Andrea had in store for her.
Andrea picked her up at 8:00 on the dot. They drove to Andrea's apartment in silence. When they entered Andrea's apartment Donna discovered a garment bag waiting for her.
"You will wear this said Andrea. Take off your clothes and put this on. I remembered your sizes from all the times we shopped together. Back when we were friends. Take off everything including your wedding ring and put on everything in the bag."