Chapter 24
Lucinda paid a visit to Vincent at his abode a
t
tired in
a low cut blouse
tucked into a
mini skirt
accentuating
her long shapely thighs
.
In her right hand, she was carrying
a
briefcase containing study material for several of her
classes.
The time she
spent being tutored by Vincent in his pers
onal law library
, quickly flew.
Lucinda thanked Vincent for his assi
s
tance
. They stood to their feet
staring at each other without saying a word.
Eventually she spoke, “I need to freshen up a bit
.
”
He pointed the way to the bathroom. “
You don’t have to rush
off
when you
are
done. Feel free to stay longer
.
I’m going to have some wine. Would you like to join me for a drink?”
“Sure. I’ll be back in a moment.”
When she exited the bathroom
back
into the hall, he met her with their drinks.
Lucinda
fo
l
lowed him
to his bedroom.
He placed an arm around her as they took a
few
sip
s
of wine.
Soon he was caught up into all she had to o
f
fer
.
Lucinda was one married woman he could not
resist
.
After making love late into the night,
Vincent fell asleep
. She soon
dozed off in his arms. Several hours later
,
Lucinda aw
oke
as her cell phone began to ring. She looked at the digital clock on the stereo across the room
realizing she had spent the night with her lo
v
er. The time was now
4
:00 o’clock in the morning.
“Ah Shit
!
”
Vincent woke up, “What’s wrong baby.”
“I need to get up.”
He loosened his grip on her as she turned over on her side remov
ing
her cell phone from the
n
ightstand. She checked the phone to see who had called.
David had left a message.
“Who was it Lucinda?”
“It was David. He
gets home from work usually about 4
:00
i
n the morning. He left a message asking me to provide
my w
here
a
bouts.”
“Tell Mr. David
,
I said Hi.”
“I can’t tell him anything
about tonight without letting on to the fact
that you fuck
ed
me
.
”
After taking a shower, she
hurriedly
dressed. “
I’ll be seeing you later Mr. Vince.
” They kissed briefly.
Upon leaving
Vincent’s
upscale
gated co
m
munity
,
she went to
a
nearby all night supe
r
market.
When she finally got home
,
David was si
t
ting patiently in the living room
as she came through the door carrying bags of grocery.
Lucinda
said, “Are you going to help me
?
There is
still
more bags
i
n the car.”
After
he
finish
ed
bringing in the grocer
ies
,
she called out to him, “David, I’m in the bedroom.”
He entered the room.
“I didn’t
mean to
worry you
.
I couldn’t sleep so I went to the all night
grocery
store across the way
.
There was
n’t
anything left to prepare even the simplest meal.
”
“You could have called
and left me
a me
s
sag
e s
aying you were going shopping
.
”
“Come here Davey
.
”
She looked at him in a wanton manner. She held out her
hands.
“
B
a
by, m
ake love to me. Let
us
not think
of an
y
thing else.”
Chapter
2
5
Private Investigator Daniel Burks
visited Zeke Mathews’ home. Burks wondered whether Zeke had any information that could
assist him
with
the investigation of Jared
’s
death.
“Suppose I tell you that I don’t?
”
“Well
,
there must be something you can tell me. Other than David
,
you were his next best buddy. Am I right?”
“You are right.”
“
So cut through the chase and tell me all you know.”
“Jared was having an affair before his u
n
fo
rtu
nate demise
.
”
“With whom
was he having an affair?
”
“Be patient detective
,
I’m getting there.”
“Okay.”
“He was having an affair with his best friend’s wife. Lucinda had been cheating on David for about a year with Jared. It’s my u
n
derstanding that David never found out about them.”
“So why would he have confided in you about their adulterous relationship.”
“Jared felt really bad about befriending D
a
vid. According to him, Lucinda started coming
onto him. After several attempts not
to
give i
n
to her advances, his defenses wore down. He allowed himself to be trapped in a
sexual
rel
a
tionship were he craved his best friend’s wife
.
She was
Jared’s only
weakness
.
Lucinda and David appear to
be
happ
il
y married
.
Please do not destroy
all they have
rehashing something
from the past.”
“I’ll try not to destroy their marriage
, b
ut I also have a job to do.
Where were you on the day that Jared disappeared?
”
“
Jared was
to pick
me up
so
we
could go out for a drink. However,
I
called and told him to meet
me
at the pub instead.
I
sat at the bar waiting on Jared but he never showed. Finally,
I
had a drink alone before leaving.”
Later
Burks
visit
ed
Lucinda at home. He i
n
formed her that he is investigating
Ja
red’s death.
“A confidential source has brought to my a
t
tention that you may be able to help me.”
“Someone has sent you he
re
hoping I would air out some dirty laundry.”
“Could you be a little clearer?”
“Someone has told you that I and Jared were lovers unbe
knownst
to my Husband D
a
vid
.
”
“Lucinda
,
you are right. I am surprise you admitted to the affair without
further
pro
d
ding
.
”
“You probably think our relationship could have contributed to Jared’s death.”
“It is my job to look at all angles when tr
y
ing to crack a case.”
“I can assure you that my husband never knew I was cheating on him.”
“You appear to
have
know
n
that I was going to ask
i
f you had an affair with Jared. How
would you have known
?”
“
Zeke Mathews
told you about
our
extr
a
marital
relationship.
He called to give me a heads up so I would not be taken by surprise by your questioning.”
“I understand
Zeke
was just being a good steward.
What was your alibi on the day
Jared disappeared
?”
“I was home
the w
hole day
.
I wasn’t feeling well.
David was home sick too. We were under the weather. We were experiencing flu like symptoms.”
“Thank
s
for the information.”
Sarah had been approached by
Mrs. Titanimum
to be a
n inspirational speaker at a women’s
entrepreneurial empowerment co
n
ference to be held at the retreat
. She accepted the offer without hesitation.
The day of the
conference,
Sarah took to the stage
.
She received a warm applause. Hecklers dampened her well intentions about halfway through her speech.
A middle
age woman shouted, “You
’
re a lying bribe
ry suspect
.”
An
older woman
interjected, “Tell us the truth
of
how you made your wealth.” Others chimed in with similar remarks
booing h
er throughout the remainder of the speech.
She tried to
look undaunted.
After the event
,
M
rs.
Titanimum attempted
to apologize for
those not
approv
ing
of her speaking. Sarah
said, “I’m fine. I believe
the
majority of the wom
en
actual heard
my
me
s
sage.
There
will always be people who will try to bring you down
.”
“You are right Sarah. I can’t help but a
d
mire your strength
.
”
That night
there
was
a steady
k
nock
ing
on
t
he door
and ringing of the doorbell at
Luci
n
da’s house. She heard
Vincent
’s voice calling her name. Opening the
door
, she asked,
“What
’s
wrong Vince? Are you Okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“How did you now that David was not home
?
I don’t like you showing up here.”
“You are right. But I had to see you.”
“You
have
got to control you
r
self. I wouldn’t expect
an
attorney to pulling such a juvenile stunt. You can come in for a moment. I’m going to get a sweater
.
M
aybe we can meet at the coffee shop down the street.”
“That’s a great idea. I still remember the first time we met there.
”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ll be right back.”
When they arrived at the coffee shop
,
they took a seat at the table where she
once
cha
s
tened
him for
unwelcomed
overtures.
After ordering their drinks they talked late into night. They did not leave until it was time for the
coffee shop
to close.
After returning home
,
Lucinda got ready for bed. She did not
a
wake
n
until she felt David pulling back the covers
.
She said, “Good Morning.”
“Good morning
l
ove. I hope you slept well.”
“Yes Dear, I was
professing my love to you in a dream. I’m truly blessed to have you.
”
“You always find the sweetest
romantic
things to say.”
Lucinda blush
ed
.