Authors: Nancy Frederick
“
On my thirteen year old son? Maybe I shouldn
’
t be talking to you about this.
”
Addie took a breath and reined in her malice. She squeezed Mick
’
s hand and said in her most therapeutic voice,
“
Let me help you, hon.
”
“
I
’
ve seen signs is all. She
’
s out too many nights. Hang ups on the phone. Religious retreats
—
I mean religious retreats? C
’
mon.
”
Addie would have queried a client if he had asked his wife about her behavior, if there were actual concrete evidence, if there had been a reasonable conversation. Instead she said,
“
Hunches are usually right, you know. Trusting your instincts is a good thing.
”
“
It
’
s been a long time since,
”
then Mick hesitated, looking at Addie, clearly wondering if he should go on, not wanting to hurt her feelings, something that touched her so deeply she had to blink back a tear.
“
No more sex, huh? I always thought she was a tease.
”
In her mind, a ping pong game played, the thoughts of what she would say to a client, versus the comments actually coming out of her mouth.
“
That
’
s pretty much a tell-tale sign
—
it
’
s almost clinical.
”
“
Well, we don
’
t connect as well, that
’
s true. But life has its ups and downs, don
’
t you think
—
I mean relationships are complicated.
”
Addie would have admired his perspective if he
’
d been a client. What he said showed wisdom and maturity.
“
But sometimes it
’
s just not meant to be, don
’
t you see
—
and sometimes you just have to stop and see the truth. Or else how can you change your life and find happiness?
”
“
But we have kids, a family, and so that
’
s more than just two people, and I
’
m responsible. I
’
ve been trying to be supportive, kind, not press her too much. Maybe it
’
s a mid-life crisis. You know.
”
“
You
’
re not that old, and neither is she.
”
“
Yes, but you forget how precocious I am.
”
Addie smiled back at Mick. Nothing had changed about him. He was deep and wise and mature, and she knew without a doubt he belonged to her, with her, not with some conniving slut. Would she ever come closer to finding someone to be her number one? How long had she asked would anyone ever love her again? It had all seemed so bleak, but now the tide seemed to be turning, at last she was getting another chance, perhaps her last chance. She brushed her hand along his arm and said,
“
No, I haven
’
t forgotten anything.
”
She was about to offer him the name of her lawyer, to encourage him to move out, to stay with her here in the office if necessary, when his cell phone rang and he whispered,
“
Blinnie,
”
and began speaking to his wife. Addie started making lists in her mind: revive clientele, set up meeting with publicist to revamp The Bullshit Program, call publishers for a second advance and settle lawsuit, get a new line of credit and rent a house for Mick and herself.
“
She wants to talk,
”
he said, flipping the cell phone closed.
Addie knew what that meant. We have to talk, the most significant phrase in the history of relationships. In fact, she could write a book entitled We Have to Talk, and it would probably be an instant best seller. Her voice was calm, though, and she did not betray the exuberance she felt.
“
Still have the same number?
”
Mick nodded and stood, holding Addie briefly before walking to the door.
“
Thank you so much. I know I can always count on you to be there for me. I love you, Addie.
”
This time she didn
’
t hide the tears in her eyes.
“
I love you too.
”
“
Dr. Adrianna Schlumberger for Detective Boni,
”
she said calmly into the speakerphone. She wandered purposefully around the office, restoring as much order as possible in advance of Mick
’
s return. At last her life was coming to a positive turning point; after all her suffering, something good was about to happen, and it would finally be all right. She would have another chance.
“
Boni,
”
replied the gruff voice.
“
Hello, Detective,
”
she answered.
“
What
’
s the progress in locating Oliver Hooks? I can
’
t divorce him until you locate
—
and indict
—
him.
”
Quatro was an egomaniac. Why hadn
’
t she recognized that earlier? He
’
d surely do something to trip himself up.
“
No progress yet, Ma
’
am. Like I told you last time
—
these investigations can go on a long time. It
’
s a big world, and he has plenty of money.
”
“
Yes, my money.
”
“
You have a P.I. on the case, don
’
t you?
”
“
It
’
s a good thing he didn
’
t murder me instead of just stealing all my assets. You
’
d probably expect me to hire someone to solve my own murder!
”
“
We
’
ll call you as soon as we know something, ma
’
am. Have a good day.
”
Addie didn
’
t even stop to curse at the phone. There wasn
’
t enough time. Who knew how long it would take for Mick to end that disastrous marriage and return to her? She dialed the phone.
“
Dr. Adrianna Schlumberger for Mr. Levy, please.
”
Her attorney
’
s voice was breathy and hesitant, and she wondered each time they spoke why she continued to use him, but she also remembered that she had no resources to pay an advance to a new guy.
“
Adrianna, how are you?
”
“
Not good, Hal, what do you think? Is there any progress recovering my money?
”
“
It
’
s very hard when they wire it offshore, hon, but we have notified the IRS, the police, and so on, but you knew that.
”
“
What about suing the banks?
”
“
We
’
re still pursuing that, but it
’
s iffy at best. He had power of attorney, so they have a good case
—
better than we do.
”
“
So I have to remain a dupe forever
—
and what
—
can
’
t divorce that fucker
—
excuse me
—
scum
—
oh hell
—
fucker
—
what
—
never?
”
“
Seven years, hon, I told you. The thing to do now is rebuild, start again, remake your fortune, and don
’
t give anyone your account numbers.
”
“
Gee, I never would have thought of that, Hal!
”
She smashed her fist on the phone, disconnecting the call, then began dialing the PI she
’
d hired months ago. A recording played, but she spoke over it, expecting to be transferred,
“
Mr. Purdy are you there? It
’
s Dr. Schlumberger. Dick?
”
“
Doc, what
’
s happening? Any news?
”
Finally he had answered the phone.
“
That
’
s a question for me to ask you. What
’
s the progress?
”
“
I
’
ve been working on this online, hoping to get a good enough lead to track him in person and we do have some progress, but last time you said hold off on booking flights.
”
“
Progress, what are you waiting for? Go bring the son of a bitch back!
”
“
I need another 5k for that, Doc, you know that.
”
“
How about you bring him back and I make it 10k when the case is resolved.
”
“
Sorry, Doc, I ain
’
t no lawyer, can
’
t work on contingencies. Too many of
‘
em.
”
“
Lawyers?
”
“
No,
”
he laughed,
“
Contingencies.
”
She shook her head, trying to come up with something plausible to make him do what she wanted.
“
I
’
ve already paid you 10k
—
and it
’
s not like I
’
ve seen any results. So how about a little professional courtesy.
”
“
Hey Doc, we ain
’
t in the same profession. Besides, spending 10k with no results in your field don
’
t exactly raise eyebrows, right?
”
“
Okay whatever. I
’
ll get back to you.
”
Intensely frustrated, Addie paced the overcrowded room. Cracking her ankle on a carton, she yelped, cursed, kicked the box, then resumed pacing. She had a thought. Lissa. Her daughter had some money; her son-in-law had some money. She began dialing.
“
Sweetheart,
”
she purred,
“
How are you?
”
“
Mother,
”
Lissa spoke coldly,
“
Getting remarried yet again?
”
“
No, why on earth would you say that?
”
“
No reason.
”
“
You know I can
’
t do anything until the cops haul Oliver
’
s ass back here and my money is recovered.
”
“
Get used to being single
—
and broke then. You know how many guys like that get caught? In round numbers? Goose egg, Mom, none.
”
“
You could be a little nicer. You know what I
’
ve been through.
”
“
Not to change the subject, but we
’
re thinking of getting pregnant. We might have to go in-vitro, it
’
s expensive, but we have some savings.
”
Addie caught her breath. Herself a grandmother. How would Mick feel about that? She replied cautiously,
“
How exciting. When did you decide this?
”
“
Last week
—
nothing special
—
on my birthday.
”
“
Oh hon, I
’
m sorry, I forgot
—
I
’
ve been so caught up, losing the house, I don
’
t even know what day it is any more. I promise to get you something very special very soon. Guess who dropped by today?
”