A motorcycle with loud tail pipes rode by and snapped me back to the present. What a situation I've found myself in...
But I've got work to do: devise a plan to get my life back.
The Question: what on earth got into Karen. I was so wrapped up in the whole thing that I must have missed it. And for all these years. Karen wasn't like this when we were first married. Sex with Bob had somehow been liberating. I hadn't been intimate with someone else in so long. It cleared my head. And the Picture of Shawna and Karen sealed it. Something or someone deliberately and methodically sabotaged our marriage. I'm not gay...though my recent actions couldn't prove it. And I love my wife...I'm sure she loves me too...otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed with me. If she wanted women so bad, and since she was being so mean anyway, there would have been no reason to stay. How could I have let this get this bad?! I was going to find out what was going on and fix it. Right now. I hoped I wouldn't have to get like this again. That's one reason I left the Army. But I'll have to come to terms with it now if I want my wife and life back. And I do.
As my computer finished booting up, I called the East Coast. There it was about midnight, so it shouldn't be too late.
"Hello...," the smooth, sexy voice on the other end said.
"Samantha...," I replied..
"Rick?? Is that you?!...Why I,"...she started.
"Listen Sam...time is short," I interrupted. "We'll be able to go through all the usual stuff later. Do you still want to be with me?"
"Right to business, eh? You know I do...but I also know that tone...even after all these years." She replied evenly. "What's up?"
"I've decided to come back to the outfit. But there's some business I have to handle first, and I need your help." I explained. "You game?"
"Just tell me what you need baby," her velvety voice cooed.
I began to run down the preliminaries.
"First, get on the computer and find out everything you can on a Shawna Blair,. Also I need all available tracking information on my wife, Karen since we've been married and the company she works for, Hera Advertising,"
"I'm not sure I like the sounds of this, Dearie." Sam said. I could hear her writing in the background.
"Ultimately, you will," I said, then I continued. "I also want you to contact the brass and tell them I'm coming back on board. I need my status reinstated and updated ASAP. Once you've done all that, I need you to get on the next plane out here with 2 complete standard equipment load outs, a command post kit, an interrogation kit, and last but not least, a full spectrum multi-channel secure satellite up link."
"You don't ask for much, do you," she said.
"Sam, if I'm right, and we pull this off, we'll be fixing a lot more than my marriage..." I replied.
"Rick,...what the FUCK is going on?!" she said.
"Sam, you'll have to see this shit to believe it," I replied. I'll explain everything when you get here. Call me as soon as you are set up somewhere and I'll come to you.
"You'd better be on the level with this, Rick...but it'll still be good to see you again," She said softly.
"Same here babe...see ya soon...and be careful."
"I always am...," she toned, slyly. " See you in about 48."
I hung up and connected the computer to the cell. Now to get on the net and start piecing together my life.
It occurred to me that something had to happen to Karen to make her go bonkers like this. Something, or someone. But who, what, when, where, how, and why? ClichΓ©, but accurate. I'll start with Shawna.
Some quick searches and cross-referencing later gave me a good piece of the puzzle. Shawna worked for the same company Karen did.
Interesting.
Karen started to work for them 8 and a half years ago. Shortly before she began to be a bitch. Then I visited the Hera Advertising Web Site. It turns out that most of the people in charge of the place are women.
OK.
Looks like they do some work for Lifetime Television...getting more interesting by the minute.
Pictures and Bios of all the corporate officers are available...but wait. The Chairman and CEO has no picture and a very short BIO. Hummmmmmmmmm. Her name is...no...it couldn't be. No way!!!!!! Jane Larson!
Jane Larson was an evil person. I say that in all seriousness and truth as a simple statement of fact. And she hates men...military men in particular. I had the misfortune of meeting this person in college. And I thought she was alright...I was young and stupid. I thought we were even friends. All the while, she hated my guts. I thought graduation would rid me of her forever, but I can see now that I was wrong. She is definitely involved with this. I know it. And when I figure out just what she's done, I'm going to make her pay for all the harm she's caused. Not just to me, but to my wife.
My WIFE!!!!!!!
It was a good thing that it would take a day or two for Sam to get here. I'll need that much time to calm down. No kid gloves for Jane this time. She gets the full treatment.
I checked my computer's clock. 5:30AM. Bob will have to go to work soon, to catch the early crowd at the Fitness Center. And I still needed to get my car, so I decided to wake him.
"Get your sorry ass up," I said as I came into the bedroom.
"What time is it?" Bob croaked.
"5:30 AM," I replied. "You'd better get a move on if you plan to be at work on time."
"Yeah," He said. "If I didn't already have that ski trip planned, I'd call in sick. That way we could...spend some more time together. Hey..." Bob just came to a realization. "Have you been up all night?"
"Yep...couldn't sleep." I answered. "Surfed the web for a while."
"I guess its to be expected...lots of change for you in the past 12 hours or so.." Bob said as he patted my shoulder. "I'm gonna hit the shower."
"Great, I'll make the coffee." I said over my shoulder on the way to the kitchen. I'm defiantly not the house wife type. "Can you drop me at my car on the way in? I'd like to bring it up here."
"Sure thing buddy," Bob shouted over the shower.
When I got back to the Bob's house it was about 8 AM. I really needed to sleep. Bob was right. I put out a lot of emotional energy in a short time. I'd need my strength for the several days ahead.
I changed the sheets on the bed and climbed in. I hoped Sam would call sooner than later. It's a new experience, but this gay thing just isn't for me. I can't form a "love" attachment with a man. Just can't do it. But I had a very new perspective on the whole subject. I'm definitely past the "ick factor". But I'm glad to know that I can handle it if I have to.
The door opening woke me. It was 4PM. Wow... I slept hard. My mind was a little foggy, but I felt alright, considering.
"Hey, Rick..." I heard Bob call. "where are you...I've got someone here you've just got to meet."
"Right here," I said as I came through the kitchen to the dining room.
"Did you just get up?" Bob asked with a puzzled look.
"Uhhhhh...yeah..:" I replied in my best Beavis and Butt Head voice.
"Right, right," Bob said, remembering that I'd been up all night. "should have thought of that. Anyhow," he continued, "this is Dave. Dave, Rick."
"Excuse my appearance," I said as I shook Dave's hand. "Rough day yesterday..."
"So I heard," Dave replied with a grin. He cast a knowing look at Bob. "Bob tells me you're quite the dynamo..."
I looked at Bob with slight annoyance.
"Sorry man, wasn't thinking, " Bob said quickly. "...but you really made an impression, and I thought it might be good for you and Dave to...meet before we went skiing."