It's Against the Law Ch. 01

"So, what do you think, are we on for Friday or not?" Irv asked her.

"Yeah, let's figure on Friday but maybe we should take a break after that. I need to reconnect with my husband; I really do love the big lug you know," she said.

Dalton heard Irv chuckle on the other end of the phone, "Yeah, I know you do; I love my wife too. Okay, Friday, regular time, then we'll call a truce for a while."

"Okay," she responded, "Are you coming into the office today?"

"No, not today, I'm booked; I'll be in tomorrow but not till about four," he replied.

The rest of the call was about business. I slowly lowered the cover of my laptop. Friday was only two days away; if I wanted to get them arrested I was going to have to call Jack right away so he had some time to get things arranged. I leaned forward and put my head against the steering wheel to think. There were so many things to consider.

Maybe I could just look the other way, just this once. It sounds like this would be the last time, at least for a while and she did say she loved me. Maybe I could let things cool down for a while then tell Jean I knew about the affair and tell her not to do it again... no, I thought as my anger resurfaced, what the hell am I thinking; I won't spend my life like that, worried, wondering where she is every time she's ten minutes late; bullshit, I couldn't live like that, I won't live like that.

After two days of pondering, my final decision was made in the blink of an eye.

"Hello, is Jack Northrupe there please?" I put a hanky over the phone; I had no idea if it really masked my voice or not but they do it in all the mystery movies so why not.

"Yeah, can I ask who's calling?" the voice on the other end of the line asked.

"No, just tell him I have some information about some illegal activity that will be taking place on Friday."

"Just a minute, Please," he said before hollering to Jack about an anonymous caller on line three.

"This is Jack Northrupe, can I help you?"

"I will not give you my name, Mr. Northrupe, but I wanted to inform you there will be some illegal activity going on in one of the rooms at the Holly Motel on Dempster this Friday around noon."

"I understand," said Jack, "I will have the police there to investigate."

Well, it was done; now all I had to do was live with my decision. I also had to live with Jean for the next two days, how was I going to do that, I wondered?

It sounded like she was planning to be nice to me when she was talking to Irv; she can be very romantic when she wants to be. I pictured her cuddling up to me on the couch, maybe with some wine; once we got into bed there would be no stopping her; she knew my buttons and how to push them; God I was going to miss her I thought as new tears found their way down my face.

I thought about it for a few minutes then came up with the solution; although I had never done it on short notice before, I did have to go out of town now and then. I had already cancelled everything I had scheduled for the rest of the week. I drove home and packed a bag. I was already checked into a motel several miles from home before hitting speed dial. I had my laptop open and ready to link up to my phone as soon as I was done with the call.

"Hi honey," she answered sounding as if she was in a good mood, "I was just thinking about you, your ears must have been burning."

"You were," I said trying to sound upbeat. "And what were you thinking?"

"Well, for the last few months things have been kind of crazy at work and I'm afraid I've been taking it out on you, so I'd like to make it up to you. I thought maybe we could check into a nice hotel for the weekend and you and I could engage in two full days and nights of wild, passionate, mind blowing monkey sex; the way I see it, neither of us should be able to walk by Monday," she said laughing.

Under normal circumstances my heart would be pounding away to hear her talk like that, but knowing the full story, it only made me even sadder. I tried using that sadness as an acting tool as I responded, "Honey, I'm sorry to tell you but I won't be around this weekend, I've..."

"Won't be around," she almost screamed, "What do you mean, where are you going?"

"Ah, well I just got an out of town assignment, Honey; sorry, but the money is just too good to pass up, I'm already on my way and won't be back until late Saturday night."

She didn't say anything for a good fifteen or twenty seconds, "Honey, what's going on, this isn't like you," she finally said sounding worried.

I didn't want to blow it now; I'm no actor but I had to put on a real performance. "Nothing's wrong, honey; this just came up," I said trying to make it sound important.

"Can't you postpone it? I was really looking forward to this weekend, babe."

"Honey, this is a chance to steel a major account from Hubbard's, one of the biggest studios in the city," I said, making it up as I went. "Everything was all set for a big advertising shoot tomorrow down in Logan County but somehow Hubbard screwed up the scheduling and can't make it. It'll cost the client thousands of dollars if it doesn't get done. Somebody recommended me. If I get down there and save the shoot it could mean getting a new client worth a hundred grand a year; Honey, I can't pass that up."

I heard her sigh then there was a moment of silence before she spoke. "Okay," she said with what sounded like true sadness in her voice, "I understand, I guess we can do it the following weekend."

As soon as we said our goodbye and kissed each other through the phone, I dialed up the Internet and linked it to my laptop. I thought sure she'd contact Irv right away but there was nothing. She must have laid her phone on her desk because when I activated the bugging device I could hear her shuffling papers around.

"Irv just faxed in these purchase orders, he wants you to go through them and make sure we have everything in stock, if not he wants you to call him," I heard a voice say. Then I heard my wife's voice answer.

"Okay, thanks Beverly," I didn't hear any reply, then my wife spoke again. "Beverly, what's the matter; we used to be friends but you haven't said a friendly word to me in months; please, what's going on?"

"Okay, since you asked, I used to think you were a good person; you have a wonderful husband, but you turned you back on him; he deserves better, you're nothing but a slut," she said putting as much venom as she could behind her words.

I heard Jean gasp at the statement; then I thought I heard Beverly walk out of her office; my wife started to cry. I got worried that her co-worker's words had given Jean a sudden shot of morals and she might call off her little tryst; I was waiting for her to call Irv but all she did was weep quietly.

I continued to monitor my wife's communications to make sure the cops weren't going to raid an empty room on Friday, but the only other talking she did with Irv was on Thursday afternoon when he went into the office. They talked mostly about business; only at the end of their conversation did Jean express her regret for ever starting their affair, but when asked again about the following day, once again she confirm, what they both acknowledged, would be their last rendezvous for a while.

I got no sleep Thursday night at all; I kept asking myself if I was doing the right thing. Maybe with counseling we could put this behind us? Maybe...possibly...what if...I used those words a lot in my thoughts all night long, but as I watched the room lighten from the morning sun, I knew my marriage was over; this was revenge...on him and her; just maybe she'll understand how much she hurt me as they lead her away in cuffs...but then I doubted it, if you haven't gone through it yourself there is no way to understand the kind of grief a person experiences.

At eleven o'clock Friday morning I met with my private little swat team at our predetermined place around the back of the restaurant across the street. Jack was there with Dave Wyland, a sergeant in our local police force and a mutual friend we'd known for many years; with him was another officer who looked familiar but I didn't know by name and a rather husky female officer. Dave made the introductions and told me they had already spoken to the desk clerk. He would put them in room one-thirteen; Dave already had the key card to the room. We would give them about twenty minutes before making the bust. Dave had a complaint form already filled out ready for my signature.

About eleven-thirty a car drove in and a man went to the office, but from across the street I couldn't make a positive ID. He went back to his car and was evidently waiting; sure enough, "Here she comes," I said as I recognized Jean's car driving in. She parked next to the other car and waited for Irv. He got out of his car with a small suitcase and gave Jean a peck on the cheek before they disappeared behind the door of room number one-thirteen.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Dave, "You can still back out."

"Yeah," said Jack, "If you do this there's no turning back, Dalton."

"I know," I said sadly, "I thought about it all night." I felt tears welling up again in my eyes but I was determined not to back down. I set my camera on auto-focus, "Let's get it over with," I said.

With that we all piled into two squads and pulled into the motel parking lot blocking in both of their cars. "POLICE, WE'RE COMING IN," yelled Dave as he pounded twice on the door with his fist. Almost instantly after that the other officer swiped the key card and they rushed in.

Jack and I waited until the rest were inside before entering. I saw Irv through the doorway as he jumped from the bed naked as the day he was born; it looked as if he had been straddling Jean's face, most likely getting a blow job.

"I know what this looks like but it's all consensual," he was screaming, "Honest; Jean tell them I didn't force you, this isn't rape, you've got to believe me," he was talking a mile a minute.

At the same time Jean was freaking out, screaming at Irv to tell her what was going on; that's when I walked in and saw her. She was lying on her back completely naked with her hands stretched over her head and cuffed to the headboard. She was wearing a black leather blindfold that kept her ignorant of what was happening. Her legs were spread apart and tied to the corners of the bed frame; there were clamps biting into her nipples and she had a vibrator strapped to her pussy.

"Irv, please; oh my God, what's going on, Please tell me," she was screaming in hysteria.

Irv was too busy trying to explain the situation to the cops to answer her; he was so caught up in his psychobabble he didn't even realize I was there until I started taking pictures. He saw the flash and turned in my direction looking as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Oh shit," he said finally starting to comprehend what was going on.

"What," pleaded Jean again, "Tell me what's happening, please," Jean was now bawling from fear.

"It's Dalton," he sadly informed her.

"NO!" she screamed, "no, no it can't be...oh God, no!"

By that time Dave and the other male cop moved Irv out of the way so the female officer could get to Jean. "Where are the keys to these?" she asked referring to the cuffs.

"There, on the table," replied Irv with a saddened nod of his head.

As soon as the cuffs were removed, Jean pulled off her blindfold with a look of absolute terror, "No; oh my God, no," she wept putting her hands to her face. She didn't even try to cover herself; I don't know if it was from shock or maybe she just figured it was already too late for that. The woman officer pulled up half a sheet and threw it over her.

"Irv Jackson, Jean Conrad, I'm placing you both under arrest for adultery," Dave told them.

"Arrest; adultery, wait a minute," Irv yelled, "You can't arrest us for adultery, that's not against the law!"

"I'm afraid it is, and we can, Mr. Jackson. Now put some clothes on," Dave told him bringing him to the pile of men's clothes on the floor.

While he was getting dressed the female cop went around the foot of the bed untying my wife. I saw Jean's hand moving under the sheet as she removed the nipple clamps and the vibrator herself.

"Dalton, listen man, I'm sorry, neither of us wanted to hurt you, man, but come-on, please stop this," wailed Irv now with his own tears streaking his face. "Please, think of my family...my kids..."

"You fucking asshole," I shouted as Jack grabbed me to keep me from getting within slugging range, "You sure as hell didn't think about my family, did you; what about my marriage; what about my kids, the ones who will never be born now; you mother fucker I hope they throw your ass in jail and throw away the key," I screamed.

I heard Jean's whimpering break into uncontrollable bawling as the pain I was in became very evident from my outburst. She didn't even try to beg, she already knew it was over. I did hear her repeating how sorry she was over and over between her sobs, but unfortunately it was too little too late...way too late.

Once Irv was dressed they cuffed him and we all went outside so the woman officer could help Jean get dressed. About ten minutes later the door opened and she led my wife out, also in cuffs.

Our eyes met briefly as they put her in the back of the squad; it was probably a toss-up as to whose face showed the most grief; we both knew it was the end of our dreams and our future together.

"Alright, the show's over," yelled Dave to the small crowd that had gathered, "Go on, everybody go mind you own business." He turned to me as the group of ghouls dispersed, "There's no need for you to come down to the station," he told me, "We already have your complaint."

I sadly nodded my head, "What happens now?" I asked him.

"They'll be processed and held in a cell until later tonight, then they'll be released on their own recognizance but that probably won't be until two or three in the morning. Once it's scheduled, everybody involved will be notified of the court date. I'm sure you'll hear from the D.A., but to tell you the truth, Dalton, I doubt they'll want to prosecute."

"Yeah," I said while trying to keep from choking up in front of everyone, "I figured that. You said she won't get out till two or three; that late, how will she get home?" Funny, with all the thought I gave to the arrest itself, I never thought past it.

"She'll have to call a cab," Dave said. "Normally I'd send a tow truck and impound the vehicles but that would just cost you, not her, so I'm just going to leave both cars here...unless, you'd like to follow us to the station in her car and leave it in our lot; I'm sure Jack would give you a ride back to your car."

"Can you go ahead and just impound his car then?" I asked.

"Yeah, we can do that."

We weren't in the best of neighborhoods and I really didn't want Jean coming back here at two in the morning so that's what we did; Once we were all back at the station Dave showed Jean where her car would be when she got out later that night; again we looked at one another as I walked over to Jack's car, I never saw such sad eyes in my entire life.

"Dave, I know I'm pushing my luck here, but can I ask you for one more favor?" I asked.

"Sure, Dalton," he countered.

"Can you make sure they aren't released at the same time, I don't want that asshole hitting her up for a ride home?"

"No problem, buddy, I'll make sure he doesn't get out till an hour or two after Jean."

"Thanks...oh, and I won't complain if he's put in a cell with a big black guy named Bubba who just loves to initiate white guys to the prison system," I said with a forced smile.

"I'll see what I can do," Dave said returning my smile.

On the way back to my car I pulled out my cell and made a call.

"Werthington Industries," announced the receptionist.

"Beverly Billings please," I responded.

"One moment please."

"Hello, this Beverly, may I help you?"

"Beverly, this is Dalton Conrad; I just thought I'd let you know that neither my wife nor Irv Jackson will be coming back to work today; they're both in jail."

"Jail," she said sounding alarmed, "what did they do?"

"You know damn well what they did, and have been doing; adultery is against the law in this state you know...oh, and I wanted to thank you, Beverly, if I ever have knowledge of your husband cheating on you, I'll be sure to keep it from you just like you did me," I said with as much contempt in my voice as I could muster.

"Dalton, I'm..."

I hung up on the bitch; as far as I was concerned, she was a part of my wife's betrayal...fuck her too.

Jack and I stopped for lunch but I wasn't very hungry. I managed about half a burger and a bottle of beer. Jack was a gentleman and never mentioned the bondage scene we had just witnessed, but it was sure playing over and over in my mind; I was totally shocked. Seven years of marriage and I had no idea she was into that kind of stuff.

Jack said I should just get shit-faced and go home with him. As tempting as that sounded I was not going to start feeling sorry for myself; once I started doing that I might never stop. I had a business to run...and a marriage to dissolve; there was just no time for self-pity.

I have no idea how many times I've walked into my house when it was empty, hundreds I would imagine, but that time it was different, it wasn't just empty, it was lonely. It was as if the house itself felt my grief; misery dripped from the walls, and sadness hung in the air like a stifling fog.

I waded through memories of laughter and good times on my way to the bedroom; by the time I got there my face was covered with streaks of salty remnants from the past.

I collapsed under the weight of my heavy heart and cried myself to sleep on the same bed that I had shared with the only woman I'd ever loved.

Continued...