Trick or Treat
by Jerry Guarino
Joseph liked to use his
lunch hour to exercise on the basketball court.
On a windy, late October day, the sky was dark
and threatening to rain. Colored leaves were
strewn over the court and his usual group of
friends had not shown up. “Must be the
weather. Wimps.” As he went up for a jump
shot, a buzz in his pocket disrupted his
concentration; the ball hit the front rim and
rolled off the court. “What now?” He
punched a button and saw a text message.
Private
client meeting…5pm at the
Barclay Restaurant of the Ritz Carlton. Tell
no one and don’t be late.
“Hmmm.” He had
been courting some clients away from his former
firm. Maybe this was the payoff. Joseph headed
back into the showers, and then returned to his
brokerage office.
Karen was in the middle of
a divorce settlement negotiation when her phone
vibrated in her purse. “Excuse me a minute
please.” She flipped open the earpiece and
saw a text message.
Meet me
at the Ritz Carlton at 4:30pm.
Dress for dinner. Keep confidential. A friend.
Joseph and Karen had been
married for six years. Their careers in finance
and law had taken a toll on their plans for
children as well as their love life. Professional
obligations had often disrupted dinner plans.
Both turning 30, they were entering another phase
of life, one filled with stress and a review of
their once ideal romance.
Joseph dotted off an email
to Karen before heading to the hotel. “Honey,
I have a business dinner. I probably won’t
be home till 8pm.” Karen paused a moment,
then replied. “No worries. I’ll have
dinner with a friend and see you at home.”
Karen left work early to
shower. She put on her black dress, pearl
necklace and earrings, then got into her BMW and
left for the Ritz. When she arrived at the lobby,
a concierge greeted her. “Karen Johnson?”
Karen nodded. “Follow me please.” The
man led her behind the restaurant to the spa area,
and then handed an envelope to the woman at the
desk. “Ms. Johnson will be having a
treatment before dinner.” Karen was startled
but excited. “I don’t have anything to
change into.” The woman brought out a
complimentary bundle of clothing, towels and
toiletries. “We’ve been expecting you.
Change into this Danskin and robe and go into the
massage area at the back of the locker room.”
Meanwhile Joseph pulled out
his standby suit and shirt, all pressed for
unexpected meetings. He thought the meeting must
be with one of his college buddies he had been
trying to get to invest so a professional
appearance was necessary.
An athletic girl, no more
than 20, greeted Karen at the massage table.
“Ms. Johnson?” Karen smiled. “I’ll
take your robe. Please lie on the table here.”
New age music and scented candles accented the
low lighting in the spa. The masseuse gave Karen
a relaxing 20-minute massage. “Please take
10 minutes in our Eucalyptus steam bath, then
dress for dinner. Your reservation is waiting
under your name at the Barclay at 5:30pm.”
Karen was too relaxed to question the directions
and happily glided into the steam room to
continue her relaxing diversion.
Joseph walked up to the
host at the restaurant. “Do you have a
reservation for Joseph Charles?” The host
was expecting him. “Certainly, Mr. Charles,
right over here” leading him to a secluded
table in the corner by the piano. As he sat down,
he noticed the table was set for two. Joseph took
the menu and looked over the entrees.
“Joseph, is that you?”
said a tall brunette in a business suit. It was a
woman from Karen’s law firm. “Susan, so
nice to see you. What brings you here?”
Susan gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Just
finished a business meeting. I was going to have
dinner. May I join you?” Joseph saw how this
was going. “Love to” and he held out a
chair for her. Joseph had flirted with Susan at
the Christmas party so this was a most pleasant
surprise. If she had planned this, he knew his
night would be exciting.
Knowing that her husband
was busy, Karen arrived at the restaurant with
anticipation. “I believe there is a
reservation for Karen Johnson” she told the
host. “Yes, Ms. Johnson, you’re table
is over here” leading her to a booth out of
sight from Joseph and Susan. Noticing that the
booth was set up for two, Karen continued. “My
guest hasn’t arrived yet?” The host
reassured her. “He will be right here. He
said he had to pick up something. Then Karen saw
Rick, an old boyfriend from college, holding
flowers. “Karen, so nice of you to come.”
Karen stood up and kissed Rick on the cheek,
noticing he was not wearing a ring. “What’s
this about?” Rick sat down. “Oh, there’s
no harm in old friends getting together for
dinner. I figured you’re working too hard in
that law firm and needed a night out.” Karen
stroked her wedding ring but didn’t object.
“Dinner would be lovely, thank you and the
spa was especially just what I needed.” Rick
didn’t know anything about a spa treatment,
figuring Karen came early and got a massage.
“Yes, their spa is quite nice.”
Joseph assumed that Susan
had arranged this all along, especially when she
rubbed her foot against his leg and held his hand.
Joseph hadn’t felt this kind of excitement
for quite some time with Karen and he welcomed
the attention. But he knew this indiscretion
would have to be their secret since Susan worked
with Karen. “So Susan, are you seeing anyone?”
Susan made eye contact. “Not presently. Does
it matter?” she said with a wicked smile.
Joseph stroked the inside of her arm. “Just
curious,” he replied. Joseph and Susan had a
most flirtatious dinner, each letting down their
inhibitions, helped by champagne and body
language. When it was time for dessert, Susan
excused herself. She leaned over to Joseph and
whispered in his ear. “I’ll be right
back lover. Bring us something chocolate with
whipped cream” and she blew slowly into his
ear. “Waiter” Joseph called and he
ordered something decadent from the dessert menu.
The romantic jazz playing on the piano only
heightened his anticipation.
Karen was similarly letting
go. She needed a night of romance with an
attentive man. “Rick, didn’t you ever
get married?” Rick sighed. “Yes, but it
didn’t work out. My wife was married to her
work and we drifted apart. I won’t make that
mistake again.” Karen was relieved by his
attitude. Maybe this could be an affair without
the complications. “I know what you mean”
as she held his hand. “Would you excuse me a
minute?” Before she could enter the ladies
room, (and possibly run into Susan), a buzz came
from her phone.
Go to
the lobby and get a key for room
742. I’ll be waiting. ;)
She freshened up, went to
the lobby and picked up the key. When she got to
the room, she saw candles and rose petals around
the bed and heard Diana Krall music coming from
speakers. It was dark, just the flickering of
candles to see by. Karen gently undressed and got
into bed, then closed her eyes.
After a few minutes, Joseph
got a text from his phone. Thinking his wife was
looking for him, his smile turned to concern.
I’m
in room 742. Bring the dessert with
you in ten minutes. Our little secret ;)
Joseph’s tension was
reignited. He asked the waiter for the check and
to have the dessert bagged to go.
Joseph picked up the
dessert and a room key, and then got into the
elevator. Loosening his tie, he decided that he
deserved this fling. Karen had been paying more
attention to work than to him and what she didn’t
know wouldn’t hurt her. He silently entered
the room, put down the dessert, undressed and got
into bed. Then, like an earthquake, the two
devoured each other for thirty minutes before
either of them realized it was their spouse. What
happened? Deciding that this was some delightful
mistake, each pretended that the other had
arranged for this meeting, less the dinner
companion and made the best of it. “Why
lover, how long have you been planning this”
she said to her husband. Also, ignoring the
obvious, Joseph replied. “You scamp. It’s
a good thing my wife is working.”
After more champagne,
conveniently laid out on the table, and dessert,
Joseph and Karen continued their illicit
lovemaking with each other, still pretending to
have an affair, when suddenly a loud knock on the
door interrupted their bliss.
“This is the police.
Open up or we’ll break the door down,”
which they did. (Cops never wait, do they?).
“Ok boys, take them away.” The couple
was shocked and confused. “What is this
about?” The policeman took out his pad.
“So you don’t know anything about the
murder of one Rick Johnson and Susan Wilson? We
have witnesses that put them with you earlier
tonight at the restaurant. Thought you could make
this a murder scene with sex chaser, did you?”
Then the police took them away in handcuffs.
Trick
or Treat by Jerry Guarino
Copyright September, 2011 – All Rights
Reserved
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