PRECARIOUS by Robert F. Clifton (ebook reader macos .TXT) 📖

for a golf tournament. Helen sat waiting in the Olney apartment. When Robert got there he took her in his arms, feeling her next to him. He smelled the sweet aroma of the shampoo in her hair. He felt the softness of her lips when he kissed her and he wanted her, wanted her then and now. They made love the rest of the afternoon.

A month later Robert received a telephone call from Rupert Benson. Sayer froze when his secretary mentioned the name. His hand shook as he reached for the telephone receiver.

Picking it up he said weakly, “Robert Sayer Mr. Benson, how can I help you?”

“I’ll come right to the point. Your firm is representing one,

Ronald Heath. After studying the case, we ,representing the plaintiff have come to an agreement. The agreement is that we’ll settled out of court for fifty thousand dollars. Are you willing to do that?”, asked Benson.

“I’m willing, but I can’t commit my client with out advising him.”

“I understand. If and when you reach an agreement please call me,” said Benson.

“I certainly will,” Robert replied.

“Have we met? Your name is very familiar,”said Benson.

“No, I haven’t had the pleasure.”

“I know what it is. Your wife held a charity event at the Cricket Club. You bought my wife a drink because of the heat.”

“I ordered her an ice tea.”

“Drink? Tea, whatever. Anyway let’s make it a point to get together some time. It could be that we can throw some business each others way.”

“Perhaps, hey, have a good day,” said Robert. He then placed the telephone on the cradle.

On a Friday morning Robert asked Barbara if she would like to take the kids down to Atlantic City to see his parents. She declined saying that she was tied up with one of her charity events. He packed a suitcase and when he went to his automobile placed the valise in the trunk. He then drove to work, parked his automobile in his marked, reserved place and exited, sliding out of the drivers seat. He took the garage elevator up to the fifth floor, stepped out of the elevator and walked into his office.

He stopped to say good morning to Ann and asked her what his schedule was for the day.

You have three pieces of correspondence that require an answer. I have laid them out on your desk. Read them, familiarize yourself with them and when you are ready to dictate an answer buzz me,” said his secretary.

“Fine, I might be leaving early today. I’m driving down to the shore to see my parents.”

“Oh, how nice.”

Visits to his parents meant a fifteen minute conversation usually,” how have you been? How are you now? Where are the children? And why didn’t Barbara come?” After that his father and mother just sat looking at him.

He got up early then drove to Wildwood. He knew the address where Janet now lived with her husband. Now, she had two children, both boys. When he drove slowly past her house he saw the basketball backboard, hoop and net attached over the double door garage. He gazed upon the large two story home with a red brick front. As he did thoughts came to him. This should be ours. Our home, our kids. We should be together. She should be with me, not him. He stopped thinking as the front door opened and Janet stepped out on to the concrete porch of the split-level. He wanted to jump out of the automobile, run to her, take her in his arms again. Then, she turned and went back into the house. It was just like his dreams. She only appeared for a moment, then, she was gone.

In early fall some charity held a white tie, ball event and Barbara insisted that they attend. Robert danced with his wife and for the first time in a long while was enjoying himself. First, the orchestra was excellent, Second, he enjoyed dancing. He stood applauding at the end of one dance and was waiting to hear what the next tune would be when Helen Benson walked up to them.

“Barbara dear. Just because you are married to this man who appears to be the best dancer on the floor doesn’t mean that you can keep him to yourself all evening. Mr. Sayer, can I be so bold as to ask you to dance with me? With your wife’s permission of course.”

Robert fought the uncomfortable feeling that had suddenly began to come over him. He looked at Barbara.

“Of course Helen. I must find Hazel King about a matter of importance. Robert dear, dance with Helen,” said Barbara

When the music began Robert took Helen in his arms. He didn’t hold her close. He made sure there was plenty of room between them. As they danced he said with a forced smile on his face. “You’re getting careless.”

“Why haven’t you called?’, she asked.

“I’ve been busy, busy at work. I had to go down to the shore to see my parents.”

“You still could have at least called me.”

“I told you. I’ve been busy.”

“I want you Robert. I want you bad.”

“Shall I take you right here on the dance floor?”

When the music ended she said, “Call me. Call me soon.”

then she walked away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

Divorce

 

On a cold February, day on a 1973, weekend Robert once again drove to Atlantic City to see his parents. As usual, he was alone. His mother had called and asked him to drive down. They had some news to tell him. When he got there he settled down in an easy chair in the living room and said, “Now, what’s the news you want to tell me?”

“Well, as you know, we’re both retired now. We both have our pensions and social security. Being that as it may, we’ve decided to move to Florida,” said Frank Sayer.

Robert sat silent for a moment, then said, “Well you both have earned it. Where in Florida?”, he asked.

“Between Sarasota and Fort Myers,”said Frank.

“The West Coast?”, said his mother.

“Good. I’ll miss you of course. Still, airlines fly into that area every day. I’ll fly down from time to time,” said Robert.

“Excellent, well that takes care of that,” said Frank Sayer.

“When will you be leaving?”,asked Robert.

“Probably in May. The house is being built right now.”

Frank answered.

“I see. Is there anything else I should know?, Asked Robert.

“Not really. You should know about this of course,” said Mary Sayer handing her son a newspaper clipping.

Robert read the bold print first reading, “Atlantic City Press, Cape May Edition. Then he read, Divorces. Harvey Birch

From Janet Birch. He didn’t read the rest. “She was free. She was single,” he thought to himself as he handed the clipping back to his mother.

“Now, I hope your satisfied. I told you in the beginning, just before you left for the Navy that she wasn’t worth caring about. Now she’s divorced. I understand her ex husband has custody of the boys. You know what that means,” said Mary Sayer.

“No, I don’t. What does it mean mother?”

“It probably means that she was running around, being unfaithful, cheating on her husband. Why else would it mean. The proof is that her ex husband went to court and got custody of his sons. you’re a lawyer, how do you see it?”

“I don’t know. Actually, I really don’t care.”

Three weeks later while sitting in the black leather covered , high back desk chair. Robert sat thinking. As he did he tapped a yellow, wooden pencil on the green blotter that covered most of his desk top. “Where is she? Is she alright? Does she need anything? Why did they divorce? Who cares? She’s free. Find her.

Talk to her. Convince her that what ever happened happened in the past. He didn’t care. He just wanted her to come to him, to come back to him”, he thought to himself.

“He reached for the address book he kept on his desk. Then, after opening it ran his index finger down a list of names, the names of private investigators that the law firm used from time to time. He stopped moving his finger when he came to the name, James Hogan. He reached for the telephone, lifted the receiver and then looking at the telephone number listed next to Hogans name dialed it.

The telephone Robert was calling rang several times then a man answered, “James Hogan.”

“Mr. Hogan. This is Robert Sayer of Pratt, Pratt, Parlin And Sayer.”

“Yes sir. How may I be of service.,?”

“We can discuss that in my office say one o’clock tomorrow afternoon,’ said Robert.

“Fine sir, see you then.”

The next day James Hogan sat patiently in Robert Sayers office waiting for the attorney to speak. Robert reached for the intercom on his desk, pushed a button and when Ann Peterson responded, he said, “Hold all of my calls.” He then turned to Hogan. “Let’s get started. First, your fees will be paid by me personally, not the law firm. You will hand carry all of your bills to me here in the office. The investigation I want you to undertake is of a personal thing to me. What you find is to be kept confidential, just between you and I. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. I want you to investigate one Janet Birch. Here is the last known address I have of her. As you can see, it’s in Wildwood. She recently got divorced from one Harvey Birch, also of Wildwood. I want to know why they divorced. Now, then, I also want to know where she is. She might be using her maiden name, it’s Campbell.”

Hogan wrote notes in a small folding tablet. When he was finished he asked,”Anything else?”

“No. I’ll wait to hear from you. Let me know when you have something,” said Robert.

When he arrived home that evening he was met by Barbara who stood in the door waiting for him. He could tell that something was bothering her. “Is something wrong?”, he asked.

“I would say so. I was at the club today playing bridge when one of the women at the table mention Helen Benson. Would you like to know what she said?,” asked Barbara.

“Not in particular,” said Robert in an attempt to be remain calm.

“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. She said that there is a rumor that Helen Benson is having an affair with a husband of one of the club members. As she was talking she looked directly at me.”

“Probably just your imagination. What does this have to do with me?”

“I’ll tell you what it has to do with you. I called Helen Benson. We had a very long conversation on the telephone. Would you like to know what she had to say?”, asked Barbara.

“No, but you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“Oh, you are so right. She told me that you and her have been running around for some time. That you meet in an apartment that you rent under an assumed name. The place where you two meet is in Olney, on Godfrey Street.”

Robert slowly walked past his wife as he did he said, “Looks like she didn’t leave anything out did she?”

“No she didn’t.”

“Now what?”, he asked.

“Now what? Here’s what. Fortunately for you she and I come from the same social set. She can’t afford a scandal and neither can I. So both of us will go on pretending that you two have never cheated on your spouses. The price you both pay is that the affair is over. You get rid of the Olney apartment and if and when you two come in contact with each other you both smile and pretend that you never made love to each other. Do you understand?”

“Suppose I want a divorce?”, he asked.

“I can do two things. One refuse to do it or agree. If I agree that means I take you to court. I’ll take you for every cent you own Robert. At the same time your partners will force you out of the firm. you’ll be finished here in Philadelphia. Certainly the clients you have now will desert you when they