Читать книгу A Memorable Murder - John Schlarbaum - Страница 13

SIX WEEKS EARLIER

It would only be the second time they’d seen each other in public—the first since beginning their affair—and Lynn was as excited as a schoolgirl. Having discovered her darling husband had been fooling around with a beautiful young lab researcher, Lynn had methodically set out to have a dalliance of her own.

Lynn Barker was an extremely attractive 40-year-old. Her slim build, collar-length light brown hair, aqua-coloured eyes and dazzling smile had been causing men to crane their necks at parties for years. The fact that she was happily married only made these men more envious of Robert. After dating in high school, they’d married while in college, much to Robert’s parents’ dismay who had hoped he’d marry within his own class. The Barker family fortune was piled high from the sale and development of drugs which relieved everything from the common cold to treating HIV/AIDS. The business was a century old, started by Robert’s great-grandfather who’d sold medicines, potions and miracle creams from the back of a horse-drawn wagon. Today, Mantis Pharmaceuticals was worth over a billion dollars and growing each year.

The idea that Lynn was merely a gold digger was never far from anyone’s mind, yet it never stopped her from being the perfect daughter-in-law and consummate wife. After the death of his parents, as their only child, Robert was willed the company, having been its acting Vice President at the time.

With business doing well and no apparent problems on the home front, Lynn was devastated to learn of Robert’s affair. Not devastated enough to ask for a divorce, mind you—as such things became much too publicized—yet hurt enough to give him back some of his own medicine.

The first opportunity presented itself at a campaign fundraiser staged by the pharmaceutical industry to show its support for Senator Douglas Adams.

Lynn arrived in the most revealing red dress she could find.

Elegant, yet slutty, she thought as she’d looked at herself in the mirror.

When introduced to Adams, as they shook hands she could feel the heat pass through their bodies.

He was a distinguished-looking man whose mannerisms conveyed to everyone that he was a powerful person. Recently widowed, in speeches he’d often speak of his wife, saying how she’d always dreamed of living in the White House. She’d supported him tirelessly although cancer was slowly killing her. Her passing was front-page news and Adams’ tears at the funeral, followed by his determination to win the election for her, had boosted his campaign to a higher level.

That they truly hated each other was widely known to political reporters, although never divulged to the public.

By the gala’s conclusion, Lynn and Douglas had made it discreetly known that a private get-together would be mutually enjoyable.

On the ride home, Robert shocked Lynn by saying, “I see you and the candidate hit it off pretty well.”

“What do you mean by that?” she said defensively.

“Take it easy. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that at this stage any advantage we have over Litchfield is key.”

“You think I was talking to Adams in an effort to influence your grant application?”

“Weren’t you?”

The irony was too much for Lynn. Here she was setting up a sexual liaison with Adams and Robert thought she was being the faithful dutiful wife.

Let him think what he wants.

“You know me too well, Robert.” She paused before adding, “I was going to sleep with him to guarantee his approval. What do you think of that?”

Robert laughed.

“You’d do that for me?” he said sweetly.

“Twice, if necessary.”

There was another couple who had taken great interest in Senator Adams and Mrs. Barker. Standing off in a corner, not mingling amongst the drug industry’s movers and shakers, were Jerry Steele and Melanie Fields.

As Robert Barker’s administrative assistant, Jerry had been bored to tears at numerous flashy parties. However, when he started to bring Melanie along each event became at least bearable. They were an odd pair. He was tall and gangly with a thin moustache. She was of medium height and weight with an attractive face that caught men’s attention. It was this last physical quality she used to her advantage. The fact she had no scruples about sleeping her way to the top also proved helpful on occasion.

Jerry had met Melanie at a pharmaceutical convention the previous summer. At the time, she was working for a small mail order company, hustling generic drugs to shut-ins. Her goal was to make a few bucks and then get a marketing position at one of the big drug companies. When she met Jerry and slept with him every day of the three-day convention, she felt sure her career was about to go somewhere. Unfortunately, Jerry wasn’t able to find her work at Mantis and suggested she try rival Litchfield Industries.

Although he didn’t like sending her to the competition, Jerry couldn’t bear not having her near him.

After a few “interviews” with the personnel manager, Melanie announced she had joined the Litchfield marketing team. Her emphasis would be on lobbying the government for regulation changes and to ensure Litchfield would continue to receive grants for research and development projects.

Jerry and Melanie decided that unless asked point blank, for obvious reasons they would keep their relationship private.

“Who’s that talking with the Senator?” Melanie asked Jerry as she sipped from a flute of champagne.

“Lynn Barker, Robert’s wife.”

“Really?” Melanie had never met the woman. Seeing her now made the hair on the back of her neck bristle. “Does she attend all of these things with him?” Melanie asked, trying to sound merely interested.

“Most times.” Jerry looked at Melanie, who appeared to be sizing Lynn up. “I think this is the first time the two of you have been in the same room together. Are you impressed?”

Melanie’s dislike for the woman in the red dress was absolute but she couldn’t tell Jerry that without having to explain why. Then something extraordinary happened: Lynn looked in their direction and her eyes met Melanie’s glare, if only for a split second.

It couldn’t be, Melanie thought.

“Hello—Earth to Melanie.”

“Something familiar about her,” Melanie said absentmindedly.

“The way she’s flirting with Adams? Maybe she reminds you of yourself.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, dear.”

Melanie continued to stare at Lynn’s profile.

“It’s not the flirting—although I do like that quality—it’s a physical thing. She looks familiar.”

“Maybe you’ve seen her in Mantis literature or on television.”

The final tumbler finally fell into place.

“Or at the prom.”

“Whose prom? Your prom?”

“Do you know her maiden name?”

“I’ve heard it before . . . something like Foster or Fester or—”

“Fletcher. Lynn Fletcher.”

“That’s it,” Jerry said astounded. “You two know each other?”

“It’s been a long time. Over 20 years, I guess.”

Melanie stood silent for a moment, shaking slightly as a rush of adrenalin burned through her veins.

Would this nightmare ever end? she asked herself.

Looking into Jerry’s probing eyes did nothing to calm the rage which was welling up within her.

“Were you two classmates?” Jerry asked eagerly.

Knowing there was no way of getting around this situation, Melanie figured she’d have to go with the flow of conversation.

“A few classes. Although I was never in her class, if you know what I mean.”

“Small world, huh?”

Claustrophobic, Melanie almost blurted out. She lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Calm down, girl, she thought, keep your cool.

Melanie ignored the question and instead asked, “When did Robert start banging that lab technician?”

Jerry was startled by the sudden change of topic.

“I don’t know—January, early February,” he stammered.

That bastard! Melanie silently fumed. His wife wasn’t going to divorce him. He had only found another playmate to screw around with!

As if by magic, Robert appeared at Lynn’s side and escorted her away from the Senator. Jerry noticed Melanie’s eyes narrow.

“You don’t like Lynn, do you?” he asked.

“I don’t like either of them much right now.” Melanie threw her half-smoked cigarette onto the carpet and stamped it out with her high-heeled pump. “She was a real bitch, who as Miss Popularity regularly looked down on the little people who didn’t belong to her court.”

Jerry began to laugh.

“I’d have never guessed you’d let anyone treat you like that, Melanie. It’s very big of you to divulge this information to me.”

“Big, my ass! If I could have killed her back then, I would have. Unfortunately, fate made me a nobody. Unlike Lynn, I didn’t need a bunch of fake friends to make me feel worthwhile.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Stop that!”

“Look, why don’t you introduce yourself? Your issues with her were a very long time ago, Melanie.”

“The scars remain.”

For the rest of the evening Melanie drank heavily, while trying to figure out when she had gotten so stupid. During her affair with Robert she intentionally avoided knowing anything about his wife. She didn’t search for images of her on the internet or in trade publications. Her belief was if he was with her, it didn’t matter what wifey looked like or which committees she ran. Robert didn’t care for her, so why should she?

Ignorance is bliss, she rationalized.

Until now.

Near the gala’s close, Melanie saw something which piqued her interest: After writing on the back of his business card, Senator Adams had very carefully handed it to Lynn. As they parted company, Melanie saw Lynn shove the card under the edge of her bra.

“Jerry, does Lynn know about Robert’s bimbo?”

“Not that he’s aware of. Robert’s very careful. Why?”

Melanie related the card exchange.

“There’s something going on with her and the Senator,” she said.

“She was flirting a bit, I concede. Anything more and Robert would know about it.”

“Just like she would know if he was having an affair.”

“Okay, so she may or may not be having an affair with Adams. So what?”

“So what?” Melanie tossed her hair back in disbelief. Her words became slurred with excitement. “Our futures are riding on this, Jerry. Don’t you get it? She sleeps with him and he gives Mantis the next big grant, instead of to Litchfield.”

“Boy, that would teach Robert a lesson not to fool around anymore,” Jerry deadpanned.

“So I haven’t thought this through yet. Give me time.” Melanie took a final swallow of champagne and got up unsteadily from the table. “If my dear old friend is having an affair, I am going to use that information to my advantage.”

“To what end?” Jerry asked as he helped Melanie on with her coat.

“Whichever end justifies the means.”

“You’re drunk,” Jerry laughed.

“Yeah, I guess I am.” Melanie looked up into Jerry’s face. “Even you’re starting to look pretty handsome.”