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Okay, peeps, here's another chapter in the unfolding saga of a story inspired by a real-life event from over 40 years ago. Has it got your attention or does it bore you rigid? Read on before you form your considered conclusion.
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Chapter Five:
Ted paused for a second, swallowed, then spoke again. "It's me dear," he said, "it's just that I'm in shock - Ted's been killed, murdered, and I'm trying to console Mary. She's in a state... barely stopped crying since she got back from her mother's and I told her the bad news."
"She sounded okay a moment ago," replied Karen, "same as she always does, the stuck-up, pompous cow." There was no love lost between the two wives, that was for sure. "She's in shock too," said Ted. "I gave her something to calm her down - it must be taking effect."
"So you're a doctor now?" said Karen facetiously. "What did you give her and where did you get it?" Before he could invent another lie, she suddenly asked "But what happened? Who killed Ted? Were you there when it happened? Give."
"So you're a doctor now?" said Karen facetiously. "What did you give her and where did you get it?" Before he could invent another lie, she suddenly asked "But what happened? Who killed Ted? Were you there when it happened? Give."
"It must've been someone with a grudge... someone who Ted exposed on the show. The police are examining the car - what's left of it - for clues, and they're going to be talking to me and Mary again before too long. In fact, I'd better get off the 'phone in case they try to call." He was anxious to draw things to a close in case the longer he spoke to her, the greater the danger of giving himself away, but she was having none of it. "They'll come to the house if they can't get through on the 'phone," she said, "so chill your heels, Charlie."
"I need to go, honey," he said, "I think I'm going to throw up. I saw the aftermath and it wasn't pretty. I'll be home as soon as I can." He didn't wait for a reply, hanging up as he finished speaking. Mary glanced over at him. "What's that torn-faced bitch saying now?" she spat. "She'd better not have said anything about me." Ted sighed inwardly. It was always like this with the two women and it could be wearing. Ted and Ben and their wives could never go out together as couples, because it always ended in unpleasantness. Whenever Ted wanted to catch up with his brother, it was usually just the two of them, otherwise sparks would fly. Ted suddenly remembered he would never catch up with his brother again - at least not in this life.
He didn't like admitting to himself, but his feelings about Ben were now mixed. His natural impulse was to love his brother, but the knowledge that he and Mary had obviously been screwing, probably for years, ate at his soul like a cancer. The bastard. If he were alive, Ted knew that he'd probably try to throttle him, so enraged was he at his brother's betrayal - not just of him, but also of Karen. Ted pondered their chat on the 'phone. She'd sounded different; harder, more calloused, than she was when Ted ever spoke to her as himself, on the times he'd dropped by to collect Ben for one of their nights out. Ben was never ready on the appointed hour, so Karen would chat to him in the living room while Ben blundered about upstairs. She was soft, sweet, charming - nothing like the streetwise broad she'd sounded like a few minutes ago. Ted knew that no one ever really knows what goes on in a marriage behind closed doors, but who was the real Karen - the one he knew (or thought he did), or the one that spoke to Ben in such a different way? Did Ben bring out that side of her, or had she driven him to have an affair with Mary? Who was at fault - or were they both as bad as each other? Would he ever know?
"So what's the plan, Romeo - are you going to leave her or not? I'm not going to play second fiddle forever, so you'd better make up your mind what - who - you want in this life." Ted looked over at her, taking in her sensuous beauty, her almost perfect figure, her alluring eyes and mouth - oh, that mouth - and surprised himself by wondering what he'd ever seen in her. He knew his reaction was prompted by his anger at her two-timing, but right at this moment he didn't feel like he could ever forgive her. But could she forgive him? Would she forgive him, when she eventually found out the way in which he'd hoodwinked her, tricked her into revealing her infidelity? Would he even want her to? He pushed the thought to the back of his mind. That lay in the future, but for now, more important matters needed his full attention.
There'd be plenty of time to deal with Mary once Ted's present predicament was out of the way.
Okay, that's another rough draft presented hot-off-the-presses for your consideration. Feel free to tickle my ego (or not) in the comments section.
He didn't like admitting to himself, but his feelings about Ben were now mixed. His natural impulse was to love his brother, but the knowledge that he and Mary had obviously been screwing, probably for years, ate at his soul like a cancer. The bastard. If he were alive, Ted knew that he'd probably try to throttle him, so enraged was he at his brother's betrayal - not just of him, but also of Karen. Ted pondered their chat on the 'phone. She'd sounded different; harder, more calloused, than she was when Ted ever spoke to her as himself, on the times he'd dropped by to collect Ben for one of their nights out. Ben was never ready on the appointed hour, so Karen would chat to him in the living room while Ben blundered about upstairs. She was soft, sweet, charming - nothing like the streetwise broad she'd sounded like a few minutes ago. Ted knew that no one ever really knows what goes on in a marriage behind closed doors, but who was the real Karen - the one he knew (or thought he did), or the one that spoke to Ben in such a different way? Did Ben bring out that side of her, or had she driven him to have an affair with Mary? Who was at fault - or were they both as bad as each other? Would he ever know?
"So what's the plan, Romeo - are you going to leave her or not? I'm not going to play second fiddle forever, so you'd better make up your mind what - who - you want in this life." Ted looked over at her, taking in her sensuous beauty, her almost perfect figure, her alluring eyes and mouth - oh, that mouth - and surprised himself by wondering what he'd ever seen in her. He knew his reaction was prompted by his anger at her two-timing, but right at this moment he didn't feel like he could ever forgive her. But could she forgive him? Would she forgive him, when she eventually found out the way in which he'd hoodwinked her, tricked her into revealing her infidelity? Would he even want her to? He pushed the thought to the back of his mind. That lay in the future, but for now, more important matters needed his full attention.
There'd be plenty of time to deal with Mary once Ted's present predicament was out of the way.
******
Okay, that's another rough draft presented hot-off-the-presses for your consideration. Feel free to tickle my ego (or not) in the comments section.
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