Crime & Punishment Pt. 02

He stroked in faster and then faster still. It built and built, she shook with another orgasm, letting out a scream she was sure they heard all over the Inn. That had certainly never happened to her before, and then he came and came. She saw a perplexed look in his eyes. He was on top now and looking down at her.

"You alright Baby?" she asked.

"Yes, but are we protected?"

She laughed and said, "On the Pill my love, Oh my sweet love."

__________________________________________________________

July had become August and the summer was gone. Patrick had to return to school as did Steven, who was now living in Chelsea with Susan. Laura began pushing for Patrick to move in with her.

"It will mean more time together," she argued.

"But..." he trailed off without saying it.

"What! You don't mind screwing me but don't want people to know?" she said knowing she was not being fair. He didn't want to tell his very Catholic parents he was sleeping with her and she understood. On the other hand she loved this man and wanted him to marry her, and not someday but now. She had come around to Susan's way of thinking-there was no point in waiting-she was ready and whether he liked it or not, he was hers.

"Laura please let's try to work something out?" he pleaded

"OK, but I love you and want to be with you. Of all people, you should understand how difficult the hours in my job are," she said, her voice and her face begging, but beneath the pleading was an accusation that he didn't love her enough. Laura had started manipulating Patrick and it was a pattern that was to last.

She knew if she kept building the pressure, he would see his only way out was to propose. An engagement would give them the requisite respectability. He would think he could put off the wedding quite a while, but she would squelch that soon enough.

He cracked about two weeks into the new school year. He nearly ran himself ragged trying to be with her and make it back and forth between his parent's home and school. She made it as hard as possible till he gave in.

The engagement ring was small only half a carat. It took every penny he could scrape together. Most of the funds came from card games in the student cafeteria. He and Steven left no sucker unfleeced. They would have a hard time finding a game the rest of their law school careers. One of the suckers was Ed Kincade. His game was bridge but he was no match for Steven even when he demanded that Pat sit one rubber as his partner. Kincade hated to lose as much as Steven did.

Small as the ring was Laura treasured it. She took Pat home to meet her family, her mother, father and three younger sisters. Her family loved Pat. She was the oldest by seven years. Then the next three had come one after the other. Her father longed for a son. She knew her dad was looking for that in Pat, but feared Pat was to quirky and not very into guy kind of things.

Once again Pat surprised her. When her Dad talked sports Pat stayed right with him. Oh he didn't know the player's names or the statistics, but he knew the intimate mechanics of each sport, what you needed to win and what would cause you to lose. It came out that there was virtually no game that he and Steven had played that Steven had not figured a way to cheat at.

The family was in no position to fund a big wedding, but that is not what Laura wanted. She kept it small and simple. The honeymoon was in Las Vegas, it was cheap. Four days over Veterans' Day. Patrick won five thousand at black jack and the management began looking at him funny. Susan and Steven flew in for the last two days and the four of them had a good time. By Tuesday she was back, hard at work.

Two years later she announced to Pat that they were moving to Albany. He had graduated, taken the bar and passed the first time, but had no job. The Senior Associate position for municipal bonds had opened in the Albany Office and Laura smelled a partnership opportunity. Such openings had become very few following the recession. So they moved.

When they got to Albany Laura announced that she wanted to put down roots. The housing market had just crashed. She saw the opportunity to buy a house. He found work with the Van Patten County DA part-time covering Village Night Court. So Redmond, a rather nice suburb of Albany in Van Patten County, was the spot she chose and she found a nice 2200 square foot ranch in a mid-size development. Patrick went along.

He didn't like his job, but apparently they liked him. He was moved into a full time position within a year, but the job paid crap. However, everything was fine until Frank Patterson showed up.

Patterson was a tall well-built exceedingly handsome man in his mid-forties. He was a senior partner, a Harvard Law graduate. He was the kind of masterful male that turned women on. He had started in the firm's Washington office, but been bounced around to every office until he reached Albany. From the very first, he was friendly with Laura. He complemented her clothes, her work, and most of all her looks. He was flirting. It was flattering, but she was married. She didn't flirt back, not at first. He was not deterred.

Laura was in a bind. Brentwood Stringer as a firm had taken a hit in the national economic collapse which meant that fewer partnerships were given out. Laura was overdue. She had moved to the Albany office to better her chances in the smaller pond and to move into municipal finance where the profits were high at the time.

She couldn't just reject Patterson and she certainly could not make a scene or ask for help from above, that would kill her chances. She was on the knife's edge of a very big dilemma.

In the end she chose to play along. It wasn't just for her; it was for Pat and the family that she told herself they both wanted. Though Pat had never said anything about kids other than that first time they had sex worrying that they were not protected.

If she brought up starting a family Pat would talk about it. She talked about having a large family. Pat never brought it up on his own. Well he was a guy and younger than her and his fertility was not running out. She needed the partnership and she needed it now.

Patterson found her weakness, it wasn't hard to spot. She was desperate for her name on the partners' side of the letterhead. He dangled it and eventually the fish bit on the bait. It still took him until the firm's Christmas Party to set the hook. When he met Pat that evening he wondered what all the fuss was about, that wimp would do nothing. He would probably thank Frank for fucking his wife. Patterson had to laugh.

The first night Frank had Laura to his house he took her right to his bedroom and forced her to her knees. As he stood over her she sucked his cock till he came in her mouth. He was showing her who was in charge. On the next date he took her ass something she hadn't done before; then he knew her husband was a wimp. Frank had nothing but contempt for men like Pat Sullivan. They were second rate. Their women were up for grabs, and they could do nothing about it. He made it a practice to bed as many of the women he worked with as he could. He preferred the married ones because he got a kick out of making their husbands cuckolds. This had caused problems and he had been moved from office to office. They hadn't fired him because he had a senior partner's slot that he had gained through internal politics. Until now none of the complaints about his activities had been formal. He was expecting no trouble when he was done with Laura.

Laura had not been happy with the relationship from the first. The sex was not great-only different. Frank tried to be too dominating in the bedroom. She enjoyed submitting to his physical dominance on a base level, but she also enjoyed being on top and playful carefree sex as well. Ultimately he was too old and heavy handed.

By February their affair was almost over, Frank was sure she would break it off after the partnership meeting if she got the nod. He tried to quietly see if he could block it, but that Jew Solomon was adamant that she had earned it as were the senior partners in the City, surprisingly headed by Mr. Stringer himself. So Frank was resigned to seeing how it would end with Laura. She gave him one last taste on Presidents' Day and told him that she thought her husband might be suspicious and she would need to break it off. He did not believe that story until the husband confronted him and all hell broke loose.

The Cops stopped Frank within a mile of the Bar he had been drinking in. Sullivan had approached him at the close of his weekly networking meeting. Frank had few clients that he could call his own. He had been trying to build a client base in case the firm tried to ease him out. He knew Solomon in particular was watching him. He could afford no public scandal. When Pat Sullivan sat down at the table he knew that things might get complicated. He was relieved that the cuckold husband was trying to avoid exposure, that made good sense. Sullivan would not want it public that he could not hold on to his wife. So he played along, drinking and talking about the need to keep things quiet. He did not notice the waitress being overly attentive and filling and refilling the glasses.

Frank should have called a cab, but he headed out driving super careful along a route he knew by heart. But the Cops were waiting-Van Patten County Sherriff's Deputies. They were all business. They took him to a Podunk town court where they ushered him right in. It still didn't register that he had been arrested until they asked if he wished to contact a lawyer and suddenly Steven Fitzgerald a prominent defense attorney was beside him. Steven led him into a room and explained the facts of the situation. In short he was truly screwed, but he could get out of it for a mere two hundred thousand dollars. At first he didn't believe it.

Patrick Sullivan the wimpy husband had set him up and was extorting him for money. Frank pretty much spent what he earned. He had a big expensive colonial house and a Mercedes-Benzes SLS GT with the extras almost a quarter million in car. A boat on the river and a summer camp in the Adirondacks. To raise the two hundred thousand he would need to draw cash from his retirement which would have a tax consequence. That dam Sullivan was going to make him down-size his life style. Frank did not enjoy being pushed around by some kid from Brooklyn-a lousy little Assistant County DA. In the scheme of things he saw himself as being entitled and Sullivan as the kind of man who was required to yield to him. Somehow the wimpy husband had got the best of him, but Frank would get even.

___________________________________________________________________

June was Laura's secretary/administrative assistant. She knocked on her boss's office door. June knew Patrick and has always said how lucky Laura was to have him. Laura wonders how lucky June thinks she is now.

"Mr. Solomon wants to see you," June said with a look of concern on her round face. "Are you alright Laura? Should I tell him you need a minute?" she asked.

"No, I'm alright."

Laura walked through the office not looking left or right and headed for the elevators to take her to the floor above. Saul Solomon had a large office on the building's fifth floor. It was alternatively used as a meeting room for important clients and the Government Affairs Group, which is the name given to the firm's division that was responsible for lobbying the State and Federal Governments.

Margaret, Saul's executive assistant, told Laura to go right in, he was expecting her. As she entered she was at first blinded by the sunlight coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. They faced west and the sun was now positioned to come at you from directly behind Saul's big desk. He wasn't at the desk, he was seated off to one side of the office where two comfortable leather chairs and a small sofa made a conversational group. On a small coffee table he had a tea pot and two china cups set out.

"Come sit with me Laura and tell me how you take your tea."

He waved her to the sofa next to his chair, and began fussing with the tea. She was very nervous. She knew enough about Saul to realize he was at his most dangerous when he seemed to be most gracious.

"Mr. Solomon, I want to say I am sorry for all the..."

He cut her off with a wave of his hand before she could finish.

"The apology is due from me," he said

"And it is 'Saul' to my partners Laura," he put down his cup and leaned back in his chair folding his hands over his stomach.

"You see I knew of Frank Patterson's predilections. I took precautions to protect the junior staff, but I failed to warn you or to accord you the same protection. I assumed that you were beyond his reach and well..." he paused, "able to handle him."

"I should have realized the precarious nature of your home situation. I don't mean to seem racist here but Irishmen can be very emotional in some situations. I assume that Mr. Sullivan over-reacted to your little dalliance and took some excessive measures," he said with a bit of a chuckle.

She had to give a small laugh in spite of her feelings. Saul had a way of scaling down the biggest problems to the trivial.

"Yes, his reaction was something beyond excessive, but I doubt he sees it that way."

"As I said Irishmen can let their emotions get away from them. I take it he did much more then hurt Frank's pride?" he said raising an eyebrow.

"Let's just say Frank was hurt very bad."

"Good. Maybe this will be a lesson learned. He is here as a kind of last resort. We can't keep moving him around every time one of his indiscretions gets out of hand. After all there is the liability issue to consider."

"But now," he said, "We come to you. Laura, you are my partner, I know that in this age of corporate firms, the PCs and the LLCs, we do not give much thought to what it means to be a partner. I don't follow the norm. Being my partner means your business is also my business, and my business is yours. I do not see that relationship ending at the office door. As in this case the fall-out into this office is very clear. So first, I need to move you. Starting tomorrow you are assigned to Governmental Affairs and Jim Smallwood will take your place in Municipal Finance."

"But I know nothing about lobbying and won't Jim see Municipals as a step down?"

Now Saul laughed.

"First, having a truly beautiful woman with you when you lobby is no disadvantage and second you don't know much about Jim if you think he will not see this as his chance to push Frank Patterson to the curb and take his senior partnership."

She had to give Saul his due. He could fall in a vat of shit and come out spotless.

"Thank you. I will endeavor to do my best," she said putting her tea down and beginning to rise.

"Sit down," he said taking up her cup and pouring some more tea.

"We still have to sort out your husband. If only to show that no one gets the best of us."

"Oh please Mr. Solomon, don't do anything to Patrick, I caused him enough pain. I just wish I could take it all back."

Saul smiled, "I was hoping all was not lost. I like your husband. So lets see what we can do to return him to you. I believe that would be best all around."

"But he's divorcing me. He made me sign a settlement agreement."

"Young woman this is the most talented and influential firm in New York. One lone Irishman isn't going to get the best of us." Saul did not let on that he and Jack Stringer had determined to block the divorce at all costs.

Jack did not believe that you divorced at the first bit of trouble in a marriage, and he told Saul flat out:

"I've seen the two of them together. The boy is way immature and he has a bad temper. He holds it in but it can be seen seething there beneath the surface. Still it is obvious he loves her and she loves him. If we can make the boy grow up this can work out."

"Alright Jack I will hold this divorce up, and hope this kid grows up."

Saul looked at Laura and said:

"You have friends in this firm and we feel your husband just needs some time to reconsider."

With that he picked up the phone and called the head of the matrimonial and family law group, Angela Zink. They talked a few minutes and decided Laura needed to ask for counseling before the divorce could become final. There was no doubt they could get the Judge to order it. Next he punched in a long distance call.

"Hello Bella," he said. She could only hear one side of the conversation, but they spoke about the situation, Laura found herself in. There was some discussion of methods of handling her problem. Then he made arrangements for Laura to meet with Bella Moskowitz, the best marriage counselor anywhere he assured her. Unfortunately she was in New York City and Laura would have to travel there.

When Laura left Saul's office she felt like a new person. She had hope again and she saw her situation in a new perspective. With the help Saul was giving her maybe she had a chance of getting Patrick back.

_____________________________________________________

Governor Kincade was trapped in his Albany office; it was the second week of April and spring had arrived in New York City. However, the weatherman was predicating snow in Albany. By some as yet unknown set of circumstances, the legislature was preparing to pass the Governor's budget as he submitted it in January, virtually without change. This effort was surprisingly being led by his republican opponent State Senator Tilden. Ed Kincade was suspicious. It seemed that as the poet Browning said: 'morning's at seven—God's in his heaven-all was right with the world'. In fact it was ten in the evening and Don Pleasant wanted to see him.

"Send him in," the Governor said to his administrative assistant Betty.

Don walked right through the office and walked into the Governor's bathroom where he turned on the faucets full blast. The Governor followed him in closing the door.

"Patrick Xavier Sullivan, only child, St Gregory's School, Xavier High School, Fordham University, Brooklyn Law, and now ADA in Van Patten County. Married to Laura Parker Yale, Law grad, partner Brentwood & Stringer," Don paused then he smiled.

"One devious, gutsy, and smart son of a bitch," Don said, his grin said more; said he liked the bastard.

It took Don about forty minutes to lay out all he had found out about the infidelity and the extortion of Frank Paterson. The bribes were just speculation, but the money had certainly been received by Kondos and was expected by LeCour.

Governor Kincade was speechless. He would never have expected that of Patrick Sullivan.

"Can we prove any of it?" the Governor asked.

"Not a chance! That Fitzgerald is not called foxy for nothing. You have a better chance of finding Jimmy Hoffa."

"Thanks Don."

"Any Time Gov, and If I may say so, I like the Kid's style. Sullivan is all right in my book, but not that Fitzgerald son-of-a- bitch."

Kincade knew Don's advice was good, and he needed to watch Foxy Fitzgerald who had a set of morals that were totally different from the rest of humanity. To Steven the world was full of gray shades. There was no clear right and wrong. Foxy was dangerous because he saw both sides and believed in both sides. Sullivan was different. He was just as smart but he believed in a clear right and wrong. Pat was the kind of man you could rely on to do the right thing, but now he had clearly crossed the line into wrong territory. The questions were if and when he would cross back and if he did not, could he be of use?

"Betty, get me Arnie on the phone," the Governor asked.

It was near midnight when Betty reached Arnold Flecher, the Governor's Appointments secretary.