Tom Prentice Ch. 01

When she pulled out of the lot she turned the opposite way to what she does to drive home, so I had to make a U-turn to follow her. I was just able to keep her in sight, and I was so close to throwing up I almost had to pull over. She finally turned onto First Avenue and went into the parking lot for The Embers Steakhouse. I started feeling better as I thought she was just going for lunch, but she went into the bar entrance, not into the restaurant. So now my stomach started churning again. I waited for a half hour before she came out.

Tom, she wasn't alone when she came out. There was a tall, dark haired man with her, about our age, wearing a suit. When they got to her car he put his hand on her ass and pulled her close and kissed her. That's when I knew that something was wrong. My heart began pounding so hard, and I felt so faint, I almost passed out. My eyes teared up, and I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. She got in her car and he got into a black BMW, and they both turned out of the lot right in front of me. They were a block away before I could get the car in drive and pull out to follow them. It was all I could do keep them in sight, as I had to keep wiping my tears away.

I don't remember the route we drove but we ended up at the motel at Front Street and Third Avenue. I think it's called the Flamingo. I parked on the street and your mother drove around the back. The guy in the BMW went to the office, then came out and drove around the back too. I waited for fifteen minutes, praying your mother would drive back out, but she didn't. I decided then to walk around to the back to see what was going on. While I was waiting there I had decided that if your mother was in a room with that guy I'd divorce her, and that calmed me down a bit and stopped my tears. She had gone there by choice, and I knew I couldn't forgive that. I had grabbed my digital camera (the one that I use at work when I'm estimating a job) when I left my office and I'd forgotten I had it. I should have taken a picture of them kissing but I guess I was so upset I never even thought of the camera. I figured if I could get a picture of them together getting a divorce would be easy.

I was half way to the back of the motel when I remembered Ralph's automatic, and decided to go get it as the guy was bigger than me. Even though I was just going to get photos, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have it so he couldn't get the camera away from me. I found the gun right away, and stuck it in my jacket pocket.

When I got around to the back of the motel, both of their cars were there, about half way down. They were the only cars back there. If they wanted privacy, I guess they got it. First I took pictures of their cars, and one that showed your mother's car and the room door with its' number. I was hoping there would be an opening on a window I could use to get a picture and just leave, but the curtains were tightly shut. I can't believe how calm I felt right then. It was sort of like I was just a spectator, not really there. When I saw that I couldn't get a picture through the window I decided to listen at the door. I pushed at the door a bit and it moved slightly, so there was a small gap by the frame. I stuck my ear to it and that's when I heard her.

There have been nights I know you've heard your mother and I when we were making love. We weren't trying to be obvious, but there were times we didn't realize how loud we were until it was too late. When you were younger you'd be embarrassed at breakfast the next morning. You'd even avoid looking at us. Lately you've told us to 'tone it down a bit' when we were at breakfast. I know you've heard your mother yell out 'Oh, oh, oh, oh my God, oh my God, harder, harder, I'm coming!' more than once. Well, that's what I heard at that door, and I lost it.

I backed up about ten feet from the door and rammed it with my left shoulder so hard the door just flew open. There were wood splinters and pieces flying all over. I almost fell down, but I didn't, and managed to lift up the camera and take several pictures before either of them moved. Tom, they were both naked, and your mother had her arms and legs wrapped around him. He was fucking her! I hate to give you that image of your mother but I have to let you know what was working on my mind in there.

My heart was breaking Tom. I just stood there, and it all seemed like time stopped. Your mother was screaming, then the guy hollered 'What the fuck!,' and started climbing off the bed. The next thing I knew I had taken the gun out of my pocket and had fired at him. I don't know what he'd have done if he had kept coming. I hit him right in the groin, and he fell on the floor, screaming. I don't know why, but I aimed at his head, said 'You bastard,' and shot him again. He fell over backward on the carpet. I killed him, Tom.

Your mother was crying and started saying 'No, Jack,' and 'Please forgive me.' I walked to the end of the bed and my mouth was moving but I couldn't say anything. Finally I was able to ask her 'Why, Mary,' but she never answered, she just kept saying 'Please forgive me,' and 'I love you, Jack,' over and over. She was sitting there crying, rocking against the headboard of the bed, hugging her knees to her chest. She'd pulled the sheet up over her knees, and just sat there rocking and saying the same things over and over again. I kept asking her 'Why, Mary,' but it was like she didn't even hear me at all.

Finally, I reached over and got a handful of the sheet, and pulled it slowly toward me. It was like slow motion Tom. I've had this part go through my mind over and over, and it's always in slow motion. As the sheet slid down her knees, her pussy came into view, and I could see his semen slowly dribbling out onto the bed. Tom, I just totally lost it. I started crying again and then I screamed at her, 'Why?', but all she did was to stop rocking. She still just cried and said 'I love you, Jack'. I said 'I thought you said I was your one and only.', and raised the gun and shot her in the head. The last thing she said before I shot her was 'No!' Tom, I'm so very sorry, but I killed your mother.

After, I just stood there, I don't know for how long, looking at them. I slowly came out of it, like it had been a dream. I could see their 2 bodies there, not moving. Your mom had sort of slowly slid sideways across the headboard, and was lying across the pillows. Her 'friend' was sprawled on the carpet, and his hands had fallen away from his groin. I could see my first bullet had hit him at the base of his cock and I think it went through one of his balls. I don't know if that shot was good or lucky, but I was glad it hit him there.

After I got back to feeling more aware I realized what I'd done, and how badly I'd screwed things up for you. My stomach heaved and I vomited violently onto the carpet right there at the foot of the bed. I retched and retched until nothing more would come up.

I began wondering what I should do next, and expected the police to show up any second. The more I thought, the more I realized I had to get home to try to explain to you what happened, before the police had to tell you. There I was in a room with 2 bodies and the door wide open. I expected a crowd to be looking in the door at me, and police sirens, but when I looked out the door there was nothing but their two cars parked at the door. That's when I realized maybe I could get away and tell you this story of what had happened.

Your mother's purse was on the table by the bed so I grabbed it and found her keys. I figured I could save some time if I used her car to come home, so that's what I did. I was just opening the car door when I saw the motel room door was wide open. I didn't want everyone to see her naked, so I stuck her purse on the seat and went back and was able to jam the door shut with one of the big splinters off the frame. On my way home I figured out what I would have to do to make sure this mess doesn't ruin your life too.

Tom, I want you to realize that everything I've done since I shot your mother and that bastard is for your benefit. I wasn't thinking of you at all while I was in that room with them, and I apologize to you for that. I hope one day you'll forgive me.

I've been expecting the police to show up all afternoon, and now it's 5 pm, and they still haven't shown up. I think if the bodies were found they have no way to identify your mother. I took her purse and car. Hopefully I can finish what needs to be done before you get home at 6, or they show up. I feel very content, now that it looks like my plan will all work out.

In our safety deposit box there is a deed for our cemetery plot at Shady Grove. We bought that last year for the two of us. I do NOT want to be buried with your mother. If I'm buried in that plot, find another one for her. I'm sorry, but I'm feeling less and less forgiving towards her, the more that I think about it. If she had kept her vows, and 'forsaken all others' this mess wouldn't have happened. If I were to be buried with her, it would seem to all the world that we were a devoted couple. I thought we were, but I was wrong.

Tom, you probably think I should have stayed and hired a good lawyer. The problem is, I doubt even a good lawyer could get me off. We'd end up bankrupt, the house and savings gone, and I'd still end up in prison. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a cell. With no money left you'd have to give up college. The worse part is the publicity and people talking about it. It would go on and on for months, until the trial was over, and you'd be hounded by reporters and gossips. I don't want that for you. This way it's all over cleanly and quickly.

Please see that the digital camera gets back to the office. I've deleted the pictures I took. No one needs to see those. Ralph's keys are on the table, and his car is on the street in front of the motel. Please apologize to him for me, for getting him involved. If he gets fined because of the gun, or if the gun gets seized, please pay him back. If the police haven't seen this letter by the time you read it, put it away. I don't want some reporter getting hold of it and publishing it if it can be avoided. They don't need this letter to figure out what happened. I'll write out a confession for them and leave it on the counter.

Doing this my way will leave you well off, with a home. We've had the insurance policys long enough that the suicide clauses are over. They just last for 2 years. You're old enough to get by on your own. If you need advice ask the Douglases, my brother Frank, your aunt Pearl, or Fred Greenstein.

Please try and forgive me Tom. I really wish things had gone differently, but what's done is done. If the police haven't shown up by the time you've read this, call them. Tell them to go to room 122 at the Flamingo Motel. I'm going to go into the back yard. I'll be under the oak tree behind the garage.

Your loving father.

When he finished reading the letter, Tom reclined the chair and closed his eyes. He didn't sleep, just sat there and thought about his life and how it had all changed so much. Time passed quickly as he sat there thinking, and when he finally sat up and to check his watch he realized his eyes were full of tears. After wiping his eyes he was able to see it was time to call Laney. He picked up his cell phone, dug the paper with her number out of his wallet and started punching in her number.