The heat Weldon was feeling was starting to become unbearable. He tried to relax as best he could. Sitting in his car, he felt the leather literally cooking his skin.
"What's taking so long?" he mumbled to himself. The private investigator called him 45 minutes ago with news saying they had to meet. He stroked the stubble on his chin, making a mental note to shave when he got home. He then rubbed the back of his head, feeling the same kind of stubble. He hated new growth. Though it would only take him about 5 minutes to shave his face and head, he dreaded it. He wish he could grow out his hair but the bald spot on the top of his head said otherwise. This was taking too long. He cut off his engine, 10 minutes after he arrived noticing that the gas gauge was leaning on E. Dag, what did the investigator uncover? Was his wife of 14 years, cheating? Who was it? He needed answers. His wife Wisha was incredibly gorgeous and a notorious flirt. Yet, he liked that about her. Always did. Yet, things were different now. She was coming home later than usual. She was hanging out with the girls more often. It used to be once a month, now it was weekly. At first he did not think it to be so strange since she was a workaholic. She was in line for a promotion at work. Work. He hated that. That is all she would talk about. The bosses getting nervous. The supervisor that constantly pushed her. The co-workers she did not like at all. Yet, Wisha was determined to stay focus.
"Man where is this dude?"
Weldon nervously tapped the steering wheel. He held his head down, as if he was in deep prayer. It seemed like an eternity. So many questions, not enough answers.
"Mr. Stand".
The gravel voiced PI startled Weldon. He jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Man, Shelton, where you been. I been waiting..."
"I know..." Shelton interrupted.
"So, what's so important we had to meet"?
"I have some photos you need to see".
Shelton reached into a briefcase beside him and pulled out a large envelop and casually handed it Weldon. Weldon gently took the envelop and shook it. He stared at it. His heart was racing as he fumbled with opening. He reached inside and pulled out about a dozen black and white 11 X 14 shots. Before he could study them, Shelton remarked, "This should conclude our business". Weldon stared at him. He tried to read his face for anything resembling bad news. Instead he found Shelton's face stoic. He paused for a moment. "Man, this had better..." His comment trailed off into space. He stared at the pictures. Each one carefully shot at close range.
"Hmmmm" he remarked. In each photograph he looked at the expression of his wife. She was smiling in everyone, but there were no pictures of any man. He said to himself, these look innocent enough. There were pictures taken in several restaurants. Some with Nikki, who he secretly lusted after. Some with Jenise, who he couldn't stand. Some with Rochelle who he had a fling with years ago in college, when him and Wisha was dating. He flipped through each picture hurriedly. He laid them in his lap and immediately thought...
"Is she sleeping with any of these girls. Because I don't see nothing worthwhile here?
Shelton, broke out with a haughty laugh. "Oh no, Mr. Stand. Your wife isn't cheating on you". The words haunted Weldon.
"Say again".
"Your wife isn't having an affair".
Weldon, exhaled with a sigh of relief. All this time, my baby is being faithful. He said to himself. He sighed heavily. It was as if somebody took a huge boulder off of his shoulders. He had been carrying this burden for weeks before he even got enough nerve to find a private investigator. Now it all came down to this moment. He was just paranoid.
"Okay, Shelton. Good work my man. I guess there is nothing left but to pay the remainder of your fees".
Shelton, looked away and casually remarked, "You can come by the office tommorow after 12. We will settled all business then".
"Cool, I will call you before I come by your office".
Weldon started up his car and nodded his head at Shelton. He then abruptly pulled off. He began to think about stopping by the flower shop to buy his wife some roses. He felt a need to do something for her. He grinned, thinking that he would get the roses and take his wife to dinner or something. Then it hit him that he had these photos and he would need to discard them before he got home. His wife would not understand that he hired a private investigator to follow her around for weeks on end.
Shelton sat in his car watching his client pull off. He watched him through his rear view mirror and finally until he was out of sight. He then pulled out a scarf from the same briefcase where he stored the photos. He held the scarf to his face, and sniffed. The perfume lingered in his nose giving him a rush. He sat there dazed for a couple of minutes, taking in the scent of the scarf. He then started pulled his car in gear and drove off.
"Wisha, you are playing a dangerous game and I love it... and I love you" he chuckled to himself. Thinking about it for about 10 seconds, he broke out again in a haughty laugh.
Richard J Wright (2010)
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