Twisted Hunger
Page 34
“So you had it out again.”
“You got it,” Teri confirmed, making a disgusted face. “That time he threw a lamp through a window. He promised to get help, if I would just bail him out once more to the tune of twenty-five hundred dollars. I gave it to him, but with the warning that it was the last time. I thought he was doing okay, until three weeks ago.” She shook her head still having trouble believing how easily he had fooled her. “I found out he had stolen a check from my business account and forged my signature.”
Selena’s mouth dropped open. “This sounds more like a nightmare than a marriage. Can’t you have him arrested for that?”
“I don’t know. After everything he’s put me through, I don’t love him anymore, but I don’t have it in me to put him behind bars for something he obviously can’t help. That night I asked for a divorce. He pulled out all the stops. The macho-man cried like a baby. He reminded me that our religion prohibited divorce, not that we’ve been especially devout Catholics all these years. He swore he loved me too much to ever let me go, and starting from that minute, he was going to prove it by being the best husband a wife ever had. But first, he needed a little financial assistance.” Recalling how shocked she had been at his incredible nerve, she rolled her eyes and gave a dry laugh.
“I agreed to give our marriage one last chance but I refused to give him any more money. He told me he had gotten in over his head with some very nasty people. I saw real fear in his eyes, but I still said no. I was through bailing him out.
“I really never expected him to live up to his promise. But he’s been attending GA meetings for the last three weeks and basically, he’s been an angel. We were almost like newlyweds again.” She took another sip of tea, and Selena waited patiently for her to continue.
“I overheard him on the phone when I went back to the house earlier. He still owes somebody money—maybe the same nasties he told me about. It’s all been an act to get me to pay off his debt. The worst part is, I finally realized the reason he doesn’t want me to file for divorce has nothing to do with our religion or love. It’s all about my money.”
“Do you have a big life insurance policy?”
Teri looked at Selena in surprise. “What an awful thing to…” She stopped and recalled Rico’s words over the telephone—I’ll get the money out of her. One way or another. She shook her head slowly, thinking of Rico’s explosive temper and the handgun he insisted on keeping in the nightstand drawer for protection.
“We both have life insurance policies. Of course his is just a small one through the post office, enough for funeral arrangements. Mine is for a hundred thousand… enough to cover the mortgage… unless I die in an accident. Then it’s a million.”
Selena whistled. “That’s a very tempting reason to push you down a flight of stairs.”
Teri’s eyes widened. “No. He wouldn’t do anything like that. He’s a gambler and a liar, even a thief, but I don’t believe he’d hurt me physically.”
Selena shrugged. “I hope you’re right. Keep your guard up, just in case. If he gets desperate enough, he’s liable to graduate from breaking things to breaking bones. Don’t look so skeptical—I know what I’m talking about. I’ve read a lot of true crime stories. And remember, if it looks like he’s about to change tactics and try some rough stuff, you can always hang out at my apartment in town.”
Teri forced herself to smile. “Thanks, hon, but I really don’t think that’ll be necessary. To be on the safe side, though, I’m not even going to confront him. Instead, I’m going to play along until I talk to an attorney. At least I should find out how hard it will be to get a divorce, knowing he’ll contest it. Damn! I don’t need this aggravation. How the hell am I supposed to be creative with this over my head?”
Another tear threatened to escape her eye, but she quickly swiped it away and smiled again when she saw how disturbed Selena was. “I’m sorry. It was really crappy of me to dump all this on you.”
“Don’t say that. What kind of friend would I be if you couldn’t unload your problems on me?”
“I’ve only got one problem I’d like to unload. But he doesn’t seem to be agreeable. You know what would be wonderful? If he met some hot-to-trot bimbette that got him so worked up, he decided to leave me on his own.”
“Is there any chance he’s fooling around? You could hire a detective to follow him.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s cheated on me along with everything else. But since he’s been on this good behavior kick, I can account for every hour of his day. I even went with him to his GA meeting one night. Of course, I suppose he could always fit in a quickie along his delivery route if he really wanted to.” She meant it as a joke but Selena didn’t laugh.
Selena got up and walked back and forth a few times. “I’ve been told I have a very analytical mind. There must be some way…” She paced a little more, then abruptly returned to her seat. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve got it. I’ll set Rico up. The way he slobbers over himself every time he sees me, seducing him should be a cinch. Once I’ve got him hooked, you’ll hire a detective to take some incriminating pictures and, voilà, grounds for a divorce.”
Teri let out a squeal. “You’re too much. I think sacrificing yourself to my husband might be a bit beyond your job description.” Picturing Rico and Selena together made her chuckle. Not only were they extreme opposites in coloring, Selena was about four inches taller and thirty pounds heavier than Rico, but Teri had seen his reaction to her, and slobbering pretty much covered it. When Teri vocalized her thoughts, Selena caught a case of the giggles. They were soon exchanging ideas about what Rico would do with so much woman after twelve years of sex with a pixie.
Selena amended her suggestion. “I was only thinking of leading him on, but you might have the key to a permanent solution. Sex with me would probably kill him, and then you wouldn’t have to worry about how to get a divorce.”
“But I’m not sure he deserves such a great goodbye gift!” A tear squeezed out of Teri’s eye, but this one was from laughing so hard. “If I thought for one minute you could get Rico out of my life permanently by having sex with him, I’d not only give you my blessing, I’d double your next dozen paychecks!”
Selena arched her brows and pursed her lips. “Well now that you said that, I guess I’m going to have to get to work on it.”
Wicked Obsessions
Lust & Lies Series
Book 3
by
Marilyn Campbell
~
To purchase
Wicked Obsessions
from your favorite eRetailer,
visit Marilyn Campbell’s eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/MarilynCampbell
~
Discover more with
eBookDiscovery.com
Continue your Lust & Lies journey
with an excerpt from
Carnal Vengeance
Excerpt from
Carnal Vengeance
Lust & Lies Series
Book 4
by
Marilyn Campbell
USA Today Bestselling Author
CARNAL VENGEANCE
Praise & Accolades
“A stunning novel of love, lust, and lethal vengeance!
~Judith Kelman, author of Someone’s Watching
“Readers can’t go wrong… one of the juiciest revenge plot novels to hit the stands.”
~San Francisco Chronicle
“A diverting story of obsession and vengeance.”
~Orange County Register
“Thoroughly entertaining…a fast-paced story that blends mystery and romance.”
~Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“Campbell once again demonstrates her powerful storytelling ability as she unleashes a riveting, intense, and chilling tale of justice denied, vengeance, and murder.”
~Rave Reviews
“Mizz Wallace, did you, or did you not, willingly take
Senator Ziegler’s penis into your mouth on more than one occasion?”
Holly Kaufman gaped at the elderly man on her television screen. The camera zoomed in for a close-up of Cheryl Wallace, a somewhat attractive, big-boned brunette who could not quite conceal her outrage as she replied. “Senator Manson, I am not on trial here—”
“Perhaps not, but neither is Senator Ziegler. I’m sure you are aware that by coming forward at this hearing with your strong accusations against the good senator, you have placed your morals under public scrutiny as well.” The camera left Cheryl Wallace to pan each face of the all-male committee.
“I might remind you,” Senator Manson continued in a superior voice, “that we are judging the fitness of our distinguished colleague for a cabinet post and any aspersions cast on that fitness must be thoroughly examined. Now, please answer the question.”
While Miss Wallace leaned toward her attorney, a bespectacled woman about the same age as she, the camera focused on a dark-haired man sitting with his lawyers, apart from the Senate committee. Holly’s chest tightened with remembered panic as she recognized Tim Ziegler. His intent, concerned expression altered to one of relief the moment Cheryl Wallace began her response.
“Timothy Ziegler and I had been intimate… on more than one occasion… prior to the events detailed earlier. I already admitted that. I see no reason to get more explicit.”
“Aah, but you found it necessary to be exceedingly explicit when you related your side of the story. Nevertheless, I believe your evasiveness speaks for itself. Mizz Wallace, there are many people in this great country of ours who consider oral sex a sin; it is, in fact, a crime in certain states. Your willing performance of such an act constituted lewd and lascivious behavior on your part. That, combined with your history of alcohol and drug use—”
“Objection!”
Holly paused the recorded program with her remote but her gaze remained on the screen for long seconds after it froze. She thought she had put the nightmare firmly behind her. Yet, in a matter of minutes, it had lurched back into her mind as if it had been last night rather than twenty-one years ago—one year prior to the incident Cheryl Wallace was testifying about.
When she had learned that the hearing was to begin that day while she was at work, she had set it to record so that she could at least scan some of the highlights when she had time. As an environmental lobbyist living in Washington, D. C., Holly had to stay informed of the gossip as well as the facts of current affairs, even when it was personally distasteful.
No one had expected any problems with the President’s selection for the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Pennsylvania State Senator Timothy Ziegler had already gained the support of some powerful liberals by vocally supporting several bills that would make more housing available to lower-income families. He was a devoted husband and father and his constituents praised him. He was practically perfect.
Except for that time in college that had been forgotten by everyone but the small group of those directly involved.
Because Cheryl Wallace could never forget what Tim Ziegler had done to her, she had decided to dredge up the past rather than see him rise one step higher on the political ladder.
And because Holly Kaufman was not quite ready to dwell on how Tim Ziegler had damaged her own life, she rewound the recording to listen to Cheryl Wallace’s account once more.
* * *
“It was twenty years ago, and I had just turned eighteen,” Cheryl Wallace began in a quiet, somewhat shaky voice. “I was a freshman at Dominion University in New York. Tim was a senior. We met at a party. We had been dating about a month before the, uh, incident.”
“Pardon me for interrupting,” Senator Manson said politely. “But there are certain facts I believe should be brought to light before you recount your entire story. Approximately how many times did you go out on dates before the alleged incident?”
“Five, maybe six.”
“Would you say these were casual, friendly dates, or did you become… intimate?”
Cheryl paused for advice from her attorney. “Intimate.”
The senator raised an eyebrow at her. “On which date did you and Senator Ziegler consummate your relationship?”
She glanced at her attorney then murmured, “I don’t remember.”
“Oh? Perhaps if you think a little harder you’ll recall that it was the night of the party when the two of you first met. Of course, I understand there was a lot of drinking at that party and some drugs were available. Is it possible that you were too intoxicated to remember what happened that night?”
Taking a deep breath, she replied, “A lot of kids, away from home for the first time, get a little wild.”
“I see. Were you a virgin the first time you and the senator had sexual intercourse?”
“I don’t see—” Her attorney touched her hand and she started again. “No, but he was only the second one—”
“Of course, of course,” Manson cut in, but his expression clearly indicated he didn’t believe that for a minute. “Please continue.”
It was obvious that his effort to unsettle Cheryl had worked and her attorney turned the table microphone toward herself. “In all fairness to Miss Wallace, what she is about to relate to this distinguished committee is extremely upsetting. We would appreciate the courtesy of your allowing her to finish her statement before any further questions are asked.” Senator Manson nodded and the attorney turned the mike back over to her client.
What little composure Cheryl had begun with was completely gone. Her nervousness manifested itself in a quaking voice and trembling hands but she was determined to say her piece.
“One night, after we had been dating about a month, we went to a party. There wasn’t much going on, so we had a few drinks then went back to his fraternity house. Most of the brothers were there, working their way through a keg of beer. We sat around with them for a while before Tim took me up to his room. I… I had too much to drink. I knew it. I had a hard time getting up the stairs and told Tim I just wanted to sleep it off. But he talked me into smoking a joint. Said he’d been saving it for a special occasion.”
It took her a moment to continue. “Although I told him I didn’t feel good, he was determined to have sex. I remember him pulling my clothes off and entering my body without my consent or participation, but I was too intoxicated to put up any resistance. I’m not certain exactly when I passed out but something made me wake up again. At first I thought it was Tim on top of me but then I heard his voice beside me. I turned my head and saw him sitting there, holding my hand. The room was filled with his fraternity brothers. Besides the one… having intercourse with me, there were eight others, some with nothing on, some with just their pants open and their… privates exposed. They were… fondling themselves… getting ready.”
Her voice cracked and she swallowed hard several times before she was able to go on. “I told them no. I didn’t want that. It was as if they didn’t hear me at all. I tried to push the one on top of me away but I couldn’t seem to coordinate my mind with my body. I was crying and begging for Tim to stop them but he only squeezed my hand tighter and said…”
She paused, closed her eyes and took another steadying breath. When she reopened her eyes, they glistened with unshed tears but the expression in them was pure hate as she glared directly at Senator Ziegler. “He said, ‘Just lie still, honey. It will be over in a minute.’ I had no way of knowing how long they had been at me before I awoke but it actually went on for at least another hour that I was aware of. They finally gave up when three of them tried to take me at once, and I vomited on the one trying to use my mouth. Then they let me get up and dress and Tim drove me back to my dorm.”
No one uttered a sound for several seconds then one of the junior senators said, “Miss Wallace, what you describe was such a hideous offense against you, I can’t help but wonder why it took you twenty years to report it.”
The camera switched back to her just i
n time to catch her rolling her eyes in disbelief at his naïveté. “Surely, sir, you must realize that it is extremely difficult for a young woman to cry rape when she’d been drinking and willingly went to the boy’s bedroom.
“In spite of that, however, I did attempt to report it to the local police the next day, after I recovered a little. But they insisted it was strictly a college matter and would have to be handled by the authorities there. Campus security took a report but I got the impression it went directly into the trash when I left the office. I overheard one of them snicker and say, boys will be boys. I did try to obtain a copy of that report before this hearing and was told they didn’t keep the records that long.
“Instead of any of my attackers being punished, I was required to attend weekly sessions with the school counselor—another man by the way. After the first humiliating session, I didn’t return, and no one cared, as long as I didn’t do or say anything that could ultimately hurt the school’s reputation or their precious football team. You see, they were having a winning season and, although Tim Ziegler was only second string, one of my rapists was Dominion’s star quarterback and another went on to the pros.” Offering up a piece of paper, she added, “I have the entire list of men’s names—”
“Objection!” Ziegler’s attorneys both shouted at once as Cheryl’s attorney quickly covered her microphone with her hand and urgently whispered something to her client.
Holly let the recorded program continue but her mind had slipped off track the moment Cheryl stated that one of the rapists was the star quarterback. She knew, without seeing the list, what that man’s name was, a name she thought she had purged from her memory. As Tim Ziegler had been Cheryl Wallace’s guide into hell, Jerry Frampton had been Holly’s. What he and Tim had done to her was a far cry from the brutal obscenity perpetrated on Cheryl a year later, but it had been no less devastating to her.