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(Page 2 of 3) The Wandering Man by Richard Ridyard‘She's not feeling well tonight.' he smiled knowingly. ‘You know how it is.'
‘But . . . But . . . ‘ Adele stammered. She impaled him with an accusing stare. He shrugged and said nothing, but it was several long moments before Adele stopped looking at him. She started talking to some other woman, whispering and looking in his direction.
What was going on here? Adele had no way of knowing Kate was dead. He fought to remain calm, but sweat beaded in his armpits as he reached for his inhaler and pulled out instead a small gift-wrapped cylinder. Kate frequently joked that sometime she would give him a present instead of vice versa. He dropped the silver tube into his other pocket and reached again for his inhaler, hoping he wouldn't OD on medication.
Adele excused herself and someone brought him a drink. He nervously chatted with the other guests for an hour or so until Adele, looking pale and shaken, announced that dinner would be served.
They were at the table when two police officers arrived at the door. His tension increased. What was this! How could anyone have found Kate's body so soon? The plan had been for him to find it after that party and then call the police. They paused to talk to Adele for a few moments, then came toward him.
‘Jay Dawson?' one officer asked.
He forced himself to nod and step toward him. ‘Would you empty your coat pockets for us?' His icy gaze goaded him into complying. Besides, he had nothing to hide. He placed everything in his pockets on the table.
‘That's it, just like I told you!' Adele pointed to the silver-wrapped tube. ‘The jewelry store delivered it less than two hours ago. A special delivery. Open it, please.'
The officer opened the tube, which contained a gold pen. He read the inscription. ‘To Jay, with love. Sober one month and forever after.'
‘This party was Kate's surprise for Jay,' Adele said. ‘I chose the wrapping for that gift a short time ago. I knew when Jay pulled it from his pocket that he'd seen Kate after the gift had been delivered and that something was wrong. She had planned to be here tonight to surprise Jay with this gift and her public affirmation of her future sobriety. When she didn't come in with him, I called the police and got them to go over to Kate's house.'
He remembered Kate slipping her hand into his jacket pocket. Some present she had given him. He reached for his asthma inhaler, but the officer was placing the handcuffs on his wrists. The two officers escorted Jay to the police car. When getting in the car he notices Andrea just outside waiting for him. Seeing him being taken away by the police she looks disheartned and upset. He had not only let himself down but her as well. Now they couldn't fulfill their plans which they had made.
Everyone from the party returns inside as Jay is driven off by the police. Upset Andrea walks around the corner to be confronted by an old looking man smoking a cigar and carrying a box of some sort.
‘Did you do it? Did you do as I told you.'
‘Yes.'
'Did you make sure he went to the party not knowing it was for him?'
'Yes.'
'So what happened?'
beginning to sob Andrea struggles to reply.
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