She looked at the photos in her hand and winced, again. Try as she might, she just couldn’t stop herself from looking at the images in front of her confirming her suspicions. She couldn’t imagine that she was holding the proof of infidelity in her hands. She looked up at the executive from the detective agency and frowned.

“Are you sure about this? There is absolutely no uncertainty?”

The detective slapped his palm against his forehead. “How many times are you going to ask me, ma’am? I told you, these photos are the truth and your husband is involved in this.”

She closed her eyes and wished she could shut out the detective’s words. Tears poured down her cheeks and her lips trembled as she looked up at the detective and spoke. “Well, then this just means just one thing, doesn’t it? Oh god, why he did do this!”

The detective felt sorry for the woman. He leaned over the table and clutched her hand. “Hey listen, I know this hurts. But you have got to be strong. Now stop crying. People around are staring at you.”

She looked around the coffee shop and smiled apologetically at the few faces stealing glances at her. Her hands trembled as she brought the coffee cup to her lips.

“I’m sorry! It’s just that this is so hard for me to handle. Anyway, I guess, at least it’s clear what I have to do now. Thank you so much for your help, detective.”

The detective leaned forward and smiled. “Don’t worry, ma’am. You’ll be fine. Please call me if I can be of any assistance. And now, I must be on my way. I have other clients to take care of. If you will be so kind to…uhm…close the deal…y’know…”

“Oh yes of course! I’m so sorry. Here’s your payment.” saying this she secretly slid a white envelope across the table. The detective counted the money, and satisfied, stuffed the envelope into his bag. He shook her hands, patted her shoulder to reassure her and walked out of the coffee shop.

She wiped her eyes and took some deep breaths to compose herself. As she sipped her coffee her mind went back to happier times. She and her husband had always been close. “Romeo and Juliet” is what their friends used to call them. Their college-time romance led to marriage, and it seemed like the perfect life. Until that night when she lost the baby. She had been 4 months pregnant at that time. They were having an argument over the travel involved in his new job when she got upset and stormed out of the house. It had been raining and the marble steps leading to the gate were slippery. She lost her balance and slid down the 12 steps. She lost the baby. Any hopes of having another one were shattered when the doctor told them that another pregnancy could prove fatal even if it did last nine months.

They’d grown apart since then. She was wrapped up in her cocoon of misery and guilt. If only she’d been careful. And she could read the accusation in her husband’s eyes. Of course, he always said that it didn’t matter, and that they could adopt, and he was happy this way. But she knew better didn’t she? When he suggested a surrogate mother she accused him of wanting to sleep with another woman. It had been his turn to walk out of the house this time, and from then everything went downhill. Now they hardly spoke to each other any more. But deep down, they probably loved each other, so divorce had never been discussed. .

She shook her head to clear her thoughts and stared thoughtfully into her coffee. Resignedly she took her cell phone out of her handbag and dialled the detective’s number. She did need help in doing what she planned to do. The detective answered on the first ring.

“Hello ma’am! I knew you’d call. My clients always do. So how would you like to…uhm…take care of business?”

She explained to him in very precise terms what her plan was. She told him that she would help in whatever way she could, as long as he did not expect her to be present at that time. And of course, money was no objective. The detective agreed to her plan, complimenting her on her thoroughness. He promised to keep her informed and hung up.

Saddened by the call, she felt like another caffeine rush and ordered a double espresso. Although she wasn’t hungry, she ordered a salad sandwich to tide her till dinner. She was going to need all her strength. Besides it would buy her some time before she headed home.

As time passed, her thoughts jumped back and forth the past and the present. How did it all come to this? I wish I didn’t have to do this. I hope he remembers that I still love him…I do, don’t I? Her reverie was interrupted by her phone jingling. It was the detective. She answered it in a tremulous voice.

“Yes? Is it over?”

She was surprised that the detective’s reply didn’t sadden her as much as she had expected. She picked up her bag and left the coffee shop. She wanted to take a taxi, but then decided against it. The walk would calm her frazzled nerves. She was in no hurry to reach home anyway. Thirty minutes later she entered the driveway of her lovely house. We’d been so happy when we closed the deal on this house. With a back garden and a garage it has been our dream house. The detective met her near the marble steps.

He nodded at her, “All done ma’am! You can go in and see for yourself.”

As he turned to leave, he stopped and called out to her “Oh, by the way, let’s discuss the payment soon, ok? I think double what we had decided should be fine. And I will only take cash. Call me when you’re ready.”

She smiled at him demurely, “Why don’t you come in now? I’m sure we can settle this right away. Plus I want to get over with all this as soon as possible.”

He shrugged and marched up the steps ahead of her. She climbed the steps gradually, bracing herself for what she was about to see. As she entered her home, she gasped in shock. Sprawled on the carpet was her husband’s body. Bludgeoned to death, his blood splattered all over. She felt nauseous. It was all she could do to hold down her stomach’s contents. As she held on to the sofa for support, the detective looked at her with wonder.

“Why are you so upset? I thought you wanted him dead!”

She glared at him in anger. “That’s true! But you got blood all over my hideously expensive carpet, you twit! Do you know how expensive that carpet is? It’s more than you will ever be worth!”

The detective shook his head in disgust! Women!

“Whatever! Can I have my money now please? I’m sure you won’t have a problem. After all, you just inherited a massive fortune. And I’m not even counting the life insurance money. I’ve destroyed all the photos, but kept some of the negatives. Just in case you decide to call the police on me. So lady, pay up!”

She walked towards him, slowly opening her purse. “I know you’re in a hurry. But when I said I want no evidence of my affair, I meant it. Now that you’re the only one aware of my infidelity and my husband’s unfortunate…uhm…death…we need to be very careful, isn’t it? When my husband commissioned you to bring him proof of my affair did he tell you that I don’t like anything holding me back? That I don’t like hurdles, especially when it comes to money and love?”

She was standing inches away from the detective now. In a sudden movement, she flashed a revolver out of her purse and shot the detective right between the eyes. The poor guy was dead even before he realised what just happened. She flashed him a sweet smile and took her phone out.

“Hello darling? He’s dead. Yeah, both of them. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the police. Men get into fights all the time! What? Sure honey, we will get together soon. But a widow needs to mourn for her loss for some time at least, isn’t it?”