The Mysteries of Max: Books 31-33 by Nic Saint (chrome ebook reader txt) 📗

then took a seat at the desk. “A friend of mine says you’re the person to see when you find yourself in some kind of big trouble—and I’m definitely in big trouble.”

“What trouble would that be, Mrs…”

“Barn. Erica Barn, though for the last three years I’ve gone through life as Erica Strauss.”

Odelia blinked. “Strauss as in…”

The woman nodded. “I’m Carl Strauss’s wife.”

“He’s a golfer,” I whispered for Dooley’s sake.

“A golfer? You mean like Gran?”

“Exactly like Gran. Though I don’t think Gran is in Carl Strauss’s league. Mr. Strauss is a professional golfer, which means he plays golf for a living.”

“Is he any good?”

“He’s the best. At least when he’s not running around cheating on the woman he happens to be married to at the moment.”

We both turned to Mrs. Erica Barn, who appeared to be the latest Mrs. Strauss—or rather the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Strauss if I interpreted her words correctly.

“I want to divorce Carl,” said Erica Barn, “only he doesn’t want to.”

“Your husband doesn’t want a divorce?” asked Odelia, obviously surprised.

“He says he still loves me and wants to give our marriage another chance. Only I don’t want to give it another chance. As far as I’m concerned I’ve given it too many chances already, and every time Carl has let me down. So I’ve decided that enough is enough.”

“I think if you really want to divorce Carl there’s nothing he can do to stop you.”

“He can make it very difficult for me,” said Erica, “and that’s exactly what he’s doing. He told me he’ll fight me every inch of the way.”

“Look, if you want out, you get out. It’s that simple. Nobody can force you to stay married against your will.”

“I know, but at what cost? He’ll try and drag my name through the mud. He’s going to destroy my career if I let him. And then he’ll take me to the cleaners and make sure I’m left with absolutely nothing. I’ll leave the marriage with only the clothes on my back.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a model,” said Mrs. Barn. “Only I haven’t modeled since I married Carl, and I’m not getting any younger, so if I want back in, it’s going to be tough going. And with Carl talking every modeling agency into blackballing me, it’s going to be even harder.”

“I see,” said Odelia. “I’m very sorry about that, Mrs. Barn.”

“Erica, please.”

“But I don’t see what you want me to do. I’m a reporter, not a lawyer, so…”

“I know, but I was thinking that maybe you could go and have a word with Carl? Someone needs to get it through that thick skull of his that this marriage is over, and that I’ll never go back.”

“You want me to talk to Carl.”

“Carl is not an unreasonable man. He’s simply surrounded by a lot of unreasonable people. Someone needs to get through to him. Someone who’s on my side.”

“And you want me to be that person for you.” Odelia looked understandably skeptical.

Erica nodded. “Look, I understand that this is a very unusual request, Miss Poole.”

“Just call me Odelia.”

“But frankly I’m desperate. Carl has canceled all my credit cards, he’s cut me off from my own bank account—I’m currently staying at an Airbnb in town, paying with what little cash I have left, but if I don’t go back to work soon I’ll be broke. Only I’m in some kind of limbo right now. The agency that used to employ me also works for Carl—for his line of clothes and his line of footwear. So they don’t want to hire me as long as this divorce thing isn’t settled. You see what kind of predicament I’m in right now? Carl is a very influential person, even in my industry. He’s worked as a celebrity model, and knows all the key people. So I’m persona non grata as long as Carl doesn’t let me go.”

Odelia clearly took pity on the woman, for she nodded. “Where is Carl staying?”

“He has a house near the beach,” said Erica, looking extremely relieved. “Oh, Odelia, you don’t know what this means to me.”

“I can’t promise you I’ll succeed. But I’ll have a word with your husband, and I’ll do my best to convey the message that he needs to accept that the marriage is over.”

“He cheated on me, you know. That’s why I left him. And it wasn’t the first time either. He keeps hooking up with all these different women. I know he thinks I don’t know. That he can do this behind my back. But I know. Of course I know. I mean—everybody knows.”

“He’s not very faithful, is he?”

“No, he’s not. Carl has issues, that’s obvious. It’s like an addiction. He just can’t stop. I confronted him about it, of course. And he promised he’d get help. But he’s made those promises before, and each time he breaks them. And so I think for my own sanity I need to put this behind me, and create as much distance between myself and Carl as possible.” She opened her purse and scribbled something on a piece of paper. “This is Carl’s number, and this is his address. Just tell him I sent you. I’m sure he’ll take your call.”

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About Nic

Nic has a background in political science and before being struck by the writing bug worked odd jobs around the world (including but not limited to massage therapist in Mexico, gardener in Italy, restaurant manager in India, and Berlitz teacher in Belgium).

When he’s not writing he enjoys curling up with a good (comic) book, watching British crime dramas, French comedies or Nancy Meyers movies, sampling pastry (apple cake!), pasta and chocolate (preferably the dark variety), twisting himself into a pretzel doing morning yoga, going for a run, and spoiling his big red tomcat Tommy.

He lives with his wife (and aforementioned cat) in a small village smack dab in the middle of absolutely nowhere and is probably writing his next ‘Mysteries of Max’ book right now.

www.nicsaint.com