Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

“I’m in the county now,but I'm going to go to my parents to sleep. I can’t drive anymore,”she said. “Good night, honey. I’m sorry.”

“Okay, good night,” Iyawned. “And, honey, happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year, Paul.” Ihung up the phone and fell back onto the bed. I couldn't think ofany plausible reason why it would take Audrey so long to make thetwo hour trip from Cocoa Beach. It's not like the roads were snowedin. This was Florida. I felt disappointed, dejected, and deliriouswith sleep. My only hope was that this horrible night would notprove to be an omen for the new year.

CHAPTER NINE

The Separation

January – February 2008

Our plane had been sitting on the tarmac atthe Palm Beach International Airport for close to forty minutes,and Audrey and I had hardly exchanged a single word for the wholetime. Back in the terminal, we debated over which concession standmight have the best coffee, and we even wondered aloud where thebathrooms were located. Aside from those pressing conversations, itseemed Audrey did her best to ignore me.

She looked bored by the whole thing, and whennext I turned to her, she was napping. I scanned the aisle of ourBoeing 767 to see how the other passengers were handling the waitand, given the fact that we were filled to capacity, there was alot to see. Seated immediately across the aisle was a newly marriedcouple, as evidenced by her endless chatter about the photographerand her husband's constant twisting of his brand new wedding band.Directly in front of us sat a brood of four golfing buddies who hadalready launched into their third exaggerated story about the lasttrip, a story which was barely understandable and punctuated byconstant howls of laughter and shouts. And then, just a row up andan aisle over, I caught sight of a small little head that keptpopping in and out from behind a seat. Waiting to see what game theowner of the little head might be playing, I held my stare until hereappeared.

After a second, the face returned and,surprised that his solitary game of hide-and-seek had beendiscovered, he revealed a devilish grin, pulled out his imaginarypistol, and shot me square in the chest. Gasping for air, I heldout my hands for help, and then slumped back in my chair with mytongue hanging out. The little boy giggled with delight until hismother, unaware of our antics, sternly instructed him to turnaround and sit up straight. The game was over.

I sighed and wondered howmuch fun Johnny was having with his grandparents. Though I wantedhim to come, I knew that a trip away for Audrey and me would makefor a nice, late honeymoon, minus any worry about photographers,wedding guests, or restrictive jewelry. But I was already missingmy son.

Just then, the captain’sannouncement that we were cleared for take-off coupled with thedramatic rumbling of the engines sent the plane abuzz with renewedexcitement for the destination ahead. I too was excited aboutreturning to my old stomping grounds and showing Audrey around. Theplane lurched forward to the take-off apron, and Audrey awoke. Shereached for the magazines in the seat pocket in front of her. Thenshe turned to me. “By the way, you never did add my name to yourchecking account,” she said calmly.

“Oh, right, honey,” Ireplied, “I'll get you a debit card as soon as we get toCalifornia.”

“Fine,” she said, andbegan to flip through the magazines.

Four hours, 35,000 feet, and two vodka tonicslater, Audrey was a new woman. Despite my hope that she wouldeventually favor me with some interest, she was now having ananimated conversation with the golfers who were, it appeared to me,flirting with her. I sat by uncomfortably, pretending not to bejealous of her stolen attention. Seeking out some distraction, Ilooked for my favorite little assassin, but his little head was nowresting comfortably on his mother’s lap, undoubtedly dreaming oftaking out more bad guys.

“Hey, Paul, didn’t you dothat once? Lock your keys in the car while the ferry was docking?”Audrey turned her head around, smiling broadly as she recalledsomething done by another man.

“What?No. You must have me confused with someone else,” I said, andgrabbed the Skymallmagazine from the seat pocket in front of me,making my displeasure known.

“No? I thought you told methat. Oh, well, it was a funny story,” Audrey continued with morelaughter, either not at all aware of my disappointment, orindifferent to it. A few minutes later, the conversation with thegolfers petered out. They went back talking among themselves, andAudrey sat back in her seat and picked up the magazinesagain.

An hour later, the seatbelt sign came on and we began to descend. “So what do you want todo when we land? Head right for the house, or do you have anotheridea?” Slightly appeased that her attention had now returned to me,I looked up at her with a smile. I did have an idea. In fact, I hadthe whole weekend planned. Apart from checking out the house we hadbought in Saratoga Ranch, I wanted to show Audrey the best of whatI considered my home town area, Orange County,California.

“Well,first I was thinking we’d go right to the house because I know youcan’t wait to see it, and then we’ll head toTaleo Mexican Grill fordinner, the food is terrific, and then I was thinking we coulddrive out to… ” I couldn't contain my excitement as I laid out ouritinerary for the entire weekend. Restaurants, shopping, andperhaps even meeting up with some old friends were all on theagenda and I couldn’t wait. Audrey nodded as she listened, whilesimultaneously glancing around the plane. When I finally finished,I let out a satisfied sigh. “Sound good to you?”

“It sounds wonderful, andvery organized,” she smiled.

We buckled our seat beltsin preparation for landing. Then, I glanced around to see whatAudrey had been looking at when I caught one of the golfers staringat her. He was standing near the back of the plane, waiting for thebathroom to become available. When our eyes met, he quickly lookedaway.

* * *

The house proved to be everything we hadhoped and I was happy and relieved.