“She isn’t my wife. I think she may be married to Gibson.”
“They’re not married, I can tell you that. They were together for a while, but then he left and went to Seattle. He just went back to California about a year ago. When we were there, Jimmy, David and I went out drinking and they laughed and bragged about what they did. Up until yesterday, I thought they were exaggerating; but now … I’m sorry Mr. Conley. It happened before I met him and I think it is despicable. I was sitting on the fence about his affairs, but what they did to you is beyond evil. And if, as I suspect, David drugged our friends, he deserves to be in jail.”
There was another pause before she added. “Jimmy Wilson is a piece of shit with an unbelievably foul mouth. He doesn’t care what he says, where he says it, or who he says it to. He’s also a coward with neither scruples nor conscience.” There was a slight pause. “I guess that describes my husband as well.”
I couldn’t say anything. She was a woman who finally convinced herself that her husband was a certified asshole.
She went back to the bottom drawer and brought out a video. “Take those pictures and this video. Use them as you will. I won’t tell David you were here or that I gave you this stuff.”
She led me to the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Jacobson. You’ve answered a lot of questions for me.”
“You are welcome, Mr. Conley. You’ve helped me make up my mind about a couple of things. I can only deeply and sincerely apologize for my husband and hope that things turn out well for you.”
“Actually, they have. Thank you.” We shook hands.
I drove just down the street and sat in my car and tried to wrap my mind around the apparent fact that after 12 years of marriage, Carol was gullible enough to be convinced, using pictures of a man whose face could not be seen, that I had cheated. Twelve years and she never asked me about the accusations. Twelve years and she was able to casually throw them away. Jacobson was a photographer, for Christ’s sake. He could have photo shopped the photos to at least make the guy resemble me … but he didn’t even have to do that. Twelve years! It appeared more and more likely that I suffered because her first husband cheated and was caught.
After I calmed down I went back to the motel and hugged Grace. I felt that things had, indeed, turned out well for me. Now if I could just get my daughter back.
I told her about my visit with Mrs. Jacobson, and showed her the photos. After looking at them and shaking her head, she asked, “What’s on the video?”
“I have no idea.”
“Why don’t I go to the lobby while you watch it?”
“Why don’t we watch it together?”
I took out my laptop and we played the video.
It started with Carol sitting on a bed. It looked like she had just finished crying. Jimmy Wilson was sitting next to her and was speaking.
“God damn it Carol. The motherfucker cheated. You owe it to yourself to get even. Now drink this. It will serve him right.” He handed her a drink. She took the drink and sipped it. “Don’t sip it. Drink the shit. It will make you feel better.” She gulped it down. They just looked at each other and fidgeted for a couple of minutes. Carol tried to rise, but he held her down.
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