Cat On The Scent

32

Lilacs surrounded the brick patio behind Archie's house in Ivy Farms. Once, open meadows had surrounded the strong-running Ivy Creek, before the property was developed in the early seventies. Now dotted with upper-middle-class homes and manicured grounds, the area had lost all vestiges of its farming heritage.

Aileen Ingram, director of the Jefferson Environmental Council, made a decent salary. She poured what extra money she had into their home and garden. Archie was appreciative of her domestic gifts and he appreciated her. Her fine qualities only exacerbated his guilt.

Sitting on the Brown Jordan lawn chair, smelling the profusion of lilacs, he was startled when she appeared at his side.

“I must have been half-asleep.”

“Arch, bail was twenty-five hundred dollars. Blair Bainbridge lent me the money and I don't even know why he offered to help. Your lawyer's bills will be double that. I don't know what's wrong. You won't talk to me. I don't think you talk to anyone. You're unraveling. Resign as county commissioner before it's too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“Your political career is over. Get out with as much good grace as you can.”

“No.”

“You're mad.”

“No, I'm not. The worst I've done is lose my temper.”

“Smashing Cynthia Cooper in the face was stupid.”

He crossed his right foot over his left knee, holding his ankle. “I have one year left of my term. I won't run again. It would cost the county too much money to run an election in an off year.”

“The mayor would appoint an interim commissioner.”

“You've been scheming behind my back!”

“No. I've been trying to save what I can of your reputation.” She twisted her wedding ring, thin gold, around her finger. “But I don't think I can save our marriage. That takes two.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“I'm not an idiot. I know there's another woman—or women. You don't hang around Tommy Van Allen or Blair Bainbridge without partaking of their castoffs.”

“I resent that!” He blushed.

“Because I nailed you or because I insulted you by indicating you're playing with their discards instead of seducing a woman on your own merits?” Steel was in her voice. “Your vanity is touching, under the circumstances.”

“I admit I have feet of clay. I don't like myself much but”—he warmed to his subject—“I am trying to salt away money for us. A lot of money. I need one more year. Then I'm off the commission. I won't waste my life in these dull meetings with people picking at everything I say or do. I can apply myself to other pursuits, like making you happy again.”

“Better to have money than not but I am not waiting a year for you to get your act together. You've lied to me.”

“I have not.”

“Omission is a kind of lie.”

“What man is going to come home and announce to his wife that he's having an affair? I said I wasn't proud of myself.” He dropped his eyes, then raised them. “Did you hire a detective?”

“No. Any detective I could hire around here would know the sheriff. If someone tailed you Rick Shaw would find out in a heartbeat. He's on the county payroll. You're a commissioner. I swallowed my pride and my curiosity.”

“I'm sorry, Aileen.”

“So am I.”

“I can't resign. I can explain it later, but not now. I have to stay on and I have to keep my lines to Richmond open.”

“You're a political liability now.”

“I'm under a dark cloud, but it's passing. And at the next open meeting at the end of the month I am unveiling a workfare plan that will employ people and create new housing. It's a good plan and won't cost the county much at all. One-cent surcharge on luxury purchases inside the county.”

She wondered if he was a blockhead or purposefully opaque. “Intriguing. Archie, I want you out of the house. If you can resolve this affair, clear up your garbage, then we can talk.”

“You can't throw me out of my own house.”

“I can and I will. Your clothes are packed. Your computer is in the black-and-white box along with your disks. Everything is neatly stacked in the rented U-Haul in the garage, which is attached to your Land Rover. If you aren't out of here by noon I'm calling the sheriff. I figure it will take you that long to pack whatever else you might want.”

“And what's the sheriff going to do?” Archie was belligerent.

“Throw you out, because I'm going to accuse you of wife beating. That will be the end of your career. Totally.”

He hurried to the garage. She wasn't kidding. There was a loaded U-Haul. He dashed into the kitchen. Aileen was unloading the dishwasher.

“Where am I going to live?”

“Blair Bainbridge said he'd put you up in his extra bedroom. Failing that, there's an apartment for rent on Second Street off High. Seven hundred and fifty dollars a month. The number is on a Post-it on your steering wheel.” She closed the dishwasher door. “And I informed your mother.”

“Why don't you run the world?”

“I could.”