Austin escorted her to the car that pulled in behind them and waited for her to get in. "I'll be in touch," he said as he closed the door. He handed one of the security guards her key and address, gave him instructions, and then walked to the limo.

Georgia watched him get in and kept watching to see if he would look back. He didn't. Emotionally exhausted, she leaned her head against the back of the seat and rested.

*

As soon as he got home, Mathew opened the door to his bedroom and found the painting moved away from the safe. He turned the dial, yanked the handle down and opened it. His cash was gone, but he didn't care about that. On top of the checkbook lay a photograph and a note. Slowly, he took them out.

The picture was of him standing over the dead body of a woman, with a bloody alabaster vase in his right hand. He tossed the photo back in the safe and then read the handwritten note.

If you don't tell, I won't tell.

Furious, he crumpled the note and threw it across the room. Mathew slammed the safe shut, opened the bedroom door, and walked down the hall. He went down the stairs, walked into the office and lifted the lid on the laptop. He logged into his bank account and checked the balance.

"Two thousand dollars?" he gasped.

He refreshed the page, but it was true, the maid had nearly wiped him out. Mathew covered his face with his hands for several long minutes before he got up and walked back to the living room. To his surprise, Laura and two police officers were waiting just inside the front door. "What do you want?" he asked the officers.

"Mrs. Connelly would like you to leave," the first officer answered.

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"She can't do that, I live here."

"Actually, the house is in my name only," said Laura, "and so are all the cars. Go peacefully, Darling. It is all over now and you know you don't really want to live here."

"Have another drink, Laura. You like me better when you're drunk."

"Not this time, Darling." She moved away from the officers and sat on the sofa. "Where shall I send your things? Oh dear, I doubt any of your mistresses will want you, now that you are broke. By Monday morning, the credit card will be cancelled too. I hope you have cab fare to…wherever."

Mathew glared at her. "You're throwing away twenty-five years of marriage just like that?"

Laura snapped her fingers. "Just like that. Shall I call you a cab?"




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