BuckThirsty by Robert Burton Robinson



GENRE: Suspense/Crime. LENGTH: 2,128 words. SYNOPSIS: Some people will do anything for a buck. You might call them buck-thirsty.
Travis and Tara were thirtysomethings who lived in an affluent suburb. Travis spent most of his time on the road. But when he did come home to his live-in girlfriend, he brought major cash.
Tara loved cash. She even loved Travis-as much as a wom-an like her was capable of loving a man.
Sometimes she wondered exactly what kind of work her boyfriend did to make all that money. But she didn't have time to think about it too much, since she was so busy shopping and hanging out with friends.
Tara ran to greet him at the front door. "Have a good week?"
"Yep. I've got another satisfied client."
"Great, Honey. Where are we going for dinner? I'm craving a big, juicy steak."
"Oh, Sweetie-I'm kinda tired. Couldn't we just stay in and order a pizza?"
Tara pretended to be hurt. "Well, I guess so."
"I need to make a few business calls."
"Okay. No problem."
"Thanks, Baby." He kissed her on the forehead and then walked toward his study.
"Pepperoni or Meat Lover's?" She reached into to her pocket for her cell phone.
"Pepperoni's fine."
After Tara had ordered the pizza, she went to the study. The door was closed, as usual. Months earlier Travis had sound-proofed the room-ostensibly to shut out the noise from the living room TV.
She hated it. What was he doing in there? What was he hiding? She often wondered if he might be having an affair. It would be easy. In fact, he could have a girlfriend in every city he did business in. How would she know?
Not that she cared so much about fidelity. That was not the issue. Her concern was that he might dump her for another woman. That would mean no more country club, no more shopping sprees, no more...anything. She would be broke-out on the streets.
In the ten years since college, she had never made use of her business degree. And she wouldn't be able to get the kind of job she needed to support her lavish lifestyle. Her skills were more valuable in the bedroom than in the boardroom.
Tara hurried to the bedroom, reached into her dresser to the back of her panties drawer. She grabbed the device she had recently purchased from a website. It was an electronic stethoscope for listening through walls and doors.
She hid it behind her back as she walked quietly to his study. The door was still closed. Her heart began to race as she put on the headphones and placed the diaphragm against the door. She turned up the volume until she could hear him talking.
"...watched her strip. She walked around the room for a while, naked. She had a very sexy body, Man. And even though she didn't know I was watching-it was like she was teasing me. Finally, she got into to bed and turned off the light. I let her doze off for a few minutes. Then I nailed her."
Tara gasped. Then she quickly covered her mouth. Had he heard her? She tiptoed to the bedroom and put the device back in its hiding place and closed the drawer. When she
turned around, Travis was standing in the doorway. She jumped.
"You okay?" He seemed genuinely concerned.
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
"Well, I'm starving for that pizza. Hope you ordered an extra large."
"Of course."
He took off his suit coat and laid it on the bed. Then he walked over to Tara and took her in his arms. "And later I'm going to be starving for something else." He slid his hands down to her butt and pulled her against himself.
"Yeah, Baby. Can't wait." She smiled, but wondered if her smile looked forced.
**********
On Monday morning, as soon as Travis had left for the airport, Tara put on a provocative outfit and drove into town to visit John, Travis' attorney.
John gave Tara the once over as she walked into his office. The outfit is working, she thought. She wasn't 'smoking hot' anymore, but she was still sexier than just about anything else walking down the street.
"So, what can I do for you, Tara?"
Judging by the way he was eying her chest, she knew exactly what he wanted to do for her. And if she were available, she just might let him do it.
"Before I get to that...just out of curiosity...has Travis made any changes to his will lately?"
"No. Why?"
She smiled. "Oh, you know me. I always worry about things."
"You've got nothing to be concerned about, Tara. Travis loves you very much."
"I know." She paused. "The reason I'm here today is that I have this friend..."
"Yes?"
"Actually, she's a friend of a friend. And she's got an abusive husband. She's called the police several times. But he's got buddies on the force, and they won't do anything. So, she just wants to get out."