S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone 19)

“It’s Cora. We had a counseling session with the minister and somewhere in the middle, the light finally dawned. The woman doesn’t trust me and she has no respect. I don’t understand it. She married me for better or for worse. This is worse, where I am, but she won’t lend a hand to pull me out of a hole.”

“What kind of hole?”

“Money, what else? My business needs a boost. That’s all I’m talking about.”

Violet had laughed. “She’s supposed to give you money? Why should she do that?”

“I’d do it for her. What’s marriage about if not sharing fifty-fifty? Doesn’t that sound fair?”

“Sure, but in this case, both halves belong to her. What do you have to offer?”

“Business savvy. I’m a businessman.”

“You’re a horse’s ass. You sound just like Foley. He’d love to get his big mitts on my money. It’s like the Chinese water torture. Drip, drip, drip.”

“You don’t see yourselves as a team?”

“Sure. We’re made for each other. He’s the boxer and I’m the punching bag.”

“You wouldn’t give him anything? Even if it might make a difference in his life?”

“Of course not. Why should I? He’d piss it away.”

“You women are hard. I’ve never seen anything like it. The Bible says wives should be submissive to their husbands. Didn’t you ever hear about that?”

“No.”

“Well, neither did my wife. It’s not even her money. She got it from that old fart she was married to. Hell, I’d have married the man myself if he’d asked me nice.”

Violet’s eyebrows went up. “Why? Are you one of them?”

“No, I’m not one of them. I’m just making a point.”

“You don’t know what women go through to get money.”

Tom said, “Well, I can make it easy for you. That money you got? You give it to me and I’ll promise you a forty percent return in three months. Guaranteed.”

“Bullshit.” She took out a cigarette and Tom leaned forward with a light. She blew out a stream of smoke and gave him a speculative look. “I got a question for you. How come you never come on to me? Don’t you find me attractive?”

“I do. Of course I do. What kind of question is that?”

“You’re a stud. I can tell by looking at you.”

Tom laughed, embarrassed. “Well, I appreciate your confidence. I’m not sure Cora would agree.”

“I’m serious. How long have we been talking like this? How many times we been in here dancing and clowning around? But you never make a move. What’s that all about?”

“I can’t believe you’d criticize me when I’m the only guy in town who’s not trying to get in your pants. You know why that is? I’ll tell you why. I’m more interested in this,” he said, tapping his head. “Sure, we could take a tumble in the hay. And then what? You’d move on to someone else. I’d rather be your friend.”

“Oh, please.”

“You know what grieves me? To see a mind like yours go to waste. You’re so busy fending off that psychopath you’re married to you don’t have the time or energy to do anything else. Why don’t you use your brain for a change and get away from the guy.”

“I don’t know. Foley’s kind of sweet in his way.”

“That’s poppycock and you know it. You can’t let emotion rule you in these things. You gotta be hard-nosed.”

“But I’m not.”

“Call it practical if you like. Look at me and Cora. There’s nothing wrong with her. I admire the woman, but what good is that? The marriage is dead. She knows it as well as I do, but you want to know what happens if I ask for a divorce? I’ll be out on my ass. Same thing with you. You can walk away, but all you’ll take with you are the clothes on your back.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. If I could get free, I’d be willing to leave it all behind. Who cares about possessions? Anything I have can be replaced. I got money of my own.”

“You just can’t get off that, can you?”

“You’re the one brought up money.”

“Now you sound just like Cora.”

“Anyway, what the hell do you have to complain about? You got that big house and those cars. You know what I’d give to have a car like yours?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Violet. Four thousand for a car? That’s chump change. You’re out there with your head down, hunting for pennies on the ground. You gotta look at the bigger picture.”