Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Chapter 5. Jolene’s Plan



Jolene sees Jake come into Erin’s Cut and Curl salon on a sunny Thursday morning. She waits for him to take a seat in her barber’s chair out of sight of others then greets him in a soft seductive voice, “Good morning, Jake”.
 “Good morning, Jolene,” he says trying to keep his voice emotionless.
“The usual, Jake, or do you want to try it a little shorter?”
“A little shorter is okay if you like it better that way,” Jake replies softly so he won’t be heard.
Jolene is wearing her tightest shorts and lowest cut blouse in anticipation of seeing Jake in the afternoon. As she cuts the sides of his hair she presses one leg against his leg. When she gets to the front she straddles his leg and squeezes it between her legs. As Jake enjoys the view of her cleavage he says quietly, “Do all your customers get this treatment?”
“Most of them like it, but maybe I don’t give them the full treatment you’re getting this morning.” 
“Careful or I won’t be able to leave here without holding my shirt in front.”
Jolene bends over and whispers in his ear, “Good to know I can still excite you. Be ready earlier this afternoon. I have something I want to discuss with you after you know what. It’ll take a while so I am leaving here early.”

Right after lunch Jolene leaves the salon and goes to an appointment she’s made with Paul Waters at his law office.
“How can I help you, Mrs. Crenshaw?” asks the dour graying lawyer when Jolene is shown into his office.
“I’m sure you are aware of all the uproar over my husband’s plan to develop the Wellborne beach property. I’m concerned about him. He’s getting anonymous death threats. I’m also concerned for myself. If something happens to him I don’t know where I stand. The house is his, the boat is his, the cars, the bank accounts, everything is in his name only. If something happens to him will I be left with nothing? I know he doesn’t have a will and he won’t discuss it when I bring it up. I grew up poor and don’t want to be poor again.”
“It’s unfortunate that some men don’t think about wills or their wives' needs when they are young and healthy. But you may have nothing to worry about. Does Carson have any other living relatives?”
“No, he told me his last living relative, a nephew died in a car accident two years ago.”
 “If that is so and you have your marriage license you have nothing to worry about. There will have to be probate if Carson should die, I can make sure that’s quick. You’ll inherit all of Carson’s property when probate is complete.”
“Do I need to do anything now?”
“No, everything will be okay. Don’t worry about Carson. I think the threats are people just blowing off steam. They aren’t going to do anything other than making a fuss. Try to ignore all the drama. I’m sure it’ll blow over.”
“Thank you, Mr. Waters. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing, Mrs. Crenshaw. Our talk took only a few minutes and I don’t bill for such easy questions.”
Jolene gets up, smiles at Waters and leaves his office trying not to let him see her smile getting bigger as she goes out the door.

In the early afternoon Jolene arrives at Jake’s cabin. They go straight to bed as usual. It’s a warm day and hot in the cabin so they take it slowly. After an hour they lie naked next to each other. Jolene says, “My God, you did just what I wanted, Jake. I’ve had a lot on my mind and I needed that.”
“Always happy to help you relieve your stress, Jolene. You said you have something to discuss with me today.”
“Yes, I need you more than Thursday afternoons, Jake. Carson is so caught up in this Wellborne development he hardly says hello to me. Before we were married he would take me out on his boat in the evenings. We’d take a picnic and a twelve-pack of beer. He taught me to fish and I loved it. After we fished for a while and there were no other boats in sight we’d make love naked in the twilight. Then we’d eat our dinner and chat. It reminded me of the times you and I had sex in the grass outside this cabin on hot nights. After we married Carson never took me fishing again. He only fishes with men he’s doing business with. He’s out with David Wellborne every weekend Wellborne comes north discussing their land deal. Now he hardly pays any attention to me. I don’t care about him anymore. I want us to be together more than a short time on Thursdays.”
“I’d like that, Jolene, but you know I don’t have any money. I can’t support you the way you’ve gotten used to with Carson’s money.”
“Jake, there is a way I can have you and Carson’s house, boat and money. I finally convinced him to take out a huge life insurance policy, so I will have no debts and money leftover if he dies. If something happens to him I’ll get everything. He has no relatives so I get it all. I’ve checked with the lawyer Paul Waters and he confirms it.”
“Jolene, Carson’s still young. He has a lot of years left.”
“Not if I can help it, Jake. A lot of people in town are hopping mad about him developing the Wellborne beach. He’s getting death threats and I’ve let everyone I know Carson’s getting threats. Jake, if you kill him now everyone will think it’s one of those screaming activists. No one will suspect you. I would do it but they always suspect wives if a husband is murdered. It has to be you.”
“Wow! That’s a big step, Jolene. I’ll think about it. No promises though. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in Jackson prison.”
“Okay, Jake, but don’t think too long. I need you desperately. Now is the time to get rid of Carson when so many others are out for his hide. Tell you what. There is going to be an open meeting at the County Library on Saturday night at 7:00. Carson is going to explain his plans for the Wellborne property to the community. The Chamber people are telling Carson he needs to be completely open about his plans. From the gossip I’ve heard at the salon the activists will be there to protest. Go to the meeting, Jake and you’ll see Carson’s getting threats. Then you’ll see now is the time to get rid of him and have the activists blamed.”
“Okay, Jolene, I can go to the meeting.”
“Good, sorry, I have to go now. Carson will be expecting me home as usual.”

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