LETHAL OBSESSION (8 page)

      "What
a nice woman," Martha murmured.  "I wonder what she meant?"  She
turned questioning eyes to her husband.  "Ellen seems so young to have
tragedy in her life.  I will say a prayer for her in Church this Sunday.  How
do you know Ellen, Gene?"         

      He
shifted his weight. "Yeah, well, you know how it goes, Martha."  He
put his arm around her shoulders steering her in the direction of the food court. 
"I work with the public, Babe.  A lot of people cross my path. I don't
recall the incident specifically, but that's not important right now. She's
right you know.  You and I are so lucky to have each other and our son."  

      "Oh
Gene, I love you."                      

      Ellen
was walking like the devil was after her.  She wiped furiously at tears as she
tried to sort out her feelings.  Gene had manipulated her into believing he was
available.  That made him a liar and a cheat.  He said he loved her, another
lie.  Apparently he wanted sex and was adept at throwing out some damn good
lines.  She had fallen hook, line and sinker so how stupid does that make her?

      So
now what? So now nothing as far as she was concerned.  Gene Stone wasn't worth
her tears.  He had helped her once.  She repaid him with her friendship and
almost her body, end of story, debt repaid.  Lying bastard, Gene was no better
than Robert Danville angling for a woman to satisfy his needs.  Ellen thanked
her lucky stars she had possessed the sense to stop Gene when they were in his
bed yesterday.  Gene had brought her to that cabin for a reason.  Now she knew
why. He came very close to using her and getting another notch on his belt. 
Just the thought of it made her sick.                                                    Out
of breath, Ellen didn't realize she was walking so fast.  A picnic bench was
empty just up ahead.  She looked behind her feeling confident Gene wouldn't
dare follow. Ellen sat down and tried to relax, allowing the aromas and sounds
of the fair to permeate her senses. She could smell funnel cakes frying
somewhere.  Suddenly Ellen was starving.  A hot, sweet, sugary funnel cake
covered with chocolate and whipped cream just might be the answer to all her heart
aches, at least for now.

      Scouting
out the eateries Ellen found the right one and got in the line.  Taking her
sinful treat back to the table, she sat down and dug in.  As she nibbled on
hot, fried bread covered with fudge syrup, custard and whipped cream, Ellen
thought about the last few months of her life.

      Deep
down she was forced to admit some facts.  Number one, she was desperately lonely
and missed the sensuality of a sweet married life. Two, a handsome, silver
tongued man wanted to spend time with her.  That was a deadly combination
considering the man was not who he said he was.

      Ellen
liked Martha Stone. There was something about this woman that was wholesome and
warm.  If it had been Martha who befriended her instead of Gene, but it didn't
happen that way. Poor Martha, no telling how many times Gene had cheated on her
with God knows how many women.  If it wasn't for attending this fair, but she
did attend this fair and now the ruse was over.  Melancholy washed over her. 
In spite of Gene being a cheating husband she was going to miss the
companionship.

      Now
Ellen must decide how to handle the future.  She had no doubt Gene would pursue
her with a vengeance.  A man like him always wants the unattainable.  His over
inflated ego probably convinces him that he is irresistible.  To these men it's
a challenge, the ultimate prize.  Well, Ellen would be no man's prize. 

      She
knows now that nothing physical or emotional was ever going to happen between her
and Gene Stone.  An affair with a married man made her shutter with repulsiveness.
Ellen would hate herself, especially now that she has met Martha Stone. Even
thinking about their picnic at the fishing tournament made her shudder in
disgust.  All those parents had to have known. God, what they must've thought
of her.  Ellen wished to be a part of this town, to make a difference.  Now all
she wanted to do was run and hide. 

      She
had a feeling Gene had done this before and he was very good at it. Perhaps
befriending Martha would cut out a lot malarkey.  Ellen should reconsider going
to church with her.  Now that would certainly cool his jets. She knew being
angry or indignant with Gene would be a waste of time.  It would just fuel the
fire.  Sheriff Stone was a player.  Armed with knowledge came strength.

      Ellen
felt better thinking things through.  Yes, disappointment over what could've
been, still hurt like crazy.  Of course the delicious Boston Cream funnel cake
helped to make her feel better. It wasn't going to be easy because she knew
Gene Stone and he was not about to give up. 

      "Damm
it to hell."  The slamming of the receiver followed the uttered curse as
Gene stared daggers at his desk phone.  He had counted on Ellen being a little
pissed, but he thought she would at least talk to him.  Yesterday in the cabin
proved to Gene that Ellen had serious feelings for him. 

      Numerous
messages were left on her answering machine pleading with her to hear him out
and give him a chance to explain things.  Of course those things being a hidden
wife would not be an easy explanation.  Most women came into the relationship
knowing he was a married man.  This was the first time he had ever passed
himself off as single.  And now that charade has come back to bite him in the
ass.                   

      It
galled Gene to admit the fact he was coming across with some desperation. That
was a first too. Many women in his life have walked away and he never really
cared.  It was just too easy to obtain a new one.                                        

      Okay,
so Ellen found out he was married.  So, what was the big deal anyway?  Gene was
forced to be honest with himself.  He lied to her by omission.  He wanted Ellen
to believe there could be a future for them.  Why did he do that?  The answer
hit him right between the eyes.  This classy lady had to know there would be
love and a future in order to agree to sex.  It was a ploy and it almost
worked.

He
had heard Ellen's recorded message so many times he could recite it in his
sleep.  Her cell phone wasn't any better.  The bottom line was obvious as the
wart on his hind end. Ellen Anderson was through with him.

      Guess
it was time to take the bull by the horns and hope for the best. Gene grabbed
his car keys and left the office, slamming the door behind him.  "Gone for
the day."  He threw the words at the deputy behind the switchboard as he
headed out the door.                                                           

      Ellen
felt restless as she looked out her picture window to the distant mountains
arrayed in their fall colors.  Sleep had been allusive as she tossed and turned
feeling a painful loss on top of everything else.

She
hated to admit how much she missed Gene's company. Damn him for sucking her in
like that.  Every time his voice came on the answering machine, Ellen felt fury
all over again.  She had to get a grip and let the machine run.  There was just
nothing to say to him.  Gene's deceitfulness was galling.  The man pretended to
be something he wasn't and got her attached to him.  Then he managed to snake
his way into her life, becoming a friend and companion.  Now she craved that
companionship.     Ellen had no doubt Gene would find some way to see her. 
When that happened she would have to be prepared to call it quits. Seeing him
again was not an option. Ellen really liked Martha. She refused to be the
reason Gene was spending time away from his wife.                      

      With
a sigh, Ellen picked up the car keys. She didn't want to be trapped in the
house.  Perhaps a stroll in the forest would lift her spirits.  At least the
colorful falling leaves would give her something pretty to look at. Ellen might
as well learn right now to be alone and not depend on a companion to hike
with. 

She
wasn't really surprised to see Gene's squad car tailing her as she wound her
way up the mountain. He had to have been watching the house when she drove out.

CHAPTER NINE

      With
a sigh, Ellen pulled her car off the road into a clearing and waited as she
drummed her nails on the steering wheel.     "Might as well get this over
with right now," she murmured.      Gene walked to the car and bent down with
his arms on the windowsill.  Her finger moved to the button as the clear
barrier lowered between them.                                   

      "Okay,
Gene, I know you just have to explain, so let's hear it."  Her voice was
chilly and matter of fact.  He shrugged and looked up toward the treetops. 
"I think I need one of these dang birds to accommodate me right now and
just shit right in my face."                                

      Ellen
closed her eyes and lowered her head.  She tried to keep a straight serious
face but it was no use.  Laughter was bubbling up from inside her just itching
to be released. He presented an amazing visual. "Gene, I would dearly love
to see that right now, in fact it would make my day."

      "I'm
sorry, Ellen.  It was wrong of me not to tell you." 

      "Ya
think?"                                                

      "Will
you take a walk with me?  You're still my friend as always and I'm hoping you
still consider me a friend."       

      "Friends
don't lie to each other.  No I don't consider you a friend and I have no desire
to go anywhere with you."              

      "I
didn't really lie." Ellen glared at him. "Okay, okay, so I lied by
omission, I'll admit that.  Come on, let's walk and talk about this."  He
opened her car door and waited.   

      Ellen
started her car. "Shut the door, Gene.  You and I are through. If you want
to cheat on your wife that's your business but it will definitely
not
be
with me."

      "Look
Ellen, you are the only one I can really talk to. I can tell you things I've
never told anybody else. I won't ask you for more, I promise.  If I were a free
man..."

      "Shut
the door, Gene, or give me citation."

      "Ellen
please..."

      "Damn
you. Leave me alone, and don't you dare follow me." She reached over and
slammed the car door shut.  Gunning the engine, Ellen took off with a spew of
gravel. She drove deeper into the forest watching in her rear view window.  She
needed to turn around and head back to the highway but Gene had to be gone
first. 

      After
driving a couple of miles into the National Park, Ellen pulled over and left
the car. The pungent aroma of woodlands in the fall was invigorating.  She
looked down the road waiting to see if Gene would follow.  When he didn't,
Ellen locked the car and started hiking up the well marked trail. 

      Being
alone hurt worse than ever now.  Damn him for making her crave his
companionship.  It was worse than grieving and that was bad enough. Okay Ellen,
she told herself, just suck it up and get on with your life. She was forced to
be strong for the early part of her life.  She could do this too.          

      Several
days went by with no calls to the answering machine.  Maybe Gene finally got
the message.  Ellen forced herself through the days by getting out of bed in
the morning.  No more lying around sleeping all day. 

      She
read books and thought about redecorating the chalet.  That project would keep
her occupied for awhile. Slowly, positive thoughts were replacing sad ones. 
Ellen hoped she was finally beginning to heal.

      For
the first time since Mark's death Ellen thought about the service project she
and Mark wanted to do together.  Nothing was stopping her from making plans on
her own. As a child of an abusive household, Ellen had lived through the
horrors of witnessing and receiving violence from an out of control, inebriated
father.  At the tender age of seven, Ellen watched her mother beaten bloody and
unconscious.  She lived in constant fear her mother would die or her dad would
kill them both. 

For
years Ellen dreamed of a haven where women and children could go, be safe,
obtain an education and somehow better their existence.  She and Mark made
plans to build such a place but that was before the crash.  Now it was up to
her.  Could she make a success building a place large enough to house several
families along with a childcare center and educational facilities?  Money was
no problem but her self confidence was.

      That
night Ellen went to bed filled with enthusiasm.  Plans for their pet project
seemed to give her a new lease on life.  How many moms and children could she
save from the hell she had lived?  For the first time, Ellen felt she had a
mission in life.

      Ellen
sat up in bed, eyes wide with terror.  Her heart pounded and her skin was
covered with chill bumps.  It was still pitch dark outside.  What was it that
had her so spooked?  If it was a nightmare, she didn't remember it. Glancing at
the clock radio Ellen noted the time was two am.