Chapter 12

It took some doing to get them all assembled in the Cahills' living room without explaining my purpose, but I did it. Every word, every inflection, as couple by couple I summoned them, was exactly, fantastically right ... like I was a hypnotist, with absolute power over all of them.

Even Eldridge, though he was the most persistent with questions, seemed unable to protest when I tore him away from Laurel Skowron's machine-gunning crotch and led them both in to join the assemblage.

I stood with my back to the heavy door at the head of the stairs to The Chamber.

"Gentlemen," I began. "And ladies... I don't suppose it could ever be determined just which of you is most to blame for my wife's... er, untimely demise."

Sharon Harvey gasped, and seemed about to speak, but I silenced her with a cold stare.

"Yes. She's dead. But then, I really don't see why the fault should ever have to be determined. For the club's sake, I intend to report to the police ... after a few days of course; perhaps two or three weeks... I shall report that she has apparently left me, and disappeared. And I'm sure I can entrust to you, Rex and Alice, as our hosts tonight, the details of making sure that she stays disappeared, eh? Yes.

"Now, this will mean, I believe, that it will be some time before I can legally remarry. However, I intend to keep the club together."

Eldridge's mouth was hanging open, but there was admiration in his eyes.

"You may have to go on without me for a few weeks," I continued, smiling condescendingly, "but then 111 be back, and with a lovely new partner for pur enjoyment, who will be my wife in every sense but the legal one. Just as these ladies, I might add, gentlemen, are your wives in every sense but the sexual."

"Now, if we understand one another, I think we should continue the evening's fun."

I paused, scanning their faces. Then:

"I believe I'll want Laurel, Mason, so perhaps you'll switch over to Sharon, while Rex goes downstairs and ... cleans things up a little. Yes, Rex. Run along now. Good show, boy."

"Tom I know it's silly, but I just can't... Well, if you could marry me, I mean really, legally, I guess it might be different. It's just that I always promised myself I'd... well, save it for my husband... for the wedding night. I mean even ... touching.

"And, Tom, even if we could get married, somehow, I... Well, Tommy, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but your job doesn't pay much, and. .. Well, you don't even have your own car, for instance. I just can't understand how your mother lets you keep her car all the time when you never even..."

Denise talked on, now and then glancing with mild annoyance at my hand on her left shoulder, then turning back to feed me more shit about all the things that were wrong with me.

I looked at my watch, then raised my finger to her lips, shushing her.

"It's after midnight, Denise. Happy Easter."

I had made an Easter Resolution.