THE ACE IN THE HOLE

THE ACE IN THE HOLE

JERRY THOMAS

An unfaithful wife is the not so secret lover of the Governor of the State of California. When her husband discovers their ongoing illicit affair, he is crushed by her betrayal, but still in love with her, and wants her to end the affair. Instead, she files for divorce. He doesn't contest the divorce, and with the assistance of the Governor's legal staff, she takes everything. She and the Governor are jubilant, but perplexed by his obvious lack of despondency and grief. Without a doubt, he has an "Ace In The Hole."

About The Author

JERRY THOMAS is a prolific writer of fiction and this is his second novel to be published on the Internet. The author specializes in writing about everyday situations and experiences, and demonstrates an outstanding ability to present characters that are bold and cunning. This is an exceptional example of literary craftsmanship from a most gifted writer.

e-BOOK

Maverick Publishing

HOUSTON, TEXAS

THE ACE

THE HOLE!

JERRY THOMAS

e-Book 2002

www.mittymax.com

THE ACE IN THE HOLE

JERRY THOMAS

e-Book

Maverick Publishing

HOUSTON, TEXAS

THE ACE IN THE HOLE

JERRY THOMAS

FICTION

Any resemblance of the characters in this novel

to persons living or dead is coincident.

e-Book

Sandra Steele was a member of the ABill Cleveland for Governor@ committee and had been attending these so-called meetings several nights a month. Now she was attending them several times a week. She was a legal secretary and had met Bill Cleveland at one of her law firm=s meetings. In a very short time, they were secretly meeting each other in discrete places and beginning an affair; or so they thought it was secret, but Mark knew differently.

AThat=s fine,@ Mark answered. ABy the way, are you going with me to my high school reunion next Saturday night?@

AOh, boy,@ she replied. Sandy always used that expression when she didn=t want to do something. AI=ll have to check my appointment book, but it=s at the office. I=ll check it tomorrow and let you know.@

AThat=s okay,@ Mark said. AI=ve already made reservations for us at the Vagabond Inn in La Jolla just in case you want to go with me. It=s my twentieth high school class anniversary and a lot of the old gang might show up for it. It should be fun to see some of them again and hear what they have been doing over the years.@

AThat=s nice,@ Sandy said, as she put on her new fur jacket over her low-cut evening gown. The fur jacket had cost her a bundle, but she hoped to impress people with it. Not many women owned one, especially a two thousand-dollar fur jacket. She had bought it on credit, but that was besides the point. AYou don=t need to wait up for me. After the fund-raiser, we=re having a meeting of the financial committee, so I=ll probably be late getting home.@

AAll right. Have fun,@ Mark said, as Sandy bent over and kissed him on the cheek. The scent of her perfume always excited him. What was it called? He couldn=t remember. But for many years whenever she wore it, they had made love. Was she trying to tell him something or was he becoming paranoid?

When Sandy reached the front door, she looked back at him and threw him a kiss. That was about as close as they came to making love nowadays. In fact, he had a hard time recalling the last time he had held her close and whispered sweet things to her. He waved good-bye to her, but she never saw the gesture; she was already outside the door and walking to her car.

Mark got up from the couch and walked over to the window of the front room. Peering out through the glass pane of the window, Sandy was already backing out of the driveway in her new carCa 1990 Ford Thunderbird. AIt=s a beauty of a car, but it=s too expensive for me,@ he told her when she bought it two months ago.

AI=m paying for it with my own money,@ she had said defensively at the time. AJust because you don=t make as much money as I do, doesn=t mean I have to drive an old car.@

It was strange how things had changed between them, over the last several months. Ever since she had joined the political committee, it seemed they had grown farther apart. Maybe, it had even started before that. This fact had bothered him and he wondered what Sandy was really doing at her committee meetings. So, Mark hired a private detective to follow her on her political excursions. When the investigator reported to him about his wife=s infidelity, it really didn=t surprise or hurt him as much as he thought it would. Anyway, it didn=t matter now. He had a surprise for her! But for now, he wasn=t going to reveal it to her or anyone else!

Sandy drove away from the house and her husband in her new, and quite impressive, Ford Thunderbird. Mark watched as the taillights disappeared in the distance. Walking back to the couch and sitting down, he flicked on the TV and began to laugh. If Sandy only knew what he had won, she wouldn=t be acting like she=s doing. Mark had won the State LotteryCtwenty million dollars! It was to be paid over a period of twenty years, but so what, it was his to spend and not Sandy=s. At first, he was going to tell her about his good fortune, but if she was going to cheat on himBwhy should he even mention it to her? Well, he would wait a while and decide what to do later about telling her, maybe he wouldn=t say anything to her at all!

Mark had bought the lottery ticket on, more or less, a whim. He didn=t gamble, mainly because he hated to lose money, especially his hard-earned money. But he took a chance on the lottery when he saw the prize winnings were twenty million dollars. Marking the Quick-Pick circles, he paid his five dollars for five chances at winning the lottery. One of his numbers matched the winning lottery number. At first, Mark couldn=t believe it. He had won the lotteryCtwenty million dollars! Slowly it began to sink in and he began to plan what he was going to do with his lottery winnings. There was one thing for sureChe was going to keep his winning of the lottery a secret from his cheating wife and from anyone else that might give away his secret. What was he going to do with the money for the time being? Then it dawned on him. Why not put the lottery money in the bank under his name and the name of his older and maiden sister. Their last names would match without any problem, and they would let the bank assume that they were married. The money would be safe until he wanted to withdraw it anyway and away from any prying eyes. It was an ideal situation in another way too. Sandy and Mark=s sister had quit speaking to each other years ago. It didn=t take Mark long to contact his sister and make the necessary arrangements to conceal the lottery winnings in a small bank in Santa Monica, California. His sister, Martha, came to California and they deposited the lottery money in the bank, using the name of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Browne. The money was secure for the time being and only Mark and his sister knew about it!

Feeling hungry, Mark took Sandy=s advice and called the Pizza Store and ordered a medium pizza with everything on it, except anchovies. He hated anchovies. After feasting on the pizza, drinking a couple more beers, and watching TV for a while, he fell asleep and that was how Sandy found him when she returned home from her political meeting, and from her secret meeting with Bill Cleveland in a sleazy motel in Santa Ana.

Looking at her husband sleeping on the couch again, Sandy wondered how she had fallen in love and married such a lowbrow oaf as Mark. She tried to explain it by saying that she might have gone insane for a couple of days, but how could she rationalize away twenty years of marriage? She decided that Mark was good for one thingChe put her through a paralegal program, which she doubted she would have done on her own.

Shaking her head at her sleeping husband, she went to her bedroom and undressed. After taking a bath and lying down in her bed, she thought of Bill Cleveland and their time together in the motel room. It wouldn=t be long before they wouldn=t have to sneak around like they were doing now. They had discussed their future and she was going to file for divorce! In fact, when Mark returned from his class reunion in La Jolla, would she have a surprise for him!

Later that week, while sitting at the kitchen table over a breakfast of waffles covered with honey, Mark watched Sandy devour the breakfast he had made for her. She was thinking that Mark was good for one more thingCmaking breakfast for her when she was in a hurry. Mark was thinking Sandy might become a very good actress the way she seemed to pass over and neglect such things as adultery. If he was in her place, he wouldn=t have been able to face his spouse. But with Sandy, it was different. Maybe she had already made up her mind what she was going to do, and was just biding her time before she made her move and asked him for a divorce. He didn=t know how close he was to the truth!

AWhat have you decided about the high school reunion? Are you going with me?@ Mark asked, as he watched Sandy fill her mouth with a fork full of waffles and occasionally sipping some coffee. AIt would be nice if you went with me.@

AOh, boy,@ Sandy looked up from her breakfast. AI almost forgot to tell you. Bill has asked me to come along on the campaign junket this weekend, and I, well, I just couldn=t turn him down now, could I?@

ANo, I guess not,@ Mark answered. I wonder when she started calling him by his first name? Mark asked himself.

AWe=re going by car caravan from Huntington Beach to San Luis Obispo,@ Sandy explained. @ Bill, I mean, Mr. Cleveland, wants us to leave early Saturday morning and make stops in Ventura, Santa Barbara and make a final speech in San Luis Obispo on Sunday afternoon. It will be a busy two to three days and Mr. Cleveland needs all the help and support we can give him. A politician=s life isn=t easy you know.@ Sandy continued eating and sipping coffee, hoping that Mark didn=t catch her slip of the tongue.

But Mark knew what she said and meant by her words, but he said nothing. Now, he knew, almost for sure, that they were coming down to the final stage of their marriage. She would probably leave him and go live with Bill Cleveland any day now. As for Mark, he would lose a wife, but he would have his lottery money to help him sooth the parting of their ways.

AMy vacation starts Saturday and I=ll probably be gone most of the month. After the class reunion, I plan to meet my fishing buddies Monday morning at Cisco=s Landing. We=ll probably fish the Outer Banks for a couple of days, then drive over to San Felipe in Baja California and see what the fishing is like there. After that, I think I=ll go to my sister=s house in Oregon for a couple of days and see how she is doing. I=ll just drop by the house for a change of clothes and a shave, then head north to Oregon to see my sister. I=ll call your office if you aren=t home and let you know that everything is okay.@

Sandy kept eating her breakfast, but she was thinkingCdon=t do me any favors, and as for your sister, you can tell her to go to the devil. Instead, Sandy smiled and said, AYou plan a busy vacation. When you see your sister, tell her hello for me, and to come and visit us sometime.@ Sandy knew she was going to file for divorce while Mark was on vacation. She would not only divorce herself from Mark, but his family, his fishing buddies and his sloppy way of life. She felt she deserved better things in life than she had now and Bill Cleveland will give her such a life once he=s elected Governor of California!

AI=ll do that,@ Mark replied. AShe=ll be glad to hear from you. Leave the dishes, I=ll wash them before I leave for work.@

AThanks, you=re a doll,@ Sandy said, as she got up fro the breakfast table. AI=m late as it is.@ Grabbing her briefcase, she looked at her husband, and absentmindedly threw him a kiss as she walked out the door.

CHAPTER TWO

Driving down Westminster Boulevard toward the ocean, Mark commenced to plan his futureCa future without Sandy. Somehow it didn=t seem right to him, but Sandy seemed to want to dissolve their marriage. Entering the city limits of Huntington Beach with its insect-looking oil wells, he stopped at a car rental agency and drove away in a brand-new Mercury Marquis, leaving his old Dodge two-door sedan at the agency. He has already put his suitcase in the back of the new car, along with his fishing gear. His rented tuxedo was hung in the back seat of the car. Mark was really going first-class this time, and he wondered what Sandy would say if she knew what he was doing.

After a leisurely drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to San Diego, he turned off at the Mission Drive exit and saw the huge, gaudy sign of the Vagabond Inn in the distance. With his newly-acquired money, Mark could have stayed at a better and fancier hotel, but he had already made the reservations several weeks before and decided not to change them, whether Sandy came with him or not.

Checking into the Vagabond Inn, he went to his room and turned on the TV. He had several hours to kill before getting dressed for the class reunion at the La Jolla Country Club and it was only a ten minute drive from the Vagabond Inn. Mark had plenty of time to shower, shave, and put on his tuxedoChis waiter=s suit. He was going to wear a tuxedo for the first time and was self-conscience about wearing it in public. It really wasn=t heCeven if he was a millionaire!

When the five o=clock news came on the TV, Mark watched it to see if there was any news about Cleveland=s political campaign. Who knows? Maybe Sandy was lying about that too. But he was wrong. The TV commentator mentioned that Bill Cleveland=s political junket was to commence tomorrow morning in his bid for Governor of California. A TV camera panned an audience of mostly white people with a few Mexicans standing around the edge of the group. The camera moved across the stage where Cleveland was standing at the podium: then, he saw Sandy. She was standing on the far side of the platformCsmiling and clapping to Cleveland=s words. There she was, dressed in a smart-looking business suit with her hair combed neatly back over her head. She really looked impressive. At that moment, the TV announcer switched over to talk about Cleveland=s political opponent and commented that Cleveland was behind by six percentage points in the latest political poll. Mark had heard enough about Cleveland and politics in general, so he turned the TV off.

Going into the bathroom, Mark looked at himself in the mirror. What did Bill Cleveland have that he didn=t have? Cleveland was older by maybe five years, but they were about the same height and build. Maybe he was better endowed somewhere else. Enough thinking about Sandy and Bill ClevelandChe had to get dressed for his high school reunion.

Changing his clothes, Mark put on the rented tuxedo. Not too bad a fit, he thought as he looked at himself in the mirror. The tux does add something to my appearance. It makes me look like a . . . like a waiter! That=s what it does. It makes me look like a damn waiter!

Thinking about changing back into his brown sport coat and pants, again Mark thought differently. Tonight, I=ll dress first-class for a change and to hell with what other people think. Besides, he was a millionaire. Nobody would know but him, but it was nice secret anyway.

Driving along the palm-lined driveway into the La Jolla Country Club, Mark had to drive almost to the ocean before he found a parking place. Parking his car, he crossed over to the sidewalk and glanced at the ocean with its incoming waves. There was a broad expanse of beach and the, now shuttered, Life Guard station. He continued to gaze at the horizon, and saw a thin, gray line separating the ocean from the horizon. How he longed to be out there on the ocean sailing to Hawaii, or maybe even farther to Tahiti. Someday he would, and that day was coming. He planned to buy a boat, maybe a sloop, hire a crew and sail the seas of the Pacific Ocean with its uncounted islands and countless women. Someday, he would and that day was coming faster than he realized!

Walking to the main entrance of the La Jolla Country Club, where people were greeting each other and laughing as they entered the reception hall. Following a couple of North High School alumni inside, he was directed to a line of tables where the ex-grads were being greeted by a group of mostly younger ex-grads and were being registered and given name tags. A registration fee of twenty-five dollars entitled them to two free drinks and a free buffet dinner.

Walking up to a young girl with a nametag that read said she was Marsa ElkinsBClass of 1989. The girl smiled at Mark and said: A Welcome to North High=s class reunion. My name=s Marsa. May I have yours?@

AMark Steele and I graduated in June of 1970.@

AOne moment, sir,@ Marsa said with a smile and she began typing rapidly on a computer keyboard. ALet=s see,@ she said. AMark Steele, Economics major, twelfth in your class, a football letterman, Key Club, Sailing Club . . . @

AEnough of my statistics,@ Mark said, smiling at Marsa and wondering what else she had in the computer on him.

AOkay, most of the grads want to know what data we have on them,@ she said. ADo you want to add anything? You know, stuff like, how long you=ve been married, your wife=s name, any children?@

ANope, none of the above,@ Mark replied, surprised at the friendliness of the young woman. AThis is interesting. You graduated from North High the year I was born,@ Marsa informed Mark, as she pushed a button on the computer console and the printer began its cackling.

You really know how to hurt a guy, don=t you?

Mark smiled at Marsa, wishing he could run away and hide.

Taking the name tag from the lip of the computer, Marsa slipped it into the plastic holder. Looking up at Mark, she said, ABend down and I=ll fasten the name tag onto your tuxedo.@

Mark bent over and Marsa leaned forward slightly, allowing her peasant blouse to fall forward under the weight of her breasts and giving Mark a full view of her ample breasts. Also, he received a visual examination of her body down to her belly button. She was not only braless, as was the custom with most women now, but appeared to be panty-less as well!

Making her point, Marsa said, AThere, that does it. By the way, that=s a nice tuxedo you=re wearingCyou could almost pass for a waiter.@

Little girl, you really know how to hurt a guy!

AThanks a lot,@ Mark replied. He really wanted to run away and hide. Maybe he should go back to the Inn and change into his other clothes. It might save him a lot of embarrassment all the way around. But, it was too late nowChe was already here.

As he started to leave, Marsa said, AWait a minute. If you strike out tonight, I=ll be here in the lobby or near the table of the Class of >89. That=s if, of course, if you are looking for some company afterwards. Oh, sorry about the tuxedo remark.@ Smiling, she greeted the next alumni.

Now, that makes me feel a lot better. I=m older than she, but any port in a storm, as they say. I=ve got to get that kind of thinking out of my mind. Mark reminded himself.

Walking through the wide, open doors to the main ballroom, Mark entered a morass of tables with banners proclaiming the class year above them and a multitude of people milling around like cattle in a feed yard. A long table crisscrossed the room with alternating food stands, and with liquor and beer bars sandwiched in between. Walking over to the nearest bar, Mark ordered a beer and handed the bartender a liquor ticket. Adding a dollar tip to the man=s hand, Mark was given a bottle of beer. AThat=s a nice tux you=re wearing, buddy, it=s just like mine,@ the bartender said. Ignoring the remark, Mark turned away, and now, he was really disillusioned and wishing he had never decided to attend his class reunion. It was turning out to be a disaster and he was beginning to feel like the Titanic!

Taking a sip of his beer, Mark felt better and looked around the ballroom. He hoped this evening would turn out better than it started. The young, but rather brash, Marsa, might have possibilities. No, forget her. He wasn=t going to get involved with anyone that young, even for a one-night stand. Besides, his heart wasn=t in it; besides, he was still a married man. He couldn=t forget thatCeven if his wife was cheating on him.

Backing his way out of the group standing in line for drinks, he heard a familiar voice: AHey Mark, Mark Steele. I didn=t know you worked here.@

Turning toward the voice, Mark recognized his high school friend and fellow football playerCEd Bear. He and Ed Bear were known as the Atouchdown twins@ until Mark had been injured during a football game with Point Loma High. It was the last game of the season and they were playing for the city championship. North High was leading fourteen to seven when two opposing linemen tackled him; one of them twisted his body while the other held his legs. Mark heard the bone crack, then he felt the pain. His football days were over, while Ed Bear=s football career was just beginning. Ed received a football scholarship to UCLA, where he made the All-Pacific Ten first team and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. He played for them for several years and was voted an All-Pro wide receiver and played in the Super Bowl. Right now, he was waving his hand in front of Mark=s faceCshowing off his Super Bowl ring.

ASorry there, Mark. For a moment, I thought you were a waiter in that tuxedo,@ Ed Bear said. AActually, you look great in it.@

Here=s another one who really knows how to hurt a guy, Mark thought to himself.

Letting the stinging comment pass, Mark shook the outstretched hand of the All-Pro wide receiver. A How have you been?@ Mark asked.

AI=m doing really well. I=m working as a TV sports announcer this season. Fifteen years playing pro-ball is enough, A Ed answered. Turning to one side, he added, AHey, I want you to meet my fiance, Anna.@

AHello,@ the tiny voice with the body of Dolly Partons said. Ed=s fiance could have passed for the singer=s sister, although a much younger sister. Anna was built like the proverbial outhouseCfrom top to bottom!

APleased to meet you,@ Mark responded. His eyes passing from her young and pretty face to her broad expanse of cleavage that seemed to go on forever. This young woman has a first-class body, Mark thought as his eyes caressed her body.

AWe met several months ago and plan to get hitched sometime next year,@ Ed explained, his face all smiles and ignoring Mark=s stares.

Anna moved closer to her future husband and gave him a hug.

Is this love in bloom or has his old friend become a child molester? This young girl hugging his ancient friend couldn=t be more than fifteen years old!

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