New York City
5 April 1963

There’d been thoughts, visions before. He’d been able to keep them secret, suppress them, dismiss them, discount them and they’d even lessened, but, yet always had returned. And now keenly so. After Tracy had left their office for Brady’s executive floor he’d put his wife on the elevator going down then quickly ensconced himself in the men’s restroom. Mercifully he’d found it unoccupied. Visions of his wife and another man, this, this Englishman coupling together was filling his conscience to bursting. He washed his hands, then found the courage to lift his gaze into the reflection above the sink. “Jesus, what in the Hell is wrong with you, boy? She’s your wife, the mother of your son.”

He’d admonished himself before like this. This was not the first time. He dropped his eyes to the running water, then cupped his hands. The cold water clearing his mind, then the visions launched again. She’d undressed them both, first Rattigan, then herself. He watched from the kitchen thru the open shutters. She was perfect. Laura came into his arms as they stood in front of the davenport. Tracy’s fingertips immediately falling to his wife’s bottom cheeks, resting there close to the crevice as their lips met then parted. She guided Tracy’s head to her breasts as her eyes met her husbands then closed as Rattigan nursed. He gripped the kitchen sink tightly, the stainless steel wet and cold, then realized he was gripping the white porcelain of the sink in front of him.

Chapter 1

“Rob, Rob, hey, Rob.”

“Buddy!”

“You okay, Rob?”

“I’m fine, Buddy.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Buddy moved to the urinals.

“Can you believe that Rattigan guy, Rob? What a character.”

Rob watched in the mirror’s reflection as Buddy relieved himself.

“Rob, a Jew and a gentile are pissing. The Jew says,,,, “

“Buddy, not now. I have to get back.”

“Wait up, I’ll walk back with you.”

He had no choice but to wait. To do otherwise would be unwise. Buddy was already aware of what had transpired back in their office. Mel Cooley had sprung Tracy Rattigan on Rob and his co-writers out of the blue. Laura had made a special trip into the city for Friday luncheon with Rob. They’d dined at Sardi’s, Laura’s favorite and were looking forward to a weekend alone together. Their son Ritchie was departing later in the day for a Boy Scout Jamboree up state and would not be back until Sunday night.

Upon returning to the office afterward they’d opened the door to find Rattigan holding court. He’d at once pounced upon Laura, introducing himself to her and Rob. Mel had already introduced him to Sally and Buddy. Rattigan’s reputation was legendary. ‘Racy’ was his nickname and well deserved. He enjoyed flirting, to him it was sport. He was one of the UK’s most eligible bachelors and had dated the world’s most beautiful women, some of whom were married.

Laura had retreated at Tracy’s advances to Rob’s side. She grasped Rob’s hand. Rob found it warm and moist.

“What a beautiful child you are, my dear.” Rattigan’s accent was not the least bit muddled, but, with a marked clarity that matched his blue eyes and sharp features.

“Uh, uh, uh...” Laura’s voice was stifled and thick.

“What do you think of Alan’s surprise, Rob? Tracy will be our special guest host on next week’s show.”

Mel was beaming. Rob had forgotten about Alan taking a short vacation in Bermuda.

“Uh, uh, uh...” Now it was Rob’s turn to bluster out a response.

“Oh, we’ll have a fabulous time, Rob. You, Buddy, Sally and me. Though I’ll miss this charming creature. You’ll have me out to the house while I’m stateside, hey? New Rochelle, is it?” He knew.

“Of course.” Laura was decisive.

“You have a standing invitation to my place, Tracy. It’s just me and my pussy ... well my cat, but, you’re most welcome.”

Sally had moved across and was now at Tracy’s side.

“I shall keep that invite close at hand, Sally dear, hey?”

He was speaking to Sally, but, his eyes had not moved from Laura’s since the Petries had entered the office.

“Tracy, Alan is expecting us back upstairs, we should go.” Mel had grabbed onto Rattigan’s suit coat and was making a move toward the open doorway.

“Mel, why don’t you go and let Tracy stay. You could go over and spar with Cassius Clay. I hear he’s looking for a punching bag.” Buddy was in fine form.

“Rob!” Mel beseeched him.

“Buddy!” Rob was not in the mood. The gaze twixt Laura and Tracy had not broken.

Chapter 2

For Rob it had started at Camp Crowder where Laura and Rob first met. She was working for the USO there while Rob served out his enlistment in the entertainment wing of the U.S. Army. They’d met one afternoon while Laura was practicing a dance routine in the camp theater. Laura was tall, slim and moved with such grace. Robert Petrie fell instantly in love with her. She took some convincing. There’d been resistance at the start and that resistance would never quite vanish. The “Bivouac Baby Contest” was where Rob’s pathology first surfaced. The winner of the contest was awarded a date with Camp Crowder’s--Bivouac Baby--Laura Meehan.

A handsome fellow, a Sergeant from supply won the contest. Laura was hesitant to fulfill the date.

“Rob, I won’t if you tell me not to.” She looked intently for his response.

But, Rob did not want to forbid it. And though he disliked Sergeant Williams he desired the date to take place.

“No, Laura, it wouldn’t be right for you to refuse.”

“But, Rob.”

“No, it will be okay.”

“If you say so, darling.” Though she wanted to assure Rob that nothing untoward would occur during their Friday night date.

“Nothing will happen, Rob, I promise.”

But, the more Rob thought about the date the more he wanted something to occur. And he wanted to see it, to bear witness to it. He couldn’t explain it, but, it was real and it was strong. And it was undeniable.

He did not query where the date would take place. All he knew was that Van Williams would pick Laura up Friday night at her apartment. Rob also knew he’d be there and he would follow them, and he’d watch.

Chapter 3

Friday night found Rob standing across the street from Laura’s apartment building next to an Army Jeep he’d borrowed from a buddy in the motor pool.

Williams was prompt, even a little early, arriving in a late model Pontiac convertible/top down. Rob sank back into the darkness and peeled his eye.

The couple came out a few minutes later, and they were hand-in-hand, she in a light blue summer dress that showed off her figure and long legs. He was in uniform.

“What a ham.” Rob spat from the shadows.

Laura scooted into the front seat past the wheel, but, stopped abruptly half way across. Rob’s heart raced as Laura held station-Williams settled in next to her. Instead of hitting the ignition the couple conversed for a while. Rob could hear Laura’s laughter cascading across the street.

“If this is their first date Bing Crosby can’t sing.” Rob grunted.

Soon the laughter stopped and kissing began. Rob clenched his teeth and his fists. And was torn between rushing across the street-announcing his presence and going back to the barracks, holing up in the latrine with his thoughts and the visions.

‘“Nothing will happen” my ass.’ Rob said to himself.

“But you wanted this, didn’t you? Yes. Why? I have no earthly idea.”

Williams started the Pontiac, hit reverse and cruised on down the street as Rob slammed himself against the wall of the closed Texaco station he was hiding next to.

By the time Petrie scrambled into the Jeep it was too late. He’d missed his chance.

On the drive back to the motor pool Rob imagined all manner of exploits, from parking in a secluded spot to taking a motel room for the night. There was a string of such motels in the exact direction they were headed to when last he spied their disappearing tail lights.

“Go back and check it out.” Rob prompted himself.

“No.”

“Do it. You know you want to. You know you want to find them there.”

“No.” Nonetheless he executed a perfect three-point turn and went back.

He never told Laura that he’d found the Sergeant’s Pontiac at the Candy Cane Motel. It was parked in front of room nine. He left the Jeep a half mile up the road, then trekked back and took station across the road in a slightly elevated wooded area. He also never told Laura that he’d purchased a pair of binoculars from Sears and Roebucks that very afternoon.

“Yes, sir, these are our most powerful model. You’ll be right on top of the action. It will be like you’re in the huddle.”

Rob had told the salesman he needed the binoculars for watching football. Rob shelled out the $150.00 even though it left him flat broke.

Fumbling with the binoculars in the dark woods caused Rob to curse himself for not trying them out earlier. Looking thru the powerful lenses caused his stomach to lurch, his chow hall dinner threatening to reverse course. Then the rear end of the Pontiac came into the viewfinder followed by door number nine. He shifted right and found the window. He also found a wedge of pale light twixt the drapes, the bed, a yard beyond.

Chapter 4

The Sears and Roebucks sporting goods salesman was dead on. While not in a huddle, Rob Petrie was in room number nine and he was bedside.

“Sir, this button here.” The salesman had pointed to a tiny button on the top of the binocular arch.

“Depressing this button will enable you to get thirty times closer, but, just for a limited thirty second interval. Then it will take the internal power structure an additional thirty seconds to recover before you can utilize it again. It is this feature that enable these glasses, the Model 30-30 to out perform every other, whether it’s Monkey Wards, or, the trash at J.C. Penny. Trust me. Go ahead, sir, try it.”

Rob had declined. He was on his lunch break and needed to get back and a bit ashamed of himself knowing the true intent of his purchase. Plus Rob was just relieved they actually had a set in stock.

In the dark Rob searched-found-depressed the button. “Oh-my-God.”

Rob, for the second time in his life sighted Miss Meehan in panties, though this time they were half way down and rested just above her knees. The first time was in Laura’s apartment when the girl had tried to seduce him. He’d flat out refused.

“Not till were married, Laura.” It was his mid west upbringing. She’d cried-then fled, Rob ineffectually averted his eyes as her incredibly round, white pantied bottom disappeared back into her bedroom.

Laura was in William’s arms on the far side of the bed. The requisite thirty second recharge took place-Rob depressed the button.

“Oh-my-God.” The panties were gone, as Williams busied himself removing her bra, Laura’s diminutive breasts released were immediately crushed by the bountiful chest hair of Williams.

Even without the booster the line of sight was incredible. He’d wanted to see Laura nude and now his want had been sated. He’d also wanted to see Laura kiss Van and now this want was being sated. Another thirty seconds in the books and Rob hit the booster.

“Oh-my-God.” Their mouths were fused.

“If this is their first date I’m a monkey’s ass.” It was then that the booster expired and Miss Meehan dropped to her knees. Both were bare-chested. But, only Laura was nude. Rob watched as Laura unbuckled Van’s khaki’s, took them down and off.