Hooked

didn’t want to hear. He braced himself for the worst.
    “Thought you should know, Benny,” his tech guru said. “That Dell woman was asking all sorts of questions. ’Fraid Charles might have said too much. A couple of the girls too.”
    Benny put down the coffee cup and looked up at the ceiling. He didn’t see the black cloud, but he knew it was there, floating over his head like a curse. Did he really want to know this? “What was she asking?”
    “Darlene said she asked about the girls. How many worked here, who they were? Like that.”
    “What’s wrong with that? She asked me too. She’s trying to be friendly, get a feel for the place.”
    “Yeah, but when one of the girls let slip that Cindi hasn’t shown up in a more than a week, she pumped Charles for her last name, saying maybe Cindi was a friend she’d lost touch with. Darlene said she kinda tricked him.”
    Benny’s stomach took a dive. He pushed the paper off his thighs and reached for the drawer in the bedside table. Where in hell were his antacids? He belched and belched again, but it didn’t relieve the acidic burning sensation gnawing like hot coals in his gut. “Eileen,” he called. Take it easy, Benny.
    “I’m sure it was innocent curiosity, Colin. You know how women are. Always gossiping. Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s not like she’s a spy or anything. Who’s she gonna tell? Relax. Tawny Dell came with well-established bona fides. She’s been turning tricks for more than a dozen years. More than anyone working at Upper Eighties.”
    “Okay, just saying.”
    “Maybe, to be on the safe side, you should tell everyone to keep their mouths shut about Cindi, not that anyone knows what happened to her except Melody. And you, me, and Reggie, of course.” And Eileen. “No, wait. Just remind them not to discuss Upper Eighties’ business. If we mention Cindi, it might make them suspicious.”
    “You think Melody talked?”
    “No. Do what I told you, and we’ll be fine. We can’t be too careful. I’ll talk to Charles myself and then to Tawny on Thursday when sh e has her second appointment. I’ve arranged a very special client. Reserve the same room, and make sure there’s champagne―Dom Perignon 2000 Brut―and some hors d’oeuvres, this time. You know the drill.”
    “Done, Benny. I guess if you aren’t worried about the other, neither am I.”
    “Glad we’re on the same page.” Benny flipped his cell closed and massaged eyes that felt like they were filled with acid.
    “What was that all about? What about Tawny Dell?” Eileen plopped down on the bed next to him.
    “Oh, nothing. Darlene got suspicious because Tawny was asking about the girls, especially Cindi.”
    “Really? Why would she do that?”
    Benny lost his train of thought when he removed his massaging fingers from his eyes and saw his wife. She wore the one-piece jumpsuit she wore only for him at home and only when the kids weren’t there. She’d be arrested if she wore it anywhere else. It showed off her curves and had cutouts for her boobs and pussy. Her naked body was ultra-sexy, but this little number got him hard on sight. He could go right to work without undressing her, and a little tug of the Velcro seam up the back made getting it off a snap. He wanted her to manufacture them, but she said then it wouldn’t be special for him anymore. She had a point.
    “You look yummy enough to eat.” He pulled her down on the bed. “Two minutes ago I had a headache, burning eyes, and acid reflux. Now, I’m ready to boink my wife.”
    Eileen pulled away, even though her breast was in Benny’s mouth. “Who’s the client you have lined up for Tawny Dell?”
    “You know I never talk names,” Benny gurgled, unwilling to release his mouthful.
    “I know you almost never get involved in setting up clients too, Benny. So I’d say it’s an interesting reversal that you’re doing it now.”
    He backed off his hold on Eileen’s ma mmary. “Come on, baby. You sound almost jealous. You know you’re the only one who matters in my life.” He groped back to the opening in her jumpsuit, but she pushed him away, getting up―something she never did. Rooted in her breast, he moved right along wi th her until he almost fell off the bed.
    “I put up with a lot from you, Benny. You claim to be my one and only, yet you’re off banging someone else at least twice a week. Would that make sense to you if I did it?”
    “You do,” he mumbled, wiping drool