You always hurt the one you love....

He pushed the intercom button. “Jane, would you please bring in the McCaffrey file?” James Snow asked in a pleasant voice. He waited for confirmation and resumed perusing the computer-spread sheet in front of him. He didn't bother looking up and mumbled incoherently when his personal secretary entered and placed a file folder on his desk. Clearing her throat, she walked slowly to the picture window overlooking Lake Munroe insuring her boss had ample time to admire her languid purposeful stride across the plush carpeted floor. She leaned forward against the leather futon causing her skirt to ride up and exposing a bit more of her shapely legs in high heels. He raised his roguish eyes over his wire-framed glasses and swallowed into a frozen throat. His nostrils flared a bit as he attempted to inhale her alluring charms which stimulated his gnawing hunger for her. She enjoyed teasing him and licked her lips. She pivoted to face him and smiled salaciously.

“Like what you see, Mr. Snow?” Jane asked raising her eyebrows and tilting her head to one side. She placed her tongue against the inside of her cheek and motioned with her index finger for him to come toward her.

He cleared his throat. It would not be necessary for her to repeat her request. He leaned back in his leather executive chair removing his glasses and then placed them in the center of the spreadsheet. "A rather pointless question to ask me wouldn’t you say, Miss Spooner?” His eyes locked on hers as he rose from behind his desk. He licked his lips and buttoned his jacket while obeying her gesture walking toward her. She smiled and opened her arms to welcome his embrace. He placed his arms around her waist and she released a calming sigh.

“Daddy’s home,” she purred softly tightening her arms around his neck and meeting his hungry mouth with hers. The distracting miasma of her womanly scent and the frisky interest of her pleasantly warm tongue circling his sent electrical shock waves throughout his body. She trembled slightly when they broke their passionate embrace and she stared into his dark brown eyes. “Oh Sweetheart, please. Do you think we will be able to get away together this weekend? Oh pretty please! And we take the boat out on the lake?" Jane's pleading eyes darted around his face desperately searching for a sign of confirmation. "You know how I have been looking forward to this holiday together for weeks now. It will be just absolutely wonderful to get you alone out there on the lake and seduce you rather than both of us sneaking kisses like some love sick teenagers whenever we get a free moment together around here.” She rested her head against his chest bathing in the aura of gentleness he so easily displayed to her.

He sighed heavily and caressed her hair. A creeping sadness blanketed his face momentarily as he released her and stared away from her face. “I’m afraid we are going to have to postpone our rendezvous this weekend, Jane. I didn't want to cancel our plan. Please believe me. Nothing would please me more than being together with you on the lake. But my son Timothy was supposed to be heading back to college this weekend, but now he says something unexpected has come up. He won't volunteer to tell me what it is, but I have to respect his privacy. Now it appears he'll be staying at the house another couple of weeks. I’ve even called his mother to see if she would be available to put a roof over his head for the time. However, Marsha says she and her new boyfriend have travel plans and are heading to the West coast. So, in any event, him staying there at her house was out of the question. Tim is only nineteen years old has no future plans. Working for a living is the farthest thing from his mind. He survives seemingly without a care in the world. As long as his dear old Dad, namely me, continues to foot all of his expenses, he doesn't care about anything but himself. If we went away together for any length of time and left him there, the house would look like a bombed out shell of a building in Beirut. You know Jane, I hate to admit this, but sometimes I regret even having him. As my only child, he has been spoiled since the day he was born. His mother was the blame for that. Everything he ever wanted has been handed to him and now he is causing so many difficult problems for me because he can't handle any type of pressure. It's really very sad that Tim and I have grown apart over time. I actually believe he is just patiently waiting for me to die just to collect his inheritance. I hope you'll understand Jane, but I just can't trust him being left alone.

Jane pursed her lips and her eyes filled with tears threatening to crest at any time. She turned away sharply. “Well that’s not fair! Why should I get punished because your son can’t be trusted alone?” Jane took a few steps away and leaned against the desk. “I’ve met Tim at your house before and he has been up here to the office. He seems like a fun guy to be around. Really cute if I might add. Takes after his hunk of a father I guess," Jane chuckled as she began to walk back toward her boss. "Can’t he ask one of his college friends if he can stay with them for a while? I bet I could make a few calls to some friends of mine that would love to have him stay over for a week or two! You don't mind if he gets surrounded by four or five eligible sexy ladies do you James?”

He thrust his hands deep into his pocket and creased his forehead. “Well, staying with a lady friend is a ticklish subject now that you brought it up. At least according to him. I brought up the subject of staying with a friend also. From what he has told me, he has his eyes on this one special girl that he met this summer. I guess he's hooked pretty good because he is not letting anything interfere with this budding relationship. I've never met her though," he laughed. "He says I'll probably screw things up and want her all to myself." James chuckled a bit louder and reached for his glasses. "It’s almost like he is afraid or embarrassed to bring her over to the house to introduce her to me. You young kids today don’t play by the same rules as I did when I was your age, Jane. But you have taught this old dog a few new rules and tricks as well. I am an eager student to learn more from you.” He pulled her toward him once again. “You are old enough to be my daughter but I’ll be damned if you don’t buckle my knees each time I hold you in my arms.”

She giggled and slowly placed her hands on his shoulders. “Mr. Snow, you say the nicest things!” Jane smiled and lightly brushed his lips with hers. Now, before all the other girls in the office pool start getting jealous and begin spreading ugly rumors I am carrying on an office romance with my boss to get ahead, I better be getting back to my desk.” Jane turned away and blew him a kiss. He watched her rhythmic motion as she walked slowly and reached for the doorknob. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes tightly hoping that he would call out to her to stop before she exited. She smiled to herself when her name echoed throughout the office.


“Wait, Jane!” he shouted snapping his fingers. A smile flooded his face and his eyes seemed to sparkle, absorbing and dissecting the idea that excited him. “Timothy! Yes, indeed. Jane I've got a question to ask. Would you mind if Tim came with us out on the boat? He wouldn’t be in our way at all. In all likelihood he’d be on the fantail soaking up the sun in a lounge chair with his earphones on and listening to some punk rock group and sucking down the free beer dear old Dad bought.”

Jane provided him a mischievous smile and trained her eyes on his. Her smile widened as she pretended to contemplate the suggestion. “Well, are we going to need a Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob of our cabin?”

“There are two separate sleeping compartments and believe me Darling, I am inclined to believe that you will be in your own private paradise once I get you out there alone. Only myself and the gold glimmerings of sun beams will have the pleasure to dance along your exquisite body.”

She provided him a pencil thin smile and nodded. “Looks like you got yourself a date, Mr. Snow. You better get some rest and bring along a few extra tablets of Viagra. I assure you, you’re in for a special day of very rigorous activity. As you know I play a very stimulating game of tonsil hockey.” Jane licked her lips and exited the office. She pressed her back against the closed office door. “Among other things Mr. Snow. Indeed, among other things," she mumbled with a crooked smile.


***********


The Marlboro cigarette hung precariously from Timothy's lips. The smoke from it snaked through the humid summer air. He was dressed in a black muscle shirt and comfortable denim stone washed jeans. His father passed a garbled comment that he looked like a poor imitation of James Dean. A wannabe player who was smart mouthed and envious of life in the fast lane.

Tim exhaled a cloud of blue stained smoke through his nose. “Looks like it’s going to be a hot, sticky one again, so I brought an extra case of cold Bud, Dad.” He stole a quick glance at Jane from the corner of his eye.

“I think we have just about everything we are going to need, Tim. Just cast off the stern lines and we will head out toward one of the islands.” James barked out his Captain's orders standing on the flying bridge and prepared to get underway. He smiled down at Jane who returned his greeting with a mock salute. “Don't mind my backside. I’ll be down from here to join you in a few minutes as soon as I clear the channel, Honey,” he shouted returning her salute. As the frisky winds wrapped around the passengers and water spray kissed their faces, Tim slouched in the one of the lounge chairs on the fantail and curled his hands around a beer.

Insuring James was preoccupied navigating the channel, she turned her attention to Timothy. “A little early in the day for one of those, isn’t it?” Jane said leveling him a dangerous look.

"I can handle it," he replied.

Jane gritted her teeth. She glanced at the Captain on th flying bridge to insure his back was turned. She pointed a menacing finger. "Look don’t blow this now after we both have come this far. I have planned this trip every step of the way. This is going to work out perfectly if you can stay sober long enough and not screw it up.”

Tim leaned forward and went to reach to grab her wrist then thought better of it. “Don’t worry, Baby. You just do what you gotta do and I’ll take care of the rest. I am not too keen on the idea of your tongue down my father’s throat either.

Jane smiled a wry smile. "Oh do I detect a hint of family jealousy? I like that."

Tim snorted through his nose. "Look at him up there steering his expensive tinker toy and thinking he's got the world by the balls. He thinks he's still a stud knowing he’s got you on his arm and in his bed. A young sexy chic he can ball anytime he wants to reassure himself he hasn’t lost his physical attraction to the opposite sex. Do you think I like getting into your pants after he has finished?”

“Don’t be a fool, Tim,” she hissed. “You think I enjoy screwing a fifty year old man whose got breath like someone shit in it? Don't you think I can picture you waiting for me in the next room? I have to fake orgasms and scream he's the best fuck I've ever had. Let me tell you, it's freaking agony waiting until he finally falls asleep." Jane turned her eyes and glanced once again at the flying bridge. She turned her attention back to Timothy. “I had to pretend this entire trip was his idea. I didn’t know for sure if he’d take the baited trap I set and suggest taking you. Now enough of the bullshit, are you sure you understand the plan?”

"Yeah yeah. Lay off me will you? Don't sweat the small shit. Once we clear the channel buoys and we get out into the open part of the lake, I’ll pretend that I have headache and have to go below deck for a while. You just turn on the char, and lure him down into the cabin. Make sure his back is to the door when he is applying the baby oil to your ass. I only want to hit him once.” Tim smiled and crushed the empty beer can and tossed it over the side.

She bit her lip. “Whatever you do, make sure you make it look like an accident.” A bit of restlessness registered in her eyes. She was edgy with anticipation and walked to the deck railing.

“Hey, he is gonna feel a bit of, how should I put this, "discomfort", once I hit him in the back of the head.” Tim paused then giggled. He glanced up at the flying bridge. "Once I drag him back onto the deck we can get his legs entwined in the anchor rope and toss him over the side. If anyone investigates his death, it will look like it was purely an ill fated accident where he banged his head and drowned. And then we will have the insurance money and a whole lot of other assets."

Jane smiled and bit her thumbnail and allowed her thigh to brush against his. "Now you know why I love you so much."

Really? Well right about now I have this violent urge to take you over my lap and make passionate love to you,” Tim said reaching over and gently touching her lower back.

She giggled “Don’t you dare tempt me. We will have all the time in the world for that later on and a hell of a lot of money to go anywhere we want to."

James eased the engines down and pivoted to face the stern. “Looks like some threatening clouds over to our west," he shouted cupping his hands. "Could be some heavy thunderstorms heading our way so we better keep an eye to the sky.” James descended the ladder from the flying bridge. “But anyway for the time being, I'll handle the steering from here. Looks like it’s time to open the engines of the Sea Squirrel up and let’s flatten out some of these waves. Come up under here with me, Darling," said James extending his welcoming arms to her. Jane complied and placed her bare arm around his waist and he escorted her to the control panel of the wheelhouse. He pushed the two throttle levels forward. The Sea Squirrels bow rose as the twin engines roared as the craft speed over the open water of the lake.

Tim approached them from behind and rubbed the temples of his forehead. “I’m going below deck to the cabin for a bit, Dad. Gotta take an aspirin and maybe lie down for a few minutes. I think this bouncing around out here has gotten me a bit sea sick.” Tim grabbed another cold beer from the ice chest. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He found it difficult not to watch his father's hands fondling and surveying over the tantalizing body of Jane Spooner.

She waited until Timothy went below deck. Jane raised her eyes and gently blew into his right ear. “James? Seeing that Tim is going to be indisposed for a while, do you think we could shut off the engines? You know. We could just drop the anchor and do some exploring of our own down below in the other cabin?” She slowly ran her fingertip down the center of his chest. "I have some baby oil I brought along. Would you like to see what you can do with it?"

“You don’t have to ask twice,” he quickly replied and reduced the boat’s speed to idle and then shut off the engines. “Why don’t you just go below and get cozy and comfortable while I drop anchor and get the boat secure so we won’t drift too far. If that thunderstorm comes our way, the bow has to be pointed into the wind. Otherwise, if the anchor frees we will take water over the stern and we could be in trouble. But being an ex Navy man I know how to handle a boat and I definitely know how to make a lady shiver with romantic passion.”

“I’ll be waiting for you my Captain of Love," she said in a syrupy tone of voice and descended the ladder to the cabin.

“Tim! Tim!” she tapped on the cabin door trying to keep her voice low to a whisper. The churning turmoil inside her stomach sent a wave of nausea over her. “He’s just lowering the anchor now and he will be down here in a minute. Get in the damn closet. Don’t miss hitting him whatever you do.”

Tim rolled his eyes and opened the door.“Just get undressed and get in the damned bed, ordered Tim impatiently. Beads of sweat formed in the creases of his forehead.

The descending footsteps boldly hurried to the cabin door and James Snow entered the room. He stopped and stared at her teenage nakedness upon the bed. She stretched opening her arms to welcome him. As he stepped forward to embrace her, Tim emerged from behind the cabin door. The blow from the spanner wrench emitted a sickening thud which cracked the back of his father's skull like an egg shell. Tim’s chest heaved repeatedly as he delivered another death blow with the spanner wrench. A stunning quietness surrounded the room. Jane's pulse raced as her thoughts channeled to next step of their plan.

“Quick, get hold of his legs! Let’s get him topside onto the deck,” cried Tim. Applying their selfish energies, they managed carrying the dead body of James Snow to the main deck. The sky had darkened considerably and the stinging rain was just beginning to fall whipped by an increasing gale force wind.

“Untie the anchor rope from the cleat and the wrap it around his feet. Hurry! Get him over the side and into the water! The anchor weight will pull him down to the bottom,” shouted Tim. With a combined effort they rolled the beaten and battered body of James Snow into Lake Munroe.

“Marry a sea hag down there in the weeds, Dad. Watch out for those horny walleye!” Tim yelled in triumphant victory. The wind driven rain pelted his naked chest and the air temperature seemed to fall steadily which caused him to shiver. The Sea Squirrel pitched and rolled in what now was rapidly becoming an ocean of angry white water swells. Loose gear on board was tossed around and slid on the decks slippery surface.

“Tim, let’s get the hell out of here. The water is getting so rough I can’t even stand up anymore," shouted Jane. “We like are bouncing around like a rubber ball in a bucket of boiling water.” Her rain slick hair was matted and smeared with streaking blood. "Look at how dark the freaking sky is!"

They gripped the railing tightly as their knuckles turned white. Their bloodshot eyes stared into the darkness that was encircling them. The lightning bolts of the violent thunderstorm crashed above them causing them both to cover their heads and ears with their arms.

“Get in the wheelhouse and get out of here now!” Tim grabbed her forcefully by the hand and pulled her to the control panel. “Keys! Keys! Where’s the freaking keys, Jane?” The color in Tim’s face changed to lead. His bloodless cheeks seem to melt upon his face as his voice now froze in his throat.

Jane’s expression was one of disbelief. “Oh God! They must be in his pants pocket! He’s got them with him at the bottom of the lake! You hit him too soon before he could get undressed!” Jane screamed with terror stricken eyes. A huge wave broke over the bow breaking the bridge windows and flooding the compartment with foamy water and shattered glass. They both screamed in horror and covered their heads as they were at the mercy of the storm.

Endless waves crashed over the stern which flooded the stern and engine compartment of the boat and caused it to list strongly to port. The weight of water caused the Sea Squirrel to roll one last time in protest before it too went to its final marriage bed at the bottom along with its last two remaining sailors. As the clouds dissipated, empty life jackets floated along the calming surface. A few hungry gulls circled overhead. Their lonesome cries drifted on the wind as sightless vacant eyes stared into the eerie cold darkness at the bottom of Lake Munroe.