The Aftermath

07

Does the stain of 'serial killer' ever blow over? Tom didn't know. This was another situation he had not considered when this began; that the charges, acquitted or not, might affect his job. Again, he found that he put a value on not guilty others did not. Was court such a joke in this country we no longer put a value on the decisions? Or was it more like having pocket Aces at the poker table? Maybe he was expecting too much too soon.

He put the car in gear and drove out of the parking garage. Once his phone had a few bars he called his wife and told her the news.

"Well, shit."

Tom smiled, "I really don't think it had much to do with my mother though."

"Why not?" Samantha asked.

Tom shook his head, "Something in her eyes, it looked like fear; she was afraid to be in the room with me."

"Could you just be projecting?"

"Hope not."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to suck at poker today if my reading is off that bad."

Samantha giggled a little, "Is that where you are going?"

"I was thinking about it. I have the day off, and a huge check in my pocket. What are your feelings?"

"I feel I want that check back in one piece." She told him and he could hear a smile in her voice.

"I can do that." He agreed.

Samantha's voice became more serious, "George and Jennifer called. They aren't going to make movie night with us this month either."

"Ah." Tom sighed.

"Tom, don't be too hard on them. It has been three days. For the last six weeks the media has told everyone you are guilty, and the Coroner Killer is one of their best friends. It is going to take them some time to readjust. They all went through some hard emotional knocks. You know this better than I do." She pleaded with him.

He took a few deep breaths. George and Jennifer were their best friends, so this one hurt. It hurt more than he was ready for. "So what do we do? Just wait?" He asked, his brain fogging again.

"I'm not sure. Maybe we could do more entries in Facebook and G+. Let people know our lives are moving on. Maybe it would help them to move on as well?"

It was a good suggestion. Distant, safe, short. "I've been in black-out mode since the trial began." He admitted.

"Me too. Maybe we can turn the lights back on, let them know what is happening."

"Alright, but let's keep the lay-off out of it. If someone asks directly, don't lie, but let's not volunteer the information." He suggested.

"That sounds alright with me." Samantha told him. "We'll get through this Tom. We really will."

They talked awhile longer, mostly about diner. He purposely asked what wine she was choosing and listened to her explain her pairing reasons. Her voice soothed him the way nothing else could. As he got near Barona Casino he was losing connection with her, so they hung up. He felt better. She had that effect on him.

#

Tom bought into 3-6 game, because it was the highest one available. The poker room was nearly empty, only three tables going. This was the morning crowd; the retirees who have their pensions, and investments and SSI coming in. They meet up every morning to trade chips back and forth, and swap lies. This didn't make them easier to play against; some of them were ruthless.