The September Outcome

Chapter 9: Inquiry

 Audrey held the large black record in her hands and slid her fingers down it coolly, smiling. She kissed it and placed it on the living room record player. She slipped the needle onto it gingerly and listened to it drawl, stroking the gramophone's brass horn. Harry James and Helen Forrester’s' I've Heard That Song Before suddenly blared. She felt chills down her spine and wriggled. She loved the odd bit of Jazz music mostly because of how it made her feel. Happy and bubbly. Dwight detested the stuff but she took no notice of his protests.

 She stood up and danced, swaying elegantly around the deluxe living room with her apparent invisible partner. Her white dress and its floral patterned end swirled around as she spun to the tooting trumpets and woozy violins. She sung along chirpily to the simple lyrics. She continued spinning and dancing and singing until after three minutes the music stopped.

 She completely went out of rhythm and tripped over the corner of the soft rug and onto the floor. Her feet flopped out of her shoes as she sprawled out on the floor. She was dazed for a second before she sat up and rub her backside

 She gave a hiss of pain. Audrey glanced at the white high heels in disdain.

 ''Only a New Yorker dances in heels,’’ she scolded and stood up and flounced to the gramophone. She figured she was better off with everything bare from the knees down. She took the record off the miniature table and put it back in the case. ''I suppose that's enough music for today,’’ she mumbled, still rubbing her backside. It hurt. She caressed her hair, mindlessly. 

 Her housekeeper Etta slowly and quietly entered the room in her maids uniform her head facing to the floor. ''Is there anything that madam requires?'' she pursued. 

 Audrey thought hard staring at the woman. ''Not presently Etta, but you could give the bathroom a clean. My husband seems to make a bit of a mess every time he...well get to it then.’’ Audrey burst out laughing at her own remark, as did Etta before entering her sullen for again. 

 ''Yes, madam as you wish,'' And with a mild notion she left the room, presumably to begin cleaning the bathroom alluded to.

 It was Thursday. The day was going as per usual, she'd woken up only a few hours ago as it was twelve thirty. The day was pretty ordinary suffice to say boring. She awoke at ten o'clock, had Jackie and Eleanor fix her some breakfast, put on some clothes. She wore a sensuous buttoned up shirt, which sat tucked into a polka dot dress that sat below her chest. It was an old birthday present from her husband that she seldom wore. 

 She thought of Dwight, his shenanigans and his secrecy. She was somewhat fed up with the charade going on in her house and felt a little deflated. She wondered if it was more trouble than it was worth and that Dwight was just trying to drive her up the wall. Yesterdays abnormal events troubled her immensely, men didn't have panic attacks for no reason. Nothing seemed to add up. And them there was this looming feeling that lay deep beneath all her reason: was Dwight having an affair? She had already crossed it off the lift but was it as unlikely as she’s said? Dwight was the mostly dedicated husband who told her everything would be okay. Audrey didn't like to think about it.

 Audrey had jotted down various ideas and theories but they were just in vain. The whole investigation thing was beyond her, she was lower than amateur. The whole connection with Jeslop Sloan confused her too, Dwight hated that guy. Corrupt, asshole and Neanderthal were among the words used to describe the mayor. She contemplated on giving up on her fruitless search because maybe it was something that didn't concern her. It was just private and that Dwight was concealing it to keep her safe, or her feelings anyway. Audrey finally decided that she would abandon her obsessions and continue with something less conspicuous. Like finishing Great Expectations, the subject of her hatred.