Red Wheelbarrow 2008 text FINAL REVISED.indd - De Anza College

I arrived at the home of my client, Joel Carmichael, and his
wife, Marilyn. For now, anyway.
I would go inside and tell Mr. Carmichael that his wife was
having an affair, and then I would leave. If Bernie were handling
the case, that would be the scenario. But, as it was my case, I would
have to think of a better way to break the news to Joel.
I rang the doorbell. For a moment I thought he wasn’t home
and that I would just tell him the news over the phone. Then the
door opened and Joel stood there, smiling. He let me into the house
and we went into the living room. He had not said a word since I
got there. I was beginning to worry about him.
We sat in silence for a moment as Joel stared out the window.
Then he abruptly stood and turned to me.
“Well, I think I’m ready to hear your news now.”
“Mr. Carmichael, there’s no easy way to say this.” I hesitated.
No. It was true. I would have to be blunt. “Your wife is having an
affair.” I waited for the explosion. It didn’t come.
“With Roger?”
I nodded.
“Ah. Well.” He continued to grin at me. I was sure he had
lost it. “As I suspected. Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Grahme.”
“Are you sure you’re all right, Mr. Carmichael?”
“Very. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to confront my
wife tonight. And I’d like you to be there when I do it.”
“Mr. Carmichael, I’m not sure—“
“Oh, no,” he said, as though reading my thoughts. “It’s not
that at all. I’m going to take her somewhere nice. I’ll just need you
there for—moral support? What about O’Brien’s Pub, say, eightthirty?”
“All right,” I agreed reluctantly.
“Good. Until then.”
I had no idea what Joel Carmichael had planned for his
wife. He had called me earlier to ask whether I needed directions
to the pub. I told him I knew where it was. O’Brien’s was not at
all difficult to find, especially since it was the only Irish pub in San
Samona. Unless you counted O’Slattery’s, but one could hardly call
that a pub.
I had already consumed more than enough alcohol that day.
O’Brien’s was a rough crowd though, and if you didn’t at least appear
to be drinking, there would be trouble.
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