the night started out as one of those predictably bad nights with nothing but pain and anger to chew on and then it got decidedly worse or was it better I suppose that depends on exactly how much anger I had gnawing at my gut and I must admit there was a lot it was about 10:00 and I was sitting in an otherwise darkened house with just a floor lamp beside my chair to give me light I'd been working on my task for several hours and I was unaware of the darkness beyond the artificial universe that extended
just feet from my chair it suited my mood perfectly my legs were crossed and I had a yellow legal pad in my lap where I was making lists and taking notes I was well into it when the doorbell rang looking up still unaware of the time I noticed the darkened house for the first time and thought who the heck could that be at this time of night I was pretty darn sure it wasn't my wife since she hadn't been home that early on a girl's night out in months I set the legal pad on the
floor and dropped the pen on top of it it was then that I realized how bone tired I really was I wasn't tired from the work it was the so crushing reality of my life that left me drained making my way to the door I flicked the two wall switches that turned on the exterior and hallway lights a quick glance out the peephole in the door showed me that I had two police officers waiting for me and that is never good I took a deep breath opened the door and asked what did I do now
I was trying to be funny but they didn't crack a smile this wasn't going to be a social visit are you George Bradley the first officer asked yeah I replied trying to be pleasant is your wife Jean Bradley he continued right a second time can I ask what this is about I questioned have you ever noticed how cops never answer your questions may we come in not waiting for for an answer the officer nearest me took a step across the transom I blocked his way and shook my head no I beg your pardon he seemed
surprised it was like no one had ever said no to him before I said no I stated firmly I asked you a question so you can answer it or you can leave I was rapidly running out of pleasant he stepped back but he didn't answer my question have you been here all night the officer pressed I crossed my arms and looked at him like he was a mess dropped on my porch by that Mongrel next door yes and that's the last answer I'm giving you until you answer my question what is this about I guess
I'd given them enough to think they could make me sweat if they needed to because they finally answered my question the senior officer spoke Gravely your wife has been injured and has been taken to Memorial Hospital it's a strange thing that happens to a husband one minute you're planning your wife's destruction and the next you're worried about her well-being what happened I asked genuinely concerned they weren't ready to tell me just yet may we come in the senior officer repeated that exhaustion was setting in again I exhaled stepped back and motioned for them to enter
they did I pointed to the living room the dimly lit living room and they walked in nervously like it was a training exercise in one of those shooting galleries I flicked the ceiling lights on and took my chair so now can you tell me what happened I demanded the concern for my wife was wearing off and I was getting upset they looked at each other and the one I assumed was the senior officer said sir we regret to inform you that your wife was shot this evening his statement seemed rehearsed and it occurred to me
later that he was watching for my response the guy was trying to read me I admit the news Hit me hard is she okay I asked yes sir you may remember that we told you she is at Memorial Hospital replied the senior officer I thought for a minute as my head cleared no you said she was taken there you never said if she is alive or dead now answer the question or get the heck out I was yelling by the time I finished that again they looked at each other and again much later I wondered
if they were frustrated at not being able to read me annoyed at their own inability to intimidate me or just unsure of how to proceed the senior officer finally spoke your wife is in surgery now the outcome is uncertain to my great surprise those two sentences hit me like a ton of bricks and knocked the wind right out of me I started hyperventilating a response that embarrassed me later when I gathered my wits about me the two officers were kneeling by my chair saying breathe breathe and like a fool I was nodding my wife was
shot The Wretched woman was shot Who besides me would want to do that did I just say that out loud the two officers were still telling me to breathe so I assume not is there anything more you can tell me I managed to ask with my own brief crisis behind me they both stood and resumed the same stance as before but they were more forthcoming now the senior officer explained your wife was in a motel room with a gentleman friend as near as we can figure his wife must have gained entry somehow she probably just
knocked on the door and he answered it without looking anyway she emptied most of her clip into him and saved the last few for your wife fortunately for your wife his wife doesn't seem to be an accomplished marks a few of her shots went wild but others found their Mark well enough the boyfriend is dead but they think your wife may make it wow once they finally start sharing information they really let you have it all that's when it hit me so you're here to see if I was involved I asked their expressions gave up
none of their thoughts we know who did the shooting the senior officer replied but there is always the question of additional invol ment plus we need to know that your wife is safe to come home when she's ready I think that must have been the moment when I first smiled that entire night she's been safe the past few weeks so I don't know why that should change now I remarked they both looked at me like I didn't get it on impulse I decided to give these two a little gift I reached down to the side
of my chair and the two officers tensed visibly the younger one even put his hand on his weapon don't wet your underwear kid it's just an envelope I said I handed them the manila envelope I'd had sitting by my chair and continued I saw my lawyer today she gave me a list of things to do and ironically she told me to make some more lists with that I reached to the other side of my chair and held up the legal pad where I'd been making notes on the divorce the senior officer opened the envelope and
began to examine the photographs I had of my wife having intimacy with a man I'd never met you fellows want to tell me the name of the man she was with I asked the senior officer spoke without looking up it looks like you already know they were lost in Fascination like two boys who just discovered adult videos on the internet that was when the junior officer spoke up for the first time boy they really look different without the holes in them he blurted out the senior officer reprimanded him in front of me then turning to
me the senior officer said I'm sorry sir that was inappropriate he's new I just nodded I had bigger problems to think about now my cheating wife was in the hospital she might make it or she might not I suppose the divorce was on hold for a few days or weeks until we knew how things would work themselves out after repeating that I'd been home all night and remembering a very fortunate call from my brother that helped to establish my Al by they repeated their admonition that I was not to harm my wife when she returned
I saw no reason to elaborate so I just repeated my earlier response and they seemed satisfied when they were ready to leave I Rose from my chair and showed them out I turned out the lights as I walked back to my chair sat and began to assess this new information she's been shot I never saw that coming as much as I hated her for what she'd done I never wish wished her dead I wanted her to live a lifetime of regret Weeping at night as she lay alone in her bed Untouched by a man's hand
as if that were going to happen I had started the night very deliberately doing the work that my lawyer had assigned me it was a great way to take my mind off the questions that have been haunting me ever since I realized that my wife was cheating now I knew who but I still had no idea why our marriage had its difficult moments to be sure she was one of those people who always seemed to be annoyed by something there were times I could swear she went in search of something to be unhappy about I
had never fully realized that until the preparations for divorce put distance between us and I started to gain perspective whatever compelled her to destroy her life had now made me a suspect to some degree in a murder case the pieces started falling into place and it was then I realized that I was not alone in this vile mess of lies and betrayal I called my lawyer's private cell and she picked up on the fourth ring this better be good Sheila warned or so help me I'm sending you a bill you'll still be paying off with
your Social Security checks Sheila Goldstein was a shark and I found a strange sense of comfort in her take- no prisoners attitude who would have known that a divorce lawyer would have a sense of humor I replied who says I'm kidding she shot back I need you to reach out to a criminal lawyer who works nights I told her I heard a crash on the phone tell me you didn't do something stupid Sheila exclaimed no but someone else did I explained I just had a visit from the cops the jerk's wife caught up with them
and shot them both he's dead and she's in surgery the wife needs a lawyer and I'm betting she doesn't have one listen to me Sheila said firmly tell me you had nothing to do with this and for God's sake say it like you mean it I had nothing to do with this I stated now say it like I'm supposed to believe it she demanded I'm telling you the truth I had nothing to do with it I insisted the cops were here and they told me about it I think they were thinking the same thing you're
thinking but I had nothing to do with it okay so why is this your problem Sheila asked it isn't but I guess misery loves company if we hadn't had that come to Jesus discussion in your office it could well have been me I just want to help her I heard a hard deep breath on the other side of the phone okay Sheila conceded do you know where she is you mean Helen Smith I asked was your wife sleeping with another woman's husband yes I mean Helen Smith Sheila snapped I don't know where she is I
admitted but they got shot in town and it's a small town so I'm assuming they have her at the police station okay you stay put Sheila instructed I'll call an associate and see if he can get down there if nothing else he can babysit her until she gets her own lawyer I need to go to the hospital at some point I noted okay you can go to the hospital but don't be alone with her Sheila warned if anything happens I want 10 ft between you and her with at least two witnesses got it I acknowledged
and George Sheila added yes I responded I know you you're conflicted I'm sorry for what is happening but you're not responsible and it's going to be okay you hear me her voice softened slightly yes ma'am I hear you I assured her okay go do what you need to do but behave yourself she concluded I hung up thinking did I just say yes Ma'am why does she make me feel like a little kid and why does it work so well no matter she's looking after me at a time when I feel lost and she gives me
direction now I needed to make her proud of me I took a shower and changed a few weeks ago I would have rushed to be at her side but jean killed that love now I just had obligations to fulfill and that included making sure she got proper Medical Care and the hospital got got our insurance information the divorce could wait I wasn't going to Ren my clothes whatever the outcome but I would finish my husbandly duties by ensuring that strangers did their jobs as it turned out I could have taken more time she was in
recovery when I arrived and sedated through the night I gave them our insurance information spoke with a surgeon who said that Jean was expected to live and returned home they would call me if there was any change or when she was awake it was long after midnight when I got home I was exhausted but unable to sleep so I ran through a mental checklist everything could wait until tomorrow except for one very difficult task I needed to call Jean's parents I considered waiting until morning but if she took a turn for the worse and they
couldn't say goodbye they would never forgive me whatever I thought of Jean her parents were always good to me so I picked up the phone and called hello do you know what time it is Joe's groggy voice came through the phone yeah Joe I know I had to call I explained Jean has been injured and they've taken her to Memorial Hospital there was a moment's delay as her father absorbed the information injured what do you mean injured he asked anxiously Joe she was shot tonight by her Lover's wife I said bluntly shot Joe exclaimed what
the heck are you talking about are you drunk how did she get shot no Joe I'm sober I assured him the police were here earlier and I've been to the hospital she's out of surgery and the doctor says she is going to be okay they have her sedated so there's no point in going there tonight I just wanted you to know are you with her now Joe asked no I'm home I replied shouldn't you be with her his tone was a accusatory I was too tired to get Angry Joe did you hear me she was
shot by her Lover's wife I repeated you're insane Jean doesn't have a lover Joe protested yeah Joe she does or she did I corrected him he's dead but she's going to live there was silence on the other end of the call or Silence of A Sort as I could hear Joe telling Marie what I'd told him eventually Joe came back to the call George is there any chance you could be mistaken he asked hopefully about the cheating or the shooting I clarified well both Joe exclaimed no Joe I got suspicious and hired someone to watch
her about two weeks ago I explained I was looking at photographs and transcripts when the police got here I've been to the hospital and talked with her doctor it's all true there was silence again what are you going to do Joe finally asked I'm sorry Joe I've already been to a lawyer I'm divorcing her I stated George can't you find it in your heart Joe pleaded I mean she's been shot and she's going to need you I needed her too Joe but she was out sleeping with her lover I reminded him so that's it Joe
asked dejectedly basically I confirmed I'll make sure she is insured through all this and I'm sure the lawyers will have more to say about finances and such but I've been lied to too many times in some ways that's worse than the intimacy she has lied right to my face and she did it so well that I never knew I never suspected it took a moment for Joe to absorb that so what tipped you off he inquired it was just her being away all the time I explained we used to do things together but these past
few months she's always making plans that don't include me I figured that I needed to see for myself so I hired a guy and he showed me what Jean was hiding from me after that my mind was made up you know her mom and I were looking forward to having grandkids Joe said softly he sounded like a beaten man and it cut me to the core I knew they wanted grandchildren and I wanted us to give them grandkids I'm sorry Joe I really am I I said sincerely will you do us one favor Joe asked
I thought here it comes they want me to delay any decision until Gan is better and we can talk to my surprise that wasn't it don't be a stranger Joe requested Marie and I think of you as the son we never had I don't want to lose you even if you divorce our daughter I couldn't believe my ears through all that had happened the Betrayal the evidence the lawyer the shooting all of it this is what made me cry for the first time I love you guys too Joe I really do I promise I'm not
going any place I assured him with that we hung up if I was bone tired before I was exhausted now I lay down in my bed with my clothes still on and fell fast asleep the morning sun woke me but I wasn't ready to rise I got up just long enough to pull the shade strip and climb back into bed for another 2 hours of much needed but Restless sleep when I could sleep no more I showered dressed and headed out for a bite before going to the hospital it was about 11: when I got
to Jean's room her parents were already there she was awake and surprisingly alert I expected her to be still sedated or drugged or something but what did I know I've never seen a gunshot victim before I walked into her room expecting remorse boy was I surprised she took one look at me and exploded you jerk you son of a gun you killed him didn't you you killed David Jean screamed so much for it was just intimacy it didn't mean anything suddenly there were two nurses in the room walking quickly past me and two orderly standing
next to me I guess they viewed me as a threat I looked at her without an ounce of compassion in my heart no his wife killed him I replied coldly I guess you two got sloppy or maybe she's just smarter than I am that took the wind out of her sails she lay back in her bed and she began to weep I was soon told to leave and happy to oblige walking down the hall I wondered if I ever knew this woman she clearly never knew me as I approached the elevator I was met by
two security guards sir may we speak with you one of them asked I looked at them and said no you may not I have already spoken with the police and they have cleared me I am not going to let the screams of a lying cheating woman give you permission to pretend you have any importance at all you can call the police if you want and I'll speak with them but you'll just look like fools it's your call but if you touch me I'll sue by this point I'd had enough Tweedle D and Tweedle Dum looked
at each other not knowing what to do as I stepped into the elevator to leave the police never bothered me again Jean tried to get the police to charge me but when the shooter is caught standing over the body and confesses repeatedly on the way to the station there wasn't much more for them to do the lawyer I hired for Helen Smith managed to get her into a psych ward and instead of a prison cell but I sometimes wonder if there is much difference I visit her from time to time and I find her as
Lucid as anyone I know she once asked me any chance you could smuggle in a hacksaw hidden in a box of chocolates that's when I knew she was as sane as you or I I guess that lawyer was pretty good after all the divorce went through without much struggle Jean didn't want me anymore but she wanted everything we had and everything I would ever have she had to settle for half and no alimony the judge was unimpressed with her demands telling her you have a job Mrs Bradley you can work I'm thinking about having those
words tattooed on my arm looking back what I remember most is a terrific lawyer who treated me like a child guided me scolded me and kept me out of trouble two great in-laws that I still feel close to and a judge with a lot of common sense as for the ex-wife I hardly think of her at all and that's the end of today's story if you enjoyed it please give this video a thumbs up and drop a comment below your support helps the algorithm push my content further if you're new to the channel don't forget
to hit that subscribe button it really helps me keep creating more stories for you thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next one
