my wife is in Hawaii with her lover while I'm at ouryear old son's funeral she texted sorry important business meeting what she doesn't know is the morning sun cast Long Shadows through the stained glass windows of St Michael's Church painting the white casket and fragments of blue and gold Michael Sullivan stood alone beside it his trembling fingers adjusting the small blue dinosaur resting at top the polished surface the toy a velociraptor Tommy had always insisted on correcting anyone who called it just a dinosaur looked out of place against the formal arrangement of white roses and lies he would have hated these flowers Michael whispered his voice rough from hours of Silence Tommy had been allergic to Lily something his wife should have remembered if she'd bothered to help with the arrangements his phone vibrated in his pocket the screen lit up with her message sorry I can't make it to the service important business meeting in Seattle give Tommy a kiss for me love you both dot Michael's fingers tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white Seattle another lie to add to her growing collection he'd seen the airline confirmation email in their shared account she was in Maui probably watching the sunrise from some Luxury Resorts balcony while their son lay cold in his casket MrSullivan the funeral director's soft voice interrupted his thoughts we should begin seating the family soon Michael nodded unable to trust his voice people had started arriving Tommy's teachers from kindergarten neighbors who'd watched him Chase butterflies in their front yard just last month distant relatives who'd flown in despite the short notice they filed in quietly their faces wearing identical masks of grief and sympathy his mother appeared at his elbow her eyes red rimmed but dry the flowers are beautiful Michael Tommy was allergic to Lily he said flatly she touched his arm where is she business meeting in Seattle the LIE tasted bitter on his tongue his mother's face hardened she should be here her son she broke off pressing her lips together I know Mom Michael stared at the casket believe me I know more people arrived Tommy's best friend from kindergarten came with his parents the little boy clutching a handdrawn picture of two stick figures playing with Dinosaurs Michael accepted it with murmured thanks his heart clenching at the wobbly letters spelling out best friends forever his phone buzzed again the meeting's running long I'll call as soon as I can stay strong strong like she had been strong through Tommy's illness through the endless nights in the hospital when their son had cried for his mommy not understanding why she wasn't there through the final days when Michael pushed the memory away not now not here the priest approached prayer book in hand Shall We Begin the service passed in a blur of hymns and prayers Michael stood when required sat when prompted his response is automatic his Focus kept drifting to the empty space beside him where she should have been to the phone in his pocket that occasionally buzzed with her lies in times of deepest sorrow the priest was saying we find comfort in knowing that Tommy is now in God's Embrace Michael's mind wandered to Tommy's last coherent day in the hospital his son had asked for her again he'd made another excuse again Mommy's working hard buddy she'll come see you soon the LIE had felt like ground glass in his throat his sister-in-law read a poem about angels his brother spoke about Tommy's infectious laugh and dinosaur Obsession Michael sat through it all his face a mask of grief that hid The Inferno Building inside him got a tea the graveside they handed him a white rose to place on the casket the small crowd watched in respectful silence as he stepped forward instead of the Rose he placed Tommy's favorite book The Big Book of dinosaurs next to the blue Velociraptor sweet dreams buddy he whispered Daddy loves you his phone vibrated one final time thinking of you both meeting running long call me later Michael looked at the growing mound of Earth that would soon cover his son Tommy had been his reason for silence for swallowing the bitter pills of her betrayal month after month for maintaining the facade of a happy family even as he gathered evidence documented her lies and quietly prepared for the day he would tear her carefully constructed World apart now standing in the cemetery while she lounged on a beach thousands of miles away he felt the last threads of Mercy snap inside him she thought she was building a new life fine but first he would destroy everything she thought she was keeping the Gathering began to disperse his mother tried to convince him to join them for lunch but he declined he had worked to do goodbye Tommy he said softly placing his untouched white rose on the grave I promise you she's going to regret not being here today he walked away from the grave each step taking him further from the man he'd been and closer to the man her betrayal had created his wife thought she was safe in her Paradise with her lover she was about to discover that paradise could become hell with just a few clicks of a button the time for grief would come later now was the time for Revenge 3 months earlier the first crack in his wife's facade appeared on a Tuesday evening in March Zer sat at the kitchen table helping Tommy with his dinosaur puzzle while a pot of mac and cheese the only thing their picky 5-year-old would eat lately bubbled on on the stove daddy this piece doesn't fit Tommy frowned holding up a puzzle piece with tiny T-Rex claws try turning it around buddy Michael glanced at his watch 7:45 p. m. she was late again footsteps on the stairs announced his wife's arrival she swept into the kitchen in a black dress he'd never seen before designer briefcase in hand the scent of unfamiliar perfume drifted in her wake working late again Michael asked stirring the mac and cheese the Morrison merger is killing me she replied checking her reflection in the microwave door Johnson needs these reports by morning that's the third time this week he kept his voice neutral even as his mind cataloged the inconsistencies the new dress the perfume the freshly styled hair that somehow hadn't suffered from a full day at the office what's that supposed to mean her tone carried a warning Edge nothing just an observation he turned off the stove Tommy dinner's ready can we watch Jurassic Park while we eat Tommy looked up with those big brown eyes her eyes not tonight champ but how about we read your new dinosaur book after dinner I won't be joining you his wife announced already heading for the door don't wait up Tommy Tommy's lower lip trembled when will you be home she paused long enough to kiss his forehead late sweetie but I'll check on you when I get back the door closed behind her Michael counted to 10 then pulled out his phone and opened their banking app there was a charge from Sephora earlier that day $200 for makeup and perfume she'd supposedly worn to the office that night after tucking Tommy in with three Bedtime Stories and two glasses of water Michael sat in his home office and began to dig credit card statements revealed a pattern he'd been blind to for months expensive restaurant charges for two on nights she claimed claim to be working Hotel bar tabs in the city a lingerie store purchased from last month he certainly hadn't seen anything new his cursor hovered over their phone carrier's website one click and he could view her detailed call logs did he really want to know yes he needed to know the next morning he called in sick after dropping Tommy at school her iPad sat forgotten on the kitchen counter she'd been in such a rush to make her early meeting his fingers trembled as he entered Tommy's birthday the password she used for everything the screen unlocked messages appeared hundreds of them archived in a folder labeled work project his stomach churned as he scrolled through conversations and photos that made him want to vomit the time stamps match her late meetings perfectly that a text from last night caught his eye last night was amazing can't wait for next week's Seattle conference will be perfect no interruptions.
Michaels's Vision blurred Seattle conference the same week as her supposed business meeting in Hawaii that he methodically took screenshots of everything sending them to his secure email before carefully erasing all traces of his investigation then he went to the bathroom and threw up until nothing remained but bitter B that evening he watched Tommy Chase fireflies in the backyard his son's laughter a Counterpoint to the rage burning in his chest for Tommy's sake he would say nothing do nothing his son deserved a stable home even if it was built on lies daddy look I caught one Tommy held up his cued hands the fireflies glow pulsing between his fingers Michael forced a smile that's amazing buddy you're getting really good at that can we show mommy when she gets home the Firefly might be sleeping by then but how about we take a picture to show her tomorrow Tommy nodded eagerly and Michael snapped a photo of of his son's radiant face illuminated by the tiny light in his hands a moment of pure joy preserved forever the next weeks became an exercise and controlled Fury he watched her leave four meetings wearing clothes he knew she bought for another man he listened to her phone conversations now able to decode the real meaning behind her careful words he documented everything the breaking point came during Tommy's kindergarten play he'd been cast as a baby dinosaur in the school spring production Michael sat in the audience alone recording the performance on his phone while his wife sent a text about being stuck in traffic later he found a restaurant charge from that evening dinner for two at an intimate French beastro across town that night after Tommy was asleep Michael began to plan he spoke with financial advisers under the guise of estate planning he consulted lawyers about hypothetical scenarios he gathered evidence moved assets and prepared for every contingency all while maintaining the perfect facade of a loving husband he kissed her goodbye in the mornings remembering the taste of lies on her lips he asked about her day knowing every answer was false he played his role flawlessly all for Tommy's sake until the diagnosis changed everything the hospital Corridor seemed endless their antiseptic smell burning Michael's nostrils as he paced outside Tommy's room his phone displayed the same message he'd sent an hour ago they want to do more tests heun's asking for you no response he knew why she was at a hotel downtown with him the knowledge sat like acid in his stomach MrSullivan the oncologist appeared clutching a folder we have the results the words that followed destroyed his world aggressive Advanced options limited time short that he sent another message please come it's important Point 20 minutes later she replied stuck in crucial meeting can't get away keep me posted that night as Tommy finally slept sedated after hours of pain and tears Michael made his decision he opened his laptop and began to execute the plan he'd been crafting for months first the financial preparations he'd already documented every transaction Every Lie every betrayal now he began moving assets carefully and legally into accounts she couldn't access the house was in both their names but his inheritance from his grandfather the money she thought they'd spent on Renovations sat untouched in a private account next the evidence he organized everything chronologically credit card statements hotel receipts screenshots of messages photos she thought were deleted he created multiple copies stored in various secure locations then he started composing emails to her boss her family their friends each message carefully crafted each recipient chosen for Maximum Impact the email sat in his drafts folder waiting for the right moment the hospital became his second home Tommy's condition deteriorated rapidly each day bringing new challenges new pain Michael took leave from work spending every moment by his son's bedside she visited occasionally making appearances between her meetings each time Tommy's face would light up then fall as she rushed away again always with the same excuses why is a mommy here more Tommy asked one night his small body racked with fever she has to work Buddy Michael replied The Familiar lie tasting like poison but she loves you very much can you call her please Michael did knowing she wouldn't answer her phone went straight to voicemail she never kept it on during her meetings he documented these moments too every missed call every weak excuse every time Tommy cried for her the evidence mounted a testament to her betrayal not just of him but of their dying s so n to I in Tommy's final week Michael sent urgent messages daily his condition is worse the doctors are concerned he keeps asking for you please come she made brief appearances always distracted always rushing away to another emergency meeting Michael watched her check her phone constantly knowing who she was messaging he saw her relief each time she left escaping back to her parallel life while their son Slipped Away the night Tommy died she was in a hotel with him Michael sat alone holding his son's hand as the monitors flatlined and the doctors rushed in he sent one final message he's gone her response came an hour later OMG on my way but she never came instead she sent another message the next morning about an emergency business trip to Seattle the same trip he knew would actually take her to Hawaii with her lover the funeral arrangements fell to him alone he chose Tommy's favorite dinosaur Book and Toy to accompany him he selected the cemetery plot under the oak tree because Tommy had loved watching squirrel play in their backyard he wrote the obituary with shaking hands leaving her name out entirely his First Act of Revenge now as he prepared for the funeral Michael finished his preparations the emails were ready the financial transfers were in place the evidence was organized everything waited for his command like missiles in their silos she thought she was escaping to Paradise with her lover she had no idea she was about to lose everything else Michael looked at Tommy's last photo smiling holding the Firefly forever 5 years old and felt the last trace of Mercy die in his heart the time for silence was over the time for Revenge had begun the morning after Tommy's funeral Michael sat in his home office surrounded by three monitors each screen displayed a different aspect of his wife's life the life she thought she'd kept hidden his fingers hovered over the keyboard as he reviewed his plan one final time his phone buzzed with a message from her Landing in Seattle soon how are you holding up Michael's laugh held no humor he opened his tracking software and watched the little that that represented her phone moving across the Pacific heading straight from Maui not Seattle time to begin he muttered opening his email drafts folder the first email went to her boss Richard Morton Michael had crafted it carefully over the past months attaching selected screenshots of text messages and hotel receipts m r Morton I believe you should be aware of how company resources and time are being utilized by one of your employees he attached documentation of every business meeting that had actually been rendevu with her lover including expense reports she'd submitted for reimbursement the Hotel Bars the restaurants all of it his phone rang his brother tomow are you holding up Tom asked I'm working on something Michael replied his voice steady remember that conversation we had about business ethics last month the hypothetical about employee fraud yeah why Tom paused wait are you saying she's in Hawaii right now told everyone she's at a conference in Seattle Jesus Christ tomk voice hardened what do you need your legal expertise and your discretion you've got both send me what you have Michael forwarded a set of documents to his brother's Law Office email how long will it take you to review these give me an hour don't do anything until we talk while waiting for tomk call Michael prepared the next phase he created a separate email account months ago untraceable to him from it he composed messages to her closest friends family members and professional contacts as phone rang again everything you've documented is admissible Tom said without Preamble the expense report fraud alone could end her career the rest he whistled low you've been planning this for a while haven't you since I found out before Tommy got sick yes a long pause good make her pay Michael's other phone a burner lit up with a text from a number he'd track to her lover meeting confirmed for next week same place he smiled coldly the lover didn't know he'd been getting copies of their messages for months time to put that information to use Tom I need one more favor Michael said remember that private investigator you used in the Martinez case already sent you his number he's expecting your call Michael hung up and dialed the Pi's number James Morton speaking MrMorton my brother Tom referred me I need documentation of certain activities in Maui this week location Michael rattled off the hotel name and room number he'd found in her forwarded confirmation email timeline they'll be there 5 days I need photos lots of them discretion assured absolutely necessary consider it done Michael returned to his computer and began the financial phase of his plan he'd spent months preparing moving assets gradually to avoid suspicion now it was time for the final transfers his office phone rang her company's HR department MrSullivan this is Patricia from HR we've received some concerning information I'm aware Michael cut in smoothly I've documented everything thoroughly would you like me to send it directly to you or should it go through legal first a sharp intake of breath legal first please and MrSullivan I'm so sorry about your son thank you his voice remained perfectly controlled you'll have everything within the hour he hung up and checked his email Tom had sent back the legal documents annotated with suggestions the Pi had sent confirmation of his arrival in Maui and her boss had responded with a single line meeting in my office tomorrow 9:00 a. m. Michael allowed himself a small smile phase one was proceeding exactly as planned he opened his banking app and began the final transfers by the time she realized what was happening their joint accounts would be empty the assets secured in accounts she couldn't touch his phone buzzed with another message from her Seattle is exhausting miss you both Michael didn't bother responding instead he opened the folder containing photos from Tommy's last days in the hospital every empty chair where she should have been every tearful request from Mommy that went unanswered every moment she'd chosen him over their dying son that he attached the photos to a new email draft this one would go to her lovers family friends and business associates let them see exactly what kind of person they were dealing with the was setting when his brother called again it's done Tom said HR has everything her boss is livid and I heard through the grapevine that the audit department is launching an investigation into her expense reports perfect Michael leaned back in his chair now we wait she has no idea what's coming does she no Michael stared at Tommy's photo on his desk but she will the next morning Michael's phone exploded with notifications his carefully crafted emails had done their work over night spreading through her social and professional networks like a virus his brother arrived at 8 carrying coffee and a lap laptop you'll want to see this Tom said pulling up her company's internal messaging system he still had access from handling their legal work it's spreading like wildfire Michael watched the messages scroll past employees sharing screenshots of the evidence he'd sent HR memos about emergency meetings her boss's thunderous email demanding an immediate return from her Seattle conference how long until she knows Tom asked she's 7 hours behind us in Hawaii about an hour until she wakes up to this nightmare right on schedule his phone rang her best friend Rachel Michael oh my God I just got these horrible emails about they're all true he cut in calmly every screenshot every photo every receipt but she's in Seattle no she's in Maui with him while our son was being buried a sharp gasp Tommy's funeral she said she had meetings check your email again I sent you the airline confirmation and hotel booking 5 days in Hawaii with her lover while our son's body was still warm Rachel's voice hardened that feel free to share that information with anyone who asks more calls poured in family members friends colleagues Michael answered each one the same way calm collected armed with irrefutable evidence his burner phone lit up with a message from the pi in Maui targets acquired first set of photos incoming the images showed his wife and her lover having breakfast on their hotel balcony looking relaxed and happy as if their son hadn't been buried yesterday perfect timing Michael murmured forwarding the photos to her entire contact list Tom whistled low you're really going for the jugular she hasn't seen anything yet his phone rang again her mother how dare you spread these lies about my daughter she screeched check your email Michael replied coldly I just sent you photos taken less than an hour ago your daughter's having breakfast in Maui with her lover while her son's grave is still fresh still want to talk about lies silence then in a broken voice she told me she was in Seattle she tells a lot of stories check the other attachment screenshots of her text with him during Tommy's last days in the hospital while you were asking why she wasn't there for her dying son she was in hotel rooms with him more silence followed by a choked SOB I I need to call her father give him my number if he wants proof I have plenty the morning wore on Michael watched his plan unfold through calls texts and emails her professional reputation crumbled as the evidence of expense fraud circulated through her company her Social Circle imploded as friends discovered her Web of Lies her family reeled from the proof of her betrayal during Tommy's illness and death his phone buzzed a text from her why isn't my credit card working then another Michael the hotel says our joint account is empty what's going on and another my boss is calling something about an emergency are you doing this Michael didn't respond instead he sent another batch of photos to her Lover's wife yes he discovered that particular detail months ago the man wasn't just having an affair with Michael's wife he was cheating on his own spouse Tom looked up from his laptop her company's legal department just opened a formal investigation and the audit teams preliminary report it's bad Michael really bad good Michael checked his watch time for phase three hit her with everything Michael opened his email and began forwarding the hospital photos documents of every missed visit every ignored call every time she chose her lover over their dying son he sent them to everyone her friends family colleagues neighbors everyone who had attended Tommy's funeral everyone who had sent condolences everyone who needed to know exactly why she hadn't been there his phone lit up with her face her first direct call what have you done she whispered I've told the truth he replied calmly something you should try sometime Michael please how's Maui better than Seattle a sharp intake of breath you don't understand I understand perfectly I've understood for months Every Lie every betrayal every time you chose him over Tommy that's not fair fair his voice turned to ice was it fair when our son cried for you in the hospital while you were in a hotel with your lover was it fair when you missed his funeral for a Hawaiian vacation I can explain save it for HR and your Lover's wife oh and your parents they're especially interested in those photos of you at breakfast this morning the ones taken at the same time they were laying flowers on their grandson's grave you're destroying my life she whispered no Michael corrected her you destroyed it yourself I'm just making sure everyone knows exactly who you are he hung up and turned to Tom how long until her company suspends her Tom checked his phone just came through suspended without pay pending investigation perfect Michael opened his laptop now about those assets as evening approached Michael received another update from the pi in Maui the photo showed his wife arguing with her lover by the hotel pool their faces Twisted with anger trouble in Paradise Tom asked looking over his shoulder right on schedule Michael replied once the money Runs Out watch how quickly he abandons her his phone buzzed with a message from The Lover's wife thank you for telling me the truth I've frozen our accounts and contacted my lawyer Michael forwarded this message to his wife's lover watching the chaos unfold from 3,000 Mi away within minutes his Pi sent new photos the lover storming out of the hotel room Wheeling his suitcase behind him the calls had slowed to a trickle but each one brought news of another relationship destroyed another connection severed her closest friend Rachel called again Fury in her voice I just found out she was with him the night I watched Tommy so she could work late Rachel spat I kept her secret for months without knowing it I helped her betray pray you and Tommy don't blame yourself Michael said she fooled a lot of people not anymore I sent those photos to everyone in our mother's group no one will speak to her again his wife's number flashed on his phone again he let it go to voicemail then played it on speaker Michael please her voice cracked he left the hotel wants payment my cards aren't working I can't even buy a plane ticket home my boss won't answer my calls my parents a sob what am I supposed to do figure it out he muttered deleting the message Tom looked up from his laptop her company's investigation is moving fast they found evidence of fraud going back months falsified expense reports unauthorized charges company resources used to facilitate the affair send it to her industry contacts Michael directed make sure everyone knows why she was fired already done no one will hire her after this Michael's phone lit up with another call her father this time I've removed her from my will the older man said without Preamble no daughter of mine would abandon her dying child for an affair I understand do you need anything money for Tommy's expenses no but thank you more message poured in from her Social Circle each one severing another connection the mothers from Tommy's School her College friends her Professional Network all responding to the evidence with disgust and anger his burner phone buzzed a message from her lover this is your fault you've ruined everything Michael smiled coldly and forwarded the message to the man's wife along with photos of him abandoning his mistress at the hotel let him try to explain that during the divorce another voicemail from his wife everyone's turned against me my boss my friends my own parents how could you do this we could have handled this privately Michael deleted it without responding instead he sent another batch of evidence to her remaining contacts anyone who might still be willing to help her every bridge would burn every door would close that Tom's phone bust her company's making it official termination for cause effective immediately they're filing criminal charges for the expense fraud perfect timing Michael said opening his email ready for the final blow Tom nodded grimly Michael began forwarding the last set of photos the ones from Tommy's final days his small body in the hospital bed the empty chair where she should have been the nurse's logs documenting every time she didn't show up each image accompanied by proof of where she'd actually been hotel receipts restaurant charges timestamps matching her text with her lover think anyone will stand by her after seeing these Tom asked quietly would you his phone lit up one last time her number again this time he answered what do you want I have nothing left she whispered no money no job no friends even my parents won't speak to me please you had everything he cut in coldly a husband who loved you a beautiful son who adored you a a good job friends family but you threw it all away for cheap hotel rooms and lies I'll do anything there's nothing left to do your lover is gone your job's gone every friend you had knows what you did to Tommy every family member has seen how you chose a cheap Affair over your dying son I didn't mean for any of this to happen she sobbed the affair it just happened I never thought you never thought you'd get caught Michael interrupted you never thought I'd find out about the hotels the lies the fraud you never thought I'd discover you were with him while our son died alone please I'm begging you I beg to his voice turned razor sharp I beg you to come to the hospital when Tommy cried for you I beg you to be there for his last breath I beg you to attend your own son's funeral how did that work out a long silence broken only by her muffled sobs I can change she whispered finally we can fix this there's nothing to fix while you were building your new life with him I was planning my future without you Michael's voice remained steady emotionless enjoy your nothingness he ended the call and turned to Tom it's done Tom nodded grimly the PI says she's alone at the hotel bar her lovers on a flight back to his wife her company's attorneys have contacted me about pressing charges for the fraud Good Michael opened his laptop one final time now for the last piece he drafted a simple email to her family friends and colleagues to anyone still wondering about the truth attached are the final photos the first set shows my wife with her lover during Tommy's last days in the hospital the second set shows her at a luxury resort in Maui yesterday while we buried our son that I don't ask for sympathy or support I only ask that you remember Tommy and how his mother chose to spend his final days Michael he hit send and closed the laptop what now Tom asked quietly Michael stood and walked to the window looking out at the setting sunow I focus on honoring Tommy's memory she can live with the consequences of her choices his phone buzzed one final time a message from her I have nothing left Michael didn't respond instead he pulled up the last photo he'd taken of Tommy smiling despite the hospital tubes and wires asking when Mommy would visit you're wrong he whispered to the empty room you had everything you just didn't value it enough to keep it a week after Tommy's funeral 's phone lit up with a message from the airport security guard he'd befriended she's back looking rough Michael checked the time 3:47 a.
m.
