Free How to Kill Your Husband by Keith Thomas Walker

asked.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou gonna clean the bathrooms?” Nikki pondered.
    â€œ No ,” Claire said, a little chagrined that her life was so boring and predictable.
    â€œWhat are you doing tonight, Mommy?” little George asked.
    And here it was: For the first time in recent memory, Claire had to lie to her children. She gritted her teeth and wondered how George Sr. was able to spout mistruths so easily.
    â€œMe and Becky are going to the movies,” she said.
    Little George swallowed it easily enough, but Nikki said, “Really?”
    â€œYes. What’s wrong with that?”
    â€œYou never go out, Mom.”
    â€œI know. But I’m not in jail; I can if I want to.”
    â€œWho’s going to take care of us?” George Jr. asked.
    Claire grinned at him. “Your sister’s fourteen years old,” she said. “And Becky’s daughter is coming over, too, to help out.”
    â€œCourtney?” Nikki asked.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œOoh, I like Courtney,” George Jr. said.
    â€œThat’s good,” Claire said, and she meant it. It was hard enough leaving her children with a babysitter. She didn’t think she could do it if they were opposed.

CHAPTER SIX
    THE STAKEOUT
    Claire got the kids started on their homework, and then she showered and changed for her night out with the girls. She had no idea what to wear to a stake-out , but she figured the less flashy the better. She put on blue jeans with a white T-shirt and white sneakers. She pulled her hair back in a pony tail and went back downstairs to start dinner.
    Melanie called while she was rinsing carrots.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHey, Claire. It’s me. I’m just now getting off.”
    â€œI’m getting the kids’ dinner ready,” Claire said.
    â€œIt’s still on?” Melanie asked. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
    â€œNo,” Claire said. “I’m still going. I already showered and got dressed. George will be here at six, and he leaves at six-thirty . We need to get in position before then.”
    â€œI’m gonna go home and change, and I’ll be ready,” Melanie promised.
    â€œYou don’t have to cook dinner?” Claire asked.
    â€œNo. I already told Rodney I was going out with you. How you feeling?”
    â€œLike shit. My stomach’s upset. Stacy got caught cheating on a test today. I had to yell at her on the way home. I’m already stressed.”
    â€œYou need to beat her ass,” Melanie advised.
    â€œMaybe,” Claire said, but they both knew she wasn’t going to do it. In fourteen years of parenting, she hardly ever had to get physically violent with her offspring to get them to mind.
    â€œYou still want me to go after him first?” Melanie asked.
    â€œYeah,” Claire said. “When he gets here, I’ll tell him I’m going to the movies with Becky. I’ll wait for him to leave, and you can get behind him as soon as he backs out of our driveway. When you call and say you’re on his tail, me and Becky will leave and catch up to you.”
    â€œDamn, Claire, you sure you never did this before? You sound like you know what you’re doing.”
    â€œGeorge told me a lot of war stories,” Claire said. “I guess some of those military tactics stuck with me.”
    â€œ For real !” Melanie agreed. “You’re on some old, Desert Storm type of shit. Some counter-surveillance type of shit.”
    Claire didn’t bother telling her friend she was using that term inappropriately.
    * * *
    Becky called at 5:45 while Claire was setting the table.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHey. It’s me.”
    â€œYou just get home?”
    â€œYeah.” She sounded out of breath. “I’m changing clothes now. What time did you say we were leaving?”
    â€œGeorge will be here in about fifteen minutes,” Claire said. “He’s