There were wide smiles all around. This was a great idea and they all knew it. The lake effect would dump snow on them every once in a while. After this was done, people would find every blizzard as the perfect occasion to go up there.

It was a little unpredictable but that was part of the charm of it. If you could schedule every little thing, then it would be monopolized by the people that had the time and money to do so. Putting it under the whims of the weather would bring it within reach of the common man. Casey loved this idea.

He quieted them and reached for his phone. He simply had to call Judith and tell her what they were talking about. He was too excited not to. No answer on her cell again. He looked at Will and Stacy and shrugged his shoulders.

“I guess she must be out or something. That’s too bad. I really wanted to share this with her.” They both looked uncomfortable. A new thought hit him. “You don’t think she’s…in some kind of trouble do you?”
”No, I’m sure she’s ok. You shouldn’t worry about her.”

“But she hasn’t answered any of my calls for hours. Not on her cell or at the hotel. Maybe I should have someone in Chicago check up on her. Maybe she’s had a car accident or something.”

Stacy looked at Will. She seemed to be trying to send some kind of message to him but he wasn’t receiving. Finally she said, “Will, can I talk with you out in the hall for a moment?”

He agreed and they started to get up but Casey stopped them. “Wait a minute. What do you need to talk about? You can talk in front of me.”

“We’ll be back in just a minute. That’s all.”

“No. What is it? What are you trying to keep from me?”
Will sat back down and looked defeated. “I think we need to tell him.”

“Tell me what?”
”Are you sure? This isn’t any of our business!”

“I think we have to. He has a right to know.”

“Damn straight I do! Know what?”
They exchanged another glance and finally Stacy said, “Fine, you tell him.”

Will looked a little frightened. Casey tried to reassure him. “Please, tell me. I can’t stand not knowing what you’re talking about.”

“Ok, you’re the boss,” Will said. He looked down at his feet. “We think we know the reason that she’s not returning your phone calls. It’s not because she’s in any danger or anything like that. It’s because…”, and then he stopped.

“Yes? Because why?”

“It’s because she’s having an affair.” Casey was too stunned to speak. “It’s been going on for awhile now.”

Finally Casey’s voice came back, but faintly. “An affair. Who with?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he knew the answer.

Stacey and Will exchanged another look and then she said, “With Brent.”

The world seemed to grow dim for a moment. That Judith would ever stray was a thought that had never occurred to him. Their marriage had been fine. Maybe not the most passionate one in the world but certainly comfortable. What had he done to drive her away?

Casey suddenly realized that he couldn’t deal with this in front of these other two. They seemed decent enough but they’d only met earlier today. Just hours ago in fact. Funny, it now seemed like a lifetime ago. He supposed that made sense as his life was very different then. It’s odd how much change can happen so quickly.

“It’s true isn’t it?” He knew it was but he still had to ask. Of course it was, all of the pieces fit together too nicely.

“We’re afraid so, boss. God, I wish we weren’t the ones to tell you.”

“Yeah, it’s especially hard now that we’ve gotten to know you a little bit. You’re a real sweetheart, you know?”

That helped Casey a little bit. “That’s very nice of you. I think just now I’d like to be alone right now. Maybe we can take the project back up tomorrow?”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright tonight? Do you need to talk about it?”

“No. I just need some time to think.”

“I feel terrible. We shouldn’t have told you.”

“You did the right thing. I’d rather know about it than have her make me into a fool. My God, the whole company knows don’t they?”

“Not at all, boss! We only know about it because we work with Brent. No one else suspects a thing. Promise!”

That seemed to help for some reason. “Please, the best thing for me now is to just have some time to myself.”

Will stepped forward and started to write something down. “Look, boss, if you need to talk you can reach me here all night, ok?”

Stacy followed suit and then said, “This isn’t your fault. It’s important that you understand that. She’s the one that did this, not you.”

Then they left and Casey took a moment to collect his thoughts. Stacy was right, it wasn’t his fault. There was no reason he should feel guilty or ashamed. Judith had done this thing. She’d gone out and done this to him! Yes, their marriage was a little cold at times but that gave her no right to warm up underneath someone else. It was just as cold for him and he never cheated on her.

Was it true? It seemed like it must be. Casey needed a little more than that though. He needed proof. He reached out for the phone again and called his chief of security. They went back many years and he could trust the man with anything.

“Carter? This is Casey. I need your help. Do you have any suggestions for a good private eye?”