Chapter 1 - Nothing Left to Belly-eve in

Booker Jackson had heard the case 100 times before, “Just find out what my bastard of a husband is up to.” He replayed the scene of Penny Loveworth storming into his office and throwing the cash on the desk before spitting that sentence out like venom. It was getting boring, to be honest, the same cases over and over again, always a spouse cheating or a business partner skimming off the top. Small-town problems required a small-town P.I. and Booker guess he was the right fit for the quiet rural Wisconsin town of Elk River. Only this time something about it seemed different, she sounded angry. Most clients do but something felt off, usually, it was anger and sadness or hope that they can still save their marriage if confronted. No this was pure anger and nothing else.

He never understood the point of marriage other than the tax benefits but looking at Loveworth he understood some of the other ones too. Only she was far too thin for his taste. Add a couple of hundred pounds to her 5’1 petite body and Wowza she would be a knockout in his eyes. Her hair was blond and silky, lips plump and red, skin as white as the snow falling from the December sky outside, and finally green eyes like an emerald. “Booker? Are you even listening to me?” Loveworth said crossing her arms and giving him a pouty look. Booker shook himself from distraction “Sorry doll, my head was in the clouds. Lay it on me again.” Loveworth may have been a bit of a ditz but she wasn’t going to stand here being played a fool. With a huff, she started over. “Well Booker, I think Harvey might be cheating on me with the bitch assistant of his Darla LeBlanc.”

Not a single word that Penny said surprised Booker, Harvey was always kind of a scumbag when it came to women. Penny was his 3rd wife and if what’s she saying is true she might be his 3rd ex-wife but why cheat on her? Was it her age, she was only 24 so that couldn’t be it. “Booker, how soon can you start working on the case?” Booker knew Penny well enough to know she wanted to be involved, “I can start now, there’s really no investigations this time of year.” Penny’s eyes lit up at the exciting news and practically ran as fast as her bright pink pumps could allow her to hug Booker on the other side of the desk. “Oh thank you thank you thank you, Booker.”

Booker and Penny had known each other since college when they met through a mutual friend. Ever since the day he met her he knew the effect she had on the men around her, bubbly and fun, body tight and toned but that seemed to have changed. Her body was softer, not fat but you could tell she didn’t go to the gym anymore. He could tell from the little belly outlining her dress.

That was two weeks ago, the snowflakes flurried around his car with no signs of the heavy frost downpour stopping anytime soon. The dark December nights weren’t the best for driving but he got a call from Harvey Loveworth asking him to come over for dinner, an odd request since he and Harvey were never close. Booker pulled into Harvey's driveway, this was his chance to scope out some more on Harvey and he knew it. The house was covered in lights while the yard was infested with inflated decorations. Penny loved Christmas.

He thought they were going to be alone tonight but was hit with two surprises. One Penny answered the door, and two her newly acquired tummy was making her shirt roll up as her non-door knob hand held a slightly eaten half loaf of pound cake. She must have been stressed, he felt for the poor girl. Harvey pulled her away from the door so he could greet Booker. “Booker buddy, long time no see. Sorry for Penny, hope she didn’t disgust you too much.” Booker wanted to hit Harvey after he saw her eyes swell with tears but wanted to get as much dirt on him as he could.

Dinner was a little awkward after Harvey scolded Penny for getting thirds but other than that it went swimmingly. Harvey even showed Booker his side pieces when Penny was getting another snack in the kitchen and gave them their numbers in case he needed a good time. This was perfect, almost time to bring that bastard down.

It was 3 am when Booker was awoken by the sound of his phone ringing. It was Penny, Harvey was dead.