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BELEMENTARY, MY Friend BATSON
A short story by Sabri Bebawi- based on reality
Mr. and Mrs. Nutter had enjoyed six blissful years together, rekindling their romance after two decades apart. They lived in luxury on the eighth floor of a Manhattan high-rise, surrounded by attentive staff. Yet, beneath this seemingly perfect life, a storm was brewing. Mr. Sparrow Nutter soon discovered that his wife, Electra, had been covering for her cousin Elizabeth, who was involved in a long-term affair. Despite his warnings against deceit, Mrs. Nutter continued her charade.
One evening, Mr. Nutter grew suspicious of his wife’s late-night conversations. After hours of questioning, he became convinced that she wasn’t telling the truth. The next morning, Mrs. Nutter admitted she had been chatting with a friend named George. Mr. Nutter found her explanation unconvincing, recalling the saying, "Lies do not have legs."
Betrayed and already grappling with health issues, Mr. Nutter devised a plan for revenge. He organized a party, and during the event, used a speakerphone to expose Mrs. Nutter’s ongoing deceit, humiliating her in front of their guests. In distress, Mrs. Nutter fled the scene, disappearing without a trace. Elizabeth also vanished, leaving behind a tangled web of lies and heartbreak.
For Mr. Nutter, the betrayal cut deeply. He had always advised his beloved wife against dishonesty, especially when it came to infidelity, which he despised. Though she had promised to stop, he could never be sure. Perhaps, deep down, he knew she hadn’t.
On a warm April evening, Mr. and Mrs. Nutter were lying in bed together. Mrs. Nutter was absorbed in a long conversation on her phone. Unable to contain his curiosity, Mr. Nutter asked softly, "Who are you chatting with, my love?"
In a sudden, frantic motion, Mrs. Nutter bolted from the bed, rushed out of the room, and deleted the conversation. Her panicked reaction only heightened Mr. Nutter’s suspicions. As a seasoned prosecutor, journalist, and university professor, he couldn’t ignore the alarm bells ringing in his mind. He questioned her relentlessly throughout the night, and by dawn, he concluded that she was lying. It was then that he made up his mind to leave her for good. But where would he go? He didn’t yet know.
The next morning, Mrs. Nutter, perhaps after seeking counsel from her confidants, approached her husband and confessed, "It was George. I’m sorry. I was worried you’d be upset if you knew I was chatting with him so late." Mr. Nutter, however, was not fooled. He laughed off her explanation, knowing George was harmless and having no issue with their friendship. In fact, he had no objection when she’d asked to meet George for lunch.
Still, the situation reminded him of his mother’s words: "Lies do not have legs." It also brought to mind Shakespeare’s famous line, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." The matter remained unresolved, festering beneath the surface for months.
Mr. Nutter wrestled with his feelings of betrayal, trying in vain to make sense of how the woman he loved so dearly could deceive him. The stress wore him down, and within five months, his cancer returned with a vengeance, adding to his deep sadness.
Driven by both pain and anger, Mr. Nutter, a man who had never been vengeful, plotted a scheme that would leave a lasting impact. Using his knowledge of Elizabeth’s affair and his skills as a detective, he set his plan in motion, ready to exact his revenge.
The plan began innocently enough. Mr. Nutter convinced Mrs. Nutter to host a grand party at their lavish apartment, inviting friends and family. Mrs. Nutter eagerly agreed, unaware of the trap her husband was laying. Invitations were sent out to all their New York acquaintances, including Mrs. Nutter’s beloved parents. Oddly, only the husband of Mrs. Nutter’s best friend was invited. Mrs. Nutter didn’t question this, assuming her husband disliked the friend due to her history of infidelity.
The night of the party arrived. Guests flowed into the apartment, warmly greeted and served drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Once everyone had gathered, Mr. Nutter stood before them, phone in hand, and made an unexpected announcement, asking for silence. The room fell quiet, curious but confused.
Mr. Nutter dialed a number, put the call on speaker, and when the person on the other end answered, he asked calmly, "Hi, this is Mr. Nutter. May I speak with Electra? She said she’d be with you most of the night."
The room grew tense. The voice on the other end replied, "Oh! Yes, but she’s in the bathroom right now. I’ll have her call you as soon as she’s out."
Mr. Nutter smiled. "Thank you," he said, then hung up. Turning to the guests, he added, "Listen carefully. Electra’s phone is about to ring." Moments later, the phone did indeed ring, and Mrs. Nutter, looking pale, hesitantly answered on speaker.
The voice on the other end screamed, "You didn’t tell me you were with Ricardo! Your husband just called, and I told him you were in the bathroom. You’d better call him back!"
A stunned silence followed. Mrs. Nutter let out a scream and bolted from the apartment. Mr. Nutter chased after her, but she had already disappeared into the Manhattan night. He searched the streets, calling her name in desperation, but she was gone.
Back at the apartment, the guests were buzzing with questions, asking Mr. Nutter how he had pulled off such a plan. With a smile, he looked at his guest, Oliver Batson, and simply replied, "Elementary, my dear Watson."
From that night on, Mrs. Nutter was never seen again. Not even her parents knew where she had gone. Elizabeth, too, vanished without a trace, leaving behind a shattered world of deceit and dishonor.
Their betrayal, like leaves in the wind, had blown them far away.
(c) Sabri Bebawi