Chapter 1
February 1994
She walked slowly up Broadway. She had just caught her husband Michael in bed with another woman. What a lovely Valentine's Day surprise. He was cheating on her, and now he wanted a divorce. Karen couldn't believe it. She really thought that he would be different from her first husband, Peter.
She had married Michael Popeil in a small ceremony two years ago. Only friends and family had been invited. Well, Michael's family and friends. Karen had no family to speak of, and most of her friends were Michael's first. They had dated for over a year when Michael proposed.
Karen was hesitant to get married again after her divorce to Peter St. Croix, but felt that Michael would be different. She was wrong.
And now here she was, on Valentine's Day, all alone. Walking down the street, she searched through her purse for whatever cash she had. Twenty two dollars. That would definitely get her started.
She walked through the door of the hotel and made her way into the bar. Sitting at the end of the bar, she ordered a martini. She wasn't really a fan of them, but it just seemed like the drink to have in her situation. Cheating husband, martini. Her train of thought wasn't really all there, but she could have cared less.
Sipping her drink, she noticed a man at the other end of the bar continuously staring at her.
'Great' she thought to herself 'Just what I need right now.'
After a few minutes, the man walked over and sat down next to Karen, who sat still, staring into her near-empty martini glass.
"Karen Delaney, right?" The man asked, leaning down to get a better look at her face.
Karen sat up straight. She remembered that voice, from a long time ago. Looking into his eyes, she smiled. She remembered him well.
"Stanley Walker." She smiled, genuinely. "Nice to see you again."