Julie had a restless night pondering on the information that she had gleaned from Cliff. He is just as big a user as JR, she thought, only JR is cleverer. She finally settled after determining that JR should be informed immediately about Cliff's midnight visit to her. She would call him in the morning, first thing. That way she would demonstrate her total loyalty to him, loyalty for which she hoped to be generously rewarded.
JR woke up to find that he was alone in bed. He was hungover from the party the night before. Sue-Ellen must be with Ella or at breakfast he reckoned as he rolled onto his back and stretched. As he was debating whether to try to go back to sleep or to get up the telephone rang. It rang out several times before he decided to pick up the receiver. "Where are the staff when you need them?" he muttered to himself. "Hello, JR Ewing here." "Thank goodness it was you who picked up!" Julie sounded anxious. "I thought I told you..." However, before he could finish his sentence Julie interjected. "I know but something happened in the early hours that you need to know about, as does your wife." JR's interest was pricked, particularly at the mention of Sue-Ellen. "Well, go on then. It had better be good though."
As Julie started to explain JR could feel his bile beginning to rise. How dare that idiot plan to seduce and spoil Sue-Ellen just to get revenge for what had happened to Digger? To be sure, he took Julie over what Cliff had told her several times before he was satisfied as to its accuracy. "You did the right thing calling me even though you were taking a risk where my family are concerned. I will be in touch with you again. In the meantime if anything else arises you can call me at the office as from tomorrow. Alright?" Julie expressed her assent and rang off. Just as she did so, Sue-Ellen entered the bedroom. She sat on the bed next to her husband and smiled. "Are you feeling a little delicate, my love?" JR nodded. "I did tell you that it wasn't such a good idea to sit up with Jock and Bobby drinking after all the guests had gone!"
JR took her hand. "How's my little girl?" "She's just fine. She's having a mid-morning nap." JR's expression darkened at the thought of Cliff having the slightest thing to do with his wife and child. "JR? Are you alright?" Sue-Ellen enquired. "Not really. I've just had a call from Julie Grey. Cliff let himself into her place last night and interrogated her." Sue-Ellen looked shocked. "Did she tell him anything?" "No, but he told her quite a lot. He is intent on trying to ruin us, you in particular, darlin." JR began to recount what Julie had informed him. He took his wife through the conversation with Cliff line by line pausing for effect before he delivered the killer final sentences.
By the end Sue-Ellen was in tears. This wasn't part of the life that she envisaged when she became a Ewing. It was far too cruel and ruthless for her liking. She had always known that JR had enemies. That was part and parcel of the business that he was in and he could cope with it but she had never envisaged that she might also be targeted. JR gently wiped her cheek with his thumb. "Oh no, don't get upset sugar. Nothing is going to happen to you. You are perfectly safe with me. I told you all about this for two reasons. First, I want to be open and honest with you, always. Second, it occurs to me that we, as partners, need to think about what we do next. I'm thinking about giving that idiot precisely what he wants- another meeting with you." Sue-Ellen gasped. "I don't want that man anywhere near me, JR!"
"I know but nothing bad will happen, I promise. I need information and you are the perfect candidate to obtain it for me. As he is busy with acts preparatory to seducing you he may let his guard down and tell you something very useful." JR could tell by Sue-Ellen's face that she had serious reservations about what he had just suggested. "I won't force you to do anything that you don't want to, honey." He began twisting a lock of her hair gently around his finger. She knew he was trying to get round her. "If you go along with it, just at first, that idiot is likely to taste the sweet smell of success, become complacent and begin to make mistakes. Mistakes that will be to my, our, advantage. Sue-Ellen, I didn't start this. He did."
"I guess I could meet him, somewhere very public where he wouldn't dare try anything." Sue-Ellen wanted to please her husband. "Where did you have the coffee with him?" JR enquired. "In the restaurant at The Store. He wouldn't do anything there, would he?" "Hmmm, let me have a think about that" JR responded. Sue-Ellen was a little frightened but at the same time excited. She and her husband were in partnership, plotting the downfall of a man who was now not only his enemy but hers as well. "I have a phone call to make, darlin. To an associate who supplies me with information from time to time. Afterwards shall we take Ella for a walk? I want to spend as much time as possible with her before I go back to work tomorrow." Sue-Ellen kissed him and went out of the room. She too wanted some family time with JR and their daughter.
JR picked up the phone and dialled. "Harry? Happy new year! I need some information from you."
tbc
