Linda leant back in her chair and said calmly, ‘Colin, do you want to earn $10,000 for one evening’s easy work?’ This simple question took Colin completely by surprise. He’d been expecting a proposal, but a very different one. He laughed. ‘I don’t buy lottery tickets,’ he said. ‘I’m serious, Colin,’ Linda said. ‘And I’m not talking about buying lottery tickets.’ She got up and came to sit on the floor next to his chair. She smiled at him and touched his hand. ‘I’m talking about $10,000 in cash. It’s yours, if you want it.’ Colin sat up straight and removed Linda’s hand from his own hand. ‘What’s going on?’ he said nervously. ‘What do you want from me?’ ‘My husband is going to need an alibi,’ she said. ‘You can provide one for him. It’s as simple as that.’
