I put my clothes on and kissed Karen goodbye before heading to my own room to shower and dress for the conference. An hour later we met up in the hotel restaurant, both of us in now our best business attire, and sat down to have a good breakfast before the full day's work ahead of us.

When we finished eating I told Karen I was going to use the restroom before we headed out and stood up. "Hold on Jack," she said, "I have something for you." I walked around to her side of the table she as reached into her purse and pulled out a handful of small...