LAST EDITED ON 11-13-12 AT 08:16 PM (EST)1) Powerful married older man in high-profile position has affair with accomplished married younger woman of similar background. Standard soap opera plot.
2) The two of them set up an Internet e-mail account that they both know the userID and password to. Then they send each other love notes without ever actually transmitting the notes -- by saving them as drafts in the account. Thus, no transmission means no third-party e-mail records -- BUT the account has their whole love note archive in it.
3) Powerful older man breaks off the affair for whatever reason.
4) Younger woman concludes that older man is having an affair with second married younger woman with whom he and his wife are friendly.
** SO FAR, SO GOOD ** BUT NOW **
5) Younger woman uses shared but now inactive e-mail account to send nasty and potentially threatening e-mails to the second younger woman --- but never deletes the saved but unsent messages stored in the account.
6) Second younger woman actually has an "improper relationship" (whatever that means) with another powerful older man who is a close friend of the original powerful older man, but she is not actually having an affair with the original man.
7) Second younger woman asks for help from FBI agent with whom she was friendly to trace down sender of nasty and possibly threatening e-mails.
** TO THIS POINT, IT'S EASY TO BELIEVE THAT THE SECOND YOUNGER WOMAN FELT THAT SHE WAS IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. BUT GOD SAID, "HA." **
8) Friendly FBI agent turns over case to FBI cybercrime division.
9) While examining second younger woman's e-mail account, FBI agents finds shirtless pictures sent to her by friendly FBI agent.
10) FBI suspends friendly FBI agent from investigation and potentially from FBI.
11) While examining second younger woman's e-mail accoun, FBI agents find evidence of "improper relationship" between second younger woman and second powerful older man.
12) This juicy story is still open, as the details haven't come out yet, but they could cost the second powerful older man his job and perhaps the second younger woman her marriage, since rich husbands do not like to be cuckolded.
13) FBI agents trace nasty, potentially threatening e-mails to originating account.
14) While investigating originating account, FBI agents find saved draft e-mails.
15) FBI agents identify the writers of the saved draft e-mails as being the first powerful older man and the first younger woman.
16) FBI agents tell bosses, including boss of first powerful older man, of identities of writers of saved draft e-mails.
17) Boss forces first powerful older man to resign.
18) Entire soap opera makes the news.