Chapter 2: Overheard

Norma watched the motel parking lot like a hawk, but after days passed with no further Mustang sightings, she started to give up hope of seeing it, or its driver, again. She'd seen almost nothing of the Sheriff, either. He was spending most of his time at the county courthouse, testifying against the man who supposedly murdered Blair Watson. Except for a few glimpses of him in those sharp suits of his, he may as well not have been staying at her motel.

It was beginning to bother her. No sooner had she vowed to get to know him better than he practically disappeared out of her world.

And truth be told, she missed him.

Sitting at the motel front desk, she grimaced at the thought. Sure, she wanted Alex. But she had always been careful to differentiate between want and need. And her desire for Alex Romero was bordering on need. It was a discomforting thought – especially if she couldn't have him.

Sighing in frustration, she shut her laptop, turned off the light, and headed up to the house. The motel was full to capacity, but this close to midnight, even on a Friday, no one would be needing anything. As she left the office, she could only see a couple rooms with their lights still on. Out of habit – surely not obsession, she told herself – she glanced down to Room 11. There was dim light escaping through the closed curtains. Alex was still up.

As she went up the stairs to the house, something caught her eye. There was a shadowy figure sitting at one of the picnic tables behind the motel. Definitely male, and definitely alone. Considering the man's height and build, and that it would be the table closest to Room 11, she had a good idea as to the shadow's identity, even in such darkness. As much as she wanted to speak with him, instinct told her that he wasn't sitting out there to find company, but to be alone. So she continued on her way as though he wasn't there.

She clicked on the light in her bedroom, kicking off her shoes as she went over to her vanity table. She took off her necklace and earrings, laying them in the jewelry box. She was taking off her watch when a thought occurred to her. Quickly, she darted into the next bedroom, which was dark. She crept over to the window and looked out, down towards the motel. The lone figure still sat at the picnic table.

A cunning smile took over Norma's lips.

She went back to her bedroom, careful to come to a stop right in front of the window that faced the motel. Pretending to look in the mirror that stood just to the side of the window, she slowly unbuttoned her blazer, shrugging it off her shoulders and tossing it onto the chair at her vanity table. Then she got to work on the buttons of her blouse, taking her time with each one. She silently thanked the wardrobe gods for her choice of underwear that morning, because the lacy black bra she wore under her blouse would showcase her porcelain skin perfectly, even from a distance. She slipped out of the blouse, baring one shoulder, then the other. The blouse was dropped to the floor at her feet. She turned to the side, giving the window her profile. Arching her back, she reached behind her to undo the zipper of her skirt. She slipped her thumbs under the fabric and slowly eased it down, finally letting it, too, drop to the floor.

Still pretending to look at herself in the mirror, Norma spent a moment fussing with her hair, running her hand through it while moving slightly from side to side, emphasizing the swivel of her hips. Once satisfied with the slightly messy bedhead she'd given herself, Norma turned a little bit more away from the window, before hooking her thumbs under the waistband of her lace panties. As with her skirt, she slowly, teasingly slid them down, letting them fall to the floor with everything else. She couldn't hide her devious smile, though she doubted that anyone who was watching would be paying any attention to her face – not with the half-naked view she was providing. Finally, she undid the clasp of her bra, and, turning a little more so her back was fully to the window, slipped the straps from her shoulders. She held the bra out to the side for a few seconds before opening her fingers. It joined the growing pile at her feet.

She let her hands briefly run from her chest down her sides, then back up again, before walking out of view. She took her long silk robe from the back of the chair, and slipped it on, making sure to walk past the window again before she tied it closed.

The show over, she once again ran into the next bedroom. Glancing cautiously out the window, she could see the dark figure still where she had left him, at the table. He was facing the house, so he can't possibly have missed the show.

Empowered at the thought of her victory, she went back to her own bedroom, walking in front of the window one last time before turning off the light and getting into bed.

Feeling content for the first time in several days, she fell asleep within seconds.

Romero stared up at Norma's now-dark bedroom window, his jaw clenching uncontrollably. His hand was gripped his bottle of beer so hard it was a miracle it hadn't shattered.

He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and willed himself to calm down. When Norma had removed her skirt, Alex had been seconds away from going up those stairs, barging into the house, and taking her up against the nearest wall. But now, his tenuous hold on common sense was slowly improving. Yet his need was still there. And he knew exactly what to do.

She picked up on the first ring.

"Alex?"

"I need you. Now."

"I'll be there in 5."

Kate's research had begun the moment Alex had driven away a few days ago. If she was going to be impersonating someone, it might help to know who it was. Despite living in White Pine Bay for years, she wasn't familiar with anyone named Norma. Clearly Alex hadn't known her for very long, so perhaps she was new in town? She knew who she could ask, but it had to be done in such a way to not arouse curiosity. No one even knew about her arrangement with Alex, let alone that his latest kink was for her to dress up like someone he actually knew.

The next day, she put her plan in motion. She was already going downtown to meet friends for lunch, but stopped at the community theatre on the way. If there was a bigger collection of gossip hounds in White Pine Bay, she didn't know of them. She went in through the stage door entrance, familiar faces everywhere calling out greetings. She didn't have much to do with the summer theatre group, but her years of participation in dance and symphonic performances meant she could waltz in and say hello without anyone thinking it odd.

Finally, the first person she sought appeared up ahead.

"Jack!"

The tall, dark-haired stage director spun to look down the hallway, and raised a hand once he saw her.

"Kate! What has you slumming with the ranks of summer theatre?" he asked as he approached.

"I'm a little early for a lunch date," she said offhandedly. "I thought I'd drop by and say hello."

"Well I'm so glad you did," Jack said with a wide smile, giving her a hug.

"So, any new talent I should know about?" she asked, leading him towards the auditorium.

"Well, we have a couple new singers. Sorry, though, no new dancers. No good ones, at least!"

"Damn."

"I know, I know. You'll be stuck with the same old crowd come fall," Jack commiserated. "Like I always say, honey, you can't expect the same dancing quality here as what you work with in Portland."

"I can hope, though."

"Sure, if you wanna waste your time," Jack said with a grin as they reached the stage. Kate wasn't a big fan of musicals, and vintage ones were often too corny for her. South Pacific was no exception, and she took in the stage, full of wooden trees and beachy accessories, with an internal grimace. It was a far cry from the Portland Ballet Company, that was for certain. But her elitist train of thought was cut short when she sighted her true target.

Christine Heldens. The queen of gossip, herself.

Technically, she had quit the production, but as she was still "best friends" with most people involved, she spent a lot of time in the very place she claimed not to want to be. But then, she always was a self-serving individual. A self-serving individual who had just spotted Kate.

"Kate!" she called loudly, walking straight over and hugged her, complete with a kiss on the cheek. Kate very nearly rolled her eyes, but mastered her expression before stepping back.

"Hey, Christine!"

"Kate is just here to say hi," Jack informed Christine.

"Well, it's always good to see you," Christine said pleasantly.

"You, too," Kate replied. "Oh! You know, I was just thinking of you yesterday," she said, as though the thought had only just popped into her head.

"Really? How come?"

"Did you see an advertisement for a vineyard?" Jack asked with a smirk.

"Oh, shush," Christine said, playfully smacking the stage manager's arm.

"Actually, I saw someone I didn't recognize, and I was wondering if you knew her. I was staring at her shoes, though, so I barely saw her at all."

"Typical woman," Jack interjected.

"Says the gay guy!" Kate replied smartly. "You would have noticed her shoes, too! They were cute!" She turned back to Christine. "Anyway, I only know that her name is Norma, and she's a blonde with great shoes. You don't happen to know…"

"You mean Norma Bates!" Christine said. "Yeah, she's new in town; I'm not surprised you didn't recognize her."

"Wait, Norma Bates? Hey, she tried out for the musical. Her audition was amazing, she can really sing," Jack chimed in.

"Well, Norma Bates has some neat fashion sense," Kate said, hoping she wasn't too far off the mark.

"Oh, she does! We're actually going shopping together tomorrow! But I wouldn't think it would be your style," Christine replied, looking curious.

"How come?"

"Well, her wardrobe is straight up vintage. It suits her, don't get me wrong. She always looks amazing. But those long skirts and tailored blouses? Didn't know you went for that," Christine explained.

"Just because I wouldn't wear it myself doesn't mean I can't appreciate it on someone else," Kate said smoothly, relieved she didn't get caught in a lie.

"Fair enough," Christine said with a nod. "Anyway, I've invited her to my garden party next weekend. You're still coming to that, aren't you?"

"I hope so," Kate replied, intrigued at the opportunity to meet the infamous Norma. "It depends on when I get out of rehearsals in Portland, though."

"Well, try to make it. Norma might be a simple business owner for now, but I think she'll go far in White Pine Bay," Christine said in a conspiratorial tone.

"Oh, she has a business in town?" Kate asked, pleased to be getting such great information so easily.

Christine and Jack both blinked in surprise at her.

"Well, they didn't name it the Bates Motel for nothing," Jack said.

Kate was momentarily speechless. The Bates Motel. Where Alex was staying.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," she recovered, trying to sound calm. "I don't get out to that end of town much," she pointed out. "I guess I'm always headed north."

"Right," Jack said with a nod. "But yeah, that's her place. All that stuff with Zach Shelby, and the weird stuff he had going on with Keith Summers at the old motel? Can't blame her for changing the name of the place."

"No, I suppose I can't," Kate said, her mind racing. That explained how she would have met Romero to begin with. "Anyway, I better jet or I'll be late for my lunch." She gave quick hugs to Jack and Christine, thanking them internally for giving her everything she needed.

On her way out of the building, she popped down to the costume department. As she'd hoped, everyone was at lunch, and the whole area was deserted. She went straight to the vintage section. She thumbed through everything her size, pulling several pieces she thought might fit the look she would be going for. She had to do a bit more reconnaissance, but she was off to a good start.

She wondered what Alex would think.

It took very little guesswork to figure out where Christine would be taking Norma for their shopping adventure. There were only two stores in White Pine Bay Christine would deign to set foot in, and they were only a block away from each other. Kate camped out in the coffee shop halfway down the block, typing away on her tablet while scanning the street from behind her sunglasses. Christine was a creature of habit, so she would start the expedition around 11, so that lunch could sit neatly in between two rounds of clothes shopping.

True to form, Christine appeared at a few minutes past 11, accompanied by a thin blonde woman. Kate picked up her tablet and activated the camera, zooming in and snapping a surreptitious picture before the pair disappeared into the first store. She then went back to her work for a few minutes, before gathering her things and heading home.

'Alex would be proud', she thought to herself. But then, her father had been a cop, so the art of surveillance wasn't lost upon her. She had a photograph of the woman she wanted to emulate, and clothes with which to do it.

Now she would be ready the next time Alex called.

She checked her hair – or, rather, her wig – one last time before getting out of the Mustang. She'd left the top up this evening, despite how warm is still was outside. It had taken her some time to get those loose blonde curls perfect, and she didn't want to ruin the effect before it could be appreciated. Confirming that everything was in place, she got out of the car, walking over to Alex's door and knocking once.

He opened the door instantly, as though he'd been pacing behind it. Maybe he had been, because he looked out of sorts, wired and shaky.

Their eyes met, and he blinked in clear shock. She knew right then that she'd hit the nail on the head. His gaze took in her hair, and then moved rapidly down her body – over the periwinkle blouse that fit her like a glove, to the knee-length aubergine skirt, and down her bare legs to the wedge espadrilles. His mouth had fallen open at some point, and she could see his chest heaving, trying to keep up with his skyrocketing heart rate.

She took a step forward at the same moment he stepped to the side. She had barely entered the room before he took her arm, pulling her around and pinning her against the newly-shut door.

"Jesus," he ground out, and he pressed his whole body against her. His hands seemed to roam everywhere at once, and her eyes drifted closed as he ran his lips along the side of her neck. Her fingers dug into his back, and he bit her lightly in response. One of his hands was already pulling up her skirt.

She had a feeling they wouldn't make it over to the bed for a while.

The finally did make it into the bed, but more for a rest than anything else. It took a while for them to catch their breath, but once Alex had seemingly calmed, she rolled him gently onto his stomach, massaging his back the way she knew he loved. He had yet to speak at all past a few indecipherable groans and whispers, but she knew from experience that he would eventually.

Eventually finally came.

"She kills me," he said quietly.

"Norma," Kate replied, not really as a question.

"Yeah. I don't get it," Alex admitted, staring into space. "I don't even really like her. Admire her, yes, but… she's annoying. Neurotic. Obsessive. Controlling. Not my type at all."

"And yet," Kate led.

"And yet, she won't get out of my mind. Worse, she knows it, and now she's doing it on purpose."

"What do you mean?" Kate asked softly.

"She undresses in front of her bedroom window, when she knows I'm watching," Alex said, the frustration in his voice evident.

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"Is that what happened tonight?"

"Mmm," he murmured in annoyance. "Like I said, it's intentional. She's doing this to me on purpose."

"So why not just sleep with her?" Kate asked curiously.

"Because she's insane," Alex retorted, craning his neck to look her in the eye. "Because I don't really want her. I mean, I do, on some level. But on another, I'm afraid of her."

"Alex Romero, afraid of a woman?" Kate asked incredulously, draping herself across his back as she caressed his neck to take any sting out of her teasing. "Surely not."

He huffed a quiet laugh.

"It's not that, exactly. It's what she's involved in. What she's done, that I covered for. Don't ask," he said, anticipating the question on her lips. "But she's in pretty deep, and if anyone ever figures it out, I don't want to be associated with it. I could lose control over things, fast. I could lose control over her."

"So it's better if you keep your distance," Kate summarized.

"Yeah."

"Then why didn't you stay somewhere else? Why stay at this motel?"

"If I knew this would happen, I don't know if I would. But at the same time, she owes me. There are only three motels in White Pine Bay, and the other two are owned by people in the drug business. They have higher priorities than doing what I tell them to. Much as I fear her, Norma is still afraid of me, and that's useful in someone who watches over what few possessions I have left."

"Fair enough," Kate agreed.

"Now if I could just get her to leave me alone."

"Well, until she does, you've got me to get you through it."

He carefully rolled himself over, pulling her back down on top of him as his hands moved up the bare skin of her back. A small smile graced his lips.

"I might need you more often than usual," he admitted.

She leaned over and kissed him, pressing her whole body up against his.

"I'll keep up."

Norma woke to the early morning sun pouring in through her windows. She came to the belated realization that she hadn't closed her curtains the night before. Cursing the sun for waking her before she needed to be up, she pulled herself out of bed, knowing it was too late to go back to sleep. Still, the sun was awfully bright, and she went straight to the window to pull one of the curtains closed so she could take her time adapting to the light.

She glanced out at her motel, and saw a blue mustang parked down in the motel lot.

She dressed at lightning speed and rushed down to the motel office. The car was still there. After a minute or two of indecisiveness, she traded out her heels for the ballet flats she kept in the office, which had the current advantage of being quiet. She walked carefully down to room 11, trying not to look obvious. None of the other guests were awake yet, but if Romero's door opened, she didn't want to look like she'd been caught red-handed.

She used extreme care taking the last few steps approaching the door of interest, so she could not possibly be overheard. She stood before it, motionless, wondering what to do. She thought, for a wild moment, that she could knock. She did own the place. But no, Alex would be furious. Pushing his buttons was all well and good, but to have him truly angry with her… that was suicide. She wanted him to want her, not murder her.

As it turned out, there was no decision to make. As her mind ran through various options, her ears alerted her to the noise emanating from the room before her. A very specific, recognizable noise. She leaned close to the door, her hair brushing the wood, and her eyes widened in surprise. The muffled but rhythmic thumping, combined with Alex's low moans could only mean one thing. Norma felt a strange thrill listening in on such an intimate act, but somehow, she couldn't pull herself away from the door. In fact, a gleeful smile spread over her face; she had been correct about the woman. Alex may have sold her temporarily with his story, but her gut instinct had been right all along.

'Round 2 to Norma,' she thought to herself.

But then she heard something else from inside Room 11. A low, almost angry growl.

"God, Norma."

Her smile vanished, and her mouth dropped open of its own accord. She yanked herself away from the door, retreating several steps. She stared at the door, then at the window. Alex could not have seen her, or know she was there. So why on earth was he saying her…

Oh.

Oh.

Norma had never experienced a total brain shutdown before. She'd realize later that she didn't like it much. Her mind went blank, and somehow fuzzy. She stood, rooted to the spot, a few feet away from the door of Romero's room, unable to do anything. She was uncertain how long she remained there, but when her mind finally surfaced, she knew she had to get out of there. If either of room 11's occupants opened the door right now, it would be obvious what Norma was doing there, and what she'd heard. She walked as quickly and quietly as she could back to the motel office, where she closed and locked the door, leaning her back against it, breathing hard.

Alex Romero said her name during sex.

Even the thought of her own hard breathing brought back the fresh memories of the moans and sighs she'd heard only a short time ago. She shook her head violently to clear it, but she could still hear it – and Alex's growled words. She clamped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes closed, but nothing would erase the past few minutes from her mind.

After a long while, she sank down onto the stool behind the front desk.

The distant sound of a door closing made Norma jump, and despite herself she peered out the office window. A tall, blonde woman had just left Room 11. She wore a lovely blouse and skirt combination that she might as well have pulled from Norma's own closet.

For a couple seconds, Norma was stupefied. Was this a different woman? Did the dark-haired woman with the mustang bring a friend? Her mind quickly veered off onto a tangent of contemplating the sexual prowess of one Alex Romero, but was brought back to the present as the tall, skinny blonde opened the driver's side door of the blue mustang.

She slid in with a practiced grace; Norma had seen that movement before. And she'd seen the same happy smile spread over those very same lips as the woman turned the key in the ignition, and the muscle car roared to life.

It was the same woman. But this time, she was dressed up like…

It hit her all at once.

She was watching a carbon copy of herself drive away.

Romero had spent the night with someone who intentionally looked and dressed just like her. And he called her Norma.

She pursed her lips in thought, and slowly, slowly, a small smile formed.

'Round three to Norma,' she thought.

A/N: Ok, you guys asked me to keep going, so I did. I might be having some fun with this!

This was a quick update, and not as thoroughly checked for typos as my stuff usually is. If you spot anything, would you PM me? I'm kind of a perfectionist...
Thanks for reading, and feel free to continue to inspire me with more suggestions for what could happen next!