Alex woke up in shock and looked around is bedroom until he remembered where he was. Groaning he rubbed his eyes, stood up and walked into the kitchen where he grabbed a cup for some water. Sitting down at the table he looked at his cell and noticed he had a few missed calls. "All from Norma" he felt himself trying to smile and he pushed it away. "Maybe I should call back. Something could be wrong" he said as he picked up the phone. Quickly changing his mind he closed the phone and sat it back down on the table. He took slow sips from his glass until he heard a knock at his door. He went to the door and looked out the window seeing a very impatient Norma rocking back forth waiting for him to answer.
"Well, are you just going to stare at me or let me?" She asked as he unlocked the door.
"Norma, what do you want?" Alex replied in an upset voice. "When I said goodbye, I meant goodbye."
"Alex . . . Please, just tell me why you asked?"
"Damn it, Norma! I asked you earlier to NOT lie to me. You did . . ."
Her heart sank when he said that. "Wait. . you mean you already knew the truth? How?"
Alex sighed as he swung the door open wider as he told her to come in and sit down. Once she was seated on his couched he sat across from her.
"I want you to tell me first, Norma. Okay? How did he die?"
Norma sighed as she spoke "Fine, you win. Norman killed his father, Alex. Norman blacked out when his father was hurting me and then he attacked him. But if Norman had not done that. . . well, I probably wouldn't be here and God knows where Norman would have went and . . "
"Thank you for telling me the truth" Alex smirked a little "I can understand why you lied. Remember when I said trust me? Well, trust me. I won't hurt you or do anything to hurt you or your family. All I want is the truth. All of it."
"All of it?" Norma questioned. "And who told you about Norman?"
"Bob Paris told me."
"Oh God . . . what else did he say?"
"A lot, trust me. I want to hear everything from you though, Norma. You have no idea how bad it hurt to find out how much shit you lied to me about. I thought we were friends."
She rubbed her head and nodded "We are friends, Alex. It is just that some things are hard to tell people."
Alex felt himself getting hot with anger. "Hard to tell people, Norma? Really? You told that psychiatrist everything about you and you hardly knew the man! You have known me for a few years now. So, Norma? Cut the shit."
Norma felt just a little bit ashamed as she nodded. "Well, you can see how well that went with James. He squealed like a pig."
Alex shook his head. "We both known I would never betray you in that way, Norma. I have done so much for you and I honestly have to agree with Bob as of right now."
"What did he say that you agree with? That man is mad!"
"That you are using me. I believe it . . ." He stood up and walked into the kitchen to get them something to drink. Tonight was going to be a rough one for both of them. He walked back out and placed a cup of coffee in front of her. Alex studied her face and saw annoyance mixed with anger and hurt on her face. Hell, maybe she isn't using him . . . just maybe.
"Using you? Are you serious, Alex? Just how the hell am I using you?"
"Gee, Norma. I wonder how you could possibly use the help of a sheriff? Maybe helping you hide evidence or covering up strange deaths that accorded around you or your son? That would be a start. Using me to help you get what you wanted from Bob Paris in return for a USB? I could go on."
"You could have said no! You are a big boy the last time I checked." Norma's voice began to raise as she started to get frustrated.
"If I didn't do any of it you would have been in trouble or worse . . . killed. I couldn't say no to you." Alex replied back trying to stay calm.
"And why the hell do you care so damn much?" She stood up grabbing her bag to leave. "This was a mistake."
"Damn you, Norma!" Alex said jumping to his feet and grabbing her by her arm pulling her towards him. Norma jumped a little as he did this but knew he wouldn't harm her. "Sit your ass down. We are not done."
She sat back down and felt herself turning red.
"I couldn't say no to you because I care for you and your family. I don't want anything bad to happen to you at all. . . all I want is the truth and to feel, I don't know. . . not like a pawn in some game."
"Wow. That Bob Paris really got under your skin with me, didn't he?"
"Yeah, guess he did." He scoffed at the thought of Bob Paris and how proud Bob was revealing the information he got from James. "Norma, just please do me one thing?"
"What is it Alex?"
"Don't ever lie to me again. Trust me, just trust me. I won't harm you or your family. Alright?"
"I . . ." Norma thought about what he wanted her to promise and it scared her. The last few times she opened up to a man bad things happened and she knew that she cared for Alex in many ways. What if she opened up and he ran or worse? Changes his mind and arrests her or Norman. "I promise". She grabbed the mug he gave her earlier and took a small sip. "I hope you made some more coffee because we are going to be up for awhile. Buckle your seat belts!"
