Chapter III

After the actions of the morning Lucas was a little relieved about the development in his precarious situation. Harry had stood by his side and backed him up. His tension was leaving him. On the way to the hospital where Maya was working, he took time to catch his breath. It would be difficult to meet Maya after all this time. He was anxious, the tension returning in waves.

How would she react? He could not say. Maya was his first love, and she would always have a special spot in his heart. This meeting had to go right. It was very important that she signs the necessary papers. His fragile existence as Lucas North depended on it. He had to be very persuasive and manipulative if necessary.

In the hospital he watched her for a while, before entering one of the consulting rooms. In a few minutes she would be here with him. His heart was in his mouth. To calm down he looked through the window to the car park. The sound of the door opening startled him and Maya came into the room. She was reading at her patient chart and spoke without looking at him.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Lahan. What can I do for you?" Then she looked up, and her jar dropped. "John,… you're alive." She was shocked. Unconsciously she closed the gap between them. She had to touch him to believe he was real.

"Maya," whispered Lucas. Without warning, she slapped his face. All her anger was focussed into this one blow. She was confused, shocked and very angry. His disappearance had rocked her world so long ago. It took a long time for her to move on in her life. How could he did this to her? He had disappeared without a second thought for her, without a farewell. She had thought he was dead, and she had deeply grieved for him for a long time. How distraught she felt.

"Leave me alone," she stammered and turned away from him to leave the room. Before she reached the door, Lucas spoke quickly.

"Your life is in danger. I'm a MI-5 agent, and my name is Lucas North."

"Yeah, sure and I'm Alice in Wonderland," she answered snappishly. "Stay away from me, John."

"I can't. Please hear me out. Your life is really in danger. This is not a fake," Lucas said.

"John, that's not funny," answered Maya angrily.

"No, it isn't, Maya. I'm telling you the truth, believe me," replied Lucas frustrated.

She shot back, "Why should I? You are a liar. You've lied to me for fifteen years."

"Yes, Maya. I am a liar, I'm a spy. My name is Lucas North, not John and your new boyfriend, Michael, is not Michael but Vaughn Edwards," said Lucas composed.

"What? What did you say? John!" whispered Maya.

Now he spoke very calmly and smoothly, "I'm not John, I'm Lucas. I will tell you, and we will protect you. I will protect you, I promise. For this reason you have to sign the Official Secrets Act first. Please, Maya, do it, so we can protect you."

He grabbed the papers in his jacket pocket and gave her the sheets. She read them carefully. The silence was burdensome. Maya suppressed a deep sigh and asked, "What if I refuse to sign this?"

Lucas said in a deep and smooth voice, "Maya, please do it. I don't want to force you, but I will if I can safe your life through it."

Finally Maya signed the paperwork.

"So, I've done it. I daresay you will tell me now, John… oh, sorry, Lucas," Maya said sardonically.

Lucas took a deep breath and suggested sitting down. Once both of them had grabbed a chair and sat down he began the tale.

"Maya, John Bateman doesn't exist. I'm Lucas North. Never say John to me, never talk about John, that is very important. I work for the Secret Service. In the past, here and in Africa, I was undercover. In Africa I met Vaughn Edwards, known to you as your boyfriend, is involved in terrorism. He knows about our former relationship. I believe he met you deliberately, and he tried to blackmail me to steal information for him. He's using you as leverage against me. Therefore it's best you move into a safe house, and after we have dealt with Vaughn you have to get a new identity. You can tell Vaughn you have received a last minute invitation to a medical conference, or a distant relative has died so you have to go to the funeral. Something like that."

Maya went pale. "I can't," she said distressed."What about my family, my friends, my work. I will lose everything. I'm not willing to do that. I have too hard worked for my position here. I refuse." Feisty as ever, she looked to him and raised slightly her chin.

Lucas tried to persuade her. "If you don't move into a safe house, Maya, you have to live with Vaughn, otherwise he'll know you aren't clueless anymore. You have to appear ignorant. Can you do this? It's dangerous. Imagine what happens if you let slip the name Vaughn unconsciously. As a matter of fact, we will be observing you twenty-four/seven. We will bug your home. You won't be alone, but are you really willing risk it? Are you certain?"

She nodded vehemently since she felt she was too unsure to speak. A deep look into her eyes told Lucas that she would not waver in her decision, he knew her well enough for that.

"I have to get the consent from my boss first, and I can't promise you that he will give it. Please wait here. I have to make a call," and then Lucas left the room.

Outside he looked at his watch. Lucas did not know where Harry was, only that he was not in the office for the rest of day. He hoped he would not disturb him, whatever it was Harry was doing, but he had to ask him by phone. Only a few seconds later Harry was on the line.

"Problems, Lucas?" asked Harry.

"Only that Maya Lahan refused to move into a safe house. I see a chance in that Harry. If nothing changes in the circumstances, Vaughn will not suspect anything. For the sake of appearance I can play along in his schemes. We will gain time and possibly detect the conspirators," was the answer from Lucas.

"You have a point. Sounds like a plan, Lucas. Has Maya signed the papers?" Harry wanted to know.

"Thankfully, yes," replied Lucas, relieved.

"Good, see you" said Harry and rang off.

Lucas went back to Maya to tell her the "good" news. He explained that he could not give her his phone number. It was too risky to have it on her mobile. He asked her whether she had a conspicuous garment or something like that. Coincidentally Vaughn had given her a red scarf as a gift two days ago. They agreed Maya would wear the scarf if she had to contact Lucas. Afterwards they said goodbye, and Lucas left her with the reminder to be very careful.