Chapter 14

"Revelations"

The following day, Dexter's in his office at work. He's sitting at one end of the office, in front of his computer.

Debra walks up to the office around the other end. The door's ajar. She stumbles on her way to the doorway, catching herself on the doorframe.

Dexter says, "Wow hold on here Debs." He stands up and reaches out to prevent her from falling.

Debra says, "No, please, I'm good." She motions for him to sit back down. As she speaks Dexter detects the waft of a brewery greeting him.

Dexter sits back down and waves her down wind. He exclaims, "God did someone drop a crate of vodka on you on your way to work?"

Debra sways a little as she straightens herself up. She says, "Nope, just thought I'd do a little celebrating today." She motions knocking back a drink.

Dexter realizes that the odor emanating from her is due to no vodka crate mishap. Again he reaches his hands out to her with concern but remains seated. With worry he further exclaims, "You're drunk... and at work? What's going on?" Dexter hadn't seen Debra touch the bottle since the treatment and never did she drink on the job. Her condition is very troubling to him.

With a quirky smile she laughs, "Well today is a very special day." She leans forward while hanging onto the doorframe.

As she exhales Dexter winces at her methane breathe. Fearfully Dexter looks out his office window and out the other door. Thankfully, no one is nearby. With skepticism he asks, "What's special about today? Is this the day you get fired for being drunk at work?"

She shakes her head and says, "Oh what I do here today I do off the clock I assure you."

Confused he asks, "What are you doing here today?"

With maniacal glee she says, "Today is the day the late great Dexter Morgan finally gets what he has coming to him."

Dexter asks, "What do I have coming to me?"

Debra puts both her hands behind her back, leaning her shoulder on the doorframe. With a treacherous grin she says, "You'll never guess what's behind my back."

He says, "Uhh... okay. I give up. What is it?"

From her back pocket she pulls out an item. In her hand she holds a small tape recorder. It looks like the kind Lundy had. Debra presses play on it.

The tapes plays the recording. In the recording Dexter's voice says, "Hi, I would like to leave an anonymous tip. I would like to report an illegal alien in my neighborhood. She's conducting suspicious activity in the area. Her name is Dora Romanez. She's an older, heavier woman, she has grey hair, she a mole on her cheek right below her left eye... "

Debra stops the recording and gives Dexter another evil grin.

Dexter looks scared and stammers, "I... " He racks his brain for what to say. He doesn't know what his next move should be.

Debra says, "Do you remember that letter I got? It was like a month or two ago. It was from a woman in Mexico named Dora Romanez. Remember, she worked at the mental institution, where you got my electroshock therapy."

He makes a shushing gesture and in a rushed voice he says, "Shhhh. What are doing? Don't let anyone hear you say that. And when you're drunk at work no less."

Debra puts the tape recorder down on Dexter's desk. She then reaches into her back pocket and takes out another item. This time it's letter. She tosses it at Dexter.

She says, "Catch."

Dexter catches the letter that was thrown at him.

Debra says, "That's not the original letter from Dora." She winks at Dexter and says, "But you know that don't you."

Dexter looks at the letter in his hands furtively. Then he looks back up at Debra.

"It's a zerox I had made. I bet you wonder how I did that don't you. You see I have a neighbor at the beach house community. Her name's Betty. I gave Betty an extra key to my place a few months ago. I did this because she gave me a key to her place. She said we should exchange keys as a precaution.

"The day I got Dora's letter you were there. You drove me to work that morning because my car wouldn't start. I read some of Dora's letter out loud to you. I never finished reading it. While I was riding shotgun with you I kept thinking about the letter. I texted Betty while I was in the car with you. I asked her to go into my place and fetch the letter off the floor for me. I asked her to copy the letter on my fax machine. I then asked Betty to put the original letter back where she found it and then to keep the copy until I got back to her.

"I went home for lunch that day, borrowing a car from the motor pool. But when I got back I noticed the letter was gone. The original letter was no longer on the floor where I had thrown it, the same place where I asked Betty to put it back. Betty later gave me the copy of the letter. She told me she did put the original letter back on the floor. I wasn't sure if she was lying to me or not. I didn't press the issue with Betty. I just thanked her for helping me. Betty read the letter of course. I told her it was just a practical joke but to keep it under her hat. Betty's curious, but she can keep a secret.

"I now realize you must of stuck away from work, as soon as possible, and stole the letter. I didn't want to finish reading the letter at the time. It just weirded me out, but I felt compelled to keep it. I hid it well away. I didn't finish reading it until last night. I'm sure you finished reading it for me but there's a copy if you need a refresher."

Dexter says, "Debra, all that crazy stuff in letter. It can't possible be true. I did realize 'Diane' was 'Dora' from the institution. I had her deported so she wouldn't fill your head with all that craziness again."

Debra says, "You must be the world's best liar." She puts a hand behind her back and pulls out a third item out for Dexter to see. But it's not a tape recorder or a letter this time. It's her gun. She points it at Dexter with an unsteady arm. She continues, "And you must also be the world's best killer. What are you gonna do Dexter? Are you gonna say how much I love you? Are you gonna say that I can't kill you?" With drunken half closed eyes, she gives him an vengeful grin. Her expression suggests that Dexter's old tactics, of manipulation, will no longer work on her.

Dexter stares down at the barrel that's gunning for him.

Debra's alcohol fueled courage makes her arm unsteady for the shot but at this close range aim

won't be an issue.

Dexter stammers, "Well... I... " He holds up his hands and slowly gets up outta the chair.

Debra's unstable arm, and gun, elevate to keep on their target.

Dexter looks at her soft heartedly and says, "Oh but Debs, why would I talk you into lowering your gun... " He abruptly lunges forward and grabs both of Debra's wrists. He points her gun hand to right above his head. He gives her a triumphant grin and says, "...why would I do that when I can just disarm you." He laughs and says, "Ha, ha. Someone around here needs a little more therapy." He sings the last word in the sentence.

She gives him a cold angry glare and says, "You son of a bitch."

Dexter looks surprised at her refound use of profanity.

Debra fires her gun at the shelving right above Dexter's head. The shelves come crashing down on top of Dexter. Rock heavy crates of files pound down on top of him. He falls to the floor. One of the crates hits Debra in the shoulder. Knocked off balance, she falls backwards, away from Dexter.

The ruckus is heard elsewhere in the department. The hurried steps of co-workers can be heard in the distance.

Debra desperately crawls backwards to get away from Dexter.

Dexter roughly throws a crate out of his way. His eyes zero in on Debra.

She leans on her left side and takes aim at Dexter. She hesitates to shoot him.

He says, "You know you can't look at me and do the deed."

She squeezes her eyes shut and pulls the trigger. She shoots wildly in his direction. She gets three shots out. Then a fourth shot is heard. Then the shooting ends abruptly.

Quinn appears in the doorway, on Debra's side of the office.

Debra's been shot in the head. Her body slumps to one side, blood trickles from her scalp.

Quinn stands above the fallen cop. His gun hand hangs at his side. He looks down at her, from above, in a daze.

Debra's lies limp, crumpled to the floor, head bleeding. Her long brown hair hangs over her face like rag mop. Her gun is still clenched in her right hand.

Quinn stares down at Debra in stunned silence. He looks up when he hears Dexter yelling.

"Aaaahh!" Dexter calls out in pain. He knocks another crate off himself.

Quinn steps over Debra's body and kneels down beside Dexter.

Dexter's trying to sit up. He's lying down, propped up on his elbows. He crawls backwards towards the filing cabinet. Once he reaches the cabinet, he props himself up against it. He groans and winces in pain as he does this. After he's sitting upright, Dexter looks over at Debra. He notices her wounded head and lifeless body. He stares at her blankly for a second. Then he looks at Quinn who's now sitting next him. The smoking gun's still in Quinn's hand. For the moment Dexter forgets he's bleeding to death. He gawks at the gun toter sitting beside him. In disbelief Dexter asks Quinn, "You shot Debra?"

Gun in hand, Quinn shrugs at Dexter and says, "Sorry, I had to shoot her."

In shock Dexter asks, "You killed her? She's dead?"

Quinn desperately explains, "I had to do it. She was gonna kill you."

Exasperated Dexter exclaims, "So?!"

Confused by his reaction, Quinn gawks at Dexter. Quinn then turns his attention to Dexter's injuries. All three shots from Debra's gun, made it into Dexter's torso, leaving three bright red stains in Dexter's white lab coat. Quinn points to the stains and says, "It looks like Debra got three shots in you."

Dexter looks down at his injuries. He suddenly remembers he's in horrible pain. He groans, "Geez f***. Call an ambulance."

Quinn says, "All three bullets look like they're still inside you."

Dexter yells, "Ya Quinn, I f***ing need medical attention!"

Quinn shakes his head and says, "By these injuries you're a dead man three times over. There may be nothing the doctors can do for you."

Dexter looks at Quinn like he's crazy and says, "So you're saying I shouldn't even bother seeing a doctor. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Now on the 'off' chance I 'might' live, get me to the f***ing emergency room. Right now!"

Quinn finally, and reluctantly, calls for the ambulance.

It's a year later. Dexter rings the doorbell at Debra beach house. He has a board game under his arm. The house's occupants take a minute to answer the door. But Dexter nonetheless waits patiently for the door to be answered. Dexter taps on the board game, under his arm, as he waits at the door. Debra's private eye husband, Jacob Elroy, greets him at the entrance way.

Dexter says, "Hi private eye. Whad up?"

Jacob says, "Good to see you Dexter. Come right in." He steps out of the way and gestures for Dexter to come in.

Dexter walks in the house. Jacob offers Dexter a seat on the couch. They both sit down. Dexter puts the game, in hand, down on the table in front them.

Jacob says, "So Dexter, how are things? How's the wife and kids?"

Dexter says, "Cassie's good. She still working as an RN at the hospital. Harrison's enjoying little league. Laura's running around all over the apartment. Cassie's son Scott is still in college. He's a sophomore now at T.S.U. So how are things with you and your family?"

Jacob says, "Well, Bridget and Sarah are still doing baton twirling for band practice. As you know Debra's showing them the ropes. And Debra's still helping out at the agency."

Dexter asks, "Is Debra enjoying her job there?"

Jacob says, "Oh she loves working with me and the costumers. She's still just running the office there. I loved to have her as my partner. Having someone with her work history would be quite an asset. But she doesn't remember the academy. Nevermind being a cop, a detective, or lieutenant of homicide. The last job she remembers having was her work study in high school."

Dexter says, "Yah, I remember. She was a bookkeeper at the school library. Do the doctors have anything new on Debra's condition?"

Jacob says, "Debra has new neurologist called Dr. Phillip. Dr. Phillip specializes in cases of memory loss and amnesia. He says Debra's condition is rare but not unheard of. Debra's type of memory loss can happen in cases of head injury or brain damage. He explains that the memories you have, that are more than twenty years old, get stored in deeper regions of the mind. Unlike that of your more recent memories, these deeper memories are harder to obliterate. That's how Debra's memory loss was able to be localized to just the second half of her life, more or less. The bullet took away about the last twenty five years or so. Debra remembers everything, pretty well, up until around age fifteen. She didn't remember me."

Dexter says, "That must of been a strain on your marriage."

Jacob shrugs and says, "It was like we met and started dating all over again."

Dexter asks with hope, "Does Dr. Phillip think she'll ever improve?"

Jacob sadly shakes his head and says, "Debra's short term memory is somewhat sketchy. The doctor says it'll be hard for her to learn new skills. At least skill she didn't know before high school. So because of where Quinn's bullet went... "

Dexter nods and says, "Quinn's bullet turned her back into a child."

Jacob says, "Well, more like a teenager thankfully."

These's uncomfortable silence for a moment. Then Jacob says, "Speaking of Quinn, I've been trying to find him again lately, for Jaime. She still wants to know what became of him."

Dexter asks, "Has his family also been looking for him too?"

Jacob says, "I've looked into his family. His was an only child. His mother died when he was five. And he was never close to his father. There's really no one left around to ask for him, except for Jamie. I've tried every avenue I can think of to find him. It's very suspicious. It's like the man completely vanished into thin air."

Dexter says, "That is suspicious. But maybe he took off because of the shooting. Maybe Quinn felt guilty about shooting Debra. I mean, they were a couple. They live together for a year. Quinn even wanted to marry her. And then he went and put a bullet in the lieutenant's head. By all rights Debra should be dead by now. It's a miracle she survived at all. Or, she may of lived with even worse brain damage. Quinn's bullet might of left her a drooling invalid."

Jacob says, "Maybe. But if Quinn didn't shoot Debra, you're the one who'd be dead. And Quinn disappeared months after the shooting took place. It's not like he skipped town soon after it happened."

Dexter nods but doesn't say anything. He has a contemplative look on his face.

Jacob adds, "So speaking of the shooting. How are your old injuries holding up?"

Dexter says, "Oh I'm fine. Save for a few scars, you'd never know I'd been shot three times."

Jacob says, "Geez three times. It's a miracle you survived as well."

Dexter says, "I know. The Gods of fate have smiled kindly upon me."

Jacob says, "They certainly have. Still you lost a kidney. Have you felt any ill effects from that? You been feeling itchy or anything?"

Dexter says, "No my other kidney is compensating well."

Jacob says, "If you needed another kidney, one day, do you have any relatives to get a kidney from?"

Dexter says, "No, there's no one. The family I was born to is long gone. And of course Debra and I aren't biologically related. Plus I have rare AB negative blood. That would make finding a match for me exceedingly difficult."

Jacob says, "You better keep all that in mind and be careful with yourself. There aren't any back up body parts out there for you to use. You know, in case something goes wrong again, unexpectedly."

Dexter nods and says, "That's right. Apparently I'm an original with all original, irreplaceable, parts. And I certainly don't believe on leaving anything to chance. That's for sure."

Jacob says, "You better eighty-six the hang gliding and all. So you got AB negative blood? Really? But the hospital must of needed lots of blood for you. You lost a ton of blood when you got shot."

Agreeing Dexter says, "I did lose a lot of blood. Quite a few pints poured out of me that day. I almost didn't make it. It's a good thing the hospital has plenty of my own blood on standby."

Surprised Jacob asks, "They have your own blood on standby?"

Dexter explains, "You see, I regularly donated my blood at the local hospital. They set aside plenty of my own blood for me. You know, in case I needed it one day. They recommend you do that if you have a rare blood type. Just as a precaution. And need it, one day, I did."

Jacob says, "I didn't know you were so well prepared for every eventuality like that."

Dexter says, "Oh I believe in being very well prepared. And good thing I was too. At the shooting, I didn't just lose a kidney. I got a collapsed lung. My appendix needed to be removed."

Jacob laughs and says, "Well at least you don't need that last organ. Wow, it's like every vital organ, you have, seemed to have dodge every bullet."

Dexter shrugs and says, "It's a gift. What can I say?"

Jacob says, "Still, aren't you at least curious? Why on earth did your own sister get drunk and try to kill you? And at work, in your office, no less."

Dexter says, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe she had a nervous breakdown. Her job was very stressful. Maybe she thought I was some bad guy or something. She was very focused on her work. She was focused on it, to the point where, it was consuming her life."

Jacob gawks and says, "So, therefore, being drunk and stressed caused her to try and kill her own brother?"

Dexter suggests, "Perhaps, along with the alcohol, she digested something that cause her to hallucinate, to become delusional. Many substances can do that. She may have eaten some exotic food. She may of taken some medicine. Perhaps some foreign substance had a weird reaction with the alcohol in her system."

Jacob says, "It seems unlikely that something she'd eat or drink would do all that to her."

Dexter argues, "Sure, it's unlikely. But it's also possibly she was poisoned."

Jacob says, "Oh, who'd do that to her. She was so well liked."

Dexter says, "She wasn't well liked by everyone. Murders for example. She was lieutenant in charge of catching murders. And as far as being well liked goes. A lot of people were probably jealous of her. She's a charming attractive young woman. She was in the media a lot, doing her P.R. interviews as lieutenant. There are many reasons a poisoner may of targeted her."

Jacob says, "But they did a tox screen. Nothing showed up in her blood work, save for the alcohol of course."

Dexter shakes his head and says, "As a forensics analyst I can tell you that there are many substances that won't show up in a tox screen. And you'd be surprised to learn of all the maniacs out there. Maybe someone slipped her something at some point. Like in her beer."

Jacob says, "But how would some maniac get access to her like that."

Dexter says, "You can't always tell who's a maniac. It could be your next door neighbor, your Tai Chi instructor, your brother-in-law." He points to himself.

Sounding unconvinced Jacob says, "I suppose."

Dexter says, "And Debra obviously fell off the wagon in a big way. She showed up to work falling down drunk. Maybe someone at a bar slipped her something. Or maybe, on purpose, she took or drank something bad for her."

Jacob says, "You know it's funny. Debra changed in a lot of ways from when I first met her. And not just in the drinking. Boy, when we first started dating, she used to drink, smoke, and swear like a sailor. And then she stopped doing all of that, altogether."

Dexter says, "Well that stint in rehab did her a lot of good. At least for a while. She really needed to clean up her act. She was exhibiting a lot of self destructive behavior. Like when she drunkenly stumbled into that pane glass door, causing her scars. And addicts tend to hide how bad they've gotten. No one but me knew saw how dangerous she had become, especially to herself."

Jacob says, "But she was able to give up drinking, smoking and swearing, all in one fell swoop. That seems unlikely. I mean, she always constantly said the "f" word. That wasn't new behavior for her. Was it? It's not like she just picked up that etiquette from being a cop or something. Right?"

Dexter says, "No, she's said the "f" a lot since she was a kid. Well, likes it's been said, the two of you broke up six months before the shooting. Debra, soon afterwards, went off on a bender. That's when she got cut up with glass. That accident was a real wake up call to her. She realized, at the time, she had a problem and needed to take care of it right away. And then she went to rehab. There she learned how one bad habit feeds into another. She just thought the best way to keep herself alive was to quit everything cold turkey."

Jacob asks suspiciously, "And rehab was able change all that behavior in her, all at once?"

Dexter says, "Well going cold turkey is the most likely way you can quit an addiction or bad habit. That and avoiding the pitfalls that trigger your addiction to begin with. Also, while in rehad, she got hypnotherapy. Some people respond really well to that kind of treatment. And it's no wonder she fell of the wagon, when you consider the fact that rehab fails 97% of the time."

Jacob says, "It's funny. How and when she made all those big transformations. If anything you'd think all those changes would happen after her brain damage. But no, it all happened after her stint in rehab and hypnotherapy. Debra swore off her vices, several months, before the shooting even took place."

Dexter says, "I know. What bad luck. Debra finally cleans up her act only to then fall off the wagon, and get shot, just a half year later."

Jacob says, "Your arguments for the shooting, and everything, all sound very reasonable. But still, Dexter, you can't be sure one way or another. You at least must feel wary of Debra, even now. You must wonder. Why on earth did she do that to you?"

Dexter gets a wistful look on his face and says, "I'm sure at the time, in Debra's mind, she had a good reason to do what she did. She's a good person. She was a good cop. I'm just glad she's alive and well and happy. That's all I care about."

Jacob says, "I know what you mean. When you have a close brush with death like that, it really makes you count your blessings."

Dexter nods and says, "Indeed."

Dexter picks up the game he left on the table. He says, "I think this game is a good choice for her." He shows Jacob the game. It's "Scramble." He says, "We'll work on Debra's vocabulary."

Jacob says, "That's a good idea." When Dexter presents the game, Jacob notices the scar on Dexter's left hand under his pinky. Jacob points to the scar and asks, "Oh where did you get that scar on your hand?"

Dexter looks at the scar and says, "It was a kitchen accident. I got cut with a knife. It's my own fault really. I got careless, serves me right."

Jacob says, "Oh, I see. Well I'll go get Debra for you." He turns and calls out over his shoulder, "Debra, Dexter's here!"

I kept ending then expanding the story. Hence why Debra seems to die multiple times, then doesn't. At one point I have Hannah delivering a message to Dexter from Debra, from beyond the grave saying, "Debra would rather die than live without her mind. She had spent forty years unwittingly enabling Dexter's need to kill. It was a fate worse than death to spend another four decades doing the same." The minute I wrote that I thought, "Well that is exactly what happens." So here you go.