Snapshot: Malcolm and Edrisa
The prison cell – although to be honest, it seemed to be more of a cozy, warm study that was only missing a crackling fireplace – was dimly lit, with dust motes swirling lazily through grainy sunbeams peeking in through small windows set high up in the walls.
If not for the open toilet in the corner and the bunk-like bed along the wall, one could almost assume they were relaxing in a comfortable basement retreat, complete with a nicely broken-in vintage desk and aged, book-lined shelves against the walls. The shackled prisoner and his watchful attendant made for a startling contrast, however.
Staring into the twinkling, warm brown eyes that could not hide the flat deadness beneath, Dr. Edrisa Tanaka maintained a professional, yet friendly, demeanor, and for all intents and purposes, appeared to be engrossed in the conversation. She tried to hide her fangirl-like amazement at where life had taken her so far.
Martin Whitly. The Surgeon. THE Surgeon!
After she'd graduated medical school, she'd kept up with various studies, and psychology had been a favourite. Particularly, the study of killers. Martin Whitly had especially fascinated her. His rather glamourous history was one that she had studied the most, due to his being a famous doctor with a stellar family. However, as much as she had studied his case, her visit with the infamous killer was not business. It was personal.
After all, it was only appropriate to meet her boyfriend's parents.
Truth be told, Edrisa had been a bit star-struck when The Surgeon's son had started consulting at the police department where she worked. Never one to be shy and retiring, she'd told the handsome, charismatic profiler that she was a bit (a rather big bit) of a fan, and she'd been delighted when he turned out to be surprisingly down-to-earth, friendly and kind. They'd clicked on a work-friend level almost immediately, and to be honest, she sensed a returned interest.
After months of playful flirting with the brilliant Malcolm Bright, she'd been happily surprised when he suggested dinner one night after a relatively easy case. It had been a group invite, but Gil had plans of his own, JT couldn't wait to get home and hang out with his adorable newborn son, and Dani had plans with her new boyfriend. So, it turned out to be a group of two – Edrisa and Malcolm – and they ended up getting greasy, junky, delicious takeout and spent the evening binge-watching Dexter in her homey, cozy apartment, accompanied by her three black cats. Marchy, Bergy and Chara had really taken to admitted cat lover Malcolm, and it had been an awesome evening overall.
They ended up spending the next week doing the same, but more and more often, the show was put on pause while they discussed it, and everything else under the sun, confirming what Edrisa had always sensed: she and Malcolm were two peas in a pod.
Certainly, their backgrounds were absolutely different. She was one of four kids who lived a distinctly upper-middle class, uneventful background back in Bangor, Maine, where her parents had owned a thriving health-food business. Two of her brothers had taken over the business when her parents retired to Florida, and her older sister was an accountant, who handled the family business as well as her other clients. Very normal, very unremarkable. Edrisa was kind of the odd duck of the lot (as she always had been, and forever would be. Which is why she and Malcolm hit it off so well. Birds of a feather flock together, something like that...)
Malcolm, of course, had a very different upbringing, and, not surprisingly, brought a lot of baggage to the relationship.
Edrisa's breezy resilience, however, along with her education, knowledge and basic kindness, proved to be more than a match for Malcolm's issues and the two of them spent hours talking things through, when they weren't snuggling on the sofa or in bed. They were a couple of kindred spirits who were having a lot of fun.
The others had taken particular notice, especially Gil. Edrisa had to smile at the way Gil's face softened when he'd see her and Malcolm joking around and laughing about somethng. Did Gil realize how paternal he was toward Malcolm? Edrisa wondered if Gil had any idea just how much Malcolm loved and needed him. Gil, the father that Malcolm had never had. Pretty much everyone at the station had thought the romance was cute and long-overdue, even if they thought Edrisa was strange and Malcolm was weird. Again, birds of a feather...
Malcolm had worried how Jessica would take to Edrisa, but he needn't have been concerned. Once Jessica accepted the idea that Malcolm was dating an older woman (only by three years, but still), and that Edrisa was not the high-society girl that Jessica might once have wanted for Malcolm, Jessica an Edrisa had gotten along surprisingly well.
They'd gone for a "get-acquainted" lunch that had turned into a shopping trip and a late dinner. Jessica was having a lot of fun trying to "make over" Edrisa, with new clothes (showing off her trim figure), a new hairstyle (a sexy layered bob that was surprisingly flattering and that Malcolm loved), and even new makeup and glasses (dark red lipstick and more stylish frames gave her a sophisticated, yet still sweet, look). Jessica was inclined to be generous, but Edrisa was, of course, very independent. She adored Jessica but firmly insisted on paying her own way.
Ainsley often joined them for lunch and shopping, and Edrisa found herself becoming intensely fond of both of them. She didn't have many "non-work" friends, so her new life was interesting and fun.
However, Malcolm had balked when she'd suggested meeting Martin. They'd been sitting in his amazing apartment, watching his parakeet Sunshine grooming her feathers and listening to a Lightning Hopkins playlist when Edrisa brought the subject up.
"Don't worry, Bright. I can handle him."
"No."
She smiled at him. "Yes."
He knew when he was beat. "Okay. Dammit. Not the best idea, Dris."
She appreciated his protectiveness, but she knew it was important. Malcolm himself didn't realize how important his father was to him. He thought he hated his father, but Edrisa knew he was wrong. Family respect, and even liking, had to be earned, but the love was automatic, no matter how much one might try to deny it. She was patient, though. Malcolm would heal when it was time to heal. But on the point of meeting his father, she was adamant.
Finally, Malcolm gave in. He didn't like her proposal – that he go with her to introduce them, and then leave her alone with Martin for a chat – but he realized that she was probably correct, in that if he wasn't there, then Martin wouldn't try to show off or act up. Besides, Edrisa pointed out, Martin's guard would be there. It would be fine.
So now here she was. Sitting across from the legendary Martin Whitly, who seemed surprised when she and Malcolm had showed up. Apparently Malcolm hadn't phoned ahead.
Dr. Whitly seemed a bit perplexed at his son's choice of girlfriend – she knew she was vastly different from Eve, or even Malcolm's previous interest, Dani – but Edrisa was nothing if not self-confident, and she was sure she could win Martin over. She was not wrong.
"So you're a medical examiner for the NYPD? And you work with my boy?" Dr. Whitly affected delight and whimsical charm while trying to manage his napkin.
"That's how we met." She gave him her warmest smile and took a sip of water from the plastic mug that rested on the table between them. They'd had a lunch of macaroni and cheese, with strawberry jello and iced water. She had to admit, it hadn't been half bad, but watching Martin eat with handcuffs on had been a bit awkward. He was graceful, though. His surgeon's hands were adept, even with the cuffs.
"Malcolm's a brilliant profiler, the best I've ever seen. We've worked on a few cases together. He even saved my life once. Well, twice, if you count the snakes," she added casually.
Martin's bushy eyebrows rose. "Do tell?"
"We were at a crime scene. There was a landmine hidden under the corpse..."
"I remember that case!"
"He knew what that odd clicking noise was. I had no idea. Thank God he was there! He jumped, pushed me away, got us to clear the room, and tried to stabilise the mine. Unfortunately it was unstable...but he did it. He managed to get away. It was a bit terrifying, I have to admit. The explosion blew him through the window of the apartment building...he landed on top of Gil's beautiful car, his restored Le Mans...Gil's still in mourning over that car."
"How unfortunate for Gil." There was a definite twinkle in those faded brown eyes now. Belatedly, Edrisa remembered the history between Gil and Martin, and wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"Your job sounds fascinating, Edrisa. I admit, if I hadn't been a heart surgeon, I might have liked to be an investigator, hunting serial killers. You have to agree, I've got the right insight for it." He grinned rakishly. "Sherlock Holmes wouldn't have a thing on me. Not a damned thing!"
Martin laughed, and Edrisa had to laugh along, albeit a bit uncomfortably. She supposed she was just going to have to accept this side of things, that her boyfriend's father was a notorious serial killer, and he knew it. He admitted it. He was even a bit proud of it. Maybe very proud of it. It was a bit surreal, but as always, she was up for the task at hand.
The time whizzed by. Before she knew it, she'd been there for over three hours, and attendants were bringing in an afternoon snack, with extra for her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Whitly...I'm taking up all your time here..."
"No, Edrisa, that's fine." He smiled at her in his chummy, sparkly way, and she felt herself falling for his charm, against her common sense. "I'm very much enjoying your company, and the conversation. Please stay?"
"Well, then, if you don't mind," she said, cheerfully. "There's another case I'd love to discuss..."
That evening, over takeout at Malcolm's, she chatted non-stop. The lights were soothingly dim, and she sat at the gleaming kitchen island while Malcolm heated up dinner – basic pot roast and potatoes from the meals-to-go next block over. The smell was making her mouth water, and there was strawberry cheesecake from the bakery for dessert. Edrisa loved food and took all meals seriously, and there was a lot to be said for basic comfort food. Two months into the relationship and even Malcolm was eating better, something that Jessica was thrilled about.
"I mean, I know he's a predatory psychopath, and a narcissist, but I have to admit that I like him anyway. Besides," she ended with a shrug, "No one's perfect."
Malcolm's jaw dropped. "Dris...he's a murderer. A brutal one."
She nodded. "I know. But we can't change the past, Bright. We can remember it, and revisit it in our minds, but it can't be changed. We don't know the future. All we have is the present. And that's what life is. A present. A gift." She opened the fridge to find the bottle of wine she'd put in there earlier, and located a couple of glasses. She sat down at the kitchen island again and wrestled the bottle open.
Malcolm stared at her for a moment, then shook his head. "Just so you know, he called before you came over. You've got him wrapped around your little finger. He thinks you're the best thing ever." Malcolm smiled. "And so do I."
Edrisa grinned and leaned over the kitchen island to drop a kiss on his nose. "Right back atcha." Then she sobered. "Seriously, your father is fascinating. What a mind! We talked about so many things. He's brilliant. And," she added, pouring them each a generous glass of the sparkling liquid, "his control is remarkable. He plays his mind like an instrument."
"What do you mean?"
She took a sip and marshalled her thoughts, unsure how to explain properly. Malcolm began to dish out their dinner, and Edrisa breathed in deeply. It smelled amazing.
Finally, Edrisa said, "Every single thing...his emotions, his facial expressions, every word, every sentence...completely under control. Completely. So calculated. It is fascinating. I could watch him perform for hours." She continued, noticing Malcolm's troubled expression. "There's no split personality there, Bright. He is a predatory psychopath. And he's a narcissist. And...the ultimate performer. He wants to appear funny? Then he acts funny. He wants to be charming, then he acts charming. There's a dead soul inside. Everything is manufactured. So we should be grateful that what he chooses to manufacture is fun, charm, positivity, and affection."
She paused, took in Malcolm's sceptical look, and then added, "He may not be able to love in the way a normal person might love, but I have absolutely no doubt that he loves you, Ainsley and Jessica as much as he personally is able to. And I could tell that he likes me as much as he is able to. " She downed the last of her wine, poured another. "What I would like to see, though, is what he's like when he loses control. I'd like to see the predator take over."
Malcolm's jaw dropped again. "Are you completely nuts?"
"No," Edrisa said calmly, "But your father is. Generally speaking, I mean. And I'd like to see it."
"You'd like to see the monster come out?" Malcolm demanded, his face darkening.
"I watched the monster perform all afternoon. A monster in a cardigan with a carefully cultivated smile. I'd like to see him lose control. I'll bet it's magnificent."
Malcolm set his glass down and stormed over to the windows overlooking the dark street below. "No. Trust me. You don't want to see that. You don't ever want to see that!"
Edrisa set her glass down, and walked over, slipping her ams around his slim waist. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder. "Yes, I do. I don't want to be a victim...I just want to see what he's like when he lets his guard down. I've always been fascinated with killers, you know that. And your father is an amazing case. I really would like to see him lose it, just to see."
"I don't."
She frowned. "You haven't?"
"What?" Malcolm turned to face her, incredulous. Edrisa loosed her hold to give him some space, but didn't let go.
"You've never seen his dark side? The monster?"
"No! No." Malcolm paused, then rubbed his hands over his face. She noticed they were shaking a little, and she wrapped her smaller hands around them, warming them. He leaned his head down, resting his forehead against hers. The room lit up from occasional passing vehicles, and a drizzly rain began to patter against the glass. Terrific atmosphere. She could spend all night just watching shadows of raindrops melting down the wall, snuggled on the sofa with Bright.
Finally, Malcolm replied, "No, not really, Dris. I mean, I've seen him angry, and it's scary. Scarier now, that I know what he's capable of. But I've never seen...The Surgeon." He exhaled, shaky. "I don't ever want to." Outside, the rain beat harder against the window, relaxing and peaceful.
Nodding, Edrisa wrapped her arms around Malcolm again and leaned in close. "I understand. Although...I think..."
"Hmmm?"
"I think...I think if you ever did see The Monster, or The Surgeon.." She tilted her head back, to look at Malcolm, her gaze serious, "If you ever did see your father's dark side...it would be to protect you, or Jessica, or Ainsley. His dark side...it would never be against you. I think it would be in defense of you. Never against you."
Malcolm stared for a long moment, then whispered, "I hope you're right." He pulled her close, noting once again that they fit perfectly together. "I hope it never happens, but...yeah. I hope you're right."
"I am."
They stood there for a long time, holding each other, watching the rain.