~ Chapter 34 ~
Marlena and Frank Kelly were alone, Alex having made a discreet exit after serving them each a steaming mug of tea. Noting that Frank's eyes were closed, Marlena questioned him as soon as he opened them.
"What were you doing just now?"
"I always like to start a session with a moment of prayer. Vocational hazard, I'm afraid. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable."
"No, not at all. In fact, I think a little divine intervention might help."
"Well, it can't hurt, is what I say. Shall we get down to it?"
"Tell me what you need me to do."
"I want you to start by taking slow, deep breaths," he instructed her.
As she let the air flow in and out of her lungs, she began to visibly relax. Her arms hung loose at her sides, and her eyelids fluttered shut.
"Now, Marlena, allow your mind to wander. Don't consciously focus on any one thing. Just let your thoughts come to you, without filtering them in any way."
Silence stretched between them as she did as he requested. A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
"What are you seeing?" His voice was soft, designed to keep her in the safe, contented place she currently found herself in.
"Alex… We're on a beach, walking along the shore… The water is clear, the sun is shining…"
"It's a good memory, then?"
"Oh, yes! We're chasing each other… He's about to catch me…" A small gasp escaped her. "He's just pushed me in the water… it's cool, but not unpleasant… I'm trying to swim away so that I can reach the surface, but something is pulling me under…"
Her composure vanished. Her eyes, which had sprung open, held naked fear. Her breathing became laboured, as if she were fighting for oxygen.
"Something has frightened you. Can you identify it?"
"No, I… Wait… I'm hearing voices… They're low, deep… I feel like I'm drowning in them, but they won't stop… Please, make them stop…"
"Marlena, when I count to three, you'll be back in your living room, safe and sound. One. Two. Three."
She cast her gaze on Frank, who studied her with concern.
"How do you feel?"
"Shaken. I remembered something unpleasant, didn't I?"
"You did. Let's talk about it."
A few miles away, John had resumed his pacing. He was due to meet Jeff Lupin in an hour, and he was having second thoughts about the plot he'd hatched with Kate. Hell, he was having third and fourth thoughts, too. Unable to relax, he strode over to the window and looked across at the building he'd formerly called home. Picking up the binoculars, he held them loosely as he debated the advisability of using them to spy on his wife and her shrink. Curiosity won out, and as he adjusted the glasses so that the view was clearly in focus, he couldn't help the exclamation that sprang to his lips.
"Who is that guy, and what the hell is he doing to Marlena?"
Kate, who'd been in the bedroom getting dressed, came running in response to his outburst.
"John, what's the matter?"
He shoved the binoculars in her direction.
"Look. Just look at her. I don't know who that man is, but he's traumatized her."
As she trained the field glasses on the penthouse, her brow furrowed in puzzlement.
"She seems a bit upset, but I wouldn't say she's been traumatized."
He snatched the binoculars out of her hand and held them up once more.
"I swear, the expression on her face was much different just a few seconds ago. I've got to find out what's going on. I'll be back as soon as I get some answers."
He crossed the room in three strides and was reaching for his jacket when he felt Kate's hand on his arm.
"What do you hope to accomplish by storming over there?"
"Some stranger is causing my wife grief. I have to stop it."
"And how will you explain your presence? You were in the neighbourhood, and thought you'd drop by? If you admit that you were worried about her, she'll wonder why, and I can't imagine that you want her to know you've been spying on her. She kicked you out, said she needed time alone with her therapist. She's hardly going to extend the welcome mat after only one day."
"She's not with North, though. He's brought someone else in there to play with her mind. As if his manipulations weren't enough already."
His fingers were on the doorknob when Kate spoke again.
"Abandoning our plan before it's even gotten started?"
"What? Of course not!"
"Be realistic, John. If you go riding to her rescue right now, how likely is she to believe that the divorce petition is real when she receives the papers in a few days?"
He had no effective counter-argument. She was right, and he knew it. Rushing over like a knight on a charger would be a definite tip-off that he still cared – not the actions of a man contemplating ending his marriage. Hanging his head in defeat, he walked back to the window and resumed his surveillance. At some point during the time that he'd spent debating whether to run to Marlena's, the stranger had moved to sit beside her, giving John an unobstructed view of the duo. His eyes widened as he took in the man's collar.
"What the…? The guy's a priest!"
"Is it Father Tim?" Kate inquired.
"No, it's not. It's some old geezer I've never seen before."
"Is he one of the other priests from St. Luke's, then?"
"Nope. I can say, with absolute certainty, that he's not from our parish."
"That's strange. I wonder why Marlena's talking to a priest."
"My question exactly. If she felt the need for some spiritual guidance, why wouldn't she call Tim?"
"Well, I suppose she doesn't remember him, either. In her condition, any man of the cloth would do."
"I don't like it. What if he's on North's payroll, and he's filling Marlena's head with lies?"
"John, come on! The man's a priest! Whatever they're discussing, I'm sure he's being honest with her."
"I wouldn't put anything past North. I'd be willing to bet that's one of his cronies, and the collar's a fake."
"You are sounding exceedingly paranoid, John Black. You need to take a step back, breathe deeply, and focus on your objective."
She reached over and gently pried the binoculars from his grasp. Leading him away from the window, she glanced at her watch.
"Your meeting with Jeff is in half an hour," she reminded him. "You should get going, or you'll be late, and he hates to be kept waiting."
Reluctantly, John pulled on his jacket, grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door, with a very different purpose in mind this time. Kate stretched up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"For luck."
She smiled warmly at him as she watched him stride down the hall. Once she was sure he was out of earshot, she let out a small whoop of satisfaction. Thanks to her initiative and resourcefulness, John would soon be a free man. Heading back in to her suite, she picked up her phone and, from her contact list, dialled a private number.
"Jeff? Kate Roberts, here," she purred. "We need to talk."