Chapter 2

Oh Where Oh Where Could She Be?

Norman shoots up from a dead sleep. He was on the couch but he didn't remember lying down. He didn't remember much of anything from the night before. He knew he talked to Connie the night before and then the line went dead. He remembered the power going out…or at least he thinks it did. What else was there?

Norman rubs his eyes and looks around the living room.

The house was as quiet as a tomb and it made him shutter. He gets up and goes to the master bedroom.

The bed was neatly made. He must have just missed Connie. Normally if he falls asleep on the couch she won't wake him; although she will fuss at him later for doing it. That wasn't something he was looking forward to but it was unavoidable.

He walks over to the phone and dials her office number. After a moment her voice mail picks up. He thought about calling her cell phone but then remembered she had several appointments for that day and decided against it. He didn't want to bother her. Maybe he would call her at lunchtime? Better yet he might surprise her and take her out to eat at lunch. Hopefully, that might get him out of the dog house for the couch thing.

He got ready for his day. After his shower, he decides to skip breakfast and heads out the door to his psychiatrist's appointment.

Dr. Rosenblum has been Norman's psychiatrist since he made parole almost four years ago. He always hated the idea of having to talk to a 'headshrinker', as he called them, but that was how he met Connie. She was once his psychiatrist at the Institution. He had told her 'she would bring an end to a lot of tormented souls'. He meant every word.

It was love at first sight. From the moment he saw her he knew he would marry her. He had never felt that way about any woman before and for once Mother didn't disagree.

Norman was never very good at flirting. Not just because of Mother but because he always had a habit of getting straight to the point. He never thought it was necessary to dance around anything especially when it came to courting someone. He figured either a woman liked him or they didn't. Of course, when he first met Connie he tried to flirt with her. That turned out rather disastrous. But he did make her laugh so he figured he at least had a shot. He had finally told her that he was not good at flirting and asked her to go on a date with him when he got out of the Institution. Amazingly she agreed. They have been inseparable ever since.

Norman drove up to his shrink's office. He got out of the car and started to walk in when a woman begins to exit the same building.

Norman was raised with manners so he politely held the door for her. She thanked him for his kindness as Norman began to walk inside. He glances up at the door and the reflection of a once gorgeous creature smiles at him.

It was Mother; although she looked much worse than when Norman remembered her. But that was the problem. The only time he could remember her is after she died. He could hardly remember her beautiful face. The only thing he ever saw now was the corpse.

He ignored the face in the glass and continues up to his Doctor's office.

"Hey, Norman how is your day?"

"Oh…h-h-h—hey Teresa. It's good so far. No complaints."

"Good," Teresa picks up a phone and hits two buttons.

"Dr. Rosenblum Norman Bates is here. Yes, sir, I'll tell him," she hangs up the phone and turns to Norman, "Dr. Rosenblum said for you to go on in."

"Tha—ank you, Teresa," he says walking into the side room.

"Norman it's good to see you," the Doctor says shaking Norman's hand, "…have a seat, have a seat."

"Th-an-anks," Norman says looking around nervously.

"Is anything wrong today, Norman? You look a little flustered."

Norman looks at his psychiatrist. He couldn't tell him about the vision. He couldn't say anything because if he did he knew he would be sent back to the Asylum. He would never go back to that place. There was nothing in this world that could make him go back there. He would rather die; although they already tried to kill him. They already did decades of electroshock therapy on him. The only thing they took away from him was almost all of his good memories. He could barely remember what his mother looked like anymore, except, in his nightmares. He would tell the Doctor about his nightmares. That should be harmless enough.

"I'm ok. It's just the nightmares that have been getting worse. I mean, I fell asleep on the couch again."

"I take it Connie is upset by that Norman?"

"Oh, I haven't talked to her yet today. She was already gone when I got up."

"And she didn't wake you up before she left?"

"No…she never do—oes. She's not being mean or anything like that… it's just that…when I do sleep, it's soundly."

"You don't hear things around you or startle easily?"

"Not in the least. Connie told me I once sleep through a bad thunderstorm. Lightning had even struck a tree outside the bedroom… split it right in half."

"And that didn't wake you?"

"No," He laughs, "I didn't even roll over."

"That is sleeping a little too deeply Norman. I'm not sure that's very healthy for you but at least you are sleeping now. Let's move on… so Norman, have you had to take any more of your anxiety pills?"

"Yes, but not as much as before. I've gotten it reduced to…to…to…three pills a week. Well, three pills if nothing too bad happens."

"I don't want you to rely on those pills Norman. Have you been trying the breathing exercises we discussed?"

"I try them but then I feel like I may pass out."

"You're breathing too deeply Norman. You don't want to feel light-headed just relaxed."

Norman glanced down at the coffee table in the room. There were several magazines laid across it.

Should he tell the Doctor about the visions? He worried if he did the Doctor might put him back in the Asylum. If he didn't though, he might end up hurting people again. He didn't want to hurt people anymore but that was something that he didn't have control over.

"Norman?"

He couldn't tell Dr. Rosenblum what was happening. He knew he would put him back in that wretched place. He would commit suicide by police before he would ever go back.

"Norman? Are you ok?"

What happens if Mother is trying to come back though? Mother might come back and no one would be able to get rid of her. Norman would be lost forever.

"Norman?!"

Norman jumps and looks up at Dr. Rosenblum.

"I'VE BEEN SEEING VISIONS!"

He'd done it now. His mouth ran away before he had a chance to screen what it was allowed to say. He'd go back to hell for sure now. He did it to himself this time too. Mother couldn't take credit for this one.

"What kind of visions Norman?"

Don't answer him! If you value your freedom you will keep your mouth shut! Don't you dare tell him…"Mother." Way to go Norman. Enjoy your last few minutes of freedom before the police are called. Hope you like Salisbury steak for the rest of your life because that's the only thing those nasty places serve.

"Relax Norman. I believe your medications are not working as we had hoped. There is another medication I will put you on and I believe it will have better results. It will take a couple of months for it to get completely in your system though."

What? Is that it? No police? No tasers? No orderly's wrestling him to the ground? Where is the media? Where are the victim's families spitting on him? Where is the token fat ugly nurse wearing too much eye shadow, with the Haldol injection?

"Norman, you're going to be fine. This is nothing to concern yourself with. All we have to do is try the different medication and you will be fine. I do have to know though, why didn't you tell me about this sooner? How long has this been happening?"

Don't you tell him the truth! He will lock you up! You will never see the light of day ever again!

"Two months," Norman answers. It's a super dumb ass. You deserve to get locked up. What an idiot! Norman sighs deeply.

"It's going to be alright Norman. I promise. You don't need to be locked up as this setback isn't entirely your fault. Your medications just need to be adjusted. I'll just put you on something stronger. I promise it's ok."

Norman looks up at the doctor. Maybe he's not such a dumb ass after all? This Doc isn't like the ones from the Asylum. He actually might care about you? "Wish I had known that sooner," Norman mumbles.

"Tell me, Normal, how did you meet Connie?"

Norman laughs loudly, "She was one of my psychiatrists. There was a problem with one of the female patients at the institution and she was assigned to me as a liaison to determine if I guilty of what she was accusing me of."

"And were you?"

"NO. I did not! I didn't do that!"

"Calm down, Norman. Relax. Let's talk about something else ok? Tell me was it Connie's idea to keep her maiden name?"

"…oh no. That was my idea. I didn't want her to be ridiculed because of me. We wanted to be a normal happy family and well, you can't do that with all these people harassing you, can you?"

"No, you can't. What about Adam? Why didn't you allow him to have your last name? Why allow him to take only Connie's last name?"

"Can you imagine going to school and being known as 'that psycho Bates' kid'? I didn't want either one of them to go through that so I told Connie just to stick with Monroe."

"How did she feel about this?"

"Oh, she argued at first. And at first, she did take my last name but I begged her to have her named changed back…legally through the court. She understood where I was coming from and she knew how much it meant to me. So she agreed."

"I see," Dr. Rosenblum wrote something down on the notepad, "Now, Norman, you had told me before that Connie's parents had passed away?"

"Yes, that's right. Connie's dad died in his sleep. He had been fighting a battle with Cancer. Her mother died a year after that…I think…I think from a heart attack? From what I was told they were never in the best of health."

"Did you ever meet her parents before they passed?"

"I met her mother for Christmas one year. She was a sweet lady. I miss her, too. She knew who I was before we met, I mean, who didn't because of the news, but when she met me she walked right up to me and hugged me. She treated me like one of the family. I'll never forget it. It meant a lot to me."

"Because she was treating you like you were normal?"

"Exactly. She knew who I was and she didn't care because she did understand that the past was the past."

"Tell me Norman, does Connie have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, she is an only child."

"What about aunts or uncles?"

"No. They have a pretty small family."

"Ok. Have you decided where you're going to go on vacation yet?"

"Connie wants to go to Florida…to the—uh—uh beach."

"Is that where you want to go?"

"Oh yes. I've always wanted to go to the beach. I've never been."

A timer on the desk started buzzing madly.

"Time up, doc?"

"Only for today, Norman."

Dr. Rosenblum wrote a prescription out and handed it to Norman.

"The pharmacy normally has this in stock. You should have no problems getting it filled. If they have any questions, they can call me as usual. Have a great one, Norman. I think we will meet again next Monday."

"Monday? Oh, that's right you're going on vacation."

"Now, Norman you know if you need me you can call my cell phone. Do you still have the number?"

"Yes, I've got it. Thank you, Dr. Rosenblum. See you next Monday."

Norman stood and shook Dr. Rosenblum's hand. He walked out of the office and back out to his car. He drove over to the pharmacy and only had to wait thirty minutes to get the new prescription filled. Anything under an hour for this pharmacy was a miracle in itself.

After leaving the pharmacy Norman decided he would grab some lunch at the local diner. There was something about hole-in-the-wall diner's that appealed to him. Maybe it was the fact they always seemed to be friendlier in places like that? The food wasn't bad either.

Norman wasn't a newcomer to Spritz Diner. The entire staff including the owner knew him by name. Although, they didn't know what he had done in his past.

He walked in and sat down as his usual table.

"Where ya been Norman?"

He looked up at the twenty-year-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed waitress. She was always flirting with him but he didn't mind, even though he was married and everyone knew that. It was just flirting and nothing more. Norman was very loyal to his wife and son.

"Hey, Debbie. I've been around, just busy lately."

"Wife wouldn't let you out of the house, huh?"

"Ha! No, no, she doesn't mind me coming up here. She just likes to tease me about it that's all."

"You should bring her in one day. I know we would all love to meet her."

"Maybe I will."

"So what are you hungry for? I bet I know, milk and - Salisbury steak?"

Norman glares up at her, "Very funny Deb. You know I hate Salisbury steak."

Debbie laughs out loud, "I know, I was just picking on ya. How about the vegetable plate? It's got fried green tomatoes on it."

"That would be great thanks."

"Coming right up Norman," she says as she seemingly glides away.

A few moments pass by and suddenly a plate of food is set in front of him.

That was quick even for this place. Sometimes Norman wonders whether or not he wants to know how the food was ready so quickly here. But then most times he was happy not knowing. He may never eat there again if he found out.

"Mind if I join you?"

Norman looks up at a woman standing in front of the table. He gives the woman a perplexed and then concerned face.

"Just for lunch that's all. I promise."

"Sure," He replies, "Have a seat," He motions to the bench across from him.

The lady complies and sits down in front of him.

"You don't remember me do you?"

Norman's eyes got larger. He looks at the woman and swallows slowly.

"You're … not…a-a-a- a relative of someone that I… uh… I… uh… became too acquainted with are you?"

"No, Norman I'm not a relative of someone that had a run-in with you. We met a few years ago in Fairvale."

A waitress walks up to the table and smiles at the two of them.

"Can I get you anything ma'me?"

"No, I'm fine thank you."
"Another glass of milk, Mr. Monroe?"

"No, Debbie, I'm fine. I'll take the check though."

"I'll be right back, Mr. Monroe."

The woman raises an eyebrow at Norman.

"Mr. Monroe?" she asks.

"Yes. I don't use Bates anymore. That name died with that personality."

"Where did you come up with Monroe?"

"It's my wife's last name."

The woman's expression quickly went from casual to very, very, shocked. She opens her mouth but no words came out. She couldn't think of anything to say. She finally did blurt out exactly what she was thinking though.

"You're married?"

"Yes, I am."
"For how long?"

"I don't mean to be rude, or answer a question with a question, but who are you? I mean, I am enjoying the conversation but I have no idea who you are."

"Tracy Venable."

He thought for a moment. The name rang a bell but he couldn't think exactly from where. This woman knew who he was. Granted that wasn't very difficult given his reputation but most people only know his name and not his face. But she knew who he was and they weren't even in Fairvale. It finally dawns on him.

"The reporter?" He asks.

"Used to be. I quit that job right after the… well… incident with you."

"I tried to kill you."

He stated it as though he were doing nothing more than asking for directions to the park. He had a no-never-mind attitude that the conversation was as casual as any other.

Tracy was taken aback. She placed her hand over her chest completely surprised by Norman's lack of emotion, "Yes, as a matter of fact, you did," She finally says.

"Oh, don't-don't misunderstand me. I was just trying my best to remember. My memory isn't very good and most things are blocked out. I didn't mean to sound so crass and uncaring."

She looked into his eyes. He was telling her the truth. He didn't remember what happened. Was this something that she wanted to remind him of?

The waitress came by with the check and drops it on the table. Norman picks it up, glances at it, and then digs into his pocket for some money. He places the money on the edge of the table.

"So tell me, Tracy, what do you do now?"

Well, that was certainly an easy out. If he wasn't going to talk about what happened then neither was she, "I write a column for a small newspaper," she says, "Kind of like an advice column if you will."

"Really? What is it called?"

"Ask Vena."

Norman laughs a bit, "Interesting," he says, "Do you remember a letter from 'Disgruntled Neighbor'?"

"No, I…wait…yes, yes I remember that one. This man was having trouble with his neighbor spying on him all the time. The neighbor blatantly even put video cameras in his bedroom widows facing Disgruntle's house. Disgruntled Neighbor couldn't get the guy to leave him alone even after pleading and being nice and everything. I told him to invite his neighbor over for dinner and talk to him face to face. I don't know what happened after that though."

"I told him I used to be a serial killer at dinner. He got scared and moved away. But at least he finally left me alone."

Tracy's mouth gaps open, "Norman…were you…"

"…Disgruntled Neighbor, yes," He smiles.

Tracy started laughing hysterically.

"Don't laugh too hard. I ended up sleeping in the car for three days because of that little stunt."

"Your wife made you sleep in the car?"

"She said the couch was too good for me. I understand why she got so upset and I did purposely frighten that man, but I had tried everything to get him to stop all that nonsense spying. He even called the police on me…quite a few times. But the last time he did it I was digging a drainage trench in my yard. I guess maybe he thought I was going to bury a body or something."

"That is unbelievable."

"Yes, but you see, I took your advice. And I guess, in a way, it worked."

"Norman I didn't tell you to scare the man half to death. I just said to have dinner with him and talk."

"Well, I did have dinner with him and we talked. But it's ok now regardless. He doesn't bother me anymore and everyone else in the neighborhood leaves me alone."

"I guess that's what you wanted. So tell me, how have you been? I assume you're completely… healed?"

"Not completely. But my Doctor did just start me on a new medication that he's sure will get me fixed up in no time."

"You seem to be in good spirits. All smiles and you don't seem to be hearing things that most others miss."

"If you're trying to find out if I still hear my mother I don't. She is very dead." Another lie. Well, not a complete lie. He didn't hear her. He saw her and had conversations with her and that was different. It's a good thing Norman wasn't very religious. If he were he would surely be going to hell for all these lies coming from his lips lately. Of course, he had already broken six of the Ten Commandments. His record wasn't exactly in the best of states.

"That's good to hear Norman. It is. I'm happy for you," Tracy says gently touching his arm, "I mean that."

"I better go. I have to meet Connie."

"Oh, ok. Well, it was good catching up."

Norman smiles, stands and leaves.

A short time later, Norman walks into the house. He didn't see Connie's car in the garage. She's probably working late again. That's always been a common occurrence but Norman didn't mind it, he jokes with her about it claiming he needs to make an appointment with her for some quality time.

He walks over to the radio and cuts it on out of habit.

Walking over to the mail on the counter he begins to flip through it. It was pretty rare when he had mail but when he did it was always legitimate. He didn't have to worry about credit card offers and junk like that.

"…Interstate Five tragic accident…"

Norman's ears perked up. He walks over to the radio and turns it up.

"…the names of the victims are now being released. Thirty people lost their lives yesterday in a twenty-car pill up off Interstate five. This tragic accident is the result of a tractor-trailer tanker truck jackknifing after a car cut off the driver…the interstate was closed for…"

Norman gets up and turns on the TV. He flips the channel to the news. It was two minutes after five so he should catch it just in time.

"…to recount a top story from yesterday, the twenty car pile-up that claimed thirty victims from yesterday evening was from the result of a careless driver that cut off a Tanker Truck hauling gasoline. The tanker jackknifed and was then struck by several cars. It then erupted into an explosion that claimed the lives of the surrounding commuters. Our hearts go out to the families of these victims."

Norman watches the bottom of the television screen at the scrolling names.

"…James & Janet Fotell… Cassandra Davis…Jeff & Berry Taylor…Zachary Thompson…Connie Monroe…Sarah Aldridge…Craig Smith…"

His heart jumped into his throat. Was that Connie? Was that 'his' Connie? It can't be! It can't be, she's at work!

He jumps up from the couch and ran over to the phone. He dials Connie's office. It rang and rang but finally someone answers.

"Dr. Monroe's answering service… Dr. Monroe is not available if this is an emergency please dial her stand in Dr. Price's cell number…"

"This is Connie's husband…where is Connie? She isn't home yet!"

"Mr… Mr. Monroe! Pa.-pa… please hold the line."

Norman's pulse was picking up by the second. He could feel the sweat pouring over him. Panic was overwhelming him.

"Mr. Monroe?" A man's voice said.

"Ye…yes. Where is Connie? I haven't seen her all day."

"Mr. Monroe I'm sorry to have to tell you this but Connie was…Connie was… Connie was involved in a car accident yesterday. Norman…she…she didn't make. She passed away at Saint Petersburgh Hospital early this morning. We received the phone call this afternoon."

Everything around him stopped. The TV froze in place. The dust particles in the air hung there suspended. The clock on the wall's second hand ceased to move; his heart rips in half.

Norman woke up, "Where is my son?! Where is Adam?! He was with her!"