~ Chapter 56 ~

The minutes dragged like hours for Alex as he paced the length of the penthouse, awaiting Frank's arrival. For what seemed the hundredth time, he searched through the papers on Marlena's desk, hoping to find something he'd missed. As he had on all previous attempts, he came up empty. He was about to call Frank again when he heard a knock. In spite of his certainty that this heralded the arrival of his friend and mentor, a smidgen of hope rose within him.

Maybe she's just forgotten her keys.

Racing to the foyer, he yanked the door open. One look into the hall confirmed his initial presumption, and he was unable to mask his disappointment.

"Sorry, son. It's only me."

"Don't apologize, Frank. I'm really glad you're here."

The priest examined his protégé with concern. The latter's eyes held a haunted look – the same one Frank had become all too familiar with during their time together at the Agency, and that had finally vanished once Alex had been reunited with Marlena. Frank knew instinctively that Alex was reliving the horrifying ordeal that he and his love had undergone years ago. Eager to offer his friend what relief he could, Frank removed his jacket, then lowered his tall frame into the nearest easy chair. Alex, meanwhile, continued his restless pacing.

"Alex…"

"What?"

"Come. Talk to me."

Slowly, as if the cessation of movement required great effort, Alex headed in Frank's direction. As he made a motion to sit, his legs gave way, and he practically fell onto the sofa.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"It's okay, Alex. Your body's simply reacting to the stress it's under. Perfectly understandable."

"But I can't be like this. I've got to pull it together. Marlena's life…" His voice cracked, and he took a moment to compose himself. "Her life could depend on me."

"You're right. It could. So, like I told you before, you have tackle this differently. Try to be objective."

"Frank, I can't do what you're asking."

"Even if it's the only way to save her?"

Alex's already pale face blanched even further.

"You think they have her, don't you?"

"We may be jumping to conclusions, but it's the most obvious answer."

A wave of terror caused Alex's entire body to shake. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, both in an effort to focus his mind, and to slow the overly rapid beating of his heart.

"Oh, God, Frank…" He buried his head in his hands, as visions from the past overwhelmed him. When he looked up, his gaze was pleading. "Help me."

"That's why I'm here, son."

"Okay. Okay. Where do we start?"

"With you. You need to go back into agent mode. You know who they are and what they are. Start thinking like them."

Alex took another deep breath. As he raised his eyes to Frank's once more, the older man was amazed to note the younger one's transformation. In an instant, he'd morphed from panicked lover to cold, steely spy, and Frank could almost hear the gears turning in Alex's brain.

"You're ready?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Let's separate fact from conjecture. What, precisely, do you know at this point?"

"The last time I saw or spoke to her was this morning, before leaving for the airport. She had plans of some sort..."

"That caused her to reschedule our session to the afternoon. Do you know what those plans were?"

"No. She was very mysterious about them. So much so, that I teased her about plotting something."

"And?"

"She pretty much admitted it. Said it was better that I not know the details, and that if things worked out, she'd tell me all about it when I got home."

"So…"

"So, I have no idea what she had up her sleeve, or what the outcome was. As I mentioned, that's the last time we spoke. I was so close to missing my return flight that I didn't have a chance to call her until we touched down in Salem."

"When was that?"

Alex glanced at his watch.

"About an hour and a half ago."

"You weren't able to reach her, then?"

"Nope. Went straight to voice mail. Which means you've spoken to her more recently than I have – assuming your session proceeded as planned."

"It did. I arrived right on time…"

"I'd expect nothing less of you," Alex grinned, temporarily recovering his sense of humour.

"As I was saying," Frank resumed, pointedly ignoring Alex's comment, "I got here at 1:30, as we'd arranged. She wasn't quite ready for me, though."

"That's not like her. What was the problem?"

"Sami," Frank replied succinctly.

"Do you think Sami was involved with whatever Marlena was cooking up?"

"No, I don't believe so. Her visit had been unexpected, according to Marlena, and it left her quite annoyed."

"That doesn't surprise me. Sami tends to have that effect on people, and I know for a fact that she's been pushing Marlena – both to regain her memories, and to reunite with her father. I imagine she came over to do more of the same."

"Marlena did mention something about Sami clinging to the hope of a parental reunion, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, but it was something else that set her off today. It concerns you."

"Oh?"

"It would seem that Sami was responsible for one of the complaints filed against you with the APA."

Alex's face held a look of triumph.

"Your reaction's not what I would've predicted," Frank admitted.

"You had no way of knowing this, but you've just filled in the missing piece of the puzzle. I managed to get confirmation that John filed one of the complaints, so you've helped me identify both of my accusers. Now, the corner of my brain that was working on solving that mystery can be put to better use. Shall we get on with it?"

"Of course. Once we'd dispensed with the melodrama Sami had stirred up…"

Alex couldn't restrain a chuckle.

"Met her once, and you've already got her number."

"It wasn't hard. She's an easy read. I had a good laugh when Marlena warned me that Sami was no doubt going to try to dig up information on me. Ah, the benefits of having a common name."

"I can just imagine all of the Frank Kellys she's been researching. Such a shame she's wasting her time. But, if it keeps her out of my business for a while, I'm all for it!"

"Glad to be of service. But we digress."

"Right. So, once Sami left, you got down to your session?"

"Yes. There were no further interruptions, and it was an extremely productive one."

Alex's eyes lit up.

"Did she remember more about our past? Something about me?"

"You know I can't divulge that."

Frank's tone held only mild reproach as he considered how to let Alex know that Marlena had regained her memories – except for those concerning him – without breaking doctor/patient confidentiality.

"Then what can you tell me?"

"Well, there are two facts that I think I can safely share."

"Yes?" Alex could barely contain his impatience.

"First, she had a meeting with John after I left."

"Do you know why?"

"For a couple of reasons, but one has to do with the other piece of news I have for you. Marlena was served with divorce papers today."

"I'm sorry. What did you just say?"

"Marlena was served. John's asked her for a divorce."

"You've said that twice now, and I still can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Believe it, son."

"So, he's letting her go? Just like that?"

"Not exactly."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I can't tell you most of it. Let's just say that John's being represented by a very crafty lawyer."

As Alex let this newest bit of data sink in, a hint of a smile began to play on his lips. It was obvious to Frank that his protégé's steel trap mind was working at full speed.

"Why don't I throw out some theories, and I'll judge their accuracy by observing your facial reactions. Think we can get away with that?"

"I probably shouldn't, but I'll indulge you. At least I'll be able to honestly say that I didn't tell you anything. Rather than trying to read me, though, why don't we use…"

"The code," Alex finished, before shooting a grateful look Frank's way. "Yes, that'll work."

The men slipped back into their old pattern with an ease born of years of practice. Now that the fog of panic had lifted, Alex began to realize just how many clues had been staring him in the face all along. His gaze fell on the photo albums that he'd blindly shoved aside earlier.

"Were these here when you arrived?"

Frank's coded response was in the affirmative.

"Okay, so… she hatched some plot that may or may not have met with success. She was served with divorce papers. She spent some time looking at photos. She received a visit from her eldest daughter. She had a session with you. She met with John…" Alex paused to process the information before continuing. "Did she sign the papers before you got here?"

Not to my knowledge.

"I wonder if they're still around."

Alex rose from the sofa and headed for Marlena's desk, a different purpose in mind this time. He spotted what he was looking for instantly – a large manila envelope with an unfamiliar return address.

"Lupin and Associates. When you mentioned a crafty lawyer, I knew John hadn't gone with his usual choice. Frankie may well be decent at what he does, but from what I've seen, he's not particularly cunning. What I haven't figured out is why John would pick someone new."

As Alex continued to ponder this question, he slipped the legal papers from their cover and scanned the documents, noting every detail. When he reached the final page, he couldn't contain his glee at the sight before him.

"She signed these, and John did, too! They're getting divorced. She'll soon be free!"

If not for the serious situation he suspected Marlena was currently facing, Alex might well have done a happy dance on the spot. While delighted at his friend's apparent good fortune, Frank felt the need to return Alex's focus to the matter at hand.

"That really is wonderful news, and you'll no doubt be celebrating it as soon as she's back with you, but right now…"

"Yes. Of course. Sorry, Frank, I'll put my thinking cap back on. Well, this clearly explains why Marlena met with John. We've talked about her wanting to file for divorce, although she was sure that John would never go for it. So, I'm positive that, as soon as those papers were delivered, she wanted to capitalize on the opportunity."

Frank's non-verbal response made Alex realize that he only had part of the story.

"Hmm… so there was some other reason she called him over. Wait… The papers… They jarred her memory. That's what the photo albums were about. She wasn't using them to try to remember. She already had. And she was reacquainting herself with her family and friends. How am I doing?"

He glanced at Frank, a slightly cocky grin on his face.

You're spot on.

Alex's heart began to race as hope welled within him.

"And me… Did she remember me?"

No longer able to maintain his silence, Frank reluctantly dashed his protégé's hopes.

"I'm sorry, son. Nothing more than what she's already recalled."

The utter despair that settled on Alex's features was almost more than Frank could bear. His mind cast about for something – anything – to distract the man before him. Almost immediately, inspiration struck.

"Alex, you never told me what evidence, if any, you found in the garage."

Alex shook his head, in an effort to regain his focus.

"The garage. Right. I saw her car, parked in its usual spot. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Did you speak to the security guard?"

"He wasn't there. Must have been making his rounds."

"Might I suggest we head down there now? In my experience, people in such positions often possess details they're not even conscious of."

"That's true. While I doubt that they have become so sloppy that they'd leave a witness behind, it's entirely possible that the guard noticed something out of the ordinary today. Let's go!"

The two men made a beeline for the elevator. As they approached the building's lowest level, each prayed that the man they were about to question could provide a desperately needed clue that would point them in Marlena's direction.