Chapter 15
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
...
Connor felt like he had a new lease on life. Robin was back, she was his again in spite of all the chaos that was still going on in his life. It seemed she was always there bracing for the winds he always summoned. But he was done doing that to her anymore. This had to end. He was through going through life shielding against whatever winds Ava had to bring. But as long as it was him and Robin against the world, he had more confidence. Very little could shake them, and seldom won. It was too rare to find your bestfriend in a beautiful woman, he wasn't letting it go again.
He had resources, he had a few friends in special places, he can take the war to her. But it didn't help him right now, he didn't know how.
He received a phone call right then to break his pondering mind, one of his frenemies from the media who couldn't resist an exclusive.
"Hey Jeremy." Connor greeted.
"If it isn't the man of the hour himself." The other voice on the other side of the phone said. "What can I do for a Rhodes in trouble?"
The guy was half sleezebag and Connor didn't need this right now.
"I think I might have an opportunity for you, man." Jerry said. "You and the baby mama drama. It's all over the papers man. How about you come on my show?"
"Look Jerry, so not in the mood for this." Connor said irritably.
"What, you're not willing to come to my show for this? I can tell you that Ava will be more than willing." Jerry bragged.
It kept pouring. "Jerry, I really can use less of this right now. You people are trying to destroy my family!"
"Well look, this can go real viral if we handle it right. I only want to hear your side of the story."
"My side is, I don't even know if this baby is mine. In fact I highly doubt it. So, if you could just find a way to bring the truth to light on this one. Isn't that like your catch phrase? Bring the truth to light? And stop hounding me, much less, my wife!"
"Connor, I might just be the one guy who's got your back on this one." Jerry said. "I'll even tell you when the show is airing so you can watch for yourself at home. Me and Ava, we've got an arrangement. You might want to watch this."
Connor hung up on him, but he still got the text with the date and time of the show. 'Lovechild exclusive on the Rhodes, lie detector and DNA provided.'
Yeah, with a title like that, it was going to go viral. Everyone in his life was going to be watching, he could be sure of that. He didn't even have the strength to go confront Ava about it again. It hadn't turn out well so far. Robin believed in him, and that's all he needed.
…
His life was on display, on Jerry's show. He could not believe this. But his wife was there beside him, sitting cuddled close to him, having insisted on watching the show. She was here, she wanted to watch the show, so he would watch it with her.
"Babe, are you sure about this? It might not bring any closure to us at all, just more lies. I know Jerry, and he's not the most standup guy…"Connor tried
"I know. I just want to see what everyone else is seeing, watching this. Claire and Russ will be here any minute, I better make the refreshments ready." She stood up, leaving his side and he felt a chill. It was more like a preview of her leaving him again. What this show was bound to do.
The show had minutes to start, Ethan texted that he and April were watching. Told him to hang in there. So did Will. He knew everyone at work would not miss this. He just hoped some would be discreet enough to not watch it on the hospital on-call screen.
Claire and Russ came in, they greeted, the usual comfort hugs and kisses, made small talk, the show was minutes away.
"You have any idea what she is going to say?" Clare asked, always on her brother's side. He appreciated it. She had been a constant friend to Robin through all this, helped her stay grounded against the onslaught.
"It's Jerry, I'm not optimistic." Connor said and shrugged. "He's gotta get paid."
Robin came back with refreshments and sat back down besides Connor. The show started.
Jerry was on a roll, as expected, indulging and encouraging Ava to say more.
'So, coming to this show tonight, is it to get paid or to get back at the Rhodes?' Jerry asked.
'Neither.' Ava replied, poised, 'It is to set the record straight.'
'Ah, the record. Bring the truth to the light, is what we say on this show.' Jerry said and the audience applauded.
Fifteen minutes into the show, the lie detectors were hooked. First a test was done to show they were legit, then they were hooked on Ava. Mundane questions were asked to test the machines and it seemed to be working ok. Ava was in her element, she could lie through the lie detectors maybe.
'So, the night of this hookup, like most would elegantly say, correct me if I'm wrong but it was only that one night in New York, right?'
'That's right.'
The detector wrote TRUE on the screen. Ok now, the show was getting to the real piece now.
Everyone was sitting on edge.
'Did you flirt with Connor Rhodes at your hotel bar the last night of your trip?'
'Yes.' She answered and it wrote True.
'Did he flirt back?'
'Yes.' She answered and it wrote True.
Connor started to get uncomfortable. He had talked back to her, but he wouldn't call it flirting.
'Did you sleep with Connor Rhodes that same night in his hotel room?'
She answered yes and it wrote True.
Connor's heart sank, but Robin still had her arm around his, not leaving his side. Yet. The question had been vague. If just sleep then yes. He had woken up with her asleep in his bed.
'Is Connor Rhodes the father of your unborn baby?'
She answered yes, and it wrote True.
Connor was done. He stood up from the couch and went outside. Jerry was only digging him deeper. He should have known. What if it was true? What if he really was the father of Ava's baby?
Robin came behind him and wrapped her arms round him. He held on to her, she kissed his shoulder.
"It's gonna be ok. Don't mind them." She said.
"What made you so trusting of me even with all this? You held on to your faith in me, and all I do is keep 'em coming." Connor said in dismay.
"I realized something, even in my doubt, your love is real. I can never doubt that." Robin said. "If someone brought you a stack of evidence and said that I had killed someone, would you belive that?"
"If that person if Ava, then maybe." Connor joked and they both giggled. Connor sighed, a sad smile on his face.
"Ok, let's try another analogy. If someone brought to you evidence that I had been unfaithful to you, would you believe it?" She looked seriously into his eyes now.
He looked back at her, brushed her cheek with his thumb. The look in her eyes, this person who loved him even in her eyes it glowed. "No. I know you and I know this. You're the person who loves me."
She kissed him, "That's what I know too. And whatever evidence they may bring to the contrary, I know you're still someone who loves me."
They held each other, it was them against the world again, and he was good with that. As long as he got her, he would be ok.
"Hey guys, you got to come in and see this." Clare came running outside to call them in. What else could be new? They went in anyway, because whatever it was, it wasn't going to ever shake them again.
"What's going on?" Connor asked, standing by the couch, not wanting to sit back down.
"They are not…the lie detector is saying yes to everything." Claire tried to explain, it wasn't anymore enlightening. "Just watch."
"So, the lie detector is false? But why." Robin asked, just as confused.
'You came here prepared to outpro the lie detector Ava, you're quite experienced with it. Not your first rodeo. But the truth comes out anyway, other ways the FBI can see through the errors of a lie detector. Body language. Subtle but inevitable give aways that a lie detector cannot pick.' Jerry was saying on the TV. Connor's phone was blowing up with messages, he ignored them, pretty sure what they would be about. Right now, he was glued to the TV as well, interested now.
"This is a stilled frame of the moment the lie detector said 'true' when I asked you if Connor Rhodes had flirted back with you at the bar. Your pupils are dilated, your eyebrows are arched.' Jerry said, pointing at the displayed photo. 'It means you were surprised.' Jerry said. 'Like you are surprised right now with this unexpected turn of events. You didn't expect this, did you?'
Ava was shocked to say the least but she tried to remain poised.
Another picture of her showed on the screen again. 'This is a stilled frame of the moment you said that your unborn baby was Connor Rhodes', and the machine said 'true'. You were surprised again.'
'Ok, I'm not going to stand for this.' Ava said, detaching herself from the machine.
'And this is the moment,' Jerry continued, undeterred, 'when we read the DNA test and it said positive. You were shocked on this one.'
Ava was up, taking her bag and leaving the stage.
'It is only a matter of character here. Falsified ultrasounds, falsified DNA's, and even lying to a lie detector. Pros can do that. But body language, ladies and gentlemen that's another story.' Jerry was saying. Connor had wrapped himself around his wife with relief, not going to let her go any time soon. His phone was really blowing up now.
'Knowing a person's character, makes one be a bit skeptical about these things.' Jerry was saying. 'Connor Rhodes, we don't see eye to eye, infact the guy hates my guts. But he is not the kind of guy who would do something like this and deny paternity of his child. He's one of those annoying stand up guys that makes you want to dial down on being a jerk.' Jerry was saying. 'Not that people don't make mistakes, or act funny under pressure but some people do better than others.'
Clair and Rhodes had joined that family hug. It was over and the last person he had expected to ever get anything good from had done it.
His phone rang right then, he wanted to let it go to voicemail, it would probably be one of the people watching the show wanting to congratulate him or something. The caller was persistent so he looked at the caller ID. It was Jay Halstead. He detective would not be calling just to congratulate him. He answered it.
"Hey Jay."
"Hey Coonor. I've been watching the show."
"Yeah."
"Just to say man, if you're up for it, we can lock down those other cold cases right now."
"What do you mean?"
"According to Dr Charles, that lady is some kind of psychopath and in my experience, she's vulnerable right now. She won't be for long." Jay was saying. "So, if you're interested, meet me at Dr Charles's and we'll work out a plan to close these cases."
"Ok." Connor was surprised but he was game. This was a chance to lock this down once and for all. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Meet you there." Jay said and hung up.
"What was that all about" His wife asked.
"Uh…Jay says he might have a way to close the cold cases." Connor explained.
"Ok. Uh…you want me to come with?" Robin asked.
"No babe. You've had a long day and I'm not sure how long this is going to last." He kissed her and put on his jacket quickly. "I'll be at your dad's if you need me, and my phone."
"My Dad's?"
"He'll be providing expert psycho analysis I guess." Connor said, walking out the door. Robin walked him to the car.
"Drive safely, ok?" She said
"Will do babe. Don't wait up." He kissed her goodbye and drove out.
"Looks like everything might just tie up nicely." Claire said, joining her.
"I pray that it does." Robin said, walking back into the house with Claire. They had some celebratory drinks ready.
…