~ Chapter 8 ~
Sleep was proving elusive for all of the penthouse's occupants that night. Plagued by restless dreams, jumbled thoughts and outright insomnia, peaceful slumber was simply not in the cards.
After tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, John glanced at the bedside clock. He groaned as he noted that it was just past four. Resigning himself to the fact that he was awake for the day, he threw off the covers and padded quietly over to his computer.
As the machine powered up, he scanned the files he had already compiled on Dr. North. Flipping through pages of research citations, lists of seminars the man had attended, and keynote speeches he had delivered, John had to admit that the guy was clearly at the top of his field and well-respected, if this information was to be believed. The glowing references and praise from his peers notwithstanding, John couldn't shake the feeling that there was something fishy about his houseguest. It was time to broaden his search.
Having entered a sequence of passwords and placed his palm on the screen for a biometric scan, he was granted access to the ISA's top-security site. After typing Alex's name into the search box, he waited expectantly. Within seconds, an error message appeared: Highest Level Clearance Required. Access Denied!
"What the hell? This has never happened to me before! Something is definitely rotten here, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."
Shutting down the computer, his mind snapped into high gear. If he pulled a few strings, he was certain that he could count on his ISA contacts to come through for him. Dressing as quickly as possible, he headed out the door, pressing one of the pre-programmed numbers on his phone as he stepped into the elevator.
"Gary? It's John Black. … Sorry to wake you, but this is urgent. Can you meet me in half an hour? … Yeah, that works. … Thanks, buddy."
Tucking the device into his pocket and glancing around the parking garage to make sure he wasn't being watched, he unlocked his car, slid behind the wheel, and sped off into the gathering dawn.
Stricken by a nasty bout of insomnia, Alex stared, unblinking, at the ceiling. Despite his fatigue, his sensitive hearing had alerted him to John's departure, and the fact that his host had left so early – and in an apparent rush – had Alex worried. He was fully aware that his mere presence was an irritant to John, and he had brains enough to realize that the man would likely do almost anything to get Marlena away from his sphere of influence. Such an outcome was out of the question, of course. Alex was determined to reclaim the love of his life, no matter what devious methods he had to use to do it.
He knew that Marlena was starting to remember some of their past, and this thrilled him. He wasn't certain if it was the result of his taped suggestions and the occasional hypnosis sessions that he'd put her through, or if simply being with him again had proven to be the trigger. No matter the cause, he definitely couldn't let up. The more time they spent together, the greater the likelihood that she would forsake her current husband, and return to him.
As for John, the man had links to the ISA, and he wasn't above using them. Alex reviewed all the precautions he had put in place to keep his identity under wraps, and to maintain the veil of secrecy over his previous life. Nothing had been left to chance, and he'd gone to great lengths to ensure that his cover story would hold up to intense scrutiny. He'd been using it for years, after all, and it hadn't failed him yet.
Feeling his tension ease, he let his mind wander back in time…
From the moment they'd met, he'd been taken by Marlena's beauty. Not just her physical attributes, but also the loveliness of her spirit – the ease of her laughter, her kindness to others, her joie de vivre. No one had ever affected him the way she had, but he'd kept his feelings hidden for months. She was so popular that he couldn't imagine her giving him a second glance, and he didn't want to jeopardize the wonderful friendship they had built. Still, he couldn't help but notice that she didn't appear interested in any of their classmates, as he knew for a fact that several of them had asked her out, and been turned down.
He always made himself available whenever she was to be part of a group outing, and they spent hours studying together. He stole glances at her whenever he could. They engaged in lengthy conversations. The more he got to know her, the more he fell in love with her. He began to suspect that the feeling was mutual, but he needed a clear sign to confirm it. Then came the evening at the movies – the night his heart soared and his world spun into a whole new orbit. Their first kiss had altered his life forever.
Still smiling at the memory, he sat up and checked his watch. It was time for his early morning visit to Marlena. Given that John had left the apartment, Alex decided to alter his routine. Padding silently over to his briefcase, he pulled out what appeared to be a remote control. Having tested the new gadget previously, he knew he simply had to press a few buttons, and John's vaunted security system would be disarmed.
Chuckling to himself as he headed into the hallway, he marvelled at how easily he had gained the upper hand. He would be able to see his love without the perilous ledge walk, and John would be none the wiser. Life was most definitely good.
Marlena's dreams had been vivid. As she woke, they returned to her as fleeting images and fragments – each one lasting mere moments before another took its place. Alex figured prominently in these visions, and they had left her with a feeling of joy.
…a study session filled with laughter, a stroll along a tree-lined street, a sail on a clear blue lake, a late-night movie complete with popcorn, a ride on a bicycle built for two, a graduation ceremony with caps flying high, a slow dance within a warm embrace, hands entwined, kiss after kiss…
Could all of this be real? Her family and friends kept reminding her of events that she had forgotten, but not one of them recognized Alex, or indicated that he was someone from her past. And yet, her memories of him were coming back so clearly, they couldn't possibly be anything but true. They weren't fantasy, of that she was certain.
She lay in bed, trying to gain some clarity, when she heard a knock. Bracing herself for yet another morning confrontation with John, she walked slowly to the door and opened it a crack. Her expression changed to one of delight when she discovered that it was Alex in the hall.
"Good morning, Marlena. I thought you might be hungry, so I took the liberty of bringing you breakfast."
"Good morning to you, too. And yes, actually, I'm famished. Thank you," she said, as she stood aside to allow him to enter.
She repositioned her pillows so that she could sit comfortably in her bed, while he poured her a cup of coffee. He spread jam on a piece of toast and offered it to her, along with a bowl of fresh fruit. She accepted it all gratefully, and for a few minutes they ate without speaking. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.
"Alex, didn't you say that John had installed an alarm outside my door and yours? How did you get past it?"
"Maybe he forgot to turn it on last night," he fibbed, hoping she wouldn't pursue it with John, and catch him in a lie.
Her face brightened at his answer.
"I hope you're right. I wasn't comfortable with John's way of protecting me. Besides, I don't need protection from you. You would never hurt me."
"That's true. I'm here to help you. I would never do anything to harm you," Alex assured her, his voice thick with emotion.
Noticing the change in his tone, Marlena was about to quiz him on it when they both heard the sound of a key in the lock downstairs.
"John's back. I'd better go before he finds me in your room. No telling how he'd react, but I know it wouldn't be good."
As much as she hated his leaving, she knew he was right. John would be furious if he discovered that she and Alex had been alone in her room, even though they had merely shared breakfast, and it had been perfectly innocent. Or had it? Watching as Alex made a quiet exit, she realized yet again that she had strong feelings for her therapist. John had valid reasons to be jealous – which didn't matter to her in the slightest. Rising to begin her day, she set her mind to work. Surely, if she thought hard enough, she could find a way to spend some quality time with her psychiatrist, away from her husband's prying eyes. A smile touched the corner of her lips as the germ of an idea came to her…
