Chapter Five

Anna is thumbing through a small notebook as she sits at a table at Kelly's diner. It was the only thing she cared about from those seven years she was gone. It helped keep her thoughts in order when Faison was trying to erase everything that mattered to her.

She reads the first entry even as her hands continue to shake. It was written a week into her captivity.

Dear Robert,

By now, you know that I am 'dead.' I tried to protect you my love but everything I did was in vain. Now I am locked in a cold basement without any food or water and no way to know how much time has gone by. I know either you hate me or you are grieving for me, both of which are not options I want for you. Robert, I only wanted to keep you safe. I hope someday I get to tell you that your faith in me is justified. I am not the Double Agent but there are days when I wonder if that even matters anymore. He wants to erase what I feel for you. He tries to tell me every day that you do not matter. Some days he even tries to give me a new name that means nothing to me. Do not worry my love. There is nothing he can do to me that would ever make me forget how much I love you. Someday I am going to get out of here and find a way to make everything right between us again. I memorized your face the last time we made love and that is the picture that I will keep with me until we see each other again. Your love has saved me so many times. It will do it again. Please know how incredibly sorry I am. You do not deserve to suffer this way

All my love,

Your Annie

A lone tear rolls down her cheek as she pulls out the classifieds. She has to find a job if she ever expects to make a life for herself here. She was not intending to return to the WSB.

Holly is waiting for him when Robert walks in the door. She can see the lines of worry on his face, even as he throws his duffle bag onto the couch.

"We have to talk," he explains.

He knows this will not be an easy conversation; he also knows that Holly needs to know the truth.

"Is something wrong," she asks.

He does not know how to answer that so he tells her to have a seat. She tries to reach out to him but he puts some distance between them. There is no way he can get through this if Holly is sitting too close to him.

"I'm not really sure how to tell you this so I am just going to say it. I have another wife."

He felt the sting of her hand against his cheek but he did not flinch. That did not come out right. He probably deserved it.

"You son of a bitch," she yells. "What kind of man marries a woman when he already has a wife? What kind of person commits bigamy?"

He waits her out. He has long since learned that it was the best way of dealing with Holly's outbursts.

"A man who thinks his first wife is dead," he reasons. "Holly, I am sorry but seven years ago, I thought my wife was killed in an explosion. Last night when I went to visit her grave, I found out she was alive."

"That is where you have been going all these years…to her grave? Why would you never tell me any of this Robert? Where has she been all these years?"

"I didn't tell you because it was a part of my life that I needed to deal with on my own. She was dead Holly. I did not think it was something that you needed to know. I was moving on with my life with you. What good would it do to admit that you were not my first wife? I didn't think I could explain to you the importance of needing to visit her grave every year on our anniversary."

"Well I think you need to try… Because from where I am standing, you are looking like a very guilty man. Are you still in love with her?"

"Holly I…I love you both. I cannot pretend that Anna and I do not still have a connection. I care about her. I always will. "

"And me…how do you feel about me?"

"I…I care about you too."

"Once upon a time you could tell me you love me. Now it's 'I care about you.' You must have really loved this Anna for you to suddenly be so confused."

"I did Holly. But I wanted to be honest with you."

"You didn't answer my question before…where has she been all these years."

"I don't know all the answers but I know someone took her from me…made me believe she was dead…tried to erase her love for me…"

"That sounds pretty out there…You have to know she's trying to take you for a ride."

"You don't know her Holly. Please do not make assumptions about what she has been through in the last seven years. She is suffering. My God Holly, she's having nightmares."

"How would you know she's having nightmares unless you were with her?"

Robert looks at his feet and Holly grabs him by the arm. "What the hell is wrong with you Robert? You let me worry about you for another day so you could stay with your…Oh my God, that is it isn't it? She is still your wife…"

"Holly, I'm…"

"Go Robert…Just go. If you want her so damn much then get the hell out. "

"Holly…"

"Just tell me one thing Robert…Did you have sex with her?"

"No…No, of course not."

"Did you want to?"

When he pauses just a little too long, Holly knows. "You want to have sex with another woman and you expect me to understand that? I have forgiven you for so many things Robert… but that…I think you should leave. "

"Holly, What…"

"What does it mean for our marriage? That depends on you. "

Robert does not know what he can say to that. Is it fair for him to go after Anna when he made promises to Holly too? Is it fair for him to stay with Holly when he still thinks about Anna? No matter who he chooses, somebody is going to get hurt.

"What am I going to do," he wonders, as his phone rings.

"Scorpio," he says, as he picks up his phone.

"You better get down here right away Commissioner. We just hired the assistant police chief and she's waiting to meet with you."

"Can't this wait until tomorrow," he asks.

"Afraid not. She says she's your wife."

The phone dropped from his hand and nearly cracked.

"Commissioner, you there?"

"Sorry I just…"

"Have one wife too many. "

"Shut up. I'm on my way."

He ended the call and headed for his truck. This was not going to sit well with Holly. What are you up to Luv?, he wonders.