Chapter Six
He feels the beads of sweat stinging his eyes and he wipes them with his shirt. He knows what she would say if she saw him like this and he is not in the mood for another attempt at denial. He knows it would be as empty as his promises. He almost wishes she would yell at him—tell him he is being unreasonable or unfair. It would be far less frightening then the silence.
"Anna," he called. She barely even flinched. "Talk to me Luv. You are starting to scare me."
She turns around then, her mascara running down her cheeks as a sign of her tears. He wants to reach out to her but she is putting distance between them just by the way, she is still hugging herself.
"Did something happen," he asks her? A quick glance at his desk tells him she had been reading a file that upset her. When she does not move, he walks to the desk and picks it up.
"White Rose," he whispers. "He's leaving a calling card."
The murdered woman in the file could have very easily been mistaken for Anna. He wondered if that was what spooked her.
"Anna, listen to me. I am not going to let anything happen to you again. If that's what you are worried about…"
"I need your help Robert. You know how much I hate to ask but…"
"You have it. You know you do."
"I need you to promise me that what we say will stay in this room. "
"You have my word," he says.
She paces back and forth, as she gathers her thoughts and Robert tries not to rush her, even when her movement is making it very difficult not to worry.
"The man in this picture," she finally begins, "is the same man who kidnapped me. I was one hundred percent sure that I killed him when I escaped. Obviously, he is not dead. This murder…it is a message to me Robert. He is going to start killing people who have the misfortune of looking like me. His intention is to…"
"Get to you," he finishes for her.
"I am not going back there Robert. The things that he did to me…I will never let him do them again. Not to me…not to anyone."
"What do you need from me," Robert asks. He would tell her that he would keep her safe and protected if he thought it would have any effect but he knew that Anna did not want him to make promises he could not keep. She could take care of herself. He failed her once. He would not fail her again.
"I need you…Robert I need you."
Her voice cracks and he knows that she is struggling to get the words out. He places both hands on her shoulders. "Whatever it is…you know you can count on me. I want to help you Luv. Please let me help you."
Anna is looking at him now and Robert thinks that as strong as she is, she has never looked more Vulnerable. He touches her cheek and she closes her eyes, her own hand covering his. He knows she feels the same electric jolt that he just did. He does not know whether he should mention it.
Anna opens her eyes and Robert finds himself captivated by them. Anna's eyes are seemingly just as mesmerized by his. For a moment, it is as if the entire world has disappeared and all that is left is the two of them. He leans in closer and she knows that the desire was there…he was going to kiss her. As much as she wants that, she knows that it is the wrong time. She does not want his pity or his comfort…she wants his heart. His love. His Commitment. She wants His Everything.
He steps back in realization and kisses the top of her head. She falls into his embrace as his arms wrap around her. For one moment in time, she feels completely safe.
"Robert, I need…I need you to help me kill him…for real this time."
He studies her face for signs that she might be kidding but realizes that she would never joke about something that serious. He does not know what scares him more…the fact that he would do it without question or the fact that Anna would ask him to knowing that he would.
In truth, what was the most terrifying, was the fact that Anna was the only one he would ever willingly walk over hot coals for…and he was not sure why. He was the police Commissioner…he risked his life every day…But never to that degree. Anna was the only one he would sacrifice his morals for every single time. He already has more than once. He would do it again in a heartbeat.
"Where do we start," he asks. "You know I would do anything for you. "
"Are you…are you sure you can do this Robert. I need you to be one hundred percent sure. I would never force you to do anything you were not comfortable with…No matter how much I…I need you."
"We have to stop him Anna…The only thing I am not comfortable with is the fact that you ever have to feel afraid. I would do anything to make you feel safe again. You have my word. We are in this together. Always."
"Th…Thank you," she states, her voice cracking.
"Don't mention it, "he replies. "Now let us get to work. Apparently we're partners."
She gives him a shy smile, as if to say 'I hope you are not mad about that,' and silently they divide the work. They would not speak of their pact to another soul. It was something they would take to their grave.