I was rolling in the deep and Stahl wasn't my only enemy. FBI was helping him unknowingly. I called Woz and told him everything. He was right all along. Christina
came home and saw my distraught state. She was trying to talk to me and find out what was wrong but i couldn't tell her about Stahl's phone call. She didn't need to
know about that. She is a little girl. My little girl. What have i done to my life?
- Harlee...let's talk...without violence on your part...- Stahl was sitting in the chair tied up, just like i was when he took me to his house. The scenario was exactly the same. But tables were turned.
- I don't want to talk to you...i don't want to see you and hear your voice...just get lost! - I balled up my fists ready for another nightmare.
- Your guilt is tearing you apart...that's why im here...- He smiled at me like a pupil who got a teacher's approval.
- I know that you're trying to punish me,Stahl! But i will fight till the end and im' gonna get you...- I finally felt safe with him because he was tied up. Weak and
vulnerable just like i was that day.
- I want to heal you...free you from the burden that is crashing you...i'm the only one who can do it... - His voice sounded like an old song that i listened million times.
- Hero and healer...the great justice warrior...the one and only! Handler of a criminal Harlee Santos! - I came closer to him staring right in his eyes with all the hatred
that i had.
- I'm free...The day that you ruined my career i understood that i didn't have secrets to hide...and i got my punishment...i lost my son...my status in
society...everything...and i felt free...- His blue eyes were glimmering with excitement.
- You are crazy...loonatic...creep that hates me...that's all... - I was standing above him feeling totaly in control for the first time in so many months.
- I love you, Harlee...- His eyes were burning.
- It's not love! James loved me! You just want to posses me! - I screamed right in his face outraged by his revelation.
- Yes,he loved the good Harlee, polite and fair Harlee, kind and loving Harlee but not the person that you really are...- He gave me a smug smirk like he was in charge
not me.
- I can ducktape you right now! I can punch you to a pulp if i want to, just to make you shut up!I'm in control here not you! - I leaned closer trying to make him fear
me,like i was scared of him when i was trapped in that house.
- Of course...you can do whatever you want to do...feel free...- He whispered like someone could hear us.
- Just shut your mouth or i will hurt you...- I grabbed him by the chin.
- Common...make me obey... - He was looking at me with sheer pleasure.
- Stop it! - I slapped his face.
- That's right...what else do you want to do? - He smiled at me joyfully.
- You make me sick! - I punched him slitting his lower lip.
- Harlee, you've been keeping all this anger inside!Let it out! - Stahl licked his lips, seemingly savoring the taste of blood.
I stopped. Something in me wanted to continue that sick game but i knew that i would lose control. No more blood! No more killings!
- Harlee..- He noticed the change in me.
- You are tied up to this chair and you are trying to make me do what YOU want me to do...you are not in control...no more! - I stepped back feeling dizzy.
- That's my girl... - He wispered with unbridled desire. I recognized that fire in his eyes. The same mixture of desire and admiration that i saw when he came to my
appartment and confronted me about the camera that i hid in his bedroom. I told him that i wanted control and he accepted his obsession.
- I'm not playing your game...- I slid on the floor catching my breath.
- Detective Santos is a hard nut to crack...- He started to swing on the chair.
- Stahl, i'm not afraid of you...not here...- I looked at him trying to convince myself in what i was saying.
- You shouldn't be... - He untied himself so fast like there was no rope at all. Stahl stood up, nonchalantly streching his back.
- Step back! - I jumped up looking for an object to protect myself from him.
- Don't be like that, Harlee...- Stahl was walking towards me like a hungry lion.
- I said Stop! - I grabbed a stoker near a fireplace.
- I'm not going to hurt you...- His voice was decievingly silky and tender. He opened his arms, still coming closer to me.
- Stahl, i'm warning you! - My voice cracked,giving away my panic.
- Do it, Harlee...i'm not going to stop... - Stahl came up to me so close that i could see his dilating pupils. The rush of adrenaline overwhelmed me.
- Do you want to die? - I felt my legs go numb.
- Harlee...- He purred my name. I could see so much pain in his eyes like my question hit him like a tone of bricks.
- You have to stop...we...have to stop... - I mumbled losing my breath. My hands were shaky and wet and a stoker was sliding off.
- It's the only way i feel alive...- Stahl gently stroked my cheek.
- I don't want to...do this... - I stuttered trying to lift up a stoker.
- You don't want to kill me, is this what you mean? - He leaned so close that our noses almost touched.
- Stahl...i want to end this...- My body refused to move while my mind was screaming to back away from him. But i was like a rabbit that was hypnotized by a snake.
- I know...- His eyes drifted to my lips.
- Please... - I could hear my heart was about to jump out of my chest. Why couldn't i just hit him with that stoker? What was holding me back?
- My Harlee... - Stahl whispered right in my lips almost kissing me.
- Don't... - I managed to put a stoker between me and Stahl putting it against his chest.
- Well...not this time i guess...- He smiled at me and looked down at the space between us.
- Never...and i mean it...- I was finally regaining control of the situation.
- Ok...- He stepped back raising his arms up like i was arresting him.
- I will get you out of my head...soon...and out of my life...- I was still shaking but somehow my voice sounded confident.
- It's a long road...you know it, Harlee...- Stahl started to fade away and i heard a wake-up call.
The first court hearing was coming in 4 days. Woz got me the most experienced lawyer and his old friend Jeff Philips. A man in his 40 with grey hair little hazel eyes
and a permanent smile that seemed like a mask.
- Harlee, we can make it work! Don't worry - He sat down in front of me cheerfully playing with his cigarette.
- I'm glad that you are in a great mood but my situation is very troubled...- I was sipping green tea not feeling any taste in my mouth. Nerves were raging
underneath my poker face.
- Oh i know about that! I've prepared a line of defense!though it would be great if that Agent Stahl was finally found! - His way of talking resembled a football coach.
Overenergised and overlypositive all the time.
- Great? - I choked on my tea.
- Yes! He can be our witness! - He looked at me reassuringly.
- Our witness!? He made up that plan! He killed Gina! - I was furious.
- Harlee, i understand but we are playing a game and your emotions are getting in the way!unfortunately we couldn't track his call. If he calls you on the cell phone,
it will be very helpful!We put a special device on your phone... - He lit up a cigarette.
- He won't! He is too damn smart for that!Don't you forger that he is a Highly-skilled FBI Agent! - I almost smashed a tea cup.
- I know that too! But he has a soft spot for you...you told me about it. - Jeff squinted his eyes cunningly.
- It can't be called "soft spot"...he is obsessed...- I cringed inside,remembering the dream that i had last night.
- Harlee, we need to convince everyone that it wasn't you who was obsessed. - He put a cigarette out nervously.
- Oh right! I have to prove that i wasn't stalking him! Jesus! - I stood up feeling the urge to hit something.
- Harlee, they know that you planted a bug in his bedroom and... they will turn it against you...- He scretched his head seemingly selecting the words.
- He started it! I was just defending myself...- I was so tired of all that BS.
- Harlee, they will ask you about your sessions with Gina! It's shady and you have to agree with me that's a good catch for them
.How will we explain this? - Jeff started tapping the pen on the table.
- Let's start by saying that i was trying to get information from her! I want this bastard to pay for what he's done to my life! - I wasn't sure about
whether i really needed Gina as a source or as a woman who could share some of my experience with Stahl. She could understand me.
- Harlee, you should be ready for a very dirty game. - He looked at me like he wasn't sure that i was able to get through it.
- I'm used to it. Don't worry. - I sternly looked at him, barely keeping it together.
I searched every corner of my appartment to check if Stahl planted bugs again. But to my surprise,i didn't find anything. I could feel his presence. He was somewhere
near,lurking in the shadows.
For the first time i fell asleep, without having Stahl in my dream. But my bliss ended abruptly with a call.
- Hallo? - It was 6 am. My alarm had to go off in 30 minutes.
- Harlee, They've got Stahl... - Woz's voice sounded like a broken string.
- What? - My mind went blank.
- They found him! I don't know details but...he is officially here. - Woz hissed through his teeth. I could feel his anger.
- Ok...i got it...- It wasn't ok but i was still not wake enough to fully digest that information.
- Get up and be ready...- He hung up hastily.
I couldn't get up. My whole body went numb. I was lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling. It had to be a part of his plan. Stahl managed to stay invisible for so much
time and right before my court hearing he was suddenly found. No coincidences with storm was picked me up. His face was grim.
- How did they find him? Where?- I had so many questions that my head was ready to explode.
- All i know is that he turned up at FBI like nothing happened...seems like he has a back up plan...- Woz didn't look at me like he was afraid to see my reaction.
- God! This is getting crazier and crazier! - I exclaimed,feeling nausea.
- Yes. I'm sure he will be used as a witness, Harlee...and FBI's strategy will be ruthless...- Woz was never driving that slow. He was in panic and i could tell, that what
i had experienced by then was just the beggining of my personal hell.
- Jeff, i know what we need to do! We have to discredit everything that Stahl will say! We have to eliminate him as a reliable source.I know that we can call Agent
Molly Chen...she worked with him...and i have a tape of his dead partner's wife confession!He took andvantage of her,monipulated her...He literally got his partner
killed!Also there are videos of him and Gina where he calls her by my name! - I was running in circles in Jeff's office like a hunted rabbit.
- Harlee, sit down! Don't forget that this case isn't about Stahl! It's about you and a murder of Gina Romero!And these videos won't do you no good! They will turn it
against you! Make you look like a voyer. - My lawyer was preparing papers in his usual manner.
- But they will make him testify in court against me! We have to get rid of him! - I was still prosessing the fact that Stahl was actually here and i would see him in court, pouring out his perverted truth.
- First of all,We have to think about your case and about a line of prosecution! it's a closed hearing because FBI doesn't want it out of the courtroom.
No press, no exposure. - Jeff piled up all the documents and finally sat down.
- Maybe they won't use Stahl! It's risky for them, right? - I was fixed on one thing and it was Stahl.
- Harlee, stop thinking about him! He is not the biggest threat for us! - My lawyer was seemingly irritated by my mumbling.
- Yes!These photos!Dammit! - I balled up my fists angrily.
- No, Harlee. The biggest threat is you. For this murder you can face up to 20 years in prison. - Jeff's permanent smile faded away. I froze in place, staring at him.
- Unfortunately, they have many ways to show that you're unstable. You can't control yourself. And even now you're talking about Stahl all the time. -
He was looking at me with compassion.
- Jeff, what are you trying to say? - I couldn't accept the fact that he was right.
- You know what i mean, Harlee. You are your biggest enemy right now. It will be better for you not to testify in court. - Jeff's voice dropped.
- What? You're afraid that i will say something wrong! Amazing! Do you think i killed her,Jeff? - I came up closer to him, demanding an answer.
- I'm your lawyer and i defend you in court. That's all i have to know. - He was professional but i noticed fear in his eyes. His reaction spoke volumes. I felt pain filling
me up like a poison.
- Harlee, it doesn't matter what i think. You should be very carefull with your words and actions. Be as calm and timid as possible in court. Everything else is on me. -
Jeff stood up, trying to calm me down with that promise.
I couldn't believe that my future depended on that fabricated case. But the most important thing was that my Christina's future hinged on it too.
- Woz,where is he? - I called the only person who believed in my innocence.
- Harlee,he is under FBI's custody. - Woz's voice sounded tired and emotionless.
- He is not under arrest?!- I was losing my mind. My fear took over me.
- He is locked up but FBI has him and no one else. - The feeling of his depressed state was so evident.
- Dammit! Woz, i don't know what to do! - I was drowning, trying to grab Woz's hand.
- Have a good rest,Harlee. You need a lot of stamina and will. I'm with you till the end. - His voice was cold as steel but i knew Waz well enough to know that there
was unconditional love behind it.
Christina came to my bedroom to sleep beside me, just like she did when she was little. I held her so tight, protecting her from the world. The world that i
learned how to survive in by doing awful things. But i never wanted her to follow my steps. My life became a big swamp and it was sucking me in.
- Harlee...wake up...Harlee...- Soothing silky voice was calling me.
I opened my eyes and saw Stahl standing above me in his traditional suit.
- Not again... - I whispered looking around me. It was a hospital room where i ended up after i almost bled out to death.
- How do you feel? - Stahl had his smug grin on.
- I feel just like you want to feel...like shit... - I tried to get up but failed. My body was numb.
- Oh,common,Harlee. We both know that it was all your doing...- He took a stool,placing it beside the bed.
- You did it to me! It's all YOU! - I was so hurt and angry but i couldn't move a muscle.
- Harlee,the problem is that your subconscience tells you otherwise...you are losing it...everyone thinks that you've lost your mind... - Stahl slowly sat down, staring
at me with satisfaction.
- No! Dream about it,Prick! - I spit those words right in his arrogant face.
- Still in denial...but now you are in my shoes,feeling what i felt when you made me a psycho in everyone's eyes... - He hissed with spite.
- You ARE a psycho! - My temples were throbbing so loud that i could barely hear Stahl.
- Shh...Harlee,don't hurt yourself...- He leaned closer and stroked my head.
- Stahl, you need to be locked up in asylum! Only psychiatrist can help you...- I felt an unbearable urge to get up and kick his arse.
- Let's talk about the court hearing...it will uncover all your dark secrets. I can't even imagine how Christina will feel after that... - His voice was dripping with venom.
- If i go down, You will go down with me...and your pathetic efforts to tarnish my name will turn against you...- I wasn't lagging behind with all my hatred.
- Harlee,this's why i love it so much...we are equals...you and me...- Stahl's eyes were burning like two candles. He leaned closer,consuming the air around me.