The morning came and my excitement went through the roof. I knew that if Woz agreed,my plan could be successful. For the first time in a week,i looked at myself in
the mirror. Just like i thought my appearance reflected what a horrible time i had lately. My eyes were sunken in,under eye bags looked huge on my exhausted face.
Curly hair was messed up as never before and desperately needed to be brushed. I did everything that i could to put myself together before the nurse came in. I
jumped up and followed her to the visitor's room. Woz was sitting at a little square table. He stood up as soon as he saw me. His green eyes were glowing with love. I
rushed to his open arms. We stood like that for a minute or so. It felt like home. Safe and cozy. I didn't have to say a word. Woz knew how much i missed him.
- Harlee,it was a real test for me. I so got used to have you by my side. - He was holding my hand tightly.
- You tell me. I'm here completely helpless without you. - I was staring at Woz,searching for new wrinkles and new grey like we spent years apart.
- Well,Christina is getting better. I think she will visit you soon - Woz knew the question that i would ask first and didn't hesitate to let me know. I was sure that
Christina was safe with him.
- Thank you...what would i do without you?! - My gratitude for his care and support was overwhelming.
- I love her as much as i love you... - He squeezed my hand tighter.
- I know. Woz,i need to talk to you about...Stahl... - I was afraid that Woz would react like he did in my nightmare.
- Harlee,i keep my eye on him. We don't let him out of sight. This prick is on my radar. - His face changed when Stahl's name came up.
- What is he up to? I know that Katie Myers is having an affair with him... - I exhaled with relief. Woz was on my side.
- Yeah,Stahl doesn't waste his time. She is having his back. But i checked if he returned to FBI. He got demoted to a police officer. - Woz's voice sounded low and
angry. He hated Stahl as much as i did.
- Police officer...what a joke...Woz,can you spread the word about me having a mental breakdown.I want him to know about it. He won't resist temptation to see me
like this...bring me a bug...- I whispered conspiratorially,leaning forward to my ally.
- I knew that you had a plan for him... - After a short pause,Woz gave me his special grin. My doubts vanished.
No words could express how happy i was. Hope filled me up. I knew that Woz would be efficient. My mind was going through possible scenarios of how my plan would
work out. I tried to be positive. Maybe it would take more than one visit from Stahl to get him talking. But i was ready to take risks. Time is moving so slow,when you
are waiting for something important to happen.
Melly returned one day later. She looked totally unfazed by a stroke. Only her weight loss showed her health problems.
- Oh,Doctor Gleeson was so nice to me!He let me have a vacation. How is your treatment going? - Melly was talkative as usual. And i had to admit that i was glad to
see her.
- It's going as well as yours. - I chuckled,looking at Melly's efforts to find her favorite brush.
- I hope so! You have so much life in you!There's no need to waste it here. - Her voice sounded cheerful opposite to what she was saying. I felt a stinging feeling in
my chest. Melly was a lost soul.
The night came. Strangely i didn't feel scared anymore.
- It's getting boring,Harlee... - Stahl was sitting at Woz's desk.
- Only for you. - I looked around the office. How i missed that place. My mind recreated everything perfectly.
- I want more action. More animosity,tention...rage... - Stahl put his feet on the desk.
- Common. I think we need a break from that. - I raised the blinds to see if someone was there. Maybe Tess or Tufo.
- It's just us...as always,Harlee... - Stahl's suave tone was intact.
- I assume you had a very bad childhood...probably you were an orphan or adopted by neglectful people. - I was thinking outloud. Of course it wasn't real Stahl to
ask him that question.
- That's something new. You want to know my past...i will surprise you. - He squinted his blue eyes.
- I'm ready for the most bizarre story. - I came up to him,feeling in control of the situation.
- Harlee,it's a very dangerous path. Be sure that you want to open my can of worms. - Stahl made a mockingly mysterious face.
- Oh,i'm sure. I want to know why you are such a control freak...why you have this hair so slick all the time. - I leaned over and reached out to mess up his perfectly
smooth hair.
- Harlee...- He mumbled,clearly taking off guard by my antic.
- Loosen up! - I felt like it was a little victory over snobby Stahl. He looked like a school boy with his messy hair.
- You want to play,Harlee...- He took off his feet from the desk and stood up. I noticed anger in his eyes.
- I want you out of my head and my life. - I moved back,feeling that maybe my antic was unnecessary.
- Not happening any time soon. - Stahl was coming at me with menacing stare.
- I don't wanna fight,Stahl. - I was trying to extinguish the fire that i started.
- Who is talking about fighting? - His eyes lit up as soon as he saw me backing up.
- Stahl,just let it go... - I thought that i got rid of fear but i was wrong. My body started to shake.
- How can i,Harlee. It's too good... - He whispered,reaching out his hand to touch me. I rushed to the door but it was locked.
- Where are you going,Detective? I thought we were getting along... - Stahl's venom was pouring out of him.
I closed my eyes,resting my forehead against the door. Stahl came too close but i stood still,trying to catch my breath.
- Harlee,you always play this game with me...throwing a bait and then running away...- His warm breath burned my neck.
My legs were shaking though i was trying to ignore Stahl's nearness.
- You think that you can get away from me. But i'm always here...in your head...- I felt his ice-cold hands on my waist,slowly sliding under my blouse.
- What's wrong,Harlee? Cat got your tongue? - Stahl was clearly taking his time with that torture. I closed my eyes.
- You won't break me...no matter what you do. - I muttered through my teeth,standing motionlessly.
- Really? - He hissed in my ear and slid his hands up to my chest.
- One thing i know about you...is that you are not a rapist. - My heart was racing,giving away my fear.
Stahl exhaled abruptly and stopped. I opened my eyes,feeling like i got to him.
- It seems like we can't surprise each other anymore... - Stahl's voice was deliberately tender. He moved back and i could finally breathe freely.
- Well,you can't know a person completely. There are always hidden talents waiting to be shown. - I turned around and gave Stahl a fake smile. I desperately wanted
to look strong and confident.
- I guess we about to show each other some new tricks. - He returned the same sarcastic that moment Stahl resembled a wolf who was right before the fatal jump on
it's prey.
Melly came back very excited after her session with Dr. Gleeson. It seemed like he told her that she would be released tomorrow.
- I want to buy him a present for everything that he did for me!Doctor Gleeson is such a good person. - She sat down on a bed with a big happy smile on her face. It
made me sick to my stomach.
- Melly,do you have anyone outside who is waiting for you? - I wanted to see real Melinda.
- Yeah,of course...- She looked at me with a familiar expression. The same one people have when they are caught off guard and say the most normal and standard
thing.
- Melly...i have a daughter. She is the only one that i live and fight for. - It was cruel but i needed to push the right button.
- She must be as beautiful as her mother... - She mumbled,after a brief glimpse of fear in her eyes. I could see how Melly was fighting to keep her wide smile on her
face.
- Do you have kids,Melly? - I knew i had to stop torturing her,but something was driving me further. Maybe i just missed interrogating people,making them tell the
truth.
- Yeah,many kids. I worked as a nanny for 10 years. I love children. - Melly's face looked like a mask and her smile turned into a scarry grimace.
- Melly,did you have a favorite? - I came closer to her.
- I had to be unbiased. A good nanny should love every child the same. - She shook her head like i asked something humiliating.
- You shoudn't show that you have a favorite but deep inside you know who it was,right? it must have been a boy? - I was standing right infront of her, examining the
galore of emotions in her big hazel eyes replacing each other one by one: despair, fear, rage, shock, confusion, pain.
- No!No,not true...- Her lips started to quiver spasmodically.
- Melly,what was his name? - I was pushing harder,because she was about to crack.
- I didn't have a favorite!I was a good nanny! - Melly jumped up to the window,covering her ears.
- Melly,you can't be treated untill you accept the truth and what you did! Don't lie to yourself! - I was so close to getting to her.
- I loved my kids!Every single one of them! - She started to scream at the top of her lungs.
- You had a son! What happened to him? - I turned her around and saw the tears running down her face.
- I couldn't have children!I'm infertile! - She slid down on the floor,making up another story of her life.
- What's going on here? - I heard the blond nurses's high voice.
- We were talking. - That was all i could say. Two male nurses walked up to Melly and took her out.
- You told her something about her son? - Samantha didn't even try to hide her reproachful tone.
- It's not a treatment for her if she still lives in her made up world. - I really wanted to help Melly,but i took it too far.
- Leave it to Doctor Gleeson. - Blondie tilted her head with a stern look on her small pale face.
She walked out. I sat down on the bed,thinking about the reason for my antic with Melly. It was very cruel to put her through it. Why did i do that?
After a lunch Samantha came back to take me to Doctor Gleeson.
- Harlee,you know why you're here. - For the first time i saw him upset.
- I know. And i'm sorry. - I felt like a schoolgirl.
- You decided to break her barriers. It's something you can't do with Melinda. - He was nervously rubbing his hands.
- She lives in delusion and i wanted to help her. I've made a mistake. - My voice cracked,exposing my emotional state.
- Your intentions were good but you didn't think about Melly in that moment. You thought about yourself,Harlee. - He was looking at me judgementally.
- She is in a bubble of lies...you let her live like this. - I started to defend my point of view.
- You feel that the same thing can be said about you,Harlee. - Doctor's tone was cold and stern.
He left me speechless.
- Harlee,you projected your own case on Melly. But i'm not angry with you. I'm just upset. After our major step forward...- Doctor scratched his head with
disappointment.
- No,Doctor Gleeson...i just had a nightmare with...him. He hurt me again... - I had to come up with something as fast as i could.
- Sit down and tell me about it. - Doctor glanced at the armchair.
- I saw him...he was so indifferent to me. - My brain was generating a new lie.
- He rejected you again. Harlee,what is the ideal picture of your relantionship with him? - Dr. Gleeson opened his notebook.
- Never really thought about it...i was always in the process but i didn't plan a result. - My mind went back to the house where Stahl kept me tied up. I remembered
his reaction when i asked him about what he was going to do with me. And he didn't know.
- Maybe Happily ever after? Family with couple of kids? - He was examining my face with professional precision.
- Well...I always knew that it wouldn't be happily ever after...it couldn't be. I just wanted to have him...possess him. That was one way road. I was aware of bad
outcome but i just couldn't stop. - It felt so horribly wrong to talk from Stahl's perspective.
- It's a free fall. That moment before you hit the ground. You block that thought about the final moment and concentrate on falling. It's intoxicating - Dr. Gleeson was
giving me another resolution about my obsession.
- Yes. I can risk it all for this moment. - I mumbled,staring down on the floor. All i could think about was Stahl's inability to resist temptation to see me again and my
inability to give up.