Chapter IV

Pine Valley Police Headquarters, PA

Lieutenant Frye was getting exasperated. " I have been assured that Charlotte Devane is indeed in prison. Interpol has guaranteed me that she could not have orchestrated any form of kidnapping from her jail cell."

Dimitri too was getting frustrated with the constant run around he was getting from the Pine Valley police where Charlotte Devane was concerned. " I understood that quite clearly Lieutenant, the first time you said it. All I want from you is the location of the prison so I can see for myself that she is there."

Lieutenant Frye tried to maintain his composure, "And as I explained, the location is undisclosed and will remain that way at the insistence of Scotland Yard. She is in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison somewhere in the UK, that's all the information that I'm legally able to obtain. Apparently, Charlotte Devane has made her share of enemies over the past three decades and there are numerous parties out there that are quite eager to see her dead, hence the secrecy of her location."

"I'm not going to kill her, I just want to make sure she is where they say she is," Dimitri tried to reason with Frye.

"I'm not going to waste any more of your time or mine, Mr.Marick. If Interpol assures me she's in prison, that's good enough for me." Lieutenant Frye had had enough of the infamous Marick temperament.

"Well it's not good enough for me, dammit!" He pounded his fist onto the wooden table.

Everyone at the police station stopped what they were doing and stared at Dimitri. Frye gave him an icy glare. "I suggest you watch yourself before I put you under arrest for causing a public disturbance."

Dimitri implored him, "Please, I'm begging you…what if it were your wife?"

Lieutenant Frye turned his back to him. "Goodbye, Mr.Marick."

Edmund Grey walked into the police station just as he saw Lieutenant Frye leave.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. That's what's going on. Tell me Edmund, if you thought Maria could be alive wouldn't you do everything in your power to find her?"

"I see. This is what this is about." Edmund looked at his brother with sadness. "Just because you decide to come up with far fetched theories about what could have happened, isn't going to make them come true, or Alex come back for that matter."

Dimitri sat down. "Of course you think I'm crazy. Crazy to hope that my wife could be alive."

Edmund tried to put his arms around his brother but Dimitri pushed them off. "No, I don't think you're crazy. I just think you have to let go."

"'Let go', right, of course. I think I'll just go home to the lodge today, and I'll just 'let go'. No problem, little brother, maybe we'll have a game of cards afterwards." Dimitri's voice was bitter.

"Dimitri! You know damn well that's not what I mean. " Edmund looked at him like he didn't know what to say anymore.

Dimitri knew he wasn't being fair, "I'm sorry. That was out of line. I know…I know I've been intolerable lately. I'm sorry, brother. I can't explain it, but I feel that Alex isn't dead. I know it doesn't make any sense but it's what my gut instincts are telling me."

"No." Edmund shook his head, "It's not your gut instincts. It's what you desperately want to believe. The day you realize that, you'll be able to start letting go. But not before then."

"Maybe I don't want to let go."

Dimitri realized that he could not accomplish anything else at the police station, nor could he force his brother to understand. So he got up, and left.

Wildwind, Pine Valley, PA

That night when he returned to Wildwind, Edmund picked up the phone and called Erica Kane.

"I have a favor to ask you," he said on the phone, "It's about Dimitri. Ever since Alex died, he's been in terrible shape. Worse than I've ever seen him. It seems there is nothing anyone can do for him. I know it's unfair to ask this of you, but he could really use a friend, and you're the first person thought of."

Dimitri's ex-wife seemed taken aback by the request but there was no hesitation in her answer, "Oh Edmund, of course, of course I'll go and see him. I'm glad you asked. It's the least I could do for him."

"Thank you. I owe you one."

Brynn Wydd, Wales

The realization that she was pregnant overwhelmed Alex. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry or maybe both. It was the most incredible blessing in the most horrible of circumstances.

'Why didn't I tell him that night?' she asked herself, 'Now I may never get the chance. Oh God, the just the thought that Dimitri may never know…'

A gamut of emotions ran though her and the tears welled up again.

'Stop it! Pull yourself together! Think. Think fast.' she told herself, 'Charlotte is coming to see me today. I have to think of something. If she finds out, she'll never let me carry this child to term. Oh Lord, I can't let that happen.'

'There has to be a way out of here. But if I escape, I'll kill Dimitri.' She remembered Charlotte's threat, not doubting for a moment that her mother would carry it out.

"Whether you try to flee tomorrow, or next month or next year. You do, he dies."

'But if I don't, what happens to our child? There has to be another way. There has to be a way to strike a deal with Charlotte. What do I have that she wants? What could I possibly threaten her with in exchange for my child's life?'

Suddenly an idea occurred to her, and at that very moment, Charlotte entered the room.

"Well hello Sasha. I'm so glad to see you're up and exploring your surroundings. Justin said you were sick earlier. I have to admit you do look a little pale."

"I want to make a deal with you," Alex blurted out.

Charlotte looked at her sickly looking daughter. She was a mess, her wrists and clothes bloodied from the handcuffs. Charlotte wanted to laugh at her audacity. "Really? What makes you think you're in any sort of position to make a deal with me?'

"I'm pregnant."

At those words, Charlotte was genuinely shocked, "What?!"

"You heard me. I'm pregnant, and I want this child to live." Alex made sure that her voice was level, steady and in complete control of her emotions.

Charlotte sat down on the bed. "Oh this is just bloody marvelous."

Alex continued, unfazed by Charlotte's reaction, "I want you to let me carry my child to term. In the meantime, I'll do whatever I have to, within physical reason, to be the master spy or mercenary or assassin or whatever it is you want from me. Once my child is born, my services are yours, as long as you need them, as long as my baby is off limits. Off limits from you, off limits from any blackmail you may think of. Whatever it is you think I can offer you, as a doctor, as a research scientist, as a spy, as your daughter, I don't care. I'll do it, for as long as I live. But whatever concerns my child is entirely under my control. No drugs, no brainwashing. In return what you get is unconditional compliance on my part, as long as my baby is safe."

"Hmm, isn't that interesting. And if I don't agree with your deal?"

Alex stared straight at her, "If you don't agree, I'll kill myself. That way we both lose."

For the second time in less than five minutes, Alex had managed to surprise Charlotte.

"Really? Oh be serious, Sasha. You don't have the nerve or the guts to kill yourself. You're not Anna. Alex is the healer, not the warrior. That's the way it's always been. God's little joke on me for stealing the wrong twin."

"It doesn't take a whole lot of guts to kill yourself when you have nothing to live for," Alex shot back icily. "You took me away from my friends, my work, my home, and the man I love more than life itself, only to use the love I have for him against me. Believe me, mother dear, if I lose this child, nothing will matter to me anymore. It won't be a life worth living."

Charlotte looked as though she was impressed for the first time since Alex had known her. "Well, well… this is quite picture you've painted for us here. My daughter finally working by my side, as long as I let her raise her little brat as she chooses. And the most incredible thing about your idea is that it might actually work. This could be a 'win-win situation', as your American friends like to say."

Alex's heart skipped a beat. The thought that she may have saved her child's future brought her an indescribable sense of momentary relief.

"And if you never see Dimitri again?"

"If that's what it takes to keep him safe."

"Oh you fool," Charlotte told her with disdain. "You really love that man, don't you? I'll tell you what I think, I think you must find yourself awfully clever to come up with this idea, and in a way I suppose you are, because I will go along with you. But bare in mind, when you start to get comfortable in your new role and start to think of killing me to end your troubles. Don't ever forget that you'll also kill your beloved husband in the process."

Charlotte got up, as if ready to leave. "As a symbol of my goodwill and agreement to your plan, I'll send in Justin to undo your handcuffs and bring you some fresh clothes. And tomorrow we'll start to talk about your new living arrangements."

When she was gone and Alex was alone, she noticed that her hands were trembling. 'It's ok' she told. 'Everything's ok, for now. One step at a time, as long as you and your father are safe,' she spoke to her unborn child, 'That's all that matters'

Back in her office, Charlotte informed Justin about what had transpired. "Did you hear that grand deal that my daughter decided to strike with her old mum?"

"I did. I followed your conversation on the camera. You're not seriously going to play along are you?"

"Of course I am. Although, this means she won't be able to do the Prague assignment as she'll be about seven months pregnant or so at the time, you do realize I've just bought her loyalty for the rest of our lives. And once the child is born, we'll have even more leverage against her. More than just Dimitri. After all, who knows how long her undying love for him will last? Romantic love is fleeting, Justin. But a child…a child means a mother's love. And that's something that never dies. For now, go and help her fix herself up. She looks dreadful."

Justin did not know quite what to say, but as always, he complied.

"Of course, Ma'am."

Charlotte was truly pleased with the way the afternoon had gone, even Prime Minister Blair had been less of a pain that she had anticipated. She poured herself a cup of Earl Grey and thought of the endless possibilities that lay ahead.