Her Eyes

Chapter 34: LIES

As he woke up, the first thought on his mind was Norma—everything she'd done the day before. They'd taken a step forward. He needed to do something for her that showed how much he really cared about her. Then it hit him—her car. He quickly got dressed and drove out to the car dealership that was just out of town. He parked in front of the building and got out, approaching the car salesman.

"Can I help you, sir?" The man's eyes lit up. He looked like he hadn't seen a customer in days.

Alex couldn't believe he was doing this. He'd never done anything like this for anyone. He'd never felt this way about anyone. "Yeah, I'm looking for an early seventies Mercedes, light green—" He stopped at the sight of the man's finger flinging in his face; a look of disgust forming.

Alex knew what was coming. The man was like every other salesman. "We actually have one of those." He began to walk backwards towards the back lot. "Come on, let me show it to you. It's got some character, but it's—"

"I've seen it," Alex cut him off. He sighed to himself. "She wants it back…the woman who sold it. Can you just get the keys, please?" The man nodded and headed inside the building. Alex shook his head at himself. He couldn't believe the man this woman had turned him into. She had complete control over him, and he knew it.

The salesman came back out with the keys in his hand. "Your girlfriend's not too happy with the new car, is she?" he laughed, handing him the keys. "You gotta keep the reins on a woman like that."

Alex rolled his eyes. "I'll bring the other one back."

The man quickly spoke up. "There's a three hundred dollar fee on all returns." He smiled widely.

The sheriff sighed and pulled out his wallet—the things he'd do for this woman. After paying the man, he went out in search for her car. He found it in the back hidden behind some ugly station wagons. He sighed when he got a clearer view of the car. What the hell did she do now? Ram down a bear? He rolled his eyes and climbed in the car, heading to the Bates Motel.

As he pulled up to the motel, a feeling of dread filled him. This had Bob written all over it. He was gonna kill him. He spotted Norma standing on a pile of dirt and pulled the car closer to her. He watched as she turned around, at first a bit confused.

"Oh my god. Oh my god, my car!" The sound of her excitement eased his anger. She leaped off the pile of dirt and ran towards the car as he got out. "You got my car back, Alex." She looked at him sweetly. "Alex. Thank you."

He shrugged it off as he approached her. "What's with the hole?" He pointed to the enormous pit that stood before them.

She looked out at the pit then back at him, smiling slightly. "Bob Paris is building a pool just like he said he would. You were there."

He stared back at her warily. "It's pretty deep." He looked down to find that she had nothing in her hands. "Where are the plans?"

She hesitated for a moment. She knew how he was. "Um, I don't have them, but I have a call into Bob. The worker said that it's a pool and there are plans."

He knew what Bob was up to. "Okay." He smiled as she pounded on the car excitedly. "I'll take the other car back for you. Get me the pink slip."

"Sure." She turned to leave but stopped herself, turning around to face him. "I cannot believe that you did this for me—that you realized how much this car meant to me."

Alex looked down at the car shyly. He didn't expect her to react this way. "I'm a cop…I'm observant."

"That is so nice." She brought her smile up to him. "Why did you do it?" She took a step closer to him.

Their proximity made him nervous. He stared at her. He couldn't explain why he did—he just knew that he needed to. "I don't know. I just, uh." He looked away. He would have never imagined this happening. "I couldn't stand the thought of you being sad about it if I could do something or fix it…whatever that means." He laughed nervously. He'd never been this way around a woman. He held his breath as she stepped forward, leaning into him.

Her eyes looked into his. He was on fire. He thought she was going to kiss him, but she changed course midway and kissed his cheek instead. He didn't mind. He cherished every second of it. He'd never forget the feeling of her warm lips against his skin. She moved his head slightly as she pressed her lips against his cheek. His heart stopped when she let go, but she quickly moved in for another peck before smiling up at him brightly. His heart pounded out of his chest as she did so. "Okay, I'm gonna go get the pink slip."

He watched her run up the steps, not really sure how he was feeling. He was slowly becoming aware of the spell she had cast on him. He moved over to the pit and stared down into it. He needed to save her.

It wasn't long before she came back with the paper and keys in her hand. He stepped down from the dirt and took them from her. "I really appreciate you doing this for me," she told him.

He smiled at her, looking back over to her car. "So what did you do to your car?"

She gave him a nervous smile. He knew she has hesitant to tell him, but she told him anyway. "I rammed down the Lee Berman memorial sign." She bit her lip waiting for his reaction.

He laughed and walked off towards the new car. "Of course, you did." He got in and drove back to the car dealership.

Once he was back in his own vehicle, he stopped by Bob's office for a talk. His secretary was dead set against letting him in, but he pushed past her anyway. "Sheriff Romero is here to see you," she shouted from behind Alex.

"Give us a minute," Bob replied. He looked up at the sheriff. "I was actually just going to call you. We need to talk."

Alex had had it with him. He wanted him dead. "What the hell's going on with that giant hole outside Norma Bates' house?"

"You can't build a pool without a hole," Bob laughed smugly.

"That's not the hole you dig for a pool," he shot back. He felt his blood rushing as his anger rose within him.

Bob sat back in his seat. "It's certainly something she'll remember."

Alex glared at him. He'd never let anything happen to Norma…ever. "Don't screw with her. Don't do it." He couldn't believe he was getting so flustered over this, but the truth was…she reminded him of himself. They were both somewhat alienated in this town. They really only had each other. "That's why I came with her the other day, so she's not hanging out there all alone."

Bob stared at him remorsefully. "I need to tell you a few things I found out recently. You may wanna have a seat." He waited for the sheriff to sit before continuing. "I had a little session with the therapist that Norma Bates has been screwing." Alex felt his heart ripping in half, though he didn't entirely believe Bob. "You think you know her, Alex, but you don't. She's a kinky bitch." He could have killed him just for that. Bob got up from his chair and walked around to the front of his desk. "Going out and getting new clothes—sexy stuff. Going to bars and picking up men."

Alex felt his body tense up. "I don't really care about her personal life, Bob," he lied. It was killing him.

"Alex." Bob could see right through him. "Listen to me…I did little digging. I found out a few things like how she was screwing your deputy." Alex cringed. He didn't want to believe it, but he knew it was true. He remembered how Zack talked about her at the station. "And that he ended up dying on her property, but the police report says that you killed him in self defense." His life was unraveling before him, and he couldn't do anything about it. He felt powerless. "Do you wanna know what she told the therapist she's been sleeping with?" Alex stared back at him plainly; he didn't know what to do. "Her son, Norman, killed his father." Alex swallowed hard. "Apparently he blacks out and gets violent." He cringed at the thought of him hurting his mother. "And she lied and said it was an accident. She's using you to protect herself and her family."

She was all that he had. He knew that. He hated that he knew Bob was probably right. "What does any of this have to do with you, Bob?"

Bob stared back at him sadly. "I'm just trying to protect the town that we both grew up in. I need an ally. I want you back on my team."

It was too late. Alex hated Bob—he hated everyone. "Yeah. I'm not interested." He got up from the seat and made his way out of the office.

"I've known you along time, Alex," Bob called after him. "I can read you face."

Alex went back to his house and thought things over. He needed to know who to trust. He certainly didn't trust Bob—but could he trust Norma? After everything he's done for her…after everything they've been through, was she using him? He sped over to the Bates' house and banged on the door. His heart ached when he saw her peering at him through the window.

"Hi, Alex. I was just heating up some leftovers, you wanna come in?" He had never been this affected by anybody. It scared him. He stared at her for a moment—he wasn't sure what to say. He walked away from her; he needed the distance. "What?" She followed him out, closing the door behind her.

He turned around to face her as she approached him. The sound of the night filled him. He laughed nervously; he didn't want to lose her, but he needed to know. "You remember the first time that I talked to you on this porch? It's kind of funny cause you were standing right over there and you were lying to me." She had always lied to him. He didn't know why he ever trusted her—why he ever let her in.

She was confused. "What are you talking about?" She stared up at him. "Do you wanna come in? Did you talk to Bob Paris?"

He stared at her, searching. How did they end up here? How did they end up like this? "Yeah, I did." He had only been this hurt once before—it was when his mother died. She'd left him all alone. And here he was again…all alone. "I don't wanna come in. I wanna ask you something and don't tell me a story. Tell me the truth." He looked into her eyes. He needed her. "I know what your impulse is gonna be, but don't do it. Just this once."

"Just this once?" She knew something was wrong…he could tell, but he didn't care. Not if Bob was right.

"How did your husband die?" It came out rockier than he thought it would. He watched as the words hit her hard.

"You know how he died." She had rehearsed this over and over—enough times that even she believed it. "In an accident in the garage…a heavy shelf fell on him."

His heart gave up when she said it. He was losing her. He couldn't live without her, but he'd find a way—he always did. "Last chance, Norma."

She had a decision to make, but she made her decision a long time ago. "That it was truth." He could never break her. They weren't the same.

He'd lost her. It was best they end things now before it went too far. "Goodbye, Norma." He slowly turned and left the porch. He was done with her. Done with her lies—her manipulations. He needed her, but he wasn't ever going to be enough for her. He knew that. The sound of his name leaving her lips pained him more than anything. She had no idea the reality of it all. He was better off alone anyway…he couldn't stand the pain of knowing Norma Bates.