Her Eyes

Chapter 36: REASONS

Early in the morning Alex received a text about a meeting at the DEA building. He was running a little late—he'd had a long night last night. He couldn't shake her. He didn't know what it was about her, but he wanted her. He walked into the room and hid behind the wall; he didn't want to bring any unneeded attention to himself. He watched the way Babbit instructed the meeting as she spoke; she was doing his job, and he hated it. "Everyone clear on your assignments. We're gonna hit Bob Paris at exactly twenty-one thirty." He was an outsider now. He hated the lack of control he had over everything. He'd messed it all up. Everything with the town—with Norma, there was no turning back. There had to be a way out, but right now he couldn't come to any possible conclusion. It was over. He had nothing. The only thing he could possibly salvage was his relationship with Norma.

So after spending countless hours watching the DEA do all the work, he drove over to the motel. She was already outside when he got there; she was just standing there waiting for something. He got out of the SUV and stood before her, both staring at each other broken down and useless. "I'm not here to apologize," he spoke up. "I did what I felt was the right thing…and it was the right thing. And I stand by it." He couldn't tell her about the DEA and how he regretted even calling them in the first place. She wouldn't win this one.

She didn't move. "Okay. Thanks for coming by and telling me that." Her voice was emotionless, but her face spoke something different.

He moved closer to her. She needed to know why he really came. She needed to know how he felt—what he was going through. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. His heart ached for her. "I am sorry I couldn't protect you." He couldn't believe they've come this far. It seemed like just yesterday he was accusing her of murder. He couldn't understand how someone so fragile could break down his iron wall. He'd never let anyone in…until she came along. There was something about her he didn't quite understand. She had a way with men. A way with controlling them—manipulating them until she got what she needed or they left. But Alex couldn't leave…he was stuck. He knew that. "If I could change that I would, but I can't. It's done." He knew this wouldn't ever end well. He had no choice. They were beholden to each other. He knew she couldn't survive on her own, and that he couldn't stand to live alone anymore. "I wish it was different."

"It's not your fault, Alex." He wasn't expecting this. He was expecting another fight, but she didn't have it in her. She'd lost something. He didn't know if she'd ever get it back. "It's bigger than us." She was being honest for once. "It's my fault anyway. I tried to hide it, and now it's coming out—and it's too much to shove away." They'd never had a conversation like this. Neither one them was trying to gain anything—they were being honest. And Alex liked honesty even if it was too painful. "I'm not gonna lie, I'm so scared. He's my son and he's broken." She was selfless. She never did anything just for herself—it was always about Norman. "He's the dearest boy that ever lived, and I just can't bare it if Bob Paris has this thing investigated. If they take him away…if they put him in prison just for defending me, it will kill me." It was already killing her. It was killing them both. "In some way, I don't even care anymore. Maybe fate wins here. We're all doomed in the end, right?" She gave him a sad smile.

She surprised him. He'd never seen her like this. He thought about what she said; he knew she was right. It was all oddly profound, yet he couldn't bring himself to fully believe it. Denial was his best friend. "Maybe." He shot her the same sad smile before changing his answer. "Probably."

She wiped the tears that had been streaming down her cheeks and stepped closer to him. He thought she was seeking comfort, but— "I'm gonna go up to the house, but thank you very much for stopping by." She left. He waited for her to climb the stairs before getting into his vehicle. He didn't know where they stood anymore. But that didn't stop him from wanting to protect her. She needed him—she deserved him.

It was nine-thirty when they headed over to Bob's house. Alex followed behind Agent Babbit's car. His thoughts circled around Norma. He needed to protect her—to save her from herself. If Bob got arrested, Norma's problem would never go away. He needed Bob gone…for good. The radio buzzed: We're ten minutes from the Paris house. Alex pulled out his phone and dialed Bob's number.

It rang for a while. "Hello." He didn't seem surprised to hear from him.

"You better throw some shit in a bag and get the hell outta there," Alex warned. He needed to take care of him himself. "The DEA's on their way to your house right now to arrest you." He waited for a response. He knew he was still on the line he could hear him breathing. "I'm assuming your still there? You got less than ten minutes."

Bob hesitated for a minute. "Why are you telling me this?"

Alex huffed. "Because Bob, you getting arrested is not in my best interest." He hung up. He'd never done anything like this in his life. Alex wasn't much of a risk taker. But he needed to do this…at least he thought he did. When they got to the house the DEA officers broke down the windows and charged in. Alex watched them from the sidewalk. His heart pounded, worrying that maybe Bob hadn't left. That was until an officer came out without him.

"What do you mean all clear?" Agent Babbit shouted. "Did you clear the perimeter?" She was furious; her plan had failed.

"Up and down…no one," the officer replied.

Alex didn't hesitate. He trudged back to his car unnoticed. Now it was all in the matter of figuring where Bob would go. But Alex knew Bob well. They were friends at one point. Besides it was hard keeping secrets in such a small town. He headed over to the docks and hid in the cabin of Bob's boat. He waited there for a while with his gun in his hand, ready to pull the trigger at any moment. Soon he heard shuffling near the boat. He slid the door open when he felt the boat rock with a shift in weight. "Hello, Bob."

He looked up at him in shock. "Alex. You scared the living hell out of me." He slowly reached down for his gun.

"No, don't. I'll put three bullets in you before you get your hands on that pistol." Alex was a different person now. He was acting on complete impulse—something he'd never do. "Reach for it with just your thumb and forefinger. Two fingers only, lift it out of your pocket. I see any other fingers uncurl, Bob, I'm gonna shoot you." He waited as Bob did so. He was finally gaining his power back. He looked down at the bag Bob was carrying. "Whatcha got? Run money and a fake passport?"

"Pretty much." He slid the bag off his shoulder and threw it on the floor between them. "How'd you know about this place?"

Alex stared at him. They were nothing to each other. "About three years ago, I ran into Rick Hoggs down at the diner. Told me he sold you his boat." Now it was time to unfold his plan. He had been waiting for this for a long time. "I kinda started to reflect on my life cause I always loved fishing, but I never could afford a boat like this…not on a sheriff's salary. So I found myself wondering, why was I the only guy not benefiting from all the money floating around in this town."

Bob seemed surprised. "Coming with me?"

Alex gave him a hard look. "Nah. That's not the way it's gonna go."

"I thought you were gonna let me leave town," Bob laughed. He was nervous. "Look the moment I step off this dock, I'm a new person with a new name, and I have no reason to ever say anything to anybody about my former life—especially about that wacko Norma Bates and her kid."

Alex could have shot him just for that. He hated that Bob could see how he felt about her, and that he used it to his advantage. "The truth is…you're not reliable. You can change your name, but you can't change who you are. You still killed those two girls."

Bob stared at him with judgment written across his face. "Tell yourself whatever you need to, Alex. We both know why you're doing this—and it isn't about those girls." He waited for it to sink in a bit before— "You know right now you are more like your dad than you ever have been. This is about you and what you want." He knew exactly what buttons to push. Alex hated him—he always hated him. "How does that feel? To have spent your whole life trying to get away from someone you hate only to turn into them?"

He couldn't take it anymore. Something took over him. He heard the shots blast through the silent night. He watched as Bob winced in pain, clutching his throat before falling over. He killed again. But this time he couldn't rationalize it. The pain was worse than before, but there was an odd sense of relief that Alex had never felt before. He reached down into Bob's pocket and pulled out the keys to the boat. He hated that this was how things were, but he couldn't take it back. He started the engine and drove the boat out until he could barely see the shore.

He sat for a moment with his head in his hands as the tears fell from his eyes. She did this to him. Bob was his childhood friend and he just murdered him for her. Because his love for her is so strong that he can't control himself anymore. He was losing himself. For once in his life, he didn't know what was going to happen next. He could lose his job—everything that he's worked so hard for could be gone in a split second. This is what Norma Bates did to him. She was mad and she drove everyone else around her a little mad too. Only Alex was in too deep. There was no way out. He was too far gone to be rescued. He knew that now. He picked up Bob and pushed him over the side of the boat, throwing his belongings over the edge as well. He watched them sink into blackness as his heart began to ache. It was for Norma Bates, he told himself. He loved her madly.