AN: Once again thank each of you for your support of this story. The reviews, comments, PMs, follows and views are greatly appreciated. You will find in this chapter the thoughts that inspired this story. A visit to Florence is worth that discovery alone. Enjoy…and let me know what you think about my inspiration.
Chapter 6 Chiseled In Stone
"Man cannot remake himself without suffering,
For he is both the marble and the sculptor." Alexis Carrel
"Oh, my pounding head!" She fumbled around in the early morning light to find the cell phone. Only 4:30. She tried going back to sleep, staring at the ceiling, making snow angels in the sheets, counting sheep, but nothing worked. All she could do was remember that Red had walked out and he had not come home…or whatever he would call this place. At least she didn't think he returned.
She decided to get up and go downstairs to see if he might be there unable to sleep; besides she needed something for her headache. Liz stopped in the bathroom to brush her teeth, then she heard a noise in the hallway; she threw on her robe over her sleep shorts…'Oh wait, I slept in my bathing suit.' She grinned. 'Oh well, I might as well swim a few laps to relieve some stress.'
Liz walked quietly down the stairs; however, before she could enter the kitchen she heard Dembe talking to someone on the phone. She stopped to listen. Soon she could tell he was talking to Red.
"Yes, Raymond I'll bring the grey suit and all of the accessories… Do you need anything else?… I'll put those in the trunk of the car too…. Yes, Aram will come with me…. No, I haven't seen her yet this morning. She didn't get up during the night….I understand. I am to accompany you and Aram. I'll tell the others that they will be with Ms Keen today….Oh, Aram got an alert from the FBI that there has been some new activity with Tom Keen's group…No, nothing imminent. We will keep you informed if there are any other developments….Yes, I'll see you soon."
She thought about the things she overheard. She was to be given three handlers today and new activity with Tom's organization. Interesting. It might prove to be a challenging day.
"Dembe, good morning…or is it? How is Red this morning and don't tell me you don't know. I overheard you talking to him just now." She stopped to get some pills for her headache and a bottle of water.
"He's fine." Knowing Dembe that was all she was going to get from him.
She walked out and sat down on the edge of the pool. The sunrise was gorgeous as it promised a day full of discovery. Sliding into the pool she lost herself in the cool buoyant grasp of the refreshing water. Soon she began to swim laps from end to end. After a while her muscles were more relaxed, her mind could engage in vibrant thought. Her head quit pounding; time to relax and decide how to spend this brand new day full of promise. Time to discover more of the treasures Red had gushed over. She could do this all by herself…oh yes, with her three burly escorts of course.
~X~X~
She sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy a cup of coffee and some biscotti. Aram soon joined her. "Good morning Liz. Looks like this is the day we've been waiting for. I'm curious to see how Mr. Reddington handles these meetings. You do know he's trying to fund his arsenal for any showdown that may be coming in the next few months. He's low on funds because someone was able to gain access to his accounts and has absconded with quite a large stash of his money. I really suspect Ms Pratt may be partly to blame."
Aram had no idea just how helpful that information was to Liz. She felt much more at ease about the purpose of this trip to Italy and perhaps the real reason Red didn't come back last night.
"Aram, why did you agree to join Red on this trip? It doesn't seem like something you would be interested in doing because it's too risky. You may have jeopardized your job with the task force."
"Mr. Reddington saved my job for me not long ago. Diane Fowler and her cohorts had set me up to take the blame in some illegal funds transfers. Mr. Reddington discovered the duplicity and informed me giving me the chance to clear my name using evidence he had uncovered. I trust him, I owe him."
Just then Dembe entered the kitchen telling Aram that it was time to go. "Have a good day, Aram. I'm confident you will do well and be a big help to Red. See you soon. Wish I was going with you. Tell Mr. Reddington that he is going to miss his ace of spades today."
Aram's eyes got bigger. Ace of spades, huh? He flashed his megawatt smile and quipped under his breath, "You can brush pass me anytime."
Liz didn't hear that. She had gone outside to walk around the grounds. Soon she found herself headed toward the olive grove.
~X~X~
She spent an hour just sitting on the bench in the olive grove soaking in the aroma of the herbs and flowering shrubs nearby. She feasted her eyes on the picturesque beauty of the rolling vistas before her and then she closed her eyes shuttering her mind to all negative thoughts. Her inner voice spoke to her and cradled her with positive inspiration. She was reminded of the birth of a goddess, being adored and respected despite her flaws. Liz was ready to conquer this day.
About the time she was ready to return to the villa Richard, the security team leader, appeared in the grove. His face and voice displayed irritation, worry, anger. He scolded her like a child for walking away without notifying him of her sojourn in the grove of peace as she had begun to think of it. She simply chose to remain silent as she walked up the hill.
~X~X~
Soon she was wandering through the Renaissance city of Firenze, aimlessly wandering for now. Fabulous works of art would appear, seemingly at every turn, in their entire splendor. She found herself sauntering over to the Florence Cathedral, the Duomo, with its massive cupola and the bell tower which together are the striking features of the city recognizable in any tourist brochure. Her three handlers followed at a respectable distance, thank goodness.
Liz wondered what it would feel like to climb the narrow steps to the top of the Duomo and partake of the amazing view of the city, but like a flame lighting her mind she soon knew exactly where she was going. She was being drawn to the Galleria dell' Accademia. She wanted to see, no, needed to see the statue of David, not a replica, only the real thing would satisfy her sudden desire.
The sun was beating down unmercifully on Liz as she waited in line with many other tourists. Thank goodness for sun hats with wide brims. When she finally entered the building in the mid afternoon, she noticed her security team had spread out around the perimeter. Phew…she would be able to observe David undisturbed.
Liz followed the crowd into the brightly lit gallery; she walked forward zigzagging her way through the tourists until she reached the restraining barriers that told her she had gone as far as she could. Along the hallway approaching David, there were several unfinished figures emerging from blocks of stone, each one magnificent in its birth of possibilities. At the end of the short corridor, stood Michelangelo's David, a superb work of express power and strength. As Liz gaped upward she was awed by the sheer size and beauty of the physical form. This fine sculpture of a youthful yet mature male human body overwhelmed her.
Liz knew from her art history class that sculpture was considered the finest art form because it could mimic divine creation. The sculptured image was to be found in the block of stone just as the human soul would be found in the physical body. The sculptor strikes the chisel with a mallet using a controlled stroke which shatters the stone thus releasing the desired image. Marble is a metamorphic rock with its beginnings as limestone that has been transformed by unimaginable heat and great pressure. Shaped by duress. The freshly quarried block of marble is soft and porous, easier to shape and chisel, but age makes the marble harden and become more durable. Marble never retains perfection, it stains easily and its scars don't heal. The imperfections can be polished to add sheen, but the flaws remain. Never perfect. To love marble one must learn to love the imperfections.
Liz thought about Red. As a youth he was being shaped by the chisel of life, malleable, but in later years he was hardened by tragedy, fire and vengeance. Rigid.
Just as David stood in the illuminating spotlight of the gallery; Liz knew Red stood in the spotlight of the criminal world. To love Raymond, Liz must love the stains, the scars, the imperfections of Red.
She could hear others talking in quiet reverent tones about the masterpiece, but she was able to block out all of the sound. She stood before David to study his physical characteristics and to imagine how those characteristics determined the course of his life. David expressed in his quiet confident stance the superiority of inner strength over brute force. The eyes were watchful and aware. The sculptor had depicted the youthful David at the moment he had decided to fight the giant, Goliath…the moment between conscious choice and action, brow drawn, neck tense, veins bulging out of the right hand. Ready for action. David's weapon, a slingshot, is almost invisible emphasizing his victory was one of cleverness, not sheer force. The youthful shepherd displayed exceptional self-confidence and concentration. He was a thinking man.
Her mind drifted…she pictured Red as a youth from humble beginnings like the shepherd boy, his long curly hair, toned muscles taut from the physical labor he performed while toiling with his father in his landscaping business, the handsome male with slingshot in hand skilled in survival. Taught by his grandfather. Surviving. A thinking man, full of courage and loyalty; strong-willed and ready to fight, a cunning victor over superior enemies. Focused. Highly intelligent, seeking knowledge at the Naval Academy. A natural born leader being groomed for admiral ready to defend bravely and govern justly. Heroic strength tempered by human vulnerability.
Vulnerable! Just like the marble, refined by fire. Exposed. Time and emotions direct change. Devastating loss. Unbearable pain and scaring, a consuming need for revenge. Taking vengeance. Living in the shadows. Darkness, loneliness. Feeling fear. Seeking relief…seeking the truth amid darkness.
A conqueror, yet not able to conquer himself. Needing a second chance. Both needing a second chance. She was his second chance, he was hers.
She felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She drew in a big breath. Commitment. Her mind had been enlightened. Liz finally knew and acknowledged who Red was, the human being not the masquerade he covered himself with. She had finally seen clearly the person who was not profiled in the official government dossier. She now had a sure, true direction and firm resolve. It was time to move forward, unwavering. She knew she loved this man. How deep her love was she was not yet sure, it might go no further than today, but it was time to show her loyalty to him, protect him. Give him his second chance.
As she left the Accademia she turned once more to gaze at Michelangelo's David. She silently gave thanks to the sculptor of souls for enlightened understanding.
~X~X~
As the bright sunlight and oppressive heat assailed her she suddenly remembered her security team. A quick look around and she knew she was the subject of their attention. The appointed leader of the team approached her and said, "We've had word that a suspicious aircraft departed Washington D C and will arrive in Florence soon. The occupants are suspected to be associated with Tom Keen's organization. We will need to stay in closer proximity to you and you will need to keep us closely informed of your movements. Don't hesitate to let us know if you see or sense any unusual persons or behavior."
As a slight shiver went through her body at the mention of Tom's name, Liz confirmed that she had heard everything that the bodyguard said. She promised herself that she would stay alert. Now she wanted to know exactly where Red and Dembe were.
As Liz was telling the security team her plans for the evening her cell phone rang. She quickly pulled the phone out of her pocket and answered expecting to hear Dembe's voice on the other end.
"Hello, Dembe. Liz here."
For a moment there was silence then Red's deep voice said, "Lizzie, I needed to check on you."
Again silence reigned as Liz tried to calm her racing heart while letting the fact sink in that Red had taken the time to check on her. "Red, I just left the Accademia where I spent the afternoon with David. I will tell you ab…."
Red abruptly cut in. "Lizzie, we have new intel indicating we have been followed to Florence. You will be safer if you return to the villa. Do everything the security team asks of you. I'm going to stay in constant communication with them. Will you do that for me? Be extra vigilant."
"I will do that Red. I understand."
"Good, sweetheart. Your team is the best. I have confidence in them."
"Red?"
"Yes, Lizzie?"
"Where are you? Are you close by?"
"Yes, sweetheart. I'm very close by."
"Keep me informed if you get new information on Tom's men. Be alert, be safe. They want you, not me. I'm glad Dembe is with you."
She could hear voices in the background indicating he was in a public place. Then she heard the familiar female voice say, "Our table is ready Raymond. We must go."
Red said, "I must go now. Be careful, sweetheart." Liz felt a slight twinge of jealousy, but she knew what her goal was and she knew she had renewed strength and confidence to slay that giant, her goliath.
AN: What did you think? Let me know. Next chapter will be up soon.