John Ross and Pamela – S2 E2 – Invasions

"Hello? Anybody here?" Christopher yelled, as he entered the strange house. "Door's open. Hello?"

"Come in," John Ross's voice called from another extremity of the house, "I'm in the back."

John Ross now came down the hallway, a tool belt hanging from his jeans and t-shirt frame.

Christopher started laughing, "Ha ha. Ha. Look at you, Joe the plumber."

"Watch out. I might just swing this here hammer at you," he responded, with a smile.

Then he started complaining, "Pamela's got me working my tail off. That woman decided to be an interior decorator from a hospital bed. Don't matter that she can't be here. She's got the floor plan on her computer and she's got me decorating every wall. Look at the size of that mirror I've got to put up here in the foyer. That's why I called you man. I can't lift all this stuff by myself."

"Wow. Look at this place. Hey, you know what? It reminds me of you guys' place down in St. Kitts. I mean, the color's not the same, but it's got the same feel. It's homey." He took off his already loosened tie.

John Ross was busy grabbing two beers from the fridge but he said, "That was the idea. Man, I'm so happy to hear you say that, 'cause that's what she wanted and I wasn't sure I'd hit the nail on the head."

"I'd say you did. Thanks." Christopher took the beer and then rolled up his sleeves. "Well, put me to work."

They worked together, moving furniture and putting up pictures for a while. At one point John Ross caught Christopher looking at a picture of a pregnant Pamela that was framed and set on the dresser in the baby's room.

"Dejavu?" John Ross said, gently.

"A little," Christopher said.

"How come you haven't come by the hospital more? Pamela's asked about you a couple of times." There were things that couldn't be said out loud. Like, "Does it hurt to see her carrying my babies?"

Christopher took another swig. "Ah. Truth is John Ross, I'm also working my tail off. Trying to keep those wolves we got inside our company from taking it down the river. I know Trevino is up to no good, and he answers to somebody behind the scenes."

"Well, ain't that Cliff Barnes?" John Ross frowned.

"Eh. I'm not so sure," he shook his head. "At first, I thought, I'll keep my nose to the grindstone, work on the Methane stuff. And stay out of Trevino's way."

"And?"

"Now, I feel like there's some stuff going on, that doesn't make sense. Money movement that I don't understand. John Ross, I wish you were back with us. 'Cause I know, where there's a rat, you can smell it."

"Well, I'm almost done here," he indicated the house. "Maybe it's about time for me to go back to the company. I'll talk to Pamela, see what she thinks."

But the next morning she had him scheduled to receive yet another delivery at the house, so he took the opportunity to rework some flower beds he wanted to fill with annuals for Pamela's homecoming.

While he was digging them up the remembered Mama Joy's "redemption work." He started humming Bob Marley's song and it brought back the good times on the island. He remembered Godwin, Josiah and the other cousins, the killer volleyball games. The peace and laughter among the women. Pamela holding the babies. He got such a longing to see her he almost left for the hospital. But then he pulled out his phone and called her.

"Hey little darling, what you doing this morning?"

"Oh, I'm here with your Mama, conspiring."

"Really? You didn't tell me she was coming by again."

"Yeah."

"Well, I thought I might join you for lunch. How about that?"

There was a slight pause. "Did the delivery from Babyland come yet?" Pamela asked.

"No. But I can go there and pick it up later."

"Oh. It might not fit in the car, honey. Anyhow, I'm about to take a nap. Tell you what, why don't you bring me some dinner around five, so I don't have to eat hospital food tonight."

"Okay, you're the boss. I mean, the queen." He felt strangely lonely as he hung up. "Cheer up, you big baby."

Pamela got off the phone and gave her attention to the matters at hand. "How long did you say it would take to get this done?" she asked Barbara Marcel, Suellen's lawyer friend.

"Oh, just a couple of days. I can get the information from you here, the deposition from Dr. Emanuele, and my office will push it through. Do you mind if I record you now?"

"No. Go ahead, let's get this done."

"How about I go down to the cafeteria and get us some coffee," Suellen offered, helpfully. "Oh Pamela, I didn't mean you."

As she left the room and entered the hallway Suellen caught a movement at the end of the hallway. A blond haired woman had pivoted and walked away into the elevator. She couldn't be sure of what she had seen. She reminded her of Emma. But Emma could never be so shameless as to come here, she was sure of that.

A few days later John Ross and Pamela were in the middle of a game of chess, when the phone rang for Pamela.

"Hello?" She picked it up and listened intently for a few minutes.

The voice on the other end finished by saying. "Macnamara was remanded to the county jail. The hearing is in 48 hours. Don't you worry about anything, I'm ready, I've already talked to the prosecutor."

Pamela said, "Thank you," and hung up.

"Who was that?"

"I have some good news, John Ross."

"Yeah?"

Pamela took a breath and then said, "Doctor Macnamara's been arrested."

John Ross looked alert, like he did when he thought something was too good to be true. "Well, that is good news, darling. How exactly did that come about? And who was that giving you the news?"

"That was Barbara Marcel, the lawyer I hired to file charges against him."

"You hired? Wait a minute, Barbara Marcel, that's my mom's best bud. You…and my mother have been working on this?"

"Yes."

He took a few steps then pivoted. It was hard for him to take in. She knew it would be.

He now headed for the door. "John Ross, don't go."

He looked at her, that smoky blue eyed look that told her he was hurt and angry all at the same time. "Baby, I need a minute to chew on this. I'll be back in…a couple hours."

"I'd rather you didn't. Say what you have to say. I can take that far better than worrying about what you're doing out there."

He shook his head, and laughed a little sarcastic laugh. "You see, that's just…peachy. You're worried about what I would be doing out there. You don't trust me, do you? Not as far as you can throw a stick. What, you think every time we have a fight I'm going to be out there, whoring?

"I did not say that! I didn't even imply that!"

"Why did you do this?! Behind my back? Haven't I been a good little boy? I've done everything on your list. My hands were aching to get a hold of that guy but I stayed away from him. Because you wanted me to. And then it turns out you went behind my back!..."

"Yes, I did. I did and I'm sorry. But I did it for you. You said you needed him to be behind bars. I began to see that it was true, that you wouldn't have any peace. So I did what had to be done. Baby, look at me. Don't take it like that. This was not me tricking you. I was trying to take care of things in the simplest way. Just an affidavit, that's all I did."

"Taking care of things. That's my job, remember? That's what Mama Joy said. For me to take care of you. Not the other way around," he insisted, but she could see the steam was already running out on his anger.

"And you do, John Ross. I couldn't make it through this without your strength. Please, believe me."

She pushed the covers off, to get up from the bed and come for him. When he saw her making that effort he relented immediately. He walked forward, fell on his knees, put his head on her lap and started talking to the babies. "Your daddy is a stupid idiot. Ah…I'm sorry if I was a little loud and throwing a tantrum. Your mama just threw me a curve ball, but I shouldn't have acted like an ass. Just go back to sleep or whatever it is that you guys are doing in there."

Pamela started giggling and kissing his head. She didn't tell him about the impending hearing. She thought things would be better left alone. The lawyer would attend the hearing and maybe Suellen would keep her posted. It would be better if John Ross was nowhere near the courtroom. She didn't know, when she made this decision, that it wasn't the only thing she would hide from him.

The next morning, when John Ross was on his way to Global Energies to start work again, Pamela had a visitor.

Emma had been circling Pamela's room for days. She had failed to gain access due to the prolonged visits of John Ross and his mother. It was imperative for her to stay out of their way, otherwise they would surely have prevented her from seeing Pamela.

"Hello, Pamela," she said now, in her gentlest voice.

Pamela, looked up, and braced herself. She had expected this run-in sooner or later. "What do you want Emma?" She asked, in a neutral manner.

"I…I just want to talk to you," she answered, humbleness oozing from her pores.

"Talk," Pamela shrugged.

Emma tried an innocent tack. "Where've you been? I've missed you." She smiled.

"Are we really going to do this? Pretend we don't know there's…a…problem between us?"

Emma still had a half-smile. "I don't know, you tell me. I don't know what you know."

"Oh, I see. Well, I know that you and John Ross were lovers. While you pretended to be my friend."

"I am your friend, Pamela. Thanks to my…very dysfunctional family, I haven't had many. It means a lot to me, the way you took me under your wing."

Pamela smiled. "Yeah, what a fool I was. You didn't need…any mentoring. You're a master manipulator, aren't you?"

Emma didn't deny it. "I've had to be. In a family like mine—"

"Enough Emma. You think you're the only one with a toxic family?"

"Look, I'm not making excuses. I'm just saying, it was what I did. Back then. I…I know I hurt you…and I wish that I hadn't."

Pamela just looked at her, fixedly.

"That's what I wanted to do. To say I'm sorry."

Pamela was carefully regulating her breathing. "Fine," she said. She wasn't going to expend one ounce of her precious energy on this. It was over. She squeezed the call button. Emma didn't move. When the nurse came in she said, "Can you help me get more comfortable? I need my rest."

Emma couldn't do anything except move backwards toward the door now. Pamela hoped she had disarmed her and she wouldn't be back. She had no room in her life for stray cats.

Suellen had woken up this morning with a foreboding. She really wanted to get through this day without John Ross finding out about the hearing. Then she prayed she could find a way to explain to him why she hadn't let him know about it. Yesterday he had called her and yelled at her for aiding and abetting his wife to go after a psychopath without a clear shred of proof. He told her chances were high the case would get thrown out of court because of it.

She was hoping he was wrong when the judge walked into the courtroom and the clerk said, "All rise."

When they were seated again the clerk read, "We are here in the matter of the State versus Dr. Stanley Macnamara, and the accusation is one count of aggravated assault with intent to commit bodily harm, and one count of rape."

The prosecutor, a thin little man by the name of Malone, now presented Pamela's lawyer, who explained why she was in court in lieu of the victim and presented a doctor's affidavit to that effect.

"And who is that lady accompanying you?" the judge asked, after hearing of Pamela's health issues.

"This is the victim's mother in law, your honor, Mrs. Suellen Ewing."

"Her mother in law? Then where is her husband?"

"Mrs. Pamela Ewing, as I mentioned, your honor, is in a very delicate state of health, and her husband…"

"I see. He's by her side. Very well," the judge jumped to his own conclusions. "I will now hear the case of the prosecution."

"Your honor, if it pleases the court, Mrs. Pamela Barnes Ewing, has courageously brought charges against the accused, specifying that while she was being treated for a mental breakdown, and under the care of the accused, he sexually assaulted her, using hypnosis to conceal his actions from her. This prolonged assault took place over a period of three months, and then was subsequently discovered by a Dr. Gina Emanuele, who denounced the accusations to the American Association of Psychiatry. Dr. Emanuele has also provided an affidavit to this effect, and will testify as to her findings in court."

When called upon, the lawyer of the accused spent a good three minutes expounding on the credentials of Dr. Macnamara. Then he took a moment to confer with the doctor and resumed his presentation, "If it please the court, your honor, this is a patient with extreme suicidal tendencies, which Dr. Macnamara was treating. She is very disturbed…and in the opinion of the doctor-"

The judge took exception, "Let me interrupt you right there, and state that the good doctor is not here in the capacity of an expert opinion. He is here in the capacity of the accused." The judge paused and took off his glasses and cleaned them with a handkerchief. Suellen swore she could have heard a pin drop.

The judge continued, "Furthermore, the doctor must understand that the charges in this case are extremely serious and I cannot rule on them without a full airing of the facts."

He struck the gavel and said, "I will hear the case of the State vs. Dr. Stanley Macnamara in trial.

Suellen wanted to jump up for joy. The first hurdle was cleared. But the judge's demeanor did not allow for any levity.

"Mrs. Marcel, do you have an estimate of when Mrs. Ewing will be…delivered and could possibly attend a trial?"

"She has at least another month to go, your honor."

"Very well, I am setting a trial date for three months after that, to give her a reasonable time to be able to be present in court when the accused goes to trial. You must advise her that she has to be present at that time. These are serious charges, and a serious trial cannot be conducted without her testimony."

"Yes, your honor."

"Your honor, the Prosecution would ask that the Doctor be held without bail until that date."

"On the contrary, I will release the defendant on the bail of -, and he is advised…

Suellen thought she would faint. Everything the judge was saying receded and all she could think was, "Oh no, this is bad. This is really bad. This is worse that setting free a rabid dog." Now he knew where Pamela was, and he was going to go free.

As they walked out of the courtroom Mrs. Marcel was speaking to her in a low voice. "This is awful. I never expected this. Tell Pamela I will ask for an order of protection immediately, from the night judge, so that he can't come near her. Hopefully, we'll have that by tomorrow. The only problem with protection orders is that the victim practically has to serve the perpetrator herself. The police won't know about it. What's the matter?"

"John Ross, he's not picking up. Where can he be?"

"Why don't you call Pamela?"

"I…I can't. She can't be upset by this. I…I have to tell her in person. I have to get over there." Suellen tried to get John Ross again. Then she tried Global Energies but was told he was out.

John Ross had left work with the express purpose of breaking and entering Dr. Macnamara's house. He was fed up with caution; he was a man drooling with desperation. He was going to get in there and tear that house apart until he found the evidence he was looking for.

His phone rang right as he was able to get the den door open, and seeing it was his mother on the other end, he immediately flipped off the sound. He was single minded in his focus.

Pamela had been calm all day. On the surface, that is. By sheer willpower she was measuring her respiration, focusing on her yoga breathing.

But she was waiting for a call from Suellen that would tell her the case had been remanded for trial. There could be no other outcome. She breathed.

"Hello, Pamela," a very familiar voice saluted her. "No. Don't upset yourself. I understand you are in a delicate state." Dr. Macnamara was holding up one hand in a conciliatory gesture. "You don't, I know, want to do anything to hurt our babies. I understand. No, it's all right. Everything is alright now. You'll see, Pamela."

"Stay away from me." Pamela said, putting her arms around her stomach in a protective way.

"Pamela. Oh, Pamela." He took another step and shook his head with a smile. His face was as beautiful as she remembered, his eyes compassionate. She felt a great surge of fear.

With confused breathing, panic set in. "I mean it. Don't come any closer, you son of a bitch, depraved, disgusting, filthy, oh…uhm…aaow li..lizard." She now clutched her lower abdomen in pain.