Rory and the Fainting Man

It was like a slow-motion film. Rory turned around in time to see a man slump to the floor. She was motionless for a second before she realized that the man had fainted. Fainted! She moved over to him and turned him on his back. She set about loosening his tie, all the while saying "Hey, Officer!" Are you okay?"

Then, she saw his face. She stared, not really believing who she was looking at.

"Tristan? … Wake up!... Tristan?... Is it really you? " She shook him gently, fanning the air around his face. His eyes fluttered and he mumbled inarticulately. Rory sat back on her heels and waited.

Tristan opened his eyes and jerked back from the ghost calmly sitting in front of him.

"Mary?" he whispered.

"Yup, it's you." She replied with a rueful grin.

"You're not dead!" he exclaimed as he pushed himself up against the wall.

"No, as you see. Why did you think I was and why are you here?" She asked, getting exasperated.

"If you're not dead, who is?" He continued.

"Tristan, I am tired, and I want to go to bed." she said as she rose to her feet. Tristan scrambled to his feet and grabbed her arm to prevent her from going upstairs.

"Tristan!" she exclaimed, staring at him in aggravation. "I haven't seen you in how many years? You still act like you did at Chilton! There is the door, make sure you close it on the way out."

"Rory, there was a murder in your house." He said quietly. Rory stopped short and stared at him.

"What did you just say?"

"There has been a murder here. Someone came in during the blizzard and murdered whoever was here. We thought it was you. The victim was about your height, brown hair, slim build…"

Rory stared at Tristan. Tears began to pool in those blue eyes he remembered, that he'd dreamed of, all those years ago.

"Madelyn.." she whispered.

"Madelyn? From Chilton?" He stared back at her.

"Yes. She was staying here while I was on assignment. She was looking for a place to live. She just got a job here in DC. I was going to be away so I let her use my house. Oh, God… Madelyn." And the tears slid down her cheeks.

Tristan took out his phone and called the station. He walked around the living room as he explained the latest developments. Rory noticed that he tugged at his hair still, just like he did in high school. She felt numb. A murder! In her house! Tristan shut off his phone and walked over to her. "Come on, I'll buy you some coffee and we'll get to the bottom of this." He helped her to her feet.

Tristan moved her bags into the living room, stood aside as she exited the house and closed and locked the door. He handed her the keys and took her to his car. The neighbors watched from behind the curtains.

He drove to a coffee shop and they grabbed a booth in the back.

"Two coffees" he said to the waitress as they passed. Rory sat silently as they waited for the coffees.

"Where were you?" Tristan asked.

"London. I was covering the Euro summit regarding the debt crisis in Greece."

"How long were you gone?"

"A week." She replied automatically

"How long was Madelyn at your house?"

"Two weeks. "

"Did you and she get along?"

"Yes, of course...Oh my God!" Rory stared at Tristan. "Am I a suspect?!" she hissed.

"Come on Rory. These are routine questions. If I didn't ask them and clear you right away they'd have my badge!" he hissed back.

Anger snapped in those amazing blue eyes. "No, we had no issues. I left last Friday on Virgin Atlantic flight 3546, and I stayed at Claridge's. I returned on Virgin Atlantic flight 2376. I landed about 2 hours ago." She whipped open her purse and produced two baggage claim checks which she shoved at him. "Are we through here? I have to find a place to stay."

"Rory, please sit down" he said. Something in his tone made her pause. She stared at his face as she sank into her seat. He looked at her expectantly.

"Obviously you are not the suspect. I believe that you were the intended target. You both have the same coloring, the same build, and from behind, Madelyn could easily be mistaken for you by someone not as familiar with you."

"Me? You think someone is trying to kill me? For what reason?" Fear crept into Rory's voice

"That is what I intend to find out." Tristan replied as he sipped his coffee.