Chapter 24

Amelia retrieved the satchel that held her important documents, passport, birth certificates, and diplomas. She was glad that Olivia had made her organize the items or it might have taken an age to find things. The clothes she decided to take were minimal–anything she needed in the interim she could buy new.

Once she had her suitcase packed along with the satchel loaded in the Element, she looked around. She had an overwhelming feeling that it was the last time she might be there in that capacity–it was odd and rather unsettling.

Then she thought about the computer. Maybe, just maybe Olivia had sent her a final message or instruction. It would be just like her lover to do that. After all, the computer console was her baby. Seconds later, she sat at the chair that still had Olivia’s perfume still lingering in the fabric. It made her heart race. Punching in her personal code, she waited for the email to load. 

+

Parker watched the nun put things into a bag. “She seems to be going somewhere.” She chuckled and said, “Like she can hide from me.” As she continued to watch, she checked various logs and saw that the tracer on Olivia’s motorcycle no longer registered. “You can’t hide from me either O. I’ll deal with you later.”

When she saw the nun sit in front of the computer, she smiled. “Let’s see if I can spook you.”

A disappointed look flashed on Amelia’s face as the screen blinked, no messages. With a sigh she was about to switch the computer into sleep mode when an instant message popped onto her screen. For a second she felt her heart pound in the hope it might be Olivia–it wasn’t.

Boo, guess who??? If you think you’re safe from me, think again. I know your every move. Parker smiled as she saw the look of amazement on the nun’s face after she read the message. “Oh, the poor little nun looks scared.”

Astonished at the message Amelia sat at the screen in a daze, at least now she knew that Olivia wasn’t overreacting. Well she wasn’t going to allow this person to get the upper hand. Her professional instinct kicked in as she ignored the message and moved to switch the machine off.

Parker watched as the woman began the shutdown process. “Oh no you don’t…I’m not through with you.” She rapidly typed, if you switch the machine off and ignore me then your life will end that much sooner.

A faint smile curved Amelia’s lips. “So this person wants to play games. Ok, I’ll go along with the ruse.” Perhaps it might help if she gleaned information that Olivia might use.

You don’t have the power over my life, only God does.

Having overheard the nun’s comments, Parker growled before she typed, think again nun, this isn’t a ruse. I have the power over your life, Olivia’s life and anyone else who gets in my way…perhaps that annoying midget.

The mention of Teal had her mind reeling in horror as she neglected to notice that the person on the other end used the word ‘ruse’. It was worse than even Olivia predicted. Taking a deep breath and attempting to control her shaking fingers, which made the odd typo, she tried to respond as casually as she could.

How do you know me? Have we met?

With a deep laugh, Parker typed, don’t try your psycho babble on me nun it won’t work. Just know that I am the one who is pulling all the strings. You and your friends are my puppets.

Exactly what do you want from me…from us?

Parker leaned back in her chair and digested what the nun had asked and how she would respond. I think you already know the answer to that. By the way, that’s a swanky place where your folks live. It would be a shame to see it go up in flames.

Amelia frowned. Whoever was communicating with her had no sense of balance in their life. If they were puppets, the puppet master usually manipulated rather than destroyed. It was an odd mix of words. She tried to decipher just how dangerous the person was to her and Teal. Olivia could and would take care of herself and perhaps that was the key. She typed a reply and sat back in her chair waiting for the response.

You aren’t interested in me or anyone else but Olivia, are you?

The conversation was beginning to bore Parker as she lit a cigarette and let the smoke flow over the monitor. Finally, she typed, all you need to know is that you no longer have someone watching your back. That will be your undoing.

Calmly Amelia replied. That’s where you are wrong.

“Damn it why isn’t she taking the bait? She isn’t taking my power seriously. Well we’ll just see about that!” Parker typed, your days are numbered so make the most of them, before she ended the conversation.

Amelia gazed at the blank screen. Melodramatic, power trip and dangerous, were all words that came to mind. The most insistent description of the personality that was hounded them was sick bordering on insane. It made for a very heady concoction and, under different circumstances, she would have loved to research. As it was, the best thing for her to do would be to leave. Obviously, their home wasn’t safe and there was reason to think that someone compromised the office too. “Oh no I need to speak with Teal.” Amelia stood up and walked rapidly to her car, leaving the building shortly afterwards.

+ + +
Chapter 25

Parker watched the nun leave the warehouse and ran a finger lovingly over a picture of Olivia. Sucking in a deep breath, she knew what she needed to do next. The nun would keep until she did what was necessary. Quickly putting on a disguise and gathering a bag she’d already assembled, she left the command post. Outside the building, she walked hurriedly across the street, punched in the code, and entered the warehouse.

Going directly to Olivia’s room she laid down on the bed and pulled a pillow that smelled like the woman that she loved and that she knew loved her. She pulled off the pillow case and stuffed it into an inner pocket or her coat. With the tenderness of a lover, she ran her fingers over Olivia’s clothes then took out a leather jacket.

“I gave this to you O and you still have it.” She buried her face in the garment and took in the heady smell of Olivia and leather. When she felt tightening between her legs, she snaked her hand under her jeans and began to masturbate while she held the jacket next to her face.

“Oh god O,” she screamed as a powerful orgasm shook her body. “Soon you’ll be mine again.”

Rifling through Olivia’s drawers, she opened the familiar box that held all of her lover’s memories of her family, removed all the contents and put them in the pillowcase. With one swift motion, she left the room and entered the nun’s bedroom.

Pouring gasoline over the bed, Parker laughed. “This is only a taste of what I have in store for you bitch.”

Parker went throughout the warehouse placing small remote controlled bombs everywhere. When she was done, she lit a match, threw it on the nun’s bed, and quickly left the warehouse.

As she walked back to her building, Parker heard the fire alarm go off in the warehouse. Once she was inside the door, she pressed a button and watched as the building exploded spewing dust and debris out into the street. A maniacal laughed floated around her and for a moment she looked around and frowned. “Who’s laughing?”

+

Amelia drove as fast as she safely could through the streets of Portsmouth. Negotiating the final corner, she slid into her parking spot at When Heaven Meets Hell and climbed out of the vehicle locking it as she left.

Entering the building, Teal shot her a worried look. “Morning, I was just going to call you. After yesterday, I wasn’t sure if….”

Rolling her eyes, Amelia nodded. “Yeah, sorry about that. I need to talk with you–now.”

Teal frowned. “Ok. You’re lucky your first appointment canceled. What’s the problem?”

Wondering where to start, Amelia decided the truth, or as much as she could tell her friend, was the only option. Sometime later, as she watched the expressions on her friend’s face change from interest to astonishment to downright dismay, she knew she’d made the right call.

“I know it’s hard to believe. I’m not sure I did when Olivia first told me but after what just happened at home, I know it’s all true. All I can say is that we need to become low keyed. I want you to close up the office for a while. You can say Olivia is on a major case and won’t be back for some time. As for me, you can tell my clients that there was a family emergency and talk to someone in my absence they can make an appointment with Dave Davidson. I’ve called him and he’s agreed to see any of my patients that might need his services. If you’ll collect the mail and if anything is urgent we contact each other with those absurd codes Olivia made up.

“I…do you think Phil and I need to move too?”

Amelia shook her head. “No, for the moment I think you’re safe. From what I could make out with the little indirect contact I with this person is that they are more interested with Olivia…and maybe me.”

Teal nodded. “Where will you go? To your parent’s home?”

Amelia paused before replying as her eyes shot around the empty reception area. “I know a place, but it’s best if you don’t know that way you can’t be compromised.”

“My god this feels like we landed in the middle of a spy thriller.” Teal, in an effort to change the subject to something less disturbing asked, “Did you make up with the big O?”

Amelia’s smile almost split her face from ear to ear. “Oh yes, we made up. When all this is over Teal, I might tell you about it. Then again ladies don’t tell about their lovers do they?” Amelia winked as she headed to her office to retrieve her laptop and a few of her more sensitive papers.

Teal felt the heat of the smile and the words as she placed a hand to her mouth in wonder. She whispered, “Oh my god they finally did it.”

+

Parker listened to the conversation between the nun and the midget. She laughed when the nun said they were going low keyed. “Ha, I did get to you. Wait until your phone rings and see how you feel then.” When the conversation turned to the nun making love with Olivia, she growled. “I won’t let that happen again.”

When Parker heard the fire truck sirens wailing, she laughed, picked up the phone, and dialed a number. When she heard the midget’s voice, she closed her mouth tight to prevent another laugh.

“Hello this is WHMH, how can I help?”

“Tell the nun to check out the news. It is all about her,” a deep male voice said.

Teal dropped the phone and switched on the TV in the reception area. There was a breaking story about a fire in the older part of town. When she recognized the name of the street, she rushed to Amelia’s office and almost dragged the woman to the set.

“That’s…” Amelia cried as she placed a hand to her mouth. She watched the decimation of her and Olivia’s home and clutched at her heart. Her gut feeling had been right–she wasn’t going to go back there again. “I’ll need to talk to the fire department and the police I guess. I’ll go downtown and try to see David. He’ll know what to do.” David Tourney was Olivia’s late brother’s best friend and looked on Olivia as a sister. Being captain of the police was going to be a bonus for them. “Someone called and told me to tell you to switch on the television…that it was all about you.”

Frowning, Amelia asked, “Who was it.”

“It was a man’s voice. I didn’t recognize it.” Teal shook her head. “What’s going to happen next?”

“I don’t know but if this is any indication of what this person is capable of it won’t be good. It might not be safe here. Close up the office and go home. You can clear the schedule from there. I’ll call you after I’ve seen David. Please be extra careful Teal.”

Amelia hugged her friend hard and after retrieving her laptop and notes from her office, she left the building. She pulled her car into the traffic and headed for the police station. Their old friend, David Tourney who was a police captain might have some answers for her. 

+ + +
Chapter 26

Parker stood at the window clutching Olivia’s jacket as she watched firefighters trying to get the upper hand on the warehouse fire. The flames whipped into the air as water tried to contain its rage. When she left the area to break into the nun’s car the fire was at two alarms. When she returned, she noted that more fire engines had arrived. She smiled. The fire she created was garnering so much attention that Olivia was sure to return. “Burn baby burn

As more fire engines arrived, she smiled in the knowledge that the fire was now at three alarms.

A part of her wanted to shout, “I’m the one responsible,” as she watched in fascination. The power of the fire that she created caused such a strong need that an orgasm rocked her body with the sight.

A shrill sound invaded the soundless room. Parker looked at the phone as if it were foreign to her before she picked up the receiver. “Yes.”

“Davis, what the hell is going on?” her immediate supervisor at DOCO asked.

“With what?”

“The fire at Santos’s place.”

“It spontaneously exploded,” Parker said. “Santos must have been careless with explosives.”

“The director wants you to come in.”

“I haven’t finished my…”

“He wants to see you tomorrow at nine. Be sure and bring all your documentation.”

Parker’s eyes tracked to the flashing light that represented the nun’s location and the one for Olivia. She needed to deal with the nun first. “Why the fuck is she there?” she whispered as the nun’s tracking device flashed steadily in front of the police station.

“What did you say? Davis, did you hear me?”

“Yeah, I did. I’ll be there at nine sharp.”

Replacing the handset, Parker picked up the satchel that she removed from the nun’s vehicle. “She won’t be going far. I wonder how long it will take her to discover that her identity is missing.”

The meeting with the new director was unexpected and that angered her. Who does he think he is to demand a meeting? She would adapt–she always did. As she watched the flash that was Olivia, she smiled.

She could tell by the direction of travel where Olivia was going.“ You’re heading towards Dan’s place how fitting. He’s hardly going to tell you anything–he’s dead. Ah, there you go you’ve picked up on the fire and in one, two, three, yes predictable, you changed your course. You’re heading home to check that your dear little nun hasn’t been injured or worse…dead.” Picking up the keys to the black sedan that Olivia had followed the day before, Parker laughed.

“Soon my love…soon we will be reunited. Then, I will reveal myself to you and we can leave this hell hole and start a new life for just the two of us.” She laughed as she left the command center. “For now, I have an urgent task. I need to make sure our safe house is ready.” As her vehicle headed south, the Harley approached the warehouse from the north and roared to a stop in front of the smoldering building.

+

There was the acrid smell of burning complete with whispers of smoke from the drenched embers that had once been a thriving hub. As a booted foot moved aside a charred beam and slowly progressed through the wreckage of what once had been a marvelous old building transformed into a place she called home. That part was over. In fact, the life of the building had terminated, much as she had once extinguished people. From the corner of her eye, she saw a metallic object that miraculously hadn’t burned. Except for water damage, it was salvageable.

She gently held the silver frame that had held one of Amelia’s favorite photos of them together. They were at an old pier in a town she barely remembered on one of the earlier jobs on which they had collaborated.

She smiled as she remembered standing with Amelia at the end of pier laughing. A fisherman had offered to take their picture with the water inlet in the background. They both had huge smiles on their faces. She recalled how she slung a casual arm around Amelia’s shoulders as they huddle together so the tiny lighthouse in the distance was in the shot.

There was no saving the photo but she could still discern the blurry features of them both. If she could go back to that point in time, she’d do it all again but differently. Had she changed her way of life, she wouldn’t be standing alone in the burnt out shell of a building she had figured would be her and Amelia’s family nest.

There would be no family nest now. A lunatic had seen to that in their glorious madness of manipulation. If this was the start of things to come then she knew deep down that she and Amelia would never be together again. Squaring her jaw, she felt the pain of the loss and of losing someone so special in her life. It might have been easier to take if Amelia had died, but to have their relationship destroyed by a mad unknown person was worse, far worse. What made it even more unpalatable was that she was to blame in many ways. There were so many secrets and so many lies. She was unable to face the truth that what she always had with Amelia from the moment they met, was a bond that she should have trusted and nurtured.

Instead, her own insecurities and need to control her destiny had elicited the road she’d taken. That choice had effectively placed Amelia in a bubble away from her past and the horrors she experienced in life. She’d been wrong and so far off the target that it was almost laughable had it not been so tragic. Had she allowed Amelia totally inside her life earlier, she was sure things would have been different. As it was, she was here in the remains of her ruined life for the second time in a lifetime with the potential of losing the only person in her life that meant a damn.

Closing her eyes, Olivia savored the memory the picture in her hands evoked and for a moment she was lost in a dream world of happy times–especially the night before. She would never regret taking that particular fork in the road for a single moment. It was simply the happiest time in her life–loving and being loved by Amelia.

Opening her eyes, she realized what she had to do. If life was as barren as she predicted, there could only be one outcome. Whoever was doing this to her had to die. There was the distinct possibility that the outcome might result in her death too. To keep Amelia alive was the price she was willing to pay.

She turned around and exited the broken building without a backward glance. She placed the picture frame inside her leather jacket before mounting her Harley. After kicking the kickstand and placing the key in the ignition, it roared into life as she and the Harley sped away down the empty road. Life for her now held a purpose. The devil was in control. She had a target and that target held only death and destruction for everyone involved. She knew where to start her search–DOCO headquarters.

+ + +
Chapter 27

Amelia gazed at the man standing at the church altar. If it weren’t for his vestment, he’d look like anyone else except the perception the clothing gave had that forbidden ring about it. The power the position wielded was like magic. Those that tried to mess with a priest never really got over it. As she found in the numerous cases, she either researched or was involved in over her time affiliated with the church.

These days she was just a parishioner–no more and no less. For a second, she wanted to run away. Her flippant remark that her partner and lover was a woman might have soured the path of friendship she always had with the man. Except, somewhere deep inside, she knew that wasn’t the case. In their early friendship, she felt sure he had his own secrets.

The time seemed to go on forever as she sat waiting as before for the last parishioner to leave the church. In hindsight, she could have gone to the church house but….

“Amelia, what a pleasant surprise this is. Two consecutive nights, I must be doing well,” Father Michael Bright said as he welcomed his old friend.

A ready smile crossed Amelia’s at the greeting for his tone didn’t falter–he genuinely was glad to see her.

“Well, what can I say? I was always drawn to the word of God, particularly when you give the homily.” It was true that she had keenly felt the message of God from a child, but somewhere along the way, she had transmuted that to a cause, which was why she became a nun. Time, coupled with her adult development, had shown her that it was an impulsive move. Nonetheless, she still felt close to her religion even if it might not approve of her current personal status. Considering the road she chose to take with Olivia, disapproval was a lukewarm term for the church’s reaction–condemnation was more fitting.

The priest chucked softly. He was a quiet spoken man and often in, the past, people thought him the shy and retiring. When in fact, he was an outgoing personality–Michael Bright suited his name perfectly.

“That’s pandering to my ego and I’ll take it. Any morsel in a cynical world is a bonus. Are you here to pray or is there something else that I can help you with?”

“I need your help.”

The priest nodded and took hold of her arm as he steered her to the door that led to the passageway between the church and his house.

Once inside and the formalities and frowns of the housekeeper were over, they settled with tea in the priest’s study.

“Now, I don’t want to pry Amelia, but you did drop a bombshell as you left yesterday. I’m not sure I was happy with the way you did it.”

Amelia said, “I’m sorry Michael I just…” She didn’t complete the sentence when the priest held up his hand.

He smiled reassuringly. “In light of what you admitted I’m not so sure I would have done it any differently.”

Sighing in relief, Amelia caught his concerned gaze. “Thank you Michael. It means a lot that you don’t judge me.”

Michael chuckled. “Ah, I didn’t say that now did I? As you’re back and need help do I take it that the relationship still isn’t working?”

Amelia dropped her gaze from the priest’s as she contemplated the question. Then, with a tight smile she replied, “Olivia, my partner…business and personal for the record. We worked out the kinks on a personal level, but …I’m not sure how to tell you or how much I can about the trouble we’re in without you being made a target too.”

The priest’s features barely moved except for a second before a look of astonishment crept over the craggy features. He quietly asked, “A target? That sounds rather dramatically dangerous, but from the previous situations you’ve been in perhaps it isn’t.” They both looked at each other knowing what he was talking about–Father Johansson. The old priest’s involvement in drugs and murder had caused the upper echelons of the church to exorcise him posthumously from the church. It had been a very bad business at the time. However, their original memories of the father Johansson were good. He continued, “Tell me what you can and how you need my help.”

Amelia sucked in a breath and told him as much as she’d told Teal earlier that day. “Our home was burned to the ground. I need a place to stay where I can still be in the city but not in a high profile situation.”

There had been no appreciable change to the priest’s demeanor until Amelia completed her story–he stood up. “I know there’s a lot more you’re not telling me but from what I’ve heard it’s enough for me to offer you sanctuary if that’s the help you need of me.”

For the first time since her world began to spin out of to control, she felt the tears trickle down her cheek. Standing, she walked over to him and threw her arms around the man who was willing to accept her half truths and them. “Thank you Michael. I’m confident Olivia can deal with the problems we face and find a suitable solution.”

A serious expression crossed Michael’s face. “If she can’t and she doesn’t come back, what then?” He held her away to look closely at her tear stained cheeks and the expression in her eyes.

“I made a promise to her that I would live my life as fully as I could without her in it.” Her voice sounded strange to her ears.

“Then I shall pray she comes back safe and well to you Amelia. We both know living without someone you love that much isn’t really living at all.”

Amelia frowned slightly as she pondered whether she heard a note of melancholy in Michael’s voice or did he merely his understand her predicament. She didn’t have time to ask since the housekeeper knocked and entered the room. With an aloof manner, she asked how many there would be for dinner this evening.

The priest smiled gently at the older woman. “Two for dinner if that’s no problem Mary.” The housekeeper shrugged and began to turn away then the priest spoke again with a little more emphasis. “Oh and Mary, will you make up the room with the study attached in the north wing of the house. Amelia is going to stay with us for awhile.”

Amelia had to look away as she scratched the side of her head. The housekeepers expression at Michael’s request had been worthy of an Oscar performance.

When the woman left, Amelia looked at Michael. “Thank you Michael. I’ll get the few things I salvaged from our home out of my car. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

Michael nodded. “You’d best bring the car around to the back of the church. Follow the driveway at the back of the house. You can park your car in the garage.”

Amelia once again thanked her friend. As she was about to leave the room, she asked, “If you wondered, she wasn’t the reason I left the church Michael. Although now I think the hand of God was in there somehow leading me to her. I just didn’t want you to think…”

The priest smiled. “I never thought it, nor do many of your old friends. Most were amazed that you finally made the decision while some of us thought you should have broken away a few years earlier. You have a wonderful caring spirit Amelia but you were spiritually independent and as we all know, you have to give yourself totally to our Lord for it to work out. I think now you’ve found out what that finally means.”

Amelia merely nodded as she left the room. On her way to the car, which was parked a block away, she contemplated what her old friend had said and how it all made sense. The enigma of her existence fit together. At last, she found the final piece to the puzzle that was her life–Olivia.

Much later, as she lay in the bed of the room made up for her, she closed her eyes and felt the tears trickle through the closed eyelids as she recalled the passionate lovemaking of the previous evening. Whatever else happened, she knew the broken circle of her life had completed and if it meant that she had only the memories of that one night with Olivia then she could cope. It would be difficult, but she’d spend the rest of her life living for the two of them.

  Then, she pushed the thoughts of Olivia as far back into her mind as she could, and contemplated the strange instant messages she’d received and the odd phone call Teal had answered. Her initial thought had been that it had something to do with the old life Olivia had. As much as the word was abhorrent to her, she washed it around in her head–assassin. If it were an assassin out to murder Olivia, surely they would just do the deed and leave as unobtrusively as possible. The whole situation smacked of more, much more. Her thoughts turned to her discussion with David Tourney.

+

“Amelia, thank God! I’ve just received the report. Where’s Olivia?” his eyes looked behind her half expecting the reluctant ex-cop to be there too–she wasn’t.

“I’m fine David thanks for your concern. Olivia isn’t harmed, at least not in the fire.”

David motioned for her to sit as he glanced at the preliminary report about the fire–suspected arson. He knew Olivia had probably created more enemies than friends working undercover. However, as far as he knew, Olivia hadn’t hurt a fly. “You want to tell me what’s going on? I figure from the tone and what you haven’t said there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

Amelia hung her head. Olivia was going to freak when she found out that the warehouse was set alight she probably already knows and will be taking it as arson. “Someone is out to get her…us I think. Although from the brief contact I’ve had with the person, I think he is more interested in her. It looks like they will go to any lengths to intimidate her. The problem is Olivia doesn’t think it’s the government agency she worked for.”

With a rising of an eyebrow, David was impressed. He never figured that Olivia would share that part of her life with Amelia. He didn’t know the details, but he knew enough to know Olivia hadn’t been a desk jockey. “You know who this person is?”

Shaking her head, Amelia said, “No not exactly. Someone contacted me online earlier today from the home computer. Then, our office administrator, Teal, received a phone message.”

“What was the message?”

“Tell the nun to check out the news. It’s all about her. Teal said it was a man’s voice,” Amelia said reluctantly.

David gave her a shrewd glance. “And you say you think Olivia is the main target? That isn’t how I’d interpret the message.”

“Don’t you see David? If she finds this person she’ll do what she needs to do to make it right?”

“Hold on,” David said holding up his hand. “She’s out hunting this person?”

“Yes, she said it was the only way.” Amelia glanced at him and caught his concerned expression. “You think she should have brought it to you don’t you?”

David sighed heavily. “If it was anyone else then sure that’s what we do. Olivia isn’t just anyone else is she? I should know. I was here the last time she decided to go on a vengeance spree.”

Amelia swallowed hard. “It isn’t the same as before. I know all about that and I’m telling you that this is different. She just wants us to be safe so we can get on with our lives.”

“Don’t kid yourself Amelia. Olivia Santos on a mission when people she cares about are in trouble will do anything. Remember I was involved when she went on a rampage the last time. It destroyed more than one life that day. I can still see Parker after Olivia went away. She thought like you–that Olivia would be back for her–it didn’t happen.” The pain and gritted determination of Parker to have Olivia back in her life replayed in his mind.

Amelia didn’t say anything for a few moments. “This is completely different,” she said in defiance. “Trust me David, it is way different.”

“Oh you mean that incident where she was supposed to die. If you ask me that was another cover up. I’ve seen how they operate. Remember, I was here when they took Olivia away. You know there was never a death certificate filled out.” He frowned, “Look this isn’t about the old stuff, what do you want me to do other than hope I’m not the one to have to hunt her down again.”

Amelia wanted to ask more about his thoughts on Parker but her own pressing problems with the fire and keeping a low profile took priority. “Will you be our go-between with the fire department, right now I don’t think I could cope with the questions? Besides I need to keep a low-profile and separate myself from the norm.”

David nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. I won’t have any of your folks coming around posting a missing persons report will I?”

“I’ve called them and told them I’m ok and I have to go out of town for a few weeks. I’ll call them once a week as I usually do so they won’t know there’s a problem until I have to go down that path.” Amelia sucked in her deep breath. The call to her parents had been especially hard as her mom waffled on about wedding plans.

“Sounds like you have everything under control. Where are you staying?”

“I’d rather keep that a secret David. The fewer people that know the safer it is for everyone. Even Olivia doesn’t know where I’m going to be. It’s better this way.”

David pulled at his lower lip then quietly commented, “That stuff with Parker. I should never have mentioned it. It was a long time ago and as you say, she’s dead.”

She stood up and was about to leave when she said, “Did Olivia mention that we were getting married?”

The look of happy surprise made Amelia smile. “I guess not. You should know she told me you were going to be the best man. I’ll call you tomorrow David.”

It was typical of Olivia not to mention it to the man that was her brother’s partner. When the time came, she would divulge the details of the wedding. Until then, the one name that came to mind and sat there uncomfortably until finally an exhausted sleep claimed her–Parker.

+ + +
Chapter 28

Olivia rubbed her tired eyes as she watched the meager comings and goings from DOCO headquarters. Her vigilant watch over the mainly concealed entrance had been boring. Her trip to Dan’s house had been a waste of time–he wasn’t there. His cell number wasn’t being answered either. The fact that the signal was turned off puzzled her more.

Then, as she stretched her lean body, she saw a car heading in the direction of the electronically controlled gates. Lying on the hard rocky surface, she picked up her powerful binoculars and watched as it come closer. It looked familiar. Moments later, she realized why–it was the same sedan she’d followed the day before.

The car slid noiselessly through the gates and headed for the underground parking garage. Her immediate thought was to go down there and face whoever that person was. She knew that Dan had been lying to her about DOCO’s involvement. But why did he lie? No, she’d wait and when the car came out again, she’d follow and this time there would be no getting away. Settling in for what she hoped wasn’t an interminable wait she watched and listened intently.

+

Parker stole a quick glance at where she knew Olivia was hiding. She felt her heart swell in anticipation of the reunion with her lover. Parking her vehicle, she made her way to the secure door, swiped her card, and then she pressed her eye against the optical recognition monitor. Going through several other checkpoints she finally arrived at the director’s door and knocked.

A deep voice from inside the room bellowed, “Enter.”

Once inside the office, Parker sized up the small man who sat calmly behind a large metal framed desk. “I understand you wanted to speak with me,” she said.

Large steel-rimmed spectacles turned in the woman’s direction. A faint look of anger curled his lips before he replied. “This mission you’re on, you’ve been using copious resources. To what end?”

Annoyed by the man’s obvious lack of understanding, Parker narrowed her eyes. Like all small men, he has a Napoleon complex. “Exactly what are you implying?”

The man flipped a report in her direction and he waited for her to pick it up. “Is that the mission?”

Without picking it up, Parker’s eyes scanned the folder. “Your predecessor made it clear that he wanted Olivia Santos back in DOCO. I’m merely following his orders–bring her back no matter how long it takes or how much it costs.”

“You don’t work for my predecessor. You work for me. Santos isn’t required here anymore. We have younger operatives in the field that can do what we require of them without the backlash that woman caused. The operation is defunct. I’ve already given the termination instruction.” He made eye contact with the woman and wished he hadn’t.  

“You and who else are going to stop me?” Parker let out a low, ominous, sarcastic laugh. “I’m well aware of my mission and will see it to its conclusion. A weak little man like you won’t stop me.”

“That’s enough Davis. The reason I have this job rather than my predecessor is that we want operatives that wish to be here not those that are forced. If you don’t want to carry out my policies then you can go the way of Santos and leave. Is that strong enough for you?” There had been whispers for some time that the woman was off balance. He’d allowed her eccentricities bearing in mind her exemplary record. It was up to her and if she decided to stay, the next trip she’d be taking was to the psyche department for an evaluation.

For several minutes, Parker sat and stared at the man. She hadn’t liked him before his appointment as director and that was now reinforced a hundred fold. He had been out to get her for years. She was certain he was the person who would always alter her plans at the last moment. Now, he wants to run roughshod over another mission. I will not let that happen. “You don’ have that authority.”

“I do,” the director said tapping his finger on a piece of paper. “It’s as simple as a signature on this sheet of paper. Your call Davis.”

Parker smiled at the man. He was clearly out to get her. He’s jealous of my abilities. I can run rings around him and he knows it. She would not do his bidding but he didn’t have to know that. “Of course I will abandon the mission.”

The man smiled. “Good. I want you to make an appointment with Doctor Jerome for an evaluation. After such a stressful mission that, as far as you’re concerned, had an unsatisfactory ending, I want to ensure you’re up for your next assignment.” When he saw her shift uncomfortably in her chair at the mention of the shrink, he added, “Actually, I’ll make the call then you will be able to see the doctor immediately.”

“No need,” Parker said coldly. “I already have a shrink. As for the mission being unsatisfactory, I believe that’s in the eye of the beholder. Now, if that’s all, I have to sanitize the mission’s command area.”

The director’s anger increased at the arrogance of the woman. “That’s already taken care of. As we speak, the records are enroute to a secure destination. It is protocol Davis. I expect you to see Dr. Jerome. He will be waiting for you. I think that’s all for now.”  

The mention of the area was already sanitized angered Parker but she couldn’t let the man know. Besides, she had an alternate area that they knew nothing about. Putting on her best smiled, Parker said, “Thank you Director, I’m sorry about earlier. You were right. The mission has been stressful. I’ll gladly speak with the doctor.” She blew out a breath. “I think it will do me good. Can it be tomorrow? I have an appointment with Dan, in a half hour.”

The director hesitated then nodded. “Yes, tomorrow at nine be there or…” He left the sentence unfinished and picked up his phone effectively dismissing her.  

As Parker turned away from the man, she felt her heart pounding in her chest as she seethed. The little man would get what’s coming to him and she was the person to see that it happened. Then, I’ll be the next director. But first, she had to finish her mission and she knew exactly where she had to go to accomplish that.

+ + +
Chapter 29

Parker slammed the door to her vehicle and once inside she screamed. “How dare he cut me off like that? Shit!” She blew out a breath–her plan was in shambles and it was the nun’s fault. “Why the hell did they have to make love,” she growled.

As a sudden chill came over her, she looked in the backseat–no one was there. She got out of the car, began inspecting it for tracking devices, and found none. Her eyes scanned the area noting that all the cameras were on her. “I need to get out of here,” she said as she got back in the vehicle. “I can’t wait any longer–it’s time to make myself known to Olivia.”

Exiting DOCO headquarters from an alternate gate, Parker guided her car to a place that was behind the area where Olivia was observing DOCO. Quietly opening and closing the door, she walked noiselessly toward the woman she loved. Putting her gun in her waistband, she made her way through the stand of trees and stopped when she saw Olivia lying on a rock.

With gun in hand, Parker moved forward and stopped when she reached Olivia’s position. “Hello O,” she said. As the woman turned around, she pulled something out of her jacket pocket.

The back of Olivia’s neck tingled as a voice she recognized but thought gone invaded her mind. Closing her eyes for a second, she allowed the sensation to invade her senses, and then turned slowly to look at the apparition in front of her. “It can’t be,” she whispered as her eyes bulged in astonishment and for a moment, forgot her vulnerable position.  

Taking advantage of Olivia’s surprise, Parker was on her in an instant plunging a hypodermic needle into her arm rendering the woman helpless. “Sorry I had to do that to you but time is running out,” Parker said as she caressed Olivia’s cheek before she kissed her lips.

“You’re dead, it’s an illusion,” a dazed Olivia replied as she felt the drug entering her system. 

“Did you really think I’d leave you O? Now you don’t have to put up with the nun–I’ve come back to you.”

Pulling the woman to a standing position, she wrapped her arm around her waist and began the trek back to her vehicle. “Once I get you home everything will be perfect.” She felt Olivia’s initial struggle to free herself and smiled when the woman began to move in step with her.

Olivia tried to remove the hold the person had on her but her muscles were like jelly and didn’t respond. Parker is dead. This is an impersonator. It has to be. With her lips forming the words that were barely discernable, she said, “You can’t do this. Who the hell are you anyway?”

A maniacal laugh floated through the air. “I’m the love of your life O. I’m taking back what belongs to me.” She kept pulling Olivia along with her. “We’re almost there. It won’t be long now.”

From deep inside, Olivia screamed, “No,”

Once she had Olivia secured in the backseat, Parker started the car and began her journey back to the safe house only she knew about. She glanced at Olivia and smiled. “I love you so much O. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to come back to you. I know your life was hell all these years. No more going to prostitutes or having to do the nun–I’m the only one who ever satisfied your needs.” She noticed that Olivia tried to speak. “The medicine will make you groggy. When we get home, I’ll give you something to take the edge off and you can have more control. Then, you can take me just as you did so many times before.”

Olivia’s brain functioned, but all her muscles now refused to move as she tried to look out of the window to track where the woman was taking her. Like the rest of her body, her eyes wouldn’t cooperate.

The dark sedan pulled to a stop in the parking area under the building where her safe house was. “We’re her O,” she said as she opened the back door and pulled Olivia out. “The elevator will take us to our home.” Parker laughed. “We have the penthouse suite and our own elevator,” she said as she dragged Olivia toward the elevator.

Vaguely deciphering the whirling noise of an elevator, Olivia couldn’t make out much more. All she could think was–who the hell is this woman?  

Once inside, Parker guided Olivia to the bedroom, undressed her, and then made her lay down on the bed. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long O, just as I know you have. Let me get you something to give you to have more control.” Parker stepped into the bathroom then returned with a glass of water. She produced two small white pills and put them into Olivia’s mouth. “Take this aspirin my love. It will make you feel better.”

After swallowing the pills, Olivia felt the muscles beginning to free themselves from the drug the woman injected in her. Her anger fueled the adrenalin rush she felt flowing through her veins yet she still had minimal control of her body. Her mind filled with what she was going to do to the woman who dared to impersonate Parker. Did she really think I wouldn’t know she is some wacko stalker? Then, the woman returned and placed another pill in her mouth and was about to place a glass to her lips when Olivia moved suddenly and swiped it away. The vessel hit the floor sending shards of glass and water everywhere.

“Feisty as always,” Parker said with a laugh. “You always knew how to turn me on.”

The pill in Olivia’s mouth was dissolving on her tongue and as her lips, which had been the last to numb, still refused to function, she was unable to spit out the offending substance. Now, as her eye sight cleared she saw the woman who was impersonating Parker clearly. As she did, she saw Parker’s face but knew it was plastic surgery. Appearances can change especially if you have the right people to work with. However, as she caught the eyes of the woman she realized it really was Parker. Then a feeling of total relaxation began to invade her senses and she really didn’t care, in fact, she was jubilant that Parker wasn’t dead. Reaching up, she tentatively stroked the woman’s cheek in wonder.

Once Olivia reached out for her, Parker took her clothes off, slid on the bed, and wrapped the woman in her arms. The first kiss was familiar and welcomed. Soon their bodies melded together as one as they indulged in the bliss that only true love can make you feel.

Parker indulged her fantasies and longing with a trail of bites from the neck and breasts to the inner thighs. Revealing in the aroma of Olivia’s musky scent, her tongue forged its way between willingly parted legs. This was her dream come true. There was no one who could come between them. Olivia was hers again and it would be forever this time. As she heard the strangled sound of Olivia’s orgasm begin, Parker smiled–Olivia was home at last.

+ + +
Chapter 30

Amelia stretched and yawned as she peered around the comfortable room where she’d spent the last ten days. The rectory had been as safe a haven for her as she thought it might be. Other than the calls she received each day from Teal, and the ones she made to David to let him know she was ok Olivia hadn’t contacted her. Other than that, her sole communication was with Father Michael and Mary the housekeeper–the dour one word sentences from the older woman weren’t all that communicative.

David told her there weren’t any suspicious deaths that he recognized as something that Olivia had a hand in committing. That fact was in itself was a relief to everyone. However, as the days passed, Amelia felt the knot in her belly tighten. She had the weirdest feeling–Olivia was moving further and further away from her grasp.

Climbing out of the bed, she drew back the curtain and smiled. The view from the window looked onto the garden. The birds had begun their songs early that morning and as she watched them hop around the lawn and dash in and out of shrubbery, either courting or fighting, she smiled slightly. Life went on regardless, which was exactly what she had to do if Olivia never came back to her. Then her thoughts traveled to the only odd thing that had occurred since the eventful happenings of a week earlier. She’d lost all her private papers.

She was certain that she’d placed the satchel in the car with the other items she’d taken with her when she last left the warehouse. However, the next day when she’d gone to retrieve the rest of her belongings from her car, it wasn’t there. Admittedly, the time had been hectic and fraught with stress. When she’d mentioned the loss of her passport and other documents that made up her identity and professional life David had been sympathetic but told her not to worry. Consequently, she requested copies of her birth certificate, cancelled her passport and asked for copies of her professional certificates. Thankfully, her driver’s license, credit cards, and banking details had been in the purse she’d carried with her.

There was still that niggling though that she did place them in the car. That then begged the question, how did they disappear? It was yet another mystery in a long line of them since she’d met Olivia. Although some had been tragic and traumatic on a very personal level, she wouldn’t have missed a second.

Half an hour later after a quick shower, she arrived at the dining table and wished Mary and Michael good morning.

“Morning Amelia did you sleep well?” The priest beamed a smile at her as he lowered the morning newspaper.

With an answering smile, she nodded. “Like a baby. Is there anything interesting in the news?” She sat down and poured out a bowl of breakfast cereal as Mary noisily deposited the coffee pot opposite her. She glanced up at the older woman and smiled. “Thanks Mary you make the best coffee in town.”

With a sniff in the air, the old woman shook her head and left the room, but Amelia had seen the look of pride enter the aged eyes before she left.

Michael resisted the urge to tease his friend at her friendly overtures towards the not so friendly housekeeper. It had been one of Amelia’s greatest assets. She never gave up on anyone no matter how nasty they were to her.

“The usual I’m afraid. More crime than we want and only the odd happy story delegated to the inner pages. Makes you wonder about people these days. Are we so sad that we enjoy other people’s misery over their triumphs?”

Amelia didn’t reply at first for she had often wondered the exact same thing and voiced it many times to Olivia. The woman had initially ignored the tentative question and then one day had surprisingly answered her.

Smiling, Amelia quoted Olivia word for word, as she spoke to the priest. “People become what we train them to become. In the west, we carnivorously consume anything the newshounds place in front of us as the truth. Along the way it becomes the norm and people become desensitized to the subject matter.” 

Michael gave her a sharp look. “Is that your view these days Amelia?”

Was it? No, she still had that faith and no matter what happened she’d always hold that dear to her and hope things would change for the better. Besides, she’d seen it first hand with Olivia. If they really wanted to, they could change no matter what they’d done. “No, I still believe that humanity is alive and kicking in all of us even if some resort to evil primal practices.”

“I’m glad. I would have been severely disillusioned if my friend had become so cynical. Do I dare ask who that might be?”

“Olivia,” she said with a smile of fondness. “I was working on her though and if I get the chance to continue she’ll maybe change her mind.” Her smile didn’t reach the eyes this time as the thought of never seeing Olivia again–her stomach did nosedive.

Michael came around the table and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll get the chance. We’ll both have faith.”

After breakfast, Amelia retired to the study that Michael had allocated her and she sighed as she looked at the folders of the cases she’d been working on. Then her cell phone beeped. It was Teal.

“Morning Teal how are you today?”

“Great, never better. Amelia as we’re not exactly open for business right now, do you mind if I go to Brazil with Phil. She has a job there that will take three weeks and …”

“Hey, go enjoy yourself and bring me back a present. You know I love those piñatas.”

Teal chuckled. “I’m not going to Mexico, but for you ok. Look, I went by the office today and we have mail. I should have known better than not to check it since last Thursday. Anyway, it’s mostly general stuff but there’s a package for Olivia from a law firm. It’s marked urgent and I figured, as you’re her partner, you can open it.”

Amelia frowned. “Oh, I don’t know. Personal mail for Olivia marked urgent…I’m not into opening her mail Teal.”

“Well, let’s have coffee as usual, your turn to chose the spot. I’ll bring it along and you can keep it for her.”

They’d agreed to meet most days, and share mail and any business problems of closing the office. However, they never met in the same place twice and so far, they hadn’t felt watched or uncomfortable. “Ok, I’ll see you at ten-thirty. Do you remember the coffee shop we used to haunt in college?”

“How could I forget?” Teal giggled as she recalled the dingy place they’d spent more time in than their dorm room.

“Meet you there then Teal, bye.”

Amelia smiled. It was going to be interesting to see the old place again where there were many good memories.

+ + +
Chapter 31

Amelia sat alone at a table in one of her and Teal’s old college haunts. Teal had just left on her way to buy new clothes for her trip away with Phil. Amelia felt a little better after seeing her good friend and sharing some old memories of their times in the coffee shop. As she gazed around at the customers and staff it was like being in a time bubble. The staff still sported the same uniform they had almost twenty years earlier. Black shirt and trousers or skirt with a white full length apron. It had always amazed her that in this college area they’d even bothered to make the effort.

Once she and Teal had gotten to know each other, the small woman teased her mercilessly. She told Amelia that the only reason she spent time there was because it appeared like familiar territory since the wait staff was dressed in black and white too. She’d acknowledged the teasing and probably some place deep inside her psyche she probably did feel more comfortable–black and white were her colors at least back then. Over the years and the professional career path she’d taken, the wearing of conservative clothes as opposed to the habit had been more functional for the patients she treated.

The more she wandered down memory lane the more she fingered the manila packet was addressed to Olivia that Teal had given her. It was marked urgent and was from a local law office–Bennington, Smith and Aldrich. In light of their current circumstances, her urge to open it burned at the core of her ethic of not opening other people’s mail.

A young man with a goatee and pale blue eyes that stared at her expectantly arrived at her side. “Can I get you anything else?”

Blinking rapidly, she looked up at the man who seemed taller than the building. “Just the check please.”

The young man smiled slightly and wandered off to the counter to prepare the check. As he did, Amelia pondered the envelope in her hand and made a decision. Her fingers adroitly tore open the seal and she removed several papers. The top one a short letter of explanation from Rachel Aldrich, the lawyer who had sent the information. As she read the note, her eyes flew open. It clearly stated Dan Estevez had generated information for Olivia’s eyes only. That statement had Amelia second guessing her decision to read her partner’s mail–but she read on. In the event that the man didn’t contact his lawyer after a week’s time, the lawyer’s instructions were to send the information to Olivia.

Just as Amelia was about to flick over the papers, the young man arrived back at her table and placed the check in front of her.

With an apologetic smile, Amelia said, “Hey look, I’m sorry about this. Can you bring me another espresso and delicious blueberry muffin?”

The man nonchalantly nodded and picked up the check and left as he muttered, “Women never can make up their minds.’’ His comment brought a smile to Amelia’s lips that changed quickly to astonishment as she began to read the information.

Fifteen minutes later, with her coffee growing cold and the muffin untouched, Amelia tried to digest what she had gleaned from the notes. It didn’t make sense and yet at the same time it was all perfectly clear. Didn’t David and I speak about her only a few days ago? “No it can’t be,” she finally whispered.

Trying to compose her mind and fit the pieces of the puzzle together, she knew she needed to have a plan of action. She also needed to figure out who she could trust enough with the sensitive information without drawing them into the situation–there was no one she could think of immediately. 

Collecting the papers and replacing them in the envelope, she stood up and walked towards the door only to realize that she hadn’t paid the bill. She went to the cashier and paid the bill complete with a generous tip for the young man. As she left the café, she saw the happy expression on the young man’s face when he saw his tip–it was more than the bill.

Sitting in her car, Amelia drew out her cell phone and dialed Olivia’s number. It went as she expected to voice mail–she had hoped to hear Olivia’s voice. She said, “Mysteries of the universe. Look, I know you said we couldn’t do more than the code but you need to know something. Parker isn’t dead! In fact, she’s the one causing you all the trouble. Dan left a detailed report of her activities over the past few years including when you were working at DOCO. Call me.”

Cradling the phone to her breast Amelia wondered if she’d done the right thing and then nodded–she had. Then, as she tapped her hand on the steering wheel, she thought of what to do and dialed another number. After speaking with several people, she finally connected to the person she needed to speak with about the information. “I know Parker Davis isn’t dead. Dan Estevez has confirmed it.”

Five minutes later, she was heading back to the rectory hoping that Olivia might call. As she drove around the alley to the driveway of the house, her cell phone beeped and she looked at the caller ID. Stopping the car dead in the middle of the drive she quickly flipped opened the phone and answered, “Mysteries of the Universe.”

+ + +
Chapter 32

Parker stretched, opened her eyes, and smiled. Olivia was back in her bed and they would be together forever. She let her eyes roam the naked body next to her and saw the familiar telltale signs of their love making. Hickies and bite marks dotted Olivia’s body–she knew the same pattern was on her body. She watched as the palm of her hand barely touched a nipple causing it to grow and harden.

Just as she was about to nuzzle her lover’s neck she heard, “Amelia, I love you.”

It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the words but they were becoming less frequent as the days stretched out. Four days earlier, she’d brought Olivia back to her safe house and drugged her with ecstasy. Their love making was phenomenal and grew even more intense when she added other drugs to the mix.

Sliding out of bed, she moved to a closet, pulled out a black doctor’s bag and took a black case out. Unzipping the case, she looked over her choice of drugs. Heroin, morphine, ecstasy, codeine, Valium, LSD, and methamphetamine were the ones she favored. She also had a wide variety of psychotropic drugs at her disposal. She’d been giving Olivia intravenous shots of heroin and knew that it was only a matter of time before she was dependent on the drug. She also used ecstasy, rohypnol, and ketamine that gave Olivia an unquenchable appetite for sex.

Filling a syringe, she moved to the bed, tied a band around Olivia’s upper arm, and injected ecstasy into her vein. “You’ll forget the nun and her hold over you will be broken.”

Parker watched as Olivia opened her eyes only to close them as the drug washed over her. When she opened them again, she grabbed Parker’s arm. “What did you give me?” she slurred.

With a smile, Parker patted Olivia’s hand and crawled into the bed. “It won’t be long now my love,” she whispered. In twenty minutes, she and Olivia would be making love again. “I can’t wait to feel your tongue inside of me”

Olivia tried to fight the effects of the drug but soon her mind was closing down and her body wanted one thing–sex.

+

For Olivia, time was subjective. When she looked at the clock radio that said two-fifteen, she didn’t know it was day or night. She felt a body close to her and fought the urge to reach out and touch it. Drugs were controlling her body and it was so much easier to let them in than fight their effects.

Closing her eyes, Olivia tried to capture an image that kept coming to the forefront only to drift away before she could fully see it. Amelia. The name was so familiar and yet she couldn’t remember why. When the person next to her stirred she instinctively closed her eyes. Deep within the recesses of her mind she knew that to survive, she had to play along with the game.

 Parker woke and looked at the sleeping Olivia. The sex they shared earlier was the best yet and she wanted more. First, she needed to take a shower. By the time she was done, Olivia would be somewhat coherent and she too could clean up. Looking at the clock, she calculated that in an hour or so she needed to inject the next dose of heroin. Hmm, maybe I’ll wait a little bit longer and then she’ll beg me for more. I’ll be her savior.

Humming, Parker headed for the bathroom only to stop and look back at Olivia. She rubbed her face, turned and went for the medical bag. “I’ll give her a little more of my ecstasy cocaine mix. Then she’ll be ready for me after her shower.”

Keeping her eyes shut, Olivia felt the now familiar needle puncture her skin. She was losing all sense of time and somehow needed to regain control if she was to free herself of the revolving drug door. Once she heard the water running for the shower Olivia opened her eyes and willed her scattered brain to help her fight the effects of the drug. Unconsciously she moved to the opposite side of the bed, picked up the phone, and automatically dialed a number.

“Help me…please,” Olivia said as she felt the darkness of the drug beginning to take control. “Help me.”

Suddenly, she felt the phone pulled out of her grasp. Then, with a loud thud, the receiver was back in its cradle.

“Who were you talking to?” a different and colder voice asked.

Olivia tried to speak but she couldn’t produce a sound. The only thing she could see was the naked woman standing by the bed. Her eyes fixed on the woman’s body and she reached out and pulled it close. Savagely she began attacking the body as she felt her body cry out for sexual relief. Then everything went black and she was floating in a sea of sexual pleasure.

As her body reacted, Olivia opened her eyes and stared at Parker. Although her vision was blurry, she knew who was having sex with her. Parker always did make her body sing but this time she felt dizzy and nauseous. Pushing the other woman away, she clenched her teeth and screamed, “Where did you come from?”

Parker hid her fear behind a smile. Olivia was having a reaction to the drug mix and she needed to do something. The last thing she needed was to have an out of control Olivia on her hands. She reached out and fondled her lover’s clit.

“Oh god Parker, do that again,” Olivia cried before she roughly pulled the woman to her. “You’ll do as I say,” she said before she nailed Parker’s arms with her knees. “Eat me,” she growled before lowering her body over the woman’s face.

Parker complied with the request. It wasn’t long before Olivia moved off of her and began crying uncontrollably. That was Parker’s opening–she got up, retrieved the bag, and took out the case filled with pills. Sorting through them, she found what she was looking for and slid the small pink pill into Olivia’s mouth under her tongue.

“This will make it all better,” she whispered as she gently stroked Olivia’s throat.

The taste of the pill was bitter and Olivia tried to spit it out but she had no strength for that–she complied. Soon she felt a blackness begin to wash over her as all thoughts faded.

+

For several hours, Parker’s eyes scanned different websites that dealt with the effects of the drugs she’d been using on Olivia. It was clear that the mixture she was using could have lethal effects. She reasoned that in the doses she administered that wouldn’t happen. Right now, she needed to find which of the drugs would keep her lover under her control.

Underestimating Olivia’s ability to fight the effects of the drugs, had allowed the woman to make a phone call. She’d see to it that it wouldn’t happen again. Once Olivia was asleep, she handcuffed her to the bed before she took the phone out of the bedroom.

“You and me will be never be apart again O,” she whispered as she dragged a wet washcloth over Olivia’s body.

Olivia felt the wetness run over her body and fought the urge to take the woman again. She kept her eyes closed and willed her mind to come up with a plan of escape. I have to get back to Amelia, she thought and her eyes flew open. “Amelia,” she said.

“She’s dead.”

With tears filling her eyes, Olivia said, “No she can’t be.”

“She died in the fire O, remember that? Tell me your pass code for your phone messages.”

“Eight-nine-four-three,” Olivia slurred. Closing her eyes, Olivia tried to remember a fire. The image of a burned out warehouse floated into view. Her eyes scanned the skeleton of the building looking for Amelia. “No she didn’t,” she whispered before she grabbed Parker and pulled her close. She roughly kissed the mouth that so tantalized her. She felt her heart racing as her body began to shiver and her agitation increase.

Parker let Olivia have her way when it came to what she craved. What she hadn’t expected was Olivia’s hands around her throat. “Stop,” she cried.

“No,” Olivia screamed as she poised a thumb over Parker’s hyoid bone and began to press down hard.

With a hand, Parker began pulling Olivia’s thumb away only to feel fingers jabbing inside her. “I like this game,” she choked out as the pressure on the hyoid continued.

Suddenly Olivia pulled her fingers out of Parker and glared at the woman. She felt her body begin to spiral out of control and it needed relief. “Give me more or I’ll kill you,” she growled before releasing her thumb’s pressure. Then, she began to cry, as her trembling grew more spasmodic. “I need it now,” she screamed before she hit Parker in the face.

Holding her bleeding nose, Parker said, “Let me go so I can get it for you.” Once released, she went to her stash of drugs, filled the syringe with cocaine, and smiled. “I’ll make it all better for you,” she purred as she slid the needle into an almost collapsed vain.

Olivia felt the drug wash over her. When Parker offered her two roofies, she readily took them–she liked how they made her feel.

When fifteen minutes passed and Olivia was in her drugged haze, Parker snuggled up to her. “Make love to me O,” she whispered.

“God Parker I love you so much,” slurred Olivia before she began grabbing for a breast. 

+

Parker picked up Olivia’s cell entered the code and listened to Olivia’s messages. When she heard the nun warning about her being alive, she smiled. “Wait till you see what I have in store for you nun.”

Bringing up a voice file, she opened the one that she had previously created. She dialed the nun’s number and let the recording speak for her. “Darker than night.” There was a pause before the recording said, “Amelia meet me at 6223 Morgan Street. I’m in the penthouse and I’m in big trouble.” Then the connection ended.

Parker laughed. “Take my bait little Miss Nun. Once you’re out of the way, O will belong to me forever.”

+ + +
Chapter 33

Laughing Parker put the finishing touches on her disguise. When she looked at herself in the mirror a peal of laughter echoed around the bedroom–she looked exactly like the nun.

Hearing the sound, Olivia lifted her head and looked at the woman. She rubbed her eyes trying to make her vision clearer. “Amelia? You came.”

“Of course I came for you Olivia,” the woman said.      

Olivia shook her head. “I need your help. Watch out, Parker is here.”

With a chaste smile, Parker moved closer to Olivia. “I’m here to take you home.”

Closing her eyes, Olivia said, “Drugs she’s drugged me,” before she began shivering as a sharp pain stabbed her stomach. “I need more.”

Just then, Parker heard the doorbell. “Looks like she took the bait,” she said as she went to the door.

+

Amelia drove like a bat out of hell to the building that Olivia had mentioned. She knew at core level that she really should have spoken to someone about where she was going but there hadn’t been time. Bottom line–Olivia was in trouble.

Haphazardly parking the car outside the Morgan street apartment building and ignoring the fact that it was a no parking zone, she ran up the steps and entered the tiny lobby area. As she continually jabbed at the elevator numbers, her stance becoming more irritated. When the mechanical doors eventually opened, she almost shoved the two old women, who were slowly leaving the elevator, aside in her need to get to Olivia.

A few minutes later, she was standing outside the door of the penthouse. For a second, reason overtook her. What will I do if Olivia is really in trouble? I don’t have the means or knowledge to encounter danger full on. Breathing in deeply, she took faith in her hands and knocked.

When the door opened, her eyes bulged. Placing a hand to her mouth, she whispered, “You look like me.”

“Ah, Dr. West, you’ve arrived. Now the party can begin.” Parker took hold of the nun’s arm and pulled her inside. She laughed as she ripped open her blouse. “All these are from O. She doesn’t love you anymore and told me to take care of you.”

Amelia struggled to come to terms with the woman dressed and made up to look like her–it didn’t feel real. What did feel real was the roughness of the hand that pulled her inside and locked the door. Shaking her head slightly, Amelia asked, “Parker, why?”

“All in good time my dear Nun. First, we have to play.”

“Play, I don’t understand.” Amelia softly replied as her eyes roamed the visible bites across the woman’s breasts. Her stomach lurched at the thought of Olivia putting them there. Then she gazed at the wild expression on the woman’s carefully made up features. This isn’t going to be easy even with all my experience with psychotic patients.

When she saw the nun look at her breasts, Parker pulled her pants down part way to reveal a multitude of marks. Parker laughed. “The game of where oh where is my lover Olivia.”

Amelia felt powerless in the face of the woman. When they’d first met, Amelia was certain the woman never showed an obsessive tendency. If she did, how did I miss it? “I don’t want to play games Parker. I just want to see Olivia.”

Buttoning her pants, Parker grinned. “The question is…who is her lover? You can clearly see that she has placed her mark on me. What about you Nun? Has she marked you or merely used you as my replacement?” With a laugh, Parker added, “Does she know how you taste? Of course she does. Guess what? She prefers mine to yours.” Parker continued to laugh. “She just told me so not ten minutes ago.”

Silently balking at the conversation, Amelia knew if she was to help Olivia then she had to show that this type of conversation didn’t faze her. She could do that–she had to do that. “I think we’ll let Olivia be the one to answer that Parker.”

“She already has. I’ve shown you the proof,” Parker said as she fingered the syringe in her pocket. “She’s delicious but you wouldn’t know that would you?” Parker laughed. “How did it make you feel to know she preferred hookers to you?” She eyed the nun and nodded. “You don’t stand a chance. She wants real women not someone who couldn’t even make it in the nunnery,” she added as she moved closer to the woman.

Amelia seethed at the denouncements. However, she wisely decided that taking the bait would be playing right into the deranged woman’s hands. “As I said before, shall we let Olivia make that choice?”

“You’re becoming an irritant. What part of Olivia wants me and not you don’t you understand?” Parker grabbed the woman’s wrist and twisted it. “Do you really think you’re a match for me? I know more about Olivia than you ever will.” She squeezed harder as she pulled out the syringe. “Goodnight Nun,” she said as she started to stab the woman with the syringe.

Quickly, in a move that Olivia taught her, she kneed Parker in the groin and watched as the woman dropped the syringe and grunted hard in pain. Her gaze roamed the apartment until she saw a partially opened door, ran towards it, and went inside. She found a chair and wedged it against the door to prevent Parker from entering the room. Then her eyes scanned the rest of the room as she fumbled in her jacket for her cell phone to call for help. What she saw made her heart break. On a king-size bed that dominated the room, she saw a naked and incoherent Olivia. “Oh no, what has she done to you,?” Amelia’s legs felt like jelly as she dropped down beside the bed and peered at the woman she loved.   

Parker had underestimated the nun. She knew that not giving her opponent the proper respect was a scenario meant for disaster. Taking a gun from the desk drawer, Parker said, “The nun needs to be taught a lesson.” She quickly made her way to the other bedroom and silently opened the bathroom door.

Tears fell as Amelia gently wiped away the hair that covered Olivia’s face. She was unable to comprehend how someone could do that to another human being. Especially one you professed to love–she knew Parker did love Olivia but this wasn’t love. It wasn’t real love. “I’m here Olivia. I’m going to take you home. I promise she won’t hurt you again.”

A voice barely above a whisper said, “You came to save me. You always were my guardian angel.”

When she heard the nun crying Parker opened the door to the bedroom. Pointing the gun in the nun’s direction, Parker laughed. “What a touching scene.” She wiggled the gun. “Get away from the bed and sit in that chair in the corner,” she ordered. She moved in on the woman as she moved toward the chair. She held out a pair of handcuffs. “Put one end around your wrist and the other end on the rung of the chair.”

When she’d completed the task, Amelia looked up into Parker’s eyes. She defiantly asked, “What happens next? You can’t seriously believe killing me in front of Olivia will make her want you.”

With a smile, Parker moved to the bed. “I’m here my love. Please make love with me.” When Olivia opened her eyes and saw Amelia standing there, she sighed. Putting the gun down, Parker stripped off her clothes, grinned at the nun, and leaned in to kiss Olivia. It wasn’t long before Parker and Olivia entwined in each other’s arms. Once Olivia began sucking her nipple as her fingers found their way to a wet clit, Parker knew she had won. Olivia was hers for all time.

 Amelia stared at the two women for a few moments then fought the sickness that caught in her throat at Parker’s blatant act of making love with Olivia. Does Olivia still have feelings for her? It sure looks like she doesn’t seem to mind what Parker is doing to her. Then her eyes furtively went around the room wondering what to do next. Her eyes caught the glint of the metal of the gun and without thinking too much, she dragged the chair over to the where she reached out and clasped the gun in her hands. In a trembling voice, she shouted, “Get off her Parker–get off her now.”

Parker let Olivia bring her to a climax before she let out a maniacal laugh that filled the room. Rolling off Olivia, Parker leaned in and began licking Olivia between her legs. She mumbled, “My god does she taste good.” Eyeing the nun, she could see the repulsion on her face and she grinned before winking at the woman. Jamming a finger inside Olivia, she pulled it out and looked at the nun.

Amelia stood frozen in place as she watched Parker defile Olivia. She wanted to scream and tell the deranged woman to stop but all she could see was Olivia’s face contorting in pleasure.

“You have the gun but I have this delectable taste of Olivia. Want to trade” Parker asked before she charged at Amelia. “Do you really think you can stop me,” she screamed. “No one tells me what to do,” she said as she lunged forward. “Especially not a nun!”

In that split second, Amelia had two choices. If she allowed Parker to retrieve the gun, God only knew what would happen next. Or, she could use the gun and warn the demented woman off. Closing her eyes fractionally, she squeezed the trigger and a bullet ricocheted off the bedpost into the wall. Parker stopped dead in her tracks and Olivia moved back in fear.

Laughing, Parker looked at the nun. “Give me a break will you? There’s no way a nun will shoot me or anyone else–it’s against their code.” Holding out her hand, she said, “Now give me the gun before someone gets hurt.”

The gun wavered in her hand but Amelia wouldn’t let go of the weapon. “No! Release me and let Olivia go and then you can have the gun.”

A crease formed between Parker’s eyes. “I don’t believe you. You’re nothing but a lying slut. Olivia is staying with me and you…well you’ll be dead.” She lunged toward the nun with her hand outstretched for the gun.

Instinctively, Amelia pulled the trigger–closing her eyes as she did. Then she waited for Parker to wrench the gun from her hands and kill her–it didn’t happen. With one eye open, she peered at the scene and saw Parker on the ground with blood oozing from a wound to the head. “Oh my God, I’ve killed her.” 

Olivia stared at the scene going on around her. It was occurring in a fog, which she thought odd since she was on a bed. In the recesses of her conscious mind, she heard the altercation of two familiar voices and then the sound of a gunshot. She wailed, “No.”

Parker couldn’t believe that the nun shot her. Now, she was fading in and out of consciousness and knew death was near. When the nun knelt down and felt for her pulse she said, “You’re a nun. They don’t kill people.”

Softly Amelia replied, “Don’t you see Parker, I’m not a nun and the code I live by now is keeping the woman I love safe. You of all people should have understood that.”

Parker whispered, “I’ll never…,” before falling into unconsciousness.

Amelia whispered, “I know.” And she clutched the lifeless hand in hers and sent up a silent pray for God to take care of Parker. Then her attention caught the sound of the door crashing open had her rushing to Olivia. She was still clutching the gun in a protective stance when two men entered the room.

The two men who entered the bedroom with their weapons drawn, quickly scanned the room. “Mason, check her vitals.” The taller of the two men nodded to the squat man who did his bidding. “Doctor West?”

Bewildered, Amelia nodded. “Who are you?”

The man frowned as he saw the state of the woman on the bed beside the doctor. “I believe you asked for our help. We’ll take it from here. It’s our mess and we know how to clean up.”

“You’re not taking her away from me,” Amelia blurted. “I’ll look after her.” Amelia’s eyes caught the man’s as she held Olivia’s head cradled into her breast.

The squat man from his couching position said, “Doesn’t look like she’ll make it. I’ll get her in the chopper for all the good it’ll do. He flung Parker over his shoulder in complete disregard for her injuries. Amelia watched in amazement, as the stocky man seemed to carry Parker with ease.

The tall man turned to Amelia and fixed his eyes on Olivia. “It would be best if our people take care of Ms. Santos. We do have the experience and she’s one of ours.”

“No. That’s where you’re wrong. She isn’t yours. She belongs with me now and I’ll take care of her,” Amelia said with determination.

For a second, it looked as if the man was going to argue–he didn’t. “As you pointed out correctly Doctor West, she isn’t one of ours. Good luck,” he said before he vacated the room.

Tears flooded Amelia’s eyes as she cradled Olivia close to her. “It’s going to be ok now Olivia. I promise you. They won’t ever come for you ever again.”

+ + +
Chapter 34

Epilogue

Amelia walked briskly from the hospital towards the visitors’ parking lot. Her mind dragged unwillingly into a dark time–a time she had worked hard at depositing in the recesses of her memory where they belonged. It hadn’t been an easy time after Olivia’s traumatic days in the hands of her ex-lover Parker. The worse thing was, if she had been personally less involved she would have seen the signs of the break-down and mental despair that had invoked the final showdown with the woman. Her thoughts drifted to her partner and a slight frown puckered her forehead. It had been an interesting twenty months since the Parker incident.

+

The first six months had been traumatic and difficult. When she’d regained composure in Parker’s apartment, she called a discreet friend at one of the local hospitals and arranged for an ambulance to come for Olivia. After a week, Amelia had no choice but to contact DOCO. They readily agreed to help Olivia in overcoming her addiction to the potent mixture of drugs that Parker administered. They also arranged for immediate psychiatric care for Olivia. Consequently, Olivia spent the next six months in an undisclosed medical facility.

The DOCO psychiatrist advised Amelia that it would be best for Olivia’s recovery if she didn’t have any physical contact–she reluctantly agreed. Their only contact was brief phone calls and letters–internet access was nonexistent. The doctor advised her that when Olivia was ready, she would make the decision to go home. Amelia had to keep pushing down the fear that perhaps Olivia might never want to come home–she’d seen saw it happen in her practice.

Amelia relied heavily on her faith during that time. She also took her own advice and sought out help for her trauma and guilt over the incident. Parker had been right about one thing–it wasn’t in her creed to kill. Each time she saw the prone body of Parker in her dreams, it would eat into her soul. The therapy had helped, but a part of her would never let it go–not totally–perhaps never.

  Then one day, she received the phone call from Olivia to say she was ready to come home. The day before the scheduled time for picking up her partner, an operative of DOCO turned up at her office for an impromptu meeting. When she met the man, she recognized him immediately–he’d been one of her patients.

“I don’t understand,” she said as the stark reality of Olivia’s world became crystal clear. DOCO’s people had the ability to infiltrate anything everything. “I take it this isn’t a consultation,” she said as she glared at the man.

The man shrugged then shook his head. “My boss thought it would be better if you talked with someone who was familiar.”

Amelia didn’t move. It was clear that DOCO used her and that realization made her feel dirty and in need of a shower. “Your boss was wrong. What can I do for you…Mr. Lewis…or is that another fabrication?”

“Lewis is good. Before you pick up Santos tomorrow we have a few ground rules.” He looked her straight in the eye and saw the distaste cross her pale features–he wasn’t phased.

With a barely audible whisper, Amelia said, “Please go on.”

The man looked around and as he did it reminded Amelia of Olivia’s actions everywhere she went, would she do that the rest of her life –probably. “Can we speak someplace more private than the reception area…your office perhaps.”

 “My office!” Amelia exclaimed. “You’ve got to be kidding. How secure is that Lewis? I’m sure your people have bugged that along with everywhere else I’ve been. I don’t feel safe anywhere not even in my own home. You can speak here. What difference will it make? It looks like there’s only you and me here but we both know differently. Don’t we.”

The man bent his head slightly.

“You have orders for me?” Amelia’s expression was blank but the arms folded across her chest indicated her pent up anger. 

He held out a file as he began to speak. “This is the rehab file on Olivia at least the pertinent things you’re going to have to deal with. Of course, it’s the general physical file and only a skeleton image of her mental state. The details are confidential for many reasons.”

Amelia blew out a breath. “This is unethical. I’m not her doctor. Did she agree to this information being shared with me?”

“Operative Santos has no rights. She gave them up willingly years ago.”

“She left your organization. By doing so it ended any contract she had with your organization.”

“When you asked for our help Doctor you invoked those contractual terms again.” He thrust the file still in his hand, toward her. “You can take it to help with her on-going recovery or you can wing it–your choice.”

Reluctantly, Amelia took the file–she would ask Olivia’s permission before she read anything. “Is that all?”

A sneer crossed the man’s face causing his moustache to curl menacingly. “As we knew she would be Santos is resilient. Still, there are unfocused memories she’s trying to remember. We cannot allow that to happen.”

Amelia, confused by the man’s comment, creased her forehead. The last information the DOCO psychiatrist gave her indicated Olivia had no memories of the event. Now, it would seem that memories were trying to surface. From a professional standpoint, that was encouraging. “If she knows what happened then she can deal with it and then let it all go,” Amelia said. “Why is DOCO suggesting that shouldn’t happen?” Personally, she wished that her partner never had to live those nightmares again. “I don’t understand the logic of that. It goes against all good psychiatric methods.”

The man ignored Amelia’s questions. “We want you to encourage her not to remember. Your close relationship with Santos will be helpful in making sure she never remembers. Surely you don’t want Santos to relive what happened.”

Amelia’s cheeks colored slightly at the man’s comment about her relationship with Olivia. “My personal opinion has no bearing on what the proper treatment should be. If remembering helps Olivia to move on then I have an ethical responsibility to help her do just that.”

The man shook his head. “Not this time Doctor. As I said, you asked for our help and as with everything in life, there are strings attached. I need you to confirm that you will do this or…”

Glaring at the man, Amelia asked, “Or what?” All she wanted was Olivia back and if it meant she had to deal with the devil once more, she would.

“We’ll take steps to have Santos committed indefinitely.”

“You can’t do that?”

Lewis gave a tiny smile has he turned to go.

“Wait!”

Lewis turned around and looked her but didn’t speak.

Amelia drew in a heavy breath. “If I do this will you stay out of our lives for good?”

“You made a deal with us Doctor West. I suggest you live up to your part,” he replied coldly.

“One more thing,” Amelia said before the man could leave. “Was it just you who came to my office for treatment?” Amelia still felt the sting of DOCO using her to get to Olivia.

For a second the man didn’t answer. Amelia was ready to press the point, when he said, “There were several but one in particular. It won’t take a great leap for you to know who it was. DOCO came through for you on the Santos matter Doctor, we expect restitution.” Amelia watched as the man left as she shook from head to toe.

+

Finally, Amelia sank down onto one of the chairs in the reception area and felt hot tears sting her cheeks. “Is this ever going to be over?” she brokenly whispered. Burying her head in her hands she cried for Olivia and herself–it would be the only time she allowed herself that emotion. She had to be strong–wallowing in tears wouldn’t help them move on. As she felt her normal composure righting itself, she frowned as she wondered just how hard keeping the truth from Olivia was going to be. It occurred to her that by what the man said or didn’t say there was the clear innuendo about the immensity of what had happened. She was certain that the implications were far reaching and she had the feeling that it wasn’t over–not by a long shot.

Pulling out the appointment diary on Teal’s desk, she flipped through the last three months of her appointments prior to Olivia’s kidnapping. Then it dawned on her who Parker had been–it couldn’t be anyone else–Mary Christian–a chill washed over her. The horror she felt at Parker’s confidence and arrogance made her retch. She had been so convincing. Wasn’t that the truth of it anyway? Parker was delusional. It would have been easy for her to let go and become the Mary persona. A small part of her was glad that Parker was no longer in the equation. If she were still alive, there would be the possibility that her obsessive stalking of Olivia would resurface–they would never be free. It was the only thing that made sense–in a bizarre way, she could justify murdering one of God’s children.

She and Olivia were going to start again much as they both had when events had conspired against them in the early days of their meeting. She had to hold onto that knowledge if she were to maintain any sort of sanity. She closed her eyes and sent a prayer to heaven that she would have the strength and wisdom to do just that.

 The following day when she arrived to pick up her partner, there was a sense of trepidation that things would never be the same again–how could they be? A miracle happened when Olivia captured her gaze and simply smiled. The chasm of the months apart hadn’t changed a thing.

Olivia pulled her in for a heartfelt hug and whispered, “I love you, and I’ve missed you. You and I are never going to be apart again.”

The doctors had concurred on one thing–Olivia’s strength of character would ensure that she had kicked drug addiction for good. As with most professionals, they wouldn’t issue a cast iron guarantee. Addiction to the drugs, especially the ones that Parker injected, had a way of pulling a person back into their grip.

It appeared that the warning she’d been given was premature. Olivia had few if any memories of that time. In fact, a lot of what she went through over the month prior to the incident were washed away like a soothing balm. From outward appearances, they were unlikely ever to resurface. However, there had been a price to pay. Since Olivia had lapses in her concentration, it was deemed unsafe for her to continue in her profession. Instead, she hired a couple of young people and actually relished the challenge of training them. Olivia stayed home more often and that helped to heal the wounds of their separation.

There had been one time in particular when her promise to the DOCO people actually came to fruition.

+

Olivia was pacing the floor of her office gnashing her teeth. She knew that the love she and Amelia shared would help her through any challenge. “Will that be enough?”

A quiet voice asked from the doorway, “Will what be enough?”

With a haunted look, Olivia looked at Amelia. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. My mind keeps flashing on images that I don’t understand.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know if I can,” Olivia said as she looked away. “There’s a thread loose that I can’t seem to break away from.” She turned her gaze to Amelia. “What happened to me?”

Amelia entered Olivia’s office and closed the door behind her. As she took the steps towards her partner, she felt her stomach pull into knots of tension. This was the one question she’d been dreading since the whole sorry mess erupted. “Why don’t you tell me what flashes you’ve been having?”

“I keep seeing someone from my past.”

Amelia perched on the side of the desk unable to sit because her own demons about that time wouldn’t allow her the calmness she knew that Olivia needed. “Anyone I know?”

Olivia bowed her head. “Parker…I see Parker.”

The room went deathly quiet. Amelia, using her professional façade, evenly replied, “Parker’s dead Olivia. She died before this incident. Do you remember that?”

Anger blazed across Olivia’s face as her hands began to shake. “Don’t tell me that! Those quacks at rehab said the same thing! I know what I see and it’s Parker and I’m with her.”

“Ok, ok I promise not to psychoanalyze you.” Swallowing the bile that threatened to make her sick, she gently asked, “When you were with Parker in those memories were they of a good time or a bad one?”

Olivia held her head as pain returned and her body began to react in pleasure. Keeping her head buried she said, “Both.”

Amelia moved to touch the bowed head but pulled away in surprise when Olivia looked up and caught her gaze–it was a blank look–as if she were a stranger. “Perhaps because you meant so much to each other at one time it’s a way for your mind to cope with the situation you were in. Our bodies shutdown sometimes at our weakest moments and we create something familiar to help get us through the pain.”

“Aren’t you listening to me Amelia? I have these bits of memory that I have no reference for and that’s driving me crazy. I need to know what happened.” Olivia cried, “Please help me remember.”

For a few seconds Amelia felt split between her professional oath to help those in need and protecting Olivia from the DOCO threat. She knew that if she did solve the mysteries for Olivia the shock of the truth might destroy her lover. Uppermost in her mind was the fact that DOCO would make good on the threat and take Olivia away for good. She had no doubt that DOCO meant business. What choice do I have?

“I can’t help you remember. The doctors at the rehab told me that the drugs you were given had wiped that area of your memory for good.”

“Don’t give me that shit Amelia…I’m not as stupid as you and your shrink pals think I am. I can see Parker. It’s so real that I can feel myself reacting to her touch, to her lips, to her smile and I want to…” Olivia pounded the wall leaving a dent in the plaster. “I need to know what happened! Can’t you understand that? I’m living in a vacuum and I don’t know why. All I know is that it involves Parker in some way.”

Amelia felt the tears close to the surface. All she wanted to do was to hold Olivia and protect her from the memories. At the same time, if not knowing was destroying Olivia’s mind what right did she have to deny her that knowledge. Shouldn’t she choose her destiny? “If you found out that it was Parker who had kidnapped you and put you through the hell that you can vaguely see, would that help you?”  

Olivia gritted her teeth and set her jaw. “Don’t go there Amelia. Don’t try and put this off on someone who isn’t here to defend herself.”

“So you accept that Parker is dead?”

As her body tensed, Olivia closed her eyes and swallowed hard. “Why are you doing this to me? Why can’t you just tell me the truth about what happened.” Her body was reacting in the same way it had when she first went to rehab–she wanted relief and she knew what would help her.

Amelia saw the wild expression on Olivia’s face. It was the tell tale sign that she was craving drugs. With Olivia’s permission, she’d read the medical file and between them they’d countered this side of the addiction–at least she thought they had. With a heavy sigh, she reached for Olivia’s shaking hands, took them in her own, and held them tight. “Why do you think I know all the answers Olivia?”

“Because I see you in the flashes too.”

With a tight smile, Amelia nodded. “And you think I was responsible for what you went through?”

“No, no, not you…well maybe I don’t know…that’s what I’m trying to tell you…I don’t know.”

“I understand that. Do you trust me Olivia?”

In a moment of clarity, Olivia saw Amelia standing next to a bed in a strange room. She remembered trying to move her arm but couldn’t–a handcuff held her and there was a shot–yes a shot. “It was you,” she said. “You were there.”

A tear trickled down Amelia’s cheek as she nodded. Taking Olivia’s chin in her hands, she caught her gaze. “Do you trust me?”

The direct question made Olivia look at the woman she loved with new eyes. “Yeah, I guess I do,” she said cautiously. “I did see you…I know that happened.”

“Olivia you think you know what happened, but you don’t. I’m going to explain this to you once and only once because it’s too painful for me to relive. Will you accept my version of the events as the truth and try and move on?”

Closing her eyes, Olivia said, “I need to know what happened. Maybe if you tell me then all the pieces that I see will come together.”

“Ok, that’s my girl.” Amelia smiled bending slightly and tenderly placed a kiss on the full lips. “The mind plays tricks on us Olivia. I know you understand that. The drugs this person gave you were powerful and had the ability to place you at their mercy. To compensate, you used the memory of Parker, someone you loved. I’m certain a part of you still loves her.”

Amelia smiled gently at the frown that puckered her partner’s brow. “It’s ok, I understand. You have your old love and I have mine. Remember?” She winked and looked heavenward and the frown disappeared.

“The Parker image you see in your mixed up memories of that time is the old frustration you once had with her when you were together. If you think about it, it makes sense. You needed to insert an image of someone who could drug you and abuse you. She was the one person you felt had the power to love you and to betray you at the same time. Does this make any sense to you?”

Olivia listened to the story Amelia weaved and found it incredible. Parker betraying her didn’t stack. She loved me…she loved me too much. “Go on.”

Breathing in deeply, Amelia continued. “You called me, at least I think it was you and said you were in trouble and needed my help. I would do anything for you Olivia and I mean anything. I made the hardest decision of my life when I came to rescue you. To take a life to save us both I killed the person who was hurting you. I have to live with that the rest of my life and I will. Do you know why? It’s because I have you to help me.”

With a frown Olivia said, “That’s all psychobabble Amelia and you know it. You killed someone to save me…give me a break.” Olivia listened to herself talk and wondered who it was. She loved Amelia more than life itself yet she was attacking her. The look on her lover’s face told her all she needed to know. Somehow, she needed to let the past, whatever version it was, go. She felt her body begin to shake–she knew what she needed–cocaine to take off the edge.

“Now you understand what I meant by the mind playing tricks. One thing I want you to know, that it isn’t a trick. I love you and we’ll work it out together, ok.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I know you’re only trying to help me and I seem to be taking my frustration out on you.” Olivia moved toward Amelia and took her in her arms. “I love you,” she whispered before she pulled back. “I need to go out for a little while. What do you say when I get back we have a nice intimate dinner?”

Amelia saw Olivia’s shaking hands and knew what she was going out for–drugs. “Tell you what, why don’t we both go for a walk. The fresh air will do us good and I’ll buy you coffee. Then I’ll hold you to that intimate dinner.”

The smile Olivia gave Amelia stayed longer than it should. She needed a fix. “Sounds good to me. Give me a minute to go to the bathroom and we’ll be on our way.”

Amelia reached out and placed a hand on Olivia’s forearm. “Please don’t do it.”

“Do what?” Olivia asked. When she saw the look on Amelia’s face she growled, “We’ve had this discussion before Amelia. I told you I don’t use drugs and I have no intention of starting them up again.”

“Are you sure?”

Olivia snickered and said, “Since it seems that you don’t trust me do you want to go with me? We can start our night off early and have a quickie in the bathroom if you’d like,” she said belligerently.

“That won’t be necessary, I’ll explain to Teal we’re going early. I’ll see you in reception when you’re ready.” Amelia turned to go and was at the door when she turned around and quietly said, “I trust you-do you trust yourself?”

With a wave of her hand, Olivia said, “Don’t be such a worry wart.” She watched Amelia go out the door to the reception area before she dug deep into the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small plastic bag that contained Valium. It wasn’t the good stuff but it would take the edge off and that’s all she needed. She closed her eyes–she needed a fix and no promise to Amelia could change that. But she would try for her lover. The words of one of the shrinks she had filled her mind. You have to want to give them up for you not anyone else. Perhaps that was true. All she knew was when her resolve is the lowest, Amelia who kept her grounded.

As she swallowed the drug, she allowed herself to relive the fragments of the memories that haunted her. Whatever happened sealed her to a life so different from the one she’d worn over the past twelve years. It was a second skin just like her leather jacket. Why did she even bother to try and make sense out of it? Amelia either couldn’t or wouldn’t help her find the answers. One thing she found out was that Amelia had been there at the end–she’d admitted as much.

That begged the question, was had Amelia been there at the beginning? Had Amelia experienced any of the horrors that someone had inflicted on her? As that thought permeated her brain, she felt her stomach churn. Can that be why she was so reticent to talk about it? Why is she so afraid to share that information? Shaking her head at her own dumb thoughts, she knew the answer to that one.

“No way would she admit anyone had defiled her because she knows how I’d react. I’d want to kill the bastard that harmed her. Oh shit,” she said in sudden realization. “Here I am and it’s all me, me, me, and she’s so damn calm and collected. What did she say earlier? She killed the person who did this to me?” Her face turned ashen as she pondered how she would feel if it were true.

“Absolutely shattered to the core. I’d want to die. If I brought her into the gutter that I’ve wallowed in for years it would be the worst thing I’ve done in my life. It pales in comparison to taking revenge for my brother’s murder. She means that much to me.”

Her words seemed to echo off the walls of the empty room. She came to a decision that she would stick by for the rest of her life. At that moment, she knew she was going to make a new life for them both and become a better person. Her hand reached for the small plastic bag that still contained valium and threw the contents into the toilet bowl before flushing it away–it was a start.   

Going out to the reception area, she saw Amelia and said, “Come on beautiful, let’s go to Starbucks and you can have one of those fancy coffees you like so well.

+ + +
Chapter 35

The journey home for Amelia had been quiet. It was well after the normal rush hour and it allowed her to reflect on the months after Olivia had finally accepted that what was in the past had to remain there or they couldn’t move on.

Another memory of that time came to mind, as another bombshell hit them. This time it was a pleasant one. Dan Estevez had made another request of Olivia–if her were missing or presumed dead he wanted her to be the guardian of his twin six year old daughters. Apparently, their mother had died in a car accident earlier in the year and he had no relatives that he felt could take on the responsibility. Knowing what she did about DOCO agents, Amelia was surprised that the man had a family.

Amelia had initially been worried about Olivia’s reaction to the news in a letter from the lawyer that rested on the kitchen table between them.

Finally, Amelia asked, “Did you know that Dan had family?”

“Yeah, he told me that not too long ago. He wasn’t cut out to live for the organization. He wanted a family and was going to leave DOCO so he could spend more time with them.”

“Like you,” Amelia said with a smile.

Looking suspiciously at Amelia for any undercurrent in her words and found none. “There was a time when I was the epitome of what DOCO stands for–until I met you-because of you and your faith and values I want it all too.”

Taking a deep breath at the quiet confession wanting to add she was no saint, Amelia instead replied, “Will you accept Dan’s wishes, and become guardian to his kids? Taking a deep breath, Amelia said, “Will you accept Dan’s wishes and become guardian to his kids?

Quietly Olivia said, “Yes on one condition.”

Raising her eyebrows Amelia asked, “Condition?”

“Yes you become their guardian too. I can’t think of a better role model than you.” Olivia replied her tone even but her blue eyes pierced Amelia’s eyes with the intensity of their feeling.

For a second, Amelia wanted to explain that Olivia’s faith was misguided she was not innocent–she’d taken a life. In many ways, the same blood was on their hands in for they both were protecting someone they loved. Then she reached an inner goal of her own, she let the guilt go. She counseled Olivia to let the past go–now, she had to do the same. She knew that neither one of them would be able to completely forget. Occasions would arrive that would affect them in different parts of their lives. They would go forward together, and that’s all anyone could ask for in this life. God would be her judge and jury when the time came for her wrongs on this Earth.

“Hey, look, if that’s too much, I understand,” Olivia said after what she thought was a long silence from her usually gregarious partner.

Amelia stood up, walked around to Olivia, bent her head, and kissed away the frown that formed on her features. “Thank you. I’d be delighted to take care of children with you. I couldn’t think of a better role model than you either.” 

Olivia’s cheeks stained red at the compliment–for a second like a child herself and that made it all ok. Then, quickly to mask her embarrassment, she said, “Well that takes care of that problem then.”

Amelia said, “What problem?”

“If they’re living with us and we end up adopting them your folks will have grandchildren. Right?”

All Amelia could do was smile as she hugged Olivia. “I love you.”

Once Olivia accepted the guardianship, she knew she needed to have a home for them. While Olivia recovered in the hospital, Amelia stayed with her parents. Once Olivia left rehab, she too moved into the home. A month later, the twins arrived and the two women still didn’t have a home of their own. It was comfortable and natural for them to live in the rambling home so they never felt the urgency to find another place to live. Once the girls arrived, they too became entrenched in the lifestyle of West family.

Amelia’s mother joked that it brought the house back to life and it did. The permanent arrival of the twins, Daniella and Florentina Estevez, added to the love that enveloped them all. It also helped Olivia and Amelia in overcoming the burden of guilt and trauma they had about the past.

+

Stopping at a light, Amelia smiled. It was exactly a year ago that they shared vows in front of their family and closest friends. Afterwards, everyone joined them in a celebration of their joining in the gardens of the home they all shared. The main theme of the event was love, laughter, and kids. 

Amelia stood next to her friend, Teal as she watched a smiling Olivia dance with several of the kids on a makeshift dance floor. “I never thought I’d see her this relaxed again,” Amelia said.

“It’s all thanks to you, your folks and the girls,” Teal said as she squeezed her friend’s hand. “You know, it’s about time you two got together. We all saw it.”

“Saw what,” Amelia said with a smile.

“That you two were crazy about each other and didn’t have the sense to say anything.”

“It wasn’t the right time.”

“Timing is everything,” Teal said. “Phil and I are going to have a baby,” she whispered.

“What…oh Teal that is wonderful.”

“We figured if the Big O can do it so can we.”

They were both smiling when David Tourney, Olivia’s old police friend approached them. “Olivia looks like the woman I knew way back when she was a rookie.” He put an arm around Amelia’s shoulders. “There aren’t any more shadows under her eyes,” he added. “For a long time her face looked haunted but now she seems at peace and happy. Thanks for bringing her back to us.”

Amelia looked at Olivia and knew that David’s words were true. This must be what she was like before Parker came into her life. She hugged the man and said, “Thanks. Your words mean the world to me.” She sighed before she kissed his cheek. “I intend on keeping her that way.”

+

Amelia smiled as she pressed the gate opener on the dashboard and the metal gates swung open. Shortly afterwards, the house came into Amelia’s vision and she parked the vehicle under the carport by the side of the garage. The impromptu visit for a consultation at the hospital meant that she was later than expected. A few minutes later, she entered the house, stopped, and tilted her head–silence. All she heard was the ticking of the grandfather clock.

Since the twins had arrived on the scene, the only time it was quiet was when they were in bed. Glancing at the clock, she frowned. It was only six-thirty they were usually getting their baths before someone, usually her dad, read them a story. Noise was a prerequisite.

Proceeding down the hall, she looked around the main house–no one. After checking the kitchen, she headed for the annex where she and Olivia had their on-suite bedroom with a private sitting room and tiny galley kitchen. No one was in the sitting room and usually that’s where she Olivia and the twins watched cartoons or read books–no one. Dropping her briefcase by the side of a long sofa, she headed for the bedroom. Opening the door, she could smell the scent of candles burning, which reflected in the ambient atmosphere of the dimly lit room. Her eyebrows rose and she smiled. “Hey, anyone home?”

The bathroom door opened and a dark head popped out. “Hi, I thought you got lost. The candles are almost burnt out.” A wicked smile accompanied the aggrieved tone. Olivia, dressed in a flimsy robe headed towards Amelia and wrapped long arms around her. For a few moments, they were lost in a kiss that said everything.

With a bemused look on her face, Amelia replied, “I’ll be late more often if this is the welcome I get.”

“Are you implying that I only do this when you’re late?” Olivia grinned and kissed the throat close to her lips.

“No, not at all. What have you done with everyone? It’s like a ghost town in the main house.” Amelia reached up and pushed away the errant strands of dark hair that obscured her view of Olivia’s expressive eyes.

Chuckling, Olivia said, “Your parents have taken the girls to the beach house for the weekend. They left at lunchtime, which is when I came home and,” she opened the bathroom door wider and Amelia gasped at the number of candles filling the small room. “I plan to pamper my best girl with a bath the likes of which she’s never experienced before and then …”

Amelia’s breath held in her throat as she asked, “Then?”

“Then you and I are going to go out to dinner at the swankiest place in town, followed by dancing until you drop and when you do, it will be into my arms and in our bed. That’s where I plan on spending most of the weekend…showing you how much I love you.” Olivia eyes captured Amelia’s as they watched the changing expressions. The more she said the sexier they became. It was a facet she’d discovered in wonder the more and more intimate they became over the past year.

Finally finding her voice, Amelia, with tears shimmering in her eyes, softly replied, “I only got you a card. We said…” she didn’t have time to finish the sentence as lips captured hers and silenced any words.

Olivia finally released Amelia as she whispered, “Oh no my love, I’ve got you, what more could I want. Besides, there isn’t a present in the world that could come close to you in the flesh.” She nuzzled Amelia’s neck. “Why are you late anyway?”

Amelia, lost in the sensually awareness of the body close to hers, had to concentrate hard on the question. She closed her eyes as she recalled the meeting at the hospital that had her set her memories into overtime.

+

“Doctor West, thank you for coming. I know it’s a great imposition…”

Amelia grinned and waved a hand. “Not a problem Doctor Greenly it isn’t an imposition. I owe Simon a huge favor. How can I help?” Simon Lawrence had helped her with Olivia after she shot Parker. She owed him a great debt.

The young intern grinned. “We as you know take on the odd charity case from the local community.” At her nod, he continued and gave her a file. “About a month ago a woman in her mid-thirties was brought to us. It seems that a car drove up to the front entrance of St Clair, and deposited a woman on their doorstep. She is suffering severe memory loss. We didn’t appreciate how much of a memory loss it was until we agreed to help. Consequently, she doesn’t have any memory of anything except for a waking up on the steps of that church downtown. We’ve tried hypnosis and all the usual techniques but nothing. Doctor Lawrence wondered if you might know of anything else we can try. From the x-rays we’ve taken, he’s not sure anyone can help the woman. There’s extensive damage to the frontal lobe.”

Amelia began to speed read the file as they walked along.

They went through the third set of swing doors since he began his explanation and then the young man stopped beside a glass window overlooking a small sitting room. There were three people inside–an old man, a woman in nurse’s uniform and then another figure seated with their back to the window and facing the wall.

“That’s her. We call her Clair.” The man laughed. “Fitting don’t you think?”

Amelia ignored the man’s comment and concentrated on the woman sitting alone. As if the woman knew they were talking about her, she turned and faced them. Amelia’s hand went to her mouth to repress a scream.

“Are you ok Doctor West? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Do you know this woman?” the young man asked anxiously.

Amelia managed to gain her composure as she quietly replied, “No I don’t know her.” Yet, as she looked at the woman, she noticed the scar on the forehead and eyes that bore into her soul.

“Ok,” the young man said as he opened the door to the room and Amelia reluctantly entered. He motioned the nurse over and said, “Take Mr. Rigby to his room.” He turned to the patient. “Clair, this is Doctor West. She might be able to help bring back your memories.”

Amelia closed her eyes briefly. If only you knew. Her silent thoughts didn’t stop her offering her hand to the woman she had known as Parker Davis. “Hello Clair.” No this can’t be…this isn’t happening.

The woman looked up refusing to make eye contact. “Hello.”

Amelia gestured to the chair opposite Clair. “Do you mind if I sit and speak with you for a few minutes?”

Closing her eyes, Clair said, “I suppose.”

Amelia sat and carefully watched the woman. She showed no immediate recognition of her. “Doctor Greenly tells me that you can’t remember things. Do you mind if I ask you what your oldest memory is?” 

Clair sat passively. “I don’t know.”

Gently Amelia asked, “Ok, do you know how you got that scar on your forehead? It doesn’t look that old.” As she spoke her stomach churned–she knew exactly when, where and why. 

Reaching up and touching her forehead, Clair began rubbing the scar. “The pain is so intense that I scream out for help. I overheard the doctors say I must have had a lobotomy.” She focused her eyes on the doctor. “Why would anyone want to do that to me?”

Amelia’s fist clenched for a second at the woman’s plea for understanding. She had a good idea why–to create a blank slate. A lobotomy is generally through the eye and not the temple area but from what she knew about DOCO, she wouldn’t be surprised that they would use such an antiquated remedy. It seemed like the typical bulldozer style of that agency. I’ll have to remember to look at the x-ray closely to see if the damage is from a bullet or surgery.

“Perhaps you were injured and had to have work done. I’m sure the databases of the hospitals in the country can be checked and we might find out who you are.” They had already checked according to the notes she’d read. She knew if it were DOCO’s doing, there would be paper trail.

Clair closed her eyes as a single tear coursed down her cheek. “I don’t understand. Whoever did this to me must have a cruel streak in them.” She opened her eyes and glared at Amelia. “How can anyone justify taking away a person’s memories? How they must have hated me.”

The words ran rings in Amelia’s head as she tried to remain relaxed and professional when inside she wanted to get away from this woman and all the bad memories it invoked. “I don’t think someone did that on purpose Clair. Perhaps it was necessary to save your life.”

Clutching at the front of her hospital gown, Clair shook her head. “No one saved my life. They destroyed it,” she said in agitation. “Whoever did this to me is evil…pure evil. For all I know I have a family somewhere that misses me and I can’t remember them. Do you have any idea of how frustrating that is?”

The more Amelia listened the less she heard Parker’s voice and more of the new personality called Clair. Yet, she heard the intonation of the persona named Mary Christian. In her professional opinion, there was no deception in the woman’s body language. Since she was duped before, she wasn’t certain it wasn’t all another elaborate hoax. She’d wait for any telltale signs during the conversation.

“Perhaps in time someone will come and claim you Clair. I’m sure the police are doing everything they can to find out where you came from. If we can’t help you regain your memories in the short term, what would you like to do in the future?” 

For a brief second, Clair saw a fleeting look cross the doctor’s face. “How can I answer that? I don’t know what my skills are or what my expertise is. For all I know I was a doctor, a waitress, or maybe I worked for the government. Don’t you understand, without my memories I don’t have a future.”

Amelia smiled slightly. “Clair, that’s one of the interesting things about your case. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself. With a positive approach, you can have a wonderful future.”

The woman grabbed her head and screamed. “The pain, make the pain stop!” Then she glared at Amelia. “You made this happen.” Agitated and clutching her head, Clair began rocking in her chair.

Amelia couldn’t mask her shock as she instinctively moved backward in her chair. Is this all a lie? Is Clair the persona Parker is hiding behind once again? Is this Mary Christian all over again? I’ve got to get out of here. Then she glanced at the young doctor who she knew was watching the session from behind the glass window and motioned for him to join her. “Clair is in a great deal of pain. I think she needs her meds.”

“I’ll be right back,” the doctor said before he walked briskly out of the room.

“Clair, Doctor Greenly will be back with your meds. That should help you with the pain.” A part of her actually felt guilt and sadness for the crumbled woman in front of her. Until she thought of Olivia and the crimes Parker had committed against her wife, and her stance hardened again. 

Clair lifted her head. “They won’t help,” she said. “I would be better off dead. I can’t stand the pain.”

“The pain will ease Clair. That’s something we can help you with it just takes time to find the right drugs for you. I’ll leave you in peace. It’s obviously very distressing at the moment for you to talk.”

“You asked earlier what I wanted to do in the future,” Clair whispered. “I want to hunt down the person responsible for the pain,” she said looking directly at Amelia.

Breathing in deeply, Amelia calmly replied, “Have you wondered perhaps if you were responsible?”

“No one should make themselves judge and jury. It doesn’t matter who was responsible. Only God can make the final judgment.”

Reaching over and taking the hands that trembled in the lap of the hospital gown, Amelia compassionately said, “Then have faith Clair. Have faith that there is a wonderful future out there for you.”

Clair went silent as she stared at the ceiling and mumbled incoherently. Finally, she said, “My faith in God is strong. Maybe I did something with the church. When the priest came for a visit I knew all the prayers and automatically crossed myself.”

“Maybe that’s your new calling Clair.” Amelia heard the door open and saw a nurse enter. “Here’s the nurse with your meds. It was nice to speak with you Clair.” Amelia stood up and took one last look at the woman had almost destroyed her life and the life of the woman she loved. This now completed the cycle of Parker–it was over.

“Please don’t go. You’re the only person I’ve spoken with that seems to care about me. They’re all men and they haven’t a clue about what I’m feeling.”

The plea sent a shiver down Amelia’s back–she really didn’t want to get involved. It would only increase the possibility that Parker in the guise of Clair might step back into her life. If she let that happen, there was the chance that the woman might see Olivia again. There was no way she would let her partner go through that trauma again. As it was, Olivia didn’t realize Parker had committed those terrible acts upon her mind and body. Turning back, she nodded. “I’ll speak with the doctors I’m sure that can be remedied.” 

“Why are you abandoning me? Have I said or done something to offend you? Clair closed her eyes as tears began streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so alone. It’s like I’m lost and everywhere I look all I see is nothingness,” she sobbed. “Why has God forsaken me? What did I ever do to deserve this?”

Amelia didn’t know if it was the mention of God or the fact that her own heartfelt pity that prompted her to return to the woman and kneel beside her. As she looked at the woman, she saw Parker but at the same time, she wondered if her paranoia was irrational. After all, the woman hadn’t really done or said anything that suggested she w

“God never forsakes anyone Clair. Please remember that. Look, I know right now things seem hopeless but trust me it will change.” She glanced at the nurse hovering to give Clair her meds. Amelia held out her hand and took the pills and the nurse left the room. “Take your meds Clair. You’ll feel better when the pain has eased.” 

Clair accepted the white pills and swallowed them without water. “The pain never leaves me. I can’t help but think God is punishing me for something I did. If only I could remember then I could make amends.” She took hold of the doctor’s hand and squeezed it. “Will you help me?”

“I will help you Clair that’s a promise.” In a single sentence, had she sealed her fate and the of Olivia by saying she would help? No, she hadn’t. She knew how she could help and it would have to be enough for the woman. Her faith and nature wouldn’t allow her to abandon a soul in distress, but Olivia’s peace of mind and hers were paramount. 

“Thank you, thank you,” Clair said as tears of happiness fell down her cheeks. “I knew when you walked in the door you would be the one to help me.” In one fluid motion, she wrapped her arms around the woman kneeling by her side.

The hold was claustrophobic and it took of all of Amelia’s inner strength not to drag herself away immediately in horror. Finally, finding a voice she replied, “Ok Clair, I think it’s time you had some rest.” She gently disengaged from the seemingly grateful woman and stood up.

“God has finally shined down on me and sent me an angel. Thank you.”

Amelia refused to comment and gave her a small smile. “Goodbye Clair. Things will begin to change soon for the better I’m sure of it.” This time she didn’t wait for the woman to say any more. She left the room as fast as she could without it looking like she was rushing out of there.

When she heard the door close, Clair let a minuscule smile cross her lips.

+

Doctor Greenly, waiting by the door, eagerly awaited Amelia’s reaction. “Do you think you can help?”

Swallowing hard, Amelia fought the urge to throw up. All she wanted to do was go home, take Olivia in her arms, and feel the reassurance that she was safe and loved. “I personally can’t… I’m sorry.” She took the x-ray and held it up to the light. The damage to the brain was evident. The bullet was no longer apparent and she noted there seemed to be some type of attempt to repair the damage. She was certain it was DOCO’s doing.

“After looking at her x-rays, I concur with the general findings. There’s so much damage that I can’t see how she’ll ever recover the memories of her past. I’m surprised her brain is functioning at all. Is there any information on how she was injured?”

Doctor Greenly shook his head. “There’s nothing concrete to go on but we all agree that someone did brain surgery on her.”

Amelia felt somewhat relieved. “. Rather than trying to dredge up old memories that perhaps are better off lost forever it’s a fresh start for her. There’s something to be said about starting over with a fresh slate.”

“But doctor West you’ve done some wonderful work in this area…” The young man stopped as he saw the closed look on the woman’s face.

“I’ll talk with Simon tomorrow and we can discuss a more practical approach to her returning into society,” Amelia finally said before she turned away.

Eagerly the young man said, “Does that mean you will take the case on?”

“Not personally. However, I know a specialist in this area that will love the challenge. Let me talk to her and she’ll contact Simon with the arrangements. She’s out of state and has generous church funding.”

Amelia looked at her wristwatch and said, “I have to be someplace and I’m already late.” She left the hospital and the only good thing out of seeing Parker Davis again was that the guilt that had been tormenting her since the shooting had disappeared–she hadn’t killed Parker.

+

“Hey, are you ok? You look pale. If you’re too tired we can do this…” a slim finger stopped Olivia’s words as a gentle kiss accompanied the action.

“I’m good. Wonderful in fact and that’s all because of you. I was late because …well it really doesn’t matter…it’s not important. Come on lover show me exactly what it’s like to be pampered.” Amelia knew then she would always keep the secret from Olivia and she gladly would carry the burden of the truth.

Olivia took Amelia’s hand and pulled her inside the bathroom before deftly removing her clothes. The only two people that mattered were together and as one game ended, another began-their life together.

End