John walked into the office, still smiling from his morning escapade with his beloved wife. Walking into his office, he tossed his overcoat on the hook and snapped his fingers in exhilaration. Sliding into his chair, he propped his feet on the desk top and grabbed the cordless phone from it's cradle. Grinning a grin that only she could bring to his face, he dialed their phone number and waited for her voice to greet him.
"Good morning, lover!" Marlena's voice poured like honey over the receiver down to John's blissful ears. John sought to control his breathing, as he heard her little giggle on the other end.
"Hey, Doc. I see your laughing jag has subsided." His voice reverberated with a stifled chuckle. Marlena bit her lip to hold back the laughter that began to bubble up once again. Clearing her throat, she knew how to make him pay for what he'd done to her this morning.
"Yes, John. It certainly has, but you know it was awfully lonely for me getting ready for work this morning. You know with the hot� long shower I took, all by myself. Then, I had to get my breakfast, and wouldn't you just know it the only fruit we had was�"
"Strawberries�" John's eyes got a gleam in them as he thought of her with their passion fruit. Marlena smiled and put her hand in the air, knowing round two was hers. Now to move in for the punch.
"John, I really must be getting to work. I know how much YOU hate to be late, must set a good example for the children you know." Her eyes danced thinking of what her earlier words must have done to him.
"Doc, I� I�" John loosened the tie that had once again become tight around his throat. Marlena smiled at his "uncomfortable" situation.
"John, is there something wrong? You know I would be happy to come and� fix it for you." A smile painted her words and she waited in exhilaration for his reply. She knew it was working and she relished the thought of the predicament he was in now. "John� are you still there?" A giggle blended into her voice, as she asked her question.
"Oh, you play evil, Doc. You know, when I get home tonight, you are really gonna pay for all of this." John smiled at the visions that played within his mind.
"Oh, John� I wouldn't have it any other way. And trust me, I will be a worthy opponent." Marlena put on her best seductive voice to put the proverbial icing on the cake. "I will see you later� honey."
"Doc, you are gonna be the death of me. I love you."
"I love you, too. Now get to work!" She smiled as she clicked the phone down onto the receiver and grabbed her coat, which was draped over the desk chair. Today was going to be a good day, and tonight would be even better. She was glad in a way that they had decided that John would return to work. The evenings together seemed so much more romantic and precious. Grabbing her keys from her purse, Marlena took a look about their home and tossed her keys in the air, catching them deftly in one hand. This day had started off good and the day was only going to get better. With that thought, she slipped her coat onto her arms and was out the door to begin her day at work.
John's face erupted into a giant smile when he heard her giggle while hanging up the phone. That woman had such a hold on him, that he couldn't and didn't imagine his life without her. No other woman had held him in such a hold and he had never had such an obsessive love for one either. Leaning back in his chair, his euphoria was disturbed by the light knocking on the office door.
Marlena made her way into her office, stopping at her secretary's desk to retrieve the morning's messages. Marlena hung her coat up on its hook and tossed her purse on the leather couch. Reaching her desk, she sat on the edge and studied her pink message papers. One seemed to leap out at her, though it was not anything out of the ordinary, something grasped her in a veil of mystery. Folding it in her hand, she peered into the subconscious of her mind, trying to see why this message, or at least the person, was so intriguing to her. The buzz of the intercom brought her back to reality. Jumping at the sound, Marlena hopped off the edge of her desk and picked up the phone. Her first patient was here and ready to begin their session. Marlena hung up the phone and rushed to retrieve her purse before the patient entered, just settling back in her office chair as the handsome young man made his way into her office.
Dominick Teeshoo was a new trainee to the ISA, having been an accomplished policeman. He had the looks of a woodsman, tall and very sturdy. His warm and compassionate demeanor quickly overshadowed what he had in intimidating looks. There wasn't a sole in the whole department who hadn't been charmed and won over by the middle-aged man. His knock on John's door was soon answered by the man, whose face still wore the expression of happiness that his wife had placed there.
"Dom, hey guy! Come on in, have a seat. Can I get you some coffee, tea�? John felt a kindred soul in Dominick, he enjoyed working with him, and it seemed that they both held equal passion for the work they had plunged themselves into. They had both been policemen on the Salem PD when John had believed he was Roman. Dominick had come through time and time again for John, and he was happy to have to opportunity to be working with his friend again.
"Thanks, John, but I think I'll pass." Dominick sat in the leather bound chair that sat in front of John's mahogany desk.
"Okay, then. What brings you here my friend?" John walked about the desk and sat in his chair, pulling himself up to the desk and folding his hand over the top.
"John, this case that we've been working on� there's just not a break in sight. Now, I know you said you just wanted to do deskwork, but I really need your help on this one buddy. I know you are the only one who can bust it." Dominick never looked up from the file he was spreading out over the desktop, knowing John would jump at the chance to do field work again. He knew Marlena all too well to know that she would have a fit at his going back into this dangerous job. John fell back in his chair, his hand delving into his hair and a long breath going from his lungs. He knew Marlena, too. She was not going to be happy with this, but he knew he couldn't pass up this chance to do the work he loved so much.
Dominick finally made eye contact with his friend and knew he had been sold. "John, this case is right up our alley, we can be a team again. Are you in partner?"
John put his hand up to stop any further discussion. "Dom, you know how Marlena feels about this. I just don't know if I can put her through all of � this� again." John swept his hands over the pictures and documents that cluttered his desktop. "I need to talk to Doc about it."
Dominick smiled at his old friend, knowing how deeply in love he was with his wife and wishing someday he could find that. "I understand John, but I need your help as soon as you can give it." Dominick began to sweep the items he'd strewn on the table top back into their folder. "You talk to her tonight, buddy. I need your help." Dominick tapped the desktop with his fingers and smiled a 'goodbye' to John and exited the room.
John leaned back in his chair, running his hands over his face, not wanting to have to tell Marlena the conversation he'd just had. "Well, I guess there won't be any paybacks tonight� well at least not the kind I was thinking of."
Eldredge James was a handsome young man, with darkest brown hair and eyes that changed color with his moods. Marlena studied the young man as the session went on, listening and analyzing him with great interest. He had feelings of abandonment from his mother, and his father was never around. These feelings were beginning to flourish into suicidal tendencies, and they were starting to scare him. His sharp green eyes flickered like emeralds with the unshed tears that glistened in them, while he told her his story. Marlena felt a deep sympathy for the man, but tried to keep her professional distance.
"Dr. Evans, you have no idea how nice it is to have someone hear me. I felt like I've wanted to scream my whole life and it only has become a hoarse whisper, heard by only me."
Marlena smiled and folded her notebook up. "Mr. James, I would like you to tell me all that you need to. I am here to listen to you and hear what you have to say." Eldredge rose when Marlena did, smiling at her and feeling, for once, a peace that he'd been searching for. "Please, make another appointment with Shae-Lynn. I would like you to see me two days a week for a while."
Eldredge nodded his head and proceeded out the door to schedule his appointment Marlena fell into her chair, leaning back and rocked with a careful rhythm. Seeing the message on the desktop, she once again was drawn to it and the cryptic message written on it. Back in town. We need to talk. Will call soon. O Marlena's hand went to her head; a dull pain was beginning to make its home there. "O? Who could that possibly be?" Marlena stood, rubbing the sides of her neck and searching her brain for anyone who could possibly be 'O'. "Names, names� Oscar, Otto, Orlando, Oly Oxen Free� Man, who do I know�" Her heart jumped into her throat and a shiver shimmied up her spine, causing her to fall back to her chair. "Oh God, please don't let it be."
To be continued...