John rubbed his eyebrow in a mixture of frustration and confusion. He hadn't heard from Marlena all this time and he was beginning to worry, plus the added bonus of a new intrigue to his life. Tarrington had been killed less than 10 hours ago and the ISA was hot on the crime's trail. There was minimal damage, absolutely NO trace of the perpetrator, and yet a calling card had been left behind. John stared at the photo of the strawberry taken out of the dead man's throat. The strawberry had always been a special sort of 'love fruit' for him and his wife, and to think of it used as a MO made John's mind begin to spin. He shook his head of all the thoughts clamoring for space and jumped up out of his chair, making his way to the door, grabbing his jacket on the way.
Marlena sat at her desk, deep in thought. Her fingers tapped her teeth, wondering what she should tell John. He would certainly take her off the case if he knew she was in any danger of sorts. "How am I gonna do this?" Her heart still pounded out of sorts from the fear she experienced being with the mysterious man with blood stained hands. Her worries were compounded by the nagging headache that pounded at her brain. The phone buzzing broke her fog, startling her back to reality. Her next patient was here, time to put this in file and move on with the next person. Marlena rose to her feet to greet her next patient.
Shae-Lyn walked through the door with a pensive stride, not knowing what to make of the early morning events or the package she was holding. Marlena joined her secretary across the room, taking care to consider her present state and all she'd seen that morning. "Shae-Lyn, are you okay? I mean you've had some heavy stuff to deal with today." Shae-Lyn stared at the brown paper package for a moment before snapping out of her stupor. "Wha... Oh yeah, yeah Dr. Evans, I'm fine just fine. This package came for you just now. I don't know why but I just get a creepy feeling from it. Maybe I should just have security check it out." Shae-Lyn started out the door with it, but was halted by Marlena's voice. "Actually, I was expecting a package today. I had ordered some new updated books and I'm betting that's what they are." Marlena took the box from her secretary and laid them on her filing cabinet, preparing to open them. Shae-Lyn could do no more than stand there while Marlena broke the tape that sealed the box closed.
The breath both women had been unconsciously holding, was eased out when the hard bound leather books broke free of the drab brown paper that contained it. "See, nothing to worry about. So, where's that patient?" Shae-Lyn smiled of great relief and turned on her heel to check her appointment book. Upon returning to her desk, she found a rather large manila envelope, placed squarely on her calendar. "Oh, Dr. Evans, I guess this came with your package." She brought the envelope to her boss and went back about her duties, leaving Marlena to her office. Setting back down in her chair, she opened her newest arrival with the letter opener and slipped the glossy pages out.
Dom slipped into John's office looking for his old friend. "John, buddy, ya here?" Taking the silence of the negative, his hands rifled through the scattered papers on John's desk. The phone shrilled through the air, causing the large man to jump. "Geez, I gotta get a grip." Clearing his throat, he placed the receiver to his ear. "John Black's office." "Dom?" His ears perked up at the delicate voice on the other line. "Yeah Marlena. Do you need me to get John?" "No, no. You are working on this case that John accepted aren't you?" "Marlena, you know that's classified information, I can't tell you that." "All right, you are. Well, I think it would be in BOTH your best interests to get to my office ASAP. Capisce?" "Yeah, give me 10 minutes, I have to find your husband." Dom clicked the phone down and looked up to find John standing in the doorway. "Can I help you with something?" John shrugged off his jacket and started to hang it on the stand. "Yup, you sure can. You can get your coat, we've been called out." Dom clapped the confused man on the shoulder and went out the door without another word.
Marlena sat in her office, absentmindedly listening to her next patient ramble on about his incessant need to prove his masculinity to the masses. "Mr. Weiss, you are married and have two wonderful children. Why is it you feel you must show the world that you are a heterosexual, strong man?" The man's face blanched and his hands began to clinch each other. Mr. Weiss had been known to frequent the Salem transvestite bar, The Sweet Transvestite, a fact known by most of the town. Marlena kept that knowledge concealed and questioned Mr. Weiss again. "Mr. Weiss, we can't get to the heart of the matter until you acknowledge why it is you need to put on this, as you call it, 'excessive display of manliness.' Until you are honest with yourself and me, we cannot move on." She smiled to let him know she was there and he could trust her.
"Dr. Evans, I trust you. But right now, I'm not sure I'm ready to let all of my little secrets just fly to the breeze. Maybe next session, I'll know what the problem is." Marlena looked down at her notes and tried to squelch the grin that wanted so badly to break free from her lips. "All right, Mr. Weiss, I want you to try something for me. I need you to keep a journal of your thoughts, activities, anything you think would be relevant to our sessions and maybe that will aid in your resolution of your problems and then you and your wife can resume your normal marriage." She walked with the frail man to the door, opening it for him to exit. "Thank you so much Dr. Evans, this may just be the ticket." She watched him go out the waiting room door, and exchanged amused looks with her secretary before closing her office door once again. "How about we say... 'Dr Evans, I like to dress in women's clothes, but I think I've got the whole town fooled, when actually everyone knows and my wife is totally embarrassed.' That would be a start." She flopped down in her chair and lifted the manila envelope from its resting place under her calendar. Her fingers numbly opened the wound the letter opener had made, revealing its horrendous contents once again.
Dom and John made their way into Marlena's office. Sliding down onto the couch, both men hiked their feet to plant on the coffee table centered in front of the couch, relaxed and ready for her news. "Well, hello to you too." Marlena sat erect in her seat, and pulled herself up to her desk. "Hey, Doc. What's cookin'?" John placed his hands behind his head and awaited her information. Marlena slid out from behind her desk and made her way to the chair that sat kitty corner to the sofa, careful to walk in between the couch and table, causing the men to move their feet from her furniture. "Thank you. Now, before we get to why I called you here, I need you to confirm that I am a part of this case and any information I give you, I'm giving you out of trust and duty." Marlena handed the folder to John.
"Doc, I just don't think..." Marlena pulled the envelope back, placing it in her lap and crossing her arms in front of her. "John, I can take my information to the police, but I am thinking that the ISA doesn't really want the Salem PD in on this one." John looked at his partner and sighed in exasperation. "Fine, Doc, you win. You are working with us and we value your opinion and any help you may be able to offer." Marlena smiled at her victory and handed the brown envelope over. The smiles turned into frowns of disgust when John pulled the glossy papers out of the folder. "I got these this morning. Someone laid them on Shae-Lyn's desk while she was delivering a package to me. I don't know who left them or why." The photos showed an almost flip book style of action. Tarrington's death in graphic detail, showing almost every action, every second of the man's last moments of life.
"Ahh, Dammit Doc, I don't want you involved in this. What sicko sent this to you. I can't put you in danger like this." "John, I am already involved in this. Whoever sent this doesn't know I'm on the case, yet they sent it to me. They knew I would either show them to you or be frightened half out of my gourd. Now, I understand that you have fears for me, as I do you. We have to work on this together." Marlena put her hand out for him to take in agreement. Placing his hand in hers, he brought it to his lips for a kiss. Dom cleared his throat making his presence known, smiling when Marlena blushed slightly. "You didn't think I'd forget you, did you?" Marlena rose from her chair and settled in between the two men, placing her hands on either side of her on their knees. "Boys, buckle your seatbelts, I have a feeling it's going to be a bumpy ride for a while." John and Dom looked at each other in a mixture of amusement and apprehensiveness.
Orpheus sat in the living room of the DiMera mansion, nervously sipping the pale liquid that his glass encompassed. He'd been sitting there for what seemed an eternity, waiting for the move Stefano had promised he had made. With each creak of the hardwood floors to the breeze that swayed the window sheers, Orpheus edged further back into his seat, awaiting the grand entrance of Stefano. Finally, the door rushed open with the great flair its owner had. Orpheus' hand dropped the fragile glass on the floor, shattering it into tiny shards around his feet. "Orpheus that is delicate crystal, the finest and best money can buy. I would appreciate any further 'accidents' from you to be with the snifters that can handle a beating." Stefano stuffed his gloved hands into his pockets, as he made his way beside the upset man and into the kitchen. Orpheus kicked the glistening shards under the chair and waited for the man to return.
Stefano entered the room once again, holding his coat and rubbing his naked hands quickly together. Taking note of the surprised expression on his guests face, Stefano quickly buried his hands under his folded coat and made his way to the foyer. Returning to the main room, Stefano made his way to the collection of brightly colored liquors that decorated the cherry wood. Orpheus took note of his adversaries sudden nervousness, a trait not normally known to the great one. "So, did you make your move?" Orpheus teetered the chess piece from side to side, awaiting his reply. Stefano clamped his hand over the piece and gently placed it squarely in the middle of the darkly colored square. "I have made several moves in this short time. Learn well my friend. You have a lot of catching up to do." Stefano moved the pawn forward two spaces and carefully moved the queen in the space between the separated pawns. "My first move. Now, it's your play." Orpheus shook his head in amusement. "This is all one big game to you, why can't you take this seriously." Stefano placed his snifter down and neared the man challenging him. "Listen to me and listen well. Chess is a game of survival. It has bearings on everything in life. You must know your enemies and anticipate their next move. One wrong move and..." Stefano pulled the opposing king from its place and gripped it tightly in his fist. "And you are history."
To be continued...