Tangled Web
By Sarah & Lanie
Chapter 18
August 31, 1999
7:00 AM
Matt's Studio
Matt lay on the couch watching Tess sleeping. She looked so peaceful lying in his arms that Matt wished she never had to wake up. She was tough as nails on the outside, but the vulnerability she hid from the world was there for him to see. He'd seen it because of what Emmanuel Logan had done to her.
Matt raged internally and instinctively tightened his arms around Tess. He was certain now that she was in serious trouble. The only reason Matt could think of that Tess would be involved with scum like Logan was that she'd done something illegal. How had Logan snared her? And what would it take to get her free of him?
Tess stirred in Matt's arms, drawing his eyes back down to her. The peaceful expression had vanished. Suddenly, she called out and her eyes flew open. Matt quickly tried to calm her. "Shhh, Tess. You're safe. It was just a dream."
Tess tried to slow her rapid breathing. Matt was gently stroking his hand down her hair. She threw her arms around him and held on tight, absorbing comfort and strength from him. Matt's arms felt like the only safe place in the world.
Eventually, Tess leaned back and gave Matt a brave smile. "Thanks, I needed that."
"Happy to oblige."
Tess glanced around the room. "What time is it?"
"It's a little after seven."
Tess took a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet. "I'd better go home and get ready for work."
Matt stood and shook his head. "Uh-uh. I want you to stay home today. After everything you went through… I think you need a break."
Tess straightened her shoulders. "That's not necessary. I'm fine."
Matt tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You don't have to be tough with me. I know how scared you were last night, and you had every reason to be. You need to take a little time to relax… In fact, I'm going to take the day off too. We'll spend the whole day together. I'll pamper you and do whatever it takes to get last night out of your mind."
Tess thought that sounded like a piece of heaven on earth. She wanted nothing more than to spend the entire day with Matt, but she knew it was impossible. Now that Logan was on to her, she needed to stay away from Matt. He'd already endangered himself by confronting Logan. She had to make sure that he was safe, and the best way to do that was to keep him away from her.
Tess ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Matt, we talked about this last night. I need you to stay away from me for a while."
"What I remember is that you said you needed me."
"I do need you. But what I need more is to make sure that you don't get hurt. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you because of me."
"You don't need to protect me, Tess. I can take care of you and myself. Why won't you let me do that? Why won't you let me in?"
Tess gently laid her palm against his cheek. "Don't you see? You got in. And now… now I need to make sure that I don't lose you. I'm involved in something more dangerous than you can possibly imagine. But I will get free of it. And once I do, we will spend as many days together as you can stand."
Matt's eyes bored into hers with passionate intensity. "There will never be enough days and I don't want to waste any of them by waiting."
Tess's eyes glistened with a sheen of unexpected tears. What had she ever done to deserve having someone as rare as Matt walk into her life? "I don't want to wait either, but we have to. Please, Matt. Just trust me to take care of this, for both our sakes." Tess stared into his eyes, making sure he understood how important this was to her.
Seeing that Mat offered no more resistance, Tess smiled tremulously and a tear slipped down her cheek. "I will miss you, Matthew Cory," she said softly. Tess placed a kiss on his cheek and rushed out of the studio before her resolve crumbled.
Matt stared at the floor for a long time. When he looked up, there was a determined gleam in his eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to you, Tess. I'm going to make sure of that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
David's Townhouse
9:00 AM
David pored over the information in the folder on his desk. He picked up a newspaper clipping and read it carefully. Frustrated, he threw the paper down and shoved his chair back. He paced the floor of the study, searching his mind for answers. This wasn't just something he wanted to know; he needed to know.
A knock sounded on the door but David was too preoccupied to hear it. He didn't notice the door open either since his back was to it. He first realized that he wasn't alone when a cheery voice came from behind him. "Have you solved all the world's problems yet?"
David spun around. "Cindy, you startled me."
Cindy pushed the study door closed behind her and walked toward him. "Sorry. I knocked but you didn't answer."
David absently rubbed his forehead. "Did you ask me a question?"
Cindy's eyes narrowed slightly with concern. "It wasn't important. I wanted to come over and see if you were alright."
David avoided Cindy's eyes when he answered. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just that I haven't seen you much this past week, and when I have, you've been preoccupied." Cindy laid a finger on the side of David's chin and turned his head so that he was looking her in the eyes. "Just like you are now. Can't you tell me what's bothering you? I want to help."
David took Cindy's hand and placed a kiss on the backs of her fingers. "I appreciate that, but there's nothing you can do. I have to handle this alone."
Cindy's face fell. "You don't have to handle it alone. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I thought we were getting closer, but now… I feel like you're shutting me out."
David sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not my intention, Cindy." He walked over to the window behind his desk and stared out it for a minute before turning back to face her. "I'm not sure myself what is wrong with me. Until I can figure that out… I just need some time."
Cindy gazed at David's averted face. "Ok, I won't push you. If you need some time… I'll leave you alone." She stopped abruptly and went over to where David stood. She took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply, then continued, "But I'm not walking away. When you need me, all you have to do is call." Cindy placed another quick kiss on his lips before rushing out of the study.
David opened his mouth to call her back, but she was already gone. His eyes caught on the folder that still lay open on his desk. The newspaper headline read: Newborn Disappears At Lumina Ball - Search Continues For Missing Cory Child. In frustration, David slammed the folder shut. He needed to find out more about what happened during those months that he couldn't remember. He had to make sense of the bizarre memory flashes he kept having. David knew that he couldn't move forward until he resolved the past. Ignoring it and pretending that it never happened wasn't working anymore. He had to be sure that it was over.
David turned back to the window. A conversation he'd had with Josie Sinclair not so long ago entered his mind:
"I have one more question to ask you," Josie said.
"How many times do I have to say 'I don't remember'?"
"And I believe you. That's what I started to think. What if you are telling the truth?"
"I am."
"Then how do you explain it? Everything that happened."
"I can't."
"Aren't you even curious, David? I mean you were here. Whether you remember or not, you were here. You had a relationship with Amanda Cory. You knew her daughter. These things really happened."
"I don't remember anything about that time and that's all I can tell you."
"Mr. Halliday… do you think that you were being controlled by Jordan Stark?"
"I don't believe in that garbage."
"Well neither do I, but the fact is you were here doing things you didn't decide on and you don't remember. But why you? If he did take you over, why did he choose you?"
"No clue."
"Really? None at all?"
"Look… last Christmas, I was in a very tough place. It's one of those places where your life could go either way depending on what you decide. I just… I wasn't sure if I wanted to… Let's just say if you're right, in a weird way, this Jordan Stark guy did me a big favor."
David turned away from the window. He stared a moment at the folder, then shook his head and walked quickly out of the study. The answers weren't in those newspaper clippings, but David now had an idea where to start looking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Offices of Winthrop and
Montgomery
9:30 AM
Cass glanced up from the brief he was preparing when the door to his office flew open. He took off his reading glasses and tossed them on the desk. "Where's the fire, Matt?"
Matt had crossed the room in quick strides. He placed his palms on the edge of Cass's desk and leaned down. "I need your help, Cass. It's urgent."
Cass stood and walked around the desk. "I can see that. What's the problem?"
"Emmanuel Logan is the problem," Matt replied with disgust and anger in his tone.
Cass unbuttoned his suit jacket and propped a hand on his hip. "That's not surprising. What has Bay City's answer to Al Capone done now?"
"He's hassling Tess Richardson."
"She's the new executive at Cory, right?" At Matt's nod, Cass continued, "What did Logan do to her?"
Matt hesitated to tell Cass the details of what had happened the previous night. "He's having a hard time hearing her when she says 'no'. Can you get a restraining order against him?"
Cass smiled. "It would be my pleasure. I'm sure there must be judge or two in this city that Logan doesn't have in his pocket yet. As a matter of fact…"
Cass turned and grabbed the receiver from his phone. He quickly dialed and then said, "Yes, this is Cass Winthrop. Please connect me to Judge Montgomery's office."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bay City Police Department
23rd Precinct
10:00 AM
Josie was typing up a case report when her phone buzzed. She selected the correct line and picked up the receiver. "Detective Sinclair… A visitor? Who is it?… Really? Ok, send him back." Josie hung up the phone and waited with a puzzled look on her face.
After a minute, the door to the squad room opened and David Halliday walked in. Josie stood up and said, "Hello, David. What can I do for you?"
"Could we speak privately? I'd rather not discuss this in front of anyone."
Josie's brow furrowed slightly. David seemed slightly nervous. His usual joking, casual behavior was nowhere to be seen. "Sure. Come with me." Josie grabbed a key off the pegboard and said, "Adams, I'll be in interview room two if anyone needs me."
Josie walked down the hall and unlocked the door. She took a seat and motioned for David to do likewise. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I was thinking about the conversation we had after I took that lie detector test. I've never believed in that mind control nonsense, but I remembered what you said about me doing things whether I remembered them or not. I did some research on Jordan Stark and Lumina, but there wasn't much information available. I can't stop thinking about what happened during those months I can't remember. I need to know…"
Josie waited for him to continue. When he didn't, Josie prompted, "What do you need to know?"
David rubbed his forehead and somberly replied, "I need to know what Jordan Stark did all those months. I was hoping you would tell me about it."
Josie studied David's expression as she thought about what he'd said. Her instincts told her that there was a deeper motivation behind David's question. "I can tell you what I know, but it's all second-hand information. Why did you come to me?"
David sighed. "Because you said that you believed me when I told you I didn't remember anything. Besides that, I don't think anyone in the Cory family would be too receptive to discussing this particular subject with me. I'm not exactly on friendly terms with them to begin with."
Josie smiled slightly and nodded. "Ok, I'll tell you what I know. But I'm warning you, it's not a happy story."
Josie related all the details of Jordan Stark's actions in Bay City. By the time she finished, there was a look of appalled abhorrence on David's face. "My God… all of that? No wonder people have been looking at me like… None of this was in the newspaper articles I read."
"There was never enough evidence to substantiate the allegations. Stark was very good at covering his tracks."
"I see," David said. His mind was spinning with all the information Josie had given him. He stood up and offered Josie a strained smile. "I appreciate you talking to me. It helps to know what I'm up against."
Before Josie could reply, David dashed out of the room. Josie's face registered her concern and suspicion. "What is going on with you, David? Why are you suddenly so interested in Jordan Stark?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess's Apartment
12:30 PM
Tess walked out of her apartment and locked the door. She quickly exited the building and crossed the parking lot toward her car. As she was about to open the door, a hand landed on her shoulder. She spun quickly with her heart in her throat. Tess gave an audible sigh of relief when she saw who was standing there.
Cameron looked down at her with concern in his eyes. It wasn't like Tess to be so jumpy. "I got your message. I came over as soon as I could."
"Your brother didn't follow you again, did he?"
"No. Gary was out working on a case all morning. What did you need to see me about? Your message sounded urgent."
"I had another run in with Logan last night."
"Tess, I thought we agreed-"
"It wasn't my idea to see him, believe me," Tess hurriedly interrupted. "He had a couple of his goons grab me here outside the building last night."
Cameron tried to contain his rage at Logan, knowing that Tess needed him and not his anger. "What happened?"
Tess's breath shuddered out of her at the memory. "He had someone inside the morgue, Mav. He's suspicious as hell now. He guessed that I'm investigating him and he's not too happy about it."
Cameron blew out a heavy breath. "This is bad. We need to let Scout and Hawk know that you've been compromised." He saw the chastised look on Tess's face. "Don't worry," he said as he reached out to her. "We'll take care…" Cameron saw Tess flinch when he rubbed her upper arms. His face hardened in reaction to what he'd surmised. "What did Logan do to you? He hurt you, didn't he?"
Tess saw the rage in Cameron's eyes. She knew his protectiveness toward her could lead him to do something rash if she didn't calm him down. "It's ok, Mav. He just bruised me a little."
"Don't lie to me, Dev. We both know how twisted Logan is and how far he's capable of going to get what he wants. Tell me what he did!"
"He did try to… It doesn't matter because Matt stopped him before it went too far."
"Matt?" Cameron said incredulously. "What was he doing there?"
"He was coming here to see me and he saw Logan's men grab me. He followed us and got there in time to stop… what Logan was trying to do to me. He saved me." The soft smile on Tess's face dissolved. "But now he's in danger. Matt confronted Logan, and we both know that Logan doesn't react well to being out done by anyone. We need to find a way to keep Matt safe."
Cameron couldn't help smiling slightly at Tess's obvious tenderness toward Matt. This was the last thing he would have ever expected from his no-nonsense partner. "You've got real feelings for Matt, don't you?"
"My feelings are beside the point," Tess responded evasively. "Matt is a civilian and he has landed himself smack in the middle of danger because of me. He needs protection."
Cameron gathered Tess to him and hugged her, resting his chin on top of her head. "Don't worry about Matt. I'll get Kane to put someone on him. And I'm going to make sure we have you protected too. Logan won't get his hands on you again. Not if I can help it."
Neither Tess nor Cameron realized that their conversation had attracted notice. Across the parking lot, a car quietly idled as the man behind the wheel stared in bewilderment at the scene he'd come across.
Matt picked up the copy of the restraining order he'd brought to give to Tess. He looked from it to the pair locked in a cozy embrace several yards away. Since when do Cameron and Tess even know each other as more than acquaintances, let alone act like they're the best of friends?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Carlino's
2:00 PM
Cindy walked into the restaurant and glanced around. She'd been hoping to spot David there, and her shoulders slumped when her quick scan of the room didn't find him. She'd already checked the Harbor Club and a call to the townhouse had revealed that Winston was the only one there. With the usual places exhausted, she'd been checking out other locations hoping to run into him "accidentally".
Cindy sighed. She'd promised David that she'd give him space, but his sudden distant behavior had her concerned and a little bit panicked. As she turned to leave, Cindy heard a familiar voice coming from behind her. "Cindy? What are you doing here?"
Cindy turned back and offered a tentative smile. "Hi Paulina. I was just looking for someone. I… I'll go now."
Paulina almost let Cindy go, but instead she asked, "Would you like something? A glass of iced tea or some coffee?"
"Tea sounds great," Cindy replied with a smile. Paulina nodded and walked behind the counter. She wasn't sure why she had reached out to Cindy. The impulse surprised her, but for some reason, it felt right.
Cindy stood at the counter and took a sip of the tea when Paulina placed it in front of her. "Paulina, can I ask you something?"
"I suppose so."
"Have you and Joe… I mean, you guys have such a great relationship… Has he ever told you he needed some time? You know, before he would tell you something?"
"Once or twice," Paulina replied with a nod. "Why do you ask?"
Cindy ran her fingernail up and down the glass, making lines in the condensation gathering on its surface. "I just wanted to know if that was… well, normal… in a relationship."
"Let me guess. This is about David Halliday, isn't it?"
Cindy's eyes flew up from the glass to meet Paulina's incisive gaze. "How did you know?"
"It's not too hard to figure out, Cindy. I've seen the two of you together a lot lately. Are things getting… serious between you two?"
Cindy heard the apprehension in Paulina's question. "You don't sound too thrilled with the idea. I'm sure you're ready to pick up the phone and warn him about me. It seems to be the newest fad in Bay City for everyone to tell David what a horrible person I am."
Paulina shook her head and replied, "Actually, I'm worried about you, not David."
Cindy's eyes flew wide at that revelation. "Get real! Are you serious?"
Paulina gave an irony-tinged chuckle. "I'm as shocked as you are to admit it, but yes, I am serious."
"Why would you worry about me being with David?"
"The fact that you're talking about having a 'normal' relationship with him… Well, after what I've heard from my family about the things he did to them, particularly Amanda, I don't think he's capable of a normal relationship."
"I know that there's some bad blood between David and your family, but… that wasn't his doing. Jordan Stark somehow stole David's identity. He wasn't the one who did all those horrible things."
Paulina gave Cindy a skeptical glance. "I don't know about that, Cindy. It wasn't just Amanda making the accusations. Rachel, Matt, Cameron, Alli… all of them had run-ins with David. Just… be careful, alright? I'd hate to see you get mixed up with another man like… Well, we both know what happened last time you fell for the wrong man."
Cindy looked away. Paulina was obviously referring to Grant and what Cindy had done in the name of loving him. "I know David, Paulina. He's an incredible person. Even when he heard about all the terrible things that I've done, he stayed in my corner. David believes in me… and he's helping me believe in myself again. I never thought that would be possible after Grant."
"Ok, I just hope you know what you're doing," Paulina said with an exasperated sigh. "What was it you were saying about David telling you he needed time?"
Cindy propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her palms. "It's really strange, Paulina. We've been getting closer over these past couple of months, but recently… he's been really distant. I don't know what to do about it. I told him that I'd give him space, but I don't know if that's the right thing to do. Maybe I should get in his face and make him tell me what's going on."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. I don't know David, but from my experience, most men don't react well to ultimatums. If you give him a little time, maybe he'll come around on his own. I know it's not easy, especially for you, but try to be patient."
Cindy absorbed the advice with a thoughtful expression on her face. Then she gave Paulina a hesitant smile. "Three months ago, we weren't even speaking to each other and now you're giving me advice. Weird, huh?"
Paulina couldn't suppress a laugh. "Definitely weird."
"Thanks, Paulina," Cindy said with soft-spoken sincerity. "I've missed talking to you… and I'll try to take your advice."
Paulina watched Cindy walk out and shook her head bemusedly. Cindy was surprised that they were on speaking terms again, but she couldn't be any more amazed than Paulina was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cory Mansion
4:00 PM
Carl was on the terrace when he heard the front door open. He turned and saw Alli entering the house. He walked into the living room to meet her. Carl tried to divine the outcome of the auditions from the expression on her face. Since she didn't look happy, he assumed things hadn't gone well. "Hello, Alli. How was your day?"
Alli gave Carl a knowing expression. "You don't have to avoid the topic of the audition. I know you're curious about what happened."
"All right then, how did it go? Did you get the part you wanted?" When Alli didn't reply, Carl said, "Don't worry, dear girl. Just remember, there are no small parts, just small actors."
Alli smiled a little, but her expression still held trepidation. "Actually, I'm playing Beatrice."
Carl grinned excitedly. "You got one of the leads - Alli, that's marvelous! But you don't look as excited as I expected."
Alli gave a nervous sigh. "Sean is going to be Benedick."
"Ah," Carl replied, now understanding Alli's tension. "You're distressed by the idea of acting opposite your young man."
Alli flushed deep red. "He's not 'mine' exactly."
"But you'd like him to be, yes?" Carl realized he was making Alli more nervous by discussing it, so he backed off the topic. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm certain that young Sean will be an excellent acting partner. And the two of us can keep working together, if you would like the extra practice. You will make an unforgettable Beatrice. I give you my personal guarantee on that."
Alli smiled. "When you say that, I almost believe it."
"Almost?" Carl replied with exaggerated offense. "Almost will not do. We must make sure that you believe it beyond all doubt." Carl offered his arm to Alli. "Shall we go run some lines?"
Alli laughed and hooked her hand around Carl's arm. "We shall."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
David's Townhouse
4:30 PM
David made some notes on the pad in front of him. He'd laid out a timeline of the things Josie had told him at the station. Now, he was adding the small amounts of information that he'd gleaned from the newspaper articles. As he flipped open a folder of promotional material for The Lumina Foundation, the telephone on his desk rang. He propped the receiver between his ear and shoulder so he could keep flipping through the folder. "David Halliday."
"Hello, Mr. Halliday. This is Nelson Price."
"Yes, Mr. Price. What can I do for you?"
"I was calling to find out if you'd considered our offer."
"Yes, I've given it a great deal of thought. I should have called you with my answer sooner, but I've been extremely busy lately."
"That's not a problem. I gather that you've reached a decision?"
"Yes, I have. I'm going to have to say no."
"I see. May I ask why?"
"There's a variety of reasons, the main one being that I'm focusing on another project at the moment."
"I can certainly understand that. However, if you happen to change your mind…"
"You'll be the first person I call," David replied. "Goodbye, Mr. Price."
David hung up the phone and returned his full attention to the Lumina folder. His eyes caught on something and widened. He looked up and tapped his finger thoughtfully against the page. David quickly flipped through his address book and grabbed the phone. He waited impatiently for the call to be answered. "Keith, I'm glad you're there. It's David Halliday… I'm fine, but I need your services. What does your schedule look like? … I'll make it worth your while if you make this your top priority." David glanced down at the folder and said, "It's urgent."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Logan's Office
5:00 PM
Logan stared at the contents of the investigative report he'd ordered on Tess Richardson. There was nothing extraordinary in it, but that meant nothing. All it told him was that whoever she was working for had done an excellent job covering her tracks for her.
Logan snatched up his phone and dialed. "I hope you're satisfied," he growled when his call was answered.
Grant smiled to himself. "That depends. Have you finally determined how and when you're delivering my package to me?"
"We have bigger things to deal with. Thanks to you, I now have the Feds sniffing around me."
"Please, Manny. You give me far too much credit. The authorities were on your trail long before I came into the picture."
"This is your doing. There's a certain pretty young thing that's been hanging around me lately. As it turns out, she was involved with the 'excavation' we spoke of during your visit here."
"Sounds like your life has become quite convoluted, Manny. However, that's not my concern. The only thing I want to hear is when you're going to get me what's mine. I have no interest in listening to your complaints about your personal life."
"Yes, I know. Just be aware that this complication will delay our timetable for the acquisition of your property. I need decide how to handle this wrinkle before we can move forward. Otherwise, it could mean disaster for both of us."
Grant sighed with exasperation, but he knew that what Logan said made sense. "Just don't take too long. I'm tired of waiting. Call me when you have the situation handled."
Logan had just hung up the phone when the intercom buzzed. "Yes?" he answered with irritation.
"There's a man here to see you Mr. Logan. He has a delivery that he has to make to you in person."
Logan sighed. This day just kept getting longer. "Very well. I'll be right out."
Logan exited his office to the reception area. A man in a plain gray suit stood at his secretary's desk. "Are you Emmanuel Logan?"
"Yes. You have a delivery for me?"
The man pulled a thick yellow envelope out of the inside pocket of his jacket and held it out. When Logan took it, the man said, "Mr. Logan, you have just been served." Without further comment, the man exited the room.
Logan opened the envelope as he walked back into his office. He wasn't shocked by the delivery of legal papers, as it was a regular occurrence for him. It was just a matter of finding out what matter it was regarding and determining if he needed to contact his bevy of lawyers.
Logan read the papers and chuckled to himself. There was no need to pay a five hundred-dollar per hour consultation fee this time. This was something he could handle just fine on his own.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tess's Apartment
5:30 PM
Tess heard a knock on her door and walked over to look through the peephole. She stood back from the door and sighed. I should have known that he wouldn't make this easy. Tess opened the door and immediately launched into an offensive. "I thought you were going to do what I asked and stay away."
Matt walked into the apartment past her. "I had something I needed to give you."
"Couldn't it have waited until I came into the office tomorrow? I thought you understood that it's too dangerous for you to see me. You've already made yourself a target by confronting Logan last night."
"At the time, I thought you were grateful that I did."
"I was… I am grateful, more than I can say. But that's not the point. The point is that for the time being, I need you to stay away from me."
Matt's eyes met hers with silent challenge. "For my own safety, right? There's no other reason you don't want me around?"
"What other reason would there be?" Tess didn't have a clue why Matt had made that comment, so she assumed it came out of his confusion at her motives. "You said you had to give me something. What is it?"
Matt handed her a folded document. "I thought you should have a copy of this."
Tess unfolded the paper. As she read the legal order, her eyes widened in disbelief. "A restraining order? Against Logan… Matt, why… when did you do this?"
"I think the 'why' is obvious. As to the when, Cass went before Judge Montgomery this morning. Tyrone was more than happy to help us keep that criminal away from you. If Logan tries to get to you again, he'll be arrested."
"Matt, swearing out a restraining order against a man like Emmanuel Logan will do nothing more than irritate him. He's not exactly concerned about following the letter of the law."
"No, but he does do his best to maintain a respectable public image. As laughable as that is, it seems to be important to him. I don't think he'll risk getting arrested just to avenge his wounded pride."
Tess shook her head with bewilderment. "I still… I can't believe you did this. I -"
The ringing of the phone cut off Tess's speech. She wandered over and picked up the receiver. "Hello."
"Hello, Tess. We are a busy girl, aren't we?"
Tess stiffened upon hearing Logan's voice. "What do you want?" she said icily.
"I wanted to let you know that I got your restraining order. I must say that I was crushed when I received it. How are we supposed to get to know each other better when I'm forbidden to come within… what is it? Oh yes, fifty yards of you. And here I thought we were building something special."
"The only thing that's building is my irritation with this phone call."
"Yes, I know. It's just not the same as going one on one, is it? Don't worry. I'll make sure we get to spend more quality time together…soon."
The line went dead. Tess tried desperately to control the anxiety rising up inside of her. She listened to the silence for a few seconds, then said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested." She turned back to Matt and said, "Those tele-marketers just can't take 'no' for an answer."
Matt stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "I've been thinking about what life in Bay City must be like for you."
Tess's eyes widened at the strange topic change. "What do you mean?"
Matt shrugged in an off-hand manner. "Well, I have lived here my whole life. All my family and friends are here. I can't imagine what it must be like to move to a brand new city where you don't know anyone. You didn't know anyone in Bay City before you came to work at Cory, did you?"
Although the comment sounded like casual conversation, Tess saw something in Matt's eyes when he said it. There was more to the question than idle curiosity. "Is this your way of asking me if I was connected to Logan before I came here? If so, the answer is 'no'. I'd never met Emmanuel Logan or anyone else from Bay City before I took the job with Cory."
Matt seemed to accept her answer at face value, but Tess instinctively felt him withdraw from her. "Matt…"
"I need to get going. I'll see you at the office."
Tess didn't have a chance to get a word in edgewise before he was gone. As the door shut behind him, Tess looked around her in confusion. "What was that all about?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
First Street Warehouse
7:30 PM
Tess walked into the warehouse and headed for the back office. When she arrived, Hawk and Scout were already seated and going over some of the photographs that she'd taken at Logan's house. She sat with them and they discussed the entries related to "Justin Kirkland".
They'd been talking for fifteen minutes when Cameron came running into the room. He leaned down with his hands on his thighs while he caught his breath. He was finally able to gasp, "Sorry I'm late."
"You didn't have to run, Mav. We weren't planing on going anywhere," Hawk said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Cameron took a seat at the table. "I did have to run. It was the only way I could lose Gary."
"He was following you again?"
Cameron nodded in answer to Scout's question. "I tried driving around for awhile but he kept after me. I didn't want it to be obvious that I'd spotted him or that I didn't want him to see where I was going. So, I parked my car and started running."
Ryan smiled. "I always admired Gary's tenacity when we were on the force together. Unfortunately, it's working against us now."
Cameron shot a look at Tess. "Have you told them already?"
Hawk answered for her. "She called us after she spoke with you. Kane has made arrangements to have Matt Cory tailed at a discrete distance. Same goes for Devlin, except she'll be aware of her shadow."
"I want it to be one of us whenever possible," Cameron replied. "I'm not high on trusting just anyone with her safety."
"Hello, I'm still in the room," Tess said, slightly annoyed. "And I'm not a child. You guys don't need to go overboard with this. Having somebody watch my back is fine, but we don't need to make a federal case of it."
Scout spoke up then. "Devlin, I have to agree with Maverick on this one. I hate the thought of it, but Logan has bought off agency people before. We'll need one more person besides the three of us. Any ideas on who we should get?"
Tess looked at each of her partners in turn and rolled her eyes. Cameron saw the gesture and glared at her. With a raised brow, he asked, "Do you have any suggestions, Dev?"
Tess held up her hands and opened her eyes wide with feigned innocence. "What? You mean my opinion counts? You guys are having such a fine time planning my life for me, I'd hate to interrupt."
"Don't be antagonistic, Devlin," Hawk warned. "You know that we're only doing this because we're worried about you. Logan is a loose cannon, especially when he's crossed." Tess simmered down and he said, "Is there anyone in particular that you want us to ask for? What about the guy you partnered with on that drug case?"
Tess nodded. "That's a good suggestion. See if Kane can give us Rutherford."
Scout shot her a look. "You know how Kane feels about using real names, Devlin."
Tess grinned. "Yes, but I also know how Paul feels about his code name. He'd never forgive me if he found out I called him 'Sundance'."
Cameron chuckled. "Paul really got shafted with that name. It's too bad for him that Kane saw his resemblance to Robert Redford."
"I'll ask Kane if Sundance is available," Hawk said as he made a note on a pad of paper. "By the way, Joe Carlino got a copy of Grant's exhumation order."
"Has he accepted the 'dead-end'?" Tess asked.
"Not exactly. Josie has been making calls to the Bureau, asking if anyone knows an 'Agent Kane'."
"I'm sure Kane was thrilled to hear that," Cameron commented. "Even though we know she won't find anything, it can't make Kane too happy that Josie is checking into Grant's death."
"He didn't seem to be concerned when we spoke, but you never can tell with Kane," Hawk replied. "Let's get to the other reason we're here."
The group discussed the situation with Logan's appointment book entries regarding "Justin Kirkland". They laid out all the next steps and the meeting broke thirty minutes later. As she was walking out, Ryan pulled Tess aside. "Hang on a second, Dev. I wanted to talk to you alone."
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"I just wanted to make sure you watch your back. We'll be watching you too, but we won't be able to do anything if you fight us." Ryan looked away for a moment. "I know what it's like to have your life under Logan's control. I've been living with that feeling for a long time. It's not a walk in the park, believe me."
Tess looked up at him somberly and nodded. "I know. Hopefully, this will be over soon… for all of us."
As Tess walked away, Ryan thought back to
the day when his life had changed forever…
May, 1996
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Ryan lay in the bed gathering his strength. He had been attempting to push his way through to consciousness, but so far, he'd been unsuccessful. He was determined to break through this time. Ryan never imagined that he would have so much difficulty with an act as basic as opening his eyes.
When he finally managed to raise his eyelids, Ryan was surprised by what he saw. Expecting to be in the same room at BCUH with Vicky at his bedside, he instead found himself glancing about an unfamiliar room. The figure he saw standing by the window wasn't his fiancée. It was Cameron.
As if sensing Ryan looking at him, Cameron turned. There was a strained look on his face, which wasn't lessened by the smile that appeared when he saw that Ryan was conscious. Cameron walked over and sat in the chair next to Ryan's bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked somberly.
Ryan tried to speak but his voice croaked from lack of use. Cameron poured some water from the pitcher next to the bed and guided the straw to Ryan's lips. After a few sips, Ryan shook his head and Cameron returned the plastic cup to the tray. "I've been better," Ryan replied. "But I'm surprised to be here at all so I can't complain. I swear, Mav, I thought I was dying. I even said goodbye to Vicky…" Ryan paused thoughtfully and scanned the room with a puzzled look. "Where is Vicky? And where am I?"
Cameron glanced away. How was he going to tell Ryan what had happened? He started by answering the easier question. "We're at the Navy hospital in Bethesda. You've been here several weeks now. The doctors induced a coma so you would have time to heal. They worked a real miracle here, Scout. We didn't think you would make it, but as usual, you surprised everyone."
Ryan was sidetracked by a thought. "Speaking of surprises, what are you doing here? I thought you were deep undercover on that smuggling ring?"
"I was," Cameron said. "I still am, but when I found out what had happened, I needed to be here. Kane wasn't too happy about it, but I eventually convinced him to let me see you. Devlin wanted to come too, but he'd only agree to release one of us. She wanted me to give you her best."
"Well the next time you see her, tell her I'll be back on my feet before she knows it."
Cameron knew he wouldn't be able to put off the inevitable much longer. "How much do you remember of what happened?"
Ryan closed his eyes briefly and breathed a deep sigh. "All of it - The train trestle, Grant shooting me in the back, waking up at BCUH and talking to Vicky." Ryan suddenly remembered that Cameron hadn't answered his question. "Where is Vicky, anyway? I'm assuming they moved me here for better treatment, but I know Vic. She probably hasn't left my bedside for longer than an hour to go eat and change clothes. Do I have you to thank for getting her to take a break?"
Cameron braced himself. This was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever done. "There's no easy way to tell you this… When it looked like you might not… Ryan, Kane ordered a 'Lazarus mission'."
Ryan knew the meaning of those words. For a minute he couldn't speak or breathe. He finally said, "No…"
Cameron felt his chest tighten. The shock and dawning anguish in Ryan's expression held an intensity that said more than words ever could. "It's true. You've been black-coded. To the rest of the world, Ryan Harrison is dead."
The conflicting emotions in Ryan left him speechless. He could only imagine what this had done to the people who loved him, especially Carl… and Vicky. The unbelievable cruelty of what Kane had done to them stirred Ryan into a fury. "Why? Why in the name of God did Kane do this? Where is he anyway? Why isn't he here to face me himself? The coward… sending you to do his dirty work for him!"
Cameron put a hand on Ryan's shoulder. He looked as if he was about to come flying out of the hospital bed, and Cameron knew that was dangerous with the injuries Ryan had sustained. "Kane didn't ask me to come. When I heard about what happened, I asked him to let me tell you. I didn't want you to go through this alone."
A deathly calm settled over Ryan. The shock had numbed him, but he wanted answers. "Why did Kane do this?"
"It was Logan. The case went to hell, Ryan. Your cover was blown and Kane knew that if he didn't get you out of Bay City fast that Logan would make sure you never had a chance to recover."
"What happened?" Ryan replied with anger and confused disbelief. "We had enough to nail Logan to the wall! Rufus Harmon was going to turn State's evidence."
Cameron shook his head slowly. "Somehow, Logan found out that you'd turned Harmon. Harmon's body washed up near the docks the day after you were shot. Kane told me one of the Bureau's snitches called him and said that Harmon gave you up while Logan's guys were working on him." Cameron paused and looked Ryan directly in the eyes. "With the condition you were in at the time, Kane wasn't sure you'd survive. He knew that even if you pulled through, Logan's people would make sure you never got out of the hospital alive. I don't always agree with Kane's tactics, but this time, I think he made the only choice he could."
Ryan's eyes shone with unshed tears. "But… what about the people I love? This has to be killing them. I need to tell them I'm alive!"
"I know how much you want that, but you can't. Not just for your sake, but for theirs. If Logan got wind of the fact that you're alive, what do you think he'd do?"
Ryan clenched his jaw. "He'd go after Vicky. That's his M.O., right? Find where you're vulnerable and attack."
Cameron nodded. "Logan's too much of a coward to take an opponent head on. He fights low and dirty, but we'll get him, Scout. He'll pay for this, no matter what we have to do to make it happen."
Ryan closed his eyes against the wave of pain that threatened to bury him. He needed to focus all his energy on getting out of the hospital and back on Logan's trail. "Go on, tell me the rest of it. How did they do it?"
"I don't have all the details. What Kane told me is that they had someone inject a drug into your I.V. that simulates death. Then they sent a medical team in that was supposed to be removing your corneas for a transplant. Instead, they revived you and airlifted you here. The agency doctors are responsible for your primary care. The rest of the staff here knows you under an alias."
Ryan nodded. Kane always covered his bases. "Ok. Since I'm not Ryan Harrison, who am I?"
"You're being called 'Richard Ashenden'."
Ryan made a sound that was equal parts amusement and disgust. "Kane's love of old movies is showing again."
"You recognize the name?"
"Yeah. You didn't think he limited his use of character names to our call signs, did you? He does this all the time. When I first started as an instructor, we made a game of it. Kane would tell me the names he'd chosen for the new recruits, and I'd try to guess what movie character he was referencing. There was always some rationale behind why he chose the names he did."
"What about 'Richard Ashenden'? Which movie is that name from?"
Ryan gave him a humorless smile that was filled with irony. "You're going to love this. It's from an early Hitchcock film called 'Secret Agent'."
Cameron rolled his eyes. "Figures."
"It gets better. The story line involves a government agency faking a man's death so he can work undercover using the name… Richard Ashenden. Kane does love his little ironies." After a long silence, Ryan said, "How soon do you have to take off? I'm sure that Kane won't let you stay for long."
"He's reluctantly giving me a few days with you. He wanted to send me back as soon as I'd spoken to you, but I talked him out of it."
"How did you pull that off?"
"Simple. I told him the truth. For the time being, the people in the agency are the only family you have…" Cameron glanced away, realizing that Ryan didn't need to hear that from him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…"
"Don't apologize, Mav. It's the truth. It would be just as true whether you said it out loud or not."
"I know, but… I hate this whole situation. You should have the people who are closest to you here to help you get back on your feet again. It's not right that you have to make do with substitutes for the real thing."
"Don't worry about me, Mav. I can deal with this. We both know that reality isn't always fair, but facts are facts."
Cameron nodded. "And the fact is that until you fully recover and Logan is neutralized, we can't take the chance of letting anyone in Bay City know that you're alive."
Ryan's eyes glittered with
determination. "Oh, I'll recover alright. And then I'm going
to make it my life's work to bring Logan down. Because until I
do, I don't have a life."
Ryan jumped slightly when a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned around and said, "Sorry. I was lost there for a minute."
Hawk looked at him with empathy and squeezed his shoulder. "I know," he replied. "I know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cameron walked into the darkened bedroom and quickly shed his clothes. He slipped into the bed next to Amanda and kissed her temple. She snuggled in tight against him and smiled softly in her sleep. Cameron's eyes drifted shut, but sleep eluded him.
If I fall along the way
pick me up and dust me off.
And if I get too tired to make it
be my breath so I can walk.
~*~
Matt crossed his studio without turning on the lights. The bright moon provided the only illumination in the room. Matt picked his sketchpad up from the easel and flipped through it. He came to the picture he'd drawn of Tess and stopped. He stared down at the picture as he walked over to the window. A beam of moonlight illuminated half of the drawing while the rest was covered with shadows.
If I need some other love
then
give me more than I can stand.
And when my smile gets old and faded
wait around I'll smile again.
Shouldn't be so
complicated.
Just hold me and then,
just hold me again.
~*~
Tess dropped her purse on the coffee table and sat down on the couch. She picked up the restraining order that Matt had brought earlier. She ran a hand through her hair and turned her eyes toward the window.
Can you help me, I'm
bent.
I'm so scared that I'll never
get put back together.
You're breaking me in
and this is how we will end
with you and me bent
~*~
Cindy crossed the dock and sat down on a bench. She stared out at the bay and kicked a pebble with the toe of her shoe. She stood back up and walked to the railing. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she listened to the water breaking against the wood pilings.
If I couldn't sleep could
you sleep?
Could you paint me better off?
Could you sympathize with my needs?
I know you think I need a lot.
I started out clean but
I'm jaded.
Just phoning it in.
Just breaking the skin
~*~
David paced the length of his study. As he passed the couch, his foot hit something. He bent down and retrieved the object. He smiled slightly as he looked at the bottle of bright red fingernail polish. The smile faded and he closed his hand around the bottle in a fist.
Can you help me, I'm
bent.
I'm so scared that I'll never
get put back together.
You're breaking me in
and this is how we will end
with you and me bent
~*~
Logan flipped through the folder on Tess Richardson. A cold, hard smile took possession of his lips as he picked up a photograph in the file. He ran a finger across his lips, then used the same finger to trace the outline of Tess's face in the picture.
Start bending me.
It's never enough
'til I feel all your pieces.
Start bending me.
Keep bending me until I'm completely broken in
~*~
Ryan walked to the edge of the woods at Vicky's cottage. He stared across the lawn at the cozy house. All the lights were out except one upstairs. As that light extinguished, Ryan briefly closed his eyes and leaned his head against the tree behind him.
Shouldn't be so
complicated.
Just touch me and then,
just touch me again…
Can you help me, I'm bent.
I'm so scared that I'll never
get put back together.
You're breaking me in
and this is how we will end
with you and me... bent
Author's note: The conversation David recalled in this chapter occurred on the June 1, 1999 episode of "Another World". The "music montage" at the end of this chapter was set to "Bent" by Matchbox Twenty. Click on the hyperlinked title to listen to a Real media clip from the song.