“Like what? Hey, do I have any family? Is someone missing me?”
“No, no one’s missing you David.” They all think you’re dead.
“That’s sad, I’m all alone.”
“You’ll never be alone. You have me.” Alison walks over to the table and kisses him on the mouth. David responds and kisses her back. They then look into each other’s eyes.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done that, hasn’t it?” David says.
“Yes, and I don’t remember it being so sweet, less passionate.”
David caresses Alison’s cheek. “Still, I could easily get used to it.”
“You will, and we’ll be lovers again too. Soon we’ll be just like we were.”
“What were we?”
“Blessed, but ignorant, I think we took each other for granted. I know I took you for granted, I promise you I won’t do it again.”
“I trust you Alison. You saved my life. I know I can trust you.”
“Trust, yes, that’s very important to you isn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it is. God I hope I get my memory back, it’s so frustrating not being able to recall anything.”
Alison hands him a glass of orange juice. “Your memory may never return, we’ll make new memories.”
David gazes out the window. “Where are we?”
“In Pennsylvania, near a town called Plum.”
“That doesn’t sound familiar at all.”
“You’re not from here, you’re from New York, Westchester County.”
“New York? I want to go back there, I feel like I should go back to where I came from. Maybe I’ll recognize something, or someone.”
“No, we’re going to Mexico soon.”
“Mexico, why Mexico?”
“To keep you safe from whoever wants to kill you.” Alison places the food on the table. “That’s enough questions for now. Let’s eat and then we’ll exercise that leg. You’ll be fine in no time.”
They eat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Halfway through the meal, David looks up.
“The food’s very good. Thanks for taking care of me.”
“David it is my pleasure. I love you.”
David looks across at Alison as feelings that were buried by her betrayal are now resurrected by her faithfulness.
“I love you too Alison.” He says.
Alison continues eating quietly as tears of joy roll down her cheeks. Friday, August 15th,
Dr. James Rowlands sits in the huge living room at Davenport Manor and looks across at April and May.
Dr. Rowlands is forty-three-years-old. He is blond, somewhat handsome, and when he isn’t hung over, he can be affable. He is an average sized man in all respects but one, his appetites.
It seems the doctor has had a lifelong problem with alcohol, drugs and young women.
Sitting alone in the Davenport living room and looking at the drink cart in the corner had caused him to sweat. When April and May joined him, he noticed that the girls each had a rolled joint stuck behind their right ears and are wearing identical red string bikinis that leave scant work for the imagination. Dr. James Rowlands is now trying to figure out if he’s stepped into heaven or slid into hell.
Rowlands shifts slightly in his seat. My God, I believe I’m actually getting a boner just looking at them.
April, aware of the affect she and May are having on Rowlands, smiles.
“I apologize for our attire doctor but my sister and I were just going for a swim, we’ll make this interview brief.”
“That’s quite all right ladies, I’m enjoying the view.”
“Most men do, now to get down to business doctor. I am April and this unbelievably beautiful creature on my left is my sister May, we are twothirds of a set of triplets.”
“You mean there’s three of you, amazing.” Rowlands says, while noticing that May is staring at his crotch.
“Yes, we’re identical in appearance but poor June suffers severe mental problems, earlier this month June tried to kill herself.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, how may I help?”
“We want to employ you as her doctor full-time. As such, you will take orders only from myself and May, no one else.”
“I would have to charge a great deal for such comprehensive care,” Rowlands says, while looking around the room. “But I see that would not be a problem.”
April says. “No it would not, you will also live in this house and be able to take advantage of the amenities we have to offer.”
Now Rowlands notices that April is also staring at his crotch.
“Um, how did you come to pick me for such an important matter? Was I recommended by someone?” Rowlands says, then inwardly curses himself for being unable to keep the tone of incredulity out of his voice.
“No doctor, we heard about you in other ways, we heard about you and that fifteen-year-old girl.” May says.
“I can explain that, I thought she was older, she seemed older.”
“We’re not judging you doctor, we were just wondering if you actually satisfied that girl. Fifteen is such a needy age.” April says.
Rowlands smiles. “The only complaint was the one filed against me by her father.”
May turns to April. “What do you think? Should we mix business with pleasure?”
“No May. Dr. Rowlands is June’s therapist and so we need to keep things professional.”
“Too bad doctor, I think the three of us could have had fun, maybe someday.”
Rowlands looks at May and almost licks his lips at the thought, but he manages to compose himself.
“April’s right May, I should keep my distance. It’s my professional duty.”
“It sounds very boring, however you will be spending time with June who looks exactly like us, and we all know about your penchant for attractive female patients.” May says.
“I assure you ladies I would never take advantage of your sister. I’m here to help her.”
“Doctor, June is obsessed with her dead fiancé, if you were to seduce her into starting a relationship it would be an improvement. June has fallen off a man, what she needs is to get back on one. You would do as well as anyone else at this point.” April says.
Rowlands smiles at the two women as he looks them up and down. May smiles back at him while her hand strays to her crotch, and this time there is no doubt, he has an erection.
In a voice so hoarse that it is barely intelligible, Rowlands asks.
“When do I get to meet June?”
30
From behind his desk at Martin Associates in midtown Manhattan, Jack watches as Carol and Al enter his office. He notices that Dr. Manning appears thinner than he remembers her and thinks that her brother’s troubles have been taking their toll on her. Jack then gives Al a close inspection and is surprised to find none of the wise guy affectations that seem so universal among men in Al’s…profession. In fact, Mr. Albertino Salvatori gives the impression of being a nice guy.
“Dr. Manning, Mr. Salvatori, please have a seat. How may I help you?”
“How do you know my name?” Al asks, mildly curious.
“An ex-partner of mine showed me your picture in connection with an investigation of David Manning.”
“You guys were investigating Davey, why?”
“Does the name Mr. Smith ring any bells?”
“Not a tinkle,” Al says.
Jack looks to Carol. “He really doesn’t know, does he?”
Carol sighs. “No, and I suppose it doesn’t matter who knows now.”
Al appears perplexed. “Know what? Was Davey involved in something shady?”
“Mr. Salvatori, prior to his disappearance Mr. Manning was suspected of numerous crimes of information theft. Primarily these crimes were used as a way to obtain information that might result in the safe return of missing children. The alias that Mr. Manning used was the name Mr. Smith.”
“You mean that Davey helped to get back missin
g kids by hacking databases? I thought his finding your daughter was just a fluke.”
“No, your friend was directly responsible for the return of over a dozen children. However Mr. Smith had not been active recently before David went missing.”
“Davey told me that he quit.” Carol says. “He said he couldn’t risk being caught now that he was getting married. He didn’t want to take a chance of going to jail and being…separated from June.”
“You guys kept this from me all this time? You know it never made sense to me, Davey wasting all that time on the computer instead of getting a job. I knew he wasn’t lazy. Son of a bitch,” Al marvels. “My friend was a goddamn hero and I never knew it.”
Jack looks at Cathy’s picture on his desk. The pretty little girl in the photo has blond hair and blue eyes.
“I certainly owe him a debt of gratitude. He got my daughter back for me in one day after sixteen months of searching for her. It was a miracle.”
“Mr. Martin we’re here to hire you.” Carol says.
“What would you need an Internet security consultant for Dr. Manning?”
“I want to hire you to look into my brother’s death.”
Jack looks thoughtfully at Carol for a few seconds. “Actually my wife Kelly and I have been doing that for quite a while. We’ve been trying to clear David’s name.”
“You have? Oh God bless you, what have you found out?”
“Surprisingly little, although we think we know the name of the man who killed Blake Davenport.”
“Who is he?” Al asks, and the intent behind the question is unmistakable.
“Mr. Salvatori if you’re thinking of revenge you’ll have to wait.”
“Why’s that?”
“This man is only known by assumed names; this time he was a ‘Mr. Parker.”
“Is there any way to track him down so we can find out what happened to Davey?” Carol asks.
“I’m afraid not, our best guess is that he’s left the country for a time, also ‘Parker’ uses a different name for every job. He seems to pick these names alphabetically.”
“Alphabetically? But that would mean that he’s killed at least…sixteen people? Oh my God he’s a serial killer!” Carol says.
“Technically, Mr. Parker wouldn’t be classified as a serial killer. Also, he’s probably killed a lot more than sixteen people. The F.B.I. also suspect him of committing murders under the names of Mr. Stark and Mr. Westlake, and that was over three years ago.”
Al hangs his head. “Davey never had a chance.”
“Have you found out anything else Mr. Martin?” Carol asks.
Jack hesitates in answering and Carol sees the conflict in his eyes.
“No matter how bad the news is Mr. Martin I want to know it.”
“Please, call me Jack, and I hesitated to speak not because it’s bad news but because I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
“What do you mean? Please, now you have to tell us.” Carol says.
“The precinct in Greenwich Village received an anonymous tip saying that David is alive, but that he’s suffering memory loss due to a near fatal head injury. The caller went on to say that he could tell the police where to find David, but when asked for the address the caller hung up.”
“Oh my God. Is it possible my brother’s still alive?”
“The reason the police gave it any validity, is that when the man was asked to provide proof he did so, he described what David was wearing the night he disappeared, right down to the colors and pattern of his tie.”
“Were they able to trace the call?” Al asks.
“Yes, it came from a payphone outside the Windmill Theater.”
“The Windmill? Carol that’s where Alison’s play is, that’s a big coincidence.”
“Alison? Do you mean Alison James the actress?” Jack asks.
“The very one,” Al says. “She’s Davey’s ex-girlfriend and she’s obsessed with him.”
Jack leans back in his seat. “Hmm, didn’t she quit her show right about the time that David went missing?”
“Yes, do you think it’s possible…?” Al asks Jack, trailing off.
“That would fit in perfectly with the end of the tipster’s call.”
“Why? What did he say?” Asks Carol.
“He was very forthcoming until they asked him for the address. Just as he was about to give it to the detective he hung up the phone. The tape was sent to the lab and enhanced. Very faintly you can hear the man say something right before he hangs up.”
“What was it, what did he say?” Carol asks.
“Well, the man curses and then he mutters, ‘I can’t do it to her.”
“Her’ possibly being Alison. I wonder where the hell she is now?” Al says.
“I intend to find out.” Jack says.
June is in her room reading when there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Rowlands enters and closes the door behind him. “Hello June, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No Dr. Rowlands, I’m just reading.”
June is on a loveseat and Dr. Rowlands sidles in next to her, a faint odor of liquor on his breath.
“You read a lot don’t you June?”
“I enjoy it very much and It helps to pass the time.”
“Until David returns, that’s what you mean isn’t it?”
“Yes, until David returns.” June says.
“What if David doesn’t return?”
“I don’t know. I’ll never try to kill myself again, I know that. I was simply out of my mind with grief then. David is alive doctor and if David is alive he’ll find his way back to me.”
“Your sisters are still very concerned about you June, it’s why they engaged me. I want you to remember that I’m always here for you, there’s no reason for you to be lonely.” As Rowlands says this he places his hand on June’s thigh. Rowlands now leans toward her. “David wouldn’t want you to be lonely, would he?”
June rises quickly and steps away from the loveseat. “I’m not lonely doctor, I’m fine, really.”
Rowlands smiles at her. “You seem a little nervous, are you sleeping well?”
“I’m a little restless at night. It takes me a while to fall asleep.”
“I’m going to prescribe a mild sedative for you to take at bedtime, just to help you sleep, all right?”
“All right doctor, maybe it’ll help, I do need more sleep. I think I’m just so excited by knowing that David’s coming back, that it’s hard to fall asleep sometimes.”
“Fine, I’ll start you on them tonight.”
“Goodbye doctor.”
“Ah, yes, goodbye June, if you need me you know where I’ll be.”
“Yes doctor.” You’ll be in your room with a bottle of liquor.
Rowlands leaves and June stands thinking for a few moments, she then goes downstairs.
While passing the indoor pool she looks through the glass doors and sees April and May with a group of young men, to June they appear young enough to be high school boys. Maybe they are, She thinks. June sighs and goes into the kitchen where she finds Simon working at his computer.
Upon seeing her, Simon smiles widely. “June my dear how are you today, are you hungry?”
“Actually I am Simon, but I really just came to talk to you.”
“We will do both. I’ve been working since six in the morning and I think I’ll take a break and get a bite to eat. We’ll eat in the dining room like civilized people.”
Once seated at the dining room table, June tells Simon about Dr. Rowlands’ visit to her room.
“This man placed his hand on your thigh?”
“Yes.”
Simon’s face turns red. “He didn’t try anything bolder did he?”
“No, I told him goodbye after that and he left my room.”
“Bastard! I don’t know why April hired him. I spoke to Dr. Meyer about him and she said that the man didn’t have the best reputation. I
got the impression she was being very kind.”
“I don’t need a doctor, I’m fine now and David will be back soon.”
“I’ll speak with April about him, in the meantime try to avoid him. You know June, this is your house now, you could just tell him to leave.”
“No, I may own it but it’s still April’s home and she only hired the doctor because she cares about me. I’ll leave it to her to get rid of him.”
“Very well, I’m still going to talk to the girls about him though.”
June takes Simon by the hand. “Thank you for looking out for me. You saved my life.”
“I love you June. You are my favorite person in the entire world.”
June says. “I love you too Simon.” As the two of them rise from the table and hug.
“Now don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
“Simon,”
“Yes?”
“Would you really have jumped in after me if I had done it, jumped I mean?”
“As God is my witness.”
June hugs Simon again. “Thank God I didn’t jump.”
“Those are my feelings exactly dear.”
Later that day, Simon meets with April and May to discuss Dr. Rowlands’ behavior. They talk in the living room with the doors shut.
The room reeks of fresh paint. April had the previously eggshell colored walls painted a vibrant red and the room’s Persian rug has been replaced with an insanely deep white shag carpet.
“That’s all he did Simon, just put his hand on her thigh? I find that to be nothing.”
“It’s not just that April, it’s the way he looks at her lecherously. He’s her doctor not her suitor, the man is totally unprofessional.”
“I’m glad he’s interested in June, maybe in time he can make her forget David.”
“June will never forget David, May. June and David are in love. When David returns I’m sure they’ll get married.”
“David is dead. I wish you would stop feeding June’s delusions about David being alive. David is dead!” April says.
“David is alive. June felt him.”
“Simon the only thing June feels is loneliness. Dr Rowlands is staying and he will remain her doctor. Do you understand me?”
“Don’t talk to me that way young lady, I am your elder and I will have your respect.”
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