“You have an office uniform kind of pattern going on with your attire?” he asked.
“No, detective. I just happen to have the same type of clothing and you seem to meet me on those days when I wear it. So, I was told that it was an emergency. Rod is an old friend of mine, and he called ahead to make sure I met you this morning. I understand that you had experienced your nightmares again?” asked the doctor, taking her seat behind the table. John was sitting on one of the bean bags.
“I fell asleep in my office yesterday morning at about 11am for a couple of hours. I had the recurring dream we discussed previously, but there was something quite different this time.” said John. The doctor inquired what it was. John spent a good part of the next ten minutes explaining as much as he could remember about the dream where he joined forces with a woman - who looked exactly like his client - and switched on the power for the entire forest. As he described the dream, occasionally the doctor would stop him and ask him for additional information. Given the nature of the dream, John did not always have all the answers, but tried his best. When she seemed to be satisfied with what he told her, he finally asked her the questions which were on his mind.
“What does it all mean, doctor? Why did my nightmare change? Why was there light yesterday, of all days? Why was there a woman? Why did this woman look like my client? Why was that forest filled with street lights?” John asked an avalanche of questions.
The doctor sat there thinking. She offered him a glass of water, which John drank peacefully. Then, the good doctor started answering his questions.
“John, you probably know this already. Dreams, for most people, are a way of expressing their inner-most desires. An athlete dreams of winning the championship. A young woman dreams of being an independent business woman. You had nightmares that were all about expressing the displeasure you had for your work life. That forest with its creepy crawlies was your way of dealing with all this. From what you have told me, you have been having these recurring nightmares for about six months now. Isn’t that the same time duration you have been out of work?” asked the doctor.
“You are right. Why was my client in my dream?” asked John.
“Well, that should be fairly obvious. She is the first real client you have had in a long time. In many ways, she saved your career. Could you imagine what would have happened if she never stepped into your office on that evening? What would be your state of mind now?” asked the doctor.
John tried to imagine his life if Ms. Luck hadn’t hired him. Worst case scenario, he would be working for a corporation in some kind of desk job. That would have been a reality, had this client of his not walked in. Suddenly, it all made sense. John wasn’t surprised at all about the dream now. She was helping him in real life by giving him a case that could possibly save his career, a career that he had dreamed about from a young age. She was helping him achieve his dreams and he visualized her in his dream. John returned to the question that the doctor had asked him before he went off on his thought threads.
“I would be devastated, doctor. It is a remarkable stroke of luck that my client walked into my office and into my life.” answered John.
“Detective, I hope you know the significance of this dream. If you don’t help this client of yours, there is a good chance that you will go back to having nightmares. I have read about cases like this. The success or failure of the case you are working on right now can have far reaching consequences.” said the doctor.
As she was speaking, John realized what she was saying. This case of the missing brother was going to be the end or the beginning of all things to come. There was a lot at stake.
“I do have a question that does not add up, doctor. Even when I was dreaming, I knew that I was dreaming. Is that even possible? I know it is possible because I remember the dream vividly. Otherwise, I would not have been able to tell you everything as it happened. It is just that, I was always under the impression we aren’t supposed to remember what happened in our dreams. Then again, the last few months have been something of a crazy ride for me.” said John.
“John, the concept of dreams is still something of a mystery to all of us. When I say ‘us’, I am including professionals like me, and regular individuals like yourself. It is true what you have said, John. Most people cannot remember dreams as vividly as you have. Of all the dream related cases I have handled, I have to say, yours is the most unique, detective.” she answered.
“Is that supposed to make me happy, doctor?” asked John, still not sure where the discussion was heading.
“I am not sure, detective. In most cases, dreams are visual representations of what we want. Usually it is those things that we cannot have. Things that we should possess and things that we should not be experiencing in the first place. There are so many things that dreams can mean, John. Let me ask you something. What do you think of this client of yours? How does she look?” asked the doctor.
“How does she look? I don’t quite understand.” John did not expect that question.
“I mean, is she beautiful? Do you find her attractive?” asked the doctor.
“That is difficult to say. She is certainly not beautiful. I mean, she is not that good looking. If I were to do an honest comparison of what I consider beauty, I would say you are more beautiful than her.” said John, expressing his opinion about the two women he had met in the last few days. He noticed a certain color rise in her cheeks, but he chose not to let her know he noticed it.
“I see. Since, I have not seen her myself, I don’t know if I should take it as a compliment. Either way, if it is not her looks, then it must be what she has done for you. You have already told me about the many ways in which you have been hurt by this lack of work in the last six months. I think that your relationship with her is a lot more than just looks. It has to do with what she has done for you. That is being imagined subconsciously by your dream, something which you are yet to realize.” said the doctor.
“If it is not her looks, then what is it? I have spent perhaps a few minutes at most with her. I am sure, it is not love at first sight or anything like that, doctor.” said John, feeling that he was getting closer to understanding his dream.
“I agree that this has nothing to do with love, detective. I think that you look at her as some kind of a rescuing angel. I remember you mentioning that you were just about to call your Mom for some loan of sorts. She gave you more time, and you appreciate that. You also wanted to avoid having to take up on that offer from the insurance company manager. I understand that you were less than pleased with any of this. You did not want to take money from your parents. You also did not wish to take the job offer from that other person. If I may say so, things were getting worse, instead of getting better.” said the doctor.
John nodded in agreement.
“Just when you thought all was lost, this woman walked in. How does that strike to you? Is she not like a person who shows the fresh-water fountain to someone lost in a desert and running out of water? Just when he thought he was about to die of thirst, an angel swoops down and offers him unlimited quantities of water. There must be a syndrome or something that defines this phenomenon. If not, I will probably want to write a paper on it. I think, Mr. Russo,that you are infinitely pleased with what this woman has done. You may not like to admit it, but subconsciously, you are doing so. That is why your dreams have expanded to include her.” said the doctor.
“You are suggesting that perhaps, because of the job she has given me, I am looking up to her. Like some kind of a savior figure?” John asked.
“I am fairly convinced of it, Mr. Russo. Previously, your nightmares consisted of just you and these crawlies. Back then, you were generally fighting a losing battle on your own. There was no one to help you. Then, you meet this woman. The very next day you have a dream, and everything is different. You begin to feel the presence of light. Light that wasn’t present in any of y
our previous dreams. She is the light, Mr. Russo. That light helped you to find the torch and give you a new kind of weapon that gave you a fighting chance. As if that wasn’t enough, your mind managed to get her into your dream as well. Does that answer your questions, Mr. Russo?” she asked, looking very pleased with herself.
“So far, it seems to be very clear. Why was her name Harriet? Why did I not use my client’s real name in the dream? That is still not clear with your explanation.” said John, feeling a little better about his dream.
“Why won’t you use her real name? Last piece of the puzzle, I must say, detective. Let me think. Give me a minute.” said the doctor.
The doctor then got up and started pacing around the room. John figured that it would take her a few minutes. He started wondering where this Luck guy could be. As he thought about Luck, his mind wandered off into what might have happened to him. The only thing he had discovered so far was that he knew that Rita Luck was genuine. That much was for sure. He had already travelled to Townley and double-checked all the details. His thoughts went back to that train journey from Primer to Townley in which he noticed a woman with a distinct red lipstick. Occasionally, he thought she was observing him. John thought she might have liked him. The sort of look she was giving was not about attraction or any such factor. There was something odd about that woman.
John returned from his thoughts and back to the room. He looked up to see what the doctor was doing. She had stopped walking and was standing next to the window. She was looking outside, far away into the city buildings and the vehicles. John observed her closely. She must have been about thirty five. Her hair was folded into a bun, and despite her age, she looked beautiful. John could not confirm this on his own, but it did not seem like she was married and had any children of her own. John looked around and found no pictures of any sorts anywhere. No family members standing in a huddle or anything like that. John thought that that was odd. Perhaps the doctor had her own set of problems. That was ironic, but that was how life worked, John thought.
“Detective, I think I may have figured out an explanation for the name situation.” said the doctor, coming and taking the seat in front of him.
“I am all ears, doctor.” said John, stopping his own personal evaluation of her.
“I think you are not ready to accept that she has, in fact, saved you from an insane disaster. Be honest, Mr. Russo. Would you admit that this woman has actually saved you?” asked the doctor.
John thought about the question. The doctor was right. He wasn’t ready to fully admit that the woman, his client, had actually saved him. He wanted to lie to the doctor, but what was the point of that?
“I agree, doctor. Suddenly, the dreams make so much sense. The crawlies, the darkness, the light, and that woman who is my client, but with a different name. Everything makes perfect sense, and I have only you to thank.” said John.
“You are welcome, Mr. Russo. Of course, I am only doing my job.” said the doctor.
“You are very modest, doctor. That takes care of pretty much everything.” said John.
He got up, thanked the good doctor for her help, and stepped outside the office. A few minutes later, he was back in his car, thinking about the discussion he just had. He decided to go to the office to discuss a few urgent issues with Sheila before heading off to meet with his Father. He was in his office about fifteen minutes later. After discussing some urgent business with Sheila, he requested her to call him a taxi at 1130am so that he could meet his Dad at 12 noon for a quick lunch before heading off to meet with the work doctor at 1pm.
As John was leaving his office building at 1130am, he noticed that the lobby man was reading his newspaper for the day. He looked up to find Russo, smiling. The lobby guy still had memories of two days ago when John Russo was less than ambivalent to his own smile. Still, his job was to be courteous, and that was what he did. He got up from his desk and smiled at Russo.
“Good morning, sir. Anything I can help you with?”
“Tim, there is nothing in particular. I stopped by to, well, apologize. I believe a few days ago, you did your usual cursory good morning to me, and I was less than cordial to that. I am sorry about that. I was not in the right mood.” said John.
John had a reason to apologize. There were times when John had to work late nights and stayed back at his office a lot. In those times, Tim was almost like his second receptionist, after Sheila.
“That is alright, Mr. Russo. I did not mind that at all!” said Tim, very pleased with the apology. John Russo smiled back, and then resumed his journey to the exit. Tim returned to his newspaper with a much wider smile that probably compensated for the frown from two days earlier.
As always, the taxi was waiting for John outside the building reception. As he got in, the taxi driver double-checked the destination with John and took off towards his Father’s diner at a steady pace.
John asked the driver to lower the volume of the radio, and pulled out his phone. He called up his Father and told him that he was on his way. John had this weird habit of letting people know before he went to see them. It was considered professional to do so when it was clients and other business associates. Then again, he tended to forget that he need not do that with his own family members. It was a habit, so he really could not help that. His Father replied that he would be free when he arrived. The truth of the matter was, the senior Russo was always a busy man, but would never pass up a chance to spend time with his only son.
As he entered the diner, he John that his Father was already seated at their usual table. The diner was a little busy, but that was to be expected. It was lunch time, and the diner was a popular spot for busy office workers. As Russo sat down at his reserved seat, he realized that his Father could have lost a couple of customers because of his reservation. Fathers and their love for their sons was a beautiful thing.
“I have some news to share with you, Dad.” said John, tasting the soup in front of him. As always, it tasted good.
“Okay, what is it about, son?”
“Well, Dad, I finally got a job. An assignment that could possibly change my life forever. It is a case that does not involve husbands or wives. It is an actual criminal case.” said Russo. Russo wanted to tell more about the project, but he could not share the client details with anybody, not even with his own Father, no matter how much he loved and trusted him.
“That sounds good, son. Maybe now we can see you smile more often. Your Mother knew that something wasn’t right months ago. Although, I only realized that something was off with you when you told me a few days ago. Guess Mothers will always know when something is wrong with their children. Too bad God decided to leave us Fathers out of the equation with this mental connection.” said the senior Russo.
“That is alright, Dad. I know you love me. Ah! Here it is” said the detective, turning to the door. A delivery man had just walked in and he was carrying a bag. He reached the detective’s table and placed two packages on the table. They were small boxes, big enough to hold a cigar, but not much else. The delivery guy asked Russo to sign on a delivery receipt, smiled, and left. All this time, the senior Russo watched with general curiosity as to what was happening. The junior Russo smiled and pushed one of the boxes to his Father, which he opened. It was a gold plated watch.
“Just like you wanted, Dad, night light, altimeter, and water proof up to three hundred meters. Also, it is powered by the sun.” said John Russo, with a sense of accomplishment. The senior Russo’s face lit up. He was talking about such a watch a few months earlier and he was pleasantly surprised that his son remembered. The younger Russo pushed the second box to him.
“That’s for Mom. This is a token of my appreciation for any worries that I might have caused in the last few months.“ said John.
“Son, this is fantastic. I am sure your Mom will love it too.” said the senior Russo, taking the second box.
&
nbsp; “There is one more thing I wanted to talk to you about, Dad. This is something I never told you. Before this case came into my hands, I was having regular nightmares.” said John, waiting for his Father’s reaction to his statement. Expectedly, his Father was shocked by the words.
“What kind of nightmares, John? Why did you never mention this to me or your Mother? How long has this been going on?” said the senior Russo, visibly upset with this revelation.
“For about six months, Dad. I am sorry I did not tell you about any of this. I am telling you now, so you will just have to make peace with that. You have every right to get angry. Before you do, just hear me out. There is some good news that came out of this whole episode. You will be surprised, and maybe even proud of your son. Do you remember Rod?” asked John.
“Rod. Your friend from the University? The guy who is now a lawyer. Something that I was hoping you would become, John, before you broke the news of choosing the career of a detective.” said his Father. There was still some anguish in his voice.
“Okay, Dad. Now, please don’t tell me that he is like the son that you never had. Rod was privy to this nightmare information and suggested a shrink. I took his advice and have gone to see her a couple of times.” said John.
“I have to admit, I never thought you would bring up the courage to meet a shrink. I can only hope that something good has come out of it. Is that the good news you were talking about?” asked the concerned Father.
“Yes. She has helped me out in so many ways. I no longer have those nightmares. The whole episode has inevitably made me a better person. I am hoping that now, at least, you have no reason to be angry.” said John, hoping that his Father would be relieved.
“I am, son. I do wish you had told me earlier that you were having problems. Things would have been so much easier if you had. Looks like you have a tendency for scaring your old Dad every one or two years. You are getting better at it though. I suppose there is a reason why you are telling me about this now? Go on, son, give me the reason. I know you don’t do anything without a reason.” said his Father.
UNDERCOVER The Secret of Luck Page 16
