by Al Cooper
- Sorry, buddy, especially if you're doing any kind of social life. But something urgent has arisen.
Hanson got up like a shot, looked at his watch and then instinctively to Ingrid, who was fast asleep.
- I don’t think anything can justify this! - Were his first words to Marvin -
- Yeah, I assure you it is. The boss has called me.
- Damn! A Sunday morning? So keen for us?
- Wait, wait ... Someone called this morning to the barracks. At first they didn’t do him any case, but then they realized he really knew something about the matter.
- Something? Do you mean only ... something? ... for a Sunday morning ... I find it very little.
- He mentioned in particular to Klein, told them he knew him and that he was in danger too, so they took it more seriously and passed his call to the boss. I think that guy may have something important to say.
- Okay, okay ... I hope so - Hanson replied with worn voice as he began to dress in a hurry - Where shall we meet?
- I called him and I was quoted in Arbott park next to the bandstand.
- Okay, I'm there in twenty minutes.
Hanson definitely wasn’t lucky. Recently someone had decided to end his patience. Forty-five minutes leaning on the bandstand were the drop that filled the glass. He punched the wall, which went pretty badly hurt and directed his complaints to Marvin.
- Whoever he is, he has teased you.
- Not to me. I just call this kind at the request of the boss. Tell him.
- He could have quoted us at least in a place a little more ... discrete, I say.
- I proposed, but he declined. This guy, named Sheridan, was so nervous that I couldn’t understand half of what he was saying, so I do not bother to ask why he had chosen this site for the meeting.
Marvin broke his explanations to set his eyes on an individual rather ugly, unkempt, whose age was not easy to discern, although he looked as he was seventy old, walking toward them in a ramshackle way. When reached to them, looked both of them and a question was launched into the air.
- Any of you are the ... agent Marvin?
- Yes, this is - Marvin replied while shaking hands with him - you must be ... Sheridan, right? ...
- I think I recognize your voice, but I'm not sure ... Show me your badge, show me the plate!
Sheridan appeared to be more than nervous, out of control. He watched agents with eyes that were out of their orbits, so much that both of them tried to calm Marvin showing their badges. Then Marvin tried to instill confidence to him.
- Quiet, you can you talk to us freely, do not worry.
Sheridan, far from calming down, turned his head in all directions, searching for someone, then said a few words that, in his state, were difficult to understand.
- Is that ... they pursue me ... I know it ... and they will not stop until ...
Marvin put his hand on his shoulder.
- You're in good hands. Nothing will happen.
Sheridan, instead of answering him, was still looking in all directions. That was stronger than the patience of Hanson that had long was running out, so he decided to talk to Sheridan in a very direct way.
- Well, you told our boss that you knew what had happened to Drs Klein and Olsen.
Sheridan seemed a little calmer, began to speak more coherently.
- Listen ... they were part of the plot, a great plot. No one can be left out, no one. Not even you. It's too late.
- What are you trying to say? ... - Marvin asked him -
Sheridan turned back his head again looking around, then answered while he was still absorbed in his particular inspection.
- I tried it, I tried to escape from their clutches. I thought I had succeeded, but they are lurking me some time ago, watching me, I know. They want ... killing me.
Hanson had had enough. That guy definitely seemed to be crazy. He had to intervene to ask a more than logic question.
- Tell me, if you are so afraid, why do we have quoted in a place like this? Anyone could see you here talking to us! Perhaps if we were to a more secluded or closed place, even at home if you prefer ...
Sheridan interrupted him before he uttered the last words. He was beside himself, took several steps backward.
- You don’t understand, I knew you would not understand! I just do not trust of nobody, nobody, what’s more, I do not trust in you! If they kill me here, there will be some witnesses at least.
Marvin and Hanson exchanged a knowing look hinting some air of resignation. Marvin finally did a comment to Sheridan trying to win his trust.
- If you don’t trust anyone, can hardly get out of your situation.
Sheridan opened his eyes so wildly and began to speak very slowly. It looked like a messiah who was looking for his cause.
- Soon, you will not trust in your friends, much less in your shadows.
Hanson finally exploded. That fellow was getting on his nerves.
- Well, enough! Look, we have enough problems to stand up to chatter a Sunday morning with an old insane.
Marvin took a hard look to Hanson. They would not get anything of that fellow losing their patience. Then he turned to Sheridan lowering his voice, like begging an answer.
- You said you knew the reason for which the doctors had died.
- Reason? Does life conforms to reason? Perhaps to laws, but never, never, to reasons!
Sheridan seemed to have assumed a role of illuminated that Hanson deeply disliked, so he made a gesture of leaving and motioned to Marvin to do the same.
- Come on, my patience has run out. A wonderful weekend to be sunk for bullshit. Tell the boss that the next time he does not trust in the first nutcase that call him - said Marvin to Hanson -
- Wait, wait a minute ... - Marvin turned around and went to Sheridan - Look, Sheridan, or whatever. Obviously you are altered for any reason, let's say ... your nervous system is slightly disjointed. Come with us and we will respond you appropriately.
That acted as a spur to Sheridan, who made as if to run away and then said, pointing them with a finger:
- I knew, I knew. You come to get me. You are on their side!
With these words began to run as fast as he could. Marvin came behind him and, not without some effort, managed to catch him by the shoulder. Then he heard the cries of Hanson to his back.
- Marvin by God! Let the crazy run to his lair. If we took him by force we are going to lose our hair.
Marvin thought for a few seconds, looking to Hanson. Then he chose to release him. Sheridan ran, terrified, while Marvin and Hanson were looking at him with impotence face.
XI
The coroner was taking longer than agreed to deliver the report on the autopsies. It did not arrive the next day to their tables, neither throughout the following week. And since one of his strengths was comply almost strictly with the terms at which he undertook, and the apparent simplicity of the case, it seemed at least a bit strange. Marvin let Hanson to deal the issue. He was understood perfectly with the coroner so it was undoubtedly the best choice. But he was surprised that Hanson was down from time to time to visit him, and that, back to the office, he avoided any conversation about it. Marvin, however, could hardly hide his eagerness to know the results, so that morning while he was getting a coffee from the machine in the department, was approached by Hanson who with a wide smile and an envelope in his hand, waved it several times trying to get his attention, something that had not been necessary because he had long been waiting for that moment.
- The coroner has fulfilled. Here are the results – Hanson told him when he reached to him, while handing him the envelope -
While Hanson took a coffee, Marvin took out three stapled sheets and two photos. Before looking at them, for once could not keep his curiosity.
- What about those photos? What the hell? ...
- Hey! I thought I was officially the impetuous one! Read carefully and then we talk. - He paused to pick up his coffee and take the first sip - Actually, there is nothing new, everything is as he had anticipated.
- Come on! So much secrecy for this? I have to admit I'm somewhat disappointed.
Hanson smiled from ear to ear and continued:
- Well, not everything ... almost everything ...
- Hans, Hans ... are you playing with me, huh? You've said yourself "Marvin owes me one, for the investigation of the archives, the missing scientists. Now it is my turn to have him on edge. " It's something like that, right?
- Come on, Marvin. Other times you would take it another way, I know you're a bit nervous. The "almost" refers to the photos. Look at the circle that is signaled.
Marvin took his time, he didn’t want anything to happen unnoticed.
- Very interesting ... the left arm of both bodies. Several scars in the same area. Maybe ... someone injected the lethal drug by this way.
Hanson finished his coffee in one gulp and then grinned.
- No man, no! The coroner has found those scars are left by the body's allergic reactions to various vaccines, - Hanson said, Marvin smiled back -
- I ... I now understand your secrecy in recent days ...
- I asked the coroner to be as comprehensive as possible, you can not imagine the circus that I have had to make up with him. At first we got nothing, but then we look at those scars.
- Well ... Congratulations ... good job, mate. But tell me ... What importance can have these vaccines? Perhaps discovering that both were vaccinated against measles? Another coincidence – he drew out a wry smile - which, surely, can be decisive! Come on, Hanson, everyone is vaccinated every once in a while, right?
- Yeah, I know that sounds shocking, but most striking is that, according to the coroner, the vaccines were given relatively recently. It may be silly, you may be right, but the coroner is examining them. As soon as he has something new, he’s going to notify us.
XII
Marvin had every reason to be nervous, despite his serene and temperate character. If he had problems in his working life, they were nothing next to those that really absorbed his brain, related to his private life. So as one night he returned to his apartment after finishing his work and received a call from Susan for an appointment with him, he didn’t know whether to laugh or to pray, because Susan didn’t release the pledge on the occasion of the meeting. Against this, making use of circumstances, Marvin proposed a dinner at their favorite restaurant, the usual. After initial hesitation, she finally agreed. It could look like a sign of hope, but knowing her it might well to be to put on the table the demand for separation. The sword was hanging over his head for weeks, and he knew that the possibilities in this regard were many.
The next day Marvin wore his best clothes to meet who still was his wife. He came with more than fifteen minutes early to their meeting, so while waiting in their usual table he had already taken two glasses of wine. When he saw her enter, his heart turned over. She was more beautiful than ever, lovely with that dress she had bought for the last year-end party at the health center where she worked as a nurse. Words hardly came out, he was more nervous than the day he had known her. She didn’t put him easy, trying to keep distances. Marvin thought then how different was the last meal they had enjoyed together, there in that same place, only a few months before, and how life might be able to change people, or at least their attitudes in such a short time related the person they love. While acknowledging the awkwardness he had committed, he crossed his mind that if he had become a stranger to her in just a few months, that would not be able to break the space and time in a couple if the seed of hatred grows. Because it was apparent that she hated him. She hated him not only by his treachery, but for having failed her, for breaking her expectations. It was as if the past does not count, as if that single event would have made her awakening from a dream, as if she had found a different man in her waking. Marvin fell down in utter discouragement by a moment. You can fight against misfortune, perhaps even against fate, but you can’t ask someone to change the image that our own nightmares have distorted to the point of thinking that dream was really the former one, unreal, nonexistent.
There was a faint ray of light when the maitre came over to greet them and told them how much he was glad to see them again at his restaurant. It was Susan who recalled aloud the first time they had gone there. She remembered everything, including some details that Marvin had long forgotten. Or perhaps, as a woman she was, her eye could capture strokes that passed completely unnoticed to him. Marvin took the opportunity to take out of darkness some glad moments that they had shared there, some anecdotes that allowed ease the tension between them. Then, leaning on the power given by the heat of a few glasses of wine, began to extol her virtues, until the point Susan began to feel embarrassed, to finally make a statement of intent. He took her hand, while looking into her eyes.
- Not sure how much I appreciate that you accepted this invitation. I needed so much moments like these, I've missed you so much ...
Susan withdrew her hand sharply, placing napkin on her lap as an excuse. She tried to find the right words, which it took her a long time. You could see that Marvin had got that she felt uncomfortable in such situation, she really was not prepared for that.
- I do not want that you mislead yourself. I also wanted to talk to you with some ... tranquility, I recognize that we never have a chance.
- Well ... well ... on ... speak you first ...
Marvin was aware about the seriousness of the situation, he was waiting that Susan gave him an option for reconciliation, but at heart he feared that her words were just the opposite. Susan began to talk.
- I don’t know how to tell it without being uncomfortable, but I must do it - she decided to look into his eyes - Marvin, I think, for the sake of Billy and ours, we must make a determination. We can’t go on like this for long.
- What ... pretend ... tell me?
- Marvin ... I would like that we plan a separation by mutual agreement.
At these words the world fell on him, so much so that his pulse began to tremble and with an uncontrolled movement threw a glass of wine, spilling its contents all over the table. The maitre came inmediately doing a sign to two waiters that came to remove the glass and change the tablecloth. Marvin was pale, unresponsive. Susan then tried to soften the contents of her potion.
- I know it is not at all ... pleasant for either of the two, but I see no other possibility.
Marvin tried to recompose himself, drawing strength from where he hadn't. He took her hand again.
- Whether, if any. Let me show you that all was a bad nightmare. It will not happen again. I promise.
Before he had finished the sentence, Susan abruptly withdrew his hand again.
- The problem is I will not can to trust you again, that's the real problem. Did not you realize that I would be suffering continually thinking that you could again to ... - Susan said -
- Susan, if you love somebody then you must take some risks. Be brave. Please I beg you. Give me another chance. It will not happen again. I'll devote the rest of my life to make you happy.
- It sounds so good ... but I have fear of my hopes and then falling back into the abyss. Do you remember? It happened to me once.
- Susan, I have to ask you a question, just one. But I want that you look into your inner before answering it.
- Agreed. Forward ...
- Susan ... you ... Do you love me? Tell me, do you still love me?...
Susan looked down trying to avoid the gaze of Marvin who, trying to give Susan the time needed to respond, took the opportunity to make a sign to the maitre to ask the account.
- Marvin ... that question is more complicat
ed than it looks like ...
- Well, the answer is more important than you can imagine.
Susan began to get excited about. Tried to speak but was completely impossible. On the third attempt succeeded.
- Yes ... though I hurt, I still love you. We can’t manage our feelings, I wish I could. But even so, our head has to be able to take those decisions which suit us.
- Or, put another way, although you love me, you have decided that you can’t follow by my side, that our lives must not follow the same path. True, right? ...
Then it was Susan who gently took Marvin's hand into hers and look into his eyes.
- True, my love - she said -
Marvin closed his eyes, pressing her hands against his, and turned his head up, with a gesture of resignation. His nightmare had finally come true. It was too late to win back the love of his life. He had lost definitely what he loved most.
