SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME©
by
This story continues after Rita leaves the Palm Beach PD.
The patient opens his eyes and blinks hard to focus on his surroundings. He sees the ceiling, white-washed walls, a window, and a young, blond woman in a white uniform standing close to him flipping the pages of a clipboard. She finally notices that the man is staring at her.
"Oh, my, ..." She rushes out of the room.
"Wait," the patient tries to utter, but nothing comes out of his parched throat.
A minute later, the blond woman returns with a middle-aged man.
"Well, well, well, I see our guest has decided to join us today," the man says.
"Where... am... I?" the patient manages to articulate slowly, and with great difficulty .
"You're at the Abbott Clinic. Do you remember what happened to you?"
The patient shakes his head. "Who... are... you?"
"I'm Dr Ross Anders and you're my patient. This is Nurse Kelly Swanson," he points to the blond woman next to him as he begins to examine the patient. "You've been in a coma for over two months. Can you tell me something about yourself?"
"I...," the patient draws a complete blank. "I... don't... know."
"Hmmm, tell me anything about yourself. Start with your name."
The patient tries hard. "I... I can't. Nothing... coming," he whispers fearfully.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it's only temporary."
"What's...my...name?"
"We call you John," Dr Anders says tactfully. "Now, why don't you rest now and we'll talk later."
While both doctor and nurse continue to check on their patient, a burly man in an orderly's uniform is peering through the rectangular glass in the door. He walks away to a nearby public phone and dials long-distance.
"Yeah, it's me. He's awake." The man listens.
"He doesn't seem to remember anything." He nods as he listens.
"Will do. I'll keep you posted." He then hangs up.
***********************************************************************
Rita is in the kitchen of the loft apartment, making herself spaghetti for dinner.
"So, will spaghetti do for you tonight?" she says gently to her unborn child, rubbing her swollen tummy at the same time.
She brings her dinner to the living room and sits down in front of the television. But, the spaghetti lies untouched and the television remains turned off. Rita is deep in thought.
"Has it really been three months since Chris was taken away from me?" she sighs. Chris is never far from her thoughts. "I miss your daddy so much."
Rita has been back in Palm Beach a week. Coming back has been especially hard, but she knew it had to be done in order for her to move on. Since leaving Palm Beach shortly after Chris's funeral, she had been to Philadelphia to visit Benny Lorenzo, and to Los Angeles to visit Anna Alexis. The visits to Chris's parents enabled Benny and Anna to express their grief, and later to reminisce about Chris to Rita. That was good. It allowed Rita an insight into the young Chris she never knew about-- the stubborn son, the loyal classmate, the perpetual prankster, the class clown-- things that Rita wanted their child to know when he grew up.
From Los Angeles, she had flown to Ft Lauderdale to pay her good friend Diana Roth a visit. Diana had transferred there a few years ago, and was now the chief ME at County Hospital. It was in Ft Lauderdale that Rita made the decision to return to Palm Beach one last time.
Diana had heard of a job opening at the police academy, training new cadets, and had asked Rita to give it a try.
"C'mon, Rita. Go for it. You know you can't stay away from police work for too long. It's in your blood. You need it as much as it needs you," Diana had reasoned.
"I don't know...the baby...I quit Palm Beach PD because I don't want any harm to come to the baby."
"I know, but the baby'll be fine. You won't be in any immediate danger, and you'll be able to get back to something you'll love doing. Besides, I hear they've got a great child care center right on the academy grounds."
"Let me think about it."
That night, she made her decision. She would give it a try. It was a solution, and it would take her away from all those painful memories in Palm Beach.
The academy was of course ecstatic to have such a highly qualified person apply for the job of instructor. With glowing recommendations from Harry Lipschitz and George Donovan, the academy offered Rita the job. They promised Rita that she could retain her rank of lieutenant. They had also been agreeable that it was best she waited till the birth of her child some time in July, before starting on her new job. In the meantime, she would return to Palm Beach, settle her unfinished business and then make the move to Ft Lauderdale.
"Ouch!" Rita gasps, as she's stirred out of her reverie. "Did you just kick your momma?"
"I'm sorry, honey. You must be hungry." She begins to eat.
***********************************************************************
"John, let me be honest. It won't be easy." Dr Anders says. "The coma has set you far back. Your rehabilitation is going to be long and painful. You'll need to relearn a lot of things."
"You'll need physical therapy to work on your limbs and lots of practice with your speech. Hopefully, with the speech therapy, your memory will also slowly return. It's going to be real hard, but I'm confident you'll recover fully," he continues.
"How...long?" John asks, grim-faced.
"Maybe, six months, maybe more. We'll get you started right away tomorrow."
"I guess...the...decision's...made...already," John says, turning his head away and staring out the window.
"You'll do fine," encourages Dr Anders as he leaves the room.
"It's not going to be that bad," Nurse Swanson says. When there is no reply, she adds, "I see I'm dealing with the strong, silent type here."
John turns his head towards her direction, "Not... strong."
"You will be again, you'll see. Hey, it's snowing again."
They both look out the window. "Do you know it's one of the snowiest winters in the history of Wisconsin?"
John shakes his head, and tries to remember winters past, but again draws a frustrating blank. "Tell me... what... you... know of... me. Pl...ease."
"Well, let's see..." Kelly Swanson begins. "You were admitted here to Abbott Clinic December 11th of last year. We're about half an hour's drive from the state capital, Madison."
"Abbott Clinic is a very private and exclusive clinic. The clinic's policy is that we don't ask about our patients and everything about patients is strictly confidential. All financial matters are settled in advance. Someone has already paid for your stay here."
"Who?...My...family?"
"I'm sorry, I really don't know. So far, no one has visited and no one has inquired about you," she says sympathetically.
When she sees his downtrodden expression, she moves closer to his bed and touches his hand. "I'm truly sorry."
"Who...do you...th...ink...I am?" John asks.
"Let's see, a good-looking guy with dark hair and ocean blue eyes... I'll hazard a guess... a model!"
John smiles. "Is that a smile I see? And what a smile!You should do that more often," she points to him and laughs.
"You're... not... so bad.. yourself, Kelly," he says, looking at the twenty something blond-haired and blue-eyed nurse.
"But, seriously, I think I can tell you a little about yourself. For one thing, I don't think you're from these parts. Your tan, and your aversion to the slightest cold...I bet you're from somewhere further south," she speculates.
"Also, I've noticed..." she trails off and blushes.
"Wh..at?"
"You have three bullet wound scars on your chest, one in your upper arm, and one in your butt," she finishes quickly.
"How...did..you...ooohhh," John utters, realizing that Kelly must have been the one who shaved and cleaned him while he was in a coma.
"As I see it," she changes the subject quickly and jokes, "you're either a cop or a crook. Take your pick."
"I..."
"Nurse Swanson to the Nurses' Station. Nurse Swanson to the Nurses' Station. Code Blue." The intercom blares.
"I've got to go. Talk to you later."
John lies in his bed and gently touches the scars on his chest.
"A cop, or a crook? All this secrecy here. It looks as if though someone's hiding me out. But why? Who am I?" he thinks. "Why can't I remember?"
***********************************************************************
Over the next four months, John works hard at recovering. The daily, strenuous and often painful physical therapy is paying off. He has almost recovered his strength fully, and is able to walk without assistance. He has taken walks in the clinic grounds, but still hates the cold and the long winter. By early May, with the first sign of spring, his speech also improved, astounding Dr Anders and Kelly Swanson at his quick recovery. But, one thing still worries them. John has no memory of his past.
"Still nothing," the burly man reports again to that unseen individual on the other line.
"He's pretty much himself, but no memory. Don't worry, I'll keep a close watch on him."
John usually spends his day working with his therapists, or reading or drawing, or walking the hallways of the clinic, talking to other patients. But today, he stands looking out the window of his room at the awakening of spring, and the miles and miles of farmland that seems to stretch on forever. He feels overcome by a deep sorrow this particular day, and can't seem to explain it, except for that piercing ache he feels in his heart.
***********************************************************************
"Do you know what's a jinx?" Rita asks Fran Lipschitz dully, staring unseeingly out the hospital room window.
"What, love?" answers Fran absentmindedly. She is busy packing the rest of Rita's belongings into an overnight bag.
"Do you know what's a jinx?" Rita repeats.
"No," Fran replies, suddenly wary.
"You know... I'm a jinx," Rita continues slowly. Her eyes are looking out at the bright and cloudless Palm Beach skyline, and yet she sees nothing.
"First, my mom, then my dad. Sue and Tom Lance... Chris, and now... the baby."
Fear leaps into Fran's throat as she says, "Rita, you mustn't think such things. Of course, you're not a jinx!" Fran looks over her shoulder at the door, wishing Harry and George will hurry with the paperwork for Rita's checkout.
"It's true, you know," Rita whispers. "Everyone I've ever loved has been taken away from me. I so wanted the baby, Fran. A jinx, yes, a jinx."
Fran moves over to where Rita is sitting, and kneels down beside her, holding her hand.
"Now, you have to stop this nonsense. You're obviously still not quite yourself yet. Give yourself some time, and you'll see, everything will be fine."
"Those forms are real killers," Harry complains loudly, as he walks in with George.
His eyes meet Frannie's and they seem to communicate silently. She moves over to the two men and they spend the next couple of minutes whispering to one another urgently. They decide they need to keep a constant watch over her. They have never seen Rita like this before, and it is scaring all of them.
Rita, lost to the world, continues to stare blankly out the window.
"Nobody understands." Rita thinks to herself. "They wouldn't have all died if I hadn't loved them so much... hadn't told them I loved them so much. All my fault."
***********************************************************************
It was only a week ago that Rita was in her apartment packing some books into a box on the dining table.
She suddenly feels a piercing pain in her abdomen. She leans against the box and it topples over.
"Ooohhhhh," Rita moans, never having experienced this type of pain before. There is another sharp pain. She falls to the floor.
"Oh, please, ..." she drags herself slowly across the room to where the phone is. She pulls at the phone cord to bring the phone down to her level.
She dials 911 for help as she feels herself losing consciousness. When she looks towards her legs, she can see her dress and legs stained with blood.
She loses consciousness.
When she regains consciousness, she is in an ambulance with an oxygen mask over her mouth. She grabs hold of the paramedic's arm with one hand, and pulls off the mask with the other.
"Please, my baby, ..." she says desperately.
The paramedic tries to put the mask back on. "You have to remain calm, Ms Lance."
"Please, please, whatever happens, please, you have to save the baby first," she pleads.
"Her BP's dropping rapidly. What's the E.T.A, Ron?" shouts the paramedic to his partner driving the ambulance.
"E.T.A two minutes," Ron shouts back.
They arrives at the hospital, and Rita is wheeled immediately to the emergency room. The doctor-in-charge, Ian Fuller, is given a quick update of her condition.
Harry Lipschitz receives a phone call from Rita's neighbor at one in the morning informing him that Rita has just been taken to Palm Beach Memorial Hospital.
"Frannie, wake up! We've got to go!" Harry says, as he throws on some street clothes.
"Wh..what?" Frannie asks, still half asleep.
"Rita... she's been admitted to the hospital. We've got to go. Now Fran!"
She gets dressed quickly, and they are out the door and on their way to Rita.
"I don't like this, Heschy. It's too early," Frannie says in the car.
"I know. She's only seven months pregnant," a grim-faced Harry says, as he speeds through traffic lights with the car's siren blaring.
They arrive at the hospital in under ten minutes.
"We're here to see Rita Lance," Harry says to the startled nurse behind the counter in the emergency room.
"Please wait over there, and I'll get the doctor," the nurse says.
Eventually, Dr Fuller comes over. "Hello, I'm Dr Fuller. And you are Ms Lance's next-of-kin?"
"No, but we're the closest thing she's got," Harry replies.
"Is there any way for you to contact her husband?"
"Her husband's ... dead. We're her only relations."
"All right then, I'll cut to the chase. There are some complications. She's hemorrhaging and her blood pressure's falling rapidly. We need to get the baby out now, and stop the bleeding. We're prepping Ms Lance now as we speak."
"Is she going to be okay?" Harry asks.
"We're hoping for the best."
It has been two hours since the Lipschitzes last spoke to Dr Fuller. Harry is pacing the floor.
"Heschy, sit down! You'll wear a hole in the floor. I don't need you to make me any more nervous," Fran says.
Then she sees Dr Fuller approaching them, still wearing his scrubs. She signals to Harry.
"Doctor, how is she?" Harry asks anxiously.
"We managed to stop the hemorrhaging. Her condition's improving slowly."
"And the baby?"
"The baby's not doing too well," Dr Fuller says matter-of-factly. " We've taken him over to N.I.C.U. He's having problems breathing and his heart's very weak."
"Can we see the both of them?" Fran asks.
"I'll let you visit with the mother for now. Come with me," he says.
He takes them up an elevator to a different floor, and walks them to a room.
"She's in there. She's still very weak."
"Thank you, doctor." Harry shakes Dr Fuller's hand as the doctor turns to leave.
Harry and Fran enters the room. They see Rita sleeping on a bed with a few tubes hooked to her arms.
Harry pulls up a chair and sits down.
"Rita, dear ," he whispers, while Fran rests her hand on his shoulder. "It's us, Harry and Fran. We're here now."
"Mmmmm." Rita tries to open her eyes. "Harry, Fran," she whispers hoarsely.
She falls back asleep.
The Lipschitzes decide to stay by her side till she awake. Occasionally, Harry will leave the room to check on baby Lorenzo in the N.I.C.U.
Rita finally awakens in the morning. She looks around the room, and sees both Harry and Fran dozing in a couple of chairs. Fran hears Rita stirring and wakes up. She goes to Rita's side and holds Rita's hand.
"How are you feeling, honey?" Fran asks.
"I'm fine, Fran. Where's my baby? Is my baby all right?"
Harry hears Rita speaking and comes over too.
"Hi Rita, how are you?"
"I'm okay, Harry, please tell me how's my baby," Rita asks, feeling frightened.
"Rita, your son ..."
"I have a son?"
"Yeah. He's ... he's very weak, Rita. They've put him in the natal intensive care unit. And, he's hooked him up to a ventilator to help him breathe."
"I've got to go to him," Rita says weakly, trying to get up. "Please my son needs me." She tries to pull her IVs off.
Harry and Fran has to stop her, and call in the doctor.
"Please, please God. Please let my baby be all right! Please..." Rita pleads heartbreakingly.
The doctor has to give her an injection to calm her.
"You'll be able to see your baby, Ms Lance, but you have to remain calm. I want you to feel a little stronger first before you go to him. Your son needs you to be strong."
Rita manages to see her son later in the day. He looks so tiny and vulnerable, hooked up to the ventilator. For the next three days, she hardly leaves her son's side. Even when she is not able to hold her baby, she is there holding his tiny hand and caressing his arm, talking to him.
Christopher J. Lorenzo, Jr. lived a total of three days. Eight weeks premature, weighing in at only 4 lbs 6 oz, he fought hard to live. But in the end, his weak lungs and heart just gave out.
Funeral arrangements were made by Harry and George. And on an unusually gloomy and rainy day in May, Rita Lee Lance buried her son alongside her husband. Everyone was grieving for the lost of the child, but Harry, Frannie, George and Diana were also grieving for the lost of the old Rita. As hard as they tried to get through to her, she seemed shut out from the rest of the world. Although she ate, slept and talked, she was not the old Rita they knew. Something had died inside of her the night baby Christopher died. There were no more tears and no more emotions left to express.
***********************************************************************
"I'm returning to the loft," Rita announces to Harry and Frannie one morning. It has been two weeks since baby Christopher's funeral.
"I've overstayed my welcome and it's time to return home."
"You know you're not a bother," Harry says, with Frannie nodding in agreement. "We enjoy your company."
"It's just that I feel it's time for me to get on with my life, and for you to get on with yours," Rita explained, the first time in a long time sounding very much like the old Rita.
"I know you've been worried about me. But I'm fine now, really," she continues, flashing one of her trademark smiles.
"Well, why don't we see about you going home in another week or so," Harry persuades. "You know Frannie still hasn't tried out all her health tonics on you yet."
"I appreciate your offer, but I really need to finish packing up to make the move to Ft Lauderdale. Don't forget I've got a job waiting for me there."
"Yes, but I still think..."
"No, Harry," Rita says determinedly, "I know you both mean well, but I need to move on. Besides, Diana's already helped me find a place to stay and she's expecting me in Lauderdale soon."
She pauses and smiles, crossing her heart with her finger as she says, "And I promise I won't do anything silly."
"Okay," says Harry slowly and reluctantly. "But be warned, we'll be coming by the loft every day, just in case you need our help with anything."
"It's settled then," Rita says, as she heads towards the guest bedroom. "I'll start packing now."
Harry and Frannie can only stare after her, and then at each other, helplessly.
***********************************************************************
John has been having the same memory flashes of late. He keeps seeing himself walking on a ramp in a marina, approaching somebody, and brushing droplets of rain off his sports jacket, and saying, "It's not supposed to rain in Palm Beach!"
He relates the memory flash to Kelly. "What do you think it means? It seems so real. And Palm Beach! Do you think it's possible that I'm from Palm Beach?"
"Could it be just a dream?"
"No, I don't think so. It happened. I'm sure it's a memory!" John says happily.
"Who were you talking to?"
"I'm not sure. I'm talking to someone, but I can't seem to see that person's face."
"Do you remember anything else?"
"Just that there were lots of boats, and that it had been raining."
"This is a good start."
"No, Kelly, this is a great start!" John says, as he picks up Kelly and whirls her around.
"I told you, your patience will pay off," Kelly says breathlessly, laughing along with him. He puts her down, and they stare at each other for several seconds. Then, just as suddenly, John looks away, and the spell is broken.
"Not fast enough though." John says seriously. "I can't wait forever for bits of my memory to slowly come back to me. I need to find out more, like who's been paying for my stay here. I need you to help me."
"How?"
"Is there any way you can find out who's been footing the bill for me?"
"Only the administrator, Joe Knight, has that kind of information."
"Can you get access to them?"
"Patients' financial files are all kept under lock and key in Joe Knight's office. Only he and a couple of others have access to those files."
"I know I'm asking a lot of you, but can you help get me in?"
Kelly stares into those blue eyes for a few seconds, and then says, "Yes."
They decide that Kelly will keep watch, while John attempts to pick the lock to Knight's office.
"Have you done this before?" whispers a nervous Kelly in the dark hallway of the office wing of the clinic.
"I don't know, but we'll soon find out," John whispers back.
"Here we are," says Kelly as they arrive at Knight's office.
While Kelly stands guard, John begins to pick at the door lock with some tools that Kelly has handed him. Everything about this activity feels vaguely familiar to John. He has the feeling he has done it before, and it scares him to know that. Who is he?
Within a matter of seconds, the lock clicks open, and they are in.
They head straight for the file cabinets on one side of the wall.
"Where shall we start?" John asks, as he points the flashlight at the cabinets.
"J?" suggests Kelly.
John picks the lock to the 'J' cabinet, but they find nothing under 'John.'
"How about 'A' for Dr Anders?" Kelly says. But, again, no luck.
"I know!" says John, as he picks the lock of the 'D' cabinet. " 'D' for 'John Doe'."
And sure enough, under the name 'Doe,' he sees a file. He takes it out, lays it on the desk, and opens it while Kelly peers over his hunched shoulders.
"This sounds like me, but, damn! There doesn't seem to be anything useful here," John says angrily as he goes through the pages of the file.
"Wait a minute, what's this?" John points the flashlight at a copy of a transaction slip from a local bank. "A wire transfer for ten thousand dollars ..."
"...from a bank in Palm Beach!" Kelly finishes the sentence for him.
"Bingo! Palm Beach again!" John whispers excitedly.
"Does it say who its from?"
"Nope, just that the money was transferred from a bank in Palm Beach to the local bank here on April 12th. And here's another transfer of ten thousand dollars on February 8th, and another one on December 11th. The day I was admitted!"
After putting away the file, and relocking the cabinets and the door, the two return to John's room to discuss their discovery.
"Don't you see, Kelly, I was right! That memory of Palm Beach is real! I've got to get back there!" John says, his blue eyes flashing with excitement. "I've got to go home to Palm Beach!"
"I know," says Kelly a little sadly. She has grown very fond of John, and maybe even has fallen a little bit in love with him. But, she knows his home is not here.
"I need to go home. Can you help me?" John asks. "I promise you I'll return the money as soon as I get home."
"I don't have much saved, but I think I can scrape up enough for a bus fare for you to return to Palm Beach."
"Thank you, Kelly," John says, as he holds on to both her shoulders and kisses her on the cheek. "I don't know what I would have done without your help."
"You know I would have preferred if you stayed, don't you?" she asks.
"I know, but I've this feeling someone's waiting for me back home."
"I think so, too," she whispers wistfully.
During the next two days, while Kelly busies herself with buying a Greyhound bus ticket for John to return to Palm Beach, John manages to persuade Dr Anders that he is well enough to travel, and that Palm Beach is where he should be. Although still concerned about his amnesia, Dr Anders agrees that returning to a place that is familiar to John may be the best way for him to get his memory back.
Meanwhile, the burly man is busy with another phone call.
"Yeah, it's me. He remembers Palm Beach and is heading home."
"When? I hear it's the 9:30 p.m. Greyhound bus. Yeah, he'll be boarding at the station in Madison. That chick will be driving him there."
He makes plans with the person on the other line. "I understand. I assure you, he will not board the bus."
***********************************************************************
The movers have taken the last of her things, and put them in the truck.
"We'll meet you in Ft Lauderdale, ma'm," one of the movers says, as they prepare to leave.
"Well, I guess this is good-bye for now," Rita says to her three friends. They are standing near Rita's LeBaron convertible.
She hugs George. "Take care of yourself."
"You too, Rita," answers George sadly. "We'll miss having you around."
"No you won't, you'll be too busy!"
She turns to Fran to hug her. "I'm going to miss you so much, Frannie!"
"Don't you worry, Rita, Heschy and I'll be regular visitors to Ft Lauderdale. You need your health tonics, you know, and who better to make them for you!" Fran attempts a smile.
"You'll take good care of yourself, won't you, Rita?" Harry asks, concerned.
"I will, don't you worry. And you take care of yourself and Frannie, you hear?"
"I hear you loud and clear, Lieutenant. Come here and give me a hug." Rita goes to Harry and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you so much for everything, Harry," she whispers in his ear as they hug.
Rita gets into her car, and says before she drives off, "Well, I'll see you when I see you!"
"She'll be all right," Harry thinks. "She's a survivor."
As Rita drives away, she looks in the rearview mirror one last time at the loft apartment she and Chris shared, and at her friends waving good-bye to her. Before heading to I-95 for the drive south to Fort Lauderdale, Rita turns her car towards the cemetery. She has one last important stop to make.
She parks her car, takes out a bouquet of flowers, and walks to a particular gravestone nearby and kneels down.
"Hi," she says simply.
She puts the flowers down, and caresses the words on the gravestone lovingly.
Christopher J. Lorenzo Christopher J. Lorenzo Jr.
April 12, 1963 - December 10, 1995 May 15, 1996 - May 18, 1996
"MY GUARDIAN ANGELS"
"I'm leaving for Ft Lauderdale today. Remember, I told you about the job at the police academy. I start Monday," she tells her husband and son. "Got to get on with my life, right?"
"I'll be back to see you soon," she says. "I love you both."
She places a kiss on her fingers, and traces them on the words "My Guardian Angels."
"I know you'll watch over me."
She then turns and leaves.
************************************************************************
Kelly Swanson drives John to the Greyhound bus station in Madison.
"I'm not good with good-byes, so I'll say my good-bye here," Kelly says in the car.
"I... thank you for everything, Kelly," John reaches over and gives Kelly a kiss.
"Take care of yourself. And take this money. You'll need it." She stuffs some money into his hand.
"I'll hear from you some time, right?"
"You bet," John points to her, and gives her his brightest smile. "I still have a debt to pay."
Kelly laughs, as John steps out of the car.
John turns around to wave a last good-bye, while Kelly drives away.
"Well, I'm on my own now," he thinks, as he enters the station.
The station is not crowded. John finds a seat and waits to board his bus, nervously thinking of what he'll find in Palm Beach.
Suddenly he notices the burly male orderly at the Abbott Clinic walking towards him. He has someone with him. The man is stocky, almost bald, but very well-dressed in a double-breasted suit. As they draw closer, John notices something in the man's right arm. It is a dog. A miniature Doberman licking the man's hand.
"I know you. You're from the Abbott Clinic," John says to the burly man.
He does not answer. Instead, the stocky man says, "Hello, Lorenzo."
"You know me?" John asks, shocked.
"Of course. Who do you think put you in a first class facility, like the Abbott Clinic, to be taken care of?"
"Who are you?" John asks.
"This here is Rocco Gambini. And I'm Donnie DiBarto. Here," he pets the dog, "is Dutchie."
"I don't understand any of this."
"Aahhh, I see, that memory of yours. Or lack of it, I should say."
DiBarto takes the vacant seat next to John's.
"You work for me, Lorenzo. And, shall we say,... you got into an unfortunate accident involving the law establishment."
He pauses to stroke the dog. "You're a very popular poster boy with the cops and the Feds, so I decided you needed a change of scenery while you recovered."
John, or Lorenzo, is too stunned for words. "A crook," he thinks, his heart sinking. "No wonder the great lock-picking skills."
"You know you can't board the bus. They'll be looking."
"What should I do?" Lorenzo asks.
"You come back with me to the club, you know, my club 'Dream Girls,' and you'll stay 'invisible' till you recover your memory, or until it's safe for me to send you out of the country. Kapisch?"
"Yes," answers Lorenzo, still numb from DiBarto's revelations.
Lorenzo leaves with the two men. They head for a private airstrip where DiBarto's private jet is refueled and ready for take off.
"Nice, huh, Lorenzo?" he asks, as the men take their seats in the jet. There is no reply.
"Quiet. That's a nice change," DiBarto adds.
Lorenzo is thinking to himself, "What am I doing with these people? I can't stand this DiBarto guy already."
"Rocco, fix us a drink. Lorenzo?" DiBarto asks.
"Uh, nothing for me."
"You're not still hurt are you?"
"No, I just don't feel like a drink now."
"Suit yourself."
Lorenzo suddenly asks, "What's my full name? And what do I do for you?"
"Ah, getting inquisitive I see. Can't keep you quiet for long, hey? You're Lorenzo Christoff, and you clean up loose ends for me."
"I don't understand, what ..."
"You ask too many questions. Figure it out yourself," DiBarto turns away and attends to his dog.
"We're on our way," Rocco announces, as the jet revs up for the flight to Palm Beach.
************************************************************************
Rita has settled into her new job and life in Ft Lauderdale. The instructor job at the academy is demanding, but interesting. She has made some new friends. A fellow instructor, Dan Freeman, has also shown more than a passing interest in Rita.
"You should go out with him, Rita," Diana encourages one night from the balcony of Rita's new apartment. She breathes deeply. What a glorious view of the ocean.
"It's too soon," Rita replies, as she continues to prepare dinner in the kitchen.
"I'm not saying you should get involved with him. Just go out with him as a friend and have a good time," Diana says, walking towards the kitchen.
"I'm just not ready yet."
"You need to get away from this apartment and your job some time, Rita. It's not good to be cooped up like this."
"I've no problems with it. Besides, I enjoy the solitude of the apartment after a hard day's work."
"But, all the time?"
"Hey, don't forget I go out with you to the movies and stuff."
"That's not quite the same."
"It is to me."
Diana sighs and gives up. She knows when Rita's not going to change her mind.
************************************************************************
Lorenzo has not been sleeping well since returning to Palm Beach. He's been living in the back quarters of 'Dream Girls,' and has pretty much stayed out of sight as DiBarto suggested.
"Why do I feel so uncomfortable with DiBarto and his men?" Lorenzo thinks, as he tosses in bed. "I don't speak like them, I don't think like them. So why am I working for a man like DiBarto?"
The muffled noises from 'Dream Girls' can be heard, but Lorenzo knows that's not what's preventing him from sleeping. He has been having memory flashes in the form of dreams again. Sometimes, he sees himself playing basketball with a group of boys. Other times, he's playing the saxophone, or talking to a middle-aged man with glasses. But, most of the time, he dreams of a beautiful brunette, with shoulder-length hair and the most captivating green eyes. He sees the two of them talking and laughing as they walk on the beach together. Who is she? Again, he'll wake up in a cold sweat, tries to remember more about the woman, and draws a blank again.
Tonight, he dreams the same dreams again. But, something is different this time.
He is walking on the ramp of the marina towards the same woman, brushing droplets of rain off his sports jacket, and saying, "It's not supposed to rain in Palm Beach!"
***
They are at the beach, sitting on a bench. "...I don't want to go because I don't want to leave you," he says.
"Well, I wouldn't want to leave you either. But that can't be the only reason you're not going to go..." she replies.
***
They are on a couch, and the woman is talking with her back to him. He is massaging her shoulders. "We love each other, but we're not in love Sam. That's what I've always told all the men in my life."
"That's what we've always told each other. I think that was the truth, but
tonight, holding you so scared my knees were shaking, thinking I was going
lose you. I realized I'd been lying to myself for a long time."
She turns her head in his direction, and they kiss passionately. He suddenly pulls away and jumps up. "I'm sorry Sam, I didn't mean to put all of this on you."
"Chris," she says, as she stands up to face him.
"Look Sam. I don't want to lose your friendship. You are the most important thing in my life."
"Shhh," she puts her fingers on his lips. They kiss again.
***
"I'm pregnant ."
"Pregnant?" he asks, surprised.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, yeah, I did a test."
"Wow."
***
"Rita, will you marry me?"
She smiles and hugs him tightly. "Uh, you're not answering."
"I haven't gotten used to the question yet."
***
He suddenly awakens in a cold sweat. Sam? Chris? Rita?
He begins to remember. That's Rita his wife. She's pregnant, and they've just married. They call each other Sam because they both think Slammin' Sam Snead is the greatest golfer who ever lived. He is Chris Lorenzo.
Damn, Donnie DiBarto! He's been lying to me!
"I've got to get home to Rita," he gets up and pulls on a shirt and pants. He grabs some of the borrowed money from Kelly and puts them in his pocket.
He sneaks out the back exit of 'Dream Girls,' and hails a cab on an adjacent street. Chris doesn't notice Rocco observing him.
He gives the cab driver directions to their loft apartment downtown.
***
"We'll get a new place," he says.
"A new place? We can get an ocean view?" she asks.
"Sure. As long as it's close to downtown."
"So we'll get a downtown loft with an ocean view."
"Parfait. We're good at this. We've got the compromising thing happening. It'll be a great marriage."
***
"Hey, mister, here's where you want to go, right?" the cab driver says again.
Chris gives him the money and steps out of the cab. He approaches the apartment building. He stops short when he sees a sign at the building entrance.
Beautiful Loft Apartment for Sale.
Ocean view.
Call McCall's Realty at: 555-2929
"Yes, that's your apartment for sale," Donnie DiBarto says from behind Chris. Chris turns around and sees DiBarto with Rocco.
"What's going on here, Donnie?" Chris stalks towards Donnie, furious.
"Things have kind of changed since you've been away," Donnie says.
"Why the lies?"
Rocco steps in front of Donnie as Chris lunges towards Donnie.
"I don't like that attitude. And I don't feel much like explaining myself to you on the street. Get in the car." He walks to his limousine and gets in. Chris hesitates, but follows. Rocco closes the door, and stands guard outside.
"Start talking, Donnie!"
"Be nice, Lorenzo."
""You've been lying to me since the day at the bus station. Why ? And where's Rita?"
"What do you remember of your injuries?"
Chris glares at Donnie, but eventually replies, "Not much, except that I was shot twice in the chest by a man on rollerblades."
"Do you know who shot you, and why?"
"No," Chris grudgingly admits.
Donnie tells Chris about Wayne Burns, and how Jesus Montoya had hired this vice cop to take down Chris and Ray Quiller. He also relates how the doctors couldn't revive him at the hospital. He was given up for dead and wheeled to the morgue.
"Fortunately, for you, the orderly was called away, and your 'corpse' was left sitting outside the morgue."
"Rocco was at the hospital, and had called to tell me you had passed on. I was on my way to the hospital. Here, he was, Rocco my boy, standing next to your 'corpse,' when suddenly the sheet covering your body moved." Donnie chuckles. "He nearly wet himself right there and then!"
"I was on my way to the hospital to warn Rita that Montoya's heir apparent, Raoul Martinez, still considered you fair game. Rocco found you still alive, but barely breathing. So, I took it upon myself to save you. We got you out, and my doctor friend took care of you till you were flown to the Abbott Clinic."
Chris has a quizzical look on his face.
"Why didn't anyone report your 'corpse' missing?" Donnie beats Chris to the question, and answers it himself.
"A quick switch of toe tags with a John Doe corpse that's about your height, weight and hair color. You'll be amazed at how good a selection we had at the morgue. Easy." Donnie snaps his fingers. "Although I was worried that Rita doll would insist on an open casket. She didn't, so the problem never came up."
"Wait a minute! No one knows I'm alive? Rita thinks I'm dead? Everyone thinks I'm dead?" Chris shouts at Donnie. "I'll kill you, DiBarto! " He lunges at Donnie again. Rocco hears the shout, opens the door and pulls Chris away. But, not before Chris lets rip a right hook that catches Donnie smack on the jaw.
Rocco shoves Chris further in, gets into the car himself, pulls out his gun and points it at Chris.
"Don't you ever, ever, lay a finger on me again!" Donnie says, deadly calm and controlled. He straightens his tie. "Out of respect for Rita, I'll let this one pass for now."
He dabs a handkerchief to his jaw. "Are you ready to hear the rest?"
When there is no reply, Donnie continues.
"Now, you listen to me, and you listen to me good, you jabeep! Nobody must know you're still alive because if they do, Rita doll will be in danger too!"
"Remember the Quiller surveillance videotapes you gave to Montoya in exchange for Rita, before you were shot?"
Chris shakes his head sullenly.
"Well, you, yes you, you jabeep, thought up of thisbright idea to give them fakes. They're still looking for the real thing. Obviously, they're important if Martinez is still looking for them. And, my sources tell me that some people in your police department are also interested in those tapes. Martinez's men were watching Rita closely the first couple of months after your 'death.' They only backed off when they knew for sure Rita knew nothing about the tapes. Aren't you glad now that we faked your death to protect Rita?"
"I left you at Abbott Clinic, thinking that when you wake up, you'll tell where the tapes are. Get rid of Martinez and his men for good, and you can return to sweet Rita. Who knew you'll wake up with a damn amnesia!"
"Can you now remember where the videotapes are?" Donnie asks.
"I...I...seem to remember going to the bank with a warrant to search Quiller's safe deposit box. There were some tapes and money, but... I can't remember much of what happened afterwards," Chris replies, a little calmer now.
"So, now you see why I need to keep you under wraps until we know for sure where the real videotapes are. If anyone recognizes you, you'll be a hunted man and you'll put Rita in danger. These people mean serious business. The tapes obviously show Montoya's operations, Martinez's part in it, and probably who the bad seeds in your department are. These tapes can bring them all down!"
"What's happened to Rita then? Why is our loft for sale?"
"She's left town."
"Why? And where is she now?"
Donnie remains silent.
"Where is she, Donnie?"
"I'll tell you, but only if you promise you'll have no contact with her till you remember where the tapes are. Her life is in your hands."
Chris nods his head.
"She's in Ft Lauderdale. She quit the force soon after your 'funeral.' She's now an instructor in Lauderdale's police academy."
"Is she all right? Is the baby okay?"
"She's fine."
"And the baby?"
Donnie hesitates, but he finally says, "I'm sorry, Lorenzo, but Rita lost the baby. Eight weeks premature."
Chris feels as if though someone has just torn his heart out. Oh, the pain. He grasps at his chest and says, "You're lying again, DiBarto. I don't believe you!"
"Rocco, take us to the cemetery!" Donnie commands.
Rocco goes to take his seat up front. He drives them to the cemetery. Chris and Donnie gets out. "Over there," Donnie points.
Chris walks over to the gravestone and reads the inscription illuminated by the moonlight. He collapses to the ground.
"No!" he screams silently in his head. "Rita, oh, Rita! She thinks she's lost us both! My poor Rita!"
"I promised I'll always be there for you and the baby, Sam, and I've let you down," he cries.
"She almost died in the operating room, you know," Donnie goes over to Chris. "They very nearly lost her too. She was hemorrhaging very badly."
"Is she all right?" Chris looks up at Donnie anxiously.
"My boys tell me she seems fine now."
"You're watching her?"
"No... just keeping on eye on Rita doll every now and then to make she's doing okay."
Donnie leaves Chris where he is for a few more minutes. Then he says, "Let's go back."
He very gently helps Chris up from the ground.
************************************************************************
"So, what do you say, Rita?" Dan Freeman asks as he sits on the edge of her desk, swinging a leg. "I hear that this band's really good."
Rita has her back to Dan, retrieving a file from her filing cabinet. "I'm really kind of busy, Dan."
"Busy tonight?" Dan persists.
"Yeess."
"How about tomorrow night then? They'll still be playing," Dan casts his intense black eyes on her as she walks back to her desk.
Dan Freeman is not what women will call an unattractive man. Mid-thirties, six feet tall, dark, muscular and with a killer smile, Rita has seen quite a few new female cadets become infatuated with him at first sight. She's just not ready for that kind of attention from a man. Any man. Period. No matter how flattering it is.
Rita sets her file down and sits down. "Look Dan, it's very nice of you to ask and all, but ..."
"You're not interested," he finishes, looking a little crestfallen.
"I... it's not that, it's just that I don't feel I'm ready yet," she says, as she twists the two wedding bands on a chain around her neck.
Dan has heard from the grapevine that she lost her husband in December. "All right, I won't rush you. But, how about dinner, then? You gotta eat some time, right?"
"You are persistent, aren't you?" Rita laughs.
She looks into his eyes. "All right. Strictly dinner only, agree?"
"Agreed! I'll come look for you after work," he says, enthusiastically. "See Yah."
"See... ya..." she whispers back, alittle taken aback at what she just heard.
She hasn't heard that phrase spoken that way in a long, long time.
************************************************************************
It is getting even worse now for Chris. He hasn't been able to sleep well at all since returning from the cemetery. He will toss and turn all night thinking about Rita, and the son they lost, and yearning to feel her in his arms again. Some nights it gets so unbearable that he'll sit up in bed, gasping for air. He wishes he can remember where he hid those videotapes, so that he can be reunited with his Sam again. But, there hasn't been any new memory flashes.
It is about seven in the evening now. Chris is lying on his bed flipping channels on the television, not really watching anything in particular. There is a knock on the door.
"Yeah?"
"It's me," Donnie says, as he opens the door and enters with Dutchie.
"Oh, Lorenzo, you look terrible! Go get a shave and a bath!"
"What do you want, Donnie?" Chris asks sullenly, thinking Donnie doesn't look that hot either with that bruise on his jaw.
"Just checking. Rocco tells me you've not had much of an appetite lately. Are you okay?"
"What do you think?" he asks sarcastically. "I lost my son. I wasn't even there for him and Rita when they needed me most! And now, my damn brain can't give me the information I need most."
Donnie says, "Look. You won't do your mind no good to beat yourself up like this. My doctor friend already told you you need to give it time. There was nothing you could have done to change what happened."
"Nothing I could have done? And who's fault is that?" he asks accusingly.
Donnie ignores those biting remarks. "I just wanted to check on you before I leave. I have some business to take care of in Miami tonight. I will see you when I get back."
"Yeah, have a good time!" Chris says sarcastically.
Donnie leaves. After a few minutes, Chris jumps up from the bed. He has made a decision. He can't stay here any longer and do nothing. Come hell or high water, he will see his Sam tonight!
He walks out of his room, and over to the stairs overlooking 'Dream Girls.' Below, the usual sordid crowd is leering at the dancers on stage. At the bar, he sees Donnie conversing with Rocco. Then, Rocco walks Donnie out, but returns a minute later.
Looks like he's been put in charge of the club tonight, Chris thinks. Just then, an argument is heard between a customer and a waitress close to the stage. Rocco goes over.
This is Chris's chance. He goes down the stairs and enters Donnie's back office and closes the door.
He picks up the phone and dials the operator in Ft Lauderdale. "Yes, I need a listing for a Rita Lee Lance."
Chris holds his breath, and prays that Rita has not decided on an unlisted number.
"Yes, I'm here, uh huh, ..." he grabs a pen and begins to write on the palm of his hand, "and the address..."
He puts down the phone, and heaves a sigh of relief. He takes a quick glance at the door, half-expecting Rocco to come charging in at him.
"I'm coming, Rita. Now, all I have to do is find a way to get to you," he thinks. The money he borrowed from Kelly will not be enough.
Chris creeps out of the office, and notices that Rocco and the bouncers are still busy settling an escalating argument between the customer and the waitress. He leaves quietly by the back exit. He will have to try his luck at hitchhiking.
Just then, he recognizes one of Donnie's dancers getting into her car parked behind the building. He decides to approach her.
"Hi," Chris says and smile. "You don't know me, but I need your help."
The woman is startled, but says, "I know you, you're one of Donnie's 'guests.' I've seen you around the club, even though we're not supposed to."
"Look I need to get to Ft Lauderdale tonight, and this is all I have," he shows her the money he has.
"That won't get you far, sugar," she laughs, and looks him up and down admiringly.
She sees the desperation in his eyes, thinks for a moment, and says, "Get in."
Chris gets in the car with her. "Thank you," he says simply, and hands her the money.
"No, keep that. A friend of Donnie 'Dogs' is a friend of mine. What's your name, sugar?"
"Chris."
"I'm Louanne. So why the big hurry to Lauderdale?" she asks, as she starts the car, and drives away.
"I need to get back home to my wife."
"Lucky her."
************************************************************************
Chris stands staring at a two-storey apartment building on North Ocean Drive in Ft Lauderdale. She's not home, he thinks, as he sees no light coming from the upper floor apartment.
It is now nine o'clock. Louanne had made good time on the highway, and a handy map in the car had made sure they got to where Chris needed to go. Chris enters the building and climbs the stairs to the second floor. If he knows his Rita, she has her spare key taped to the bottom edge of the door. He feels with his fingers and finds it.
Chris unlocks the door and enters. His heart is pounding. He takes a deep breath and smells the faint scent of Rita's perfume in the apartment. He feels better already, knowing he'll have her in his arms again soon.
He walks into the apartment and adjusts his eyes to the darkness. Rita has not unpacked everything, and there are still some boxes stacked high in the far corner of the apartment. Suddenly, Chris hears the muffled sounds of two people talking in the hallway outside. He goes and hides behind the boxes. He hears the door open, and the light snaps on.
The two people are laughing. "That was a good dinner, Dan. Thank you." Chris hears Rita's heavenly voice. "Dan? Who's Dan?" Chris thinks, as he is suddenly overcome with jealousy.
"You're welcome Rita. And anytime you want to listen to this really cool band, you know where to find me," replies a male voice.
"I will. Well, goodnight, and thanks for dinner again."
"Goodnight. See you tomorrow."
Chris hears the door close.
Rita sighs. What a day it's been. Dan was right. These new lot of cadets are a real rambunctious bunch, she thinks, as she moves to the couch to remove her shoes.
"I was like that once," she reminisces, shakes her head and smiles.
Suddenly, she hears a sound from behind the boxes. "Who's there?" she asks loudly, as she moves towards her desk to get her gun, all the time eyeing the boxes at the corner.
Someone moves. "Freeze! I've got a gun here!"
She releases the safety clip of her 9mm and points it at the boxes.
"Come out where I can see you!"
Chris steps out of the shadows.
"It's me, Rita," Chris says, as he raises both his arms.
"Wha... No, I must be dreaming," Rita whispers, as she loosens her grip on her gun. Her hands begin to tremble, and she feels faint.
Chris walks closer, slowly lowering his arms. "It's really me, Sam."
"No! My husband's dead! You're not Chris!" She tightens her grip on her gun again.
Chris comes even closer, and closer till the barrel of the 9mm is right on his chest.
"Sam, it's me," he repeats. He looks like Chris, although a little thinner and scruffier with the stubble, Rita thinks. But, those blue eyes...
"Chris?" she whispers.
Chris reaches up and takes the gun from Rita's hands. He sets it down on the desk.
"You're dead. I buried you," Rita says, still disbelieving.
"I'm alive, Sam," he reaches for her hands and brings them to his face. "See, I'm real."
"Please God, please don't let this be a dream," she whispers, as she caresses his face.
They look into each other's eyes, and she knows that's her Chris. They hug each other tight, and both begin to cry. The tears flow freely. The grief, that was bottled within Rita for such a long time, finally has a release. They stand there hugging each other for the longest time. Neither spoke a word.
Finally, Chris whispers hoarsely, "I've missed you so much, Rita."
He loosens his hold on Rita and stares into her eyes, touching her face gently and brushing her hair back.
Rita suddenly realizes something. "Sam, I... the baby..."
"Ssshhh, I know," Chris puts a finger to her lips, holds her tight and rocks her back and forth. Rita sobs into his chest, as Chris closes his eyes to shut out the tears stinging his own eyes.
Time passes, but it has no meaning for the grieving couple and all that they have lost. When they finally pull apart, they are drained. They move to the couch and sit down, still holding each other.
"How did you...What happened..." Rita asks, unsure where to start.
Chris begins his story. He tells her about Donnie, the morgue incident, the Abbott Clinic, his coma and his subsequent amnesia, and the Quiller tapes.
"Are you all right now?" Rita asks, concerned.
Chris nods his head. "I'm so sorry I wasn't with you when the baby..."
"Although his time here was so short, Christopher was always the fighter. Just like his dad," Rita says as she touches his face.
They talk for a long time. Telling each other every single detail of what happened to them since the day they were separated. Eventually, a very tired Chris falls asleep on the couch. Rita sits on the floor nearby, arms wrapped tightly around her legs, as she watches him sleep. Occasionally she'll touch his face and hair gently. Thoughts run rampant in her head. Eventually, she comes to a decision about something.
"I love you so much Chris," she whispers. "I will always love you. Please forgive me for what I'm about to do."
She gets up and goes up to the bedroom. She goes to the night stand and switches on the light. A framed photograph of a smiling Chris and his well-worn University of Michigan cap are on the night stand. She picks up the frame and lovingly caresses the photo. Then she picks up the cap. She moves over to the dresser with the two items and unlocks one of the drawers. Inside the drawer are letters from Chris, photo albums, Chris's gun, and his detective gold shield. She adds the framed photo and cap to the things in the drawer. Then she slowly removes the chain with the two wedding bands and sets them down on the photo. She closes the drawer and locks it, switches off the light, and returns to the living room.
Rita sits herself in the armchair adjacent to the couch, and continues to watch Chris sleep.
"It's the only way, my love," she thinks. "I'm a jinx, and you don't need someone like in your life. You deserve better."
The sun begins to rise above the horizon, and sunlight seeps into the living room. Chris stirs and stretches luxuriously. He hasn't slept so soundly for a long time. He opens his eyes, and the first thing he sees is Rita looking back at him.
"Hi, good morning, Sam," Chris says, as he sits up. He looks at her, and knows instantly that something is wrong.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"We need to talk, Chris."
She continues. "I know you expect things to be the way they are, now that we're back together. But," she pauses, taking a deep breath, " I can't lie to you. Things have changed."
"I don't understand what ..." Chris says, a little shocked and very much afraid of what he's about to hear.
"My life's different now. And I've been thinking for a very long time that our marriage was... a mistake," she says calmly, even as her heart and soul scream for her to stop.
"What are you saying?" Chris jumps up.
Rita stands up too. "I think we got married for the wrong reasons. I was pregnant, and you did the responsible thing."
"No! I love you!"
"I love you too, Chris. But don't you see, only as a very good friend. We mistook the physical part of our relationship as love. We were both getting over bad relationships, were feeling lonely, and we kind of got carried away."
Rita sees that she is breaking Chris's heart, but she forces herself to continue anyway. "I just feel that things have changed. And as soon as we settle the problem with the tapes, I think we should ..."
"No, don't say it! It's not true!" Chris moves towards Rita, trying to reason with her. His mind is whirling. He cannot believe he is hearing these things.
"Please, Chris, don't make this any harder than it has to be."
He stops short, and asks suddenly, "Has this anything to do with that Dan person?"
"Dan?" Rita says, not comprehending.
"It's not about Dan, Chris. It's about you and me. We've been friends for so many years that I think we both got our friendship confused with love."
Chris shakes his head furiously, wishing he'll wake up from this nightmare soon.
"Being here in Lauderdale, the new job, making new friends ... have made me look at life differently, and made me realize things are never going to be like before."
"I don't believe you," Chris says stubbornly. He is now right in front of her. He grabs both her arms and says forcefully, "If you don't love me, look me straight in the eyes and tell me it's over!"
Rita slowly raises her head, and looks straight into his eyes, willing her heart not to betray her.
She steels herself, and says calmly, "I don't love you that way, Chris."
Chris lets go of her arms, as if though they had just burned his hands. "Why are you saying these things, Rita," Chris says brokenly, tears stinging his eyes. "I can't ..."
He turns away from her, and moves towards the front door. Before he reaches the door, there is a knock.
"It's me, Donnie DiBarto. Open up."
Chris opens the door. "I thought I'll find you here," Donnie says as he walks in with Rocco. "Rocco here was very displeased to find you gone."
Rocco grunts.
"Why don't you escort Lorenzo to the car, Rocco? I've something to say to Rita here."
Rocco puts his hand on Chris's upper arm, expecting some kind of resistance. But, Chris goes quietly. Not once does he look in Rita's direction.
Donnie walks over to Rita, smiling. "Rita doll, how are you?"
When he draws level, Rita lets go a punch. "Ooowww, what the..."
He rubs his chin. "Is that the way to greet a friend, Rita?"
"That's for putting me through hell, Donnie!"
"What are you saying? What has Lorenzo been telling you?"
"Everything."
"I'm hurt, if that's the thanks I get for helping you out of a potentially dangerous situation."
"If I needed help, Donnie, I would have asked for it!"
"At that time, it seemed like the best solution."
"Well, it was not!"
"Hey, I just wanted to be sure you were okay."
"Please leave, Donnie." Rita turns and heads for the balcony.
"Rita, I..."
A couple of minutes later, Rita hears the door slam. She feels physically and emotional drained. She looks out at the lapping waves of the ocean and begins to cry.
************************************************************************
Rocco is driving them back to 'Dream Girls.' Chris has been very quiet since he left Rita's apartment.
Donnie is rubbing his chin. "Hey, Lorenzo! What's with you and Rita?"
Chris remains silent.
"Don't want to talk? Suit yourself."
Chris is staring out the tinted window of the limousine. The last hour has been the worst in his life. The pain in his heart is indescribable, and he just doesn't understand why Rita said the things she said. It's not like her.
"C'mon, Chris. Think this through! You need your detective instinct more than ever now," he thinks.
Was the shock of seeing him too much? She seemed calm, and knew what she wanted when she told him the marriage was over. He can't put his finger on it, but her entire speech and demeanor seemed forced. Even when she was looking him in the eyes, Chris sensed that she was hiding something from him-- like she had rehearsed a speech, but was not telling him everything. It's just not like the Rita he knows and loves. They've known each other for many years, and in all those years, he has never known Rita to knowingly lie to him. He needs to get to the bottom of it!
"Stop the car!" he says aloud.
"What are you talking about now, Lorenzo?"
"Look, Donnie, I don't have time to explain. I need to be with Rita now."
"You'll be putting her in danger. Haven't I told you before?"
"You know I will never, ever knowingly put her in danger, Donnie! I will rather die first than see anything happen to her! If I'm with her, I'll at least know she's safe. And, I promise I'll stay out of sight."
"What are you up to, Lorenzo?"
"Nothing! Just trust me. No harm will come to Rita when I'm with her."
Donnie considers what Chris has just said. He then leans forward and taps the partition between the front and back seats. Rocco lowers the partition.
"Back to Rita's apartment," he says.
"Thank you, Donnie," Chris says gratefully.
"Just make sure you keep out of sight, you hear?"
Donnie has decided he'll send two of his boys to watch the apartment. Just to make sure.
"I'm not stupid, Donnie."
Chris seems to have renewed energy. If Rita wants friendship, he'll give her friendship. He'll play it her way for the time being. It's going to be very hard being so close to her, and yet, not be with her. But, he knows it's the only way for now.
************************************************************************
There is a knock on the door.
Rita wipes away her tears with both hands, and goes to the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me," says Chris.
Rita takes a few seconds to collect herself. She opens the door. Chris walks into the apartment.
A surprised Rita can only say, "What are you doing here, Chris?"
"Close the door." She does as directed. "I've decided. We've still got a case to solve here-- the missing tapes. And, I need my partner to help me."
"I don't think it's such a good idea ..."
"Look. I want this case solved as soon as possible, and if it means I have to accept your proposition of just friendship, so be it. I need my partner on this, Sam."
Chris looks at her intently, and can tell she's been crying.
Rita is unsure as to what to do. She certainly doesn't want to be in such close contact with him. It'll be too difficult to keep her feelings hidden. And yet, she knows he's right. He needs his partner on this.
"All right. We'll give this a try."
************************************************************************
It has been decided that Rita will continue with her activities as usual. She'll still go to work. And Chris will hide out in the apartment till they find the tapes.
"I'll get the spare room ready for you," Rita says.
"I'll need clothes and a shave," Chris says, as he rubs his stubble.
"Your things are in the box over ..." Too late, Rita has accidentally told him she still keeps all his things. She tries to recover. "It's a good thing I haven't had the time to send them to the Salvation Army."
Chris thinks it is strange. Why would she move all his things from Palm Beach when she could have given them away to charity while packing for the move to Ft Lauderdale? He is becoming hopeful.
The first couple of days is especially awkward for both of them. And the nights are the hardest. Knowing the other is so close, and yet, so far. But, slowly they settle into a comfortable routine, and begin to behave more naturally towards each other-- like when they were partners in the force.
During the days, Rita will go to work. Chris will workout, read, watch the daytime soaps, do the housework and prepare the meals.
"I'm like a househusband," Chris thinks, as he chuckles.
In the evenings, Rita will try to help Chris with the missing pieces of his memory, talking about what had happened. But so far, no luck with memories of the tapes.
Tonight, Chris prepares an elaborate dinner.
"I'm impressed, Sam," Rita says, as she takes a whiff of the food. "Smells good."
"Thank you, Sam, but you'll have to try it first."
As they eat, Rita tells Chris she thinks there are people watching the apartment from across the street.
"I think it's Donnie's men. It's his way of keeping his eye on you," Chris says.
When they are finished with the meal, Chris says suddenly, "Hey, I feel kind of cooped up in here tonight. Go for a walk with me?"
It is now dark enough for them to take a walk on the beach without Chris being seen. They take a side exit out the apartment building and make their way to the beach.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Chris asks as they begin to walk.
"Uh huh."
There is a soft breeze blowing, and the beach is illuminated by just the moonlight.
There is no need for them to talk. They walk in a silence that seems to keep them connected.
"This is the way it should be," Chris thinks. He reaches for her hand and holds it. Rita does not protest.
"You know, we haven't done this for a very long time, Sam," Chris says.
"Yeah," Rita replies.
Chris stops and turns to her. They look deep into each other's eyes.
She's so beautiful, Chris thinks, as he bends his head to kiss her.
Just when their lips are about to touch, Rita says, "Chris, please ..." She gently pushes him away. The spell is broken.
"I think we should head on back. It's getting a little chilly," Rita says uneasily, trying to collect her thoughts.
They head on back.
************************************************************************
Back in the apartment, Chris and Rita feel the tension again. To ease the tension, Chris suddenly makes a suggestion.
"You know what? I feel like chocolate, chocolate chip cookie ice-cream and a good movie. What do you think?" He asks Rita, as he heads for the couch.
"Sounds good to me," Rita says, "Let me check if we still have the ice-cream." She heads for the fridge. "You're in luck."
She heads back to the living room with the ice-cream and two spoons.
"So ... what shall we watch?" Rita asks.
"Maltese Falcon," says Chris. "Casablanca," says Rita at the same time. They laugh.
"Let's have a double feature then," Chris suggests. "Do you still have the two movies on tape?"
"Yeah, I think so. They're in that box over there, I think." Rita points to the box.
Chris goes over to look for them. After rummaging through the box, he says, "Found them!"
"Which one first?" Chris asks, as he holds up both tapes.
"Whichever," says Rita.
Chris puts one of the tapes into the VCR while Rita switches on the television. Chris takes his place next to Rita on the couch.
There's a few seconds of blank screen, and then an image comes on.
"What's this?" They both lean forward.
"The Quiller tape!" They say excitedly. On the screen are a group of men talking. From the angle of the image, they can tell that it was shot from a hidden surveillance camera.
"How did..." Rita asks.
"I must have switched the movies with the surveillance tapes, and relabeled them!"
"It must have been done right after you left the bank, got that message from Montoya, and gone home to find me missing!"
They continue to watch the tape, mesmerized. They see Montoya, Martinez, Burns and Quiller.
"Isn't that..." Chris says, pointing. "Secor and Lewis from vice!" They concluded together.
"Sam, this is huge. No wonder Donnie said some people in the department are also interested in the tapes. I'll say!" Chris utters, as he slaps the side of his thigh.
"Wait, Chris," Rita interrupts Chris and grabs his arm. They both see someone else opening a door and entering the room.
"Oh, my God!" Rita exclaims.
"I'll be damned!"
They both watch disbelievingly as the well-dressed man approaches Montoya and begin talking. Then Montoya takes out an envelope and hands it to the man. The man opens it to check that all the money is there. He pockets it, and continues conversing with the rest of the group.
The two Sams look at each other.
"Roy Conroy!"
"Yeah, District Attorney Roy Conroy!"
"This is big, Sam."
"Huge, Sam! What's our next move?"
"I think it's time to call in reinforcement," says Chris, as he grins widely. "This is why they needed to get rid of me! And find the tapes! Well, sorry guys, but I'm baaaacccck!"
They plan their next move. They will need to somehow get to Cap and Donovan first. Then with their help, get the DEA to bring down Martinez's operations, and arrest the two crooked cops and Conroy!
On the pretext that she needs to see her friends, Rita invites Cap, Frannie and George to her home for dinner the following evening. No mention is made of Chris or the tapes, just in case Cap and George's phones are bugged.
The following evening, the Lipschitzes and George make the trip to Ft Lauderdale, excited to be seeing her again, and yet unaware of the surprise that awaits them.
Chris is pacing in the living room, anxious for them to arrive.
"Chris, I think it's best you go into the bedroom first, so that I'll have a chance to break the news to them that you're still alive."
"Good idea, Sam. We certainly don't want a medical emergency on our hands, what with the likelihood of Fran fainting and Harry having a heart attack."
They hear a knock on the door. "Here we go," says Rita, as she waits for Chris to enter the spare bedroom.
She opens the door.
"Fran, Harry, George! Welcome!" Rita says.
"Rita, it's so good to see you," Harry says.
Many good wishes and hugs go around as Rita invites them to the living room.
"What a beautiful little apartment!" Fran exclaims, looking around.
"Why don't you all take a seat? Drinks?" She pauses.
"Uh, I actually have something to tell you," says Rita nervously, not knowing how to begin, as she looks at George and Harry.
Rita does not notice that Fran has wandered off to look at the apartment. The next thing they know, they hear a bloodcurdling scream from the bedroom. They rush in.
Fran is on the floor. Chris is hunched over Fran, frantically fanning the air, hoping to revive her.
"Hey, you! Move away from her, now!" Harry exclaims. Chris looks up.
Harry and George stop short in their tracks.
"Lorenzo?"
"Chris?"
"Yeah, it's me, Cap. George." He says sheepishly, looking back at Fran. "She fainted."
"What the hell is going on here?" George asks.
Rita is now kneeling next to Fran, who is slowly regaining consciousness. Chris stands up.
"It's a long story. But I assure you, I'm still alive."
"How...What..." George asks.
"What does it matter? This is wonderful news. He's still alive!" Harry says. "Come here and give old Cap a hug!"
The three men joyously hug each other, and slap each other on the backs.
Fran is now awake. "I...I saw... Chris's ghost," Fran murmurs, still groggy. Rita tries her best to explain to Fran that Chris is alive. Harry goes over to help.
"Fran, honey, it's true. I don't know how, but it's true, Chris is still alive." He helps her up.
"Chris?" Fran asks, still a little afraid that it is a ghost.
"Yeah, it's me, Fran. Chris Lorenzo. Alive and kickin'. Sorry to have scared the living daylights out of you!"
"In that case, what are you standing over there for? Come and give me a hug!" she commands. Everyone laughs.
The group is in a celebratory mood. While they eat and drink, Chris tells them his story, and the discovery of the tapes. When Harry and George watch the tapes, they are equally shocked to see the vice cops and Conroy. The group agrees on a plan to get the tapes to the DEA.
************************************************************************
It is now a month since the reunion at Rita's apartment. Chris is finally able to come out of hiding. The Martinez gang, Secor, Lewis and Conroy have all just been arrested. George Donovan is enjoying the media spotlight, as he explains how he helped the DEA bring down the crooked cops, Conroy, and one of the most notorious drug gangs in southeast Florida.
"Just like George," Chris says as he turns off the television.
"He's a shoo-in for district attorney now," Rita says, as she comes down from her bedroom.
"You ready to go?" Chris asks, as he goes to fetch his sports jacket.
"Don't forget to bring the wine," Rita reminds Chris, as she finishes adjusting an earring.
They have an invitation to dinner at the Lipschitzes.
Neither Chris nor Rita speak much on the drive to Harry and Fran's home. They are both deep in thought.
Rita is thinking of how to make that clean break from Chris. Chris is thinking of how to convince Rita it's not over between them.
They finally arrive at the Lipschitzes. Funny, there are no lights in the house, Chris thinks.
"Rita, you sure you got the correct day of the dinner?" he asks.
"Yeah, I'm sure. There's probably something wrong with the lights."
They walk up to the house and ring the doorbell.
"Rita, the door's open," Chris whispers. "I don't like the looks of this."
He pushes open the door slowly. He enters.
"SURPRISE!" And the lights come on.
Chris cannot believe this, and turns to look at Rita. She gives him a push forward.
"Scared you, for a minute there, didn't we?" Harry shouted.
Chris looks around the room. Practically everyone he knows is there. Benny, Anna Alexis, Derek McNeal, Keisha, Diana, people from the homicide division, some of his kids from his basketball league, ...
"By the way, George will be late!" someone shouts.
"And we know why!" another shouts back. There is much laughter.
Chris surveys the room, as people continue to come up to him to say hi, welcome back, or to just give him a hug or a kiss. Even Benny and Anna are in a reconciliatory mood. Both come up together to hug and kiss him, between their tears of joy and laughter.
Later, Chris notices a banner that reads:WELCOME BACK (FROM THE DEAD), CHRIS!
"You helped plan this?" Chris asks Rita, smiling happily.
"Yeah, a little. Fran and Harry did most of the work," Rita answers, making herself heard above all the noise.
Suddenly, George appears. "Sorry, I'm late. But, you know how it is," he apologizes to Chris and Rita.
"Sure, George," Chris slaps his back, good-naturedly, and passes him a drink.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
"Attention please! Attention please!" announces Harry, as he tries to quiet the crowd.
When everyone is silent, Harry says, "I would like to propose a toast."
"To Chris!" He raises his wine glass, "Welcome back from the dead!"
"To Chris!" Everyone says, as they begin to drink.
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I'm not done!" Harry says. "Another toast."
"To Chris and Rita!" He continues, "We're really glad our dynamic duo are back together again!"
"To Chris and Rita!"
Chris and Rita awkwardly raise their wine glasses to their lips. Nobody seems to notice that moment of awkwardness and tension between the two, but George notices.
While Chris is conversing with Derek McNeal, Rita slips away to the kitchen and out the back door to the yard. She badly needs a breather. She breathes deeply and sighs. With each passing day, it is that much harder for her to find the resolve to break up with Chris. It's for the best, right? No harm will come to Chris as long as she keeps her distance and not tell him she loves him, right? She tries to convince herself.
"Hi." She is startled out of her thoughts.
It is George.
"Whatcha doing out here all alone?" he asks.
"Oh, I just needed a breather from the crowd."
"Quite a turnout, huh?"
"Yeah."
There is silence as the two stare out into the night sky.
"Rita," George begins. "We're good enough friends that I can ask you a personal question, right?"
"Depends on the question, George."
George hesitates. But then asks, "Is everything okay between you and Chris? I noticed the two of you weren't exactly enthusiastic when Harry made that toast."
"What makes you think there's anything wrong?"
"Oh, just the way you've been acting around each other."
"You know what, George, there are some things best left unanswered." She continues to stare into the night sky.
Suddenly, George says, "I understand it's really none of my business, but I know what you told Frannie in the hospital about being a jinx and all."
"You're right George, it is none of your business."
"Look, I've been friends with you and Chris for how long?" George persists, "Four, five years? And, I was really glad that you two finally got together. But, to think that you are somehow responsible for things that happen beyond your control, that you bring back luck to all you love ... you are wrong. So wrong."
Rita sighs, and finally decides to confide in George. "You just don't understand, George. Everyone I've loved has been taken away from me. That's why I need to stay away from Chris. For his sake."
"Does Chris know how you feel about this? Have you talked to him? You still love him, don't you? He's still alive, isn't he?"
Rita is quiet.
"You have to believe the things that happened to your parents, your foster parents, your son-- they are through no fault of yours! You can't be responsible for every bad thing that happens in this world!"
"Then why do they keep happening to me, George, can you tell me that?" Rita asks sadly.
"Look, I don't know why, and I can't give you a good answer, but all I know is that you are not to be blamed for what happened to your parents or foster parents. And, as for Christopher Jr., have you ever wondered that maybe God had other plans for him when he was taken away?"
"Chris loves you," George continues, "and you love Chris. Isn't that all that matters? No matter how short or long a time you have together, isn't that the most important thing-- that you are together? Not many people find the kind of love that you and Chris have. Trust me, I know from experience. Don't let the 'mays,' 'maybes' and the 'what ifs' take control of your life. And don't throw it all away because you're scared something may happen to Chris. "
"Look, I've said my peace. Think about it," George says, as he gives her a hug and re-enters the house.
Rita is confused. "I need to get out of here and get some air." She decides to walk to the beach nearby.
Back in the house, the party is winding down. Chris is looking for Rita.
"Has anyone seen Rita?" Chris asks.
"I just left her in the backyard a couple of minutes ago," George says. He pulls Chris aside. "Look, Chris, there's something I need to tell you."
George tells Chris about the incident at the hospital, and the conversation he just had with Rita in the backyard. Chris rushes to the backyard and finds her gone. He checks the front, but her car is still there. Where would she go? Chris knows.
************************************************************************
Rita has been walking on the beach for some time. She passes a beach party with a group of young people partying rowdily around a huge bonfire.
"Hey, beautiful!" someone shouts. "Wanna join our party?" asks the drunk young man.
Rita shakes her head, smiles and walks on.
On the other end of the beach, Chris has been searching for Rita for some time. He can see a bonfire in the distance, and some people shouting and horsing around. He hears the faint sound of a song being played from over there.
This Romeo is bleeding
But you can't see his blood
It's nothing but some feelings
That this old dog kicked up
It's been raining since you left me
Now I'm drowning in the flood
You see I've always been a fighter
But without you, I give up
Now I can't sing a love song
Like the way it's meant to be
Well I guess I'm not that good anymore
But baby, that 's just me
Yeah, I will love you, baby
Always
And I'll be there forever and a day
Always
I'll be there till the stars don't shine
Till the heavens burst
And the words don't rhyme
I know when I die
You'll be on my mind
And I'll love you --
Always...