CHAPTER TEN

     
      In spite of Victoria's setting the alarm for seven a.m., Robin awoke first. Accustomed to mornings in unfamiliar surroundings, he lay on his back for a beat, blinking and wondering why, along with the geographic confusion, his head wasn't pounding, his stomach not churning, or his tongue needing a shave. When Robin recalled where he was, he smiled, rolling over onto his side. Victoria lay curled up, facing him, her arm tucked under the pillow beneath her head. It hadn't been a dream. For a moment, Robin had doubted his memory. But, it had been no dream. She was really here, with him, and, last night, Robin had held her and made love to her and heard her cry out his name, her voice hoarse with yearning. He'd never imagined a woman putting aside her principles and yet still giving herself to him so absolutely could touch Robin this profoundly. He didn't understand it. All he knew was, he liked it very much.
      Victoria stirred, and Robin wrapped his arms around her, so that, when she awoke, she was looking up into his eyes.
      "Good-morning," he whispered, not sure of precisely why he was being so quiet, but certain that the last thing he wanted to do was startle or disturb her.
      It was her turn to blink, struggling to regain her focus, and her memory. Unlike Robin, though, Victoria hadn't logged nearly as much experience waking up to a new face. Her eyes widened a bit at the sight of him, and she smiled feebly in answer to his greeting.
      Victoria sat up, rubbing her face with the heels of her hands. Robin pushed himself up to mirror her position. Ducking his head in the hope of meeting her eyes, but being greeted only by her hair brushing the side of her cheek, Robin gently asked, "Victoria?"
      She practically jumped at the sound of his voice, turning her head only far enough to avoid seeming rude, yet stubbornly refusing to look at him.
      Robin kissed her shoulder, and sadly guessed, "You regret what happened last night."
      Her chin jerked upward. Victoria scrambled out from under the blanket, and then out of bed, padding to her closet, pulling out a robe and wrapping herself in it.
      "I don't regret anything." She turned around, approaching the bed, and perching on the edge, this time looking Robin straight in the eye. "Making love to you last night was -- it was magic. You made me feel desirable, and beautiful, and safe. You made me feel safe enough to let myself go. It was wonderful. I don't remember the last time anybody did that for me."
      "Then why," Robin indicated the distance she'd imposed between them. "All this?"
      "Because," she spoke calmly and clearly, the result of having given the matter plenty of thought. "I know how you made me feel. But, I would never presume to speak for you. You've been straight with me from the beginning. You've never concealed the kind of man you are, or what you wanted from me. That's why I understand last night couldn't possibly have meant as much to you, as it did to me. And I don't want to put you in a position of feeling like maybe you should pretend otherwise for my sake."
      Robin smiled ironically. "Do you ever stop thinking of other people ahead of yourself?"
      "Why does, coming from you, that sound like an insult?"
      "Consider it a cultural difference." He raised his knee and propped his elbow up on top of it. "We're a bit more self-centered where I come from."
      "Maine?"
      "Money."
      Victoria smiled. He looked so earnest, she wanted to hug him. How could one man be such a jaded skeptic, such a fervent romantic, and such a little boy, all at the same time? Maybe that explained how he could inspire such assorted passions in her. How she could simultaneously ache to pull him close and push him away. How she could be afraid of him and yet unable to shake the feeling that he needed her protection. How her body could liquefy under his touch, while her mind questioned what she was getting into.
      Victoria covered her face with both hands, and shook her head. "Everything is so confusing right now. I feel like, no matter how hard I try, I can't make myself concentrate on more than one thing. Do you think -- would you mind terribly if you and I sort of tabled this discussion until after I settle the mess with Gabriel?"
      Robin rubbed his chin with his palm, and sighed. "I'm not a big fan of coming in second. Especially not behind a guy who gets on my nerves like the good Dr. Scott."
      Robin's irrational hatred of Gabriel was yet another element that continued to puzzle Victoria, and emphasize the dichotomy of his nature. As far as she knew, Gabriel had certainly never done anything to inspire such enmity, yet Robin acted like Gabriel knew exactly why he'd been singled out.
      "However," he conceded. "I know how hard today is going to be on you. And, in the interest of not making things harder, I will agree to temporarily -- temporarily, mind you -- hold off talking about us, so you can focus on St. Gabriel. But, I warn you. I am not a patient man. Now that I've had a taste; a sweet, beautiful, wonderful taste of you, you can be sure, Miss Morgan, that I intend to come back for more."

      Robin dropped Victoria off at the police-station, telling her to call him if she needed anything, but adding, "I'm sure you know by now that I am basically useless."
      She leaned in to kiss him good-by. "Oh, I wouldn't say that."
      He unfolded a handkerchief to dab Victoria's lipstick from his mouth, then returned it to his pocket, winking. "It's true. I do have one skill. And it has served me well."
      "Not only you."
      He blew her a kiss as he drove away. "See you tonight, love."
      Bracing herself as if for battle, Victoria gathered her nerve to enter the police station and, with the help of Douglas' lawyer, demanded to see Gabriel.
      A uniformed sergeant led her into an interrogation room, where the walls were as gray as the floor, and a metal conference table with matching folding-chairs, the only furniture.
      Gabriel paced the perimeter, dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt. They'd taken his belt and the laces from his sneakers. His fingers twitched nervously by his sides, and every few moments, he ran both hands through his hair. Turbid circles muddied his eyes, and sweat dripped down his neck, darkening the collar of his shirt.
      When he saw Victoria walk in, Gabriel stopped pacing. But, he didn't approach her. He simply stood where he was, and raised both arms in the air, shaking his head sadly, a combination apology for the trouble he'd caused, and wonder that he was back behind bars.
      She sensed his frustration, his fear, and his fury. Unable to think of one platitude to make things better, Victoria didn't speak a word. Instead, she crossed the chamber and hugged him tightly.
      Gabriel broke their embrace first, and held Victoria at arm's length. He sighed, "I messed up big-time, Vicky."
      She shook her head. "I don't believe that. Whatever you did, you must have had your reasons. I'm sure this is all a mistake."
      "It's no mistake." He gestured for her to take a seat, then continued with his own pacing.
      "What did you do, Gabriel?"
      He bit his lower lip, drawing blood, then, seeing the concern on Victoria's face, quickly wiped it away with his palm, and, in as few words as possible, told her everything, concluding with, "I've fudged a lot of paperwork over the years, Vicky."
      "And now you've been caught?"
      "Yes." He actually stopped pacing for a moment. "The police got copies of falsified records I sent to the insurance companies, and the authentic ones I kept for the patients."
      "And they didn't match?"
      "Not all of them."
      "I see."
      "Thing is, they've only got photocopies, and photocopies can be doctored. My lawyer says what they need to make the case stick, are my originals. As of this morning, they've got a search warrant for my clinic. They'll find the insurance originals there, but not the patient ones. I keep those in my apartment. The way I figure, we've got a couple of hours before they realize they need a warrant for there, too. But, in the meantime, someone can get over there, and remove the evidence."
      "Someone," Victoria repeated. "Might I know them?"
      Gabriel slapped both palms against the metal table, rattling it. "I know I have no right to ask you this. I know I'm making you an accessory, and God-knows what else. But, I'm out of ideas. I committed a crime. For virtuous reasons, and with the noblest of intentions, but, I committed a crime. Now, they are going to bull-doze my clinic, prevent me from practicing medicine, and then lock me up. I don't know if I'll be able to survive that again. And I know my patients won't."
      She stood up. "Tell me where the records are."
      She thought he'd be pleased by her agreement, but Gabriel only looked saddened. "Fireproof box under my desk in the living room. It's not locked.... I am so sorry, Vicky."
      She waved away his remorse. They had no time for it, now.
      Victoria picked up her purse, and turned to leave. She was halfway out the door when Gabriel asked, "Why is Douglas Cooper so concerned if I fry or not? Protecting his investment?"
      "Robin asked him to help you."
      "You're kidding? Hades, himself, came to my rescue?"
      Victoria snapped, "Don't look a gift-God in the mouth, okay, Gabriel? We've got more important concerns."
      "Right. I'm sorry." He scrubbed the blood from the palm of his hand with his thumb, and softly told her, "Thank the Prince of Darkness for me, would you?"

      Victoria knew her brother's schedule didn't allow him enough time to clean his apartment. Yet, it also didn't really allow him enough time to get it dirty, either. As a result, the one-bedroom flat looked lived-in, but tidy. His clothes were all hung in the closet, yet he hadn't bothered to close the door. He'd dusted his desk, his book-shelves, and his prized possession, his stereo, next to his waist-high collection of first edition Mowtown records, but had overlooked the tops of picture-frames and under the couch. His plates were stacked in the dishwasher, clean but not put-away.
      Figuring they could consider interior-decorating another time, Victoria headed straight for his desk, in the corner by the window. It's surface was covered with journal articles, grant applications, and various ads from pharmaceutical companies hawking new products and offering free introductory samples. Money was so tight at the clinic, complimentary drugs were sometimes all Gabriel had to give out, and he was constantly juggling his suppliers to keep a steady stock coming in.
      Victoria sunk to her knees, diving under the desk, and feeling around in the dimly-lit recesses, until her fingers wrapped around the corner of a fireproof, strong-box. She locked her grasp, and hauled it out into the light, noting that she'd found another spot Gabriel had forgotten to dust. Victoria covered her mouth with one hand while she coughed and, with the other, flipped open the lid to make sure she'd found what she was looking for.
      The box was empty.
      Victoria blinked in surprise. Could he have meant some other box under the desk? She felt certain there'd been only one, but, considering the gravity of their situation, figured it was worth a second look. Braving the dust-coated dark a second time, Victoria stretched her arm as far as she could, sweeping it back and forth, looking for a second box, until her hand smacked the far wall.
      "Lose something, Miss Morgan?" The voice behind her dripped honeyed rat-poison.
      Victoria had heard it before.
      Trapped in the awkward position of crawling on all fours, her head thrust under a desk, Victoria attempted to preserve some small shred of dignity while rising from her knees to face Robin's wife.
      She didn't blame Nicole Simonge for appearing amused by the incident, and Victoria supposed she might even have found the time to feel mortified, if she weren't too busy wondering, "What in the world are you doing here?"
      "Scavenger hunt." Nicole reached into her purse, withdrew a single, manilla folder, and tossed it at Victoria.
      She fumbled to catch it, skimming the document long enough to confirm its identity. "Where did you get this?"
      Nicole raised her eye-brow and pointed at the fireproof box. "There are lots more where that one came from. I know the police had a swell time looking through them all."
      Victoria couldn't believe her ears. "You did this? You sent the police Gabriel's records?"
      "I sent the photocopies. Rest assured, the originals are safe and sound and very well hidden. That is, until I decide it's time for them to see the light of day."
      Victoria opened her mouth, but found she couldn't summon up a sound. It took her two tries to demand, "Why? Why do this? Why would you want to hurt Gabriel? You don't even know him."
      "I should think the answer would be obvious. I don't want to hurt him, I want to hurt you. Dr. Scott is a means, not an end."
      "But, how will having Gabriel arrested serve your agenda?"
      "I had him arrested," Nicole said. "I can have him unarrested. Without the originals, the city has no case. You, Miss Morgan, can make sure no one ever sees those originals."
      She understood. She wished she didn't. But, she understood.
      "What do you want from me?" Victoria demanded.
      "Not what," Nicole smiled. "Who."
      Victoria's stomach clenched. Her legs buckled and she had to lock her knees to remain upright. Her throat dried. She swallowed hard, and stated the obvious. "Robin."
      "My, you are a bright one."
      This was unreal. It couldn't possibly be real, because trades like this simply didn't happen to people like Victoria.
      She stammered, "Robin is a human being, he's not a thing. You can't barter for him, like some sheave of wheat."
      "Watch me."
      Victoria attempted to collect herself, frantically racking her brain for some sort of adequate compromise.
      Oblivious to her torment, or, rather, gratified by it, Nicole dictated terms. She mandated, "If, come ten a.m. tomorrow morning, my husband is still panting over you like some hormonal adolescent, every original document that I have will find itself stacked pretty as you please, on the district attorney's desk. If, however, come ten a.m. tomorrow morning, Robin is back where he belongs, with me, those same originals will be dumped onto your desk. Well, over a period of time, that is. You would hardly expect me to give up my leverage all at once, now, would you?"
      Victoria tried to be reasonable, pointing out, "Even if I tell Robin I never want to see him again, what makes you sure he'll come running back to you?"
      "Dear, Miss Morgan. Robin always comes running back to me."
      Victoria felt like she was floating away with nothing solid to hold on to. She heard the gurgle of her blood churning through her arteries. She wanted to freeze time. Take an extended moment and think about how she could stop this. She had to stop this.
      And yet, if she did, what would happen to Gabriel?
      She was being squeezed from both sides. Robin or Gabriel? Gabriel or Robin? How could she choose?
      Victoria remembered the kiss Robin blew her as he drove away, and the way he'd looked at her, like she was the most exquisite, precious woman on earth. No man had ever looked at her like that. No man had ever made her feel as good about herself, as Robin did.
      And then she remembered Gabriel pacing the interrogation room like a caged animal, hands trembling as he ripped strands of hair from his head, and chewed his lips hard enough to bleed.
      Victoria hugged herself, fingers gouging her elbows and, voice hushed, asked, "How am I supposed to convince Robin we're over?"
      Nicole shifted her purse-strap from one shoulder to the other. "Tell him he's starting to bore you, tell him you're moving back to Texas, tell him he's not as superb in bed as he thinks he is -- no, better tell him something he'll believe."
      "And then you'll relinquish the originals? You promise?"
      "What do I need with a box full of old medical records?"
      A box full of old medical records. That's what it came down to. Procedures performed in the interest of saving lives were now the catalysts for destroying them.
      Her life.
      Gabriel's.
      Robin's.
      She could feel his arms around her, the ocean air bathing both their faces, Robin holding her tightly, whispering, "I don't think I've ever been happier.... You'll never disappoint me, Victoria."
      She wondered what he'd think of her after tomorrow. No, after tonight. If Nicole demanded results by ten a.m. tomorrow morning, Victoria would have to take care of it tonight. Oh, God, she only had a few more hours.
      "How do I know I can trust you?" she asked Nicole.
      "You don't." Robin's wife shrugged blithely. "But, you also don't have any choice in the matter." Nicole offered another of her confectionery smiles, and turned to exit. She paused at the door. "By the by, if you even think of telling Robin, or Gabriel, about our chat -- the deal is off. No second chances."