Hidden Sanity

A Call To Arms

When she looked at it, she saw that it was just Sofia calling her. She sighed in relief. She answered the call. “Geez! I thought you were somebody else! Why are you calling me at this time, Sofia?”

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“You went to your office early and left me in your apartment sleeping just to escape my interrogation this morning!”

“I tried waking you up! You didn’t. So I left.”

“Still hits my guess huh?”

“A little bit! Oh please, I have nothing to explain to you at that time!”

“So you’re saying that you have something to explain to me now uh? Tell me something about your Mr. Savior!” she teased.

“Why are you more excited about my love life than I am? Seriously?”

“He’s a hot man! Don’t you see it yourself? Last time you had a boyfriend, he looked like s**t so I’m just explaining to you that this is kind of new to me.”

Alice laughed. She leaned her arms on the kitchen counter. “You’re a mean girl, Sofia. But that makes sense.”

“Told ya.”

She looked up and reminisced about what happened lately. She had a smile on her face when she said “Hey, you know what? Last night, I’m not like this but tonight, I think I’m completely fallen in.”

“Oh my gosh! Like you’re attracted to him?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What happened?”

“He asked me out lately to eat dinner with him. Sofia, why do you think a guy would ask a girl out? We’re not close enough for him to ask it casually.”

“I really think that he likes you. I saw it from him when I caught you two together doing the hug thing. I saw the look from his eyes that he badly wanted to get into your pants.”

“Shut up! He’s not sexually attracted to me!”

“Trust me. I know that kind of look. That look from a guy who wants to have s*x with you then when he got what he wanted from you, he’ll dump you.”

“He’s not like that. I hope so. Besides, my boss has high standards. He can’t like me.” She sounded smiling. “—But lately, he told me I’m attractive.”

“See?!”

“He’s not a bad guy as I thought he was. He’s completely the opposite. He has his soft side too. He’s not always cheerful but it was definitely a good day if you happened to meet him. He was well respected and nobody that I know would want to hurt him.”

“And you’re giving him a chance now?”

“Not exactly giving him a chance, but my doors are open, you know.”

“That’s the same thing!”

“Maybe, and you know what? I think he’s kinda cute and handsome too.”

“Is it possible for the both of you to have a connection, you know, that kind of connection? You’re nearly 30 too. Doesn’t it cross your mind even once?”

“I can’t see it happening between us but sometimes there’s that kind of attraction!”

“Really? Mr. Savior could get a point, you mean?”

“Plus that one! He saved me from danger. That’s a major turn on.”

“I know! So does your killer still follow you around?”

“Luckily, he doesn’t anymore. Talking about that, I must track the killer’s number and find out who he is by the way. Tomorrow as I woke up…”

“Oh, good luck on that. I hope you’ll find him.”

“I will hunt him down! He threatened me! He must learn his lesson!”

“Wow, you’re braver now huh. Not scared anymore?”

“I’m a little scared but not that much anymore. Probably because I know Jorge is with me.”

Sofia squealed. “Cheeseballs!”

Alice laughed. “Alright. I need to sleep now, Sofia. I’ll call you on Monday.”

“Okay. Sweet dreams about your Mr. Savior!”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. She chuckled and then hung up the phone.

She went to her bed and lied down happily. She didn’t know what she’s feeling. She can’t describe it herself. She thought that she might be losing her mind tonight. She’s out of her mind.

Hours later, it was already a busy morning inside the company. All got their heads on the presentation tomorrow. Alice was on her station, multitasking. She’s doing the orders of the officers and tracking the user of the mobile number of the killer who chased her the other day at the same time. She called the network to locate and identify the killer but she received negative feedback because the number was already unavailable. It only meant that the user got rid of the card already. He’s a wise man. Perhaps, he knew this one coming so he threw it away right before this happened.

Alice felt a disappointment inside. She roughly wanted to catch him but she failed. She can’t take away the feeling of fear now that she knew that he could call and chase her any time again and might as well get his way to her and finally kill her.

She felt the cold sweat running down her forehead. She’s as still as a rock now, frozen in fear and worry.

She remembered that the guy knew that he just checked out of their office thus she thought that he was somebody that she knows or might just be a stalker. But she couldn’t stay calm and easily think that it was just a stalker. He must be someone close to her. Right now, she couldn’t just trust any guys easily because everyone is a suspect.

She wanted to talk to Jack to comfort her but Jack was too busy in his office. He’s someone you couldn’t talk to in days like this. Talk to him, he wouldn’t lend an ear to you. Inform him about something, and you would end up being scolded and humiliated until you want yourself sinking from the ground and wished you never existed in everyone’s vision. That is how mean he gets when he’s busy.

She let him be. And she thought that she was not that close to him to talk to him anytime she wanted. They had a good time getting to know each other last night but she still didn’t feel right to act too friendly around him. He’s her boss. She still must show him respect and treat him with formality.

The whole day had passed and she already went home alone and fortunately safe. And then she got a phone call from an anonymous number again. She was very hesitant to answer it at first but she thought that she couldn’t just keep on hiding and acting so weak. That’s why she courageously answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello. Is this Alice Simone’s contact?” The voice sounded firm.

She said “Yes. Why?”

“Can we take this time to talk to you? I’m Yohann Viola, a member of the FBI, and we just wanted to inform you about this case.”

“What case?”

“We have been informed that your name was mentioned by Jack Kinley when he was still a patient in the hospital. The information was sent to us days after he escaped the place. According to the doctor, he said your name, labeling you as his next target. We are sorry for the late update. But don’t worry because we got our eye on this case and we promise you, nothing bad will ever occur. We’re critically working on it and we are not expecting for any failure. However, we still recommend you to be more careful and please avoid being alone anywhere. We didn’t want to scare you Ms. Alice, but informing you about this is a must.”

“Jack Kinley, you mean the famous serial killer?”

“Yes ma’am. Can we know who’s living with you?”

“I live alone.” She struggled to talk straight.

“Any family member located somewhere near?”

“They live far away from where I’m staying right now.” Her voice was trembling.

“Can we get your address and your family’s?”

She told them their address and hers.

They asked another question, “Do you by any chance have any connection with Mr. Kinley, ma’am?”

“No. I don’t even know him! Did he tell you why I was his target?”

“In that case, we’re still working on it, Ms. Alice. For now, the reason is still unknown.”

“Wha—What should I do then? What if he comes to my house?! I’m unarmed!” She panicked.

“We will provide you weapons tomorrow, ma’am. And we will secure your place by sending out our local agents around your place while we are hunting for Kinley himself.”

“Please find him!”

“We’ll make sure he won’t be able to do any harm to you and to other people.”

“Thank you. I’ll be expecting that.”

“Please always be alert ma’am and you could call us if you need to ask questions and raise some concerns. Our landline in the office is 747-4300. Call 911 in case of emergency as well.”

“Thanks. I got it.” She wrote the number on a tissue in the living room’s table.

“Thank you, Ms. Alice, for your cooperation. Be safe.”

“OK.” She hung up. She sat on the couch and massaged her forehead.

She stumbled upon the thought of the FBI’s warning. The events these past few days puzzled through her thinking. She haD come to think that the man following her the other night was undeniably Jack Kinley. She felt more nervous and weak on her knees.

What can a girl like her do to a smart and strong killer? She couldn’t even hurt a kid, what more to a man with strength to kill 10 people or more? She couldn’t stop herself from thinking about it and asking herself why she's his target.

What does he really want from her?

On the other hand, Jack was not in his apartment. Instead he was in another’s house. It happens most of the time. Always at that house. Morrie and he had been in good condition this day. And since Jack was extremely tired, Morrie volunteered to make him feel less pressured and eased. Jack came with her without hesitation and he hadn’t seen Morrie for a couple of days too so he missed her touch a little.

The phone rang after Jack and Morrie had gone to bed. At the sound of the ringing phone, Jack rolled over sleepily. Morrie wasn’t on call tonight, why was the phone ringing? He opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. It was 11:30. Who the hell was calling her after eleven if it wasn’t the office?

The phone was on Morrie’s side of the bed.

Morrie heard him hit the lamp, groping for the phone in the dark but she didn’t mind. She was very sleepy.

Jack thought that if he answered the phone, people would wonder why he did when it was evidently Morrie’s phone. People would think they’re together and they shouldn’t so what he did was unplug the telephone wire and disabled the phone connection.

Jack lay back on the pillow. Then Morrie said, “Jorge? Are you awake?”

Jack half sat up. Morrie with squinted eyes, ran her hand over his face, trying to come fully awake. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Who was usually calling you at this time?” He said in his quiet, steady voice.

“Usually, my friends. Why?”

Jack sat up in bed, completely awake now. “Someone just called you and I can’t answer it ‘cause you’re sleeping. It awakens me.”

She could hear the frustration in his voice. “We’ve got to be sleeping. Let’s sleep now.”

“OK.” Jack laid his head back against the pillow again. He gazed at Morrie.

“Sorry if that made you awake. We can’t tell them we’re having this kind of connection.” Morrie apologized. “You know that. I didn’t want you to be stressing over it. Get some sleep. You need rest.”

Jack cut his gaze to Morrie. “I know.”

Morrie rested her head on Jack’s pillow and draped one arm over his waist. “Tired of hiding?”

“I’m not hiding. What will I hide?” Jack snapped. “We’re not hiding something.”

“What are you saying that we’re not hiding something? What are we doing right now, really?”

“You and I, we wouldn’t want any children and we’re not wildly in love. But we know each other very well indeed. And we like each other. Very much indeed. And I have learned to accept some help sometimes from you instead of always being so fiercely independent. But this is only up to this. You know that.”

The minute the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. “So do you think lately in the morning, they’ll know about this?” Morrie changed the subject. She knew Jack well enough to know he had made his point. And she knew enough not to go on about it.  

“I don’t know.” Jack brushed his fingertips over Morrie’s bare arm. He stayed calm.

“Do you do this to other women?” Morrie asked him then she leaned on his chest.

Jack hesitated to tell her any more. He didn’t usually share stories with anyone. “I don’t usually do this.” He murmured. They lay side by side on their backs, temple to temple.

Morrie was quiet for a moment. “So you are doing this to other women?” She pushed up on one elbow and her black hair brushed Jack’s cheek. She smelled good, like shampoo and a scent that was uniquely hers.

“What do you mean other women?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I find out that you’re making out with someone else.” She stared at the dark ceiling.

Jack closed his eyes. “Christ, you’re getting too deep. Don’t think about it, okay?”

Morrie kissed his cheek tenderly. “So give your mind a rest and get some sleep.” She rolled over and shut off the light and then rested her head on Jack’s pillow again. “You’re going to the office tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Get some good rest, okay? You work too hard.” Morrie traced Jack’s jaw line with her fingertip. “Rest is more important.”

One of the best things about Morrie was that she said what she meant. Jack knew it really was OK to skip work at times so he could get a couple of extra hours of rest. But he couldn’t leave his work.

“I don’t know what to do. I think I’m pressured to do the presentation.” He stared at the dark ceiling above them too, as if the answers would come to her straight from heaven.

“Want some help?” Morrie continued to stroke his face, easing the tension from his muscles.

“No need. It’s already finished. Alice did the job well. It’s time for me to do mine.”

“So we’ll go tonight?” Morrie leaned over Jack and kissed him on the mouth, her fingertips brushing Jack’s breast.

Jack was deathly tired, but right now, feeling close to someone was more important than sleep. He needed to feel good, if only for a few minutes. He needed to feel good about the lousy, rotten world. He rolled onto his side and faced Morrie, slipping his hand under her T-shirt. Her skin was warm and soft. Her n****e puckered under his touch.

“You know I love you.” She gazed into his green eyes. “I don’t always show it. And I know I don’t say it often enough.” There was a catch in her throat. “But I do love you, Jorge.”

Morrie smoothed Jack’s hair and kissed him, her tongue flicking out to tease his upper lip. “I know what’s in your heart,” she murmured. “And that’s what matters.”

For the moment, Alice checked the clock. It was 11:50 now. Way too late to call a man. He was probably asleep. But she thought he’s the only one who could help her with this.

She picked up her phone, hesitated, and then punched the numbers. She had never been this confident to call him.

Jack heard the clang of his phone and opened his eyes. He’s awakened once again. He must have drifted off for a minute. It was almost midnight. Who the hell was calling him at midnight?

His phone rang again.

Morrie in bed beside him didn’t stir. He picked it up. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry to call so late,” she said apologetically. Her voice was soft, hesitant.

As she spoke, her words choked him. She said “I received a call from the FBI. I’ve been searching for the user of the anonymous man.”

“You can’t sleep,” he finished for her, feeling a tenderness that was completely unlike him. He slipped out from under the sheets and left Morrie sleeping in her bed.

Jack walked naked into the bathroom and shut the door. “It’s OK,” he said into the phone. “I understand.”

“He got his number disconnected to the network.” There was a pause on her end. He waited.

“I have some questions.” She continued.

“I knew you would.”

“You sure it’s OK if I call so late?” She sounded stronger now. More confident.

“I’m serious when I tell you I don’t sleep much. I’ve had insomnia for years.” He put down the toilet lid and sat down. The seat was cold on his bare ass, but he didn’t want to go out into the loft. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to wake up Morrie; Call it crazy, but he just didn’t want to share his call with Alice with anyone else. It was his, and his alone.

“So tell me what you need to know,” he said.

“OK, great,” She paused again. “Hell. I don’t even know where to start. I have so many things I need to know.”

“Then I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we meet?” He didn’t know what made him say it. Why did he want to meet her? This could get messy. Complicated, considering these weird feelings for her that he was experiencing. Jack didn’t do it messy though.

“Meet?”

“Yeah, get together. I mean, if you like. It might be better doing this face to face.”

“Well. Yes, that would be better. If you don’t mind.”

They agreed to meet in a restaurant far away from their town. Jack hung up and stepped out of the bathroom. “Hey, Morrie,” he called. “I’d better get going.”

He picked up a pair of black denim jeans off a chair and pulled them on, then walked to the side of the room as the naked Morrie climbed down out of her bed and began picking up her clothes off the floor.

“Where are you going? What happened?”

“Emergency call from the office.” He walked out of her house hurriedly, not leaving other words to Morrie.

They met at the restaurant after a few minutes. They were now seated in front of each other. They had ordered some chips and salsa and two beers. She drank only half of hers. She still had to drive home later.

Alice told him the whole story. She was being hunted by Jack Kinley and she thought that the man following her the other day was none other than him. She was very stiff in her seat.

“You OK?” Jack slid his hand across the table and covered hers.

“I’m OK. Stop asking me that.” Alice glanced up at him, then back at her beer.

The sound of Beyonce came muffled and scratchy from a speaker somewhere overhead and mingled with the sound of conversation and clattering dishes.

She lifted her gaze to meet Jack’s. He wore a white and maroon pinstripe oxford and it was nicely pressed. It looked like one of those athletic cut shirts, and she had to admit it did look rather fine on him.

“He seemed harmful. He was, right?” Alice asked, feeling oddly detached.

“He couldn’t hurt you. You are a strong, healthy woman in her prime.”

She cracked a smile. “That’s why I’m his target?” She meant ironically.

Jack lifted one shoulder. “The FBI could be absolutely right. But why does it have to be you?”

She leaned forward toward him and the intimacy he seemed to be offering. Her emotions were spent. It had upset her greatly to receive a call from the FBI today. She kept telling herself that she should feel better because Jack is there to protect her. But the call lately distressed her. It all sounded so logical, and yet she still couldn’t believe a word of it. Alice was scared and felt so damned vulnerable, and she had no one in the world she could depend on now but this man across the table from her.

“You believe that?” she asked.

He reached for his beer. “I don’t know what to believe. I’m a man of facts. That’s what I present in my position. I don’t see any facts yet, so I’m still not sure.”

“So set aside the facts for a minute and tell me what you feel.”

“Well if the FBI called you…” He murmured. “It might be true.”

“I know,” she groaned, wrapping her hand around her beer.

“I’ll help you find him. Don’t worry. You got me with this.” He confidently said.

“Really? Thanks. I knew I could count on you.”

He had gone much kinder than he looks. She saw the look in his face and quickly looked away. She was having a difficult time here, divided between this whole thing with putting herself in possible danger the way she had by finding Jack, and with being with Jack this way. The restaurant was dimly lit, intimate. She kept having these feelings, these flickers of desire that had no place here.

How could she thinking of s*x with a man who was practically a stranger until she had just encountered a killer? Because, she knew, concentrating on Jack and her awareness of him was safer and more welcome than grisly thoughts that had been haunting her every moment. For a while at least, she could escape and find safe haven in Jack’s company.

But should she? As much as she’d like to spend more time with this man, she wasn’t sure she should complicate her life any more than it was already. She wasn’t sure she could handle it. She stood up.

“I need to head home,” she said, staring into the beer; the glass cool and damp on her fingers, her thoughts so confused she didn’t know what she wanted at this point.

“I hate to send you home alone like this. I should have thought this out better.”

She smiled. He really was sweet. “I live alone, Jorge, without a man to protect me,” she teased.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“It’ll be fine. Kinley comes after me, I’ll run his ass over in my SUV.” Neither of them laughed. “Really, I’ll be home in an hour.”

“You sure you don’t just want to get a hotel room? Go home in the morning?”

She grabbed a chip out of the basket, waving it at him. “Was that a lewd invitation of some sort?” She couldn’t believe such a thing had come out of her mouth.

It was his turn to smile. A sexy smile. Predatory, and yet way too charming at the same time.

“I need to go,” she said, reaching for her purse.

Jack insisted on paying the bill and followed Alice out of the café and into the parking lot. It was still warm out and the sky was hazy. He walked her to her car and she leaned against it, her purse thrown over her arm.

“So now what?” she asked. She meant about Kinley, of course, but about them too. Was there a them, or at least the possibility? She’d been out of the whole dating scene for so long that she didn’t even know how to approach the subject.

“I’ll keep digging into Kinley. In the meantime, you’re going to set this mess aside and get to work in the office first.” He poked her playfully, and she surprised herself by catching his hand. “OK. I’ll get back to work. I feel better now. Now that I’ve been looking for the bastard myself.”

He threaded his fingers through hers.

“Will you call me?” She said it almost shyly and felt silly. Giddy.

“Of course. I have that guy who used to work at the prison who I’m going to call, and then I’m going to get to work on locating Jack Kinley.”

“I didn’t mean Kinley.” She didn’t know where her boldness came from. Those raging late 20’s hormones, she guessed.

He smiled. “I was just going to ask you that.” He moved closer, dropped her hand, and rested both of his hands on her hips. “It was really good to see you again. I wish it could have been under better circumstances…”

“But,” she offered, daring to look up at him.

“But I have no shame. I’ll use any excuse to see a beautiful woman.”

She laughed, raising her hand to rest them on his shoulders. He leaned closer to kiss her, and she lifted her chin to meet his lips. Jack was a good kisser, which really didn’t surprise her. He started out gently, but with just the right amount of pressure.

Little tingles of pleasure shot through Alice as she parted his lips to taste the tip of his tongue.

The kiss ended way too soon, and she was glad she was leaning against her SUV. Otherwise, she might have made a fool of herself right there in the parking lot by falling to her knees. Had to be the beer.

He brushed his lips against hers one more time, but it was a quick kiss. “Right about now I’d ordinarily be asking you if I could come back to your place or if you’d like to come to mine,” he said. “Or at least see if you wanted to rent a hotel room.”

“But I’m too ugly?” she teased. “Or my life is just too big of a mess and you don’t want to get involved?”

Jack laughed. “Oh, you don’t know what a mess is until you’ve gotten a close look at my life.” His green eyes twinkled. “No, I wouldn’t try to get you into bed in a second, but…”

“But?” She laughed with him, glad this conversation had taken on a playful tone, because she certainly wasn’t ready to go to bed with him. But Jack seems to be an aphrodisiac that she can’t say no to.

“But you, Alice, aren’t my usual kind of date.”

With great exaggeration, she lifted an eyebrow as she met his gaze. She could tell by the look on his face that he really did want her. The thought made her feel good. “Oh?”

“And you’re no ordinary woman.”

She lowered her head, feeling silly again. “Well, thank you.”

“So I think I need to go back to my apartment alone and figure out how I’m going to keep from screwing this up with you.”

She felt weak-kneed again.

“Because I really like you, Alice. More than—”

She pressed her finger to his mouth, then replaced it with her lips. Another gentle, quick kiss. “You say another word and you might scare me off,” she murmured, gazing into his green, movie-star eyes. “Go home and call me tomorrow.”

“OK,” he breathed.

She couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or relieved that she was sending him on his way. “You need to prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

Still he didn’t look away, and she was so damned tempted to kiss him again—to grab his shirt and pull him against her like a scene from the romance novels she secretly liked to read. Worse, she wanted to take him up on the offer of the hotel room. She knew he would be good in bed, and she could feel that ache between her legs that wanted to take over her decision-making process.

Instead, she let go of his hand and reached into her bag for her keys.

Somewhere in her subconscious mind she knew she was thinking about what Sofia had said about Jack, about him wanting to get into her pants to get closer to the story. He obviously wanted to get into her pants, but she didn’t know if Sofia was right about the rest. And she wasn’t sure that she could make a good judgment right now.

“Good night,” she said, unlocking her car and climbing in.

Jack stood there until she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, headed south for home.

Feeling giddy, Alice pressed the button to turn the radio on and played some romantic music.

She can’t get her smile off her face.