It seemed unreal walking with Jenny through the tunnels on the Sunday after Vincent and Catherine had met with her at the apartment. What made it even more so was that Jenny didn’t appear fazed in any way by the lengthy tunnels or the lanterns along the way, and Vincent and Catherine both knew that having visited Narcissa she would have seen something like it before. She did however seem surprised when they made the final turn into the home chambers and saw how many clean and nourished children there were. All of which greeted her friends with Hi Vincent, Hi Catherine, as they stopped to introduce Jenny.

“No wonder you’re always missing, this is a grand place Cath.” Jenny told her friend with eyes full of interest.

“You’ve to see the best bit when you’ve seen the waterfall and the crystal cavern.” Catherine told her.

“I beg to differ, my dear.” Came a voice at their side, “but the best bit is me.” All turned to find Father coming from the dining area with a plate of cookies.

“Caught red handed I see Father.” Catherine chuckled, but Father shook his head, “Not at all, I had heard that your friend was almost here and went to fetch some freshly baked cookies for her arrival. Jenny, welcome to our world, please would you accompany me to my chamber?”

Taking his arm like it was the most natural thing in the world, Jenny fell into step alongside the old man. “Great place you have here Sir, who would ever have believed it?”

“Less of the Sir my dear, down here I am known as Father, please call me that, or if you prefer then Jacob is my real name.”

“No, no, Father is fine. I wouldn’t want to be seen as taking liberties.” Jenny told him turning and winking at her friends who were bringing up the rear.

Father chuckled. He’d been a trifle apprehensive ever since Vincent had told him about Jenny’s visit even more to know that she had on occasions visited with Narcissa and has even seen Paracelsus. The biggest question was where did she come in and how many others had Narcissa invited in her day?

Over tea, Father found that question to take priority and Jenny, who had assumed this would come up, replied, “I think you can stop worrying about that Father. My family have known Narcissa for years, and it is only to me that she has extended the invitation to see her home. And believe me had she not of met me and shown me the way in I would never have known. Neither do I ever remember it. And I’d like to think that she would be surprised to see me coming to visit her from any other way down, but she probably knows that I am here already.” Jenny laughed, as did Vincent and Catherine. Father remained sceptical he still wasn’t sure how much he believed in Narcissa’s powers though his son held them in good stead and the funny thing was none of the search party had been able to discover Narcissa’s other way into the tunnels, so Jenny’s explanation had to be accepted as creepy as that was.

“We will have to visit her while you are here, but it is some way to walk. Do you think you could manage it tomorrow, you mentioned that you might be able to get the day off work?” Vincent asked her.

“Yes that’s all arranged, I took a long weekend. I told them that I was visiting with friends out of town. I brought my cell phone with me in case I could swing an extra day, but I doubt it will work this far down anyway. So, I will need to be back by Tuesday. How far is it to Narcissa’s from here?”

“It’ll take a good three hours to get there and four to return because coming back is uphill. Plus the hour spent with Narcissa so that’s most of the day. Do you think you could hack it?” Catherine asked her friend.

“Only an hour with Narcissa, why? Is she not well?” Jenny was concerned.

Vincent and Catherine exchanged glances. “I thought an hour was pushing it.” Catherine told Jenny. “Usually visits to Narcissa are over and done with in ten to fifteen minutes. Unless she is running one through a vision then it’s a bit longer. Why how long do you usually stay?”

“All night once but generally five or six hours. We have so much to talk about.” Even Father was surprised.

“Well you must be the honoured one,” Father told her, “and forgive me for saying, but I find it difficult knowing what there is to talk about for that period of time.”

“Oh we don’t always talk. We make potions and see things. I always find a visit to Narcissa educational and come away like I’ve had my batteries recharged and unless you understand those sort of things though you couldn’t hope to appreciate them.” Jenny could tell by Father’s demeanour that he really didn’t believe in the things Narcissa concocted.

“Well if you wish then, we’ll save the crystal cavern and waterfall for tomorrow because they are in different directions, and maybe you would wish to see Narcissa today?” Vincent asked her.

“Actually I have a better idea. You could show me around down here today and tomorrow take me to Narcissa and I will have her show me back above her way up, because I can assure you its nothing like as long as four hours. More like forty five minutes the way she takes me.”

Father’s mouth fell open, as did Vincent’s and Catherine’s. It was impossible, and how did the old lady, half blind, know of a shorter route than they did? And what was beginning to concern them even more was learning that Paracelsus had probably known of it too. That would certainly answer a few troubling questions from the past on how he had got into the tunnels from above so quickly.

“We need to consult with the council Vincent.” Father spoke over Jenny’s head and she concluded this would usually have been seen as bad manners had these people not of considered the matter to be of gross importance.

“Who are the council,” She mouthed to Catherine while Father was still speaking to his son.

“Members of the community who see to the general running of the place.” Catherine replied. “I think Narcissa’s other way up and down is causing considerable worry.” Father overheard this and nodded, “That is so my dear. You see Jenny, we pride ourselves on our security measures down here and if there is another way in that we do not know of then anyone could wander in and cause us harm.”

“I understand what you say Father, but as I’ve already mentioned I couldn’t find my way in and out without Narcissa’s guidance.”

“But what if she were to be followed my dear? All manner of people could get in and live down there, might even become a danger to Narcissa herself. We’ve encountered such people before my dear, and believe me we are in no hurry to do so again.”

Catherine and Vincent shuddered when they remembered the outsiders that had found their way in before. Violent uncontrollable people that took the lives of several of their friends and whom caused Vincent to act in the only way open to him. Catherine knew how Vincent had berated himself for the deaths he had caused and she was well aware of how fragile the community really was when it came to other people who didn’t have their best interests at heart getting into the tunnels.

“Well I’m sure Narcissa knows what she is doing. She might be old and half blind, but she has ears like no other.” Jenny sounded peeved. “I’m certain she wouldn’t endanger what you have down here.”

“Even so Narcissa is aware of the rules and that you have been coming here for years and we have not known of it gives rise to some anxiety. I’m sorry my dear, you probably think that you ought not to have mentioned knowing Narcissa now.” Father told her with sympathy.

“Not at all. I’ve had some very strange dreams regarding Cathy over the last few years, most of which involve Vincent and tunnels. Its good to know that I haven’t gone completely mad after all.” She laughed. “And besides I might never have met you, Father but for that and that would have been terrible.”

Father got the distinct impression Jenny was flirting with him despite the age difference and he wasn’t quite sure how to reply. Vincent on the other hand was chuckling, happy to see his parent lost for words for once.

He soon found something to reply with though. “It’s a pity Devin isn’t here.” Father told Jenny. “I’m sure the two of you would get on like a house on fire.”

“Who’s Devin?” Jenny looked around at her friends eager to know. This Devin sounded like fun.

“Just in time!” A voice cried from the entrance sending them all whirling round with expressions of stunned surprise.

“DEVIN!” Three people chorused together.

“As large as life…” He bounded down the steps, “Now forgive me if I’m wrong, but weren’t you about to tell the young lady here about my good looks, my charm and my wit dear Father?”

Jenny laughed out loud. Father was right, she and this man could be a force to be reckoned with…and not only that…this was one dream where she could at last put a face to the faceless husband of her dreams. Devin… Narcissa had told her that she would know him when he appeared out of the blue… she just hadn’t known that he would be so gorgeous. Jenny was in love!

Upon the dusty once blue carpet a trail of discarded clothing lay scattered around the room a couple of ties were draped over one chair, shirts over its back and a silver grey suit lay upon the only single bed in the large room.

A dusty mirror reflected the state of the room by its own murky depths, drawers half open with clothes spilling out, torn wallpaper and peeling paint. In stark contrast, one wall was impeccably covered with bright shining photographs depicting the same smiling woman. Her blondish hair spilling around her face, dancing green eyes above lush full lips giving the most perfect smile with glistening white teeth. In some of the photographs, she was seen wearing the most exquisite ball gowns, in others a business suit, short skirt and long jacket. And there were others of her in blue jeans and bright orange duffle coat taking time out in Central Park. And then there were photographs of her standing beneath a full moon with a whimsical look about her face.

Beyond the picture studded wall the sound of falling water could be heard from the shower cubicle along with the sound of singing in rich deep tones and then as the facet was turned off a towel clad man emerged dripping wet.

He walked into the dusty room, eyeing it without seeing the mess and contemplated what to wear. And then his eyes caught the photographs and dropping the towel he sauntered toward them sneering, “Like what you see Cathy? Want me do you?” And began the usual ritual of masturbation that would culminate in more of his seed joining that on the already splattered wall beneath the photographs.
“Oh Cathy…” He panted as he reached his peak, “What you do to me.” His eyes closed and the delirium took over as his mind acknowledged the fantasy and he pumped harder, faster imagining that she matched him stroke for stroke and then it happened, he lost it. His erection melted away like it had never been and he stared down at himself with disbelief and frustration. “Noooo Cathy!” He screamed. “Don’t go, don’t go!” The images of her naked form faded from his mind and hot tears blotted out the pictures from before his eyes and he made a grab for her meeting only the shining surface of the photographs with his damp and sweaty hands.
To the floor, he crumpled into a heap of naked flesh and sat there shivering from the chill of the room and the slow realisation that she would never truly be his. But he would not accept that and he shouted out loud, “I won’t let you have her Maxwell. I’ve seen the way you watch her, but she’s not yours!” He stood up and drying his eyes with the backs of his hands he stood staring at the photographs as if seeing them in new light and with a possessive cry he yelled; “You’re gonna be mine Cathy! Mine!”

A three day break from work afforded Jenny time to visit the crystal cavern, something she was highly delighted about since Devin announced it had been years since he’d been down there and would accompany the small group. And now on their return journey Jenny found herself walking alongside the man himself as Vincent and Catherine strolled hand in hand and brought up the rear.

“Its been great hasn’t it?” Jenny remarked, “And I must say you are such good company. All those tales you spun of your travels were wonderful. Will you be bringing Charles back here for a visit sometime do you think?”

“I shouldn’t think so. Charles loves the mountains and the isolation that affords him. After spending all those years imprisoned at that freak show the last thing Charles wants to do is come down here to feel entombed again. Can’t say I blame him though.”

Jenny was surprised, “Oh, I thought you loved visiting the tunnels?”

“Yikes do I give that impression? Oh Lord, no, certainly not. I need it like a hole in the head, but this is home. It’s where my family are. If I could move them someplace else I’d have done so by now. They all miss such a lot living down here.”

“A case of the grass being greener on the other side really isn’t it? I mean like you, I love to travel, see the world, we only get one chance at it don’t we? But here, I don’t know, it seems that they have found Elysium. Some people up above search for that all their lives and never find it. Its true that home is where the heart is, and for me since coming down here and meeting all these fine people, well I can quite easily see what holds them here.”

“Ah you say that now, but wait until those cold North winds find their way down in the dead of winter. Right now you see it through rose tinted glasses. Reality is something else. Ask anyone that is forced to live below and they’ll tell you that you must be nuts to want to live down here.” Devin told her with a grin.

“Yet most people down here are not nuts. In fact, I’ve yet to meet one that is. Well save for Paracelsus but since you’ve told me that he’s dead, he doesn’t count. Those that are forced to live anywhere at all would be negative about it for one reason or another. I admire the people that are forced to live below because they seem happy here or live here simply because they want to do. While others want to live down here because they love someone that is below already.” With a flick of her head, Jenny indicated her intent to the couple behind and Devin caught her drift.

“If I could take Vincent out of here I would do it in an instance. I think Catherine feels the same way.” Devin sounded bitter, “Why is it that the best people have to stay imprisoned, its not fair.”

“Yet he appears happy.”

“That’s thanks to your friend. Without Catherine, I think Vincent would live out his life here with a merit of happiness while he was secretly dying inside. Remember those stories about the things he and I used to get up to?” Devin grinned, “Those were the days. Innocence is a wonderful thing. Dreaming that we would travel South of Oz and North of Shangrila that’s when Vincent was really happy.”

“But it was all delusion. He had to come down to earth eventually. And you’re right, thank God for Catherine, she loves him more than life itself you know?” Jenny replied with a wistful sigh.

“Why the melancholy?” Devin was interested.

“Oh its just me. You know searching the world for Mr Right and never finding him. They say that treasure is usually right under your nose, and Lord mine’s big enough!” She laughed out loud as did Devin.

“Maybe that’s why you haven’t found him yet. Its so big you can’t see him beneath it.” He laughed out loud at his own joke and continued laughing until he realised Jenny wasn’t with him on that. “I’m sorry. One of those cases I think where one can say they’re fat but let anyone else try it huh? Actually your nose isn’t as big as mine.” He grinned then added, “Probably why I’ve never seen Miss Right either!”

Jenny did laugh at that and she slapped him playfully on the arm only to stop laughing to issue a very large sigh, “Makes you wonder though doesn’t it? I mean I was always led to believe that God made someone special for everyone, so why haven’t I found him yet? If he doesn’t come and sweep me off my feet soon, I’m gonna be too decrepit to enjoy him!” At this stage, she could hardly confess that she thought she had met him already.

“Maybe you have found him. Maybe the timing’s not right. I am a great believer in the finest relationships blossoming from friendship. Of course all relationships have to start that way, but some are geared to expect romance whereas others are geared to expect nothing but socialising. My ideal woman would have to be my very best friend before it went beyond that.” Devin opened his heart to Jenny telling her things he had never told a soul before.

“So long as you didn’t lose sight of that fact and be too frightened to go beyond it.” Jenny told him.

“Yes I know what you mean, afraid of ruining a good friendship by taking the risk of romance and intimacy. That then would be a Catch 22 scenario.” Devin told her wryly.

“That it would.” They fell silent for a time each pondering a situation like that. Each remembering and dismissing people from their own collection of friends and wondering if they had missed out somewhere along the line. Finally, both of them reached the same conclusion. This friend, this best friend hadn’t yet entered their lives, although Jenny had her doubts about that and depending on what they believed that realisation made them feel a trifle sad, apprehensive and excited all at once. They weren’t left on the shelf after all, it was more a matter of waiting a while longer.

Behind them, Catherine and Vincent walked steadily happy to be in one another’s company, seldom speaking. The Bond thrummed between them making conversation unnecessary, even though at the back of his mind Vincent still hadn’t shifted those dream sequences. If only he could get it out of his head that they were after all, the tail end of a movie he hadn’t fully seen. But every time he was near Catherine shivers ran up and down his spine like someone had walked over his grave and he felt certain that something morbid surrounded her. Still he vowed not to mention it this trip, lest it spoilt the time the two of them had shared at the crystal cavern.

“We’re almost home.” Catherine told him when she recognised a rock signifying the beginning of the home chambers, “Thank you for suggesting this trip Vincent. I know Jenny loved every moment of it and it is always wonderful for me to return to the crystal cavern. There are times when I start thinking I must have imagined all that beauty far beneath the city streets.”

“I think Jenny found the company just as stimulating as the crystals.” Vincent whispered with a grin causing Catherine’s eyes to open wide.

“You noticed too? I thought it was just me. She seems smitten with him, doesn’t she?”

“Mmm.”

“That sounds ominous, is there a problem?”

“Well you know Devin. Never in one place long enough to form lasting relationships. Jenny might get her heart broken if she sets her sights on him.”

“Yes.” Catherine had thought of this herself. “Still Jenny’s a big girl and they did talk extensively about Devin’s life. I’m certain she’s got the picture already. It would be nice to see the pair of them come to something though. I think they are right for each other.”

Vincent chuckled, “Matchmaking suits you. Is it something you have always done?”

“I wish! No, but sometimes its something you can see in a couple. If I was any good at matchmaking I’d have found someone for Elliot. That would have made me feel a whole lot better.” As soon as she mentioned him Catherine frowned, and as she thought Vincent soon picked up on it.

“Do you ever regret not being with Elliot?” Vincent asked unsteadily.

“Vincent, we’ve been through this before. You know I don’t.”

“I know, but Catherine look what he has. Not just wealth but good looks too, and prestige. You also compliment him. I always thought so when I saw photographs of the two of you together. I couldn’t deny that if it were not for me, you would have made it up with him, or if it were not for me your values wouldn’t have altered to a degree that those differences forced the split between the two of you in the first place.”

“I’ve always denied what you insinuated about Elliot and me Vincent, but you do have a point. It is possible that in another life where you didn’t figure Elliot and I would have been together. But that’s in another life. In this one I’ve met you and over Elliot I chose you. Elliot lacks the one thing that you have in abundance, humanity and the ability to put the feelings of others ahead of yourself. I admire that in a person and it makes me feel secure. With Elliot, the shortage of those basic things would have made me insecure and I’m not certain that I could entirely trust him. Whereas with you, I could trust you with my life, not to mention my heart.”

“You make me feel very humble, Catherine.” Withdrawing his hand from hers Vincent drew her closer. “I love you.” He whispered against her hair.

“And I love you. And you see that’s another thing. Had anyone of told Elliot those things he would have said that they had made him feel proud. Whereas they make you feel humble. That kind of response warms me to you even further.”

Vincent did not reply, just drew her closer still and kissed her cheek in thanks. Catherine always had the ability to make him feel wanted and that life was good after all.

The home chambers with its burning lanterns soon came into view and Jenny gasped, “What home already! Just when I was beginning to enjoy myself too.” She cast a sidelong glance at Devin who was surprised that her intent was directed at him.

“It doesn’t have to end here. I know these two are going to sit in the favourite spot beneath the bandstand and take in tonight’s concert, but if you would like to accompany me, we could go see it together from above.” Devin held his breath hoping she would agree. He didn’t like to admit it, but he was saddened at the end of their trip as well.

“I’d like that Devin. I need to go and change first though, how about I meet you in the park at eight? I can drive myself there.”

“That’ll be fine. A date it is then.” And he winked at her sending goose bumps across her skin. My, how she’d get through the evening with him at her side she’d never know, just looking at him made her knees go weak.

Father met them on their way back. He was returning from the hospital chamber where one or two of the children had been treated for sore throats. He was delighted to see them home safe and well and invited them in to his chamber for tea.

The four of them accepted readily, after such a long trek, tea sounded divine.

This was Jenny’s third time in Father’s chamber and she wondered how long she would have to keep coming before she deemed she had seen it all. It reminded her of Aladdin’s Cave, or as near as imagining it would be possible, since she had only ever seen it in picture books.

She loved the shelves and shelves of books, many of them first editions, which being in the publishing business she was able to tell their value. Thinking aloud, she surprised everyone when she mused; “One of these days I must go through all those books.” Then blushed scarlet when she realised that her comment was totally out of context to what the others had been discussing and she apologised profusely.

“That’s all right my dear, please feel free to go through my books any time that you wish. I can rest assured that someone of your calibre will take great care of my collection.” Father told her with a grin.

“Oh I will, I will. And I understand you have them all categorised?” Jenny asked.

“Yes thanks to Vincent’s help and don’t worry if I’m not around when you come to look. Just come in and help yourself, I’m certain you will keep them in their proper order.” Father looked around at the empty cups, “More tea anyone?”

“If you don’t mind,” Jenny asked him, “I really must be going. Devin is taking me to the concert in the park this evening and I’ve loads to do first.”

Father’s eyebrows shot up, “Devin is?” He grinned and Jenny adverted her gaze feeling slightly embarrassed. At this rate if she wasn’t careful, everyone would soon know how she felt about Devin Wells, not least the man himself. However, it was a bit late for that as everyone was aware of it and while Devin wasn’t entirely certain, he was quietly confident that something was there between them. And he liked Jenny. She was open and honest, and down to earth, and she had some spooky stories to tell that competed with the many tales he had spun while they journeyed to and from the crystal cavern. It was unusual to find anyone that could match his story telling and he rather liked that. Besides he was certain that she would be the sort of woman that wouldn’t be frightened of her own shadow, which was one of the reasons he’d invited her up to the park that evening. Some woman had declined such an offer being petrified of being in the park late at night even with a concert on. All those eerie shadows cast by trees scared them witless. Devin was looking forward to seeing how Jenny coped with things like that.

“Well I hope you’ll both have a wonderful time.” Father told them at length, “And you Vincent, are you not taking Catherine to listen to the same concert?”

“Yes Father at our private seating beneath the bandstand.”

“Well just be certain that the four of you don’t chat to one another through the grid and alert people to our presence down here.”

Devin hadn’t thought of that and he made a mental note to steer Jenny well away from the grid. He didn’t want any peeping toms for what he had in mind. He chuckled, “Don’t worry dad, any messages I have to pass will be way of a note dropped discreetly through the grid.”

“Just so long as you aren’t arrested for dropping litter then.” Father told him. Devin wanted to retort something sarcastic but in Jenny’s presence refrained from doing so. That worried him a little he didn’t usually care so much what people thought of him, but somehow he wanted to set Jenny a good impression.

Only later when he was alone and getting ready for the concert above did he stop to reflect on the reasons for that. He liked Jenny she was good company and he hoped that they would stay friends. And along that line he began to think about the conversation they had had regarding friendships and Mr and Miss Right and Devin began to wonder about that and though he expected that such a thought would frighten him to hell, he found that he rather enjoyed it and looked forward to the evening ahead with relish. Maybe something would come of his friendship with Jenny. Whistling as he got ready for his date with her Devin suddenly felt extremely happy.

The newspaper spread before him the silver suited fellow used an HB pencil to mark a broad ring around the advertisement for the evening’s concert. “If I’m right you’ll be there tonight Cathy, I know you love Classical music. And I know you love the park. But why do you go there alone, Cathy? Such courage! Will you be there tonight? I’ll be looking out for you. I have something for you.”

He fingered the petals of the long stemmed red rose before bringing it to his lips and kissing the silky petals. In his mind’s eye, he was kissing Catherine’s lips. Suddenly he couldn’t wait for the evening. He hoped she would be there for if he could make her trust him then other things would become so much easier to accomplish.

Sitting beneath the bandstand afforded Vincent and Catherine a cosy evening wrapped in one another’s arms. The cushions scattered round about allowed them to lounge back against their softness and with eyes closed the couple absorbed the music into their souls. They loved being together in this way. The seclusion, the music, the nearness of each other was like being in a cocoon in a world of their own - a world padded by softness that protected them both from the harshness and realities of life be it below or above. Here they could forget what life had thrown them and Vincent could imagine that he was like any other man with the woman that he cherished, safe and warm in the knowledge of her love.

Above Devin sat alongside Jenny listening to the music with one ear and strangely enough listening to her breathe with the other. He liked the way her breath rose as an exciting piece exceeded all her expectations and the way she held it when a familiar piece was about to be imparted. In fact, he liked the way her eyes shone and her lips puckered, and he liked the soft contour of her cheek nearest to him and wanted oh so much to trail one finger along its softness and feel it held against the palm of his hand. Devin shook himself out of such reverie, seldom had he felt this way about a woman and only then been because of one thing and one thing only. He’d wanted to take her back to his place or to hers, and undress and make love to her slowly but with Jenny he couldn’t envisage those things. He just knew that he wanted something with Jenny but couldn’t fathom what. He knew he wanted to be her friend and he knew he wanted to take care of her, but he couldn’t for the life of him imagine having sex with her. To do so he felt would encroach upon her rights and take him to a place he dare not approach lest he frighten her away. Analysing those feelings was new to Devin and he spent more time thinking about them than enjoying the music. That served only as a soothing backdrop to his thoughts.

When the interval came, he suggested a stroll and was happy when Jenny eagerly accepted. Devin had still to find out how she reacted to eerie corners, shadows and night sounds. It didn’t really matter but having thought about it, he was intrigued.

“I like being at the boating lake.” Jenny told him as they moved away from the crowds, “Especially when the moon is reflected in it.” That surprised him.

“You aren’t another night owl like Cathy are you? She’s always frequenting the park at night.” He chuckled remembering the time he’d discovered that Catherine had followed him to the Carousel one murky night after they had first met.

“No not usually. I think Cathy is one on her own there. But having Vincent to protect her…Oh…excuse me, I didn’t see you there. Are you all right?” Jenny extended a hand to the fellow she had just bumped into and as she touched him she gasped as a vision shot through her mind and she snatched her hand back as if she had been burned.

“What is it?” The fellow seemed stunned but all Jenny could do was stare wide-eyed at him leaving Devin to feel uncomfortable at her side. “I…I’m sorry.” Jenny stammered and as she took up Devin’s arm, he felt her tremble.

“No, what is it?” The fellow asked again. “You seem frightened of me, yet I’m certain we have never met before.” Briefly, he wondered if she may have been one of his ‘star’s’ that had got away.

Taking a deep breath Jenny found her tongue, and holding her voice as steady as she could she replied, “That’s true. I don’t know what came over me. It’s just that when I touched your arm I felt an electric shock. It’s probably your suit material. I sometimes get a reaction like that.” She hoped that he believed the lie.

He did, “Just so long as you weren’t frightened of me. I wouldn’t want to think I scare women like that, although I did step out in front of you seemingly from nowhere. I apologise for that, only I overheard your friend here mention the name Cathy and the fact that she likes being in the park at night, and I know it’s a long shot, and I know there are a million Cathy’s but I just wondered…”

Devin watched the exchange between the two. He could see that it was taking all Jenny could muster not to run a mile from the fellow, and that intrigued him. He didn’t look menacing, but Jenny he could tell was scared stiff of him.

“Yes, what did you wonder?” Despite the urge to flee, Jenny had to know. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest. When she had touched this man, she had seen a vision of him watching while two men killed Catherine with knives!

“I wondered if you could be talking about Catherine Chandler?”

Jenny froze. With her arm linked through Devin’s he felt it the moment she stiffened alongside him. He worried about it but continued to listen to the exchange in silence wondering how she would reply.

“As it happens, we were.” Jenny told him at last having thought of lying and dismissing the idea a dozen times before she spoke.

“Oh good! Is she here? I’d love to see her.” The stranger’s eyes lit up and Jenny shook yet he seemed so ordinary so peaceable, but her visions were seldom wrong. She shuddered.

“No. She’s spending the evening with her partner.” She told him leaving Devin to wonder why Jenny had emphasised that fact.

“Oh. I didn’t know she was seeing anyone.” His voice fell. Even Devin picked up on that and something in Jenny’s mannerism made him add, “They’re practically engaged. Been together for years.”

“Really? Yet I’ve not seen her out with him.” He told them with obvious disbelief.

“Well take it from me pal, she has certainly got someone, so if you’ve any designs on her I should lose them quick smart ‘cos he won’t stand for anyone muscling in on his girl.”

The fellow laughed, “Am I supposed to be frightened? Few people scare me.”

“Her partner would scare the shit out of you believe me.” Devin suddenly disliked the man intensely and was eager to end the conversation but the fellow lingered wanting to know more.

“So what’s his name? And how come I never see her with him?”

“Its really none of your business.” Jenny remarked as eager as Devin to get away from him. He gave her the creeps and she wanted to tell Devin about what she had seen knowing he stored great faith in her ability to see things. In the crystal cavern, he had been enthralled by her experiences from the past.

“The lady is right,” Devin drew Jenny away intent on walking around and past the fellow, “Now if you’ll excuse us, we want to stretch our legs before the second half.”

“No problem.” He sidestepped allowing them to pass him on the path but as they drew away from him he called them back, “Tell Cathy I was asking after her when you see her will you?”

“Sure.” Devin called back over his shoulder without looking round.

“But you don’t even know my name.” The fellow called back. “How will you know what to tell her?”

Under his breath Devin muttered, “I’ll tell her the silver suited nutter.” Causing Jenny to utter a nervous kind of giggle, while out loud he called, “Okay so what’s your name?”

“My friends call me FX.” Jenny stifled a scream. “Will you tell her that?”

“I’ll tell her.” Devin promised. Right now something bad was up with Jenny, and it had to do with that man and the more distance Devin put between them the better he would like it and for some reason he doubted that they would be going back to listen to the rest of the concert. “Want to come back below?” He asked her with open concern. Jenny nodded, she had to see Catherine and soon.
Unbeknown to her the silver suited fellow that watched them head out across the park was thinking exactly the same thing.

It was late, after ten before Devin and Jenny could relate the experience, for after arriving back at his chamber they had to wait for Vincent and Catherine’s return. Even so, at that late hour Vincent saw the necessity of consulting Narcissa without delay, glad that at last Catherine knew for a certainty that his visions and those of her friend Jenny had foundation.

“What did he look like?” Had been Catherine’s first question the moment Jenny related what had happened in the park.

“Normal. Six foot or so, blonde hair, couldn’t tell what colour his eyes were of course, and I only know about his hair from dreams. It looked darker tonight.” Jenny told her remembering everything she’d seen.

“So it could be darker? Jenny what did he look like in the flesh?” Catherine exasperated.

Devin took over, “Jenny is right. The park, as you know, isn’t too well lit in places and we were between lamps when he stepped out from nowhere. Made Jenny jump I can tell you. Appeared like an apparition.”

“That wouldn’t make me jump.” Jenny cut in. “But funnily enough he did. Ghosts have never frightened me even since I discovered that they were really demons appearing as a dead person to delude the living.”

“Are they really?” Devin was amazed to hear that.

“Oh yes, in fact…”Jenny began.

“Hey you two cut it out!” Catherine cried, “Meanwhile back on the ranch and all that.”

“Oops sorry. Where was I?” Jenny grinned sheepishly.

“Wherever you were is immaterial.” Vincent told her gravely, “I think its well after time that we paid Narcissa a visit, see if she can throw some light on this. Are you all coming?”

“What now?” Devin wailed. “It’ll be after midnight before we arrive.” He sounded nervous.

“Oh don’t worry you big scaredy cat, I’ll take care of you.” Jenny told him, “Besides Narcissa’s not that bad.”

“Its not Narcissa I’m worried about. Ghosts are one thing, but demons!” Devin visibly shuddered. “Wish you hadn’t told me that till tomorrow now.”

“Come on, stop fooling around.” Catherine told the pair grabbing her warmest coat for the long trek through the lower levels. “Vincent’s right, there’s no time like the present, and besides I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I’d rather know what I’m up against before I do.”

“You’re not serious?” Vincent asked aghast. “You can’t go back above now. Something is going to happen to you, something awful and I won’t be able to protect you. It’ll be in broad daylight!”

“How do you know?” Her coat half on and off Catherine paused, “You’ve never said so before.”

Jenny crossed to the bed and sat down, “Yeah Vincent, even I didn’t know that. How do you know its gonna happen during the day?”

Vincent didn’t know how to reply. He didn’t even know where to begin, or that he had known such a thing before announcing it. “I don’t know.” He told them sincerely. “But I do know that to be correct.”

“Might be the light level.” Devin mused sitting back to front on one of the chairs. “Perhaps you can tell that the light in the room isn’t manmade.”

Vincent nodded, “Yes you could be right Devin. That has to be it. The room is awfully light.”

“Or perhaps it’s the other way around. It might be that the room is filled with very bright lights.” Devin told him thoughtfully.

Catherine had an idea. “I only wish I could see inside your head, then I might know of this place. Do you think you could draw it for me? I know you’ve described it before but I didn’t recognise anything from that.”

“Drawing wouldn’t afford you any more information than describing it. It isn’t the room that’s significant it is the gathering, you and a few others and him, the intent in his eyes, his mannerisms, everything is geared toward doing you harm.” Vincent told her anxiously.

“Let’s go and see Narcissa,” Jenny jumped off the bed, “We’re wasting time sitting here discussing it and going around in circles. If anyone can help, Narcissa can.”

“Yes I agree.” Vincent picked up his cloak and flung it on, “Devin, Jenny you’ll need to go and put something warmer on, the lower levels can be cold.”

“That’ll take more time, we’ll keep each other warm.” Devin told his brother flippantly but Vincent disagreed. “Here take my spare cloak and Jenny wrap this blanket around your shoulders, believe me you’ll both be thankful for extra covering down there.”

With a murmur of thanks, the pair followed Vincent and Catherine out of the dimly lit chamber and then the small group set off apprehensively toward Narcissa’s domain.

Being a security guard wasn’t what you’d call one of life’s most exciting jobs, but from time to time, something happened out of the norm that made the job worth doing. And when by morning Vincent’s small party were deep beneath the city, up above the security guard employed at Catherine’s apartment building was taking in the third parcel not to mention the bouquets, for number 21E that day.

“If that woman gets any more popular she’s going to have to find larger accommodation.” He muttered under his breath as he placed the first bouquet of flowers next to the second and on top of the three parcels that had arrived for Catherine Chandler. “I hope she soon turns up, or I will have no room to move behind this desk.” He thought of taking the stuff up to her apartment and leaving it outside the door, but while he could trust all the occupants of that particular building, he didn’t know about their many visitors and so he kept the gifts where he could keep an eye on them.

He was surprised that Miss Chandler had not been in her apartment. True he hadn’t done the night shift but she was usually at home on a Sunday evening. Still she frequented unsocial hours that he did know, and rarely had visitors call.

As the morning wore on he began to wonder about the parcels. They were oblong in shape and seemed very much like they might be chocolates or perhaps handkerchiefs. But did women use handkerchiefs these days? Most he knew used tissue paper purchased in those little handy sized wrappers that could be carried in a purse out of sight. Handkerchiefs were, he presumed, reserved for the older generation. Or for nursing mothers who kept one down their bra to mop up spilt milk quickly. He knew that from his wife and sister who had their pockets filled with all kinds of baby things that handkerchiefs simply had to be stored elsewhere. And what better place than between the breasts where they were most needed anyway?

Musing on the plight of handkerchiefs, he jumped when the telephone rang and picking it up and before he could speak heard a male voice ask “Could you put me through to Apartment 21E please?”

“I could but I can tell you that no body is home right now.” At least he didn’t think so. “However, no doubt there is an answer machine for you to leave a message.”

“Thank you that will do.” The voice told him and so he put the call through without further delay. What was it up to him anyway? He didn’t usually tell callers if the occupants of certain apartments were home or not. He guessed it was just that the call had caught him on the hop and just when he was thinking about the gifts awaiting Miss Chandler too.

The red light on his board soon indicated that the call was ended, and with a thought of short and sweet, he set about his other duties for the day. However, it wasn’t long before they were interrupted by yet another bouquet arriving, this one different from the others of mixed vibrant colours. This one was made up primarily of red roses and baby’s breath. “Red and white.” The security guard thought as he took the bouquet from the delivery girl. He shuddered, and hoped that the gift bearer knew what he was doing, knowing only too well that the symbolic meaning behind red and white together was death. And the reason why brides who insisted on such colours for a wedding usually found a few pink flowers hidden somewhere in the bouquet, as most florists were superstitious of making up red and white bouquets of flowers.

These he placed on top of the others and hoped that would be the lot. It wasn’t. By mid afternoon he had to move his chair to one side of the desk as the parcels that had been delivered steadily all day continued to mount behind it. “Must be Miss Chandler’s birthday or something.” He mused. “Sure hope I’m still on duty when she comes home. Would love to see her face when she sees this lot.”

By the time his shift ended though there was still no sign of her, and more parcels and bouquets had arrived along with two more calls from the same man as before. The last time he sounded agitated and asked if Miss Chandler had received the gifts. When the guard replied that she had not he then sounded gruff and annoyed. But the security guard could tell him nothing. He didn’t know when Miss Chandler would be home or if she had gone away on business, and then asked the caller if he had tried her office.

“Yes, I’ve been calling all day. Her boss says he expected her in but she hasn’t turned up, neither has she called. Do you have a spare set of keys? Could you go into her apartment to check if she is well?”

“Yes I could, but I’m certain she’s not there. Have you tried her friends?” For some reason the security guard became suspicious of the caller. Whether Miss Chandler was home or not he wasn’t about to impart that sort of information to someone he didn’t know.

The caller’s reply of “I don’t know any of her friends,” only aroused the suspicions of the security guard even more.

“Look I’m certain she will be home soon if not today then certainly by tomorrow. I’ll put the bouquets in a bucket of water because I’m off duty soon and leave a note in her pigeon-hole that you have been trying to contact her. Who shall I say called?”

“I’ve left messages myself on her machine so don’t worry about that. No doubt we will catch up with one another eventually. Thanks for all your help.” And then he was hanging up and leaving the security guard with the receiver still at his ear. He put it down slowly, this had been a very strange day and it was a shame he wouldn’t get to see Miss Chandler’s face when she saw all the gifts, but he was eager to get home. However, he thought he would just take a peep at one of the cards fastened to the red and white bouquet just to see if they were from Elliot Burch as he had presumed all day. Slipping out a small white card from an equally small white envelope, he read the inscription but it didn’t make sense. Just two letters were imprinted thereon in bold italic ink.
FX. That’s all it said, just FX. The security guard replaced the card, sorted out his things for home and still pondering on the mystery of Miss Chandler’s gift bearer waited for his relief to take over for the night shift.

Delighted wasn’t the word! Not only was Narcissa over the moon to see Jenny but to have Devin visit as well! What a surprise, she hadn’t seen Devin since he was thirteen years old and she fussed over him like a mother hen much to his embarrassment because he had always found the witchy woman a little too scary for his liking.

“You mean to tell me that we actually surprised you Narcissa?” Vincent asked hugging the old lady with the vacant white eyes. She couldn’t see him but she could see everything.

“The spirits told me that someone was coming, but they didn’t tell me who. You though child, and your lady friend, I knew that you two were on your way down to see me. Something troubles you child, and Jenny the same thing troubles you too. Come sit tell me what is wrong.”

The four gathered around Narcissa’s tiny chamber. Tiny in as much as, most of it was filled with hanging things and strange sights and smells that dominated the chamber and an eerie wind that sounded but was not seen as nothing moved to prove its existence.

Jenny took in the welcome presence of her old friend with eyes bright and trusting. She felt positive that they would find that which they sought in the wisdom surrounding the old woman.

“It’s a vision Narcissa, “ Jenny began, “Vincent and I are having the same vision well similar at any rate and its to do with a man that intends harm on Catherine.”

“Yes.” Narcissa told them sending chills up Devin’s spine for it sounded like she had suddenly seen the same things just like that. Her words confirmed it, “I too have seen this man. He is dangerous, not to be underestimated in any way. I see pictures, photographs and an event. Catherine what is that you are wearing? You look like a mermaid.” All knew that Narcissa wasn’t referring to Catherine’s present garb but rather to something that she was ‘seeing’ in the future. “Do you own a silver ball gown my dear?” Vincent and Jenny visibly started at this question and Catherine gasped then with eyes wide and incredulous shook her head, confirming with a ‘No’ when she realised Narcissa wouldn’t see the action.

“Something will happen.” Narcissa went on as if Catherine had not spoken. “You will wear silver. But you mustn’t. You must steer clear of the colour silver at all costs, for to do so will signify your compliance to his plan.”

Her words were contradictory. One moment saying she will as if it were definite and unchangeable, and the next warning her that she should not. Catherine felt confused and a little annoyed. What was she to do? Wrap herself in cotton wool for how could she alter what would be? It would be like trying to hold back the hands of time.

“This is all very well Narcissa but how do I avert such a situation?” Catherine asked.

“You must be careful. Listen to those that watch out for you. Avoid wearing silver in any form. It is the only way to stay safe.”

“Oh this is ridiculous!” Catherine blurted showing her annoyance, “What does colour have to do with it? If someone is going to do me harm then what does it matter what I’m wearing?”

“Cathy don’t!” Jenny cried, “Narcissa is right, and it’s like waving a red rag to a bull. Don’t you get it? Whatever this guy’s problem is we don’t know but the wearing of silver annoys him. So just steer clear of that colour right?”

“I’ve told you Jen. I don’t own a silver ball gown and after this do you think I’d ever want to? Look I know you and Vincent care for me, and Narcissa I’m grateful for your help but you’re all making this out to be some kind of psychopathic thing that will befall me depending on what I do or do not wear. I have to get on with my life and I can’t let others dictate to me. But I will abide this warning, and that should be the end of it.” Catherine told them.

Devin said nothing just listened to the debate wondering if there was anything that he could do to help. He’d seen the fellow, couldn’t say he liked him but neither was there anything creepy about him either. Catherine was probably right. Her friends were over reacting because they cared for her. The only creepy thing was these visions they all kept seeing about silver ball gowns. Devin wanted to laugh - now that was crazy.

“You do not believe, Devin?” Narcissa’s question cut through his reverie almost making him jump out of his skin. How did she do that when her eyes were blind from the cataracts filling them? How did she know how he felt when she could not see into his eyes? He did not reply and she laughed, “You doubt even that I know?” He went cold and she laughed some more. “Flesh of thy flesh, like Father like son. Sceptical both. But you will see, Vincent and Jenny have seen the same vision as I and the spirits never lie.”

“Spirits, demons?” Devin commented at last. “Now you and Jenny are at odds. If demons are taking on the shape of dead people then what of the dead people? Where are they?”

“Asleep.” Jenny announced even as Narcissa answered, “All around us, child.”

Devin shuddered, “If it’s all the same to you Narcissa I prefer Jenny’s answer. Nice to imagine that the dead are sleeping, but can’t say that I like the idea of demons floating about either.”

“I take my source from the Bible.” Jenny told him looking sideways at Narcissa, she only hoped the old woman wasn’t offended. “It tells us that the devil appears as an angel of light making black seem white and that the dead are sleeping and are conscious of nothing at all.”

Narcissa clapped her hands and laughed, “’Tis true!”

“You go along with that?” Jenny was surprised. Narcissa put so much import on the spirits that she didn’t think she would like to know that they were demons.

“Yes child, but the demons can help us too. Who better to know what the future holds. Did not Lucifer himself know how he would benefit when he had Eve eat from the tree of knowledge? He had not the immediate prospects in mind but rather the prospects of everlasting glory, he could see that far ahead”

“Yes that’s true,” Jenny agreed then added; “and despite popular opinion, the devil was created beautiful and he had far too much pride in his own magnificent. That’s why he wanted God’s glory for himself and could see that man would follow him given the chance but his followers are blinded by the lie that the devil can give them more than God can. For demons will instigate an event so that people will believe in someone else’s ability to see into the future. Take this for example, this problem with the silver ball gown. Cathy might do everything in her power to avoid the wearing of such a garment, but if the demons wish it they can manipulate affairs to make it happen, and then people will believe that mediums and spiritualists, fortune-tellers and people like you and me are able to see visions and tell the future. I know you taught me everything Narcissa, but I have been studying it a great deal ever since and believe me knowing those things make the visions I have scare me witless, but I can’t seem to stop them from occurring. I wish I didn’t have the damn visions because its like I’m seeing something and believing that it will happen, but it wouldn’t have unless I believed, and now the demons will make it happen so that I place trust in the visions. Do you understand what I mean?” Jenny’s voice rose to an almost hysterical pitch. “That’s what I mean about the devil appearing as an angel of light.”

Devin was trying to keep up, but found she’d lost him. Still it sounded feasible and logical too come to that when one really analysed it and if came from the Bible who was he to argue?

“Each to his own.” Narcissa told her, sounding as though she hadn’t wanted to hear all of that. “But we are brought together today so that Catherine might believe. Before this happened she was sceptical, just as Devin is sceptical, just as the father has always been sceptical of my ways, but nothing can take away the fact that these things do happen and we need to be able to consult whomsoever is available to understand why.”

Jenny was about to disagree when Devin cut in with; “Narcissa, you’re worse than Jenny. You talk in riddles. You always have and always will.” He laughed showing he intended no malice, all the same Narcissa could tell he was eager to be gone. She smiled intent on imparting news that he would not ignore. “In the past your heart has been wanting, child. It wants no more.”

Devin shrugged, ‘stupid old bag’…he thought…’what is she on about now?’

“Well I for one, believe you Narcissa.” Vincent told her. “Coming here has proved to be very valuable. I thought I was going mad until Jenny arrived with the same nightmare and then she met the fellow in question, and we just had to consult you when that happened. At least I know now that there is truth in these visions and wherever they originate from, we can use them to do our utmost to protect Catherine from harm.

“All will be well if Catherine avoids wearing silver, just remember that.”

“I will, thank you Narcissa.” Catherine acknowledged turning back to the old woman, when all was said and done, she had been right about most things thus far in life, and whatever her source deserved credit. But whether or not Narcissa heard her thanks was another thing, for as Catherine turned to bid her goodbye, the old woman had gone. Devin noticed that too. “Blimey,” he said as they left the warm chamber for the icy tunnel beyond, “If I didn’t know better I’d say she was a demon. How old is she anyway, does anyone know?”

They walked forward in silence and Devin was just wondering if anyone had heard him when Vincent announced, “About 150 years old I think.”

“150!” Devin shrieked paling before his brother’s eyes. “Then…”

Vincent started to laugh as did the two ladies and Devin breathed a sigh of relief, “Vincent! I almost believed you.” He sighed with relief.

“Almost did not come into it.” Vincent retorted laughing heartily. “You should have seen your face it was a picture.”

Devin snorted and fell silent knowing he had been had.

“Talking of pictures,” Jenny remarked, “What do you suppose Narcissa meant by that? She spoke of pictures and photographs but didn’t elaborate. Anyone got any clues?”

They all shook their heads. That comment had been overlooked, but the time would come when it would provide Vincent with the further means of saving Catherine’s life.

Catherine didn’t return to her apartment the next day just went to work straight from the tunnels so she didn’t know that the lobby of her apartment building had been filled to capacity over the past two days as more gifts kept arriving.

However at the office Joe confronted her with first a demand to know where she had been and why she had not called in the day before and then with a piece of paper as long as his arm he handed Catherine all the messages from a guy that called himself, of all things, FX.

Physically paling before his eyes, Joe’s heart went out to Catherine as he told her the name and steering her to his office asked if he could help. She shook her head, “Its those nightmares Joe. Do you remember Jenny?” For a moment he wasn’t with her, what had one to do with the other? And then he remembered how Jenny had dreamt that Catherine was in trouble when that psycho had almost drowned her in the trunk of his car that time. Joe nodded, “Yes I remember Jenny” he told her. “So has she deciphered your dreams this time?”

“Not only that Joe but she’s been having them too. The thing is she tells me that they have something to do with a guy that calls himself FX. And now with these…” she indicated the list of messages, “well its kinda creepy that’s all.”

“But not to be taken lightly kiddo. That’s a rare gift your pal has there. So how can I help? That’s assuming I can.”

“You might be able to do something. Obviously you’ve never heard of a guy that refers to himself as FX or you’d have said, but Jenny seems to think that its all to do with a function that I will be attending wearing a silver ball gown. I don’t possess a silver gown and I can tell you I have no intention of buying one now but I wondered if you could provide me with any photographs of function rooms that we frequent? From those she may be able to pinpoint the place that I should avoid.”

Joe drew in a deep breath, “Got me there Radcliffe. The only photos I have are close ups of myself or you or other colleagues. There’s seldom anything of the room in the frame. What about security tapes?”

“What about them, Joe?”

“Well if any are available of recent functions in any of the places we generally get asked along to, I’m sure you could borrow those. If you show Jenny a few clips she might be able to discern something from those.”

“Hey that’s a great idea Joe!” Catherine exclaimed, “I never thought of that.”

Joe beamed then sobered, “So what you going to do with all those messages?”

Catherine looked at the list still held in her han, and without forethought she crumpled it into a firm ball and tossed it into his wastepaper basket. It went straight in.

“Bulls eye!” Joe cheered, “And best place for it if you ask me. Glad you didn’t read any Cathy, some were a trifle odd, its bad enough that I had to write them down. What you want to do if the creep calls back today?”

“That’s easy Joe.” Catherine grinned, “I’m out.” She grabbed her coat intent on heading for the door.

”Whoa Cathy, where you off to now?” He cried. “You’ve just got here.”

“I’m off to track down those security tapes Joe. The sooner I do this the sooner you’ll have my full concentration on the job.”

Joe grinned, “Can’t argue with that. Okay Kiddo, just don’t take all day you hear?”

“I hear you Joe, I hear you.” Catherine was laughing as she headed out of the door and toward the elevator that had just arrived at her floor. And as she stepped in she only half noticed the lady with a very large bouquet of flowers stepping out, and only briefly wondered who the lucky recipient could be, never dreaming it would be her.

By the time Catherine returned to the office, it was swamped with flowers and Joe was getting exasperated as he turned more deliveries away. “Cathy, thank God!” He exclaimed when she stepped through the elevator door, “These are all for you!”

“For me!” Catherine’s heart sank. She had popped in at her apartment while she was out and the same scene had met her there and she was worried sick. “Dump them.” She squeezed through the flowers to her desk, “Joe is that another one arriving?” She looked down to the street below as a florist van pulled up at the curb. Before he could come and look Catherine asked, “When the delivery girl comes up have her shift this lot will you and then go pick up the lot from my apartment building and have her take them all to St Vincent’s will you? Unless you’d like any for your girlfriend?” She grinned surprised she could make a joke at a time like this.

“These from that whacko?” He asked and when she confirmed that was so, he replied, “No way I’d rather take her a bunch of daisies.”

“Hey Joe, does this mean what I think it means?” She teased and Joe reddened, “Cat’s outta the bag Radcliffe. You got me. Yes I am dating someone, have been for, let me see, two weeks, three days, ten hours and thirty three minutes.”

“Whoa Joe, it must be love!” Catherine exclaimed, “So what’s she like? What’s her name, and when are you going to introduce us?”

“One question at a time Radcliffe.” He grinned, “Come to that one request at a time. Hold on that was the elevator door, give me a minute.” Then pausing turned back, “Hey why am I doing your dirty work, you got a tongue in your head you go tell her to shift these flowers.”

But it wasn’t a she. As Catherine stepped from the room grinning from ear to ear, she met not the delivery girl as she presumed but rather a very tall Norwegian looking guy with blonde hair and armed with the biggest bouquet yet!

“Hello, those for me?” She enquired picking up the tag and reading her name thereon, “Yes they are. Look do you think you could do me a favour?” the fellow looked at her nonplussed. “Can you take these and those in there and collect the ones at this address.” She handed him a slip of paper, “And take them all to St Vincent’s.”

The fellow stared at her in amazement then in one simple word asked, “Why?”

“Why? Because I don’t want them, any of them. And I’ll pay you to do all of that. In fact you don’t have to take them to St Vincent’s, you can give them to anyone you like, hand them out in the street for all I care, only just get them out of my sight!”

“No!”

Catherine was startled to say the least. Even more so when the fellow dumped the latest bouquet in her arms and headed for the elevator door. She stared after him unable to speak as the doors closed taking him from her sight and the elevator began the slow descent down to the ground floor. Joe joined her as she stood open-mouthed staring at the space where the fellow had been unable to believe he had refused her request.

“Perhaps I should have done it after all, kiddo. I take it that didn’t go according to plan?”

“You were listening, Joe?” She sounded surprised.

“Well only sort of. I really wanted to know what the delivery girl would say. It’s been the same poor girl all day and I was surprised to see it was a guy. So what does this card say?” He picked up the greeting attached to the bouquet as Catherine shrugged and dumped them in his arms, “I couldn’t care less. Here you have them.”

“Cathy!” She turned at the desperate sound of his voice to find him staring at her as pale as a sheet. “Listen to this.” He held the tag out and began reading, “To Catherine Chandler, my love my life, FX.”

Catherine shrugged, “So?”

“Its what’s written in brackets after that. Look!” He plonked the card beneath her nose and she read the words even as he uttered them, “Personally delivered. Cathy, that was the guy! It was him!”

Catherine’s heart sank then hammered painfully against her ribs. She felt nauseas and clammy and wanted to be sick. Never did she expect to be confronted by him so soon, and never did she expect him to look so ordinary just like Jenny had maintained. And to think she had thrown his gifts back in his face. Catherine quaked…then fury took over. What the hell! Serve him right! Maybe he’d think twice about sending her more flowers and chocolates from then on now that he knew how she felt about receiving them. She hoped so anyway.

However, though no more flowers or chocolates were delivered at the office or her apartment building the very next day the perfume and jewellery started to arrive. Catherine was incensed and flung the items into the nearest trashcan. Thank God, she now had the security tapes she had requested. And she had made plans for Vincent and Jenny to come over to her apartment that evening to review them. With any luck they would soon be able to tell her where this whacko was going to strike and have the police ready for him and then the whole ghastly nightmare would be over.

Watching Vincent sleep Father was again worried. For a few days after their talk regarding the nightmares, they seem to have ceased but now it was obvious that they were back with a vengeance. It didn’t help to know that Jenny had had nightmares of similar content either or that she and Devin had met the man up in the park and he had enquired of Catherine. Father could marvel that Vincent was able to protect Catherine in such a way but it didn’t stop him fretting when he saw the younger man thrashing about upon his bed in the tight grip of a nightmare.
Father wanted to wake Vincent. It pained him to see him like this. But though he had gingerly woken him the last time Father knew that at such a time Vincent could be his most deadliest, unable to see reason for the split few seconds upon waking. Time enough to injure or maim someone he loved without ever being aware of it but the regret would last a lifetime.

He was glad that Devin had decided to pay them a visit. Funny how his fleshly son seemed to know when he would be needed the most. Never failed to turn up at the right moment and yet never failed to surprised them either that he had. All the same Devin seemed to have abandoned his brother this time had other things, another person to occupy his time. Father smiled, Jenny was a fine woman and one who shared the remarkable ability to ‘see’ things as did his adopted son. Catherine was a lucky woman having two people close to her that could provide advance warnings of dire circumstances revolving around her. Still Father wondered where it would all end. He knew that the fellow that had been pursuing Catherine had got them all worried. There seemed to be no reason behind it and they didn’t know what they might expect next.
Well one thing was certain tonight Vincent and Jenny would go along to Catherine’s apartment and view some security tapes and perhaps from them they could glean something in accordance with their visions and if nothing else provide Catherine with a place that she could avoid at all costs. If their visions were to be precise then hopefully that’s all Catherine needed to do, keep away from such a venue and avoid wearing silver.

That was most strange too. Why the stimulus of silver? What on earth could it be about such a colour that would spark evil intent in a man’s heart? Had to be something small, something insignificant to anyone else, but that meant a great deal to the fellow himself. Strange the way people’s minds worked, Father mused as he sat in the nearby chair alongside his son’s bed, to copy was the highest form of flattery yet something so trivial could incite someone to murder. He wondered what the fellow’s background had been. Had he been abused, neglected, molested or bullied. Had he been brought up in a fine family home and rebelled? Had he grown up on the streets? Father made a mental note to know his children more thoroughly, to note when someone harboured animosity for any reason whatsoever and try to pry it out of them and in so doing smooth the way forward. Resentment was a terrible thing, and bottling something up a sane person could erupt into a viscous maniac right out of the blue.
What made a person so? How could a normal looking person hold within their heart such hatred for another, be it from jealousy or circumstance? What was it that made them tick?

Sometimes life looked to be running away from Father. Time no longer stood still, pleasures were gone in an instance yet at this moment in time Father would have given anything to have been able to hurry things forward. A year from now, he mused, all this will be a thing of the past. We’ll look back on it as another hurdle faced and crossed and use the experience to face another more challenging crisis and get through that too. He hated it when things took their toll on any of his loved ones and Vincent suffered more than most. Because of what he was and what he could do, and because of his remarkable ability to see beyond what was normal it was at times both a curse and a blessing.

So thoughtful was he sat there wondering about things that he failed to notice that the raucous breathing of his son had mellowed and that Vincent was now watching him with open scrutiny. And in like manner Vincent felt it better not to make his parent jump by speaking lest the older man had a heart attack. Instead, Vincent made a play of moving his arms forward slowly in an act of stretching and issued a low yawn signifying that he was waking up. To this Father turned and watched his son with mild curiosity, never failing to be interested at the sight of his son’s long canines and awesome fangs.

“Good morning Father, or is it afternoon?” Vincent brushed sleep from his eyes with the furred backs of his hands.

“Its afternoon. Did you sleep well?” Father knew he did not.

“Not terribly, I feel as though I could do with more rest but there are things I have to do before nightfall. You remember I am going above to Catherine’s apartment with Jenny and Devin don’t you?”

“Yes, I remember. And I hope that the tapes reveal something to both of you that you can use to help Catherine with. But please don’t place too much import on that possibility, after all neither of you have been shown much of the scene. Neither come to that, do either of you know, what the fellow intends to do to Catherine.”

Vincent shook his head, “Not so. When Jenny touched the man she saw him in a vision watching Catherine die.” Father gasped, why had no one informed him of this?

“I’m sorry Father, it must have been an oversight. I thought someone would have told you.”

“No Vincent they didn’t, but then you’ve all had an awful lot on your mind recently. It’s a pity Catherine hasn’t seen the fellow herself, then she would know who to avoid.”

“But she has seen him.” Again, Father gasped. What was going on? Why was he the last to know?

“When? How? Is it someone she knows?”

“I’m afraid she didn’t realise who he was until he was gone. Up to that point she assumed he was another delivery person bringing flowers and it was Joe that actually realised but by then the fellow had gone. However, she was able to confirm Jenny’s sighting. He was over six feet and was of Norwegian appearance with blonde hair. They even spoke to one another but from the little he said Catherine is certain that he is American rather than European. We can only hope that tonight’s viewing of the tapes can help to identify a place. Both Jenny and I feel certain that nothing untoward will happen as long as Catherine avoids the area of our visions.”

“I don’t know Vincent. If a scene is already mapped out, it may be that nothing you do can thwart it from happening. You might find that you will need more than that to arm Catherine. I know you’ve spoken of bringing the police into it but really what can you tell them? Well you can tell them nothing of course, but are they about to heed a woman’s fanciful dreams as proof that something will occur? I think not, unfortunately.”

“Thankfully Joe understands. Catherine has said that he is more than willing to help in whatever capacity he can. And he has met Jenny before. He also knows of her ability to see into the future. And I think he trusts that gift too. When it comes to Catherine there are a lot of willing hands to protect her. She means so much to a great many people.” A look of tender affection filled Vincent’s eyes as he told his father these things.

“And that said you should try to refrain from believing that you are the only one that could save her life.”

“I know you mean well Father, but while we are aware that someone is intending to cause harm to Catherine, to the rest of society he would be termed as no more than a harmless admirer, a fanatical one true, but still harmless. It is only thanks to the visions for whatever reason Jenny and I have them that we know any different. Therefore, I have to disagree with you, Father. For some reason this gift has been granted to me to help those that I love because when it boils down to it, all else will fail. Just see how many times I have saved Catherine’s life in the past. At none of those times was any other person present that could have done likewise. The majority of the police force arrived just a few minutes after the event which tells me that they would have been too late to save her. But for me, Catherine would have died long ago.” Vincent’s voice caught on a sob as he spoke the last few words. Father couldn’t dispute that. “Well you don’t need me to tell you to be careful, though I will anyway. I’m worried about this Vincent. When the visions of one person is not enough and two are then involved is more than enough to worry me but with a threefold cord well that makes me really frightened. This man whomsoever he is could be more dangerous than anyone assumes.”

“Yes I have to admit that the fact that Narcissa saw something as well as Jenny and I gave rise for concern. I can only hope that the three of us were needed to convince Catherine rather than the fact that we were needed united to prevent something terrible from happening to her. I know I’ve told you a thousand times Father, but try not to worry. Hopefully, after tonight we can start to set the wheels in motion and at least Catherine has no immediate functions to attend. I take heart from that Father, it places whatever is to be in some distant future, so that when it happens we should be well prepared. And another thing at least the fellow himself will not be expecting that anyone else knows what his intentions are.”

“Yes Vincent that’s one of the things I take heart from. You should be one step ahead of him.” Father drew in a deep breath and expelled it in a long sigh, “Well I’d best let you get along with your preparations. Were you going to take a bath? I only ask, because I had intended on having one myself.”

“You go ahead, Father, there are some people I need to see before going above so you’ll have a good two hours to enjoy the luxury of a long soak. Try that jet adjacent to the soap stand - the last time I was there it was coming through faster and warmer than at any time I remember. It really hits the spot, you’ll love it.”

“Thank you Vincent, I will.”

They departed each to his own, each deep in thought, neither of them feeling any less apprehensive about the whole affair revolving around Catherine than they had before they’d spoken. Father wished if it was going to happen that it would hurry up and do so, Vincent wishing that it never would.

A strange thing happened that evening. Catherine preparing for her friends arrival received a telephone call from a very irate Joe, who having made a date with his new girlfriend to have dinner at her parent’s house that evening suddenly found that his diary was boldly ringed to show he was expected at the mayor’s annual dinner/dance to represent their company. “I can’t be in two places at the same time Cathy!” He wailed, “And Becky will be so disappointed if I cancel, might even deem that I am avoiding meeting her folks.”

“So what are you trying to say Joe?” Catherine was a trifle annoyed knowing exactly what was to come.

“Can you stand in for me?” His plea was little boyish. Catherine could just about imagine him standing there in short trousers, school jacket, cap and tie askew. She almost laughed as the picture flitted through her mind, but instead let her annoyance rip. “No Joe! You know what I’m doing this evening. You know how important this is, and you also know that I shouldn’t be going to functions where you know who might turn up.”

“Its okay Radcliffe,” Catherine could imagine him warding her off with his hands, “I’ve double checked the guest list. I know everyone on it and none of them are potential murderers. Besides if you avoid wearing silver tonight shouldn’t be the night.” She could almost see him gleaming as he imparted this.

“Alright Joe, you win providing I don’t have to stay too long. I’ve been looking forward to this evening for days. Well if you can call it looking forward to it, I feel as though I’m meeting my doom.” She laughed despite what she had said and Joe laughed too. “Might be good for you to take time out then Kiddo and I’m certain you can sneak away by nine. Did I tell you that you have to be there at seven?” He told her plum in cheek.

“No, seven! Oh Joe, I will have to rush like mad. You owe me one for this, just you remember that.”

“Okay Radcliffe stick it on your slate. Have a good evening and thanks.”

“You have a good evening too. And I’ll want a full report tomorrow okay?”

Joe laughed and as Catherine took that to mean ‘no chance’ she laughed also. They hung up and Catherine went into her bedroom to choose something suitable to wear, and just in case Joe was wrong about that guest list, it had to be something that did not contain the colour silver.

Going out as Jenny and Devin arrived Catherine explained what had happened much to their concern, and after showing them where she had left the tapes told them to make themselves at home, give Vincent some hot chocolate when he arrived after dark and that she would see them as soon as possible. Then making her way down to the ground floor she stepped into her pre booked taxi and gave the driver his instructions to take her to the function.

Back at the apartment, Jenny and Devin discussed this latest turn of events. They weren’t happy about it, and wished for nightfall so that Vincent could turn up. While they waited, Jenny viewed a couple of the security tapes, not finding anything to jog her mind and both of them wondered how Catherine was faring and when she would be home.

At the function, things were not going as smoothly as Catherine had intended. Not only had the driver taken the wrong route but there had also been a traffic jam and then hurrying into the lobby, Catherine had caught her leg on a table and snagged her stockings, and what was more grazed her thigh. “Bad start good finish. Just keep that in mind Cathy, and you’ll soon be home.” She told herself with a shrug. And so waltzing into the function room some thirty five minutes after schedule Catherine had felt all eyes upon her as she arrived harassed and looking decidedly like her hair had been pulled through a hedge backwards. However, with a quick visit to the ladies room, she decided that all would be well if she could just mix in and socialise and then make her excuses when it was reasonably possible to do so. What she didn’t bank on was; “Cathy dear is that blood on your gown?” Her first thought was to look down where dismayed she found the telltale marks of drying blood amid the revealing blob of blood oozing through her turquoise gown before she looked up to see who had asked. “Maggie! Thanks for telling me. I believe it is. I caught my leg on the way up here, I didn’t know it was that bad though.”

“Well you can’t possibly represent your company wearing that, you’ll have to go home.” Trust Maggie to put work first Catherine thought to herself. Still she should have known that someone who worked for a rival company would do something like that.

“I have a better idea.” Feeling someone take her arm Catherine looked around to find Kate the wife of one of Joe’s friends steering her toward the door. “Come up to my room. I think you and I are about the same size, you can borrow one of my gowns and that one can be dry-cleaned at the expense of the hotel management. Would you like someone to taker a look at that leg while we’re at it? I take it you did cut yourself in the hotel?”

“Yes, in the lobby. I bumped into a table corner and it was snagged and rather sharp.” By then they had reached the elevator, and Kate stepped inside pressing first the button for ground floor where she knew they would find the manager to report the incident and have first aid applied. Once down there, and the report filed, she took Catherine back up to the tenth floor and on to her hotel room where the two of them started to go through the gowns Kate had brought with her.

All the while Catherine’s heart had been thumping. Was this how it would be? She had gone in what she termed a gown of the colour as far removed from silver as possible, and yet now she was to have to choose from someone else’s limited wardrobe and might have to have what came? A huge sigh escaped her therefore when to her delight not one of them was silver. “How about this one?” Kate held up a little black number extremely revealing and Catherine shook her head, “I’ll come out of that!” Kate laughed and showed her a bright cherry red dress a little safer in design but Catherine wasn’t really into red.

Next came one in peach, pretty but not quite right for the occasion, and then Catherine noticed one that really caught her eye. “What’s this?” From the pile on the bed she picked up a delicate gown in a beautiful shade of lilac that seemed to shimmer as she turned it toward the light.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” Kate asked, “Too bad I can’t wear it right now. My husband told me that I have a blemish on my back so I can’t wear anything halter-neck tonight. It would look grand on you though. Try it on.”

Stepping into it, pulling it up over her skin Catherine glorified in the feel of it. Satiny smooth, cool and flowing her skin felt delicious beneath it and Catherine uttered a sigh of pure bliss. “Oh Kate its gorgeous. Where did you get it?”

“By mail order. If you like I’ll have the company send you a catalogue then you can buy one of your own.”

“I’d like that, thank you Kate.”

“You’re welcome Cathy. It really is you, you’ll knock ‘em dead in that.” She laughed, “Well now if we hurry we should just make the mayor’s speech.”

Applying lipstick, Catherine checked herself in the mirror. The gown was lined so that the telltale bulk of the dressing she now wore on her leg was not visible through it. The gown was perfect and she adored it.

Stepping back into the function room, again Catherine found all eyes upon her, though the difference to before was that now most of them were of the male populace. “Hey Cathy, wasn’t that you in green earlier?” Someone remarked. “What is this a fashion show? I must say that frock is ten times better than the other one.”

Catherine beamed, she felt great. The dress was perfect, it shimmered when she moved and everyone noticed her. Kate was a little envious, that should have been her, but she couldn’t deny that Catherine carried the gown beautifully.

After the mayor’s speech he came to speak to her, his eyes drawn inadvertently to her breasts where the gown covered the front of her completely and drawn behind her neck to reveal a bare back, the gown emphasised her figure.

“That’s a beautiful gown my dear.” The mayor’s wife commented, “What colour would you call that, silver?”

The smile on Catherine’s lips faded. “No!” she cried looking down at the gown covering her body and she added sharply, “No, it’s not silver its lilac!”

Dismayed the mayor’s wife regarded Catherine with contempt, “Sorry dear, its an easy mistake. Must be the light in here.” She retorted walking away. Catherine went after her, “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to offend you.” She apologised.

“That’s all right dear, you didn’t.” But the other woman still moved away showing clearly that she had been offended and she the mayor’s wife! Catherine felt terrible.

“Cathy, there you are!” Kate rescued her, “There’s someone I’d like you to meet, well actually,” she went on tongue in cheek,” There’s someone that would like to meet you! He’s been watching you ever since we returned. He’s a photographer and I think he’d like to take some pictures of you wearing my gown.”

“Oh no, Kate that’s terrible. I feel awful, everyone has commented on the gown and it should have made its debut with you. How will I ever make it up to you?”

“Its all right.” Kate reassured her, “Don’t worry. You’ve helped me often enough, so has Joe come to that. If you can be noticed like this then your company will be represented far more than anyone intended. Besides let Cameron take a photograph of you and then let me have a copy. It will be enough to have it hanging in my home to remind me how beautiful you looked in my gown.” She laughed. It was not cynical but genuine. Catherine hugged her. “Ok lead the way, so where is this photographer friend of yours?”

“Oh he’s not so much a friend, that is I only met him earlier. But he seems nice and is very taken with you!” Kate smiled, it was well known that Catherine didn’t have a partner, hadn’t had one since she was last making headlines with Elliot Burch. Kate liked the idea that she would be matchmaking.

Catherine on the other hand had a funny feeling steal over her. She shivered feeling something was wrong and as her eyes met those of the man Catherine suddenly knew what it was! She recognised him as being the man that had delivered the last bouquet to her office. It was FX! A scream held in her throat and being propelled by Kate toward the fellow meant that she couldn’t head in another direction and make a subtle escape. Anything she did now would draw attention to the fact that she was avoiding him. Her throat went dry and Kate looked at her askance when upon making the introductions, Catherine said not a thing. Instead her eyes darted wildly about her making Kate feel very uncomfortable. However, she prodded Catherine and after asking if she was alright was grateful when she began to speak. “Cameron? Have we met before?” Catherine asked hoping he would realise that she had recognised him.

“I don’t think so.” He replied with eyes that never left her face. “I would have remembered someone so beautiful I think. I must say that colour suits you and its good to know that we have similar tastes.”

Catherine wanted to pass that remark off as unimportant but intrigue took over. “How so?”

“Well for one we are both wearing silver tonight. It is one of my most favourite colours.”

“Oh.” Catherine laughed as best she could, hoping he would not detect her nervousness, “This isn’t silver its lilac. But you are the second person who has said that. We’ve decided it’s the lights in here and the texture of the material.”

“The material is exquisite, the way it shimmers reminds me of a mermaid. I could write a wonderful script for you my dear. Tell me how would you like to star in a movie I’m making? You’d be helping me too since I have been commissioned to make a mermaid movie.” He laughed out loud.

Catherine gasped as Narcissa’s words about a mermaid swept through her mind. Then more still, pictures and photographs, Narcissa had mentioned those too. Her hands felt clammy and she needed air and fast. “If you would excuse me?” She made to go where the windows were ajar but he just fell into step and went with her saying, “Yes you’re right it is hot in here, I was just thinking that myself.”

They stood with the cool night air filtering through the opened windows and Catherine had nothing yet everything to say. If this man was the man of Jenny and Vincent’s visions then she was in great danger even though he seemed so perfectly friendly as he spoke to her about his job as a photographer and how he was always on the look out for a beautiful face. As he spoke, she began to wonder if perhaps that’s all it was, infatuation. If in fact, he had seen her before and he had sent gifts spontaneously to convey what she meant to him. After all, none of the gifts had been offensive, just over the top. So taking the bull by the horns Catherine interrupted his narrative to ask, “So, why did you send me all those gifts?”

He looked at her blankly and Catherine retracted what she’d said with apology, “I’m sorry, but I could have sworn it was you.”

He shook his head, “Until tonight my dear, I’ve never seen you before. I would have remembered.”

A flutter of apprehension ran through Catherine at his words, but apart from that she began to feel better. She was placing far too much trust in the visions Jenny and Vincent had seen and being paranoid about anyone that looked like the fellow who had brought the flowers. Not only that but she was jumping to conclusions. It was just coincidence that he mentioned mermaids and photographs. That decided, Catherine began to enjoy herself. She relaxed and started to hold a decent conversation with him but declined his offer to photograph her at his studio. It wasn’t because she was in any way afraid of what may happen there, but she did not see herself as a model and told him that any photographs he wanted to take of her would have to be done that evening, and soon as she didn’t plan to stay until the end.

He seemed grieved at that, and she explained that the gown belonged to Kate, and would be returned on the morrow and she had left friends at her apartment awaiting her return and had promised not to be late. Catherine didn’t know why she felt fit to explain all those things and didn’t analyse why till later.

So they spent their time chatting and taking a few photographs and she found him to be charming and attentive and nothing he said was out of the ordinary. Naturally when she finally told him it was time that she left he asked to see her again, but she pointedly told him that while there was speculation that she was a single woman nothing was further from the truth. That she did in fact have a partner of three years and he too would be waiting at home for her. To this he made a remark that she would reflect on later. “Yes, so I’ve been led to believe but I’ve never seen the two of you out together.”

“He lives out of town.” Catherine explained then added, “Anyway Cameron it was nice to have met you. Kate has expressed a desire to have one of the photographs with me in this gown. Perhaps you would send one on to her?”

“Of course. And what about you, would you like me to send one to you also?”

“That would be appreciated. Thank you.” She bid him farewell, made her round of goodbyes to Kate and the other guests and left the hotel to head for home. It wasn’t until she was in the taxi that she realised she hadn’t given Cameron her address, and it was then that she remembered his earlier remarks. One, he had said he had never seen her before that evening, and two he had never seen her out with her partner. Which was it to be? Suddenly apprehension stole over Catherine again and she glanced behind her signalling to the driver that something concerned her. Eyes in his rear view mirror he announced, “Yes I’ve seen it too. It pulled away from the curb shortly after we left the hotel. Would you like me to try and lose him?” Understanding at once Catherine agreed and by dodging traffic and taking the scenic route they eventually lost the tail. Catherine sighed with relief as they pulled up outside her apartment building to find that no one drew in behind them.

“Thanks for that.” She paid the driver. “He might not have been following me, but you never can tell.”

He tipped his hat at her said it was all in a day’s work, and bidding her goodnight he watched her walk up to the doors of her apartment building before driving away. He did not notice as Catherine did not notice that someone had arrived ahead of them and waiting in the shadows wafted chloroform beneath Catherine’s nose then catching her swiftly as she fell back into his arms unconscious he carried her away to his car.

Pacing the floor of Catherine’s apartment Vincent exclaimed not for the first time, “Something’s wrong, I know it!” He crossed over to the balcony wall for the umpteenth time and searching the streets below cried, “She should have come up by now.”

Jenny’s face was pinched with worry. Ever since Vincent had arrived, he’d been agitated. He’d been in two minds as to whether to turn up at all. The invite was to go to Catherine’s apartment, but he had felt that Catherine was moving away from her home and going into the city. Jenny and Devin had confirmed his suspicions upon his arrival and he had wanted to go after Catherine straight away. This was the very thing he had been afraid of the attendance of an unscheduled function that no one foresaw. It had to be the one that represented the danger, why else would he and Jenny have been shown the future?

All evening he had felt Catherine’s agitation. Minor hurt swept through the bond a time or two, and then apprehension and a little fear and suddenly all was fine, but Catherine had been coming home, Vincent had felt it. He knew that she had arrived, he’d seen the taxi pull up at the curb, felt her coming to him and then suddenly nothing! It was as if she failed to exist, yet the feel of her heartbeat still thudded gently next to his, as if she were sleeping! But that was ridiculous!

“Calm down Vincent.” Devin tried to stop his brother in mid stride, but Vincent surged past him and walked the length of the room once more. “I can’t, something is wrong. Something has happened to her.”

“Look if it’ll make you any happier we’ll go down and see what’s keeping her.” Devin offered and Jenny was on her feet at once nodding in agreement.

“All right but don’t be long.” Vincent told them gruffly.

They left, out of the door the moment they had fished their shoes from beneath the chair where they’d left them. Devin took the stairs and Jenny the elevator, stopping at each floor and looking along the corridor in both directions before stepping back in and going onto the next floor. She did this all the way to the lobby where she found Devin waiting for her.

“Anything?” He asked hopefully. Jenny shook her head, “Nothing. Come on let’s look outside or have you already done that?”

Overhearing their conversation the guard asked if he could be of any help. They asked if Miss Chandler had come home, he shook his head. “Haven’t seen her since just after six o’clock” he told them, then asked ‘why?’

They explained that she was due home and hadn’t arrived. He told them not to worry, as something would have delayed her. Still they ignored him knowing better and went outside.

“Vincent said she’d stepped out of a taxi.” Devin mused thoughtfully.

“And that she had walked toward the doors, so we know she got that far. Devin what’s that, is it a handkerchief?” Jenny pointed to the small white cloth just outside the doors.

Devin went outside to pick it up, “Pooh!” He exclaimed suddenly.

“What is it?” Jenny rushed to his side.

“Chloroform!”

“Chloroform, Oh Devin!” Her eyes wide, Jenny took the cloth from him. The smell was apparent without lifting it to her nose. It was that strong. “We’ve got to tell Vincent. Oh my God, what has that bastard done to her?”

Coming back through the doors their faces ashen, the guard enquired as to their find. He’d seen them pick something up and they quickly told of their suspicions while they waited for the elevator. “I’ll ring the police.” He told them, “Are you positive it has something to do with Miss Chandler?”

“I saw her step from the taxi and come up to the doors twenty minutes ago.” Devin lied, “Yes, I’m certain someone has abducted her. Remember all those flowers she’s been sent recently? Well they were from some crank, someone that intends to harm her.” As he was speaking the guard was dialling 911 and the elevator doors opened as he started to speak into the receiver.

Tell them to come straight up.” Devin cried over his shoulder, “We’ll be waiting.”

Back up in the apartment Vincent had the most terrible feeling pass through him. Wherever Catherine was she was in a deep sleep. He guessed that someone had put her to sleep even before Devin charged into the apartment shouting “Chloroform! Someone knocked her out with chloroform, Vincent. The guard is calling the police. You’d better go.”

“Go? Go where? I can’t pinpoint where she is until she wakes up.”

“Oh, I thought you could?” Devin sounded surprised, “I mean I thought you went by her heart beat and all that?”

“I do,” Vincent told him, “But when she is artificially put to sleep it makes it difficult. The sleep is so deep and as she is not aware of her surroundings I can only go as far as the area.”

“Then you’ll go there? The moment she’s awake you can get to her?” Devin asked.

“Yes.”

Vincent was about to leave when he heard Jenny gasp and turning saw her staring at the television screen where images from the tapes were being displayed, “Vincent, look! It’s him, that’s the man from my dreams! For definite. And it’s the same guy we met in the park.”

Vincent stepped closer and as he neared the set, suddenly the features of the man came into focus from the part of the dream that had always eluded him on waking. Jenny had been right it was the same man. Undecided, Vincent hesitated. If they could only find out who he was then they might know where he had taken Catherine.

A sudden knock at the door made Vincent hurry into Catherine’s bedroom and Devin opened it once he was satisfied that his brother was out of sight.

“Hello, is this the apartment of the missing woman?” Devin was asked by one of the two officers outside the door.

He nodded and let them in, “Yes and we have just found out whose taken her.” Quickly they explained about the flowers and the gifts, and the chance meeting in the park, leaving out the bit about the visions and they convinced the officers that the man on the freeze frame on the screen was the fellow who had abducted Catherine. “Thing is we don’t know his name? You ever seen him before?” Devin asked hopefully. “The mayor’s dinner/dance. Holds it every year apparently, same place each time, though I don’t know where that is. Joe Maxwell will know though.”

“Joe Maxwell, the Assistant District Attorney?” At Devin’s nod they went on, “We’ll call him. Can we use this phone?”

“I don’t think he’ll know him Dev.” Jenny exclaimed, “Remember when the guy delivered those flowers to Cathy at her office, Joe didn’t recognise the guy then did he?”

Overhearing, the officer ceased dialling Joe’s number, “Then we’ll just be wasting time calling him. Ideally, we need someone that was at tonight’s function. If the abductor was there tonight, someone may know. Thing is who to ask? Did either of you see the guest list?”

“No, but the mayor was there. You might start with him.”

“Have you played this tape forward, maybe it will give us some additional information that we can get started on until he arrives. Its possible that he’ll still be at the dance.”

Devin and Jenny shook their heads. They were worried about Vincent as much as anything else for despite what was happening, Vincent was trapped in the bedroom and couldn’t leave even if he wanted to do. He could get out onto the balcony, but he would be seen as he passed the doors. Jenny had an idea. “I’ll just close the balcony door and drapes if you don’t mind. It’s getting chilly in here.” She said it loud enough hoping Vincent would take the hint. He did, as she was pulling the drapes together she saw him alighting over the wall and silently wished him luck.

Back in the room, the tape was running and one of the officers was taking down a description of the fellow in a notebook. “Can we have this film?” He asked.

“You can borrow it. Catherine borrowed it until tomorrow. It’s a security tape from the company written on the cover.” Devin gasped, Bingo! The officers realised at the same moment. “Where’s the box?” One exclaimed. Devin was already passing it to him, “Here. Yes, there’s a logo and a telephone number. A twenty four hour number!” He exclaimed happily.

The officer wasted no time in dialling. “Hello, yes. This is the police department. I’m Officer Kettle.” (Devin almost choked at this whispering to Jenny, ‘I bet he’s always on the boil’.)
“I’d like to speak to the managing director if possible? He’s not there? Well then whom can I speak to? Security would be nice. You can? Fine. Yes I’ll hold.”

Stifling a giggle at Devin’s quip Jenny tried to look innocent. Despite the seriousness of the matter, Devin had made her feel so much better by his comical observations and both of them had to force themselves to listen intently as the officer started to speak again.

“Hello, yes I’m still here. That’s correct. Yes. I need some information. A Miss Chandler from the DA’s office borrowed one of your security tapes earlier today.” He looked toward Devin for confirmation saw him nod and went on, “Yes today. I need to ask some questions regarding one of the guests from the 2nd of this month at that particular venue. Do you have a guest list? Yes, I know you don’t keep a description of the guests, but this one appears to be some sort of photographer. Who? No, it’s a man. Blonde, tall, looks like a Swede. Who? Can you spell that? Aha got it. Do you have an address for him? You do? Great! Yes, I understand that, I’ll have an officer come over straight away and pick it up. Thank you so much for your help. Goodnight Sir.” He put the receiver down and turned to Jenny and Devin, “Well they won’t release his address over the telephone, as they said I could be anyone calling. So I’ll just get on to that and then fill you in.” He went out of the apartment and with his radio he contacted the police department so that neither Jenny or Devin were able to hear. That done he returned, “Well, the name of the fellow if its him, and we’ll run a positive ID later, is Cameron Davy. He’s a photographer and has connections in the movie industry. As soon as we get an address on him, we’ll go over to his place and see if Miss Chandler is there, then look for anything suspicious. Do you have a recent photograph of Miss Chandler that I could take with me?” He asked hopefully.

Looking around the apartment Jenny couldn’t see anything that would help. Any photographs that were in view were of Catherine as a child with her mother and father. “No, I’m sorry there is nothing appropriate.” She told the officer. “I have some at my apartment though shall I go home for one? We could accompany you to the location and collect the photograph on the way to save time.” Jenny’s mind was racing ahead. If she could let him believe that, then they might have a chance of finding out that address.

“No, don’t worry about it and I must ask that you do not accompany us but rather stay here just in case Miss Chandler comes home. And please ring us immediately if she does.”

Jenny had an idea, “Tell you what then, call Joe Maxwell. I know he has some recent photographs of Cathy, and he has the authority to meet you at the location. He might even be able to help.”

The officer nodded, “Yes good idea. I’ll have the station call him to bring a photograph over to me.”

Jenny’s mind was racing ahead, she was hoping that she could catch Joe before he left, and he would leave, he’d not bother with a photograph Jenny was certain of that. For the moment he heard that Cathy was in trouble he’d insist on going over there to identify her himself. And then Jenny would tail him and get word to Vincent once she knew the exact location.

Now all she needed was time on her side. As soon as the officer had left, Jenny bid Devin goodbye and raced down to the parking lot for her car. Good job she knew where Joe Maxwell lived and good job she didn’t have to stop for gas on the way.

A vision would be helpful right about now, Jenny decided as she got into her car, a vision that would tell her that everything was going to be alright. Unfortunately, she never could get a vision when she wanted one.

Vincent had gone to the area where he assumed Catherine to be but as her heartbeat was slower than normal and without any sign of consciousness, he wasn’t able to pinpoint the exact location. All he could do was wait. Unless…

Suddenly he backtracked deciding that Devin and Jenny might know more than he did. The apartment wasn’t far and he could soon get back if Catherine awoke though he had the strangest feeling that she was being kept asleep for some reason or another, possibly for further transportation. That terrified him. If she were to be taken out of the city then the chances of him reaching her in time became very slim.

Gauging his arrival onto the balcony some minutes later, he listened intently, and hearing nothing he let himself drop onto the terrace. There he tapped lightly on the door and hoped someone was still there.

Devin came at once “Vincent! Thank God, I was praying like crazy that you would come back. Jenny’s just rang. She’s got an address for you.”

“Jenny?” Bewildered, Vincent looked around the apartment, “Where is she?”

“Long story. Don’t worry about that now. Jen followed Joe Maxwell, and she has a street name and house number. Here I wrote it down, do you know where that is?”

Vincent nodded. It was right in the vicinity of where he’d just come from and turning he swept back into the night.

With his heart racing, Devin watched his brother go. He wished that he too could do something or that Jenny would soon return. And no sooner had he thought it when he heard her voice on the other side of the door. “Devin, let me in.”

He sighed with relief, crossing the room and flinging open the door, “Vincent’s just left.” He blurted as she stepped into the apartment, “I’ve given him the address. I take it Joe went there?”

“Yes, I tailed him all the way, watched while he met up with Officer Kettle, and then satisfied that I had the right place went to call you. It was no use my hanging around, I didn’t want anyone to find I had been meddling besides I wasn’t certain if I would need to try and find Vincent. Thank God, he came back.”

“Yes, and all we can do now is pray that he reaches Catherine in time, and that no one spots him.” Jenny grasped hold of his arm. There was nothing more either of them could do but wait and that was sometimes the hardest part, still Jenny felt that she had done all she could and at least she wasn’t waiting alone. “Thanks for being here, Dev.” She told him sincerely.

“My pleasure.” He replied happy to be with her. “Cathy’s got a good friend in you.”

“Cathy’s got a good friend in Vincent.” Remembering the vision that she had had when touching Davy that night in the park, she drew in a deep breath and sighed, “I only hope that he reaches her in time.”

“He will, don’t worry.” He hoped he sounded optimistic for he didn’t feel it. Catherine had been gone for hours and in that time anything could have happened!

Collecting all that he would need together in one heap Cameron Davy checked his victim one final time. Good she was still sound asleep. He ran a finger down one flawless cheek, having noticed the scar on the other side earlier. She was indeed beautiful and brainy too. Such a shame that she had to be a lawyer, such a waste of a beautiful woman. She could have been a star an actress or even a model. Could have adorned the arm of a millionaire could have been a wife and a mother, but instead she had to be a career minded woman and a lawyer at that. Cameron sighed oh well she wasn’t likely to have been his wife so what did it matter? After tonight she would be a star her beauty captured forever on film, her demise featured exclusively to all those who had paid for the contract killing. Strange how it had all come about. Usually clients just wanted the job done. A quick kill, no leads nothing to tie them in as suspects. But this one had been different. Wherever Cameron had gone her name was always on the hit list, and when he had seen her…wow… He couldn’t let an opportunity like that go by. Besides, those that had promised the rest of the fee after the lady was dead, had wanted proof anyway and Cameron decided this way he could kill two birds with one stone. He’d make money from the killing and he’d make money from the snuff movie that he would make at the same time. He couldn’t fail and that gown – wow – it would make the capture of the mermaid scene even more authentic. Strange really, because when she had arrived at the function earlier in turquoise he had almost decided not to carry through with his plan for the movie. He’d just abduct, rape and kill her, but when he’d seen her in that shimmering silver gown, well it had been perfect and just what he’d been looking for and he changed his mind.

All he needed was for one or two colleagues to be ready and he knew they’d be willing and then they could get started. Briefly, he drew up a script. She was out for the count anyway, would be for at least another hour unless he wafted some more chloroform under her nose. They could either cut her up while she slept or they could let her wake first then do it. Depended what his clients wanted really. Straight kill or kill with torture. He thought about it a while, watching her sleep, thinking on the lives of those families that had suffered since she had sent their men folk to jail, and came up with the idea that torture might be fun. Just a little, a few cuts here and there. He’d heard about the knife slashing she had undergone a few years back so she’d react to that knowing how it would feel again to have the knife slice through her skin and feel the hot blood trickle then gush away from her. He laughed cynically. “Throw my gifts away would you? How dare you. Well don’t expect me to bring any flowers to your grave, you’ve had enough already.” The telephone rang and picking it up he said nothing until a voice enquired, “FX? You there?”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for you to call. Is everything ready?”

“Yes. You got the girl?”

“Yes ready, waiting and out for the count. Shall we do it here or at the warehouse? I can’t decide.”

“Did you have to knock her out after all? I thought you were going to woo her with all those expensive flowers and chocolates. What went wrong?”

“She didn’t buy it and I got desperate. And she was wearing this exquisite little number that was perfect for the mermaid part. All we need do is bare her to the waist, tuck the gown around her feet so that it looks like a mermaid’s tail and then we can start raping and cutting her up. So what do you think, where’s it to be here, or across town?”

“Robin’s on his way over to your place, so we may as well do it there. You still got that acid pit?”

“Yeah, yeah, haven’t used it since that last time, but I guess it’s still strong enough. It’ll liquefy flesh anyway but bones might take longer. It could do with some fresh acid in there really.”

There was laughter at the other end, “You said that the last time.”

“Did I? Oh, well it worked last time. Okay then come on over. I’ve enough film to make a two hour-long movie. I thought we could do some rape scenes, some torture and then cut her up. The acid will do the rest.”

“Okay, see you in ten.” The caller hang up and Cameron checking Catherine once more satisfied that she was well out of it went outside to the shed to set up everything they would need to carry out the act.

He whistled as he worked, props, lights and other equipment all in the right places. Satisfied he turned to a drawer and pulled from it a large clean plastic sheet and laying it down on the floor, he smoothed it out then tacked it down at the edges with a hammer. Around the edges, he also placed strips of foam rubber. These would soak up any of the blood that might run out from the centre. That done he visualised the next couple of hours and hoped that the lighting used to make the film would be precise enough to get a good sale on it. A good movie would go around the world. Some of his best were those where the guts of a victim with withdrawn and held up before the camera. He wasn’t called Special FX for nothing. He laughed wickedly, people were so gullible they would believe anything. Still while they wanted horror films, he’d give them horror films and while they paid for blood and lust, he’d give it to them in abundance. There were so many kids seeking stardom that would do anything to have their name in lights. It was easy money with no wages to pay out to the star and the clientele that ordered that type of movie were growing in numbers every year. Well while they ordered FX was prepared to meet demand but little Miss Chandler now she would be a bonus, rarely did they find one so beautiful, or so well known.

A sharp knock at his shed door had FX going to open it, he’d expect Jim and Robin, so was surprised to find two officers and a plain clothed fellow that seemed vaguely familiar waiting outside. FX quickly exited and padlocked the door behind him hoping that they wouldn’t ask to see inside. “Can I help you?” He asked politely.

“We hope so. We’re looking for Cameron Davy.”

FX was in two minds to say he’d never heard of him. After that night he’d have to move on anyway, he’d already decided that. Questions would be asked regarding Miss Chandler’s disappearance. Questions that weren’t usually asked until months, even years later. Since most of the victims were orphans or had run away from home. But they seemed to be sure it was him so he replied, “I’m Cameron Davy. How can I help you?”

“We’d like you to accompany us down to the precinct if you may. You may be able to help us with our enquiries.”

“Can you tell me what its all about?” He asked noticing a car pull up in his drive and recognising it as Robin’s.

“Not here. Are you ready? Do you need to lock up your house?” Cameron glanced over to it. “Yes and I’ll need my jacket. Do you want to come with me?”

“No Sir, we can wait here for you. Who is this, were you expecting someone?” The officer indicated the car that had pulled in.

Cameron shook his head. It served two purposes. Robin saw it and turning the engine over backed out of the drive. Whatever had happened he didn’t know, but one thing was for certain tonight’s activities were cancelled. He’d go home and wait up till FX called. Maybe they could get back on schedule tomorrow.

As he walked toward the house, Joe asked one of the officers if he might stay. He hadn’t brought the photograph, having rushed from his apartment the moment he had got the call and deciding that he could identify Catherine better in person.

“Providing you don’t do anything stupid. You might be the Deputy DA in this city but that doesn’t give you the right to snoop without a warrant. Just wait in your car until I return okay?”

Joe agreed, but he wasn’t happy about it.

Cameron hurried through his house, locking all the inside doors, and picking up his jacket he stuffed another chloroform soaked cloth beneath Catherine’s nose before he left the room. With a bit of luck she’d still be asleep when he got home. Then he would call Robin and ask him to come back over. Whatever happened, they had to dispose of her by morning – he had a lot riding on her death – hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in fact.

Cracking open the lock Vincent opened the door and slid inside unprepared for the amount of light therein and pulled his hood more firmly about his face to shield his eyes from the glare.

The shed from the outside revealed nothing of its contents. Here a whole different world met Vincent’s sight. The first thing he noticed was the lighting. Not just a solitary bulb or strip light, but rather the sort one might expect a photographer to use and these were positioned at various angles around the floor centred mainly on a plastic sheet spread half way across it. He noted the foam positioned around the edge of the sheet and that it had been tacked into place to avoid disturbance.

Upon the walls, a grisly sight met his eyes. It reminded him of a torture chamber, not that he had ever seen one literally but encyclopaedias had afforded him with insight and recognising some of the props that horrific movie that he and Catherine had watched flew to mind. He moved toward the objects drawn there by disbelief. How could any one subject another to such forms of punishment he’d never know. He’d heard how some people used such methods for sexual stimulation and he was astounded that anything but a beautiful partner could be needed for that. He only had to look at Catherine, and he needed her. It shamed him at that moment that such as his human side could want or demand such grotesque acts of violence for sexual gratification. And though he remembered Father giggling at an article he had read in the paper regarding such a method, now seeing the actual tools that were used turned his skin to ice. Maybe Father wouldn’t be quite so jovial if he could stand here and see this, Vincent thought as he remembered Father reading out the article to Peter Alcott. “Listen to this Peter, ‘there’s a fellow here that could only be sexually stimulated by the amputation of a limb. Not just any amputation either. He refused any form of anaesthesia and was conscious when a friend axed off his leg. (*) That’s sick!” Father’s stomach had churned at the thought, but he read on avidly wanting to know the outcome, “The victim said that he received the greatest orgasm he had ever achieved as the axe hit the bone, and was prepared to lose his other leg in order to feel such exquisite pleasure again. ‘Good Lord, what is the world coming to?” Vincent could remember Peter and Father discussing the article in great length and then laughing about it. ‘Oh well’ Peter had reasoned, ‘he would only experience it twice in his life. Pity he wasn’t an octopus.’ Father had laughed at that, and had continued to laugh in a cynical kind of way whenever he thought of how ridiculous it was. To be prepared to lose one’s legs for something so fleeting angered him. There were people that would love to be able to walk and couldn’t. Himself for example, what he would give for a hip replacement and be pain free. The people that had it all abused it, while those that needed it most suffered. The world was sick.

Yes, Vincent thought, looking about him, the world is sick. And he could easily see that Catherine was not in the shed but in all probability, the set had been arranged in preparation for her. And he knew that he shouldn’t loiter for to be caught in such a place would be as stupid as allowing himself to be shackled and tortured, but something had caught his eye that he needed to check out. Just beyond the plastic sheet a large concrete wall rose with steps leading up to it. He didn’t need the steps with his height, but looked over the side and quickly pulled his head back as the fumes touched the sensitivity of his nostrils. Acid! There could be no two ways about it. That acrid scent was acid. Now he knew what went on here, though he could not be certain, there was only one reason why acid was used in such a place, and that was to dispose of bodies. He’d not walked into a torture chamber for sexual gratification. He had walked into a film studio for the making of snuff movies! There had been people in the tunnels that had escaped from such with the skin of their teeth, generally youngsters seeking stardom who fortunately had a sixth sense for smelling trouble. Vincent hated to think of the number of people that had been sucked in by offers of being a star and had lost their lives. He should have known when he saw the knives and the weapons that more was at stake here than sexual perversions. His stomach turned over and he had to get out and fast. On his way, his cloak brushed against a sheaf of papers and he caught them before they fell. His eyes caught a name that screamed out at him in bold underlined ink. Catherine Chandler – Script. He snatched up the sheaf of papers, not knowing their content, not wishing to know of them at this stage but knew without a doubt that they might provide the evidence Catherine would need to investigate the fellow that signed himself FX.

Cracking open the door once more he peeped outside. Everything was still and the house loomed ahead of him. Naturally the house had windows that afforded him a better view unlike the shed that had none and creeping around he was able to look through them taking in the neatly furnished house that told nothing of the horrors within its grounds.
Standing outside one window and focusing within Vincent finally decided upon the one where the sense of Catherine came through the strongest. Here he broke open the window and froze when an alarm sounded and looking wildly about thought at first that Catherine wasn’t inside until he noticed all the photographs of her lining one wall. Then he dashed around the room searching frantically and then he saw her, lying stretched on a sofa, a chloroform soaked cloth under her nose. Vincent flicked it away and bent to pick her up, trying to rouse her at the same moment but she was dead to the world and he knew he would have to get her outside into the fresh air before he had a hope of waking her. Crossing back to the window he stopped dead when the sound of sirens could be heard coming up the drive, and racing for the door with Catherine in his arms, found it to be locked and sealed with security bolts, impossible for him to break down. It had to be the window, even though the red flashing lights signalled that the police had arrived.

With an ease born of experience, Vincent backed himself out of the window one leg at a time, careful not to scrape Catherine against the broken glass and expecting at any moment that spotlights would pick out his movements. He then took the greatest risk. Depositing Catherine behind a bush where he deemed she would be safe until he could collect her he made a mad dash across the grounds heading for the shed, hearing the raised voices of ‘STOP’ as the officers shouted at him. As much as he wanted Catherine away safe, he wanted to do everything in his power to prevent any other innocent person losing their life in this place at least. So tearing open the door of the shed he swept inside and hearing the running footsteps of several officers in hot pursuit he crashed through the back of the shed wall, rounded the perimeter and very cleverly outwitted them by climbing up the one storey house onto the roof, over the top and dropping down back at Catherine’s side. Thus taking advantage of the fact that sight of the shed’s interior would stop the officers in their tracks as they took in all he had seen earlier. However, he had forgotten about Joe and froze when he heard him shout, “Not so fast mister!” And felt the barrel of a gun pressed close to his head.

Time seemed to stand still for such a long time. Vincent’s heart hammered painfully, as he knew that he couldn’t harm Joe.

“I want you to very carefully turn around and lower that hood.” He heard Joe ask.

“I don’t want to frighten you.” He told Joe softly. “And I mean Catherine no harm. I’m taking her to safety.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Joe told him, “Now do as I say!”

Slowly Vincent turned and aware that Joe still aimed the gun at his head he visualised that this could go horribly wrong. Out of shock, Joe might so easily shoot before he had time to think. “Please lower the gun.” Vincent asked, “I mean you no harm.”

Slowly Joe did as he asked, though he took aim instead at Vincent’s leg just in case. He was intrigued by the soft as velvet voice and longed to know who the fellow was.

“What’s your name?” He asked as Vincent prepared to show himself to Joe.

“Vincent.”

“What that’s it? Just Vincent? Is that your surname, Christian name or what? And how do you know Cathy?”

“Its Vincent Wells. Catherine is my…” unsure how to term her, Vincent added, “friend.” But it was said in such a way that Joe knew that Cathy meant more to the fellow than that.

Suddenly he remembered something. Something Cathy had said when telling him about her nightmares and Joe shivered. “Are you her partner?” He asked trying not to sound nervous.

Vincent wasn’t certain if he had the right to confirm this, but knowing that he loved Catherine, he finally nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

“Okay, look don’t show yourself to me, its all right. Just go okay, but leave Cathy here.”

“Leave her…No!” Vincent gathered her more tightly against him and made to move away, but Joe called him back; “Wait! You don’t understand. If you don’t leave her here we won’t have a case against this guy.”

“You will.” Vincent told him struggling to hold Catherine and pull the incriminating script from within the folds of his cloak, “Here take this. It is a script that shows they intended to murder Catherine for a snuff movie.”

“A what!” Joe exclaimed with fury, “Give me that!” He took the script from Vincent and was beginning to read some of it when they both heard the sound of running footsteps coming in their direction.

“It’s the cops!” Joe exclaimed “Look, go. Just go, take Cathy with you. Keep her safe. Don’t worry I'll convince them of something.”

With obvious relief Vincent sighed, “Thank you Joe. Catherine said you were a good man.”

“Just go before I change my mind.”

Vincent hesitated one more moment. Obviously, Joe had decided that he didn’t want to know what Vincent looked like after all leaving Vincent unsure as to whether he should be grateful for that or not. However, now was not the time to speculate on such things, the police were closing in and he needed to get Catherine home. And aware that Joe watched his every move, Vincent hugged Catherine close and carried her away heading for the tunnels far beneath the city streets where he knew she would be safe.

Two days later, the news was splashed right across the front of all the papers with the discovery of the ‘snuff studios’. And along with Cameron Davy’s subsequent arrest various discriminating reports were flooding in to the police department, the editorials and the district attorney’s office from people that had either lost loved ones or had their own grisly tale of escapism to tell.

Joe armed with the ‘script’ submitted it to the police department keeping a copy of his own and filed a report of Catherine’s abduction by Cameron Davy and of his assumption that using the script as evidence she would have been his next victim. That together with a notepad in Davy’s house told police that Davy had been paid vast sums of money for a contract killing on Miss Chandler and they were investigating leads to try to find out who had put up the funds. And in the weeks that followed a whole racket was broken apart whereby names came forward and arrests were made. The so-called snuff movie industry spanned various parts of America forming a ring that would take years to crack. However, weeks later as is the way of things with the editorials, interest in the story began to cease. Still Catherine found it very difficult to enjoy her life in the world above anymore and she had become slightly paranoid about the amount of people that had paid to have her killed on Cameron’s list. Thus talking it over with Jenny, Devin and Vincent one day, she surprised them all by announcing, “As soon as the court hearing is over I’m quitting the DA’s office.”

“You can’t” Vincent exclaimed, “Catherine, you help so many people. You are good at your job.”

“Was good Vincent, perhaps too good. It scared me to hell and back when I saw Davy’s list and there’s no telling how many more out there would like to see me dead. I’m not prepared to risk my life anymore, besides time is running away and there are other things I’d love to do before I get too old to try.”

“Such as?” Jenny enquired with a knowing look. She hadn’t been in the least surprised by her friend’s announcement. She had dreamed about this. In fact, she had dreamed about other interesting things too.

“I want to get married, have a family.” Catherine told her stealing a look in Vincent’s direction. His face fell and with an unsteady voice he told her, “Yes I have always sensed this in you, more so of late. Will you stay in the city?”

“Oh yes absolutely.” Devin caught the look in her eye and he began to see where she was going with her answer. His brother could be so dumb sometimes.

Vincent nodded. He felt like his gut was being twisted inside of him, his heart ripped away. How would he ever get used to the fact of Catherine married to another man? How would he survive without her?

A terrible silence permeated the air around the four. Each with their own form of trepidation and apprehension they waited for one another to speak. Finally, Jenny unable to stand it any longer blurted, “I shall be getting married too.”

All eyes turned to her with disbelief. Devin’s heart lurched in his chest, “You will?” He asked hoarsely. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“You are, darling.” She told him with a wink, “and don’t try denying it ‘cos I saw it in a vision and we all know how correct they can be.”

Devin beamed. His face and eyes lighting up he crossed the room to pull Jenny into an embrace and told her, “Jenny I love you. Will you marry me?” Jenny squealed, Catherine burst into laughter and Vincent chuckled as the tension of moments before evaporated with their happiness. But it returned with a vengeance when Devin and Jenny broke apart and they looked at the other couple remembering suddenly what Catherine had said earlier. Vincent looked terrible and Jenny’s heart went out to him, “Put him out of his misery Cath will you? I can’t bear to see him in so much pain.”

“Who?” Vincent asked.

“You, dummy. I know from my dreams that Catherine has something she needs to ask you. And believe me she does need to ask you, cos you are never gonna ask her if she waits a month of Sundays. No, make that a decade.” Jenny laughed out loud and shot Catherine a look that said ‘ok pal over to you.’

Catherine laughed, “All right I get the message, Jen.” Then crossing to Vincent Catherine took his hands in hers, and thanks to Jenny’s dream, asked with confidence, “Vincent, my love, my life, will you marry me?”

He was about to refuse. His eyes wild with doubt and then he too remembered something that had been at the back of his mind these past few weeks something that he had kept pushing resolutely aside, but it wouldn’t go away. And he realised that he too had been dreaming. Dreaming of a life with Catherine as his wife and living in the tunnels beneath the city. They had been happy in those dreams and he had seen her with children, his children and he had felt so proud. So he smiled and he took her into his arms and crushing her to him whispered against her cheek, “Oh yes my Catherine, I would be happy to marry you.”

Jumping to her feet Jenny danced around the chamber, snatching Devin’s hand in passing and twirling him round and round, “We can have a double wedding, what do you think? It’ll be great. And we can go camping at the crystal cavern for a honeymoon. Oh come on, come on say we can do it, it’ll be brilliant!”

How could they refuse? She made it sound so wonderful. Everyone agreed and Vincent had never been so happy in all of his life.

“I owe everything to you two.” Catherine faced Vincent and Jenny. “Without the visions that I found at first to be so burdensome, I would not be here now.”

“And it’s thanks to you for bringing home those security films, Cath and to Joe for giving you the idea. For without them, any vision that we had would never have been enough. Without them, Vincent wouldn’t have known where to look and the police wouldn’t have known where to go. I don’t know, talk about Visual FX. Without the initials and the visual we’d have been sunk. You would not have lived to see this day.” Jenny sniffed imagining such a terrible thing.

“Well I am. And its thanks to the fact that you are still having those visions that just gave me the courage to propose to Vincent. I knew you’d seen a happy ever after for us, and you knew I had to be the one to instigate it didn’t you?” Catherine hugged her friend.

“Yes, knowing Vincent as I do,” she smiled up at him with affection, “he would never have asked you. But I’d seen it you see, I knew it could happen, would work between the two of you, as surely as it will work between Dev and I. We’re all going to be so happy, and our children will play together and drive Father round the bend.” She chuckled, as did her friends, before adding, “We’re going to live happily ever after Cath, you and me, just like it is in the storybooks. Yep, happily ever after, and I can’t wait to get started.”

No one could. And with their arms around each other, the two couples left Vincent’s chamber to break the good news to Father, the patriarch of the tunnels. The one who would retire to bed that night with a heart full of love and gratitude for the two women that had offered both his sons a happy life and made all their dreams come true...

(*) True Story.