Stay With Me

Chapter 4

There was something distinctly unrestful about a hospital at night. Even when the staff came and turned down the lights, Anthony remained awake, the intensity of his pain and emotions overlapping each other. Now he lay restless and wishing that the last thing Chloe said to him would stop playing over and over in his mind...

Alex Taylor...a friend. I attended his funeral this morning....

The shock of Chloe's reveal sent his mind into a spiral. Alex Taylor was dead. Because of me!

He'd heard the unspoken accusation even though she hadn't said it. She'd tried so hard to let him recover his memory on his own, and he felt like a heel because he'd already known a good bit of it. But he had not remembered the plane crash, and her revelation had left him reeling, hanging from a emotional cliff, slipping every second.

Alex Taylor, Chloe's lover. He'd certainly remembered that. He'd killed the one man his wife truly loved in the world. And that wasn't even the whole of it: he still couldn't remember one damn thing about the accident. Nor could he remember the events that led up to it. How had he come to be with Alex? When he racked his brain for information, his last memory was the fight between Chloe and him, which must have occurred before the accident.

They were in his office and he was deeply annoyed with her, almost hurt, he recalled. And she was standing at the center of his office, her hands on her hips, eyes flashing, lips quivering with emotion, equally as furious with him. "It's not like I was asked here. I was ordered! So don't go telling me that I need to change my attitude, because I'm not the one who treats people as if they're pawns!"

"Drop it," he snarled. "We have things to discuss."

"Really. Well, I'm not interested in discussing anything with you. I've got work to do."

"This concerns a friend of yours."

She shook her head at him as if he were completely dense. "Because of you, Anthony, I don't have any friends. Good-bye"

"Chloe, do not walk out that door until you hear what I have to say," he called to her retreating back.

At the door, she gave him one last look. "You don't know how to treat people. You never have and you never will, and if I stay here and put up with more of your verbal abuse, then I'm as guilty as you are of social incompetence that borders on pathology."

"Did you stay up at night practicing that line?" he demanded harshly.

"As a matter of fact, Yes!. Good-bye Anthony."

"Damn it Chloe!" But she was gone, leaving him staring after her in frustration.

Now, as he thought back on it, his head literally throbbed. Was Alex Taylor the friend that he had mentioned to Chloe? He could scarcely recall what the guy looked like, but he knew the man as his own personal nemesis: the man who had stolen Chloe's heart when she was still a girl and had never relinquished it. Oh, sure, Chloe was adamant that Alex was a childhood friend who held no place in her heart, but Anthony could not forget how close the two were at the beginning of their marriage, and he certainly heard the affectionate change in her voice whenever any of the Taylor's were mentioned at all. From that, he'd been forced to draw his own conclusions.

Why had Alex been on the plane with him? He knew Chloe didn't want to blurt out what she said, but she was consumed with emotion herself, and he had pushed and prodded until the words just came out. Thinking on the whole had been taxing, nothing was easy and nothing made sense. He was so damn exhausted. As he lay in his bed, half dozing while trying to dicifer the threads of information in his mind, his half brother stuck his head in the doorway, then entered the room.

Luke grinned at him. "Hey there brother. Glad you're finally awake.. All this sleeping in, and nothing to show for it but some scars and a plaster cast or two. You're going to ruin your reputation."

"My reputation?"

"That's a joke." Luke's grin slowly faded. "You know, because women find you so attractive." he hesitated. "You really don't remember anything?"

"Nothing useful," Anthony responded, hating himself for fostering the lie. But the need to protect himself was strong, and he was a man who trusted his instincts.

"God, its good to see you again," Luke stated fervently, looking as though he wanted to hug Anthony but was uncertain about how to do it. "Man, do we have a lot to talk about. I just hope that doctor of yours stays away long enough for me to do some real damage."

Anthony smiled faintly. "I think we're safe for a while."

Luke, like Annalise, wasn't nearly as reticent as Chloe about delivering news. In fact, he was practically bursting at the seams with information. "The place is in an uproar. Everything's a mess. I sure wish you were there to put it all back together."

Anthony's sluggish thinking couldn't drag up any information about work. "What's wrong?"

"Are you sure you want to hear this? I mean, can you?"

"I'm listening."

"Well, thank God!" Luke said in relief. "I've been up for days, trying to figure out the right thing to do." He drew a breath and collected himself. "We still don't know who our spy is. I know you don't want to believe that it's Chloe, but she has access. And let's face it" --- he shrugged -- "She's got motive. She's not your biggest fan." he added with a grimace.

Spy?

A flash of recognition. Someone working for, or associated with Hale Industries was systematically passing information about the development branch of the company to its most head-to-head competitor: James Inc.

Chloe works for Tucker James.

"You really don't remember any of this, do you?"

Anthony focused on his half brother. He still wasn't sure how to approach things with his brother. He couldn't tell how Luke felt about his condition. "Could you fill me in?"

"I'm not supposed to."

"But you will."

Luke nodded slowly. "I suppose I shouldn't, but I don;t really care. You wouldn't either if you were in my shoes."

"Somehow, I know that's right," Anthony said dryly. He was getting a picture of his past self that he didn't much like.

"Well, let's start with James Inc. Do you remember them?" When Anthony frowned, Luke made an impatient gesture. " Look, I'll stop asking, okay? I'll just start at the beginning, and if you remember or you want me to stop and go over something again, you let me know."

"Okay."

"And if you get tired, speak up. I can come back tomorrow around lunchtime. I've got a couple of meetings in the morning - meetings with the Seattle City Corporation over those setback requirements - but I think I can sneak out easy if I have to and let Sarah take over."

"Sarah?"

"Sarah Aldman." Luke's face shuttered. "She's worked for us for years. Came on about the same time you got married. A little earlier actually."

"I don't remember," Anthony said truthfully.

"Yeah, well, she does," Luke rubbed his hands together and paced the room, leaving that cryptic remark for Anthony to mull over later. "Anyway, the big problem is in the development department. James's people are underbidding us on every job, and the bigger problem is who is giving James the information in the first place. You've never wanted to believe it was Chloe, but it makes too much sense. Anyway" - - - Luke raised conciliatory hands ---"I don't want to go over that territory again right now. You know how I feel about Chloe. If we can take care of that leak, everything else can wait until you're better."

"You don't like Chloe?"

Luke sighed. "I don't trust her. It's not the same."

"She's my wife."

Luke regarded him sympathetically. "You've got nobody but yourself to blame for that one buddy. She swept you off your feet, and you're paying the price."

Anthony absorbed the information in silence. It was funny. He knew so little of what had happened in the past, but his gut instinct was to trust Chloe and no one else. Yet Luke was acting as if she were a spy for Tucker James. Though he did remember she worked for James, he couldn't quite picture her being a spy. She was just too straight forward.

"Why was I on a plane with Alex Taylor?" Luke stared. "Who told you about that?" A heartbeat. "Chloe?"

"Do you know about it?" Anthony prodded.

"No. And I sure as hell wish I did. It would help a lot."

"A detective wants to talk to me, but the doctor's keeping him away."

Luke nodded. "Detective Grant. He's talked to me, but I sure as hell don't know what you were doing with Taylor. I mean --- Taylor! We were all hoping you could explain." Luke's eyes probed Anthony's. "Do you really not remember anything?"

....has to remember....Oh, God what if he doesn't....

.....Forget it. We could never be that lucky........

Anthony outwaited Luke, who shook his head, then ran his fingers through his hair. For a strange moment, Anthony got the impression Luke was relieved that he couldn't recall anything. Was that true?

"Does the detective think that the accident wasn't an accident?" Anthony asked.

"That detective is so close-mouthed it's incredible that words actually make it past his lips. But yeah, there's got to be something going on or he wouldn't be so anxious to talk to you."

Luke sounded more annoyed than threatened. Anthony relaxed a bit. Maybe his fears were unfounded. He suddenly recalled one of his own axioms: Never trust anyone. Especially family....

What a sorry, cynical son of a b***h you are, he thought of himself.

"At least you're going to be okay," Luke said, giving Anthony a quick smile. "When we first heard, it was god-awful. Sarah damn near fainted, and you know that's not like her."

Sarah Aldman....Anthony recalled what he knew about her and decided that much was true. From what he remembered, she was tough and unrelenting, and though she wore skirts rather than pants, there was something almost masculine about her that had never appealed to him, no matter how many times she came on to him and let him know she wanted more than a business relationship.

He realized Luke knew nothing about that. Nor did Chloe, he thought, with a sudden pang of guilt. He'd never explained about Sarah. Undoubtedly, she believed they were involved. His heart jumped. Were they? Searching the memory that he didn't quite trust yet, he felt a few pulse-pounding moments of indecision. It was his own intense reaction that convinced him he'd never found his way to Sarah's bed. All he felt was uninterest when it came to her as a woman. Uninterest with a bit of revulsion.....

But he remembered that he let Chloe think the worst --- a thought that haunted him now and made him desperate to undo the past.

"Dad was upset too," Luke continued. " Oh and Annalise, of course. But Dad collapsed. I was really worried about him for a while, but he's doing better. The whole thing's been....well.....hard." Flexing his shoulders, he added on an afterthought, "Sarah will be here later. We've got business issues that can't wait."

Anthony nearly groaned out loud. The only person he was interested in seeing at that time was Chloe, and he knew that wasn't going to happen. He was already looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow. That is, if she decided to come, he thought, as a cold jolt struck him hard in the chest. After all, Alex Taylor was dead because of him.

"What?" Luke asked, seeing his tense expression.

"Nothing, Annalise brought up some business stuff earlier." Luke gazed at him in surprise. "You said Annalise!" Anthony frowned.

"You've always referred to her as mother. She would hit the roof if she heard you now. I'd pay money just to see it!"

Anthony thought of the perfectly dressed woman he'd encountered earlier and couldn't imagine calling her anything even remotely maternal. What was happening to him? He knew certain information was fact, but bits and pieces floated around without direction inside his head.

"Did you know I was taking that flight that day?"

Luke shook his head. "It was a Sunday, and you had mentioned something on Thursday about leaving for the weekend, but apparently you didn't leave until Sunday afternoon."

"I changed my flight plan?"

"Uh-uh. It was always set for Sunday afternoon. At least that's what the official report says. Even Mary-Ellen said you seemed normal so...." He shrugged.

"Mary-Ellen?" Anthony asked, honestly confused.

"Damn," Luke exhaled out a soft breath. "Your cook. The family's cook for all the years you've been alive. Don't tell me you don't remember her, Anthony. She's like an institution!"

Memory arrived like a bullet, and with a certain amount of pain attached. Mary-Ellen. Late fifties. No sense of humor. Dour and solid and honest as the day was long. His sometime cook and housekeeper since she had semi-retired after leaving Annalise's employ.

He suddenly felt very weary. As if on cue, Dr Allistair walked into the room and shot Luke a sharp look. "Excuse me please while I examine the patient." Luke stepped back and looked over at Anthony. "When Sarah arrives, tell her i'll be at the office late. I want to talk to her." Dr Allistair's lips thinned in disapproval as he waited for Luke to exit.

"I've contacted a specialist in New York. He's interested in your case."

Anthony bit his lip as he held back a laugh. He closed his eyes and counted to five. "Because I'm an amnesiac?"

Dr Allistair nodded. "It appears that against my direct orders, some members of your family have chosen to fill in the blanks for you."

"Don't worry doc, I've got some memories of my own." Anthony quipped, causing Dr Allistair to eye him seriously.

"Oh?"

"I just need time. I just don't feel like jumping back into my old life in a hurry. Do you understand?" Anthony said while giving the doctor a long look.

"Not entirely."

"Let them talk to me. It's not going to hurt. You take care of the physical side of things, and let me do the rest."

"Are you saying your memory has returned?"

"Yes---at least partially."

"But you want to keep this information from members of your family?"

"I'm saying there's a detective Grant who wants to talk to me about a plane crash, and I've got a feeling it's not because we simply ran out of gas. I'm not a trusting man, and I don't trust anyone here."

"I'm not lying for you, Mr Hale," the doctor said stiffly.

"I've got gaps in my memory. The accident is still a complete loss. Maybe it'll come back. Maybe it won't. You won't be lying when you say I have no memory of the accident."

Dr Allistair was silent for a bit before letting out a heavy sigh. "Detective Grant wants to see you as soon as you're able."

"Fine, but I'll only see him with my wife present. Can you arrange that for me? I don't want anyone else present."

"I will call her." Dr Allistair moved to walk out the room as Anthony felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His eyes grew heavy and his temples throbbed a bit.

"Anthony?"

A tall woman with short-styled blonde hair and a strong chin stepped into the room. She gave the doctor a brief, cold smile. Warm, she was not, and Anthony knew instantly that this was Sarah Aldman. Dr Allistair took one look at Anthony's weary face and instantly stepped into action.

"Mr Hale just requested that he be given some uninterrupted rest. He's already been severely overtaxed for the day."

"I won't stay long."

No amount of hitting could deter Sarah. Anthony suddenly remembered a time she literally stood between him and Chloe at a party, He wondered why he had put up with her for so long. The answer followed instantly: He'd wanted to make Chloe jealous.

Anthony physically jerked at the stinging memory.

"I....feel....fuzzy." he murmured.

"I'll be quick, Anthony, please." Sarah pressed.

"I'm sorry miss, tomorrow will be another day." Dr Allistair said, taking the initiative and against Sarah's protests and to Anthony's relief, ushered her out the door while shutting the light off.

He'd wanted her jealous....fool...