The Haunting of Kim Stallings

In Tribute to Robert Ryan

Chicago,Illinois
December 29,2003

PROLOGUE:ALL OF US IN THIS CRAZY,MIXED UP CARNIVAL WE CALL CIVILIZATION ARE RUNNING TO OR FROM SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.I WASN`T SURE WHICH ONE I WAS DOING.THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE HAD BEEN WORSE THAT ANY NIGHTMARE SCENERIO I`D EVER IMAGINED.YET,I STILL BELIEVED IN GOD,I WAS STILL SEARCHING FOR LOVE,AND I WAS STILL RUNNING.FROM MYSELF?PERHAPS.ALONE AT NIGHT,LYING IN MY BED WANTING TO GO TO SLEEP AND THEN NOT WANTING TO,EVER.RUNNING FROM THE NIGHTMARES?SURE.WHAT OTHER CHOICE DID I HAVE?BUT,EVERY MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP,WHEN I`D LET UP THE WINDOW SHADE SO THE EARLY MORNING SUN COULD SHINE IN,OR IF IT WERE RAINING-TO FEEL THE COOL,DAMP INVIGORATING AIR-EVERY MORNING AS I`D SIP MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE,I`D GO OVER TO MY DESK,GET THE PENCIL I`D TAPED TO THE BOTTOM,AND WRITE DOWN MY GOAL ONE MORE TIME.YOU SEE,I WAS RUNNING ALLRIGHT.I WAS RUNNING FOR RAY CLOVER.AND I HOPED GOD WOULD HELP US ALL,IF I FAILED.
Nick Forrester

novis state mental facility crd#227790 dr.jacobs release:date:12/29/03

"IT`S HARD TO EXPRESS IN WORDS THE DEPTH OF MY THANKS TO YOU,DR.JACOBS AND TO YOUR RESPONSIVE AND CARING STAFF.I LOOK AT MY STAY AT NOVIS AS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME.I`VE LEARNED TOOLS HERE THAT I WILL USE MY ENTIRE LIFE.I`VE LEARNED NOT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL.I`M BETTER WITH MANAGING STRESS,AND HAVE A LOT MORE PATIENCE WITH PEOPLE.NOW,I CONTROL MY REALITY.THANKS TO YOU,I FEEL LITTLE ANGER.I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THERE IS NO ACTUAL PERSON NAMED RAY CLOVER.THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME FIND MYSELF.I CAN GO ON WITH MY LIFE NOW."[statement of patient upon release]

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          Rico Quinton was dead.There was nothing anyone could do about that.Arch Collins and I had been the last people to see him alive and talk with him.The only report the Rio Police Department could make was that at approximately 23:38 hrs,there was a blinding blue flash in the harbor.That,unfortunately,was where Quinton and his boat were.

          Arch and I knew what had happened,but no-one else had even a clue because the only person we`d informed about Clover and the Cobalt bomb was Detective Quinton.Still,I don`t think either one of us thought that Rico was in danger to that great of an extent.In other words,he wanted us,but he settled for Quinton.

          I floored my boat Matilta as we finally left the scene."Tell you what,I don`t know but why were Quinton`s last words in his transmission to us  were "Kim Stallings is alive."Arch.""Nick,we`ve been through this a thousand times.There`s no way Kim Stallings is still alive.There`s just been too much water under the bridge,Nick.That picnic at Collins Falls,don`t you realize that was over six years ago.You or anybody else never found a trace of her again.Her house in Santa Barbara was sold several years ago.He only next of kin was Veronica,your fiance.How many times are you ging to put her through this."Hi Veronica,it`s me Nick.Oh,by the way your sister might still be alive,although she probably isnt."Do me a favor and don`t even mention this to her,man.""You got it Arch.If Kim herself was standing here on this boat,I`d have to swear it was a ghost.But,that wasn`t Quinton`s last words.I`ve played the disc back at least a hunded times.It was a garbled transmission.He actually said "Kim Stallings is an aliby"In other words,man,Kim Stallings is and was involved.I thought Clover abducted her that day,but it finally dawned on me-she was meeting him for God knows whatever reason.We were working on a new propulsion system at NASA.I wondered why she`d brought her briefcase to the falls,she said she just wanted to go over a couple of things.When she disappeared,the briefcase disappeared.I felt it in my gut a long time ago,I just couldn`tell amyone,especially Veronica.You`re sister is still alive Ronnie,and she`s in deep with a terrorist.""Well Nick,"It Takes Two" baby?""Double Trouble" I`m talking about taking the long way home-don`t forget to stop at the asylum for lunch".

.    The fog was so thick at Bayview you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.The blonde walked out on the front porch of the halfway-house,under the dim yellow porch light,took another sip of her bourbon and Coke she`d sneaked in and lit a cigarette.She stared silently for about ten minutes at the woods of Bayview.Then she began to speak to no-one,except perhaps,her shadow."Nick,it could`ve been different.You just wouldn`t listen to me.We could have had it all-the money, the power, the fame.The world would`ve been at our feet,but no!After I left that no good louse Ray in Chicago .After I murdered Mike Stone and he took off without me to Brazil.I wanted to find you again,my darling.My sweet Nickie!You had to fall for my own sister-of all of the women in the world-why Veronica?Damn you,Forrester,damn you!Why have you done this to me?I`ll find you.The voices will lead me to you,and her.I can hear them now.They`re getting louder and louder.Yes!I`ll have my sweet revenge!"The woman stomped on the cigarette and walked back into the old grey house.