Liaisons: Meeting Connecting Committing

Prologue

Stacey Martin paced across the floor of the church's recreation room. Her satin wedding gown rustled as she strode back and forth, her hands twisting her bouquet nervously. What was the matter with her? She was marrying the man of her dreams, literally! Donovan Gordon was everything she had ever wished for.

Like every young woman she wished for a prince and her wish had come true. This gorgeous man would soon be hers...until... death do them part? Stacey shuddered in spite of herself. She was in love and he said he loved her although she was just a grade school teacher.

She was pretty in a nondescript way, brown hair, brown eyes, weight proportionate, five foot four, with a medium bone structure. At twenty six years of age, she had not found that special someone until now. Her friends, associates and family thought she set her standards a little too high.

****

She had her share of dates but none had measured up to what she wanted in a man. Physical looks were not that important, but along with intelligence and a good disposition, she craved romance as well. She tried the bar scene, church meetings, and singles clubs, but there was no one that measured. She even answered a personals ad in the newspaper and that had been a disaster! All he had been looking for was a good time.

****

Then her friend Terry told her about an Internet dating site called LIAISONS. Stacey was skeptical especially after the disastrous newspaper ad.

It's a totally different concept, Terry said. Stacey you can literally choose your ideal man, from his physical appearance, his intellect, to his personality! This service is fantastic. The computer finds your match according to your specifications. It's the way to go. You've just got to try it! Stacey shaking her head negatively asked,

What's the catch? Why would some gorgeous man want to date someone like me? Terry smiled slightly and said.

"These beautiful people have an affliction, disorder, or dysfunction that inhibits their finding love in the traditional manner. LIAISONS concept is to bring people together first with the hopes that once they fall in love, a little character flaw wouldn't matter to them."

Well if it's so great, why aren't you finding your special man?

Terry smiled wider and placing her hand over Stacey's said,

"I did Stacey. I didn't want to jinx my relationship but I've been dating this fantastic man for six months now! I joined LIAISONS, and I was just as skeptical as you are now. He is everything I wanted plus more! Our relationship is rock solid, and now we have been discussing a future!"

Stacey looked at her friend with amazement!

Terry that's great, she sputtered! I can't believe you haven't said a word to me about him! Does anyone know, your family, friends, anyone? I mean could I meet him? I can't believe he's all you say he is. Gosh your standards list was longer than mine! Terry smiled and said,

"Soon Stacey, you should meet him, and maybe that will help convince you that LIAISONS is the right way to go!"

****

Stacey met Anthony Gleason at dinner the following Friday. He certainly was everything Terry said he was, charming, polite, absolutely gorgeous, and he was enamored with Terry. He bought their dinner and led a pleasant conversation telling amusing stories about his work as a cooperate lawyer. Stacey was drawn to him and admonished herself for it. She watched his attentiveness towards Terry, marveling at her friend's good fortune. Like Stacey herself, Terry was of average looks and intelligence.

Anthony was major league material. Before the evening was through, she made up her mind to try the on line dating service called LIAISONS!

Well, Terry asked her over the phone? "Didn't I tell you he was absolutely perfect? He said you were almost as beautiful as I am! Stacey I think he's going to buy a ring. He took my hand and kind of measured my finger with his! You've just got to apply to LIAISONS. I swear you'll find someone as awesome as Anthony!"

Hold on, Stacey told her friend! So what's Anthony's affliction or problem? I couldn't detect anything at all! Terry sighed and said,

"Anthony has an obsessive compulsive disorder. Its little things, like whenever we're in his car, he has to wipe off everything we touch! He keeps supplies with him, those cleaning wipes, and he is constantly washing his hands. Everything has to be neat and orderly and precise. Stacey I can take these little discrepancies because I'm in love with him! You're going to apply at LIAISONS aren't you?"

Stacey thought before answering her. Anthony was incredible and a little thing like being overly neat wouldn't sway her either. So she had applied on-line, and three weeks later she was involved, actually in love with her ideal man.

Donovan Gordon a psychologist profiler with the city precinct worked subjugating criminals. He was sometimes absent for days working on cases but always made it up to her later. He did not like to talk about his work and told her that she was the part of his life that was separate and unscathed by the horridness of dealing with criminal minds. He was so handsome, so refined, that at first she doubted that he could fall in love with someone like her. However three months after their first date he proposed! Stacey had breathlessly said,

Yes, and now she stood waiting in the church's room to marry the man of her dreams!

****

Terry came bounding into the room dressed in her matron of honor attire.

It's time Stace, let's go! Your brother is waiting to walk you down the aisle! Don is here and is he a sight in his tux, almost as handsome as my Anthony, she chided as she hurried Stacey out of the room. Stacey didn't have time to collect her thoughts.

The first few months she and Donovan dated were amazing. It went so well that she invited Donovan to move in with her. Whatever his fault was she couldn't detect it! But after she began planning their wedding, small discrepancies made her uneasy! One night he called to say he would be working late. She packed up the supper she made taking it to the station to find out that he had left three hours earlier. Another time he said he had to go out of town for a few days for a conference and then a local motel had called to say he left his cuff links in his room. She retrieved them and noticed dried blood on the right cuff link. Funny, he didn't have any cuts that she could see.

When she questioned him about these incidences, he'd smile and say,

My love, sometimes I need to be alone with my thoughts and emotions. I don't want to burden you with my tirades so just bear with me and let me handle things the way I always have! Stacey reluctantly gave in, thinking this must be his affliction. She did not voice her concerns to Donovan but she did tell Terry about his discrepancies.

Well look at what he must endure dealing with those criminals, Terry reprimanded her. I mean rapists, killers, all kinds of offenders, and he doesn't want to burden you! Stacey that's his little oddity, his little affliction! I mean would you really want to hear about those atrocities? Stacey looked at Terry and answered,

Yes that's what being a couple is all about!

She would read the newspaper headlines and watch the newscast every night after school, grading papers or planning lessons. She tried to ignore the awful reports about the women they found in the alleyways of the city. Four women now all with their throats cut, the heads almost severed! The Police were warning woman to be alert, not to go anywhere by themselves.

She thought of Donovan. The long absences, the discrepancies about where he was, what he was doing, the blood on his cuff link! Stacey couldn't control the thoughts that came to her mind! Surely it could not be Donovan! No...no that was just crazy! What was she thinking? She just had the jitters with everything going on. Donovan was perfect and he was marrying her today, right now!

Stacey took a deep breath and shook her head to clear it of all malignant thoughts! LIAISONS screened each of their clients thoroughly! There was no way Donovan had anything to do with those murders. Now as she walked up the aisle towards her groom she put all these horrid thoughts behind her!

****

The ceremony was almost over and the minister asked for the rings to be presented. She looked at the hands of her new husband as he went to place the ring on her third finger. There was dried blood lining the crevices of his fingernails on his right hand! He usually kept them manicured and clean!

He had not been home early this morning when she called their apartment. She spent the night at her brother's house after the bridal shower her sister in law had given to her, and Donovan told her the guys at the station where taking him out to celebrate his last night of bachelorhood. Why hadn't he answered the phone earlier? Why were his hands in such condition on their wedding day? Stacey's uncertainties crowded her thoughts, she felt faint and her vision blurred.

Just as the minister had pronounced them as, man and wife, she felt herself falling into blackness. She saw Donovan's arms extended towards her to catch her but she pushed them away and fell into her matron of honor. Together they went down in a cloud of white satin and silk.

1. LIAISONS

Danny Morgan watched the tall beautiful redhead emerge from the office of his partner Karl Wright. Danny smiled and nodded at her, but she cast her eyes away and practically ran towards the exit. Looks like Karl found another client for their Internet dating service, he thought. Karl usually handled the woman clients while he interviewed and processed the men. It was only fair. Karl was the mastermind behind their exclusive service and even though they were equal partners, Danny being the technologist, Karl called the shots. Now watching the redhead walk through the door, he was beginning to regret letting Karl interview all the ladies.

****

Karl downloaded the file to Danny's computer and went to his office to talk to him. He knew Danny was going to ask him about interviewing and processing the female clientele, but the truth was, Danny tended to become enamored with the ladies. Danny was a good guy, although he was young and not looking for a long term relationship at this point. The people, who applied at LIAISONS, were looking for a special person, one who would not judge them for their afflictions.

Not that they were dangerous criminals, killers or anything like that. Danny was an expert in computer processing, back ground checks, and investigative documentation. He was able to find out everything about potential clients and the people whom they called customers. Danny found records of every kind. He was able to pull up finances, job performances, employment records, even their complete medical and educational history from birth to present day. Karl knew a lot about computers but Danny was a prodigy. That is why he was an equal partner in this exclusive dating service Karl had founded!

****

Karl started the service after meeting and marrying his beautiful wife Karen, through a dating service. What he did not find out until after they had moved in together was that she suffered from bipolar disorder. She took medication for it but when she was under some type of duress, he realized something was seriously wrong with his beautiful lady. He was deeply in love and wanted Karen for his wife. When she took her medication, she was everything he could ever have hoped for.

Of course some things still set her off and there were days when it was a challenge to keep their marriage together! Karl learned how to calm and reassure her on the days when she sat for hours in a darkened room, hardly talking, or moving on the days she was in a rage over any number of things. He asked her why she had joined the dating service, and why she didn't mention on her application that she suffered from depression. That is when she had thrown a crystal vase at him, and walked out the door, only to come back three days later, dehydrated, malnourished, and on the verge of a breakdown.

Karl had taken her to the hospital where she spent two days in the psychiatric ward for evaluation. During that time he spent every moment that he was not at work with her at the hospital. She had a wonderful doctor who explained her condition, and suggested that they join a support group for Living with Bipolar disorder. Karl faithfully went to each meeting and by the time Karen returned, he knew a lot in dealing with her disorder. She flourished under his care. Soon they were married and lived life day to day, dealing with the systems of her affliction.

****

Karl worked as a computer technician for a large Internet system and that's where he met Danny Morgan. Danny was phenomenal at what he could do on a computer and he and Karl became fast friends. Karl came up with the idea of a new kind on Internet dating system. He explained to Danny about his wife Karen and his ideas on how they could help people like her and with other disadvantages find someone to love. If they could build a clientele of beautiful people, they could find someone to whom their afflictions would not matter!

Danny had been skeptical at first.

What happens if we matched someone to a real weirdo? What if someone sued us because they were matched with a mental case, a serial rapist, or a killer, he asked Karl among fifty other questions? Karl sat down next to Danny in his cubicle and said,

That's where you come in Danny! You're the golden boy of the technological era! You run background checks for the credit card companies, and you find more on their customers than what they require! Danny you can find out things about people that they don't know themselves! Danny blushed, but agreed.

Do you really think it'll take off Karl, he asked excitedly?

Yeah and we don't have to quit the credit bureau right now. We can start at my office at home. I think if we got the web site going, got some people logging on, we'd see how things go from there! I'll do the interviews and you can do the investigating.

Danny was silent, considering this new type of dating service.

What about Karen? Is she going to like having me over there every night, Danny inquired skeptically?

She's been really great lately, Karl said with pride. Her doctor's got her on a new medication, and she's back to work at the tax service company. She's a whiz at all that accounting and IRS jumbo. In fact now that tax season is here she'll probably be putting in a lot of overtime. I guess she'd be alright with you hanging around! Lord knows you don't have any other social obligations to attend to, Karl laughed lightly.

Danny punched him in the arm and the partnership was formed. They worked on the layout of the web site, the information, and the idea behind their company. They formulated the rules, regulations, and agreements between clients, customers and themselves. They couldn't decide on a name for their company... there were so many Internet dating services out there already and they wanted theirs to stand out.

It was Karen who suggested LIAISONS, because the word meant a union, a connection, or a meeting between a man and a woman. Karl looked at Danny, and Danny stood, embracing Karen in his arms, and twirled her around yelling,

Exactly, that's exactly what we should name our service. Karl I think I should drop you as a partner and take on the real brains of the family, Danny said happily. But first I want you to find a gorgeous lady like Karen for me, one with brains, beauty, a knockout body, and a marvelous disposition! Karl shook his head and smiled at Karen before saying to Danny,

She has to have a great disposition to put up with me and you at the same time!

****

Danny brought Karl out his recollections by demanding information about the redhead that just left. Karl gave a huge exasperated sigh before answering him.

Believe me Danny boy, she's not for you. She's gorgeous, intelligent too, but she has some kind of social disorder! She might be paranoid or even schizophrenic! Well maybe not schizophrenic, but she definitely some has some type of phobia!

Danny was about to reply using a smart retort, but thought of how the redhead had acted when she left.

Yeah I gave her a big smile but she ran like a turkey on Thanksgiving Day! She sure was a fox though. How bad is her affliction? You don't think she's a schizoid right, Danny asked?

Karl leaned over to rest his hand on Danny's desk and looked him directly in the eyes.

Dan, I'll tell you exactly how her interview went. She first contacted us about a month ago. When I e-mailed her, she never replied. I tried the phone numbers she put down on her application, but they were wrong numbers, so I chalked it up that she changed her mind and let it go. Tuesday evening I was heading out to my car, when she approached me demanding to know if I was Karl Wright or Daniel Morgan! I told her who I was and that she had to make an appointment but she insisted on a meeting. So I set up an appointment for this morning. She called several times to cancel or reschedule. I told her it had to be today because I had several other people with appointments. She agreed to come in and asked if anyone had contacted us concerning her. I told her none that I knew of and reminded her that she was the one that contacted us! She hung up on me and I thought that's the end of that. This morning she shows up promptly at ten o'clock. Her name is Melanie Edwards, she's an art appraiser, and she is convinced that her father is trying to run her life! She wants to find a down to Earth, liberal minded man. She desires a home in the country, a family, and a lifestyle completely opposite of the one her father wants for her. That's it in a nutshell Danny boy! Now the next step is yours! You run a check on her and see what you can find out about her daddy Joseph Edwards. Then we'll be able to see what we're dealing with. Maybe her fears are founded or maybe she is paranoid. The thing is Danny, if she checks out okay; we'll find her a match!

Karl stood up and before he returned to his office asked,

Danny if she is not schizophrenic would you really want to meet Melanie? She's looking to settle down and lead a very mundane life. Danny thought for a minute then grinned and replied.

If I could wake up everyday next to someone like her every morning I might trade my Giorgio Brutini's in for some Timberline boots! Karl just shook his head and told Danny to get back to work!

2. The Reverend

Grayson Murray stepped into the office of the dating service... He looked around the office skeptically and the receptionist asked if she could help him.

Um yes, I have an appointment with a Mr. Morgan, Daniel Morgan, he stated uncertainly. The receptionist turned to her computer and asked him his name. When he didn't answer she glanced up at him and started to repeat her question.

Sir... are you alright, she asked noticing his expression?

Do you have to use that....that device... just to take my name, he inquired nodding towards her computer. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, shrugged her shoulders and said,

I'll let Mr. Morgan know you're here. She touched the button on the intercom and the man said,

Please young lady, could you just tell him I'm here without having to use all these... devices? I am Grayson Murray. A member of my congregation assured me that I have an interview with Mr. Morgan today. He looked distressed and before she could respond, Danny came out of his office.

Sally I'm supposed to meet with a Mr. Murray..... he said before he saw the man standing in front of Sally's desk. Mr. Murray, Danny asked extending his hand?

Yes I'm Grayson Murray, the man said bringing his hand up towards Danny's until he noticed a small device in his hand. What is that, he asked Danny, lowering his arm and taking a step back?

Oh, I'm sorry Sir, Danny said putting his cell phone in his pocket. Actually he was waiting for a call and had carried his phone with him. Please Mr. Murray, come this way, Danny said while ushering the man to his office. Danny had cleared his it earlier of all technical devices but he had forgotten about his phone.

****

He led the way introducing him as they went into his office. When the application had come in over the web site five days ago, Karl and Danny had discussed the potential client, his affliction, and how to handle his interview before deciding to meet with him. One of the church's deacons had filled out the application for the reverend and that was whom Karl had spoken to over the phone with to set up the appointment. Jerry Reese had stated simply that Grayson Murray suffered from technophobia, a fear of technology and its devices. Karl inquired as to what the Reverend was hoping to find at LIAISONS and Jerry stated,

A devote woman who also has some computer and technological skills. It seemed the church was moving into the technical era and Reverend Murray needed a discrete person to help with all the data and documentation concerning the church!

Karl set up the interview with Danny disclosing the reverend's phobia. Now Grayson Murray sat down in the plush chair on the other side of Danny's desk looking around for any technical devices.

Please Reverend be at ease. There are no electronic devices of any kind in this room. In fact I am going to take your answers by hand with a pen and tablet, Danny said sitting down opposite of the minister.

What about that thing you stuck in your pocket, inquired the Reverend?

Oh I've turned that off, is that okay, Danny said apologetically?

If you could just leave it with your secretary in the outer office I would be grateful. I am sorry to be a nuisance to you and your service but I do not trust these things even if they're off, he answered with a quiver in his voice.

Sure no problem, Danny said as he called Sally in to retrieve his cell phone. In spite of having to empty his office of all technological equipment, Danny already liked this man. He felt a twinge of sorrow for his fears because he could not imagine living in this era without all the modern technological devices and the advantages they yielded.

****

Grayson Murray was a tall athletically built man of thirty although he looked at least five years younger. He was accentually handsome His black curly hair was cut close to his head, and his large dark brown eyes were fringed with long lashes. Intelligence shown through his eyes and his frame carried his dark skin majestically!

Once the cell phone was safely out of the way, Grayson relaxed. He and had a humorousand easy going manner. Danny asked the reverend all the perfunctory questions, how had he learned of LIAISONS, what did he hope to find? Was he looking for companionship, a relationship, possibly marriage? The minister assured him his intentions were to find a lady who shared his love and devotion to God. He also expressed hope in finding someone who knew how use all these electronic, and technical devices, especially computers!

Danny inquired,

What about love Sir? What about the lady herself? Is she to be your companion or just a computer technician? Our customers are searching for their ideal mate here. They want a relationship with the person of their dreams. You are someone's idea of the perfect man, the man they never thought they would have a chance to meet! What a disappointment it would be if they were to find out you only needed someone to be a data processor!

Mr. Morgan I assure you I would cherish any woman that God has endeared to me. I want a wife, family, and love second only to that which I have for God. What I need is someone who understands my...uh...affliction. I have diversity to technology and I need someone who can handle its resources! That is why I am here on recognizance of my deacon Jerry Reese. He found your dating service on the.... what do you call it.... the Internet? After months of his aggressive persuasion, I agreed to try your service. The most important trait I'm looking for in someone is love and a devotion of service to our Lord!

I am sorry Reverend for being so blunt with these questions. We will find ladies that match your criteria and theirs as well. Once I have their profiles, I will contact you to view the interested parties' interviews. From there we will set up and monitor your first few dates, Danny told him.

Monitor, what do you mean monitor! You're not going to use one of those devices that the police put on criminals to track them? I can't do that. I won't do that! I won't wear any of those things, the Reverend stated anxiously! Danny looked at him with astonishment.

"Reverend Murray you won't have to wear a device of any kind nor will your date. We'll have someone from our office chaperon. You see, we don't disclose where our clients or the customers live, work, or even what church they attend until both parties feel secure, comfortable, and want to continue their relationship. It's a form of security and confidentiality that we provide at LIAISONS. We insist on first names only until an agreement is reached. We are very adept at what we do and conscientious of our clients needs and wants. Reverend Murray we will find that special lady for you, it's what we do! Now if you have no further questions or concerns I will get to work on profiling ladies that might be interested in meeting you."

Grayson stood up and said,

Mr. Morgan, thank you for meeting with me. My one concern is that the lady you find may not be able to deal with my technophobia once it is disclosed to her.

Danny stood up to see the minister to the door of the office.

Reverend Murray we give our customers and clients the chance to fall in love first. It is up to you when you wish to disclose your discrepancy to a certain lady. Believe me once someone gets to know you a little thing like being afraid of computers will be a very minor diversion to them. That is what our service is based upon and we have a very high success rate with our clients and our customers!

Grayson Murray nodded and left through the exit door with a hopeful look on his face. Sally looked up at Danny and handed him his phone shaking her head.

Do you want me to help you reinstall your computer and data equipment, she asked? Danny grinned and said,

Yeah Sal, I have a lot of work to do and I could sure use some help. Sally got up taking her cell phone with her.

We had another client come in unannounced but Karl is having him fill out an application.

Karl doesn't usually take someone unless they've set up an appointment with us first, Danny exclaimed.

Well this guy is some hot shot busy lawyer. He claims this was the only time he had. I think his name is Gleason, she stated. He's quite handsome, very articulate in his appearance and his mannerism but a little strange in someway. Danny looked at her with raised eyebrows.

How, he asked?

I asked him to have a seat until Karl could see him. Before he sat down he wiped the whole chair off with a sanitizing cloth then used another one to wipe his hands with! Danny grinned at Sally.

"Sounds like LIAISONS clientele to me!"

3. First Date

He sat at the table and glanced at his watch. Two minutes to go and she'll be late, he thought exasperatedly! He surveyed the room trying to spot the chaperon from the Internet dating service he had joined two weeks earlier. He thought he saw one of the staff sitting at the bar. This was part of the agreement between the customers, clients, and the dating service. The first three dates were monitored by someone from LIAISONS.

He sanitized his hands with an anti-bacterial wipe. He kept plenty of these individually packaged wipes in his car, his briefcase, and his suit pockets. He put the wipe into a small plastic bag with the other soiled ones. He would dispose of these later. He glanced at his watch and saw if exactly seven o'clock was. The hostess was leading a young woman toward his table and he rose to greet her, pulling out a chair for her.

Theresa, he asked taking her hand to steady her as she sat down?

Anthony, she answered. It's so nice to meet you! She slid onto her seat and Anthony gave her chair a gentle push to the table.

She smiled up at him and said softly,

Please call me Terry. Everyone else does.

I prefer Theresa because it means late summer, my favorite time of the year, Anthony said sitting down across from her. He examined her appearance and asked her if she would like champagne, wine, or a cocktail. She smiled sweetly and said a white wine would be fine, and he glanced at her smile noting her teeth were even and white. She seemed to be articulate, and he sniffed a faint citrus scent coming from her.

She was pretty in a nondescript way but he was satisfied. He wasn't seeking a raving beauty. He dated beautiful women in the past and like his mother they were to high maintenance for him.

****

Anthony had taken care of the household while growing up because his mother had been busy with her TV talk show. She divorced his father when Anthony was five and there were a lot of men after that! When she tired of one, there were plenty of others waiting for a chance to date the darling of New York's morning talk show. She was a success running eleven years until they decided to replace her with a younger version. At age forty six she auditioned to play a character on a daytime soap opera. She wanted the part of a young doctor and walked out on the audition when they cast her as the doctor's mother! Disgusted, she left the industry. The rest of her days she spent in their large brownstone apartment in an alcoholic daze while Anthony cleaned, cooked, and studied.

With the added chore of taking care of his mother, he had no time for socializing. Any free time was spent reading and studying after his mother passed out for the night. He was determined to find a way out of his consuming obligations. He became interested in law and while still in high school he took computer courses on line. After his two years of service in Saudi Arabia, he attended college on the GI bill and with grades and determination, graduated in the top ten of his class.

That year his mother went from the hospital to a nursing home, due to a paralyzing stroke that left her unable to move anything on her left side. Anthony was saddened yet free and he decided to stay in the brownstone after having it completely cleaned and renovated.

After his mother left, he became enamored with his home and possessions. He was the same at the law firm. Every item on his desk was neatly arranged or placed precisely where it would be most