At her office at the hospital one day, Marlena began seeing
a new male patient. During the course of their session, the man pulled
a cord from his pocket and lunged at Marlena. Luckily, Don was outside
her office and saved her. He and Marlena thought it was the Strangler,
but the man revealed himself as Det. Roman Brady from the Salem Police
Department. In charge of investigating homicides, Brady chided Marlena
for leaving herself so vulnerable. Vowing to protect her, Roman brought
a sleeping bag to her
apartment to guard her through the night. Somehow,
the Strangler got wind of
this development and telephoned Marlena, calling her
a 'tramp.'
Although Roman was undeniable a gruffer, less-polished
man than others Marlena was used to, there was an immediate chemistry between
them. Roman eventually hired "Doc", as he affectionately began to call
her, as a consultant on the Strangler case. Abe, Roman's buddy on
the force, pointed out to Brady that he was attracted to his new colleague.
Knowing Abe was right, Roman asked Marlena out on a date, but she turned
him down. Don heard about this and told Roman to leave Marlena alone.
Roman told Don to keep his
nose out of his affairs, and paid no further attention
to him. After some cajoling from Roman, Marlena agreed to go out
with him. On their date, Roman told Marlena he lived with his family.
This small fact endeared him to her. A few days later, both Don and
Roman invited Marlena out for the same night. But when Don saw Roman
was seriously interested in Marlena, he did the gentlemanly thing and bowed
out. Roman and Marlena went out and had a fantastic time together.
The police commissioner ordered Roman to start sleeping
at Marlena's house full time. Although Marlena like the tough detective,
she was less than thrilled at the turn of events and asked Don to get Roman
to leave. All in the line of duty, Roman refused to do so and continued
to bed down in a sleeping bag in Marlena's living room. Although
the residents of Salem were not aware of it, Jake Kositchek was the Strangler.
He called Marlena's
office and announced, "I can't stop killing!" Furious
Roman assured Marlena that the Strangler would never get near her.
Since events were getting a little too close for comfort, the two agreed
to see other people. Roman asked Dana, and at the same time, Marlena
asked Neil out for a date. Neil told Marlena, while on their outing
that he knew he was being used to make Roman jealous, and seemed rather
amused at the whole situation. When they returned home and Marlena found
Roman with Dana. Dana was immediately
embarrassed and accepted Neil's offer of a ride home.
Alone in the apartment, Roman told Marlena, "I'm infatuated with you,"
and kissed her passionately. Marlena was interested, but thought
that maybe she should get another roommate to cool things off between them.
Roman insisted Marlena go to Mexico, but she was reluctant.
He told her that he loved her, but Marlena felt she wasn't ready to return
the sentiment and decided she would think about the whole situation while
she was away. After she left for the airport, the Strangler broke
into her apartment and killed a woman. When an attack was reported,
Roman feared his beloved was dead. Don was also aghast at the news.
At the scene of the crime, Don tenderly touched the hem of the bathrobe
the victim was wearing, recalling the time he gave it to Marlena.
Alone at the waterfront, Roman sobbed uncontrollably. After Kayla
comforted him, Roman went to the police station, swearing he'd kill Jake.
Late that night, Don went to the lake house he shared with Marlena to sleep.
Marlena then entered with some groceries. She put them away; unaware
that Don was there. The next morning, Don got up and left without
realizing Marlena was also in the house. By that time, Roman had
seen the body and knew it that it wasn't Marlena who was killed.
It was her twin sister, Samantha. At the house, Marlena (who had
decided not to go to Mexico) puttered around, unaware that Jake was watching
her. When Don came back to the house, he saw Marlena and was understandably
shocked. He told her, "I thought I lost you forever!" Marlena
put two and two together and realized that it was Samantha who had been
killed. She yelled, "It should have been me!" As fast as he
could, Don got to a phone to call Roman (since there was
none at the lake house). Seeing that Marlena was
finally alone, Jake seized his opportunity. He plugged up the fireplace
so the house filled with smoke.
Finally, he confronted Marlena. Jake confessed
to all the murders and told Marlena he was going to kill her, because she
hadn't helped him when he called her on the radio show. First, Jake
put a gun to her head. Then, he came at her with his favorite weapon,
a scarf. Roman got to the house just in time to stop Jake.
There was a scuffle, and Roman was able to turn Jake's gun on the criminal
himself. Jake died.
Matters seemed to getting back to normal for everyone
but Marlena. She was racked with both fear and guilt over all that
had happened since Jake had made his first hit. At the lake house,
she told Roman she felt responsible for the killings and shouldn't practice
psychiatry anymore. Roman answered, "I taking you away from here
whether you like it or not. You're going to be happy again for yourself
and for me." In Mexico, Roman got Marlena to loosen
up. As Roman put suntan lotion on Marlena's body,
she admitted she was having fun. Later, in a serious moment, Roman
said that Jake was the first person he killed as a cop. As they kissed,
Marlena observed there was a lot she didn't know about Roman. One
day, he said, he'd tell her everything. Marlena said, "I love you
more than I've ever loved any man." Roman asked her if she was ready to
return to Salem. She assured him, "As long as I have you I can handle anything".
Back at home, Roman hired Mickey to take care of a
confidential legal matter for him. When he told Mickey
what it was, the attorney was astonished that Roman had waited so long
before looking into it. Said Roman, "Before I met Marlena, it didn't matter."
* A huge thanks to my dear friend, JENNIFER, who gave me this story.
