Bios

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Warning! Would-be spoilers ahead!

• Laura Spencer
• Dion Spencer
• Emily Spencer
• David Spencer
• Margaret Wilson
• Albert Rosenfield
• Anders and Rebekka Nilsson
• Thomas Warren

Laura Spencer (née Palmer)

She knows a wild and secret place where two lilies and seven white roses grow among the iris. Sometimes the memory of this faraway garden causes her to explode with laughter. Now and then it causes her to weep with sadness.

Laura's come a long way from the wild and crazy girl she was as a teenager. After her family (Sarah, Leland, and Maddy) was more or less killed by BOB, Agent Cooper offered her a job at the FBI. (Gordon Cole made allowances since she was technically too young to be an agent.) She returned to Philadelphia with Cooper and met Dion Spencer in a Bureau orientation. Laura was attracted by Dion's utter innocence, and before either of them knew it, they were engaged. She swore off drugs and committed herself to her job (even though it meant working with Albert on a daily basis) and her husband. Laura believed her past was behind her...but soon after the birth of her daughter Emily, BOB began to insinuate himself into her life again. She and Dion have two cats, Marion and Fog.

• See her picture
• Her first name means "laurel".

Dion Andrew Spencer

To swim upstream is the challenge...and the only way he ever finds true peace and happiness. Taking the easy way is a trap...a glittering bait that entices him, while it hides the dangerous hook--a wasted life.

Dion grew up in Portland with dreams of becoming a Special Agent. His strong sense of right and wrong led to several childhood disputes with his less-than-purely-motivated brother David. (Dion's kind of a goody-two-shoes. Now he more or less pretends David doesn't exist.) Dion moved to Philadelphia at 18, met Laura, and fell in love. Perhaps Laura was corrupting, or the paperwork was a bit too strenuous, because after Emily was born, he began to sneak cocaine occasionally, causing his newborn daughter to greatly distrust him. BOB was attracted to this better-than-good-soul-gone-wrong and began to terrorize Laura from behind her husband's eyes. Eventually, he stopped using drugs, and BOB became scarce once more.

• His first name means "of Dionysus", who was the Greek god of wine.

Emily Clair Spencer

...emotionally stable, seldom subject to deep moods of depression, fits of impulsiveness or show-off tendencies.

Emily is quite an unusual child. She has almost a sixth sense, and seems to know when people are not quite right. Emily shunned her own father for weeks when he began using drugs, and is still not very comfortable with him, especially after he temporarily fell victim to BOB. She's been the target of many of BOB's threats, but she seems immune--she's a very happy baby that everyone, even Albert, loves. David babysits her when Laura and Dion are at work, so Em's gotten very close to her uncle--which causes no end of pain to her father.

• Her first name means "industrious" or possibly "rival".

David Stephen Spencer

He knows well enough about the seamy side of humanity, but he prefers to live in his own, watery, gentle world, where everyone is beautiful and all actions are lovely.

Tall and lean, David's the sweet bad boy in the Spencer family. He hung out with the wrong crowd and began using "soft" drugs in his early teens, moving on to heroin at 19. When his father found out, he disowned David, who wandered up to Washington and eventually became a pawn in Windom Earle's game. Windom hired him to seek out Laura in Philadelphia, and David, enticed by the promise of drugs and money, followed his orders. Once in Philadelphia, he lured Laura to a warehouse and held her at gunpoint until Windom was to arrive. His sweet, slightly confused demeanor ("I have a gun. It's, um, it's right here, see? It's loaded.") failed to intimidate Laura, however, and she managed to talk him out of killing her. She found out that her new husband, who swore he was an only child, did indeed have a brother--and a cute one, at that (which led to some near indiscretions on her part). David's writing career took off at Laura's suggestion, and he's now a bestselling novelist. David's pretty moral; he's not bad, he's just confused (and usually pretty sleepy, too, having resigned himself to his addiction). He has a terrible guilt complex and has attempted suicide countless times. He has a female cat named Peter, a very precious pet.

• See his picture, a Japanese animation-style sketch by me.
• His first name means "friend" or "beloved".

Margaret Leah Wilson, M.D., D.Pharm. (née Mitsue Nagami)

Her sweet manners and smooth ability to cool your fevered brow can lead you to think she's weak and helpless, or that she'll be fluttery and feminine when a crisis erupts. If so, you're much mistaken. That dear, womanly little creature is composed of nine parts steel.

Meg lived in Kyoto for the first ten years of her life, then moved to Pennsylvania, where her 17-year-old sister was killed in a severe car accident. This was quite a blow to the young Meg, as her sister was a role model and her only friend in a strange new country. Eventually she decided to go into pharmacology and drug therapy, and, after studying out of state at the University of Michigan, got a position at Philadelphia General Hospital, where she met and had interesting discussions with Albert (see his bio). Eventually, she gained control of an entire wing of the hospital and began holding regular group therapy sessions for various addictions. It was at one of these sessions that she met David, and she became "involved" with him almost against her will. (She takes her job very seriously, and avoids becoming too close with her patients while still being a caring and concerned physician.) Meg is, of course, very disapproving of David's habit, and regularly tries to help him quit--often leading to suicide attempts on his part. She is an excellent doctor with a fantastic sense of humor. Meg lives alone with a cage full of finches.

• Her first name means "pearl" or "precious". Her Japanese first name meant roughly "full of beauty's blessings".
• Her car: a Toyota Camry LE, Classic Green Pearl.

Albert Rosenfield, M.D., D.Path.

He has an apparent blindness to his faults and he seems unable to see his own weaknesses in as clear a light as he sees everything else.

• See his picture. There are surely more traditional pictures on the 'Net, but this one is scanned from MAD Magazine, if you can believe it.
• His first name means "noble bright".
• His car: a four-door BMW 750iL in Jet Black.

Anders and Rebekka Nilsson

It's always a mistake to challenge him to a battle of wits, because he can talk himself in and out of situations with the greatest ease. He thinks fast on his feet...he is more clever than almost anybody.

Her mind is full of so many thoughts and her heart is full of so many hopes...does she just need someone who can run beside her and toss dreams with her--from here to tomorrow? ... Some deep, unexplained fear within her keeps her from ever looking back.

Immigrants at age 10 (like Meg), Anders and his twin sister Rebekka are inseparable. Not much is known about their past, except that Anders decided to forsake his family and drag his sister along on his plans. They both went to college (the University of Rochester), Anders majoring in mathematics (for which he has a natural talent), Rebekka in pre-med (which she didn't have a chance to develop due to her brother's wanderlust). Anders is the worst of the worst, really sadistic, a drug dealer and pimp who is extraordinarily protective of his sister (with more than hintings at an abusive/incestuous relationship; Rebekka has "fallen down the stairs" several times) while simultaneously doing his damnedest to pull her down. He has a brilliant intellect which contributes to his scheming and conniving nature. He has been known to plot with Windom Earle against his sister. Anders uses cocaine regularly, which only worsens his violent and possessive moods. Rebekka displays the common characteristics of an abused wife: She will not turn in her brother, nor will she stop living with him, "because we're family, and we're all we have." She has prostituted herself for him. Anders is dating a girl named Lydia, with whom he has a completely opposite relationship--she has him wrapped around her little finger. Rebekka is dating a young pathologist named Thomas, who implores her to leave her destructive relationship and marry him (and who, incidentally, works with Albert). Anders, of course, hates Thomas and is scheming to get him out of the picture for a good, long time.

• See Anders's picture
• His first name means "manly".
• See Rebekka's picture
• Her first name means "a snare" or "fat and full".
• See Lydia's picture
• Her first name means "of Lydia", a region in Asia.
• Anders's car: a Mazda Miata--in Classic Red, of course.

This is from Carlotta, re: the twins:

Gee, stay away from Anders? =) Is he like--

A classic looking Scandinavian, tall, good bone structure, blond and blue eyes. This would enable him to deal with the Main Line of Philadelphia. He would be granted access to the old power and money that most street dealers can't. They foolishly trust his looks--he's one of them.
Also Anders makes trips to Aspen and Telluride. He blends in well and makes a fortune on these treks; supplies stars, hard rockers, and the business elite who crave the Colorado "snow" on the slopes.
When in the ski towns he claims to be a "guide" for trips, but rarely goes out. Once in a while he disdainfully takes on a charter to keep up appearances. He has been accused of driving his clients like cattle, making their lives hell. It has been rumored that in a bad storm he has left a group to die, but no proof of that exists.
Anders hates this ski crap. But as a mathematics major he knows that he can capitalize on his Northern European looks. And people don't associate this type with crime. He scorns all the traditions of his family. Can't stand the food, holidays, and outlook on life. Looks down on all they believe in. He wants the American life of the fast track.
Anders truly loves the South Beach area of Miami. He loves the Latin beat of the city and how the men handle their business and their women. He feels that the reason German tourists keep getting "offed" is because they don't understand the place and that they are foolish. Unfortunately, Anders doesn't get to FL as often as he wants. It's not the money, but the time. He is either working Philly or the resorts, or he is drugged out. His dream is hot hot Latin nights...
He suffers from schizophrenia, though it is not known if it is genetic or brought on by drug use. His denying his heritage, his using Rebekka, and his relationship with Lydia all factor into this. He has developed the trembling in one arm.
He loves powerful cars. All kinds. His cars are previously stolen vehicles and he never keeps them for long. They are disposed of through local chop shops or laundered through the car auctions of Kentucky. Keeping up appearances--at least on the outside--is important in keeping his clients.
He drinks coffee with lots of sugar, but likes it strong and dark like Turkish coffee. Like the lifestyle he so dearly leads...
He has a fancy for S/M and domination. He keeps catalogues of domination accessories at his place--and reads them for relaxation. If leather is good, latex is better. He likes snuff films for entertainment. If he and Windom cross paths, Windom would find this an endearing quality. One, because to Windom this would be the type of genre would be a joke--after all he could do it better. Two, it would show that Anders would be capable of being seduced to his evil plots and would be a useful pawn--as long as Anders knew his place. Delusions of grandeur can be messy.
Anders's girlfriend, Lydia, should be someone with a high sense of self; that means she probably already comes from a background of money or power. A high sense of self and not having to depend on another person to keep her in a life that she loves is important. Otherwise, she would try to please Anders and he would know that she would be under his control, then he would treat her like Rebekka--possessive and brutally. He needs her to balance his life.
Rebekka's sense of loyalty keeps her in bondage to her brother--in more ways than one. She loves and fears him. She is defensive about him with others. She feels if you criticize him, you criticize her. Then she must be bad too. She hasn't realized that keeping up the relationship she has with her brother will never help him. Well, maybe she knows it, but she can't seem to change. Though she knows life does not have to be like this. Thomas has shown her the respect that she has never gotten from her brother. Rebekka does not feel the hostility toward her family roots as Anders does. She remembers when they were both young, laughing, playing and family traditions that Anders feels are so sappy.
Rebekka loves to dress very conservatively in her daily life. To make up for the abnormal homelife she goes through with Anders. This is one of the few things she feels that she can control. Rebekka borders on being anorexic so she thinks of food often--and makes elaborate meals for Thomas at his apartment, but only nibbles a few morsels. She keeps in constant motion to fool people into thinking life is normal.
Unfortunately, Anders has pimped her out to a doctor who works at the same lab as Thomas and this is causing problems. He is starting to become demanding and lewd with her and is threatening to turn the screws on unwitting Thomas who hasn't realized that Rebekka's hidden profession has struck so close to home. Thomas knows that Rebekka is physically abused and strongly suspects sexual abuse though Rebekka does not admit to it.
Windom would love the access Anders has to the rich and powerful, though their power pales compared to Bob's. But, hey, in this world it doesn't hurt. And the family life of Anders and Rebekka, with Rebekka's relationship with Thomas, who works with Albert--it gives him another way to work into Albert's life and make it hell--and also a few of those other people like that girl Laura and her damned husband and kid...but maybe Bob is tired of Windom. Bob can see a good thing and play it to the hilt. Oh baby, Anders and Rebekka are some tasty morsel in life!

Anders's motto--I want what I want when I want it.
Rebekka's motto--Does the latex go on the outside or the inside?

Also from Carlotta:

Rebekka is tall, like Anders, and would be considered statuesque, bordering on model thin. Since she carries herself well, no one has yet noticed her bouts with anorexia.
She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Her hair is long, but she seriously wishes to cut it. Anders objects to this, feeling it would detract from the image he wants her to have. Anders has also used her hair to punish her--by grabbing a fistful and yanking her around, pulling her painfully to the ground until her pleas for him to stop and cries of pain satisfy him. To cut her hair symbolizes freedom and breaking the cycle. And perhaps a new start on life for both of them.
Rebekka has enough credits in her college courses to be a medical lab-tech, though not a doctor, her life's dream. She applied to take the state exam to be registered, but was denied since she lacked the degree. This has crushed her. She carries a Mensa card in her wallet as a reminder that she truly has a gifted mind. Living with Anders can make one doubt oneself. Every so often she takes the card out and looks at it--and dreams of what could have been--the future seems so bleak now.
At the present she is working at a large bookstore near Philadelphia General Hospital. She met Thomas when he came into the store and helped him locate some new medical texts that came in on pathology. He was impressed by her knowledge of the medical field and tried to encourage her to get back into medicine. They started to meet as often as they could for lunch and their relationship grew.
Rebekka approaches her work at the bookstore with the same ability that she had in college. Her skill in reading people is as good as her skill in reading books. Her organizational skills are put through their paces daily by mundane ordering and re-ordering texts from book jobbers.
This is the only employment that she can find with her transient work record. And it allows for the late nights free--which makes Anders happy.
No man is good enough for Rebekka--except Anders--and Anders always knows best. The dates he sends her out on when he needs money don't count. Those men aren't real threats to him. They aren't a permanent relationship.
In Philly, Anders markets Rebekka as his "Nordic Amazon". True, there really isn't a Nordic Amazon, but the term Nordic Goddess didn't seem to generate the business he wanted. In the summer, for this persona, Rebekka dresses in a skintight red latex dress with bare arms and legs glistening in the summer heat. Red spike heel mules keep her feet on the ground. In the winter, Anders insists on leather...a black leather miniskirt with a form-fitting matching biker's jacket, and thigh high boots with 5 inch heels. In her purse she carries goodies for the clients if they need them. A far cry from the conservative daytime Rebekka.
She really doesn't do this all the time--she rationalizes; only when Anders truly needs the money. When a connection goes bad. When they need cash...
Her worst experience was when she was in Colorado with Anders. He likes to bring her there. Her friendly smile and outgoing ways bring in clients for his drug trade. Men find her attractive and the women seem not to mind her since in the ski towns she dresses in typical casual resort clothes; polar fleece is non-threatening.
Anyway, one night Anders had cut a deal with a low-life producer. His motives were purely monetarial. The producer thought, sure, a "date" would be nice with the blonde Rebekka, but he fully intended to capture the whole thing on tape. Thank goodness the deal fell through when Anders felt he wasn't getting enough of the percentage. God, Rebekka thought, she was this close to becoming a porn queen. She still worries about being taped, there are a lot of amateur video freaks out there, what if someone has already taped her without her knowledge and the tape surfaces? Life could get really screwed up then...
She cherishes the time she has with Thomas in Philadelphia, but his questions about her personal life are making her nervous. She doesn't want to get hurt--and she doesn't want Thomas to get hurt--by Anders.
Rebekka likes coffee black, no extra calories; tea and seltzer with no salt.
Rebekka has met David Spencer through arranging booksignings at the store. They don't know how much they have in common. They both have seen the dark side of life.

Thomas Ethan Warren, M.D., D.Path.

Turn this steady, dependable man inside out, and you'll find a merry, gentle dreamer who longs for the free wind to blow through his hair...who hungers for excitement and thirsts for adventure. Only a chosen few can release this lonely soul from his secret prison.

More from Carlotta...re: Thomas, Rebekka's secret "friend".

Thomas Ethan Warren, dob January 8, 1969 [?]

Thomas has a genuine concern for all living things--except Anders. He is young and hasn't developed a hard cynical edge. Thomas smiles easily. This drives Albert, who is Thomas's superior in the pathology sector at the FBI, absolutely crazy. Albert feels 'if life's a bowl of cherries, someone tie a knot in this kid's stem and get him out of here'. But Albert knows the kid is really damn good at what he does.
Albert does have the tendency to overstep his bounds in stating his viewpoints when dealing with people--to say the least. He has made snide quips in a play on words with Thomas's name. War 'n Peace, or as he really means it, War'n Piece. Albert has seen Thomas with Rebekka. Thomas' good sense of humor definitely left him when that comment came up. His eyes clouded over and it was then that it could be noticed that this guy who was so sweet, young, and caring, did have a dark side. Even he has his limits.
Thomas grew up in Brattleboro, Vermont. He came from a happy well-balanced household. Grew up canoeing in the summer, and skiing in the winter. He is tall and lanky--at ease with his body. He has medium brown hair and grey eyes. His family ran a restaurant in town that featured good old-fashioned fare, and it was popular enough to make the money to send him to college. For extra money he worked at an orchard and helped make cider in the fall.
He went out of state to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst for his undergraduate work, and after that headed even further south to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. His conservative background and ethics caught the attention of an FBI recruiter, and Thomas joined after he completed his work in Baltimore.
The secret that follows Thomas through life is that when he was younger--around 13--he and his friend John took the canoe out on the river to goof around. The canoe flipped and John was dragged under by the currents and drowned. Thomas always felt guilty since he and John were both forbidden by their parents to take the canoe out alone while the river was running fast from the spring thaw. Thomas feels compelled now to make up for this terrible error in judgment in his youth, by trying to save the people closest to him.
He has fallen in love with Rebekka. He is not sure of her feelings for him. There's a part of her life she keeps secret from him, but he thinks that soon she may trust him enough to tell him the truth. He wants to save Rebekka to make up for not being able to save the person who meant the most to him when he was thirteen.
Many people, even when they are doing good things for others, do it to derive some personal satisfaction though they would never admit it. Thomas truly does love Rebekka, but he is also seeking absolution for himself.

• See Thomas's picture
• His first name means "twin".
• His car: a Volkswagen Jetta GL in Suede Silver.

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