Prior to this chapter Robbie and Laura revisited the conversation they had in Chapter 5 of A Gambit for James.
Robbie and Laura wandered down a few corridors in the hospital then found their way outside to a bench near a small flower garden.
"So it was Holmwood Park Hospital that led both you and James to the records of his birth?"
"Yeah, we should not have done that. It was your story to tell."
"Having you discover that was much better than you suspecting me of murder."
Robbie turned and smoothed his hands over Laura's shoulders and gently rested them on her arms.
"Laura, you have got to believe me. I never suspected you of the murders of Ligeia Willard, Rowena Trevanion, or Mary Gwilliam."
She had a faraway look in her eyes.
"James did though."
Robbie pulled her in for a hug and tried to knead the tension out of her back.
"He thought you weren't telling the truth about something. No one could suspect you of murder. You would never kill anyone, for any reason."
Laura perceived the fragments of a memory swirling inside her brain, the pieces trying to knit themselves together into comprehension.
"I don't know Robbie. I'm beginning to doubt myself." The uncertainty was beginning to overwhelm her.
Robbie could feel her go limp in his arms. He tightened his hold on her. They sat quietly for a few minutes.
"C'mon, we'd better get back to your room. I don't want Brad to come and find it empty." Robbie shuddered as he remembered getting to the hospital after Val's accident only to find her bed in the intensive care unit unoccupied. He kissed the top of her head.
"I just want to go to sleep. Maybe my subconscious can sort this out."
"There's no rush Laura. We'll all wait until you are ready." Just like you waited for me.
Back in bed alone, with Robbie caressing her thigh, Laura fell asleep, soothed by his touch and warmed by this hint of familiarity.
Bradley Hobson looked down at his sister while she slept. He could tell by the expression on her face that her mind was in overdrive.
"Hello Doctor."
"Morse, you got here before the murder for a change."
"Which murder?"
"The one that…that I can't remember."
"Did you learn the truth about Medea?"
"Morse, James wasn't talking about me when he compared someone to Medea. Why do I need to know what it means if it wasn't about me?"
"To get the right answer Doctor, you must ask the right question."
"Can't you give me an educated guess?"
"I provide the clues Doctor, you do the guessing."
"Don't you have anything at all to say that is helpful?"
"Life is short, live it, love is rare, embrace it, anger is destructive, suppress it, fear is inevitable, face it, memories are precious, cherish them."
"Is that what you did?"
"No, I was terrible at following my own advice. Ask Lewis. And tell him we're happy for the two of you."
"Who is happy for us"?
"Who do you think?"
"Morse stop answering a question with a question."
"Goodbye Doctor."
"Wait! I need to know who…" Laura woke suddenly to see Brad dozing in a chair, his arm draped protectively over hers. She studied her brother's face and could see James in twenty years.
Brad woke up and caught her looking at him.
"I wasn't snoring was I?"
"No, you don't snore, but Robbie…" Her eyes lit up.
"Did you remember something?"
"Yes, probably not what Robbie hoped I remember though." She laughed.
He left some clothes for you to wear home. Before you leave, Dr. Gansa insists on seeing you. Officially he is your doctor. I'm afraid that's my fault. I should have listened to Robbie and James."
"It's okay. I'll get dressed first though." She frowned at him. "Not because the men in my life are worried. Angus told me about Gansa. If I need to dispense with him I would prefer to do it wearing something a bit more authoritative."
"You've always been authoritative, even in your bunny pyjamas and slippers when you were 5 years old and insisted on staying up as late as me." Brad got up from the chair. "I'll leave you to it and head over to meet with Dr. Rawbone to get the discharge instructions. He said he explained them to you already doctor to doctor. Now he's going to give it to us in English. I asked Robbie and James to come, if that's all right with you."
"Yes, it's fine. I'm glad the three of you are getting along."
"Well thanks to Jean Innocent, another authoritative woman. See you in a bit. We tossed a coin to decide who would drive you home and I won. I have a feeling we will have police protection all the way."
Brad left and paused to speak with Dr. Gansa in the hall warning him that this visit was purely for administrative purposes.
Robbie returned to the hospital to join Brad and James and receive discharge instructions from Dr. Rawbone. They had to wait a few minutes for Rawbone to arrive. Robbie wasn't happy when he found out that Dr. Gansa was with Laura during this time.
Rawbone knew how Lewis felt about Gansa and couldn't say that he blamed him.
"Technically he is her supervising psychiatrist. He needs to spend some time with her as he is signing the release forms. I don't have privileges at this hospital for that and it requires his authorization. Up to now he has kept to our agreement. I have directed Dr. Hobson's care and he has not interfered. We have to give him these 15 minutes." What Rawbone left unsaid was how he persuaded Gansa to go along with the plan. It was probably best that the policemen not know.
Just as Rawbone had finished explaining the discharge plan and answering their questions, Dr. Gansa entered the room.
"Did you leave Laura alone?" Robbie demanded.
"No, a nurse is coming in a few minutes to check her vital signs one last time. I left when her friend came to visit.
Robbie abruptly stood up. "Which friend?"
"A friend who is also a doctor and was very anxious to see Dr. Hobson. The patient did not seem to recognize her at first."
James was livid. "Exactly who did you let in to see my… Laura?"
"Dr. Ellen Jacoby. Her name is in the case notes."
Brad was panicking. He knew Ellen could be a bit unstable. "You were supposed to get all visitors approved by Dr. Rawbone. Ellen might tell her things she's not ready to hear."
"Look Mr. Hobson, she is a doctor. I'm sure she will use her discretion." He nodded at Robbie and James. "You are spending too much time with policemen and becoming suspicious about everyone."
Robbie and James did not stay to hear more and raced through the hallways to Laura's room while Rawbone roared at Gansa and tried to calm Brad at the same time.
Laura wasn't in her room.
Brad and Rawbone arrived with Gansa in tow. Brad entered Laura's empty room hoping there was some misunderstanding. He came out with a blank look on his face.
Dr. Gansa's phone rang. It was the discharge nurse calling to say that his patient, Laura Hobson, was not in her room and couldn't be found anywhere in the hospital. Rawbone grabbed the phone to hear the news himself and then broadcast it to the others.
James was on the phone to hospital security as Robbie called the station for back up.
James ended his call. "Hospital security is monitoring all the exits and we have access to their CCTV." He looked at Brad. "Why are you so worried about Dr. Jacoby?"
Brad unsuccessfully tried to remain calm. "From what I can gather, Ellen had a boyfriend back in college who would have really preferred Laura. I believe that's why she agreed to keep Ligeia Willard's secret about naming Laura as the mother of the twins. Now, I think she's envious of Laura's relationship with Robbie."
James and Robbie looked at each other. "Alec Pickman."
"Yes, that's him. He's still playing games with her after all these years. She's got the emotional IQ of a teenager." Brad shook his head and tried to suppress thoughts of Ellen wanting to hurt his sister. "Robbie, James, you need to find Laura!"
James dashed down to the hospital security office.
Robbie called Jean Innocent to enlist her help. She had news for him.
Fiona was missing too.