The walk back to the hospital room is spent quietly discussing plans for IR. Thunderbird 3's booster has been repaired so work has started on Thunderbird 5, but it's slow going with only Brains there to complete the work. Discussing IR is a welcome break from talking about rouge reporters and uncooperative trainees and Abby's condition. It's something I know inside out. A problem I can definitely solve, unlike the other aforementioned problems we're facing at the moment.
Walking in, I hand John his coffee and look over at the bed, where all three youngest have dozed off, the low buzz of the television still humming in the background. John follows my gaze and we share a grin as I sit next to him.
"How long have they been out?"
"About ten minutes." We watch as Gordon twitches slightly.
"We gonna wake him up?" I ask watching as the twitching stops for a moment before starting again. I must admit, I'm impressed Gordon isn't flailing around like he normally does.
"If he gets violent then yes but right now I say we leave him. He needs the rest as much as they do." I nod in agreement, sipping on the steaming coffee in my hand. Dad walks over and adjusts my sleeping siblings slightly. Gently shaking Alan awake where he's fallen asleep on the chair and ushering him over to a waiting Virgil who leads him out of the door and, most likely, to the hotel. Fear clutches my heart as I remember what happened to me in that same hotel room less than an hour ago. I make to stand up but dad catches my eye and shakes his head. I sit down again, ignoring the confused look John shoots me. Instead, I watch dad tuck a spare blanket around Gordon's legs and kiss Abby's forehead softly before walking over to join us.
"Does Virgil know?" I whisper to dad.
"Does Virgil know what?" John asks as dad nods his head.
"I told him quickly before I sent Alan over to the hospital. He's going to have words with the security team once Alan's asleep."
"Why does Virgil need to have words with the security team?" John asks impatiently. I share a look with dad before I tell him what happened, watching as his eyes first widen with alarm before shooting over to where Gordon and Abby are still sleeping peacefully.
"So he got into the hotel room?" He whispers. I nod.
"I don't know what he was looking for or why he went to such extremes but he did." Storm clouds seem to appear over Johns eyes, a tell tale sign that he's getting worked up.
"John." Dad says, reaching over me and putting a hand on Johns arm. "It's not worth it. Not yet. We have bigger things to worry about than what this reporter may or may not be looking for. Whatever it is he wanted I don't think he's found it."
"What makes you say that?" I ask. I made the assumption that whatever he wanted, he got.
"Well, what personal belongings did you bring that you left on the desk in the front room?" Dad asks.
"Nothing." I reply. Personal belongings weren't at the top of my priorities when I packed in a rush all those weeks ago. John echoes my answer.
"Exactly. None of us have brought anything other than essentials with us. I think he was looking for something big, maybe paperwork from Tracy Industries, a journal or a laptop that might have been left lying around. Whatever he was looking for, he hasn't found it because we didn't bring anything like that with us. The only laptop we have is Johns, and Lady Penelope brought that. The fact that a so far cautious reporter has gone to the extreme of breaking into a hotel room looking for something which I'm sure he knew wasn't going to be there is good news for us anyway boys." John and I share a confused look.
"How is that good news?"
"It means he's desperate. He's looking for a story anywhere he can because we've upped security at the hospital and publicly called him out to the press. People want to know who he is and he's having to take desperate actions to get what he needs. Bribing a trainee nurse was the first sign of desperation. Now this. He wasn't even fazed by the fact that you were in the room Scott. Whatever he wants, he wants badly. It makes him somewhat easier to catch." He's trying to come up with positives. Trying to keep our morale up but one thing sticks out in my mind.
"Being desperate, also makes him more dangerous." I whisper. All of our eyes make their way over to the hospital bed.
"We have to tell them." John says quietly.
"I know." Dad replies. I catch my breath as Abby stirs slightly, nestling her face, as much as she can, into Gordon's shoulders. We might have to tell her, but not yet. I still haven't come to terms with the idea that he was in the same room as me and I was completely oblivious. I decide to change the subject.
"So, how far is Lady P going to push Amy Hilton?"
"As far as she needs to to get answers."
"That means using force doesn't it." A sleep filled voice interrupts.
"Gordon? I thought you were asleep." Dad says.
"I was," he grunts as he pushes himself up against the edge of the pillow, trying hard not to jostle Abby. "But with you lot gassing away in the corner like three old women, the only way I was staying asleep was if I took what Abby's on right now." I roll my eyes.
"Yes Gordon, that means using force." I pause. "How much of the conversation have you heard?"
"The Lady P part – what else were you talking about?"
"Nothing." Me and John say together.
"Right." Gordon sounds dubious but for the first time ever, he drops the subject without any hassle. At that moment, dad's phone vibrated again and our whispers fade away as we watch dad read the text that has just come through.
"Well, it looks like Penny's methods have worked again, Miss Hilton has opened up about what how she managed to get into Abby's file and why. Penny is on her way over now to explain everything to us, she'll be here in about twenty minutes."
"What if Abby wakes up?" Gordon asks.
"Then Abby will know what's going on. She's going to find out sooner or later boys, we can't keep this from her."
Twenty minutes later and the door opens, and Lady Penelope sweeps into the room.
"Jeff. Boys." She says with a smile, sitting gracefully into the chair that dad pulls out for her.
"Penny." Dad replies. Me and John smile a greeting at her.
"Excuse me not getting up Lady P but I'm currently being used as a pillow." Gordon pipes up from the bed.
"Don't worry about that Gordon. Your sister needs you more than I need you here in front of me."
"Now I know you boys are desperate to know what Miss Hilton has said so I'll get right to it. Your reporter friend was the one who asked her to hack the hospital records. He paid her $10,000 for information about Abigail's condition and any photos that she could get of Abby being operated on or being treated."
"That's...sick. On so many levels." Gordon mutters from the other side of the room. I nod in agreement.
"Well, nursing isn't the career she wanted."
"Why was she training to be a nurse then?" I ask.
"Well, it seems, her families estate is not doing well and it has become almost a family competition to save it. This also means that her well paid lifestyle is under threat..."
"So she's training to be a nurse to prove her worth to her family." John interrupts.
"Exactly." Lady Penelope says. "To her, this money was a silver lining. It 'won' her families approval and guaranteed she would be able to live her 'promised' lifestyle."
"She's a stuck up cow." I turn my head towards the bed, trying to hold back the grin.
"Now Abby that's not very nice." Gordon says, a grin threatening to split his face in two.
"So, she's not very nice." Abby turns her gaze towards us. "So this is the real reason why photos of me were splashed across the front page." She's trying hard to be brave but fatigue and nerves and worry tinge her voice, making it waver slightly.
"I'm afraid so Abigail." She takes in a shaky breath. I share a look with Gordon and I try to convey the silent message of calm her down. Now.
"What's happened to the money she was given?" She asks ignoring Gordon's whispering.
"It's no longer in her possession." Lady Penelope says smiling. "It's being transferred over to a secure Tracy Industries account for you to donate to charity or put to good use. I felt that that way it would be better spent than if it were left in her grubby hands."
"Thank you Penny." Dad says softly. They look at each other for a moment until Gordon coughs, breaking the spell.
"Well, I will see you all soon. Keep safe all of you and call me if you need anything." We say goodbye to Lady P and Parker and everything goes quiet again.
"Dad?" Abby asks quietly.
"Yes sweetheart?"
"Something's happened, hasn't it." I glare at John. I really have to start splitting the pair of them up because Abby's new found psychic powers are starting to creep me out a little bit.
"Why do you say that?" Dad asks, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Because this family doesn't know the meaning of quiet. The only time we're all quiet is if we're trying to come up with a topic to hide something. And Scott has that look on his face. What's happened?"
Again with the whole psychology body language thing. I wipe my hand over my face, fatigue starting to take over once more. I really didn't get enough sleep. Dad sighs and goes and sits on the edge of her bed. He tucks her hair behind her ear and takes a deep breath before starting to explain.
"So, when we sent Scott over to the hotel..."
Hey, hey, hey...look who's back! With an extra long update for you yay! Is my enthusiasm working? Maybe? Sort of? OK, well moving on. I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter and I will have another one up soon - thank you for all your amazing reviews. This story has taken a lot longer than I expected but I'm hoping to start speeding up with the updates. Love you all xxx