Chapter 54

With fears and speculation racing through his mind Jude walked quickly to within shouting distance of the Desk Sergeant and called out he would be in the spare office for a private call. As the Desk Sergeant was talking into the phone he expected to be told it was Patrick, but seeing the officer's nod and wave that it wasn't for him he practically ran to the empty office. Pushing the door open he jumped and nearly dropped the phone, it had rung and it shouldn't have because Bob was on the end of it, he hadn't disconnected the call. Fear shooting through everything he looked at the id of the caller and saw it was the garden centre and pressed the button to take the call and said sharply. "What the hell do you think you're playing at!"

Bob heard and understood Jude's fear and anger so making a guess saying. "Patrick not called or turned up yet. I needed a better connection as we will be talking for a while."

Going into the office and kicking the door shut Jude spat back. "Not a dickey bird! Kill him when he does though."

Bob knew he had to get Jude thinking positively and a bit calmer and said. "He most probably wants to do it face to face in view of Maria's total involvement in all this."

Hearing it actually said Jude's heart and fears tumbled into his boots and worst-case scenario flashed through his mind as a positive happening making him exclaim in a sigh of despair. "Not going to get Annie back am I?" He'd known things had gone from bad to worse when Bob had said the nightmare had happened and cancel the rescue. Now he wasn't too sure he wanted to find out just how bad … just when Maria had swapped sides … and yet knew he had too if he was to do his job … get justice and bring everyone back safely.

Silently Bob very quickly ran through things then said honestly. "If Annie's not picked up any bad vibes from the couple this evening then she will be fine. And, as long as you, as in the police don't give them any reason to believe anything other than Ben is sleeping off that nightmare then they've no reason to hold her.

You know that hostage taking of that kind is a last resort and we are not there yet because they are not trapped. As far as they know they can go back to Seattle in the very early hours of morning or just early morning and claim to Carmen there's an emergency back there. Annie and Maria are good friends on a night out, he's intelligent, computer possibly gadget minded and knows she is a close link to you and therefore the police action. And they need her near you and innocent of what they want or are doing, use her natural concern and curiosity about Ben to get the answers they need."

Jude's mind did a jump to the possibilities and he started to relax just a tiny bit … they were professionals talking so there were no sugar coated words and said. "You mean a mini mike thing so they can hear what our next moves might be. Know if we are considering them at all. … It's not unusual for Annie to call in here if I'm working late; she might even have told them that in general conversation. … If she does we can isolate what she is carrying or can give false information through it."

Bob smiled he'd got the man thinking positively and confirmed. "Yes, a 'bug' of some kind audio rather than visual easier to deal with but there might not be anything there because they don't even suspect anything. To be safe though if she comes to see you make sure she leaves here things in her car or if she goes to her apartment she acts as though she is going to sleep and come in clean clothes and you can debrief her and find out their mood.

I hasten to add if she doesn't go to her apartment she should leave all the top clothes and combs her hair somewhere different to where you are. 'Bugs' can be very small and put on with a slap of the hand. Possibly get a female officer she trusts to pass a written note somehow after all you don't want an audio gasp as she reads it. Make it sound as though Maria is in danger from Rodney and tell her the truth when you meet."

Jude smiled as a thought crossed his mind, and then sighed, letting Bob's experienced words sink in, knew they agreed with his thoughts and after a moment said quietly. "Okay I'm thinking straight and got an idea how to do it though it will be a male officer rather than a female. So tell me how Ben really is, what happened and how deeply is Maria involved."

Bob gave a gentle chuckle, which he knew Jude would understand was the letting go of emotions rather than at the situation and then he said. "He's unconscious feeling the pain he felt at the bottom of the damn cliff having climbed it for us earlier, he's having some breathing problems but hopefully they will improve if not we will call in the van. …I managed to get into his head and talk to him hopefully my voice and the fact it's a memory will stay with him. To be honest, we are not sure whether he will come round or how he'll be when he does. If we are really lucky it could be in the morning and he'll just be silently confused, working everything into place during the day with our help. If we're not then it could be a long job days or weeks who knows."

He heard Jude's in take of breath and carried on quickly. "Regarding that cliff climb, he took the direct route from the bottom to meet the path part way up to avoid the stuff you had fun climbing over. He realised he could not get to the start of the path and climb over the blockage. Mind you, he did that climb twice in real life as something gave way just as he was reaching the damn path. But at least he made it in the end and found the road and as he didn't know which way to go waited.

As for Maria's part, well she was the one firing the gun at the top of the cliff as he deliberately tumbled over rather than being thrown over or get shot." Softening the blow he added. "Good point is he's really married to Meg and knows it and so does she." Then he paused knowing too much, too quickly wasn't a good idea and waited for Jude's reaction.

Although the highlights left Jude feeling as though he'd been hit by a bus and breathless, his cop mind took him back over everything they knew so far including Ben's nightmare the one they thought was a warning and taking a breath and steadying his thoughts came to a conclusion and said slowly. "All this didn't happen Christmas day evening did it."

Bob was glad Jude wasn't so shocked he couldn't think things through and had picked up the point he'd deliberately left out and said. "Climbing up the cliff took evening and night, the rest happened at Ocean Drive in the earlier hours of Christmas Day so he spent the day in the cove. Also Maria drugged Benjy so she could see Ben's death. Not surprising the kid had tantrums, most probably didn't understand what happened to him especially if it was anything like the one Ben had. It sounds as though a lot went that day so it's not surprising he shut it away and moved on. I don't suppose Maria was exactly sympathetic either she could have been suffering from reaction … realised she'd actually done it and needed to find the jailer hence the walk out.

I'll go through it but bear in mind it's one sided and second-hand. Remember that nightmare about the jailer attacking Maria."

"Yeah." Jude said softly guessing what was coming next.

"Well, we have a choice a softening up exercise or first try that didn't succeed for some reason. Either way, when Ben was on his knees looking down at the floor expecting the worse the jailer passed the drug and gun to Maria and she passed the front door key to him, which means the getting Ben out the way was premeditated. Ben said she might have rung the jailer telling him to come now I've drugged him which means it might be on her phone record if she didn't use a throwaway one, it would have been too risky to use the house one."

Suddenly unable to stand Jude sat on the table in the empty office and said quietly. "No wonder he couldn't stand buildings he'd been betrayed in the house he'd built with love by the one he loved. Go on."

Bob said gently in a tone that betrayed his own feelings. "Oh, she did more than that in the house. But let me start when Ben first tasted the drug in a cup of tea she gave him; luckily he only drank some of it, reckon he threw the cup away which meant she had a cleaning job to do … …

oxoxo

The pain through out his body making it difficult to breath and unable to break through the darkness that held him, Ben knew he'd survived the fall from the cliff top. With Maria's laughter and gunshots mixing with confused tumbling memories he knew something was different. Continuing to fight for breath he realised he'd not been alone all the time… that a voice he'd trusted had been with him … talked to him and he'd talked back. The voice had promised to be there when he woke and he was safe, they were safe. But he'd lost that voice in all this pain and confusion and could hear a constant murmur of something in the distance.

He couldn't recognise or understand what was it was but somehow knew it was not part of this hell he was caught up in. That it could lead him to that other voice he trusted and then to his soulmate who still loved him and was nearby. Holding onto those whispers of knowledge he started to calm and try to ignore the pain through out his body and concentrate on that distant murmur … on that distant voice. The pain and confusion didn't go instead they swirled around him and he fleetingly remembered a garden with a pond that didn't seem to fit in with all this pain, but it was gone too quickly for him to understand anything it. It left him with a whisper of hope that 'that' voice or soulmate might be there and as he'd remembered it once it could come again and he might get closer to the murmur he could hear… … …

Tim paused in his one sided talk because he noted a slight steadying of Ben's ragged breathing and concentrated on it for a moment ready to react if it was going the wrong way. Steadying to a stop rather than just steadying to a quieter rhythm. As it seemed to be the latter he reckoned it was a good start and perhaps Ben was moving away from the bottom of the cliff and the cycle would be broken. Knowing that a sudden touch might worry Ben he told him he was going to check his pulse and then did it ready to take his hand away should there be an adverse reaction. He found it fast but no worse than before and looking at the 'sleeping' man's face he saw or possibly felt there was something different in his patient. Knew it was 'that' doctor intuition thing and it made him hope that his talking about their history would carry on claiming him so the van wouldn't be needed and he would wake tomorrow … sometime.

Satisfied he let go of Ben's wrist to take a sip of water from the cup Helen had silently put beside the chair, he didn't want a coughing fit half way through this and talking was drying work. As he settled down to start his story again he decided this time he would rest his hand on Ben's in case that light touch helped him… let know that someone was there nearby rather than just a voice in his head. And with each telling of their story back at the farm he would add a bit …and give him reassurances where need but mainly concentrate on the good things and bring him through his journey back to Sunset Beach and then to garden centre to now. By doing this he hoped Ben would know his friends would be waiting for him, and this would help break the circle of his betrayal in Ocean Drive and his trip down the cliff face that he could be going through.

Oxoxo

Jude held the phone in his hand utterly speechless as his mind ran though everything Bob had told him and realised they'd covered Ben in the car so he wouldn't see the jailer without fuzzy hair. No matter how early in morning if you saw a clown driving a car you'd remember it and talk about it and they didn't want that. Take the wig off and he had dark hair so a quick glance you'd assume it was Ben or just an ordinary driver going home or work. And wondered how the hell Ben had turned his luck and survived it all. Not only that how the hell was he going to explain it all to Ricardo and Antonio and what the hell was going to happen next… this wasn't the end of it by any means.

Gradually he heard Bob's voice calling his name and eventually answered. "Still here, I think." He took a breath then sighed and added with feeling. "Thought for one horrible moment you were going to have to talk him through rape in his bedroom … mind you what he saw was bad enough."

Bob smiled at his close call and admitted with feeling. "Yeah, I immediately thought that too, instantly realised though she might have had the ultimate kick out of it Pedro would not have stood for it, might even have killed her for suggesting it and she's not mug enough to risk it. And realised the significance of it for them, from the jailer's point of view it's the final put down for Ben before his death especially as it was in the master's bedroom … from her point of view it was the only time she'd be able to do 'it' with the jailer and the victim watching, after that it would be Pedro her husband or just him dressed as a clown not quite the same effect. Makes you wonder if Derek had survived and Pedro had … …"

"Don't!" Jude interrupted sharply not wanting to contemplate that one and needing to turn his thoughts to other things added. "So how do we arrest this delightful couple?"

Bob had already thought about that and said without hesitation. "With great caution, I've no doubt they will take officers down with them. We know he understands explosives and fire think of what he did to Franklin Street."

Jude hissed at that thought and knowing Bob's expertise said. "How would you take them out?"

Bob chuckled half wishing he could and said. "Killing them or suicide by police officers arresting them is too good for them and not an option. Total isolation from each other is a very good idea from their arrest onwards if possible. They came here so they could go back and start a family, which means they need each other."

Understanding it Jude said quietly. "Let's hope she's not started one already I dread to think what kind of child it would be and I can't see Ricardo looking after it for her. Was she always like this? … Everyone thought she was an angel."

Bob paused for a moment knowing he could get back on track later and said. "I know what you mean and I can't answer that don't know all her history. Anyone including doctors who deal with her will need to bear in mind she's very intelligent, can read people and is a convincing actress. Wouldn't be surprised if she comes up with dual personality excuse, could be their meeting sparked it off or the circumstances around their meeting or why they parted and then greed took over. Who knows whatever it was you've got to convince the family it was not their fault and they are not like that either ... same as Ben's not like Derek.

The couple could blame each other hope for reasonable doubt or obsession and get a lesser sentence. Don't know enough about him to say which, but I hate to say it she could play on being a damaged female and blame him completely … she's got the supposed drowning to fall back … part of that must have scared her and we've got prove he was waiting for her at her request. They've got nothing to lose so might play the total silent game and let it go through the courts drag it out as long as possible. To counteract that we'll need to have strong hard evidence hopefully Patrick will have found it or how to get by now.

That's for later, going back to taking them down … sorry arresting them. They may play the hostage game on each other, hoping for an escape or a quick death and spread misery around. Depending on how devious she or he is, it could be a way of getting the other one killed so the dead one can take all the blame and the other one walks away with a lighter sentence and money. Mind you with a bit of luck the money might be traced back to Ben or even the other false marriage so they would forfeit it all or most of it anyway.

To be honest I would go in as mice checking for traps and wake them up with red-lights and tranquilliser guns then shoot them if they blink and I do mean blink. Using tranquilliser guns means they can't do the suicide thing and you get some satisfaction in shooting them if they move. Let them wake up either handcuffed or handcuff them when they wake having separated them and then walk them out the house. Once they are cuffed police cars will be on the street and that will bring people out no matter how early you do it. They think they've been so damn clever, you can prove to everyone they aren't. Of course you've got a cunning female so you've got to guard against maltreatment suit or just tears.

His tone lightened slightly as he added. "Personally I like the fact Ben told them to stay away from Sunset Beach and they didn't and they've got caught and he helped catch them. Not only that he deprived the jailer of actually tossing him over the cliff, perhaps its just as well only Ben went over." then added seriously. "Hopefully they will have kept his things as trophies otherwise it will be a long-hall to recover the items."

Jude thought for a moment and said. "We've got details of the books, car reg. has to be somewhere and I think Ben's watch was engraved but yes it will difficult. We're starting a possible money trail regarding a charity account it might lead us to something else. Why not wait till she goes and visits her mother get them separately.

Bob came back immediately. "Way too dangerous, we don't know what he'll be doing trying to find out might spook him and if Maria is feeling jittery and her mother picks it up she could inadvertently put herself in danger. As far as I'm concerned they are both capable of taking innocents as hostages and that would bring more guilt on Ricardo or Ben. Go to the extreme they might try and get an exchange … Ben for hostages. Know you would not do it but the strain of knowing it happened would be bad for him and it would be difficult to keep it under wraps now or later.

Much better to wake them up and take them before they realise what's happening, there's going to be enough guilt flying around as it is."

Jude closed his eyes for a moment trying to shut out the idea of Annie in a hostage situation and understood the guilt that would come from it for him, Ben and the brothers if it came to a sticky end then asked. "How's Meg taking this?"

"Deeply shocked but fairly well, guilt is there as you'd expect but Sis is talking to her and hopefully she'll see it was good thing she didn't sleep with Ben that night, don't think he would have stayed there was Benjy to look after. She's also got to understand his guilt, after all he told them how to lie to her … to everyone … but I think after a rest she'll come to terms with it and with our help will see it through… both will. Can you very quietly get Benjy to come over; Ben needs reassurance that he really is okay and I don't think our word will be enough anymore."

Jude nodded then remembered Bob could not see him and said. "I asked Hank to fly to him and explain things, he rang not long ago and said Benjy still won't talk about that night/day, which isn't surprising now we know he was drugged. He wanted to bring him over tomorrow so Benjy could see and talk to Ben hoping that might help him. Of course now that Ben's unconscious I don't know that should be even suggested till we know how he is. We've also got consider Tess."

Bob thought for a moment then said. "Yeah, especially if she kept silent to keep Benjy safe, there's a slim possibility Maria actually told her what happened as part of the threat …we killed Ben with no one knowing so we can get Benjy anytime … it's possible she might talk once they are arrested. But, then again they will be in jail as well so a threat is to her rather than Benjy. There's a chance she played a deeper part in all this in which case she'll keep quiet after all she's got a chance a parole sometime in the future say something and she could lose it.

Regarding Benjy we'll see how things are in the morning and let you know. We are giving Ben about half an hour and if his breathing does not improve or it gets worse we will call in the van. Trouble is he might get too tired to breathe properly as he works his way back to us so we might have to put him on the machine, which could cause all kinds of problems as he comes round."

Jude cut in sharply. "Why"

"His aversion to hospitals, he especially said he didn't want one hospital when he was with me and a tube down your throat shouts hospital even to a confuse mind. Could set him off into memories of his brother and the hospital, which is not a good idea. To avoid this Tim's talking to him at the moment, then Sis will and I'll take over the later shift, we are voices from his future, which proves he survived all he's going through. Once it looks as though he's back to the sleeping stage we will just keep an eye on him, after all he's done that stage before and hopefully he'll wake silent and we can go from there.

This time we'll be with him and with the right answers to any questions, also Meg will be there and there's the photo album to back us up with recent memories. We have the added advantage he wants to come back to us. Hate to say this but you need to go and tell the others what we found out."

Jude felt reassured by the way Bob was talking positively about Ben, but he didn't really want to do the other part and said slowly. "Yeah I know and find out what Pedro's full name is, you realise that Antonio might have had that information or know how to get all this time…. Hell this sucks."

Bob said gently. "Well go carefully there's the confessional thing to consider and no one came up with Maria being on the other side until now. You can always see things better in hindsight."

Jud sighed "Yeah I know. Hopefully Patrick will come and give solid confirmation of it all before the roof is blown off. How should we communicate from now on?"

Bob smiled at that and thought for a moment and trying overcome that old itch – he really wanted to be in on the raid – and said. "We'll ring you in the morning for an update each way … but if something really bad goes down we ring mobiles not matter what time, so hand yours to someone you can trust. … As for time … if they don't make a run and you make the raid about 3 in the morning you might be available about 8 or 9 to talk to us, you'll need to sleep off the 'rush' if not the shock from today."

Jude chuckled realising Bob was working out how he would do it all and feel and asked. "Okay, say they don't run so why 3 am and not 2?"

"If he thinks you've got something on them he will expect something between say 12 and 1am thinking Judges don't like being disturbed and you need some sleep. The other is they get home say bye to Annie and talk about things wind down might even pack a bit now rather than in the morning in case they feel they need an early start. 1am comes and goes nothing happens they relax and go to bed by 3 they are in that deeper sleep which little noises don't disturb so you can creep up the stairs and wake them. It also means they should be muzzy and not have had that replenishing sleep so will be less trouble when facing men with guns. I'm assuming you've got 'ears' if not eyes on the house so can do it accordingly.

You might think about having something ready to disable their car should they decide to slip out while they think you are getting warrants for their arrests. Shouldn't touch the car once parked but broken glass or metal spikes out of sight of the house might be good you don't want a car chase but a foot chase might be good fun providing you look out for guns and have enough me chasing them."

Jude had to smile about the chase and said quietly. "Okay anything else."

Bob pondered and said. "Yeah, I've had a thought about the cars and him. Think he brought the present car down because he wanted it to give it a good send off, get it done by someone who respects cars, thought a small town crushing machine might be cleaner than a city one. It was just meant to be a grimy old car and he wanted a nice car to take home, actually for Maria to take home. While he was going to bring his 'baby' home, the drive would wipe out the months it was down here and that's why he left the plates on. He'd also be able to gloat over Ben's car, see how much it had rotted and know he'd succeeded because Ben died. They will not have had a chance to check the cars and I suspect it's fairly isolated so he'll need a lift there."

Jude understood what he was getting at and softly said. "Now that's a thought to ponder on if needs be." then sighed adding. "Okay, better get this over with. Oh yes, Antonio's given us the front door key to the house Maria's staying in. Apparently the owners asked him to look after the property last year when they went away and didn't take the key back."

"That's a bonus, check there's no way she would know he had it. And good luck."

Jude said as an afterthought. "I suppose we could go in via a window."

Bob automatically came back. "In the back if they are in the front and visa versa and using a holder and cut it all out with a cutter. Take care and hear from you in the morning."

Jude smiled at that bit of advice and said back "You too" then disconnected call.

oxoxo

Bob walked slowly into the lounge area and saw a cup of tea waiting for him on the table so went over and sat down. Without stopping their conversation Helen and Meg glanced at him, he nodded and started to drink the tea and listened so he could contribute if necessary and would explain what Jude had said in due course. He was glad Meg was past the tearful stage and guessed none them would go to sleep for awhile.

oxoxo

In the office, Jude sat and thought and then wrote out the note he wanted Annie to read. Then checking he got everything he got up, walked over and opened the door, and was walking out into the passage trying to work out what to say to the brothers when he remembered the name of the woman they needed to look for and who could be the wild card in the pack...

"Jude!" Cut into his thoughts.

He stopped in the corridor and looking in the direction of the call, watched the men striding towards him and concentrating on the one in front said angrily. "Why the Hell didn't you contact us!"

Patrick could tell by his friend's expression he knew the truth or part of it and was troubled, couldn't blame him and said. "Been busy and needed to do this face to face for the brothers' sake. Paul and the others are still gathering information. Annie all right?"

"She's still with them." Jude answered harshly as a wave of concern washed over him again. Recognising Tony and taking in that both were in full protective FBI gear and were carrying special guns with large infer-red light he reckoned he was off the case and added. "Ben's remembered and is unconscious."

"Damn! How bad. Let's walk and talk." Patrick said shifting the bag on his shoulder to a more comfortable position.

Jude shook his head though he started to walk with Patrick and said. "Tell you with the others don't want to do it twice. We've got a Lynnette Cortes running around; she's the woman who was with Rodney at the bank, money was moved from a false charity account…"

They all stopped as the Desk Sergeant ran up and interrupted them. "Jude, Patrick they are back and Annie looks as though she's leaving them."

Jude sighed with relief and remembering Bob's words said. "Patrick, I need Spence to give this note to Annie as soon as she is out of sight of the house, whether she is coming here or the hotel. She trusts him and will know it's not a joke. He'll keep his silence and make sure she doesn't say anything. She could be bugged so Rodney can get information about what we know or are thinking. I've said that Maria could be in danger from Rodney and to leave everything in the car, and I'll explain everything once she's in the office here."

Patrick nodded his agreement and asked. "Bob's idea?"

"Yes and a few other things including tranquiliser guns."

"Good." Patrick said impressed realising things had certainly been moving down here, and asked the Desk Sergeant. "Can you do that?"

As the Desk sergeant nodded and took the note Jude added. "Her clothes will need to be isolated as well."

The Desk Sergeant smiled and nodded then left them.

oxoxo

As they started to walk towards the office where the brothers were Patrick said knowing they'd slipped up earlier. "Sorry Boss."

Jude looked at him puzzled and said. "You're the one in charge."

"For now, but earlier today I made a mistake. Paul got two id's from the ATM photo, and Ricardo and I concentrated on Carol Lawson because she was in Seattle and the ball of information rolled from there. We didn't follow up the other one because she was from south of here, and the offence was old and on her maiden name."

Jude felt that tingling down his spine and said. "It's been a roller coaster day and information has been coming from all over the place. So go on."

Patrick shrugged and explained. "Yes but by looking into her past we could have cracked it earlier. Lynette Cortes is Carol Lawson. Her married name was Cortez with a 'z' not an 's' in her single name was. When Juan her husband moved to Seattle he used Cortez with a 's' and she used Carol Lawson. He's meant to have been lost at sea on the day of the storm he in fact sailed with Rodney to Sunset Beach bay to meet Maria, they are cousins. Lynette moved out as soon as she got insurance etc and changed her name using the LC swap to cover her tracks and they live in one apartment but on paper live in two. We arrested Carol and she's been in Seattle all the time."

Getting his mind round the information Jude exclaimed as they came to the office door. "Who the Hell is that woman then!"

Patrick stopped Jude from opening the door and said. "Maria."

Jude stopped dumbstruck so Patrick carried on. "She could not risk the Bank Manager recognising her and we found another wig in Seattle."

Jude said softly. "He wouldn't have it was a stand in. So we've got her … them."

Patrick smiled and nodded and said. "Money trail is being tracked. There's only one thing else I want." Jude looked at him so he added. "To meet or just see Ben when this is over. He got under their skin and I've got a funny feeling he knew he would especially Rodney. The man didn't break him in Seattle or here at his death, he's been living the life Ben told him and it's his money not Rodney's that is … was going to finance IVF treatment so they can have the family they want. He's already fathered children so he's okay she's not produced any and I guess it's not for want of trying. That small charity account was pure greed, the need to say goodbye to their families as well as to finally wash their hands of Ben's ghost brought them back here now.

To think if he'd stayed quiet not given in to his need to break Ben with fireworks we wouldn't have known about them. Ben might have come back too slowly to catch them they would have gone to Seattle and disappeared completely. You'll do the arresting and we'll back you up with the guns and lights, I'll take Maria, Tony can take Rodney."

Jude nodded, looked at his friend and sighed then added. "We don't know when he'll wake, he recognised Rodney at the Shock Wave and his name is Pedro."

Patrick nodded and starting to open the door said softly. "He'll wake up; he's too strong not too. Pedro's not his real name it's his family's nickname and you need to release Ricardo from his job."

Jude nodded hoping Patrick was right and deciding he was strong enough to face the brothers he walked into the office in front of Patrick and Tony wanting to mask what they were carrying for the moment, and heard the brothers were arguing.