Chapter 6 - Concealed Weapon
The loud noise came from outside.
"Oh my," said Amanda, jumping to her feet and going straight outside. "CJ? Dion? Jesse? Are you all right?"
Amanda ran out with such haste that she practically fell over the three bored reprobates who were seated just outside the door.
"You're all alright, thank goodness. I thought something terrible had happened!"
"Amanda? It was just the lead patrol car back firing. I was about to come in and tell you that the transport has arrived, guess I don't need to now. Anyway, what sort of terrible thing could happen in this tiny joint?"
Mark and Steve got to the door, expecting to see the worst. In fact the scene that met their eyes was free of the carnage they had anticipated, instead they saw Amanda looking simultaneously irate and relieved and Jesse looking very perplexed.
The patrol cars were just pulling into the clinic as the farther and son emerged and the workers from within clambered out to collect the corpse and sort out the passenger distribution.
It was decided that Steve would travel in the ambulance with Daniel, whilst Mark would travel with Jesse in the first car and Amanda and the boys would take the second car. So the journey to Cregtown or 'contemporary civilisation' as it perhaps was in contrast, began.
* * * * *
The journey took about forty minutes driving at a steady speed, but they couldn't get there quick enough as far as our friends were concerned. CJ and Dion were understandably growing very restless and Jesse's game of i- spy in Magerville had hardly helped matters as it drew the attention of the boys to how little there really was in the place.
The cars and ambulance dropped them off at the town hospital in order for the investigation to continue as quickly as possible.
The hospital was only small in comparison with Community General, but was well equipped, with full x-ray and scanning facilities and tank of water, ready for Amanda's autopsy. Room had even been provided for this to occur and the local pathologist - Phil Martinez was on hand and only too glad to offer any assistance that he was able.
Dr. Martinez was young, about the same age as Jesse, the others concluded. With his short dark curly hair and loveable grin, he was a picture to behold. He was about average height, not as tall as Steve but most certainly taller than the small doctor Travis.
There was also a treatment room for the friends to call base temporarily - namely where the boys could be looked after and amused, this job fell of course, to Uncle Jesse. This was mainly through delegation - Amanda figured if his charges were keeping him amused, then he would be unable to get in her way during the autopsy.
Usually Amanda tolerated Jesse's energy and enthusiasm, but on an autopsy such as this absolutely nothing could go wrong and cause her distraction, otherwise the cause of death may slip away, unnoticed and untraceable. Steve felt obliged to be present for the autopsy from the detective's point of view, and Mark's perceptive mind was always welcome.
So with the liability taken care of and housed with some food, even if it was only "that hospital junk", Jesse and the boys were left to amuse themselves whilst the autopsy began.
* * * * *
Amanda began the procedure by sending the body to x-ray, in order to see if there was any evidence of air embolism, one of the only ways to detect them.
When the films came back from radiography Amanda, Mark and Phil Martinez examined them intently, much to the confusion of Steve.
"The guy had something injected into his system, why on earth are you paying such close attention to the x-ray. I know you said you needed 'em, but really, I don't see what they'll show you. You ought to be looking at tox. screens and chem. panels."
Amanda raised her eyebrow at Steve.
"Oh yes, Lieutenant Sloan? Since when did you become a M.E.S.S.I. winning pathologist?" Steve looked a little abashed at this comment. "Actually, because we suspect air embolism we have to look at the x-ray to see if there's any sign on one. If I don't check and just go straight ahead and open up the body then the bubble would simply vanish into the air."
"I don't wanna sound stupid or anything, but how can air kill ya? You breathe it in all the time and it doesn't do serious damage. Well," he conceded, "With perhaps the one exception of LA smog!"
Phil Martinez took over, growing very excited.
"It's quite a brilliant idea really. So hard to trace and yet incredibly effective, I've never actually worked on one before."
"That's great for you, but how could it kill someone?" Steve persisted.
"Well," Phil continued. "The air bubble or bubbles, will start travelling around the body within the blood stream. They will travel to the right atrium - a small chamber of the heart, and round into the lung. When they enter the lung the capillaries - tiny blood vessels, are too thin to enable them to pass by, and so the bubbles become entangled with the blood vessels in the lung, which causes the flow of blood around the whole body to come to a stop. This happens because the body believes that the blood is not circulating because of a lack of pure air within the system, so the rate of respiration increases and the person will start gasping. Because this is not the problem because the body cannot conceive that it could turn against itself, the real danger area lies elsewhere, undetected by the system and leads to the death of the victim. It really is ingenious."
"Look there," said Mark "There's a possible site in the pulmonary artery."
"I think you might be right Mark. You've found it. Now all we need, now our suspicions have been confirmed, is the water tank. Where will be able to find this Doctor Martinez?"
"Phil, please. And I'm having a tank brought up here, so you don't have to traipse around all over the place with the body. I've sorted all this out for you, however there is one condition." A look of worry flitted across Amanda's face.
"What's that?"
"I'd be really grateful if you would let me stay and watch, perhaps assist."
"Well if that's all, I'm sure something can be arranged."
"If you know it's an air embolism from the x-ray why on earth do you need the water. What more will that tell you."
"It won't tell us anything. It will confirm what we believe. There is always a chance, you know, that the shadow around the lung could be something else. I'm just not missing my confirmation that I'm right. Better to assume the x-ray as inconclusive while you can still do something to test whether you are right or wrong before you just go in and cut him up all haphazard and find that the shadow on the x-ray had absolutely nothing to do with an air embolism whatsoever." Amanda finished, meticulous to the last detail.
Oh. Steve nodded. Why didn't you just tell me all that in the first place."
* * * * *
While all the work towards the autopsy was being done, Jesse and the boys remained in their little refuge.
Jesse had armed himself, on his arrival with a telephone directory, on a mission to search for a place from which they could hire a couple of cars. After his third phone call he finally found a place that would let him hire a couple of vehicles - 'Express Cars'. All they had to do was collect them when they were ready to leave.
After completing his mission with the pride of success he ate his meal, disgusting though it was - but what more could expect from Cuisine a la hospital! Then with the comfort of feeling well fed and watered, he and the boys began a game of charades at Jesse's instigation.
Jesse tried his best much to the amusement of C.J, and Dion, but how on earth were they expected to guess 'The Avengers', 'Mission Impossible,' or 'The Man From UNCLE' and 'M*A*S*H' was taking things to the extreme! Mind you, the boys returned the favour, deciding that it was far more fair that playing singly. Jesse though had to admit defeat on many of their charades, too. How on earth was he supposed to know that the boys pointing at him and playing crazy was supposed to mean the 'X-Files' and the seemingly rude gestures were in order for him to guess 'The Butt Ugly Martians'. The things children watch on tv these days, Jesse thought to himself rolling his eyes. Man, why aren't I a kid anymore?
* * * * *
The tank of water was now prepared and Daniel was ready to be immersed.
He was plunged into the tank of water as Amanda carefully cut into the exposed skin on his chest. All eyes watched the water in angst. As the watchers waited with bated breath, the anticipated air bubbles arose in the water.
"Wow, personalised Jacuzzi!" said Phil, "I didn't realize that the bubbling would be quite that evident."
"Bingo!" said Mark.
"Now there's just one thing that we need to think about that may cause a few problems."
"What's that?" Steve asked Amanda, his eyebrows raised.
"The quantity of air with which he must have been injected. In order to kill a person, you would need to inject them with approximately 200 c.c. of air, and the most commonly used large syringe only holds 20 c.c."
"So either someone used a very large syringe, someone Daniel trusted, or someone managed to subdue him first."
"There is some good news though. It narrows down the number of people that could possibly have done it. It was obviously someone who can handle a syringe and knows there way, a little at least, around human anatomy. So possibly someone with some form of medical training, be it nursing, as a carer or aide, or even a doctor. We must bear in mind though, that Daniel had no reason to distrust the person that did it, as there were no signs of a scuffle. Now all we can do is hope that the team on the train running the crime scene are able to find something that will point us in the right direction."
"How can we do that and get to Carmel at the same time?" Steve asked.
"Well," Amanda said, flashing a charming smile at Dr. Martinez, "I was hoping Phil here might be our liaison point. If we find any information that may be pertinent to some of the autopsy findings, then I'm hoping he will be able to clarify."
"Me? You really want my help?" Phil was overwhelmed. "Oh, of course, it would be an honour, working with someone as renowned in the profession as you. Do you really think I'm up to it."
"You've done an autopsy before, haven't you."
"Well, yes."
"In that case, there is absolutely no reason on earth why you should not be able to handle this. I doubt you'll find anything beyond the air embolism, but I want you treat it as a virgin corpse never the less, full panels, screens and routine procedures please."
"What? You're actually letting me do the autopsy - all by myself?"
"Well, we have to get moving, we need to get to Carmel as soon as possible. A friend of ours could be in a lot of danger. Plus as I say, I can feed you back information and vice versa. Here's my cell phone number, now should you find ANYTHING, then please, call me." Amanda said, taking a pen and scribbling down her number, then leaving it next to the telephone in the pathology lab.
"Perhaps we should go and see if Jesse has managed to get us any transport." Mark said. "Then we can get moving straight away."
"Is it all right if I ask you to do this for me Phil, relay information and the like?"
"Well, sure. It's an honour that you think I'm up to it."
"You have to be. We don't have the time to waste for me to do it myself or find someone I know who can do it and get them over here." Phil looked a little despondent at this. Amanda realised how derogatory that had sounded. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I know you can do it, and I trust you. You just have to believe you can do it as well as any other pathologist in the state. Just don't get too cocky - when you get cocky you miss things. OK? Now, keep me informed of anything and everything you find."
"Right," Phil said, his enthusiasm restored. "I'll do that Dr. Bentley."
"Amanda."
".Amanda, I'll do you proud."
The three friends smiled at one another as they left Phil in his kingdom - his path lab.
"Does he kinda remind you of anyone? With his explanations, enthusiasm, ya know?"
"Well, he's taller for a start." Said Mark.
"And not quite as excitable," added Amanda.
They arrived at the door to the room in which Jesse and the two boys had been keeping themselves amused and just as they were about to enter, the swing door opened and a red-faced Jesse stuck his head out.
"Just the people I've been looking for, I could use some help in here."
"Jesse, what's wrong?"
"Never mind that, Mark. Jesse, what have you done with my children?"
"Amanda, would I do anything to the boys?" Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, it's more what the boys have done to me. As if charades wasn't enough and the words X-files and Butt Ugly Martians aren't enough, the two wonderful boys in there, decided they wanted to indulge in a little role play with one another."
"What's wrong with that Jesse? It encourages than to use their imagination."
"They don't need any encouragement, Amanda. They were space men on board an alien mothership rescuing the aliens captive. And they did this."
Jesse pushed the door open further and they could see that the poor doctor had been securely tied to the chair that protruded from the back of him using some old bandages that were donated for such a cause.
"Then they left me whilst they went to the bathroom."
"Hi Mom," CJ said, as the friends turned round to look at the grinning boys, only to turn and look back and Jesse, which sent them all into rapturous fits of laughter.
"Hey, this is not funny. Don't you laugh. hey, not funny. Not funny at all. Does someone want to untie me now? It would be greatly appreciated."
However much people tried to stop laughing, they just couldn't control themselves, the sight of the helpless Jesse was too much for them.
"Did I ever tell you what a good job you did in bringing up your children, Amanda?" Steve said smiling at the two as he ruffled Dion's hair. "They're very discerning."
"I don't think I could have asked for them to turn out any better!"
"No? Well I could. Now could somebody please untie me. Mark please." Jesse implored.
"All right Jess." Mark conceded, still highly amused by the whole scenario. As Mark proceeded to untie the stranded doctor, he asked: "Did you have any luck in finding a couple of hire cars, Jesse?"
"Well, you can all call me Dr. Brilliant. I managed to get us a couple of cars from a company called 'Express Cars'. They're an interstate company with branches in both LA and Carmel, so we can have them indefinitely and return them to one of those branches. We just have to go and pick them up and pay a down payment and someone's name must be put down as guarantor. We then have to pay for the cars weekly, paying in advance each week, and should we return them before the week is over, then the outstanding balance will be paid back to us. They were very understanding once I explained the situation."
"Wow, Jesse, good work!" Steve said, impressed. "I'm glad you think so Steve, because I told the company that you and your dad would be the guarantors."
"What?"
All Jesse did in response was smirk as Mark finished releasing the young doctor from his makeshift prison.
"Shall we go and collect these cars then, Mr. Guarantor. I mean, they were so impressed - it made such a difference when I told them one of you guys was a cop and the other was the Head of Internal medicine at CGH. That makes us sound so reliable."
"Us sound reliable? Me and my dad sound reliable, you mean Jess. And by the way, it's not too late to tie you to the chair again and for us to leave you hear, you know!"
Jesse scowled as they all set off to go to 'Express motors' to pick up the cars. They decided they would all walk there so they could get some exercise before the long drive ahead.
The loud noise came from outside.
"Oh my," said Amanda, jumping to her feet and going straight outside. "CJ? Dion? Jesse? Are you all right?"
Amanda ran out with such haste that she practically fell over the three bored reprobates who were seated just outside the door.
"You're all alright, thank goodness. I thought something terrible had happened!"
"Amanda? It was just the lead patrol car back firing. I was about to come in and tell you that the transport has arrived, guess I don't need to now. Anyway, what sort of terrible thing could happen in this tiny joint?"
Mark and Steve got to the door, expecting to see the worst. In fact the scene that met their eyes was free of the carnage they had anticipated, instead they saw Amanda looking simultaneously irate and relieved and Jesse looking very perplexed.
The patrol cars were just pulling into the clinic as the farther and son emerged and the workers from within clambered out to collect the corpse and sort out the passenger distribution.
It was decided that Steve would travel in the ambulance with Daniel, whilst Mark would travel with Jesse in the first car and Amanda and the boys would take the second car. So the journey to Cregtown or 'contemporary civilisation' as it perhaps was in contrast, began.
* * * * *
The journey took about forty minutes driving at a steady speed, but they couldn't get there quick enough as far as our friends were concerned. CJ and Dion were understandably growing very restless and Jesse's game of i- spy in Magerville had hardly helped matters as it drew the attention of the boys to how little there really was in the place.
The cars and ambulance dropped them off at the town hospital in order for the investigation to continue as quickly as possible.
The hospital was only small in comparison with Community General, but was well equipped, with full x-ray and scanning facilities and tank of water, ready for Amanda's autopsy. Room had even been provided for this to occur and the local pathologist - Phil Martinez was on hand and only too glad to offer any assistance that he was able.
Dr. Martinez was young, about the same age as Jesse, the others concluded. With his short dark curly hair and loveable grin, he was a picture to behold. He was about average height, not as tall as Steve but most certainly taller than the small doctor Travis.
There was also a treatment room for the friends to call base temporarily - namely where the boys could be looked after and amused, this job fell of course, to Uncle Jesse. This was mainly through delegation - Amanda figured if his charges were keeping him amused, then he would be unable to get in her way during the autopsy.
Usually Amanda tolerated Jesse's energy and enthusiasm, but on an autopsy such as this absolutely nothing could go wrong and cause her distraction, otherwise the cause of death may slip away, unnoticed and untraceable. Steve felt obliged to be present for the autopsy from the detective's point of view, and Mark's perceptive mind was always welcome.
So with the liability taken care of and housed with some food, even if it was only "that hospital junk", Jesse and the boys were left to amuse themselves whilst the autopsy began.
* * * * *
Amanda began the procedure by sending the body to x-ray, in order to see if there was any evidence of air embolism, one of the only ways to detect them.
When the films came back from radiography Amanda, Mark and Phil Martinez examined them intently, much to the confusion of Steve.
"The guy had something injected into his system, why on earth are you paying such close attention to the x-ray. I know you said you needed 'em, but really, I don't see what they'll show you. You ought to be looking at tox. screens and chem. panels."
Amanda raised her eyebrow at Steve.
"Oh yes, Lieutenant Sloan? Since when did you become a M.E.S.S.I. winning pathologist?" Steve looked a little abashed at this comment. "Actually, because we suspect air embolism we have to look at the x-ray to see if there's any sign on one. If I don't check and just go straight ahead and open up the body then the bubble would simply vanish into the air."
"I don't wanna sound stupid or anything, but how can air kill ya? You breathe it in all the time and it doesn't do serious damage. Well," he conceded, "With perhaps the one exception of LA smog!"
Phil Martinez took over, growing very excited.
"It's quite a brilliant idea really. So hard to trace and yet incredibly effective, I've never actually worked on one before."
"That's great for you, but how could it kill someone?" Steve persisted.
"Well," Phil continued. "The air bubble or bubbles, will start travelling around the body within the blood stream. They will travel to the right atrium - a small chamber of the heart, and round into the lung. When they enter the lung the capillaries - tiny blood vessels, are too thin to enable them to pass by, and so the bubbles become entangled with the blood vessels in the lung, which causes the flow of blood around the whole body to come to a stop. This happens because the body believes that the blood is not circulating because of a lack of pure air within the system, so the rate of respiration increases and the person will start gasping. Because this is not the problem because the body cannot conceive that it could turn against itself, the real danger area lies elsewhere, undetected by the system and leads to the death of the victim. It really is ingenious."
"Look there," said Mark "There's a possible site in the pulmonary artery."
"I think you might be right Mark. You've found it. Now all we need, now our suspicions have been confirmed, is the water tank. Where will be able to find this Doctor Martinez?"
"Phil, please. And I'm having a tank brought up here, so you don't have to traipse around all over the place with the body. I've sorted all this out for you, however there is one condition." A look of worry flitted across Amanda's face.
"What's that?"
"I'd be really grateful if you would let me stay and watch, perhaps assist."
"Well if that's all, I'm sure something can be arranged."
"If you know it's an air embolism from the x-ray why on earth do you need the water. What more will that tell you."
"It won't tell us anything. It will confirm what we believe. There is always a chance, you know, that the shadow around the lung could be something else. I'm just not missing my confirmation that I'm right. Better to assume the x-ray as inconclusive while you can still do something to test whether you are right or wrong before you just go in and cut him up all haphazard and find that the shadow on the x-ray had absolutely nothing to do with an air embolism whatsoever." Amanda finished, meticulous to the last detail.
Oh. Steve nodded. Why didn't you just tell me all that in the first place."
* * * * *
While all the work towards the autopsy was being done, Jesse and the boys remained in their little refuge.
Jesse had armed himself, on his arrival with a telephone directory, on a mission to search for a place from which they could hire a couple of cars. After his third phone call he finally found a place that would let him hire a couple of vehicles - 'Express Cars'. All they had to do was collect them when they were ready to leave.
After completing his mission with the pride of success he ate his meal, disgusting though it was - but what more could expect from Cuisine a la hospital! Then with the comfort of feeling well fed and watered, he and the boys began a game of charades at Jesse's instigation.
Jesse tried his best much to the amusement of C.J, and Dion, but how on earth were they expected to guess 'The Avengers', 'Mission Impossible,' or 'The Man From UNCLE' and 'M*A*S*H' was taking things to the extreme! Mind you, the boys returned the favour, deciding that it was far more fair that playing singly. Jesse though had to admit defeat on many of their charades, too. How on earth was he supposed to know that the boys pointing at him and playing crazy was supposed to mean the 'X-Files' and the seemingly rude gestures were in order for him to guess 'The Butt Ugly Martians'. The things children watch on tv these days, Jesse thought to himself rolling his eyes. Man, why aren't I a kid anymore?
* * * * *
The tank of water was now prepared and Daniel was ready to be immersed.
He was plunged into the tank of water as Amanda carefully cut into the exposed skin on his chest. All eyes watched the water in angst. As the watchers waited with bated breath, the anticipated air bubbles arose in the water.
"Wow, personalised Jacuzzi!" said Phil, "I didn't realize that the bubbling would be quite that evident."
"Bingo!" said Mark.
"Now there's just one thing that we need to think about that may cause a few problems."
"What's that?" Steve asked Amanda, his eyebrows raised.
"The quantity of air with which he must have been injected. In order to kill a person, you would need to inject them with approximately 200 c.c. of air, and the most commonly used large syringe only holds 20 c.c."
"So either someone used a very large syringe, someone Daniel trusted, or someone managed to subdue him first."
"There is some good news though. It narrows down the number of people that could possibly have done it. It was obviously someone who can handle a syringe and knows there way, a little at least, around human anatomy. So possibly someone with some form of medical training, be it nursing, as a carer or aide, or even a doctor. We must bear in mind though, that Daniel had no reason to distrust the person that did it, as there were no signs of a scuffle. Now all we can do is hope that the team on the train running the crime scene are able to find something that will point us in the right direction."
"How can we do that and get to Carmel at the same time?" Steve asked.
"Well," Amanda said, flashing a charming smile at Dr. Martinez, "I was hoping Phil here might be our liaison point. If we find any information that may be pertinent to some of the autopsy findings, then I'm hoping he will be able to clarify."
"Me? You really want my help?" Phil was overwhelmed. "Oh, of course, it would be an honour, working with someone as renowned in the profession as you. Do you really think I'm up to it."
"You've done an autopsy before, haven't you."
"Well, yes."
"In that case, there is absolutely no reason on earth why you should not be able to handle this. I doubt you'll find anything beyond the air embolism, but I want you treat it as a virgin corpse never the less, full panels, screens and routine procedures please."
"What? You're actually letting me do the autopsy - all by myself?"
"Well, we have to get moving, we need to get to Carmel as soon as possible. A friend of ours could be in a lot of danger. Plus as I say, I can feed you back information and vice versa. Here's my cell phone number, now should you find ANYTHING, then please, call me." Amanda said, taking a pen and scribbling down her number, then leaving it next to the telephone in the pathology lab.
"Perhaps we should go and see if Jesse has managed to get us any transport." Mark said. "Then we can get moving straight away."
"Is it all right if I ask you to do this for me Phil, relay information and the like?"
"Well, sure. It's an honour that you think I'm up to it."
"You have to be. We don't have the time to waste for me to do it myself or find someone I know who can do it and get them over here." Phil looked a little despondent at this. Amanda realised how derogatory that had sounded. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I know you can do it, and I trust you. You just have to believe you can do it as well as any other pathologist in the state. Just don't get too cocky - when you get cocky you miss things. OK? Now, keep me informed of anything and everything you find."
"Right," Phil said, his enthusiasm restored. "I'll do that Dr. Bentley."
"Amanda."
".Amanda, I'll do you proud."
The three friends smiled at one another as they left Phil in his kingdom - his path lab.
"Does he kinda remind you of anyone? With his explanations, enthusiasm, ya know?"
"Well, he's taller for a start." Said Mark.
"And not quite as excitable," added Amanda.
They arrived at the door to the room in which Jesse and the two boys had been keeping themselves amused and just as they were about to enter, the swing door opened and a red-faced Jesse stuck his head out.
"Just the people I've been looking for, I could use some help in here."
"Jesse, what's wrong?"
"Never mind that, Mark. Jesse, what have you done with my children?"
"Amanda, would I do anything to the boys?" Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, it's more what the boys have done to me. As if charades wasn't enough and the words X-files and Butt Ugly Martians aren't enough, the two wonderful boys in there, decided they wanted to indulge in a little role play with one another."
"What's wrong with that Jesse? It encourages than to use their imagination."
"They don't need any encouragement, Amanda. They were space men on board an alien mothership rescuing the aliens captive. And they did this."
Jesse pushed the door open further and they could see that the poor doctor had been securely tied to the chair that protruded from the back of him using some old bandages that were donated for such a cause.
"Then they left me whilst they went to the bathroom."
"Hi Mom," CJ said, as the friends turned round to look at the grinning boys, only to turn and look back and Jesse, which sent them all into rapturous fits of laughter.
"Hey, this is not funny. Don't you laugh. hey, not funny. Not funny at all. Does someone want to untie me now? It would be greatly appreciated."
However much people tried to stop laughing, they just couldn't control themselves, the sight of the helpless Jesse was too much for them.
"Did I ever tell you what a good job you did in bringing up your children, Amanda?" Steve said smiling at the two as he ruffled Dion's hair. "They're very discerning."
"I don't think I could have asked for them to turn out any better!"
"No? Well I could. Now could somebody please untie me. Mark please." Jesse implored.
"All right Jess." Mark conceded, still highly amused by the whole scenario. As Mark proceeded to untie the stranded doctor, he asked: "Did you have any luck in finding a couple of hire cars, Jesse?"
"Well, you can all call me Dr. Brilliant. I managed to get us a couple of cars from a company called 'Express Cars'. They're an interstate company with branches in both LA and Carmel, so we can have them indefinitely and return them to one of those branches. We just have to go and pick them up and pay a down payment and someone's name must be put down as guarantor. We then have to pay for the cars weekly, paying in advance each week, and should we return them before the week is over, then the outstanding balance will be paid back to us. They were very understanding once I explained the situation."
"Wow, Jesse, good work!" Steve said, impressed. "I'm glad you think so Steve, because I told the company that you and your dad would be the guarantors."
"What?"
All Jesse did in response was smirk as Mark finished releasing the young doctor from his makeshift prison.
"Shall we go and collect these cars then, Mr. Guarantor. I mean, they were so impressed - it made such a difference when I told them one of you guys was a cop and the other was the Head of Internal medicine at CGH. That makes us sound so reliable."
"Us sound reliable? Me and my dad sound reliable, you mean Jess. And by the way, it's not too late to tie you to the chair again and for us to leave you hear, you know!"
Jesse scowled as they all set off to go to 'Express motors' to pick up the cars. They decided they would all walk there so they could get some exercise before the long drive ahead.