You Know Me So Well
By Olivia Sutton
Part 3
The cab drove Marty back to his office, where instead of even entering the office, Marty simply got into his hired Ford Sierra and drove off. Leaving the office block, he drove to Freya's flat and parked outside the modern building. He knew that Freya and Jeff were still looking for a new house to share once they were married, so each had kept their own flat, though Marty also knew the two usually bunked-in together at one flat or the other. Marty quit the car, and went to the foyer of the building. He leaned on the bell for number 304, Freya's flat. There was no answer, so he rang the bell longer, still no answer. Marty scanned the names next to the flat buzzers. "Hum, P Smith, let's give it a go, shall we?" Marty said to himself, punching the buzzer for 401.
"Yes, who is it?" came a female voice from the tinny speaker.
"Plumber, I'm supposed to check a leak in 304, but the owner's not answering, could you let me in please?"
"Oh, sure, good luck-- haven't seen her in awhile, I figured she'd left on her honeymoon already," the door buzzed.
Marty grabbed the door, muttering, "Thanks," in the direction of the speaker box, and entered the block of flats. He took the lift to Freya's floor, and soon found her flat, the door was ajar. Marty pushed open the door--the flat was in shambles, clothes and belongings thrown everywhere, "Freya!" yelled Marty, shutting the door behind himself. Marty searched the flat but it was empty. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket, Marty wiped the doorknob and anything else he may have touched, then left the flat, shutting the door out of courtesy. He rode the lift back down to the ground floor, and left the building for his hired car.
Marty drove to the museum, tapping his fingers on the wheel as he drove. He reached the museum minutes before closing. Marty parked in the visitors car park and walked in the main entrance. Just inside the entrance to the museum was a desk with brochures and maps in pockets on the front and in stacks on the desktop. Two bored-looking teenagers in museum guide uniforms manned the desk. Marty strode towards them with a purpose in his stride.
"Can I help you, sir?" asked the female museum guide.
"Yes, I'm looking for Freya Cargill? Her father is Professor Cargill, he works here?"
The guide nodded, "May I enquire as to why?"
"There's... there's a family emergency, I need to contact Freya, or her father. Please?" Marty looked at the female guard and batted his eyes, shamelessly.
"Just a moment, I'll check..." the guide turned away, picked up a radio walkie-talkie, and spoke into it.
Marty paced in front of the desk.
The guard returned her attention to Marty and said, "I'm sorry sir, Professor Cargill has been dismissed, and I checked with the Iron Age curators, Freya Cargill is not here."
Marty looked at her and nodded, then spun on his heel and left, walking out the main door to the car park. He returned to his hired car and got in. Marty hit the steering wheel in anger, "Well, two tries down," he said to himself, then inserted the key, started the car and drove off.
Marty soon pulled up to Jeff's block of flats, he quit the car and hurried into the building, he let himself into the foyer using his spare key, and quickly mounted the stairs to Jeff's floor. Marty reached Jeff's flat and knocked. When no one answered the door, he pulled out his key and let himself in. The flat was neat and tidy, or as tidy as Jeff normally kept it. Marty quickly searched the flat, but it was empty. He then took a few minutes to pack a small bag of clothes, pajamas, and other necessities for Jeff, then returned to the lounge and sat on the sofa near the phone. Marty reached for the phone and dialed a long-remembered number. The phone rang several times, then the answerphone picked up.
"Mum, it's Marty, I suppose you've already left, but if you check and get this message, I'm... I'm at Jeff's flat. I haven't found Freya...I'm heading back to the hospital, see you soon."
Marty rang off, as he did so, his mobile rang, "Hopkirk, here," said Marty.
"Marty, it's me."
"Oh, hello, Mrs. Randall, Mum, where are you?"
"Darlington train station, my train leaves in a few minutes. Any news?"
"No, not really, I checked her flat and the museum, but I couldn't find Freya. Mum, I don't know what's going on. Mum...Mum the last time I saw Jeff, he was unconscious on the floor in the office. The doctors wouldn't let me see him, at hospital. And now, I can't find Freya, and I don't know what to do anymore."
"Marty, calm down. Where are you?"
"Jeff's flat, she's not here either. I packed up a few things for Jeff, though."
"Okay, okay Marty, that's good. Now, Marty, go to Jeff, talk to him. He'll talk to you, he always has."
"But what if I can't talk to him?" said Marty, then he added, "No, no, he'll wake up, he has to. I'm sorry, Mum, I...I don't mean to think that way."
"It's okay, Marty, it's okay. I know this is hard on you, but pull yourself together, Jeff will need you."
Marty nodded, then said, in a stronger voice, "When will you be in London, then?"
"I should be there in about three hours, Marty, I'll come straight to hospital and meet you. Marty, go to Jeff."
"Um-hum," Marty swallowed, then said, "Thanks, Mrs. Randall, Mum, I... just thanks," said Marty, then he clicked "end call" and sighed. He picked up the bag and quit the flat, locking the door on his way out. He walked down the stairs, out the front door, and to his hired car, got in and drove straight to hospital.
Marty drove quickly to Central London Hospital, once he arrived he parked in the visitor's car park, and followed the directional signs to the psychiatric locked ward. He reached the reception desk, where he explained who he was, who he wanted to see, and showed his identification. Once he had gone through all that, he was given Jeff's room number.
Marty stood outside Jeff's room and took a deep breath, before opening the door and walking in. Jeff lay in a hospital bed asleep. Marty quietly shut the door, and made his way to a chair by Jeff's side. He sat, then took Jeff's hand, gently.
"Jeff, man, why?" Marty murmured, holding Jeff's hand, "Come on, wake up, Jeff, we need to talk. And I need you, Jeff. I need you with me. Come on, wake-up, please, Jeff."
Marty lowered his head, hoping that Jeff would recover. After a few minutes sitting at his mate's side, he felt pressure on his hand and he looked up and saw Jeff opening his eyes.
Marty let go of Jeff's hand, then stood next to the hospital bed, and looked down at Jeff in the bed.
Jeff groaned, then looked up and said, "Marty?" but his voice squeaked as he did so.
"Would you like some water, Jeff?" Marty asked, leaving the bedside to pour a glass tumbler full of water from a pitcher on the nearby table. Marty set the tumbler down, returned to the bed and fluffed the pillows so Jeff could sit up, then brought him the water.
Jeff sipped the water, then asked, "What happened?"
"Don't you remember?" Marty asked softly.
"Not really, no," said Jeff.
"The thing is, Jeff, I don't know what happened," Marty sat in the chair next to Jeff's bed, "When I walked into the office, you were on the floor, unconscious, I called emergency services, and you were rushed here."
"So what happened?" asked Jeff.
"I don't know," replied Marty.
"Where am I?" asked Jeff.
"Central London hospital."
"What happened?" asked Jeff.
"I don't know!" insisted Marty, running a hand through his own hair.
"Where am I?"
"Central London hospital. I just told you that, Jeff."
"What happened?"
"Jeff?" Marty looked at his mate, then reached for the call alarm to alert a nurse. "Jeff, do you remember anything? Do you know who I am?"
Jeff stopped and looked at him, "You're Marty, Marty Hopkirk."
"That's right, Jeff. And what do we do?"
"We have a detective agency together."
"Right again, now do you know where you are?"
Jeff looked around, "It looks like a hospital."
"That's right, Jeff, you're in hospital. Do you remember which hospital?"
Jeff thought for a moment, "No, sorry."
"That's all right, Jeff," said Marty calmly. He was about to add something, when two nurses and Doctor Honeycutt entered the room. Marty rose from his chair and walked over to them.
Marty looked at the doctor then said, "He just woke up, but something's wrong, he keeps asking, 'What happened?', and 'Where am I?' --and I told him where he was, Dr. Honeycutt, I told him twice."
Dr. Honeycutt nodded, then asked a few more questions, whilst the nurses checked Jeff's vitals and asked him a few questions of their own. Then Dr. Honeycutt, took Marty aside and quietly said, "He may have a concussion, if so, the short-term memory should return as soon as we relieve the swelling. We need to do a few tests, and I may need to call for a neurological consult. You'll need to wait outside, Mr. Hopkirk."
Marty looked at Dr. Honeycutt, about to ask a question, then changed his mind and reluctantly left the room. Once outside he began to pace back and forth in the hall outside his mate's room.
Marty was still pacing, when a very short, grey-haired woman came rushing up to him. Marty put his arms around her and hugged her tight, "Mrs. Randall, Mum, I'm so glad you're here..." He reluctantly let go of her, but kept a hand on her arm.
"How's Jeff? Have you seen him?"
"Let's sit a minute," said Marty, then he led her to some nearby plastic chairs. "Would you like some tea, Mrs. Randall...Mum?"
"Not yet, Marty. Now, please talk to me," they reached some plastic chairs and sat down, then Mrs. Randall asked, "Tell me, Marty, tell me what's happened to Jeff. How is he?"
Marty took her hand and said, "Well, he's woke up, but... there's sommat wrong," Marty took a deep breath, then explained, "He remembered me, our business, but he kept asking over and over 'What happened?', 'Where am I?', even though I told him. The doctor thinks it's a concussion, they're doing tests."
Mrs. Randall nodded, holding Marty's hand, then asked, "But what happened, Marty? What happened to Jeff?"
Marty let go of her hand and stood up, then began pacing in front of her, trying to work off a bit of his scared, nervous, energy, "I don't know, but he... the doctors have told me it was an intentional overdose, Mum. I don't understand, how could Jeff do that? How could he and not even phone me? Not even talk to me," Marty stood still, hitting his fist into his hand, "Jeff's me best mate, I..." Marty left off, then began to pace again, "I came back to the office, and Jeff... Jeff was lying there, on the floor, unconscious. We got him here, to hospital, me and an ambulance and crew. I wish I... I want him better... I just want him back."
Mrs. Randall stood and put a hand on his upper arm, holding him still with a light touch, "He'll be all right, I know it."
Marty looked at her, his eyes full of concern, "I hope so."
Sometime later a doctor came out, and not one that Marty recognised. "Are you the family of Jeff Randall?" asked the doctor, as he approached them.
Marty and Mrs. Randall rose and joined the doctor, "I'm Marty Hopkirk, this is Jeff's mother, Anna Randall. Is he all right?"
"I'm Doctor Beckwith, I'm the neurologist assigned to Mister Randall. He has a severe concussion, and we had to reduce the pressure on his brain by draining off some liquid, but the procedure worked and he's conscious and retaining information, which are both good signs. I don't mind telling you, it was touch and go for awhile there, though."
Mrs. Randall groaned at the mention of a concussion, and nearly collapsed. Marty held her upright, though he felt the blood drain from his face at the shock, "Will...will he be all right?" he asked, softly.
"I'm hopeful," answered Dr. Beckwith.
"Can I...can we see him?"
"One at a time, and don't stay long. Mr. Randall needs his rest."
Marty nodded and then turned to Jeff's mother, "Mrs. Randall, Mum, you go in first, he's your son."
"No, no, Marty... you can..." she began to cry.
"No, go ahead, it's all right, really," said Marty.
Mrs. Randall nodded, then walked to the door and entered the room. Dr. Beckwith glanced at the chart in his hands, then walked away.
Marty turned away, as Mrs. Randall and the Doctor left him alone in the hall, he faced the wall, leaning forward, and with tears in his eyes he said, "Why, Jeff, why'd you do this? If it was because of Freya, so help me, I will track her down and tear her apart!" Marty slapped his fist into his palm, then turned around and sat in one of the hospital's plastic chairs. Leaning forward, Marty buried his face in his hands, and softly cried.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Randall came out of Jeff's room, holding a handkerchief to her eye.
"Mum, did he say anything?" asked Marty.
"He was still unconscious, Marty, but he looked so pale and small in that hospital bed. He was unconscious the whole time I was in there, I couldn't... I just wanted to know he heard me tell him how much I love him, is all."
"He knows... and I'll tell him if he wakes up whilst I'm in there, I promise."
Mrs. Randall nodded. Marty helped her into a chair, and then patted her arm reassuringly. "Would you like some tea or sommat before I leave? There's a vending machine 'round the corner."
"Yes, that would be nice, thank you, dear."
Marty nodded, then walked over to the vending machine. He dropped some coins into the machine, punched the buttons, then waited for the tea. Marty leaned his head against the machine and closed his eyes a moment, then straightened up, took the tea out of the dispenser, and returned to Mrs. Randall.
"Here you are, white with double sugars, just as you like," Marty said to Jeff's mother. Marty sighed, then added, "He'll...he be all right, Mrs. Randall, Mum, he will..."
Mrs. Randall sipped her tea, "Of course he will, Marty. I'm all right, go see him."
Marty nodded and smiled at her, then lightly touched her shoulder, before heading towards Jeff's room.
Reaching the hospital room door, Marty had a sense of déjà vu as he took a deep breath and opened the door. He entered the hospital room, and immediately saw more leads and monitoring equipment surrounding Jeff than the previous time he had entered the room. He walked quietly to a chair near Jeff's side and sat down. Taking Jeff's hand, he looked at his pale face and said, "Jeff, man. Why'd you do this? What were you thinking of, me mate? God, Jeff, couldn't you have talked to me, I'd understand, you know that," Marty continued to talk quietly as he rubbed Jeff's hand in his own.
There was a soft moan from the bed, then Jeff abruptly woke up. Marty let go of his hand. "Jeff?"
"Marty, is that you?"
"Yah, of course, Jeff, how do you feel?"
"How ya' think, Marty?"
Marty winced, then said softly, "Do you remember what happened?"
Jeff nodded, then said, "Yah, yeah I do, Marty."
Marty stood next to the bed, and looked Jeff in the eye, "Jeff, whatever were you thinking of?"
Jeff didn't answer, he turned away, facing the wall, and pulled the hospital blanket up to his chin.
Marty groaned, then said, "Jeff, the doctors' told me you intentionally took an overdose. Talk to me, Jeff."
Jeff continued to look at the wall, "That's right, Marty, I did."
"For god's sake, why?"
"Because, because I..." Jeff turned and faced Marty, staring directly into Marty's bright blue eyes, he said, "Cause at the time, I wanted to die."
Marty stared at Jeff in shock, "No! Jeff you couldn't, I mean, what happened? I leave for a week, and everything turns to... Jeff..." Marty's voice broke.
Jeff spoke quietly, "Freya dumped me. She blamed me for her father's disappearance. She blamed me for not finding him."
"I might have known that witch was behind this. Surely, it wasn't your fault, Jeff, and anyway, you'd...you..." Marty looked up at the ceiling, and then back at Jeff, "Couldn't you have phoned me?"
"No, because of the other things she said."
"Which were?"
"That you're not me mate. That you don't care at'all for me, that I just make you look good, that you...that you wouldn't care if I were dead," Jeff turned away.
"Oh, she said that, did she?" Marty said angrily sarcastic, adding, "I'll kill her," under his breath. "Listen, it's not true Jeff, you're me best mate, I do care about you, I'd be lost without you," Marty put a hand on Jeff's shoulder, "Look at me, Jeff."
Jeff turned back and stared into Marty's bright blue eyes.
Marty put his hands on Jeff's shoulders, "Now, listen to me, Jeff. Nothing Freya said is true. I do care about you. If you...if you died, Jeff, I don't know what I'd do. I owe you my life, Jeff. But more than that, you... you're..." Marty looked aside for a moment, then looked directly into Jeff's soft brown eyes, "You're me best mate," Marty let go.
Jeff looked up at Marty, "You mean that," he said simply.
"Of course I mean it. Jeff, I..." Marty stopped.
"It's okay, Marty, it's okay. I'm fine, really," Jeff said quietly, trying to console him.
"You're fine...Jeff you are in hospital, you ODed...intentionally; God, Jeff, I thought I had lost you," Marty turned away, facing the wall next to Jeff's bed, trying to control himself.
"Marty..." said Jeff.
"I need to hear it, Jeff," said Marty, not looking at him.
"Hear what?"
Marty sighed, took a deep breath, and turned and looked at him.
Jeff looked at the naked pain in his mate's eyes, and said, "I'm okay, I... I don't want to... I'm not going to do it again, Marty. I'm glad that..."
Marty moved closer to the bed and sat down, then said, "Just say it, Jeff, please, just tell me."
"I'm sorry I took an overdose and it won't happen again. Satisfied?" Jeff said, pedantically.
"Only if you really mean it, Jeff," Marty answered.
"I do. It was stupid, Marty. I started drinking, and I couldn't stop. Then I thought about me pain tablets, and I took a couple, then I took more. Marty, I dumped the rest into the whiskey bottle. But the whole thing was stupid and best left forgotten. Marty, ...Marty I don't want to die, all right?"
Marty nodded, satisfied, then leant back in the chair he occupied, "Jeff, your mum's outside."
"You called me mum? She came down from Middlesbrough?"
"I had to call her, Jeff, and of course she came down. She loves you, Jeff. I... the doctors weren't sure..., Jeff, I had to call her."
"What does she know?"
"Oh, that the doctors said you took an intentional overdose... I had no choice, Jeff, she deserved to know the truth, I told her everything I could."
"I had best talk to her, then, Marty, but first, thanks."
"For what?"
"For being here, for being me mate, for everything."
Marty nodded, "Jeff, you've given me more than you've ever taken, you understand?"
Jeff nodded, "You can send in me mum, now, I'm ready for her."
Marty nodded, "Yah, Jeff," Marty stood up and put a hand on Jeff's shoulder, "It'll be all right. Everything will be all right."
Jeff nodded.
Marty exited the room, and saw Mrs. Randall rise from her chair and come towards him, Marty quickly joined her.
"Marty?" she asked.
Marty took her hand, "He's awake, I talked to him."
"Thank god, Is he...is he all right?"
Marty looked away, "I think so, I don't know."
"What? Marty, talk to me."
"I..." Marty took a deep breath, then said, "He's all right."
"Marty? Come on, I could always tell when you were holding back when you were a teenager, and you haven't changed, now what is it?"
Marty turned from her, not answering.
Mrs. Randall reached up and put a hand on his shoulder.
Facing away from her, Marty said, "He...he made all the right noises, said all the right things, but... I'm scared, Mrs. Randall, Mum, I'm scared, I'm scared for him and for me. I don't know if I can trust anything he said."
Mrs. Randall nodded, "I'll go speak to him."
"Don't say anything, please, the last thing that Jeff needs to hear right now is that I... I don't completely trust him. Not now, please, Mum, Mrs. Randall, it would hurt him to know that I don't trust him. Maybe hurt him too much."
"Marty," she took him by the arm and spun him around, "Marty, I wouldn't say anything like that."
"It's just... this was so close. I never realised how much Freya meant to him; how much she could hurt him. I have to find her, Mum, I need to..." Marty left off, "I want to trust Jeff, to believe what he said about making a stupid mistake, but..."
"Mistake? He said it was an accident, then?"
"No, that's just it, Mum, Mrs. Randall, he admitted to taking an overdose, on purpose, he admitted it."
Mrs. Randall nodded, "Marty, maybe you should talk to the doctors here."
"No...No, I'm going to find Freya. Someone must know where she's gone. I'm going to find her, and find out...I need to know why she did this to Jeff."
"Freya, what's Freya got to do with this, she must be worried sick!"
"No, Mum, she dumped Jeff...that's why he...oh god," said Marty, turning away again, trying not to let her see he was on the verge of tears.
"She...she dumped him? Oh, no... they'd been together for two years, the wedding is next month..."
"I dare say the wedding's off."
"Marty...I know it's a terrible question, but how was Jeff?"
"He seemed...he seemed okay, concerned about me, actually. He wants to see you, he asked me to send you in to him."
"Then I had better go in. Marty, what are you going to do?"
"I'm...Mrs. Randall, I'm going to look for Freya. I tried her flat and the museum, but there must be someplace else...I'm, listen, can you take a cab to me flat when you're done here? I need to get on Freya's trail before it gets any colder. Here's a copy of the key," Marty handed her a key, "Let yourself in, all right?"
Mrs. Randall looked at him, "All right, Marty, go, find her, investigate if that's what you need to do. I'm going to see Jeff. I can contact you on your mobile?"
Marty nodded, "Yah, the mobile number's the same. I'm not going to the ends of the earth, you know, Jeff will need me here. But if I can just find Freya, or find out what happened, at least, that will be something."
"I suppose," Mrs. Randall put a hand on his arm, "Be careful, Marty."
"I will," Marty waved at her, then left.
Mrs. Randall turned away, steeled herself, and walked into her son's hospital room.