Chapter: 5
Disclaimer: I in no way own anything to do with TLW and no profit is being made from it.
GRAMMAR ALERT: I'll still have grammar trouble, so please bare with me.
Rating: PG-13, for language and violence.
A/N: Please review, don't be harsh, and those who review, I'll list a thank you at the end of the story for your effort. )
(At The Hospital)
After visiting Marguerite, with the reassurance of recovery, Malone and Veronica had to hurry home, as they were consumed with the tabloids and reporters, gazing through the car's window, Veronica asked bitterly, "are all reporters like this?" Ned merely shrugged, "Sadly yes, if this wasn't such a personal issue, I guess I would probably be doing the same." Veronica leaned back, as sleep finally overcame her. Ned grinned as he glanced at Veronica's peaceful state, and whispered soothingly, "It will all be over soon, I promise."
Roxton left Marguerite's side only so he could buy his love a bouquet of flowers. As he left, Challenger finally arrived as he was able to removed himself from the investigation long enough to come for a visit. Since their homecoming, and the recent event, they group had grown in popularity so he had to arrive early to lower his chances of being recognized. He approached the nurse at the desk who was reading a book. Clearing his throat, Challenger questioned, "Excuse me miss." She looked up putting her book down.
"How may I help you sir?"
"I'm here to visit Miss Krux."
"Then I must ask you to sign this." She pulled out a sheet, which required the full name, and relation with the specific patient. Never hearing of such a thing before, He questioned,
"What may I ask Miss that this information is for?"
"It's just incase someone tries to take pictures, you know the media."
"I see what you mean." He finished scratching his chin in thought, as he approached Marguerite's room. Being the strong and stubborn woman that she was, not listening when the doctor told her to rest, she was sitting up, propped up by several pillows while reading, as she took sips of coffee in-between.
"How are you feeling?" Challenger asked sincerely as Marguerite just noticed his presence in the room. "Hi, George, still sore, but much better." Marguerite looked better, than when she was shot, but Challenger couldn't forget the fear and guilt that gripped him, when he saw what he called "one of his children" hurt and lifeless. From living on the plateau for so many years he had grown a bond with his fellow explores that didn't stop when they got home.
"We are still searching for clues on the man who," Challenger hesitated.
"Who shot me?" Marguerite finished, seeing the pain in the eyes of a man she thought of as a father, was almost as painful as the bullet wound she had received, almost.
"But we will find who it is Marguerite, and they'll get what they rightly deserve." Challenger continued with hatred in his eyes. Noticing that the others were no where to be seen he asked curiously, "Where did the other's go?"
Marguerite thought for a moment, "um, Malone and Veronica went home to deal with the crazy media and other things, While Roxton I'm not sure."
"Oh, so do you know how long do you have to stay here?"
She sighed with displeasure, "only one more day, and then I have to go home and get some more bed rest." She said, with disappointment in her tone.
"Well at least you'll be in your own bed, and I thought you would like to lay around all day sleeping, you never had a problem with that while on the plateau." He teased.
"That would be a plus." Marguerite sighed, "But on the plateau, I was able to get out of bed too."
"Well don't worry you get better now," he said staring at his watch, "but sadly I must go to another meeting."
"Why, are you still trying to fund another expedition to the plateau?" Marguerite mocked.
"No, but that's what I should be doing, but you know how our law enforcement works, if I don't get things done, no one will."
"Nice seeing you Marguerite so long." Challenger said as he left, while Marguerite laid back and went back to her reading.
(Malone's Household)
Malone and Veronica got out of their automobile as the press unable to enter the hospital, swarmed the outside of the Malone household, As the press questioned them on the shooting incident. "Mr. Malone was anyone killed?" Malone held Veronica's hand, as if he was going to loose her in the crowed, till he made it to the front of the mob like group. "No, no one was killed." While another reporter asked. "Do you know the currant condition of the bride and groom?" "Yes, yes we do." Starting to feel suffocated, Malone had to get out of there before they could ask him anymore question. "Please no more questions, I will personally put all the information on the incident in the weekends paper, just please leave." Malone demanded, as he dragged Veronica with him as the gates closed to the their household. Which kept the press from getting any further. The two ran into the house and sat down on the nearest chairs, catching their breaths. Malone chuckled. "Things like this make me miss the plateau."
"Me too." Veronica replied, irritably.
(The Police station)
Robert, the little rat he was, walked into the station. But not with a guilty conscience, only greed was on his mind. As he then walked up to the desk counter as a middle-aged police officer was jotting notes on paper. "Excuse me sir?" He asked, as the policeman put his things in a file as he then noticed Robert and walked back to him.
"How can I help you?"
Robert cleared his throat as he asked, "I heard that there was reward money for information on finding the man who fired shots at the Roxton wedding?"
The man thought for a moment staring at Robert in thought, " Ah, yes 10 thousand dollars, that is, if it's accurate information."
Robert only smirked, "I assure you, you'll know were to find him." The Policeman took out a pad and pencil holding the pencil, ready to write. "Fine then what information is it that you have?"
"Today in about a half an hour Gunter Guttenberg is going to the county's hospital to finish what he started." As the policeman hurriedly wrote it down.
In a rush to give out the information, the officer quickly asked, "And how would you like your reward?"
"Cash"
"Well then you wait in that seat, if we get our man, you'll get your reward." The officer called out as he hurried away. Robert then sat in a seat as he put his hands behind head and relaxed as he mumbled to himself, "thank you Gunter, who would have thought your stupidity would be worth a fortune?" While the Policeman at the desk scrambled to give the information the others.
To be continued… don't forget to review, the more I get, the quicker I update )