Chapter 11
In the main office/reception area of the Police Station Gabi sat across from Ricardo as he drank his coffee and was trying hard not to laugh. It was not funny really Ricardo had been with Derek for the last couple of hours trying hard to get some sense out of him and not succeeding. Of course Derek had twisted words and played games regarding Ricardo and Ben's past together using Ben's memories to rub salt into the wounds so when Ricardo had come out for a much need break she could almost see steam coming out of his ears. It had not helped matter that before Ricardo started the interview he'd had to explain to the Chief about the shooting because Derek's complaint had gone through putting a different light on the whole proceedings.
Ricardo put his coffee mug down and was just going to spout off again when Gabi noticed Maria coming into the station and called out. "Hi Maria how's things."
Maria smiled she could see the strain on her brother's face as he turned round as soon as Gabi spoke and answered. "Fine, Ben's awake and wants to see you Ricardo not to make a statement just a chat but it is important. How are things here?"
Gabi smiled as Ricardo said heatedly "Oh just fine; you know been hauled up before the Chief and then had great fun with Derek trying to get a statement... It'll be good to talk to the sensible side of the family. ... … Don't look at me like that Maria. You don't know what it's been like this morning! I could quiet happily string Derek up from the ceiling. Ok so Ben and I did not get on after your drowning but at least he was civil about it. I'll just get my things."
Maria smiled and shook her head as she watched him finish his coffee; Gabi came over "What's the joke?"
"Nothing." She could not help her sigh and Gabi gave her another look so she said quietly. "I was just wondering how Ricardo is going to feel after he's seen Ben. No … I cannot tell you I don't know all of it. … Hi Spencer are you joining us?"
"Yeah Ricardo's on probation in case he..." He said it with a grin and was stopped by Ricardo's sharp retort.
"Shut it … you can drive!" To everyone in the room and within hearing distance he said. "If anyone else gives me a phone or shouts don't shoot wrong number! I'll scream!" His tone changed abruptly as he passed the table and asked. "See you later Gabi?"
Maria smiled as the officers in hearing distance suddenly went back to work guessing they'd been teasing Ricardo and knew it was their way of dealing with the guilt a lot of them were feeling having missed the kidnapping so she left it at that.
Gabi could not help grinning as she nodded her reply, knowing a friendly kiss would be wrong and watched them leave then went back to sorting out the pile of paper work, which seemed to be growing by the minute.
oxoxo
In the hospital Meg and Ben were sitting in easy chairs by his bed chatting about the shop, Sunset Sisters she had set up with her sister. Maria came into the room ahead of the others to warn Ben that Spencer was with Ricardo. Ben decided everyone could stay and he would get back into bed and the others could use the chairs. He didn't want to admit it to Meg but he felt safer there.
Ricardo came into the room greeting him cordially commenting that Derek could be a right pain in the ass when he wanted to. Ben smiled wondering what Ricardo would think of him after this. For a moment they silently eying each other as if weighing each other up; they had a lot of history to get past - friendship and anger - and that needed to be put on one side till later.
Ben knew there was not getting away from it and decided to get it over and done with so took a deep breath started. "Thanks for last night and wounding Derek not killing him. This is going to sound weird to say the least ... … I know Derek murdered Tess and I know where her body is... before you say anything Ricardo Derek has not said anything to me by phone."
Ricardo said slowly wondering what was coming. "All right. Let's hear all of it." then admitted. "After the windows at Franklin Street were blown out by nothing and Mama insisting it was a ghost doing it ... I think I'll believe anything."
Ben gave a short gentle laugh and said. "Yes well Tim certainly gets around now he's dead." They all looked at him so he carried on "Okay ... Tim was at the grotto and heard Derek and Tess discussing what they planned to do... Well, one version anyway. Unfortunately Tim knocked something and Derek heard and found him spying after a chase and with Tess's help he killed him, they put his body in the Lifeguard Monument. Tess was affected by Tim's death, because she had started to care for him and also because he haunted her... After finding him in my head I'm not at all surprised!" He smiled as he saw Ricardo's expression and carried on soothingly with twinkling eyes. "Oh it gets worse Ricardo! trust me."
Maria butted in quietly to Ricardo, "And you thought he was the sane one!" he shook his head wondering what on earth was going on.
"Thank you Maria!" Ben said in a slightly hurt tone then looked at the bedcovers as he thought for a moment trying to decide whether or not to tell them about Tim in his dream of Meg pondering how to explain how Tim could communicate with him ' … well he can do it when I'm semi conscious as well, though I could not see him but then I did not have my eyes open either times so'
He suddenly caught the concerned silence and looked and saw their expressions and realized he had said it out loud, smiling sheepishly apologised. "Sorry! I know it all sounds daft... Okay back on track. Apparently Derek intended to kill Tess and Meg then carry on living with Maria. Meg can feel me when we touch so she was a danger to him, knowing him though I expect he kept tempting fate, and then denied anything had happened it was all her doing." He knew he had hit home from Meg's wince and said "Sorry Meg."
Meg gave a brief nod hearing in his voice that he was taking all the blame for his brother actions and smiled hoping he'd understood they would deal with it later.
Ben nodded and carried on. "Tess knew too much and because of Tim's death was likely to let things slip. So he strangled her; her body is in the trunk of a car in the garage block for 137 Southern Avenue. She's with Tim at the moment but her body needs to be found and buried with his. I'll pay for the service and anything else."
Ricardo spluttered and looked at Ben "God! Ben you're as bad as your brother! He's claiming you should pay him for looking after your fortune and family while you've been in Seattle! Called it a learning trip, claims you had it easy first half now it was his turn to have the fortune."
He shook his head and took a breath then carried on "Now you expect me to go get a search warrant to look for a body in a garage, because a ghost told you about it! You've only heard not seen it, and that was when you've been stun gunned! Yeah I can just imagine the Judge's face when I explain it all... He or She will smile sweetly then the doctors in white coats come into courtroom!... He stopped because of Ben's expression and sighed resigned to it all. "Oh go on then!"
Ben hesitated and looked round at everyone and shook his head trying hard to stop the smile that was threatening to take the seriousness out the whole thing. "Umm... Tim said Derek put Tess's things in a truck that was collecting household rubbish in a road nearby. Time wise it was not long after you found Tim's body in the monument; perhaps someone saw my car there. Or..."
Ricardo exclaimed sharply. "Don't! Even go there Evans! I am NOT going to get a search warrant or go to the rubbish tip! Do you know the size and the state of the place!" He paused then carried on thoughtfully. "Come to think of it a padded cell might be nice, with food etc. laid on. No statements to take! ... Or Evans brothers to talk to ever again!"
They all laughed, which relieved Spencer who had nearly curled up in a ball trying to stop himself laughing.
When they'd calmed down Ricardo knew Ben had been serious and exclaimed. "You really think this is true!"
Ben relaxed a bit, recognizing Ricardo's tone and said, "Yes... Meg told me about the windows blowing out at Franklin Street, it was the only thing Tim could do to get the police to act and distract the two jailers. There was nothing in the basement that could be moved to stop Josh, and it did save my life. So if they sack you because of it I will find you a nice padded cell or job at Liberty Corp. But! I'm not paying my brother anything!... I just hope we can trace anything he has shifted. … … Umm Come to think of it, AJ cannot be too pleased with me at the moment all those documents Derek signed... So perhaps we will just settle for the padded cell together or one each!"
Ricardo shook his head smiling and got up to leave saying, "Ok. I'll take Spencer here for a walk with our invisible dog, and casually walk past the garages, find the door open and look in. That way I will not have a cross Judge or have any pissed off ghosts on my hands... There's Antonio... Just in time to join the madhouse brother! ... I'll let you know what I find Ben. Sis, Meg, take care of yourselves. As for you Spencer one word and you're be doing work in the schools for the next year!" To which Spencer nodded and followed him out.
Antonio smiled, greeting his brother in the doorway then sat besides Ben's bed. "Good to see you Ben. What's got him so cheerful! Lost a bet or something."
Ben smiled "Don't worry you will look just as bemused by the time I've finished... I want to know how to send three ghosts over to the other side nicely."
Maria and Meg laughed at Antonio's expression; he looked at Ben then thought for a moment. "You're serious aren't you?"
Ben nodded then said, "I'll start from the beginning as I know it, though some of it is hazy. I think I first met Tim's ghost when I was dreaming of Meg. It was just an impression of him, you know the feeling you get sometimes that someone is watching you but you can't see them. No I'm not going to describe the dream it's too personal and I woke up halfway through. Then I met him ...
xoxo
Tess and Tim had come in on the end of Ricardo's conversation and followed them out of the hospital. They sat in the back of Ricardo's car till it got near the houses then walked with them along the road. They did not listen to Ricardo or Spencer's conversations because they were anxiously discussing the possibility of passing on as soon as the body was found. They could not see why they should stay any longer Ben had been found and Derek arrested and wondered what it would be like and if they would be together. They hoped they would as they'd both found peace and love in each other's company and Ben had not cursed them.
Although the estate was deserted because the houses were considered unstable and needed major repairs, Ricardo kept looking round to make sure no one was there. Spencer was trying hard not to look guilty as he carried a crowbar to open the garage door. They both wore special gloves to make sure they did not leave or wipe off any fingerprints. The sound of the lock breaking seemed to be extremely loud and echoed up the street which was quickly followed by Ricardo's exclamation "Hell it's here!" as he saw the car.
Tim shouted. "He did not believe Ben, Tess!"
"That's hardly surprising!" Tess said then sighed feel depressed realising Benjy would like everyone else hate her for her actions.
Tim immediately turned to her hearing her tone and held her hand in case it was the end and they disappeared, he wanted to be with her where ever that might be.
Ricardo carefully opened the trunk of the car with a tool that could open most car trunks without damaging the lock and lifted the lid. He stood back his head bowed and then radioed it in; Spencer was already walking back to their car ready to seal the area off.
Tim and Tess looked at each other, nothing had happened, still feeling depressed Tess said. "I want to go for a walk, not wait around here I know Ricardo will prove it was Derek somehow."
"Think of somewhere nice and we can go there." Tim suggested hoping it would make her feel better; her aura was flickering showing her depression and it worried him.
Tess said urgently. "No Tim I want to walk as I used to …. I need your company you know that."
Tim nodded and said gently hoping it would lighten her spirit. "Do we have to walk around things or can we take the short cut to the path along the beach or the other way along the cliff top."
Tess giggled "Ok but not through the houses, and mind the dogs."
So they walked along the coastal path stopping every now and then to watch couples and families, eventually making their way back into town stopping at the Shock Wave and Sunset Sisters where they found Meg chatting with Sara and Casey having bought things for Ben. They looked at each other with a single thought and found themselves back at Ben's room. He was by himself, sleeping; Tim went up to him and said a quiet "thank you" without sliding into his mind.
As they left the room Ben stirred muttered "Fine Tim." then settled down again.
They stopped in the corridor and smiled then Tess asked quietly "What now?" it looked as though they'd have time on their hands.
Tim smiled "Out of town I think. Take my hand I have an idea. Remember no history no future worries just enjoy the day."
She nodded and took his hand trusting him completely.