Chapter 14
Meg was silent for the short drive to the car park, her mind was trying to settle on what had happened but implications and questions kept slamming into each other. …
… Why hadn't he called …she had disappeared … He was hurt. … how bad … Jackie had refused to say. ... … He used to call her his soulmate … surely he would have needed her … she would have come. … But she had walked out on him … if she had left home there would have been questions danger to them both … surely he could return to face them now… why the secrecy … was it just so he could recover. … The look he had just now in spite of his words it was love … wasn't it? … Strangely she could feel a deeper love for him …she knew it was not pity. … Had it always been that deep for him? … When he said goodbye in the dream was that …
The movement of the car slowing and turning into the car park brought her back to the present and she saw Paul waiting by the car looking around with his phone in his hand obviously trying to find out where she was.
Jackie stopped her car across the rear of the other one startling Paul as he watched the manoeuvre.
Meg got out, and saw his concern grow as he as he recognised her, realising she must look a wreck she ran her hand through her hair and tried to smile as she walked up to him. As soon as she was close to him she blurted it out in an almost incoherent rush. But he must have understood as she found his arms around her as she cried into his chest and his heard gentle shaky words "He's alive Meg that's the best thing … we can help now … guess neither of us got over losing him."
She muttered as she pushed herself away from him "But he wants me to leave Paul! … I can't … not this time."
They looked at each other for a moment, both mirrored the shock they felt, pale and slightly drawn, her tears running down her face while his eyes were bright with unshed tears.
Paul sighed still trying to get his head round the way things had turned out but when he spoke his voice was gentle and steady. "That's his head speaking … his heart wants you to stay" He gently wiped away a tear from her cheek adding "He kissed you even after you hit him." And then with a grin "He must be a sucker for punishment so we will give him what he deserves."
She laughed shakily and he gently pushed her round to the passenger door opening it and helping her in. Then looked across at Jackie, who had been waiting quietly liking what she saw from both of them, and asked. "Very far?"
"No … back onto the main road drive on through the town, turning right at the police station you cannot miss it and I'll be in front all the way."
oxoxo
Paul kept his thoughts to himself as they followed Jackie's car and turned off the main road by police station, down the shared wide tree lined driveway/lane to a very large hotel with garden and parking frontage. Then they followed the curve of the low garden hedge till they came to a very large barn, converted into two, two storey apartments. Just beyond it was a path and some scrubland then a large stable block which curved round onto the other side of the driveway to join the large paddock which finished up behind the police station, ensuring the barn conversion was private and quiet.
As they pulled up outside the barn conversion Jackie tooted her horn and a lady came out of a side door of the hotel, stopped for a moment then walked through the archway in the hedge towards them, she was obviously Jackie's mother.
Meg and Paul got out looking around amazed at the buildings, also realising the very expensive looking hotel was the one the garage proprietor had given them for their overnight stay. They looked at each other with a grin remembering the instructions they had been given to find the hotel "Drive through the town you can't miss it." That was true as it was a beautiful farming mansion possibly one of the original ones… whoever used to own it most likely owned the land and as well as the town.
Jackie had got out and walked towards her mother with a smile ready to explain but heard her say quietly "Pandora's box has been opened I see." Jackie thought about it and nodded and her mother raised her voice slightly to include the couple. "Well this is a surprise you are Meg Cummings yes?"
"Yes! How did you know?" Meg looked over at Jackie who shook her head to indicate she had not called ahead.
The lady smiled "The garage rang to say we have a couple, needing separate rooms to stay overnight on a repair job … that is the garage's car unless you've been foolish enough to buy the old banger... … No I thought not." She gave a gentle laugh half to herself. "It would never get out of town anyway the shock would be too great for it."
She quietened her voice so only Meg could hear as she carried on. "I assume you've met John as you are with Jackie." Meg nodded and the lady gave a smile. "Must've been interesting, … I'm his doctor, shrink if you like … in his sessions his description of you was very vivid … he has a photo of you but it's not a good one, from a paper and gained over the internet … now he's got the real thing."
She raised her voice to include everyone as she carried on. "I'm Mandy and Jackie's mother for my sins."
Jackie gave a sighing "Mum!" as her mother shook Meg's hand and then turned her attention to Paul. "I'm sorry sir if you feel left out I hope you are a close friend of Meg's."
Paul shook her hand "Yes, and boss but nothing else … I'm Paul and just to make things more interesting I knew Ben/John as Peter in New York. This is going to be very confusing!"
Mandy laughed replying. "Oh to say the least." She looked at her daughter who was smiling like a Cheshire cat and said seriously. "I not kidding Pandora's box for both of them. … I was hoping to get this year over before we faced it. …Guess fate has stepped in let's hope she is smiling this time. Come on we'll set up shop in John's apartment that way no one will interrupt us. … Does Jack know and is he coming over later with John?"
"Yes on both accounts Mum, John's been in a bad mood all day probably because he's had more feeling today as well as nerves. At least we will know whether there is a chance he can walk again ... and now this!" She was stopped by her mother's shake of her head and look and knew she would have to control her enthusiasm.
Shep rounded them up, nuzzling their hands as they walked to the apartment, making them laugh and relax a bit. Once inside Meg was struck by the peacefulness and the layout, it was a complete house on one floor with no dividing walls; the support pillars for the rooms above were at the end of units or by chairs. Low cabinets seemed to act as dividers where necessary with wide areas for the wheelchair to turn or pass in. The windows were large and the door was half glass giving an open but comfortable and homely feel to the living area.
The group made their way over the lounge area where there were three sofas making a rectangular shape, along the wall and window were bookcases, the TV with a CD/radio player, CDs and fire, which was unlit at the moment. Meg realised it was a very good imitation one and beside it on the wall at waist height was the control panel along with another panel, which she presumed controlled the curtains as well as a red button. It intrigued her as she saw another one on the far wall and near the kitchen unit … call buttons perhaps. Everything was at the right height for Ben's use; she stopped herself and re thought it … at John's height this was his home, life and independence.
A thought struck her and voiced before she stop could it. "Will everything have to raised if John can walk?" She was looking at cooking unit, which was near the centre of the apartment, a sort of focal point, reminding her of the open plan restaurants, only this one you could see the sink unit, washer etc as well.
Jackie was at it getting drinks and cakes and answered. "Yes it's an easy job though as these were specially made so we can raise them either from the top or bottom. The cabinets are the same and we'll just add higher shelves to the bookcases on the walls."
Paul gave a low whistle of recognition. "Val's work!" … They looked at him so he went on …"Done in January I was flitting between this area and Boston before I went to Australia she said it had to be done quickly and kept private, which it was." He sat on the sofa facing away from the door and Meg slipped in beside him.
Mandy gave a smile and Jackie giggled saying. "He can't fight it Mum! … …You were saying the other day things go round in circles. Guess this one just met up with its other end."
Mandy chose to ignore that bit as she had been talking about fashion at the time and called across. "I had some soup and sandwiches put in the fridge in case John was going to be late back we can use those later, this is going to take a while."
Meg looked around and realised there were no stairs to the higher level. "No stairs I thought there were windows..."
Mandy took one of the trays and put it on the table then sat on the sofa facing the unlit fire as Jackie answered. "We thought that might come later … there's a hatchway already made in the ceiling it just needs taking out and stairs fitted. It will go in the gap by the bathroom. I should warn you the bathroom has special automatic doors and it's like the rest one big room with everything in it, the shower floor is slightly slopped for drainage otherwise we would get flooded." She gave a little laugh "We still do … I don't know which is worse Shep or John! … Umm … the door at the bedroom end goes through to our apartment, which does have an upstairs; we use the door for easy access to John, day and night … so you could say this is all one big apartment really.
The room is wired on an intercom system which is also connected to Mum in the hotel as well as the red emergency buttons on the walls and by the bed, John has one a personal one on him as well. It means we can give him some space to himself when he wants it. The area beside the bed is for medical use, at first we had a special hospital unit there and the lounge area had the nurses' beds in it. The hoist over the bed is so we can move John easily … hopefully he will be able to use it himself now he is getting stronger and more mobile. The dinning area by the door speaks for itself … general dumping ground as it is so near the door."
She came over to the lounge area with the other tray and put it on the table then looked back at the door and clicked her fingers. Shep just looked at her and stayed lying beside it; she shook her head and sat beside her mother sighing. "Guess he'll move when his master comes back or his stomach grumbles."
Meg smiled remembering the dog they had in Kansas and accepted the cup of tea Mandy handed her and settled back with nervous excitement or dread she was not really quiet sure which.
Mandy said quietly "I don't know what brought you here but what I do know is John would have found you eventually if things carried on the way they are … he does not know when to quit, he's proved that and you were the one thing that kept him alive. His brother allowed him to keep a photo of you with him but unfortunately it was taken away from him near the end … He believes in your love for your family and how that affects you and them, so you will have to think very carefully before you make up your mind. … You must put aside any feeling of guilt about not knowing of the switch between brothers … your lack of knowledge is the thing that has kept you, your family and friends alive and will do so. In this case Meg, knowledge is deadly."
Meg shivered at her words and nodded.
As Jackie took her own cup of tea she butted in her enthusiasm bubbling up to the top and over. "Mum you should have seen them in the café … Meg came in wanting to plug her laptop in to tell the hotel about the car breaking down … can you believe it … then John came down the passageway … talk about stunned …no it was electrifying … one moment they could not believe their eyes, … Meg got angry thinking he was Derek and hit him. … He took it and held her hand and kissed her fingers looking into each other's eyes … they knew each other. I mean really knew each other Mum! … I've never seen him look that way before … it was so amazing then he told her to leave … but I could see his heart was not in it. Meg needs to know everything in spite of your confidentiality rule … you know he will not talk about it. She's not going Mum!"
Mandy gave her daughter 'a look' to make her cool down and nodded then smiled across at Meg who she could tell was feeling embarrassed now she knew some of the truth and said reassuringly. "I'm not surprised at that reaction Meg … you thought Ben was at Sunset Beach living happily with his wife and children and Derek was dead even though his body had never been found. … It must be a big shock seeing him. … Jackie wouldn't recognise you because John never discussed you in great detail as he did with me, … though your name would have cropped up because of his nightmares.
He knows our sessions would remain private in spite of our closeness. He's lost his trust in people Meg so only gives as little as necessary and only when he is sure of his ground and it's not too painful for him. … Thankfully he trusts our family, though you could say it was through necessity at first but now I think it is some thing stronger. He uses Jackie and Simon as a kind of buffer to the outside world, … they are his future I am his past and Jack is a slight mixture of both until now we have not really mixed them together..."
Jackie butted in as she suddenly remembered. "Oh! Mum … Dad mentioned something about Benjy being Maria and Derek's that shook Meg."
"Aah" Mandy exclaimed as she looked from her daughter to Meg who nodded confirmation. She saw a look in Meg's face and eyes and knew she needed confirmation before carrying on. "You're going to stay regardless of what you hear."
Meg nodded her thoughts and feelings had gradually grounded since she had arrived, 'the coming home' feeling had strengthened and she knew she could and would find away to explain her absence to her father without hurting his feelings or burning her bridges ... Ben ... John would not want it any other way and said. "I can work with Paul and wait if needs be … things have changed at home."
Mandy had got the confirmation she wanted and started gently but firmly. "You must not pity him Meg whatever happens. Like I said just now its Pandora's Box we don't know what will happen because by being here you mix his past with his future in one go. …He is still coming to terms with them both … In one of our sessions I asked him if there was anyone he felt he could still trust he named you and Casey, so I know I will not be breaking that trust, Jackie will have to know because she and Simon will have to handle the fall out … you Paul I will have to trust never to say anything to anyone outside this room unless we say so."
Paul nodded his understanding while Mandy paused and took a sip from her drink letting what she had said sink in; she knew there was going to a lot of heartache to come. "Right I'll go over things, I'll try and call him Ben for now but otherwise it is best to call and think of him as John, it's his name, as far as he is concerned Ben is gone." She thought for a moment and said gently "He's put all his past memories in a special place … not totally forgotten … it's not been easy for him Meg … now with you around he will bring them out. Perhaps it might be wise to keep them to this room and even then refer to him as John so you don't get caught out. … People here must not realise you have a past with him or questions will be asked.
From the sessions with Jo… Ben I know his brother Derek though twisted is very intelligent and has learnt from his mistakes. If he has the slightest idea his plan failed then everyone who Ben cares for in Sunset Beach will be hurt or die as well as Ben. Derek is quite capable of it especially as he has so much to lose now. Make no mistake he is a very dangerous person and that is why Ben must stay dead. … I expect Derek has been paying less obvious attention to you over the previous months but once he sees you are settled and happy he will want to find out who it is and where … if you just disappear he will try and find you … unfortunately he has the money to do so. So we will have to think of a very plausible cover story based in truth but that can be for tomorrow."
She turned her full attention on Paul, who had been quietly sizing her up wondering if he should say anything and she spoke to him just before he decided what he wanted to say. "Paul, you met him as Peter in New York, he gave you the club and disappeared."
He nodded Mandy paused then carried on. "He valued your friendship deeply, he needed you as much as you needed him … two lost souls for a while … He disappeared because he saw Derek in the city and knew for your sake and his own he had to move on immediately. Briefly, not long before he met you, he left his home and family, there was a friendly agreement he should live in America and Derek would have the family firm and live in England. They were a well off family so Ben was given his part of his inheritance early … unfortunately Derek took some of it in payment for his parents safe keeping, and told Ben never to contact his parents or return home again in return he would leave him alone. … Apparently his parents thought Derek might do something like that so allowed for it and although not obvious they said their final farewells to Ben then.
He came into America using his own name then changed it immediately hoping to disappear in the big city; he was not ready to move too far away from his home country even if he could not go back. His parents died while he was working in New York … a notice was put in their local paper, a copy was sent regularly to a box number … Ben arranged for someone pick it up and send it on to him so Derek could not trace him that way. By the time he found out he knew Derek would be off the leash and sure enough Derek came after him … he never received the rest of his inheritance Derek took it to fund his schemes. The whole experience shook him so much he never returned to England not even after he thought Derek had died. … He knew changing names had not worked so he kept his name and hoped Derek would get tired of the game and leave him alone."
She paused seeing Paul nod slightly as things fell into place and brought the story forward. "As for Sunset Beach well he had nowhere else to run, in front of him was the Ocean, you see his brother had not got tired of the game, just got better each time. … Like a stalker using odd threats, midnight phone calls etc every time Ben show signs of settling down. Nothing so drastic as attempted murder or accidents not even a letter … there were times when Ben found he had withdrawn an amount from his account usually at a time he had no witnesses to say he could not have done it himself. So he knew his brother was around and had exacted payment. … Of course Ben knew the impossibility of trying to find prove it was his brother … you would have to restrict one brother, even lock him up till the other one was found. … As Ben would have made the accusation he would be restricted leaving Derek to disappear for months or years or till it was dropped then everything would be back to square one again. So he ran to protect his friends and himself … it was second nature to him, Derek was the dominant twin the one in control.
To Derek … Ben was a money making machine, he wanted more so the machine needed to be somewhere stable for a while and then when the time was right he would move in for the whole lot."
Mandy paused for a moment; from their body language she knew Paul and Meg were uneasy and things were not going to get any better.
"Sorry Meg this is going to hurt, but it is in the past and nothing can change it. ... … Derek knew the kind of women his brother liked after all he had pinched them off him enough times when they were growing up. … … So unknowingly Ben fell out of the frying pan into the fire when he arrived at Sunset Beach, he believed his brother to be dead and decided to put his family to rest only mention his parents if really pushed. He relaxed found he was accepted as a shy foreigner who would listen and help. He met Annie knew her type and then he met Maria … her beauty and charm as well as her willingness to stand up to her brother about Ben's need for privacy got his trust and love. …… I hesitate to use the word love on Maria's part she saw him as a good catch … the kind rich handsome stranger … and she knew just how to play him … he was vulnerable after his brother's death and wanted a family's warmth. Unfortunately for him just when he thought he found happiness and a family as well as somewhere he could now call home the trap was slowly closing around him.
With hindsight we know Derek did not die in fact he was in Seattle with Tess, they were a couple then; it was only after the supposed drowning that things changed and Tess sensibly stepped aside accepting money as a reward, I think you can say Tim came as an added bonus."
Meg gave a quiet gasp and shiver as she listened, Paul stayed quiet but edged a bit closer to her, Jackie silently watched the couple and understanding a lot more about her patient and her parents love for him.
Mandy waited a moment then carried on. "We know the three of them arranged everything that happened from then on. Things did not always go as planned but their money machine was still healthy, working and could be taken again when required. Derek loved watching his brother go through hell … as far as he was concerned the worse things got the more his brother made. … You see it was meant to have been Ben who drowned not Maria, not that she did either, but he survived thinking he had lost someone he loved so lived the only way he knew when he had been hurt. … Closing down part of himself and building up the barrier between him and the world, then start up a new chapter … each time it took longer to recover and he was less willing to trust the world around him. You came along Meg and he surprised himself by opening his heart, you made him feel safe enough to move on and even possibly reveal some of his past to you, so it was time for his brother to move in again.
Derek was given the golden opportunity when Ben bought the island for you. You, Mark, Casey and Tim were meant to be the victims, serial killer at large … numbers did not really matter as long as he got some the prime targets. If he had got them all Ben would have been left alive but heart broken from the loss, Maria would have turned up saying her memory had just returned, then Tess and Benjy would have been introduced and explained. Maria and Tess would have thrown up a protective curtain around Ben and some when a long the line Ben would have quietly disappeared and Derek would have taken his place."
Meg sat listening in disbelieve and yet taking it in and feeling shivers run through her body, unconsciously glad Paul was beside her.
"It did not quiet work out so Derek kidnapped Ben in the warehouse and tried to get the account codes while fooling you and hurting Ben at the same time. He underestimated his brother's love for you and his determination in the fight … luckily Casey came along and found Ben but not Derek who was also unconscious in the other room." Mandy smiled "That could have been interesting … but unfortunately Ben was never well enough to warn anyone or protect himself from the other kidnapping when Derek took you to the cabin. I think Derek was rather taken by you especially at the cabin. I don't know what would have happened if he had left with you … instead you gave him a headache and the knowledge there was something very special between you and his brother. As you know he tried to take Ben with him when he fell down the cliff luckily Ben managed to get back up but unfortunately Derek bounced into the water floated to safety, and then went back to Seattle.
While that was going on they lost Maria because of the accident at Dana's Point, her memory loss was real but only for a time … Derek had been injured in the fall so Tess and Derek put things on hold, they kept an eye on things in Sunset Beach and when Maria did not manage to get back into the marriage Tess and Benjy were used as extra leverage as well as getting them in place for the final move. Maria's play for the divorce was timed to coincide with Tess and Benjy turning up it was to heighten Ben's guilt and help put Maria in the right light as far as other people were concerned. … Especially you Meg … you were known to respect 'the family unit' it would also add an extra barrier between your family and Ben. There was an added advantage because Derek knew his brother had been trying for a child with Maria so falling in love with Benjy would be the twist he wanted. … Tess and Maria arranged Benjy's kidnapping hoping it would start the crack in your relationship with Ben. … Knowing that Benjy was Maria's and Derek's nearly broke Ben, but he found a safe haven in his love for you Meg and it helped him through it all."
Mandy paused for a few moments to have a drink and to let everyone take in what they had heard. Meg sat looking at the table her mind spinning, she ran her fingers through her hair as she pushed back the idea she had about Benjy and everything around him because of Ben's letter and said shakily. "Surely Ben's headaches would have warned him, if Derek had been around Sunset Beach after the supposed drowning."
Mandy said gently. "Meg, Derek did not need to be there they had Carmen to rely on … how else would Derek have known about the island and have someone to stir Ben all the time."
Meg gasped in disbelief. Mandy ignored her for the moment and carried on. "We are not sure whether Ricardo was involved or whether he is a victim of his mother and sister's deceit. We know Antonio is not involved."
Meg exclaimed sharply. "Oh No! Surely not! He's a good cop he's had to fight Carmen to stay with Gabi." Suddenly realising the full implications what had been hinted at earlier. "You're saying she was in it from the very beginning! "
Mandy nodded. "When Gregory Richards first introduced Ben to Sunset Beach she had made the first move everything was done carefully they did not want to spook Ben. Gregory was not in on it either … he was played like the rest, he all ready knew Carmen and respected her and her family. Derek stayed in Seattle most of the time with Tess; I suspect he visited occasionally but kept his distance and made sure there was no twin connection made. Ben had headaches just the same as anyone else, the ones Derek gave him were worse because they did not go away, so the odd short one did not warn him at all. I would not be surprised if Derek had some kind of control over the headaches anyway."
Meg tried to understand it and said quietly almost to herself. "So Carmen knew Maria was alive and was in touch with her, how would she know about the island? He was so secretive about things."
Mandy answered gently. "Yes she was in touch gave them reports, no doubt Maria was when her memory returned. I don't think Ben realised how much influence his name had with people, he would never have consciously taken advantage of it and money is a very powerful inducement anyway … ... Meg, Carmen deliberately changed when Maria disappeared; she turned to the cards to give her the cover she needed. She knew about the island because, the wife of the owner was a client of hers. People talked to her, answered her questions without realising what was behind it, she could drop hints about Ben and people would pass them on etc. She could talk about Maria being alive knowing it would get back to Ben keep him on edge and she could stir Ricardo up when necessary especially around the anniversaries of Maria's so called death."
Meg shivered visibly but managed to keep quiet as Mandy continued.
"From what I know of Ben he has always been self contained. He hates talking about his childhood so it's extremely sketchy but he told me that around the age of 5 he was taken to his grandparents, Derek was not with him. I suspect Derek over stepped the mark unfortunately Ben ended up in hospital because of the separation. They must have realised he was dependant on his brother so he went back to his parents. There must have been ground rules because they lived as a family, goodness knows how the parents managed, and Ben went to University and made money. We have to remember that their way of living as a family with Derek around must seem strange to us … but it was right for him he's got no trace of being deprived of love from his parents. Somehow they must have managed Derek's hate of his brother or perhaps Derek hid it from them till they were adults."
Mandy paused and got herself another drink, knowing this bit in some ways would be worse because Meg had been taken in by the charade. She walked back to her seat everyone else had taken the opportunity to make themselves comfortable knowing there was more to come.
"As for going to Seattle that was also part of their plan, Tess made sure her behaviour alarmed him enough to do something himself, but not enough to involve anyone else. Maria also gave a push when she pretended she wanted to go to Seattle then decided against it. The million-dollar scheme you and Sara heard about through Tess and Tim was also part of the plan, she knew it would get back to Ben through you or Sara and if need be could be used in several ways to get money. Oh by the way Tim was not involved in all of it but he was involved in a charade played out at the Casita."
Meg looked at Mandy with added interest her mind was spinning guessing what was coming.
"Ben didn't know about it till his brother bragged about it … he knows there was a lot of fall out from this for you and him. I think you both went down your own black holes and crawled out the only way you could, unfortunately Ben was pushed in the wrong direction and bulldozed into help he did not need." Meg nodded as things began to add up and Mandy carried on gently not wanting to make things too public. "Tess gave Tim things from the house so he could dress the Casita up to tell a lie, Benjy unwittingly played his part and it all helped to break your love for Ben and widen the rift between you which was never allowed to close. Ben regrets his actions you know that don't you and he understands and accepts yours."
Meg nodded and wiped away a tear, which she could feel trickling down her cheek.
Mandy gave her a moment then carried on. "Ben wanted to clear things up, but he saw his future slipping away from him no matter how hard he tried to keep you. Having lost his family he wanted to keep both his Sunset Beach families, one lot as future in-laws the others as friends because of his son, and understood your father's fears and your love for them. He knew to be accepted by Hank he would have to come to his new family with his old family completely settled. Unfortunately you left him and for obvious reasons he could not split his friends and he'd lost Gregory who he might have talked to as he could not talk to Antonio. So he had to face it alone, which was of course second nature to him.
Derek kidnapped him on the day he arrived in Seattle. Ben managed to look round the hospital and was going to look at Franklin Street. If he had made it to see the register of births, which he had planned to do … the truth would have been out and a phone call to the police would have settled everything. … He would have made sure you were safe before Maria and Tess were arrested but of course he did not know about Derek who would have no doubt disappeared. Perhaps Maria or Tess might have betrayed him to make things look better …who knows? But he didn't get there and his brother told him everything later.
As you have gathered the twins have the same DNA, Derek is the father and Maria is Benjy's mother that must have worried them for a while because they can have different DNA. Benjy is about four months younger than marked on his birth certificate, that's another reason for the delay they had to make sure all the checks had been made and Benjy could just be thought of as a shy young boy. Apparently Maria had been using birth control when she was with Ben I don't think she wanted the competition of a child. Anyway Maria became Derek's love interest after the so called drowning and as I said Tess stepped aside knowing she was safe as she had been Derek's partner and was willing to take the money." Mandy's voice cracked so she drank her tea as she did so there was a tense silence in the room.
Meg felt like screaming but all that came were tears and then sobs as she tried to breathe as she remembered all the pain they had been through and how Ben had loved Benjy. She felt Paul's hand on her shoulder and accepted his support as Mandy carried on.
"Ben was kept in a basement in chains no comforts at all and with two jailers to make sure he did not escape. Derek was prepared this time, they were paid half a million dollars then and five million when the whole thing was completed. One was similar in looks and build as Ben, which was important for later on; the other was a friend of Derek's and owed him a debt. Derek drugged Ben to get all his memories and left him in Seattle as insurance; in case he wanted a body he could call Derek. Before he left he told Ben everything including his future plans.
Ben's main worry apart from everyone's safety was a letter he sent you Meg explaining his true feelings and how it could endanger you or your families lives. Derek knew about it, and wrote you another letter hoping it would cancel out the first."
Meg's voice was shaky, "I received Derek's letter all right, and it worked if it was meant to keep me away from him. Ben's was delayed I opened it when I was working in Boston not long ago. … I realised I had driven Ben away! …" She was silent for a moment hurting and furious for herself and Ben then exclaimed. "You mean Derek told Ben everything then left him knowing he was to be killed when it suited Derek! … …Now Derek's going to get away with everything!"
Mandy's voice was gentle but firm. "Meg as long as Derek thinks his reason to hate is dead … he will leave everyone in Sunset Beach alone and get on with his life … to be honest I don't think Derek realises the danger he is in…"
Meg hit back not letting her finish. "No danger at all by the sounds of it Mandy! … They are evil surely something can be done, Ben could go and face his brother! We can make a case before he gets to Sunset Beach! I can testify! Paul can help!"
Mandy was not surprised by this reaction and kept her voice firm. She had not wanted to give her all the facts but Meg needed to know just how Derek worked. "No Meg. Derek knew the only way to bring Ben down was to take everything away from him, he had learnt by his mistake in the warehouse. He did not use drugs to kidnap Ben he used Ben's respect for life and reluctance to see anyone else hurt. He knew Ben would rather die than be kidnapped again or let his brother win. Derek could not risk that … without information into his brother's accounts he would be back to the warehouse situation. … Ben never let Maria anywhere near his financial deals so she could not be the way in he had hoped and as far as Maria knew you didn't know either so they could not use you."
Meg silently gulped at the thought letting Mandy carry on.
"Derek had been told which plane Ben was on and had the two men follow him. Derek knew Ben had a soft spot for Benjy, so he set things up near the house in Franklin Street. … Ben had little warning of his brother's presence, he'd had a mild headache but he told me he had that mixed with an uneasy feeling ever since he left Sunset Beach and put it down to stress, which was understandable. The first he knew differently was when a man came up beside him and pointed his brother out by name while the other man came towards him, to anyone looking on it was just three men meeting and talking. Derek was a little way away and across the road talking to a woman while holding a young boy, the boy was younger than Benjy and enjoying the attention. Unknown to the mother but so Ben could see Derek had a small knife in his free hand ready to use it to kill the child if Ben decided to make a fuss, of course the mother was in danger as well … Derek could not leave any witnesses.
Ben understood the intention and knew the threat would be carried out so had to give himself up to the two men beside him and allow himself to be handcuffed to one and walk quietly to Derek's house in Franklin Street. … It was a simple but powerful way to start stripping Ben of everything he was. … Derek stayed with the group till he knew Ben was in the basement … after that he took his name and everything else away from him, making Ben earn his food and water by compliance and silence. He had no right to privacy or silence around him either, one false move and it was taken away from him or he was beaten. There was also the knowledge of a threat over everyone at Sunset Beach.
Derek knew Ben could chip away at the jailers ... get them to turn … so made he Ben a thing worth five million dollars not a person who could pay for freedom. The jailers could not turn against each to get the five million instead of the two and half each there were rules and they had to follow them in order to get the money. One wrong move by them and it was gone and they would be left facing serious charges and death.
Because of what happened to Ben he cannot travel, it's not a simple phobia that can be worked through, it's there and he has to accept it and so does everyone else. We had to put him in an ambulance not long ago, he closed down and his heart stopped in seconds … we were lucky to get it going again. That's why he travels as he does, possibly in future he can ride a horse but that will depend on what he finds out today and if he walks. He does not like lifts or small rooms hence the apartment, stress triggers nightmares etc so we keep things calm, he is still recovering from his ordeal. As for confronting Derek even from jail he could make life hell for Ben, it would go through every court Derek could think of and Ben could not do that. I know its wrong but this way Ben knows he can live here as safe as he can be and he deserves that chance."
Mandy paused she could see Meg shaking from what she had heard and wondered whether to leave the rest, Meg looked at her and sensing her indecision and gave a little nod, in that moment Mandy realised Meg need to know the whole truth and carried on. "Meg, Derek fabricated a few lies about things happening in Sunset Beach one was your relationship with Casey … Ben believed you were engaged to be married. … When he nearly died in the accident he had what we call an experience … he visited you and said goodbye to you. … He saw you asleep on a sofa somewhere he did no recognise. He had been on drugs …"
Meg remembered the dream and softly interrupted. "No, it was not the drugs if it was just after Christmas. I was sleeping on the sofa in my apartment and I felt him say goodbye to me. Go on I need to know everything!" She ran her fingers through her hair, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself and rested back feeling Paul silently beside her.
Mandy knew that Meg was stronger than she looked and understood how Ben lost his heart to her. "Okay … Ben was kept isolated regarding time and exact dates of things. Derek had photos taken of you and Casey together looking at a ring outside jewellers, and just to prove Ben was not missed there were events showing everyone mixing in having fun, as well as his own family group. There was also a newspaper article, which was dated to give it authenticity, it showed your engagement to Casey giving details of the celebration and the writer was a friend of Ben's so he would know it was real. It was in fact Sara's engagement to Casey the article and photo had been altered but you could not tell it was fake …it was done on the right paper … so you see he can be very devious.
Instead of hurting Ben it brought comfort but he never showed it to his jailers as far as they were concerned Ben was very distressed. He did feel sorry for Sara, as he knew she loved Casey very much. … When Ben visited you in the experience he saw your wedding dress hanging on the wall he did not recognise the apartment and assumed it was a friend's so you and Casey would be separate on the night before the wedding. Nor did he know the person who disturbed you."
Feeling hot and cold at once Meg gasped, "He saw my bridesmaid's dress for Michael and Vanessa's wedding and Simon on the stairs. I had it again a while ago but this time I was watching it all and saw Ben as he stood over me."
Mandy smiled as she shook her head in amazement and carried on. "Jack and I ran checks about Sunset Beach on the Internet we could not go closer because of Ricardo and found out you were not married to Casey and realised Derek had forged your sister's engagement party article. As you can imagine Ben is very pleased for Casey and your sister. Because you seemed to have made a new life for yourself and was seeing someone Ben decided it was best you never knew about him. He did not want to be a burden and have you live away from your family keeping secrets nor did he expect them to leave Sunset Beach after everything they have been through. … Of course if they and you suddenly moved it would have warned Derek something was up and he would have started looking for the reason. … He will not to put any pressure on you to stay no matter how much he wants it. You will have to give up a lot and so will your family if you are separated from them."
Meg nodded she felt battered and swamped by the information but knew she was staying if he wanted it, if he didn't she'd have to find a way of converting him. She knew the hardest part would be to prove to him it was not out of guilt or pity that influenced her decision. And then somehow eventually she might be able take the guilt from his shoulders as well.
Mandy was about to carry on when Jackie said quietly "I need a five minutes break Mum." Without waiting for her mother to agree she got up and pressed a button on the panel on the walls and the curtains quietly closed.
Meg decided to take advantage of the break and got up.
Jackie called back as she made her way to her own apartment "The orange button next to the door on both sides lets you in and out Meg … don't get lost in there though."
Meg looked at her for a second and realised her unasked question had been answered though she was puzzled about the getting lost part and made her way to the bathroom.