Chapter 15

Eight minutes later Jackie came back and with a grin commented "You did not get lost then."

Both Paul and Meg laughed but Meg answered "No didn't realise it was so big though."

Jackie chuckled and explained. "It's extended outwards to cater for upstairs and our needs. As you can guess it is good for showering Shep, as long as we shut the door. So Mum, ready to continue?"

Mandy smiled and nodded, knowing the break had done them good, then started. "We are not sure how Ben came over the mountains, whether he was flown to a small airport this side of the mountains or he was driven via one of the passes. Jack found an old unclaimed plane in a small private airport further down the valley, but we could not risk asking too many questions, so we're not be sure whether it is connected to Ben or not, and it has now been destroyed. Whichever way he was transported, it would have been rough for him. They'd hooked him on drugs before they left Seattle so he remembers the highs and the cravings, as well as being in a confined space and movement and what could have been an engine running. Time meant nothing to him, but he does have impressions of having drinks and people laughing, everything is so jumbled we don't know what is real and what isn't, and we can't push him to find out.

How we found him …. It was winter so there was snow and ice, and there was an accident on the road just north of here going towards the Canadian boarder involving a car, a van and a large heavy truck, the type that have space under the container part. He was in the van, which was partly under the truck and the other car had hit the van, so it was a right tangle. Jack was helping getting things off the road, the car was moved and dealt with first, then the truck driver, and the van was left to last because the driver and passenger were obviously dead, and to move it first would endanger the trapped truck driver.

There's a lay-by nearby big enough for a helicopter to hover and pick up, so they flew the injured out and set about moving the truck and the van. You saw what the roads are like, fairly narrow and twisty so it took time, and they had to make the vehicles safe as they moved them. There was no hope of finding anything about the van driver and passenger from the front of the van as everything was squashed and messy. While Jack and another officer were waiting for the flatbed truck to pick the van up, they decided to try and force the rear doors open and see if they could get some information that way. Which was lucky as what they found under debris was a tied up, gagged and blind folded unconscious badly injured male. Definitely not a willing passenger, so Jack radioed the injuries but not where Ben was found and the helicopter returned and he was flown to our hospital, barely alive.

It's a small hospital and rescue centre for the mountains, and because the other casualties had been flown to the other hospital further down the valley, they knew it was a 'call out' job. We have an emergency system that means the equipment is here ready for use and the specialists come in from both sides of the valley. They have helicopters so they were coming in by the time Ben had arrived. Our nurses are specially trained to cope with ordinary nursing, surgery and ICU, but they can also bring in any other staff they think fit. My brother was the Doctor in charge so we had no problem with him, and Jack used his contacts so he could cut the red tape and our unknown male was put into a variation of a witness protection scheme, and the shutters came down around him.

We named him John Doe as it is the usual practice with unknowns and hoped he could fill us in if he lived. If he had died, his DNA would have been recorded and put on a missing person file and questions asked. If nothing found he would have been buried in our churchyard as an unknown, but not forgotten by us or police records."

Mandy paused for moment knowing it was a lot to take, but she didn't want questions so carried on gently. "Derek had it all planned; thankfully one of the kidnappers had written things down so we knew what was going to happen, and followed the plan to the letter. We did not have the names Ben and Derek or Sunset Beach, but we had the others names and addresses, which were of course false and didn't trace back to Seattle either.

Ben came out of his coma towards the end of January and he accepted the name John, but could not tell us much at first. Over the coming months we straightened out his mind … trouble with the drugs and the head injury. To cope with his other injuries they had to keep him still and put him in a frame, … it all took time to heal and of course he had to deal with not being able to walk … as well as the possible deterioration of his condition, due to a small piece of metal near his spine. That was taken out end of June, so July he was flat on his back again … then just recently he has started to get some feeling back in his legs … hopefully he can think about walking again, if not he knows he has a home where he can live fairly independently."

Her voice became gentler, less of the doctor giving family the hard facts, more of someone talking about family or close friend. "We adopted him as one of us, you could say Jack and myself are his guardians as well as his shrink, Jackie and Simon are not only his nurse and legs but close friends. To keep him busy and make him part of the town he's a part-time partner in the computer club, and keeps an eye on shares etc. … But, he has a long way to go both physically and mentally Meg … it's not going to be easy especially with you around.

Mandy gave half a smile adding. "He's got a foul temper, gets very frustrated, tired, goes very quiet for hours … Jackie's nicknamed him her volcano, which just about sums him up … but when he's okay he can be a very charming and gentle person … he might not trust people but people trust him. He tends to hurl angry words across the room rather than plates, after Jackie complained about the mess and the expense! "

Meg could not help smiling at the description, and hoped the gentleness was her Ben, but realised he was right when he said she would have to get to know him as John, and then hesitated as she asked. "Will he be all right?"

Jackie smiled and answered "Hopefully he could be walking with some help by December /January, whether he will be able to walk as much as before I don't know. We've always worked on his leg muscles as best we could, it's his back that needs the work if he is given the all clear. Then perhaps his overall strength will come back as well, but we don't know that either."

Meg sighed understanding things would not have a definite answer and realising an awful lot else said quietly. "He's lost so much, all he's worked for, and everyone was against him … it's so unfair. … … We had no chance." Then knowing she had to know even if she didn't like it, asked. "If they had succeeded what would have happened to him?"

Mandy sighed and smiled looking at the pair gauging their feelings. She reckoned Paul was a bit too quiet, taking everything in and having waves of anger, which she hoped would not boil over into a problem. As for Meg, well she could see her love for Ben and understood the reason for her question, so she answered it gently knowing it would be painful for both of them. "He would have gone to a cabin just outside a small town in the Canadian mountains for a couple days or so, though I doubt he would not have seen or known much about it."

She was interrupted by Meg's gasp of "Where?"

Mandy was surprised Meg wanted that much detail, but answered immediately. "On the edge of the National Park near Milk River why?"

Paul and Meg looked at each other and Paul found his voice, which was steady if a little husky. "We were going there for a long weekend; Val won the trip but could not go!"

Jackie could not help herself and almost bounced up and down as she exclaimed. "Mum!"

Mandy gave a shake of her head at the coincidences that were mounting up, and ignoring her daughter said. "Then you can see why it was chosen. … He would have been just one extra lost soul who wanted to say goodbye to this world in a beautiful place. They had the choice of making him a walker they'd picked up on the way and then dropped off at the chalet, or he was someone who'd hired a car driven to the chalet and done the deed. The jailer who looked like Ben had false documents and would do everything while the victim was hidden till the right time. His actions would provide the proof that the body found later, had been the person alive walking and or driving in the hills. … Also he'd died because he wanted to and not due to foul play. The men would have used the van to move on either in Canada or back to the States, it was a common work's van with tools and things in the back seen around the area.

Ben's body with or without the car would have been found a couple days or possibly weeks later, the fall and or time would have taken care of the differences and people's memories. Obviously it snows so tracks could be lost and the body might have been covered till the thaw. They would have chosen one of very quiet walks for the final resting place. Everything pointed to him being a loner so his body would have been cremated, ashes scattered and a small mention in the paper. There would have been no reason to look any further afield for information or distant relatives."

She paused for a moment to let that bit sink in then added with a slight twinkle in her eyes. "In fact that is what happened and as far as everyone is concerned it all worked well."

At their puzzled expressions Mandy added. "As soon as Jack worked out what it meant, he and a fellow officer made sure everything looked like it actually happened, including an article in the paper about the cremation.

A copy of the paper was sent to a box number as requested in the written notes. If anyone came to check it out the local officers would give the right answers, and quietly take notes or photos then get back to Jack. No one came asking. The bank account belonging to the jailers was wired the right amount so our story was accepted, and as per instructions the two disappeared along with the money. The jailers' remains were cremated and their ashes scattered. The money went into an account to pay for Ben's treatment and set him up here." Smiling she added softly. "Ben got cheeky and got himself a bonus in June."

Meg looked at Mandy thinking about it all, then smiled as the penny dropped and said. "You mean another five million dollars, just after Sammy was born." Mandy nodded and Meg exclaimed with a slight touch of delight. "Oh No! Derek was hopping mad according to Sara, he went to the police but they could not find anything."

Mandy couldn't help smiling either. "I must admit it was dangerous, but Jack and John could not resist it, and nothing could be traced back to us here Jack made sure of that. Derek had the choice he could have left well alone, but he did not and lost."

Feeling slightly better knowing he had got something back, Meg said. "It still isn't fair on Ben, why cannot he live as himself here, it's far enough away surely?"

Mandy nodded and answered. "Someone could get nosy, people are travelling more these days and then it will all suddenly start again. Derek will never stop. John knows it is marginally safer under an assumed name as Derek is not looking for him. He never goes out without his glasses and the grey in his hair gives him a slightly different look, and the wheelchair helps as it disguises his real height.

Of course, he's not been out very much anyway, that will change as he gets stronger or on his feet and we will protect him as best we can. As far as most people round here know, he had a motorcycle accident further down road just as the men were clearing up the other accident, he's lost most of his personal memories so no-one asks him about the past. His money comes from the cheques he was carrying on him, and of course everyone assumes as we are looking after him, he is not a fugitive from the law.

The record of the van in the accident has been changed with police knowledge; they also made sure the insurance claims for the other vehicles went through all right and quickly. He can legally live here as John Smith, his only regret is leaving you and his friends behind, and that has been holding back his recovery."

She paused, then knowing some of Meg's family history said gently. "I'm sorry Meg, but you can not marry him so you can only live with him as an unmarried couple, I don't know how you feel about that? Also you will have to be very very careful if and when you return to Sunset Beach."

Although on one level Meg was still coming to terms with what she'd been learning, on the other level she knew what she was going to do. So her voice was firm when she spoke her thoughts. "I'm staying whatever happens. I can visit everyone on short stopovers, they don't know where I live." she sighed and admitted, "Dad was being a real pain so I gave them an email address and if I need to ring, I ring Casey at the Centre or I can contact my old boss in Seattle. Friends and family have my mobile phone number but I can change that." Cross with herself she gave a gentle huff as she carried on. "I should have realised earlier how much I loved Ben and stayed with him, then things would have been different as we could have fought back together."

Knowing the truth, Mandy reassured her gently, "You had too many things against you Meg, you would have been killed, and remember they tried once on the island. Paul what about you?" she asked waiting for the big bang as Paul had gone back to being way too quiet for her liking.

Paul took a moment to answer, and his voice shook at the beginning, showing his feelings were on a tight leash. "To be honest I feel like going down there and blowing the whole damn place up, people included. But I shall calm down sometime soon, mainly because I understand the reasoning behind it. … And I owe Peter, John whoever, my start in business and life, so yes whatever it takes. Mat's or Robert's organisations might be able protect Meg when she goes to Sunset Beach, and keep an eye on things if she does not want to return at all or between her visits."

"That sounds interesting." Came from the doorway, everyone turned surprised at Jack's quiet entrance as they had expected Shep to bark and bounce his usual welcome.

Coming towards them and looking at the man he didn't recognise Jack asked. "You are?"

"I'm Paul a friend of … um John, but I knew him as Peter when I was in New York." And smiled as he ended.

Jack raised an eyebrow while glancing at Mandy, who nodded and spoke "I have not told them that bit." She found the couple looking back at her expectantly so said. "The name Derek gave John to be killed with was the same one he used in New York. Derek's a tidy bastard."

Paul and Meg were speechless, feeling slight cramping in their stomachs as Jack quickly added in a firm tone, aimed at the man he didn't know rather than Meg. "And a very dangerous one because he's learnt from his mistakes, and is very intelligent and has everything to lose."

Jack then smiled at his wife seeing her silent message, and carried on in a gentler tone. "The door was not shut properly. Shep's with John … they're in the garden area near the stables, he needs a while to think. Simon's dealing with Sandy so should be in soon. … Obviously you've been talking so I take it that means Meg is staying."

Meg nodded and Jack gave a chuckle then carried on. "Good … Jackie could you take a mug of tea out to him and tell him Meg's here."

Jackie nodded but asked, her voice showing her concern. "What's the verdict Dad?"

Jack gave a concerned smile as he answered, knowing he was not betraying his friend. "Good, but I think he's a little afraid … and seeing Meg has quite frankly scared him … scared me too if I'm honest.

The treatment you'll have to start is all in the files on his chair, the workmen will set up some bars in the work area here. They and the other equipment will come late tomorrow morning. You'll have to decide whether to use the 'hard bed' or set up a new one for massage... He is not to twist his back and not to use the brace, so it's handling with great care again. …Which will frustrate him no end … big down point is he will have to close the club till Terry comes back. The specialist thinks doing both will be too much at first, especially as he is feeling pain with the general sensation, and he is not sure whether if its in the mind or physical. So you will both have to work on that too."

Jackie gave a quiet exclamation as she moved to get the drinks ready. "Damn! I forgot about the pain! Why can't he say ouch instead of hiding it? … Which room did they use?"

Jack grinned "The large waiting room, and the specialist brought some new portable equipment with him so John didn't have to be sedated to get the information ... It's nice to see they are learning to come out of their shells a bit."

Jackie laughed, "So he was not quite so stuffy then…"

"No, we had a long chat as well."

"Good. We can keep the cafe part open all right, but none of the staff know computers well enough … perhaps we could find someone who could do it till Terry returns?"

"What kind of help is needed?" Paul asked curiosity working through everything, as well as a flicker of an idea.

Jackie explained. "Kids come in and do school work or play on the games, if they don't have a machine at home. Then there are the adult sessions in the morning and afternoon. This town is too small to have just an Internet café by itself so we run it as club for anyone who wants to join. There are other things going on, such as board games and there's a yard out back for ball games, the other helpers cope with that, it is the computers that need the specialist help which is difficult to get at short notice."

Meg looked at Paul who nodded knowing they both had the same thought and let her do the talking. "We've set up offices in the town further down the valley that's what was so aggravating this morning; we were so close to home when the car broke down. I'm sure we can do something with the computer side of the club, after all we are not due back till sometime Tuesday … I can get to know Ben as John it's what we both need to do. If he needs time I can go back with Paul to work and wait."

Mandy said firmly but gently. "It has to be his choice though Meg, and you understand fully what you are giving up. He can not carry any more guilt for your loss of family."

Jack added, "Meg your sudden change of plans could start something off that will lead Derek here."

Meg kept her voice calm as she explained. "I know it has to be his choice. But I've been moving around recently so it will not come as a shock to the family. … For me … I'm gaining my real life back. Don't get me wrong I would have been reasonably happy if we had driven into Canada etc then gone back to my new home. Paul has a fiancée and I'm helping starting up the new office and finding new friends, but now I have a second chance with him. When we were in the café I felt as though I was coming home and that's something I have not felt in along time."

She paused for a short moment then voiced the truth. "In fact I feel similar to the way I felt when I first went to Sunset Beach in search of a dream, and before my parents came. I know I sank back into my old ways, I will not this time because it's deeper stronger and perhaps I have changed, and understand it and me better. If I visit my family I will be carefully, I can say I'm near Boston whatever I need to! I love John and if that's what it takes to be with him then I'll do it." She got up and smiling at Jackie added. "I'll take him the cup of tea, if you don't mind."

Jackie nodded and smiled, then looked at her parents for confirmation, they nodded and Meg noted the reaction and realised she was not treading on anyone's toes. They had expected it.

While pouring out the two mugs of tea and pushing one towards her father, Jackie bubbled happily saying. "That's fine, send Shep in if there is any trouble. I suggest you stay at the hotel its Mum's workplace and home … that will give you both the space you need. John has an alarm as we have to help him in the night and in the mornings so he will not be alone tonight. If needs be Simon or I can sleep in here, I think it could be a rough night as John has a lot to come to terms with. So don't worry if he turns you away today you can see him in the morning, before we go up to the café and talk things over then. It might be wise if Paul sees John in the morning though, one new face at a time!"

Meg collected the cup and started to giggle as Mandy said to her daughter. "Hey boss boots! Adding with a sigh. "I don't know, suppose that's what comes of having a doctor and police officer as parents."

Jackie looked at her mother in disgust, as her mother carried on. "I want to hear how on earth they came here and no way is John going to be able to sleep tonight not knowing. So, we'll get things in from the car, Paul's can go to the hotel. Meg's can stay here for the moment and we can see about getting something to eat, and you can fill Simon in as well."

Jackie sighed, "Okay, Okay, and you say I'm bossy! … Oh I've got some of Meg's things in the trunk." She smiled as the connecting door opened "Hi Simon I'll grab you a cup of tea and fill you in… Dad unload the car for me and put the things in our downstairs spare room, that way we can move them to the hotel later if needs be."

Jack took the keys his daughter held out to him, and said with a tease. "Oh yeah mother like daughter all the way."

Simon nodded his agreement saying quietly "bossy" having no idea what had been said before.

Mandy and Jackie tried to look innocent, then folded into laughter along with Jack as he went towards the door.

Paul laughed, suddenly feeling better knowing they had found his friend and he had good people around him.