Chapter 9

Time passed, and the prisoners were questioned without any result, which didn't surprise the questioners but they knew the men were unsettled that they knew their names and were going to search the house in Seattle.

In the town the sunny day carried on with its usual ups and downs for people. The family arrived from Seattle checked in and found their space on the beach and started to enjoy themselves. In Sunset Sisters although business was good, Sara silently cursed her sister for suddenly bowing out, especially as Emily could not cover so she had to restock and be at the cash till which meant little time for food or chatter. Her mind wasn't helping her either as she didn't quite believe Casey's story of a friend being injured in last night's crash needed her all day. Part of the day yes, but there was sleep time and doctor time so she could be back help her, not only that Casey wouldn't say who the friend was and that really niggled her ... male or female, old love new love?

It was nearly lunch time when Casey, came to see Meg as she sat with Ben. He came in quietly and called her name tucking his distress away from her knowing he had to be there not only for her but for Ben as well.

She turned and smiled and said with a large hint of hope. "You know he's getting stronger, his heart beat is regular the alarm has not gone off for quite a while." It turned to a mixture of worry, disbelief and anger as she carried on. "How are we going to cope? ... It was all a set up. ... How could she have been so cruel? ... I left him there with..."

She broke off as he silently handed over the big white teddy he had been carrying, she gave a half smile of thanks now close to tears and tucked the teddy down besides her, wondering how he knew she needed it.

Casey put his hand on her shoulder, seeing how it was all affecting her and hoping he could give her the reassurance she needed saying gently. "At least we know what happened, he's going to get through it and we will face it together, all of us, this time." He went round to her side and sat on the chair beside her and carried on. "You are his rock, Maria was right in that. You will be strong enough and we will all be there, friends and family to help. I brought you these." He held out her engagement and wedding rings. "You should wear them. You are his wife."

She looked at him in surprise and as a couple of tears escaped she wiped them away.

Casey carried on knowing she needed to think forward not backwards. "John, Tyus and I have had a council of war. I told them all I knew and we think that it can be proved that Maria married Ben under false pretensions and a judge may give an immediate divorce and/or the church may say it never existed. In any case you have more right to wear them … he would want you to!"

She smiled, put them on and told Ben what she was doing, then gently put Ben's hand over them hoping he could feel them and somehow understand that this time nothing was going to separate them.

In the darkness he had found what he was looking for. He could not hold it or see it, ... just knew that he had found it... and if he followed the feeling it would get stronger... and then perhaps the darkness would go.

John came and joined them to explain that Casey would show Rick where the gallery was and hopefully they would be able to trace Maria's account. Seattle agents had searched the house and found evidence of Ben being there, also some female's clothes - possibly ones Maria took with her. They were going to check some video tapes found there in case they showed Ben and Derek together, which would prove that the brothers were there together one a prisoner the other as captor . Otherwise Derek could try and claim he was being threatened by the other two and was a victim or he didn't know anything about it. He could feel the tension building up and told them the agent would bring the evidence that afternoon and told him to commandeer a plane if one wasn't due in.

Glad it raised a smile he carried on to explain that they were seeking any evidence of bank accounts in Seattle, as well as evidence of what the group did in the past years and anything Maria might have taken from Sunset Beach to prove it was premeditated. The audio tape would be enough to arrest them and possibly freeze the accounts. It would then have to be proved that the businesses and accounts were Ben's so until he recovered enough to do so the Judge would appoint a special accountant who would run things.

Seeing shock building up he added quickly that they were planning to have a judge, the DA at the Shock Wave for the actual arrests to stop any chance of Maria or Derek using Ben's money to defend themselves and they'd record everything for the trial. And so Derek and Maria wouldn't be surprised to see them at the Shock Wave his agents were going to go round town with video cameras.

Although Meg gradually caught up with all the information she was horrified that Ben might have to prove his fortune was his and his brother would twist things exclaimed. "How do we prove it? We know it's his! What does he live on till then."

Tyus had come in quietly to check everything was alright, and reassured her. "It will be statements from friends, and lawyers etc. As his doctor, I've officially identified him to the Officers here so we know he's not Derek but we are officially keeping him here as John Doe with no address. Technically as his wife Maria will be his legal guardian and she will have legal care we don't want that. If the judge gives him an immediate divorce, then you will be nominated as next of kin or me as his doctor. Don't look so shocked Meg, it will be alright we'll keep him here no matter what. He can come under our rescue fund that we keep for down and outs. After all, Ben helped me to start up the fund in the first place"

John turned to her knowing he could not wait for her to get over the shocks she was getting and said gently. "As you know the phone call made by Maria is not pleasant listening and it will make public what happened between you and Casey, but it explains everything that went on between Maria and Ben. I also honestly don't think they will just hold their hands up, admit everything and come quietly instead they will try and twist thing I say. I would like to use it at the Shock Wave it will make the people there understand quickly what has been happening. If I can I will just part of it but I may need all of it do you mind."

She shook her head still trying to come to terms with it all and saw Casey give a slight nod that it was okay with him she knew the only course to take and looked at John and said quietly. "I don't think anyone will believe what happened if you don't use it. Casey and I can deal with the fall out from it. You know that Ricardo, her brother is on the police force."

Relieved John said. "Yes, and Antonio, we hope to avoid involving them other than as spectators but its better they know sooner than later. How do you think your father will react? I don't want to have him attacking us as we arrest the others?"

Casey chipped in "I'll look after Hank, Joan and Sara. I think they will be too stunned to do anything."

John nodded and continued "I will contact Ben's accountant and lawyer just before we all meet in the Shock Wave to make sure Derek does not realise something is wrong. There's going to be enough strange things going on there to make anyone suspicious let alone someone planning to move on quickly and the one thing I do not want is to have to chase him across the States. I'll take a nurse who can look after Benjy; he will be taken into state care until it is all sorted out.

So we will leave you in peace until later this evening but I'll leave an agent here with the prisoners. They are still keeping quiet, well Jake has had a go at the bed but nothing that cannot be repaired. He does not seem to like being locked up! Tough that! The other one is thinking. Perhaps we will have more joy when he knows they have all been arrested and that it might be better for him to say something before they do."

With that they left Tyus and Meg alone.

Tyus broke the silence with a gentle but firm. "You need to go for a break." She started to object so Tyus explained. "I would like to see if we can take Ben off the ventilator and run some tests. It will be easier if you are doing something else. If he is not strong enough to breathe on his own then we need to put him back quickly, and it is not nice to watch and you will not be able to help - even though I think he does feel your presence. I know this sounds strange, but leave your jumper here - it will be near him. He can feel it, smell of your perfume on it and perhaps realise you are close still."

Tyus waved over a nurse who had come in with him. "I want you to go with Tina who is crisis nurse and she will tell you what we can expect, and what we need you to do when Ben comes round and afterwards. One thing is clear; you will need to tell him the truth about your feelings and how things have affected you, if and when he asks. You or anyone else, me included, cannot lie to him. Because of what has happened, he will trust no-one and he might not even trust himself."

She sat letting what he said sink in, knowing that it was true and for the first time realising how hard it was going to be. He would not just wake up and everything would be alright. She remembered how difficult it had been for them the last time and knew it was going to get worse for a while, but that they would get over it. She took her cardigan off, lay on the bed and kissed his hand and said gently, "I'll be close by, my love." and left. The nurses and Tyus took over.

Just as Meg came to John's room she heard him cursing loudly. "Knew he'd do it someday! Take me at my word! A Damn Liberty Corp. plane of all things, might just as well tell the whole world what we are doing!... Yes, Yes I'll speak to Jude and hope it will be all right." He turned to Meg as she passed by with Tina. "AJ, is he friend or foe?"

Meg replied, "Friend … a very good one."

"Right!" John said with a sigh and dialled the number he'd been given sorting out what he was going to say.

Meg smiled and carried on out to go to the café area.

After his phone call John left with his list of people to see and collect and left Tyus a number to call should things change.