Chapter 10

In the plane waiting for take off AJ and Jude cursed as they were told what had happened and realised the legal implications for them and Ben. As they came to terms with it they discussed damage limitation tactics for Liberty Corp without letting Derek know what they knew as well as keeping Jude's job undercover.

As for the agent, well he sat in the corner quietly watching one of the videos he had taken from the house in Seattle and was making notes. Also knew there was another box of things to get through and he'd most probably miss the action. But, it had been fun commandeering a private plane… a luxury one at that … he reckoned he needed a bonus especially as he'd had to wait till they were actually boarding the plane to do it. Downside was he found out one of them was a self defence expert … the hard way.

In Sunset Beach on their afternoon walkabout, Simon was gently moaning that he was getting tired and it was Rick's turn to carry one of the cameras, Casey had got used to their banter and felt apprehension rising as they were getting close to The Deep. The group then spotted Maria and Derek coming towards them, walking hand in hand and laughing looking very happy. Before they got too close and as Casey hesitated in his stride Rick gently nudged him quickly whispering. "Take a deep breath and think of something nice. Remember its Ben not Derek, then introduce us and ask if we can have a quick look around now, before the people arrive tonight when we will come back for the proper pictures."

As Derek and Maria came up to them, Casey knew because their friendship had been strained recently there was no guarantee of a favourable reply, and could feel his anger rising making him want to strike out at both of them. Knowing he couldn't do that he took a deep breath and tried to look casual and hoping it came out relaxed greeted them. "Ben, Maria I was wondering if Rick and Simon could have a quick look round the inside of The Deep then possibly come back tonight? They are doing an advertisement video of Sunset Beach so they will be at other places like Java Webb, Shock Wave and the main Hotel. They think they might need extra lighting for tonight so need to check, if that's alright with you of course."

Derek hesitated for a moment weighing things up then deciding it would be all right said happily. "That's fine. There's only the manager around at the moment - I'll clear it with him though." With that he turned to lead them back the way he'd come, Maria walked beside Simon and started to ask about what shots he'd taken so far and where else they needed to go. Rick had to hide a smile as Simon lost the moan and charmed her beautifully.

To Casey's relief, Maria and Derek left as soon as the manager appeared and stood back to take a moment. As he and Rick watched Simon walking around the room looking as though he knew what he was doing and talking with the Manager Rick said quietly. "Well done, that sets the scene for later." then louder: "Simon, what extra lighting do you want? Don't forget we will have to check the restaurant area as well..."

In Ocean Drive Tess was wandering around the house, feeling slightly lost and thinking about last night and wondered if she was still feeling low after Tim's death. It was her first and she had to admit that, although her friendship with Tim started out to keep him occupied and as a cover, she had started to like him. But the trouble was her feelings for Derek were much stronger and wouldn't disappear they niggled in the back ground. Last night, though when Derek came to her, he was different. She was still sure that she had his love and knew it was not the same as Maria's. That was the beauty of it they complimented each other so were not a threat to each other. They worked so well as a team. Perhaps it was just that the chase was over and they all had what they wanted. Now all they had to do was to settle down into a more secure long term relationship.

As he worked Hank fretted he'd been on to the police again about Tim, but had no luck. The police had searched Tim's room and found nothing to prove he had been in danger or abducted so would wait until Tim used his credit card to find out where it was. They agreed to have his description published in the usual way but said that although it was unusual for someone not to take extra clothes etc some people did just up and leave to start a fresh.

His mood wasn't helped either when Joan had gently suggested they should advertise for a general help to replace Tim, he'd huffed and snapped at her. … He couldn't do it; it felt like he was abandoning Tim like yesterday's newspaper, which was wrong. After all they'd known him all his life, had tried to help him … Hell he'd even thought of him as a possible son-in-law.

At the police station a man handed in the package for Detective Ricardo Torres, feeling very guilty, he had meant to do as soon as he arrived but had left it until after lunch. He tried to reason with himself … Who could blame him; it had waited this long so what was a few more hours? … The kids had been enjoying themselves and he had some time with his wife without any hassle … that was what their break was for after all….and then belatedly he'd remembered the package.

He'd come to the station thinking it would be just an easy hand over the counter and leave it job, as he had been told it would be. … Nope. No way. The Officer asked what it was. … So he had to admit he did not know. Just that it was important and confidential. …. What a fuss. He had to leave his home address then as it was in Seattle had to show his driving licence, and then the name of where he was staying, and how long. Then after a phone call check the hotel it was a case of who gave it to him blab blab. Anyone would think it was full of gold or a bomb but it didn't tick and he had kids. … Then to cap it all this Detective Ricardo Torres was out so it was left on his desk. How the Hell was he going to explain to his wife a five minute job turned into a half hour … what if the kids had played up…..

The gentleman though enjoying himself looking around Sunset Beach now understood why Ben and Meg enjoyed it here and the contrast of Santa Barbara. But he was frustrated, just like on the phone, he just kept on missing Ben or he wasn't expected back today. At least he knew what type of businessman he was on the ground rather than on instinct. But to his dismay he'd found that Ben had a son and wife, who wasn't Meg who he felt certainly suited him when he was them and he wondered if that change was the reason for his silence. On the other hand he knew the man was one who would keep his word and he felt sure Ben would have told him of any change he had after all admitted in their chats together there were problems and he'd hoped to sort them out. Well he obviously had, and from his enquires he knew about the service so he was not going to intrude there but there was the man's son's party at the Shock Wave which was café so he could go there and meet him and get some answers then. So it would not be a wasted journey.

Benjy had listened intently to the lessons about families and enjoyed it when his was mentioned. But, he was still disturbed and in a quiet moment he talked to his teacher about his daddy being cross about hearing the story tapes he'd played that morning. His teacher gently reassured him that grown ups could get moody and daddy loved him and things would be all right after tonight. And when break time came she found a machine and let Benjy play the tapes to his friends knowing full he would enjoy the rest of day better.

Leaving the café area with Tina Meg was surprised how quickly and how much time had gone by. As they walked the corridor to Ben's room she felt apprehensive, it was all so quiet and the doors to the isolation room were closed so she looked to Tina for reassurance.

Smiling Tina said "They would have paged me immediately if anything was wrong." and opened the door so they could go in, and then went over to the nurse who was sitting at her desk in the corner.

Meg stopped just inside the room noticing the silence was being broken by the constant reassuring bleep of the monitor. The bleep was strong and steady and the ventilator was gone it had been replaced by the ordinary nasal oxygen tube so she knew he was breathing for himself. She also noticed that the other tubes were still there helping him as they had before, and felt happier as she started to walk towards Tyus and Ben.

As Tyus turned from examining Ben to greet her, she saw the bruises down Ben's back and then as Tyus laid Ben back onto his back she saw the ones across his ribs and down his side, saw they looked deep and painful. She shivered and wanted even more to hold him, protect him, and tell him it was alright, that she would stay with him no matter what. …

"Its good news." Tyus said breaking into her thoughts as he finished and made the bed tidy: "Ben is much stronger. He did not like the removal of the tube, which is usual and his mental reaction is stronger, so it looks as though he's coming back to us. Carry on talking to him about anything and everything, he may not understand a lot of it or remember it afterwards, but it will be something for his mind to grasp on to. You had a good talk with Tina and get on with her alright?"

Meg smiled as she sat down and took Ben's hand and said "I'm back love." then answered Tyus's question. "Yes and we get on well, I'm sure Ben will be alright with her. We even talked about staying at Surf Central when Ben is well enough."

Tyus smiled and carried on gently. "You do realise that he will not be able to do very much for himself for quiet a while. His wrists are badly cut and bruised and it will take time to heal. What if he wants to leave Sunset Beach, are you alright with that?"

Meg replied without hesitation "No matter what he decides to do I will be with him. I can't lose him again."

"Good! I think he will be alright for now, I've got to check on some other patients but the nurses will get me if anything changes. If you want music we have put a CD player in the corner, with a few CD's. See if there is anything there that could be useful as background, something familiar to him."

Meg nodded and remembered the bag of things Casey had brought her and found a pile of CD's and books he'd put in without her asking. She smiled, she had not thought that far ahead, but he had. She put them aside and went back to CDs and found one and put it on telling Ben which one it was. When she sat back beside him again she held his hand gently and started telling him that it might be fun sharing Surf Central with Casey and Sara...

He had not liked the disturbance...It made his throat hurt... He realised he had a body...and there was a dull throbbing all over. He had to work harder to breathe now... but he did it. … The darkness was there but, there was something round the edges now... … He recognised that feeling ... it was back...it was getting stronger... safety?... love?... something he had lost... now, now he was finding it again... … Strange he could hear something else, but not clearly... it was muffled ... but if he kept going he would find it ... he knew that now...

Ricardo was glad to finally get back to the office it had been a busy day so far and he still felt uneasy about things. He knew he was expected to go to the service and be the dutiful son supporting his mother as he all ways had. In truth it was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment, he was angry at his mother as she was the one who'd help fuel his angry resentful attitude towards his brother and Gabi. It had taken his sister's short sharp accusation that he was being like Ben's dead twin Derek that had brought him to his senses.

That accusation still got under his skin … how she could dare think of him being like Derek. Hell he would not have gone that far! True he and Antonio had a huge row in the Mission but it never actually came to blows. Close granted, but Derek had kidnapped and tried to kill Ben then fell down the cliff end of story. He shivered and wondered if that was why he didn't really want Maria to be with Ben and had privately hoped he would stay with Meg. And sighed wondering if he could phone his mother before she left or even better leave a message on the machine claim too much work and tell her about Gabi staying with him at the same time. Either would be good let her hit the roof once instead of twice, and saw the mysterious parcel on the table and picked up the officer's notes about who left it glanced at them then back at the parcel and forgot about everything else.

"Hi Ricardo, early Christmas present?" broke into his investigation.

Recognising her voice he smiled as he looked up and said. "No Gabi, Just something left, it's marked urgent so I've got do deal with it now. If you want to go on to the service I'll join you later."

Gabi gave a gentle understanding laugh and said. "No I was only going if you were, you know my feelings I still think it ought to be Meg not Maria with Ben and you'd have to 'blue light it' anyway so you might just as well stay." Then she added quietly. "Do you feel as though something is going on here since we've got back this afternoon? Spencer is watching you very strangely."

Ricardo glanced over at Spencer who immediately looked away and shrugged realizing that there had been something but would no doubt be told about it later.

Totally intrigued by the box now Gabi leaned over his desk and said. "Go on open it, it might be something nice. Where is it from?"

"From Seattle." He replied as he picked it up and opened it. Glancing at the letter taking in the relevant bits as well as the name and address he looked at the attached piece of paper. And recongising the writing wondered out loud. "Why would a PI have this paper from Ben saying "find the truth and my name" … and why didn't Ben call back about things."

Putting them aside he picked up the paintings and laid them down side by side on the desk, looking at them as well Gabi commented quietly; "They are good, that's unusual - the paper has silver flecks in it catches the light."

Ricardo replied thoughtfully thinking back, "Yeah Maria insisted that Ben got some paper like that for her studio. Apparently theirs was a one off order. Perhaps someone else had the same idea and he wondered who."

Then the penny dropped making him exclaim. "It's her paintings! Her technique! One looks like an old English cottage, the other is here! when we had a festival week, celebrating some firms that had been here a hundred years."

Carefully pushing them aside he looked in the box and found a dress and not understanding what he was finding muttered to himself. "Ben said she was wearing something like this when she went off the boat."

Gabi's questions butted into his thoughts "When was that festival? Perhaps she came back for it but does not remember anything about it. Was it fairly recent?"

Ricardo answered automatically. "No it was about eight months after that night. I was still trying to come to terms with Maria's death and every time I saw the decorations I thought she would have liked to have painted them - it was very colourful. She would have been expecting Benjy then, and the airplane companies would not have accepted her on board. She would not have driven, so she must have seen it from a photo, but how did she get the paper to paint it?"

Putting that thought away he looked at the list of information Mr Peters had gathered and muttered. "He's done a good job, says the things had been given to a second-hand dealer a couple of days before Ben bought them. Listen to this description of the man." His voice lightened as he carried on. "Male, thin faced, dark haired, medium built, mid-American accent, fits a few thousand doesn't it?"

Gabi laughed, and picked up the other envelopes, opening one she got several photos out and glad to be back to their casual banter as they worked again commented. "Hey look - happy families, its Tess, Maria and Benjy when he was a baby. I wonder who took them. Hey! There's one with the thin faced male, wonder if he has the right accent." Still laughing she looked at last one then stopped and handed it to Ricardo saying in a concerned voice. "That cannot be right? Ben did not know about them, did he?"

Spencer who had been on the phone noticed the change in Gabi's manner and immediately hurried over.

Ricardo took it and stared and pondered. "I know it's not Ben. I knew his every move. He did not go out of Sunset Beach for ages." And paused; not liking what his thoughts told him but voiced them anyway. "It cannot be... Derek... that would mean..."

Joining them Spencer leant over and said gently but firmly. "Let me have a look at those, and the other envelope."

Ricardo let him have the photos but started to open the other envelope dreading what it might reveal.

oxoxox

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