***Willow Pond***
Lt. Grey sent a uniformed officer outside to escort the Manley's back into the house.
A female officer allowed them to go in their bathroom and change. There was no way for them to escape and the police had already searched the bathroom anyways.
After they were changed, they were formally arrested. They were taken down to the police station.
Jonathan grabbed Freeway, and he was going to take him to the vet for boarding, and then back to the hospital to see Jennifer.
He poured her tea into a travel mug, and grabbed their bags.
After dropping Freeway off, he went and picked up La Scala for dinner, and then headed to the hospital.
***Bel Air Community Hospital***
Jonathan came in with food for him and Jennifer, her travel mugs of tea, and his and hers overnight bags.
"Hi darling". He leaned down and kissed her.
"Hi. What's in the bags?"
"Well, I picked up La Scala for dessert. And at the house, I found the recipe for the tea. So, I made it without the poison, of course, and brought you some. Here, try it. See if it tastes the same".
She took a big sip.
"Yes, that's it! Darling, we have to buy the tea that she used to mix this".
"We will. I wrote it all down".
They ate, and he filled her in on what they found and where. About 2 hours later, Lt. Grey came in.
"Well, we tested your paint in your house. It tested positive for Ketamine also. And they confessed at the station, to painting on a clear coat of the ketamine each day while you were out of the room or sleeping. They are being charged with at least 6 counts of assault each, conspiracy, possession of a deadly narcotic without cause, and mental cruelty".
"Lt. Grey, If I don't get the use of my legs back, will that be a charge as well?"
"Yes. The D.A. will add on extenuating circumstances to the assault charges".
"Thank you for arresting them and helping us get them out of our home, Lt. We appreciate it".
"Glad nobody was hurt worse, and I hope you make a complete recovery".
"Thank you, Lt."
He left, and Jonathan settled back into his bed next to Jennifer.
"Darling, where is Max?"
"He moved in with Anna, but he never called or anything".
"What I wouldn't give to hear "Hey Mrs. H., just once more".
"I know. I miss him terribly."
"We have to find him, and at least find out if he's ok".
"I have my best guy working on it. I called him yesterday".
"You think of everything, darling".
"How do your legs feel? You want to try walking, or standing?"
She nodded.
He went around to help her, and got her to stand up. Her knees didn't buckle this time. She took a few steps with him holding her, and did ok. She was just weak.
He helped her walk around the room and then back to bed.
"Darling, I am so proud of you".
The doctor came by then, and they showed him what she was able to do.
"Great! I predict within the next 24-48 hrs, you should be able to walk like normal. I do think it's important for you to go to a short term rehab, just to make sure that the ketamine is out of your system".
"How short?"
"5 days".
"I don't want to".
"Darling, if he thinks you need it-"
"No! Jonathan, I am not going".
"Darling-"
"No!"
Jonathan sighed.
After the doctor checked her out thoroughly, he and Jonathan talked in the hall.
"Doctor, I can usually convince my wife to do a lot of things, but I don't think this one is it. However, if you do it involuntarily, I will support it".
"Ok, I will do that. I will tell her that it's hospital policy for her to go and at least get checked out".
"Ok thank you".
He went back in the room.
"Darling, I'm afraid you don't have a choice on the rehab. He said it's hospital policy that you go at least one night and get checked out".
"But I don't need to".
"How do you know that? Darling, you have been out of sorts for a while now. You had headaches, you slept all the time you were emotional for no reason, you were confused, you were not able to walk yesterday. Do you remember all that?"
She nodded.
"That's all because of the ketamine. They just want to make sure that it gets out of your system."
"I don't like it."
"I know. I'm not too fond of missing you myself. But I want you to be healthy and darling, this is the best way".
"I don't want to talk about this anymore".
She closed her eyes to rest some, and he decided not to push it.
He changed into his pajamas, and laid down beside her and laced his fingers through hers, and fell asleep.
***A few hours later***
Jennifer woke up around 10, and hit the button for the nurse.
The nurse came to check her vitals.
"I want this catheter out, now please".
"You have to show me that you can walk to the bathroom before I can remove it".
She got up and walked all around the room, and back and forth to the bathroom.
"Ok. I will take it out".
It wasn't too painful, and it was over before she knew it.
She got up, and headed to the bathroom, and changed into her pajamas.
She was climbing back into bed when Jonathan woke up.
"Darling, are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, actually".
"Nobody doubts that you are, darling".
"Apparently you do have doubts, if you think I need a rehab".
"That's not what I said".
"I just want to go home with you, and get back to our life. I don't see what's so horrible about that".
"I want that too, but if this will help make sure that you are healthy, I am all for you being healthy. That's all this is, to make sure you are healthy".
He tried to hold her hand but she wouldn't let him. She was angry and she was feeling rejected. Jonathan could see that, but he didn't know what to do to make her believe that the rehab would help her.
"Darling, why are you so against the rehab?"
"Because, I am not a drug addict, Jonathan. I want to get back home to you and our life, and finding Max and spending time with Freeway, and just being us. I don't want to spend time away from you".
"We have spent time away from each other before, and we got through it just fine, and this time will be no different".
"Why do you want to get rid of me?"
"I don't. Come on, you know that".
She glared at him and wouldn't talk to him anymore.
It was going to be a long night.
***San Francisco***
Max was really starting to panic. He had never been locked up this long, and he couldn't figure out how he got into this situation. All he knew was that he had to get back to Mr. and Mrs. H., and Freeway somehow.
Anna hadn't been home in several days. He didn't know where she was or when or even if she would be coming back. They hadn't spoken in a few weeks.
He opened the blinds and saw some people downstairs on the lawn. He started scrounging for something he could throw down to them.
He looked in all of the closets and finally found a tube of tennis balls.
He wrote a note and wrapped it around one of the balls with a rubber band, and then got to work. He picked up a wooden statue that she kept on a shelf, and broke one of the windows. He knocked the glass out, and then took the tennis ball and tossed it down to them.
One of the men read the ball and looked up at him, and then walked away.
Max sighed…
***Bel Air Community Hospital***
Jennifer finally fell back asleep. Jonathan hoped that with one more dose of the medicines they were giving her, she would be more clear headed when she woke up, and she would realize that she needed to go to the rehab for at least one night.
Stanley Frieson stopped by to visit, and Jonathan took him in the hallway.
"I don't want to wake her up, what's going on?"
"The board is calling for another emergency meeting. Tomorrow 9 a.m. Jack Bolivar is gunning for your removal, Mr. Hart."
"Well, I am going to need you to explain to them that I cannot be there right now. Someone tried to poison my wife, and I am not leaving her side."
"I understand. I will pass it on, Mr. Hart. Please give her my best".
"Thanks, Stanley. Keep me updated".
Stanley left, and Jonathan went back to Jennifer's side.
He tried to push the thought of losing the company out of his head. If they wanted him out that bad, then fine. He started that company with nothing, he can start a new one the same way. As long as he had Jennifer, nothing else mattered.
***The next day***
Jennifer had slept all night. She woke up to find him holding her, and didn't object. She missed their normalcy, and didn't understand why Jonathan was pushing her away and not helping her get back home so they could find their normal again.
The nurse came in and checked her vitals, and helped her walk to the bathroom. She was walking better and better each time.
She got back in bed, and tried to relax. Jonathan woke up shortly after that.
"How are you feeling?"
"Ready to get out of here and go home with you".
He kissed the side of her forehead.
"I can't wait for that to happen, as soon as you are ready".
"Have you heard anything about Max?"
"No. I am going to call my PI today".
She nodded.
"Don't you have to go to the office today?"
"I'm not. You are the focus right now."
She nodded. He held her hand, and they had a few moments to just be there with each other.
"Darling, how did this happen to us?"
"I don't know. But I promise you I am gonna find out".
***San Francisco***
Max was sitting on the couch watching TV. It was all he ever did anymore.
His plan to throw a tennis ball asking for help out the window hadn't worked. He was officially out of options. He didn't know what to do. He thought about tying the sheets into knots, but he didn't think it would hold him. Plus, he was too old to be swinging out of windows like Tarzan. He thought about tossing the mattress out of the window for him to land on, but he was scared it wouldn't be enough. He couldn't get hurt, because there was no one around to help him if he did.
He was sad too, because he thought that he and Anna really had something. Apparently, she was just using him, but for what? Nothing was making sense.
He turned the TV off and decided to go lay down. If he had to be bored, he could at least sleep the hours away.
Just as he got up from the couch, there was a knock at the door. He went to the door and looked out.
It was the police.
"I can't let you in. The deadbolt is locked and I don't have a key."
"Is there another entrance?"
"No."
"Are you being held against your will?"
"Yes, absolutely".
"Ok, stand back".
He took several steps back.
A few minutes of hacking through the door later, the sheriff's deputy took the door down, and stepped through.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes sir. Especially now that you are here".
"Can you tell us what happened?"
"Well, I met this broad, Anna a couple months ago. We got hot and heavy and then she said she had to move here to take care of her sister. And she said she wanted me to come with her, so I quit my job and I moved here with her. And ever since we got here, she changed. She locked me in here each day. I haven't been outside in weeks. And there's no phone and barely any groceries. I don't know where she is, I haven't seen her in days".
"Ok, well we are going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out."
"I'm ok. I just want to go home".
They walked him outside and he saw Anna's car.
"Officer, that's her car. If it's here and she's not, something's wrong. Can you trace the plates or something?"
"Yes, we can".
The officer took the report, and Max sat in the back of the car.
"Mr. Brenneman, we found Anna. She was arrested for prostitution 3 days ago. She's in the county jail".
"Great. At least she's safe."
"Yes sir. Now, let's get you to a hospital".
***Bel Air Community Hospital***
Jonathan and Jennifer were waiting to talk to the doctor. The nurse had drawn more blood from Jennifer, to check the levels of ketamine again. She had to bury her head in Jonathan's shoulder as they did it, but she had gotten through it.
The room phone rang, and Jonathan answered it.
It was his PI.
"Mr. Hart, there is a Max Brenneman who fits the age and description, who just checked into a hospital in San Francisco".
"Ok. I want you to check it out, and you can take the company plane up there and if it's him, bring him home, please."
"Yes sir, right away".
Jonathan hung up.
"Is Max ok?"
"If it is Max, he's been taking to a hospital. My private investigator is going to fly up and check it out".
"I hope he's alright."
"Me too".
The doctor came in and had the results of her blood work.
"Jennifer, your ketamine levels are still rather high. They will most likely bottom out over time, but it's still concerning. I want to admit you to the rehab program, and do a specialized medicine regimen to help flush the remaining ketamine out of your system."
"Doctor, why can't I do that at home?"
"Because we have to monitor it very closely. It's hospital policy that you go at least one night. But you could be there as many as 5 nights".
"And if I refuse?"
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice".
She was getting angry. She looked at Jonathan. "Darling, do something".
"Darling, it's for the best. This is to get you healthy".
"Jonathan, we have been all through this".
The doctor handed him paperwork.
"If you could just sign right here, Mr. Hart, we will transport her immediately".
"Jonathan, if you sign that, I will never forgive you".
He hesitated, and then signed the papers.