The doctor walked to the foot of the bed and picked up Harry’s chart. He cleared his throat and said, “I’m doctor Murphy. General Winstanley asked me to wait until you were all here to give you my report on General Newcomb’s condition.”
Beth stepped toward the doctor. “When will he wake up, doctor?”
Kelly’s earlier thoughts became reality when the doctor only shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but that’s what I needed to tell you. He’s not going to wake up.”
Every person in the room made some sort of startled sound and took a step toward the doctor, even Leo, who must have followed the doctor into the room.
Harold was the first one to regain his voice. “Exactly what do you mean by that doctor?”
The doctor shook his head slowly, “I mean that all the tests we have run indicate that there is no brain activity.”
When no one spoke, he said, “I’m afraid that his brain has died and the only thing keeping him alive right now is all of that.” He gestured toward the machines. “That’s why they sent him here from Germany so quickly. They ran all the same tests there. General Winstanley ordered them to bring General Newcomb here. Everyone agreed that it would better for all of you if the Air Force brought him to you.”
No one spoke for a seemingly long time. Beth began sobbing into her lace handkerchief again. Kelly wrapped her arms around her grandmother. Then Harold said, “Are you suggesting that we must make the decision to turn off the machines.”
The doctor nodded his head sadly. “Yes sir that is exactly what I am advising.” He looked around the room at each stricken face. “If there was any chance at all, I would be the first one to say that we should wait, but there isn’t. There is nothing there at all and hasn’t been for three days.”
Chapter Two
Kelly woke up the next morning feeling empty. She was in a private bedroom in the hotel suite the Air Force had reserved for them. That empty feeling wouldn’t go away. She had come here hoping to get her father back, but instead she hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to him.
She looked around the luxurious room. All the furnishings were very expensive looking. The suite had two bedrooms and a large sitting room. She assumed the hotel had to be rated as a Five-Star Hotel. When they arrived last evening, a full meal was laid out on several carts waiting for them.
The service, so far, had been almost embarrassing to her. She liked things simple. In fact, she lived a simple life. She worked as the CFO at the home office of Newcomb Motors, a company which owned eight new car dealerships in three states. But she lived in a two bedroom condo with only her rather possessive cat, George to keep her company. All the fuss that the staff here at the hotel was making over them made her rather uncomfortable.
The bedroom she was in had its own bathroom with a shower and a separate tub. She took as quick a bath as she could. She loved her special shower at home with its bars and seat. Her ankle wouldn’t let her take a shower in a normal shower, unless she wanted to take her platform crutches in with her. And that was somewhat awkward to say the least. She usually only used the crutches at night after she took off her brace and in the morning before she put it back on again. That was just one of the many reasons she loved to stay at home whenever she could manage it. It was just so inconvenient to carry those awkward crutches with her.
When she stepped out into the sitting room, her grandfather was sitting on an overstuffed sofa holding a newspaper in his lap, but she didn’t think he was really reading it.
Her suspicions were confirmed when she walked over to him and turned the upside down newspaper around for him.
Kelly had a close relationship with her grandfather. He had been like a father to her since she was eight years old, and even more so four years later when she and Wayne had moved in with them after the accident. Knowing him so well, she simply sat next to him on the sofa and waited.
“Kelly.” He was looking at her now with so much love that Kelly couldn’t help almost leaping into his arms. Much to her horror, she burst into tears. She hadn’t cried since she was a teenager. She never cried anymore.
Harold took her into his arms and continued talking. “I really did love my son. I don’t think he ever thought so though. I guess I was too hard on him about working for the company.” He shook his head. “Now, I’ll never be able to tell him.”
Kelly didn’t know what to say. “I guess I feel the same way, Grandfather. I’ve always wanted a father, and now I’ll never have one.”
Kelly turned at a sound behind her and noticed her grandmother making her way to where they sat. Beth sat on Kelly’s other side and wrapped her arms around Kelly.
Beth cleared her throat and said, “Harold, we can’t dwell on what has been or especially what could have been. We need to look to the future.” She patted Kelly on the arm. “And our grandchildren. We still have them, you know.”
No one said anything for a few minutes as Kelly savored the secure feeling of being sandwiched between her grandparents. It was a special feeling, a safe feeling, the feeling of being so close to two of the three most important people in her life. For that matter, they were really the only three people in her life.
Finally, Beth said, “Harold, we also have a daughter-in-law now. Jane seems like such a sweet person. I want to get to know her. After all, she could help us fill in the missing twenty years of our son’s life.
Once more, it was quiet for a short time, and then Beth spoke again. “I heard Jane tell General Winstanley last night that she was originally from Phoenix. She must be going back to her family there.” She looked around Kelly at Harold. “I want to invite her to come stay with us for a while until she decides what she will do next.”
Kelly and her brother Wayne had always enjoyed watching the interaction between their grandparents. They would sometimes even bet on how long it would take Beth to wear Harold down to where he would agree to what she wanted him to do.
This time, it didn’t take very long. Harold looked into Beth’s eyes for what seemed like a long time, let out a breath and said, “If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do, dear.”
Soon after that, they all went downstairs to the restaurant where they were to meet Jane for brunch.
They were sitting at a large round table when Jane arrived. Leo, the huge sergeant from yesterday, seemed to be escorting her as she approached their table. He towered over her, and Kelly had the stray thought of how odd they looked together. Leo was at least a foot taller than Jane and had to weigh three hundred pounds. Jane was somewhat petite and probably only about five feet five inches tall. She couldn’t weigh much over a hundred pounds. She had on a black knee length casual dress and looked tiny next to the giant in his blue uniform.
Kelly forced her thoughts back to the present as she looked at her ‘step-mother.’ That was something else she would have to get used to. She had a step-mother. But, chances were that she’d probably never see Jane again after today, or at least after the funeral.
Harold stood and Kelly remained seated, but Beth went around the table to wrap her arms around Jane. “Oh, you poor dear, I’m so sorry for you. You must be simply lost without Harry.” She looked over at her husband. “I know I would be if anything were ever to happen to Harold.”
When Beth leaned back to look into her eyes, Jane said, “I guess I’m still in shock. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet that Harry’s really gone.”
Kelly noticed that Harold resumed his seat after shaking Leo’s hand.
When everyone was seated, with Beth sobbing quietly into her lace handkerchief again, Harold cleared his throat and said, “Jane, I spoke with General Winstanley last evening, and I think I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I was so gruff with you yesterday.” He looked over at his wife and placed a hand on her trembling shoulder. “It’s just that we’ve heard nothing directly from our son for the last twenty years. Then, all of a sudden, we hear that he’s been wounded and near death back here in Washingt
on.” He shook his head and took a sip of his water. “It was just a little too overwhelming for all of us.”
Kelly could see that Jane tried to smile, but failed miserably. “That’s okay Mr. Newcomb. It’s been quite a shock for me too. Harry was just going to Afghanistan for a two-week fact finding mission, and then . . . .” Her throat clogged up and she couldn’t finish. Just as well, since she’d looked as if she would start crying again and Beth who was drying her eyes would probably join her.
Beth finished drying her eyes and looked over at Jane. “Whatever will you do now, dear? Did you say that your family lives in Phoenix?”
Jane looked down at her napkin wrapped silverware. “I don’t have any family. I was an orphan, and grew up in foster homes in Phoenix.”
“Oh, you poor dear, it must be awful to have no one to turn to at a time like this.”
Jane didn’t lift her eyes. “Harry has been my family, my whole life, for twenty years.”
Kelly saw it coming, as Jane suddenly lost control of her emotions and burst into tears. She jumped out of her chair and said, “Excuse me,” as she rushed to the restroom.
Beth got up and slowly followed Jane to the ladies’ room.
Ten minutes later, the two women came back to the table. Kelly was not surprised to see her grandmother’s arm draped over Jane’s shoulder.
“You must come back to Arizona with us Jane. After all, you did say you grew up in Phoenix.”
When Jane nodded in agreement, Beth said, “Oh, good, it’s all settled then. You can fly back with us tomorrow, and we can have your things shipped to our home.”
Jane started to protest, “No, I couldn’t let you do that.”
Beth smiled and said, “It will be no problem, Jane, we have such a large house and you could take the upstairs master suite. You would never be in our way, and you would have a great deal of privacy too.”
As Jane just stared at her, Beth’s eyes flooded with tears again as she said, “I may have lost a son, but I’m happy to say that I’ve gained a daughter. Jane will you be the daughter I never had? You see, Harry was our only child.”
Jane seemed reluctant to agree. “I would only stay until I could find a place of my own.” Then she looked over at Harold. “But, I’m sure your husband wouldn’t want me in his home.”
Beth gave Harold an affectionate smile then turned back to Jane, “Harold has already agreed to it my dear. You see, he’s really quite nice. Oh, he may bark at times, but he never bites.
No one spoke for a moment. Then, Beth give Harold a knowing look and Kelly tried to hide a smile behind her hand. She knew what was coming.
Harold cleared his throat, and said, “Jane, we know very little about the last twenty years of Harry’s life. Maybe you could fill us in on what we’ve missed out of our son’s life.”
Jane looked so surprised that she could only nod her head in affirmation at first. Finally, she was able to croak out, “Yes, sir, I would be pleased to do that.”
Harold shook his head, and grunted, “Oh, you don’t need to call me sir. Only people who work for me call me that.”
They had all finished their meals and were having coffee when Kelly noticed three men in Air Force uniforms approaching their table. There was no mistaking who the man in the lead was, General Winstanley!
Leo jumped to attention on the other side of the table. The general nodded at him and said, “Stand at ease Sergeant Cochran”. He then turned to the two colonels with him and nodded. At that, they seated themselves at an empty table nearby.
When the general turned back to the table, he gestured to the only empty chair at the table, which was between Beth and Jane. “May I sit here please?”
Harold said, “By all means, General.”
Before anyone else could speak, General Winstanley turned to Jane causing the three stars on his shoulder to stand out. “Mrs. Newcomb, may I extend the sympathies of the President of the United States and the United States Air Force on the death of your husband.” With that, he handed Jane a purple velvet covered case.
Jane appeared to be in shock as tears flooded her eyes. She opened the case and there was a Purple Heart nestled in a satin cushion. She didn’t speak. In fact, to Kelly, it appeared that she couldn’t.
The general cleared his throat and withdrew an envelope from the inside pocket of his uniform coat. He opened the envelope and pulled out a paper. He handed the paper to Jane.
She seemed to be having trouble getting her hand to clasp the paper, but when she finally did, she turned the U. S. Government check toward her. Kelly could see from her vantage point that the check was for $100,000! She looked back at the general who was still talking.
“Mrs. Newcomb, it is strictly enforced policy that the widow of a member of the United States Air Force killed in combat receives this check within twenty-four hours.”
No one had any warning that something was wrong before Jane began sliding out of her chair. Leo, who was sitting on her other side, caught her before she could hit the floor in a dead faint.
Beth poured ice water into her cloth napkin and began wiping Jane’s face with it until Jane moaned and opened her eyes.
“I think she’s had enough shocks for one day, General. I’m taking her home to rest.” Beth looked at Leo. “Will you take us to her home, Sergeant?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kelly could have sworn that she saw a slight grin on the usually somber man’s face.
General Winstanley leaned over Jane. “Mrs. Newcomb, I understand that you plan to go back to Arizona with Harry’s family.”
She nodded.
Kelly wondered how he knew until she saw a look pass between the general and Harold.
“In that case, don’t worry about anything at your apartment. Take only what you’ll need for the next few days. The Air Force will pack everything else up and have it there by Friday afternoon.” He turned to Harold. “Mr. Newcomb, the jet that brought you here will be waiting for all of you at Andrews Air Force Base to take you back to the municipal airport in Sycamore at 1300 tomorrow afternoon. That is if you will be ready to go by then.”
Harold said, “I think that will be fine General.”
Jane said, “Thank you.” She looked like she was still in shock from all that was happening.
* * *
Grant was on his computer writing a report when Sonia appeared in front of him. She didn’t speak until he looked up at her.
“I would like to talk to both of you in my office right now.” She looked over at Stan’s empty desk. “Where’s Becker?”
“He had a dentist’s appointment.” Grant looked at his watch. “He should be back in about a half hour.”
She shook her head. “I can’t wait that long. I have a meeting in fifteen.” She seemed to think for a moment before she said, “Come on back to my office, and you can fill him in when he gets back.”
Grant followed the attractive blonde back to her office. He had once thought that maybe he and she might eventually get together. They’d never actually had a date. But they’d been in groups at different restaurants or bars and usually wound up sitting next to each other. They had always seemed to get along so well. That was until they both tested for the detective sergeant slot. Then things had changed between them. She seemed to consider him to be the enemy, even now. He was sorry for that. He genuinely liked her.
Sonia walked around behind her desk and sat while motioning for Grant to take a seat in one of the chairs facing the desk.
She looked him in the eye for a few seconds and Grant thought she might be on the verge of saying something personal, but then she cleared her throat and began.
“I know you and Becker have a pretty full caseload right now, but there’s something coming down that may prove to be big.” When he started to speak, she held up her hand. “No, let me finish.” She picked up a thin file on her desk and placed it back down. “The chief wants me to work with the two of you on this one. It involves all kinds of fede
ral agencies.”
Grant was getting impatient. She seemed to be enjoying dragging this out. He wished she’d just spit it out.
She finally looked back up at him and said, “An Air Force general was wounded in Afghanistan last week and died yesterday.”
Grant was about to ask how that affected them when she continued, “The guy grew up here and they’re going to have a big military funeral for him here Saturday.”
This time he did say what he was thinking. “So are we supposed to do crowd control? Don’t we have enough uniforms to do that?”
She smiled and Grant thought she was enjoying this just a little bit too much. “No, it’s not going to be like that.”
She paused as if she was just waiting for him to interrupt her again and when he didn’t she said, “Before I go any further, you have to know that everything else I tell you is only for you and Becker to know right now. No one else will be in on it, so you can’t tell anyone else including the other detectives. Got that?”
“Yes, I understand.”
She went on without a break in her rhythm. “It seems that as the Air Force began to investigate the incident, they came up with some interesting clues that seem to point toward a conspiracy of some sort with international ramifications.”
When Grant just stared back at her without commenting, she said, “They also think he was killed by our own people.”
Grant said, “Yeah, you hear about so called ‘friendly fire’ over there all the time.”
Sonia was shaking her head. “No, they think it was intentional.” She paused for effect. “Murder! To be exact.”
Finally, Grant thought it was time for him to speak. “I still don’t see how we’re supposed to get involved.”
“The Air Force OSI is leading this investigation and they think that the general had something that those who killed him want. They’ve been watching his apartment in D.C. and chased away a guy who tried to break into it.”
Lost Memories (Sycamore P.D. Series Book 1) Page 3
