SWITCHED: The man who lost his body but kept his mind.

by Bernard Gallivan

  When she arrived back at the house, because they had their business to attend to, George and Gloria had already gone off to their pizzeria to prepare for the day ahead. She had the house to herself, which was just what she wanted. Spending the morning chatting with her relatives was not part of her agenda. Nor did she want to explain why she needed to change her appearance and dress herself up. As it turned out, she needed all the time left of the morning to create the image she and Zachary had settled on the previous evening. In the event, it took almost two hours before she was satisfied with the result of her efforts but by late morning, she was ready to face the world. She looked critically at herself in the full-length mirror in Gloria’s bedroom before she finally nodded her satisfaction. Then adopting a pose she hoped might attract Sinclair, she gave a cruel laugh. Revenge was definitely best when served up cold, she decided.

  She was halfway to Epsom when her mobile phone rang. It was Zachary.

  ‘There’s been a bit of a complication here,’ he said.

  Immediately, she thought the worst.

  ‘I’ve got Sinclair’s fancy woman tied up securely in her bedroom but that big weightlifter bloke, the one I whacked across the legs, keeps calling at the front door. I reckon Sinclair’s sent him to pick up Miss Virginia Water – her name’s Valerie, by the way. He’s already called twice. The thing is, I don’t think it’s safe to leave her while he’s still hanging about. She might just manage to attract his attention in some way.’

  ‘I see the problem, luv, but I’m already halfway to Epsom. Isn’t there anything you can do? ‘Cos I tell you straight, I don’t fancy being left alone with Sinclair, not unless you’re on hand somewhere near.’

  ‘I’ll have another think, Jeannie. In the meantime, let’s continue with the plan. One way or another, I promise I’ll be there for you. Don’t worry.’

  When Zachary put the telephone down it was he who was worried. He didn’t want to hurt Valerie whose only fault was poor taste, but equally, he could not let Jeannie down. The fact that Jeannie was already halfway to Epsom somehow added urgency to his dilemma. After giving the matter some thought, he had an idea. Going into the bathroom, he searched through Valerie’s medicine chest. He was looking for sleeping tablets and was delighted when he found some. The leaflet in the packet gave the dose for a good night’s sleep and warned against exceeding it. Ignoring the warning, Zachary decided to treble the dose and taking out the tablets he crushed them and put them into Valerie’s next cup of tea. Fortunately, she took sugar with her tea and an extra spoonful completely disguised the taste of the tablets. He then watched surreptitiously as Valerie slipped into a deep sleep.

  So deep was her sleep, he even managed to re-examine her bindings without waking her. There was no chance of her breaking free, he decided. At the same time he made sure her bindings were not so tight that they cut off her circulation. Satisfied, Zachary settled down to watch for Leo’s next visit. Nor did he have long to wait. When Leo arrived, he appeared to be going through the motions. It was obvious that the man didn‘t expect Valerie to answer. He got out of his car as quickly as his damaged leg would allow and hammered on Valerie’s door a few times. Then, without bothering to walk around the house, he returned to his car. This time there was a different air about the man. By his every action, Zachary became convinced that Snell did not intend returning to the house again that day. Revealing his anger at being forced to waste so much of his time, he reversed out of Valerie’s short drive on screeching tyres. What Zachary did not know was that Leo’s frustration was laced with a good helping of apprehension. The minder knew his boss was bound to believe that he, Leo, was somehow to blame for failing to pick up his lover. Zachary forced himself to wait a further five minutes before he let himself out of the house and made sure everything was securely locked behind him. Meanwhile, Valerie slept on. Ten minutes later, having picked up his motorbike, he was off to the races.

  Zachary and Jeannie had previously concluded that someone with Sinclair’s wealth and connections would, almost certainly, gravitate to the exclusive Member’s Enclosure at the racecourse and they had agreed to meet just outside it. Because of Zachary’s unexpected delay, Jeannie had to wait almost half an hour before he showed up. She tried not to waste the unexpected opportunity this gave her and as well as watching the man who checked each and every member’s pass before he allowed anyone to enter into the hallowed area, she also kept her eyes open for Sinclair.

  While watching the man on the gate and the careful way he checked everyone in and out, it hit Jeannie, and with some force, that before she could get near Sinclair, she somehow had to wangle her way into that most exclusive part of the course. She contemplated bluffing her way past the official or even bribing the fellow. If all else failed, she even wondered about climbing over or under the barrier when the guard was looking the other way. Unfortunately, as well as having eyes in the back of his head, the man appeared to be the incorruptible type. Depressingly, while she watched, no one other than genuine members ever got passed him.

  She had more success with her other self-appointed task and from her position outside the Member’s Enclosure, Jeannie could see most of the great and the good inside, as well as the not so great and the definitely evil, as they strutted their stuff for everyone to see and admire. Eventually, she spotted her quarry. She had only ever seen a couple of photographs of Sinclair - those recently taken by Zachary - but she recognised the man the moment she clapped eyes on him. It seemed he might be missing having his lady friend on his arm as he chatted to his friends. But, for whatever reason, he definitely looked down in the mouth.

  Ten minutes before Zachary arrived, Jeannie was forced to turn her face away in panic when she spotted big Leo Snell walking towards her. As it happened, he had worries of his own and had no interest in the ordinary punters milling around him. Jeannie saw him exchange a few words with the man on the gate and point to Sinclair who was on the far side of the enclosure at that time. It seemed he was hoping to be allowed entry in order to give his boss a message, but the guard was adamant; no pass, no entry. Frustration clearly etched on his face, he solved his problem even as Jeannie watched. He rang Sinclair on his mobile 'phone. Any doubts she might have had about Sinclair’s identity were banished when she saw Sinclair respond by pulling his phone out of his pocket. After exchanging a few words with Snell, Sinclair excused himself from his friends and walked across to speak face to face with his man. Jeannie could only guess what was said but Sinclair’s morose face became like thunder when, eventually, he turned away from poor old Leo. Snell’s apprehension had, it seemed, been well founded; he was blamed for his failure to pick up Valerie.

  While returning to his car, Leo walked right passed Jeannie, forcing her to lower her head and to turn her back to the man. Giving vent to his pent up emotions, Leo shoved many an innocent bystander to one side as he made his way to the car park and many were the protests that dried up the instant those being pushed saw who was doing the pushing.

  When, a few minutes later, Zachary arrived on the scene, so good were their respective disguises, it was some minutes before they even recognized each other.

  ‘Am I pleased to see you, luv,’ Jeannie said when they eventually found a quiet corner in which to speak.

  ‘Try to relax, Jeannie. You’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re disguise is marvellous. No one will recognise you and if you can’t attract Sinclair today, the man has to be made of stone.’

  ‘Thanks, luv,’ Jeannie gulped, not really believing him but pleased he had said it anyway. ‘What have you done with Sinclair’s lady friend?’

  Zachary pulled a face. He was already regretting what he’d done to Valerie, especially now that Leo Snell appeared no longer to be a threat.

  ‘I gave her a few sleeping pills and when I left she was snoring like a baby. I didn’t know what else to do.’

  ‘That’s good, Zak. At least she shouldn’t be any more trouble to us today.’

  ‘I’
m not sure it was necessary, though. I think Snell has finally given up on her for the day. In fact, that’s why I rushed to get here. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t turn up any minute now.’

  ‘Too late, luv. He’s been and gone. He arrived about ten minutes ago. I’m pleased to say he didn’t recognize me and he’s already spoken to Sinclair. He’s gone back to the car park, I think.’

  ‘Where’s Sinclair, now?’

  Being careful not to be caught staring at the man, Jeannie pointed him out.

  ‘Yes, that’s him all right,’ Zachary said. ‘So, have you decided how you’re going to get in?

  ‘It looks pretty hopeless, Zak. That bloke on the gate won’t let anyone through unless they’re members. I’ve been watching him for quite a while and no one gets in without a pass.’

  ‘Leave him to me,’ Zak said with a confidence he was far from feeling. ‘I’ll cause a bit of a distraction and while he’s dealing with me, you slip in, ok? Don’t worry what happens to me, just get in there and do your stuff. I promise I won’t be far away.’

  So saying, Zachary walked calmly up to the gate. As far as the guard was concerned, he saw an elderly, shabbily dressed man trying to pass into the sacred area. Completely ignoring the guard, Zachary continued walking through the gate.

  ‘Hey, you! Where do you think you’re going?’ the guard called.

  Zachary continued to ignore him and carried on walking, forcing the guard to follow him. Grabbing Zachary by the shoulder, he swung him around to face him.

  ‘Are you deaf or something?’ the man demanded, glowering at Zachary.

  Already a sufficient gap existed between the guard and his precious gate for someone to slip in, added to which, the man’s back was to it.

  Shaking the man’s hand free, Zachary drew himself up to his full height and tried to look haughty. ‘Unhand me, this instant, my man. To whom do you think you are speaking?’

  ‘If you want to go into the member’s enclosure, you’ve got to show me your member’s pass first.’ His reply was uncertain.

  The guard had been thrown onto the defensive. He had no idea who the man confronting him was. He was not at all well-dressed but these days, that meant little. He might even be a Lord or someone really important.

  Looking down his nose at the guard, Zachary took another step backwards and further into the enclosure and pretended to look in his pocket for his pass. Suddenly, without warning, he spun around and began to stumble away. Even had he been able to, it was not his intention to escape. All he wanted was to draw the man even further away from his precious gate. Zachary had only taken a couple of steps before the man again caught him by the arm. He struggled valiantly for a few moments while all around genuine members looked shocked at the scene he was causing.

  During the confusion, and while all eyes were on Zachary and the guard, Jeannie slipped unobserved into the enclosure. As quickly and as gracefully as she could, she put distance between herself and the gate. As Zachary was frogmarched back out of the enclosure and into a nearby security tent, he had the satisfaction of seeing her back disappearing into that select throng.

  The guard called for assistance but when the police arrived Zachary soon convinced them he was just an old eccentric who had innocently wandered into the wrong area and had then taken umbrage at the way the guard had spoken to him. With far more important matters to deal with, they released him with a warning to be more careful in the future. He went to a nearby tent for some well-deserved refreshment. It was up to Jeannie, now.

  In the members’ enclosure, Jeannie casually moved into Connor Sinclair’s field of vision and it was not long before he spotted the sultry-looking, unaccompanied beauty. In between smoothing her skin-tight dress over her shapely thighs and taking deep breaths that caused her bosom to rise and fall in a most interesting manner, Jeannie gave the appearance of a woman who was thoroughly confused by all that was going on around her. The temptation eventually proved too much for Connor, who was indeed feeling lonely. Before someone else had the same idea, he moved to close the gap between himself and Jeannie.

  ‘Excuse me, miss, you look a bit lost. Can I be of service,’ he greeted her with a smile.

  When Jeannie looked up, apparently startled that a stranger had spoken to her, she saw an attractive looking man in his mid-forties smiling at her. As Zachary had already discovered, Connor spoke with a soft, Irish burr and if Jeannie had not known the sort of man he was, his charm might have taken her in.

  Jeannie looked around, as if searching for someone. ‘I think my escort has let me down,’ she said, ‘and I feel very vulnerable standing here by myself.’

  Connor could hardly believe his luck.

  ‘Well that’s easily fixed, Miss…?’ He let the question hang in the air a moment before continuing. ‘It would give me great pleasure to act as your temporary escort until your real one arrives.’

  ‘You are very kind, sir,’ Jeannie said, dazzling Sinclair with a smile that could make all men, no matter how strong, go weak at the knees. It was a smile of both innocence and promise. ‘My name is Isabelle,’ she said extending her hand.

  Eagerly Connor took it and, gallantly, bent to kiss it. ‘And I am Connor Sinclair.’

  Easy as it had been for Jeannie to insinuate herself into Sinclair’s company, it was even easier to entrap him completely. For the remainder of that afternoon they were inseparable. If he remembered Valerie, who was still sleeping the afternoon away, it was only to thank whichever of his gods had caused Valerie to stand him up. He displayed his wide knowledge of the horse-racing scene to the wide-eyed Isabelle and when he mentioned his extensive collection of paintings and prints of horses and horse racing, she eagerly took the bait.

  ‘I just love looking at paintings of horses,’ she said. ‘You’re so lucky to own so many.’

  ‘I’d be delighted to show you my paintings, if you’re interested,’ Connor said, his heart in his mouth.

  ‘Oh, I’d love to see them,’ Isabelle enthused, but I’m off to America on Monday for a week,’ she said, looking disappointed.

  ‘A holiday? Connor asked.

  ‘No such luck! It’s work,’ Isabelle sighed.

  Connor’s heart skipped another beat. ‘And what work might that be?’

  ‘I model clothes, well, women’s underwear, actually,’ Isabelle contrived to look embarrassed. ‘I’m doing a shoot in New York.’

  By now, Connor had difficulty stopping his tongue hanging out. He gulped and made his play.

  ‘Well, there’s no time like the present, I say and, fortunately, my house is not far from here. Why don’t we go and look at those paintings now. Then, later, if you are agreeable, we could go for a meal somewhere. We have some excellent restaurants nearby.’

  ‘I wouldn’t want to spoil your day here, Connor.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that, Isabelle. I’ve lost enough money today and I was thinking of packing up, anyway. My car is just outside and we’ll be home inside twenty minutes.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure, Connor. That would be wonderful. The only thing is, I have my own car in the car park. Why don’t we meet up on the road outside and I could then follow you to your home.’

  When Connor explained that his car was a Bentley, he was delighted that Isabelle seemed suitably impressed. He gave the number of the car and then described where they should meet. Half an hour later, they were on their way. Connor had his eyes firmly fixed on the small red car that followed him while Jeannie had her eyes on the motorcycle that followed a few hundred yards yet further behind.

  Zachary had not been entirely confident that Jeannie would be able to attract Sinclair and was amazed at the ease with which she accomplished the task. It was his job now to make sure no harm came to her.

  It was with grave misgivings that Jeannie pulled off the road and into the drive that led up to Connor Sinclair’s house. What the hell do you think you are doing? she asked herself for the umpteenth time that day. What had seemed l
ike a good idea at the time now appeared more like madness. Nevertheless, she managed a radiant smile to greet the waiting Connor when she finally emerged from her car. She could only pray that Zak was not too far away.

  ‘Well, here we are, Isabelle. What do you think?’ Connor said, including his vast house and the beautifully kept gardens in a wide sweep of his arms.

  ‘It’s magnificent,’ Jeannie said with complete truthfulness. It was, indeed, a glorious house in a wonderful setting. It was definitely far too good for the likes of Sinclair, she decided.

  ‘Come on in, my dear,’ he said leading the way up to his huge, oak front door.

  Jeannie watched carefully as he pulled a small wallet of keys from his pocket and fitted first one key and then another into their respective locks to open the door. Immediately she could hear the persistent beeping of a distant burglar alarm and opening the door to a nearby cupboard, Sinclair entered a code to de-activate the alarm. Jeannie was unable to see which code he entered but she was certainly impressed by the magnificence of the wood panelling in the vast central hall. She was also aware that as the house was locked and the alarm set, she and Sinclair were now alone in the place. The thought was not reassuring.

  ‘Come into the sitting room and I’ll fix us a drink,’ he said, breaking into her thoughts. There was a pleased chuckle in his voice. He had noticed how impressed Isabelle was with the exterior of his mansion; he now mistook her quiet contemplation for awe at the magnificence of the interior of his home. He was already confident of having his way with his new friend. Girls would do anything for men of power and she was clearly up for it, he decided.

  ‘What’s your poison, my dear?’ he asked, standing in front of his extensive drinks cabinet in his beautifully appointed sitting room with its splendid views out over a formal garden.