Two men died, Ben thought. It was evident that a report on what had happened in the little house had not yet reached the Comisaria.
The inspector excused himself and went out to speak to the officers who had brought Ben in for questioning. They turned and left. Ben was once again relieved. When Inspector Macias returned he asked what, if anything, he could do to help. Ben needed to know where his sister and Valerie had been taken. After Macias made a couple of calls Ben was ushered into the back of a police car and on his way to Hospital de Navarra.
Heads turned as Ben walked through the hospital lobby to the information desk. Before he could make an inquiry, the nurse on duty told him in heavily accented English that access to the emergency room was down the hallway to the left. He wondered just how bad he looked, but then explained that he was looking for his sister, Olivia McKinnon. He knew it would be useless to inquire about Valerie and hoped that with Ana’s help his parents had found their way to the hospital. Time dragged as the nurse checked the computer for Olivia’s name.
Finally she looked up and said, “No, señor, I do not see her name.”
“But I know she’s here. The police checked for me.”
“If she is still in emergencia, we would not yet have her name.”
Ben let out a sigh of frustration and asked, “So you said emergency is down the hall to the left?” She gestured in that direction. He turned, walking away as he said, “Gracias.”
At the end of the hall were double doors stating ‘Prohibida la Entrada.’ To the right of the doors was a window and counter with a woman seated on the other side. His inquiry yielded the information he hoped for, and within a few minutes he was led through to a curtained cubicle. He heard his mother’s voice. The nurse pulled the curtain aside just slightly and there sat everyone he cared for most.
Paris and Hugh sat on either side of the bed, each holding one of Olivia’s hands. Ana stood on the opposite side of the bed from Ben. She looked as if she were carrying the weight of the world. Yet when Ben pushed aside the curtain completely and her eyes locked with his, all the fear drained from her expression. She quickly approached to embrace him. He winced with pain when she tightened her arms around his torso. She backed off quickly and took a closer look at his face, and as she touched it gently her pent up tears began to flow. Ben carefully embraced her as he glanced first at his father then his mother, waiting for them to speak. Foremost in his mind was Olivia’s condition. Paris urged him to speak softly because Olivia had been given a sedative and what she needed most was rest.
Following the initial relief and outpouring of tears Ana became aware of Ben’s swollen face and the dried blood on his clothing. Back at the little house everything had happened so fast she hadn’t had a good look at him. In spite of her insistence, he refused to be seen by a doctor. The next logical question was about Valerie, although he was afraid to ask.
Hugh’s voice was subdued, his tone serious. “She’s still in surgery. The doctors say her generally weakened condition and blood loss could work against her. I asked for odds, but they were reluctant to say.”
Ben shook his head in dismay and said, “She has to live. She saved my life.”
Paris gently let go of Olivia’s hand, laying her arm on the bed without waking her. She rose from the chair, and as she walked around to stand by Hugh she motioned to Ben.
“Come out in the hall so we can talk, but softly. I want to know everything that happened. What does it all have to do with the gold shipment?”
“I don’t know the whole story at the moment,” he said. “It’s all related, but I don’t know how. The inspector I talked to about finding Olivia and Valerie, a man named Macias, is looking into it. He’ll need to check at the station nearest the house. All I can tell you right now is what happened there and at the Bull Run.” He paused, thinking of the man who died and that he felt somehow responsible. “I chased one of the kidnappers into the path of a bull.” He looked directly at his father and said, “I didn’t even know the bull-run was going on. And he had tried to explain something at the house, but I was so angry that I wouldn’t listen.” Ben seemed saddened as he continued to recount what led to the man’s death. “He was younger than me—no more than thirty maybe—athletic type. He looked scared and had to be guilty of something or he wouldn’t have run.” Ben thought for a moment then murmured, “Or maybe he wasn’t involved by choice.”
Hugh could see that the outcome greatly troubled his son. “You took quite a risk deciding to give chase. As far as I know you were unarmed, and there was a possibility the man would turn on you rather than run.” Ben nodded in agreement but looked down as if guilty of something. His father added, “But that didn’t happen, and I assure you I would have done the same. I think we can be quite sure the man was involved somehow. I’m proud and very thankful you’re all right— other than some aches and bruises.”
”Ben looked up and said, “Seconds before that thug would have squeezed the last breath out of me, Valerie made a lucky shot and killed him. I had started to lose consciousness.”
Ana moved closer to him and took hold of his arm. “It was the same man that attacked Ben twice in London. There’s no doubt. I saw him lying dead on the floor.”
“And Valerie killed him? How did she get a gun?” Hugh asked.
“She had already been shot with the same gun before I arrived. She must have dragged herself to where it had landed on the floor before losing consciousness. I don’t know how it got there, and I didn’t see her shoot him. I was fighting for my life… and losing.”
That information was too much for Paris and although she maintained a stoic expression, tears began to run down her cheeks. Hugh wrapped his arms around her, and the tension drained from her face. Ana told them how she had stayed with Valerie until the ambulance arrived, but that she was unconscious and in shock, unable to say anything about what had happened.
Paris got herself under control and asked, “Surely they can’t charge Valerie with anything. Can they, Hugh?”
“Right now our only concern should be whether she survives the injury, but I can’t see how she would be held accountable in this type of situation. Once the police have the whole story, she would more likely be made the heroine.”
Just then Hugh’s phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He excused himself and went out to the hallway. Paris commented that perhaps the call was about the robbery. Ana wondered how the police would be able to tie the gold shipment and the kidnapping together.
Ben said, “We have to wait for the report on how things went down at the airport—whether one of the men arrested gives up the others. The whole thing is clearer to me now, but we have to hope it becomes clear to the Spanish police.”
Paris added, “That’s Interpol’s job.”
Hugh ended his call and returned to the ward. He peaked through the curtain to check on Olivia then motioned Ben to come outside with him. Once in the outer hallway, they spoke in hushed voices. “It was my Interpol contact. The intervention at the airport turned into more than just apprehending thieves ‘in the act.’” A nurse passed them and put a finger to her lips, shushing them further. Hugh leaned in closer to Ben and continued in a near whisper. “There was a chase that ended with one dead. They think it was the man behind all of it. He ran his car full speed into a large truck being loaded, and the car burst into flames on impact. They’re going to need DNA and dental records to confirm identity.”
“I hope there’s enough left of him to make an ID.” Then Ben asked, “Are any of the rest of them in any shape to talk?”
Ben wanted all the facts before being formally interviewed by Inspector Macias. Hugh explained that one of the men offloading the gold had been more than willing to give up his boss and everyone else involved. Interpol’s plan had gone off without a hitch. Ben added that he was expected at the Comisaria by the next morning at the latest to give a full statement of the events in the little house. But he turned down his father’s offer to accompan
y him. Hugh was anxious to share the news with Paris and Ana so he asked that they be buzzed through again.
Olivia was now awake, and her first words were about Valerie’s condition. When she saw Ben she reached out for him. He came closer and she took his hand in both of hers. “Thank you for saving me,” she said, and then repeated it several times.
“Anytime,” he answered, trying to lighten the moment. “Like I always used to tell you after one of your ill-conceived pranks: Try to stay out of trouble.”
It was the first moment of lightness in such a long time, and they were still smiling when the curtain was pulled aside and a doctor entered, still wearing surgical scrubs. His expression was somber, and in Spanish he introduced himself as Doctor Garces, then told them to please wait. As a whole, they expected bad news about Valerie, but remained silent. A long minute later the nurse entered the cubicle and apologized to the doctor for making him wait. In passable English she told them she was there to interpret, that the doctor was concerned his dubious command of English might cause confusion when talking about the patient. They listened closely as each sentence was slowly translated into English. Valerie had survived the surgery—un milagro — he emphasized.
The nurse nodded and said, “Yes, a miracle.”
Doctor Garces continued and she translated. He cautioned them that although Valerie was stable at the moment, her ability to recover remained to be seen. Their relief was peppered with ongoing worry for the outcome. The doctor excused himself, but before he could leave, Paris asked to speak with him privately, along with the nurse who could translate. They stepped outside the cubicle where she asked him how long Olivia should stay in hospital, considering that taking her home would involve travel to England.
He informed Paris that speaking only of Olivia’s physical condition she could be discharged by morning but would be taken to a room if a vacancy opened up. He explained that the hospital was full due to the usual things that happen to tourists at the festival, and that he wasn’t referring only to accidents during the bull runs. She understood and said a room for Olivia wasn’t important, since she would likely leave the next day. Paris was told that the doctor had been contacted by the police commissioner’s office to say Olivia would not be permitted to leave until she had been questioned about her experience and what she may have overheard. She thanked them both and walked back into the cubicle. She told them what had to happen before they could leave. Hugh assured her that Interpol would intercede with the police and arrange for her statement to be taken in her hospital room.
Ana had barely taken her eyes off Ben. She could read the subtle signs that he was in pain. She had seen those same signs after the attack on the first night they met. Finally she spoke up and asked for a vote on how many thought he should be checked into emergency and looked over. He tried to minimize the obvious but was outnumbered. Ana led him away and said she would let them know how he was as soon as she could. A moment after they left, Olivia perked up and looked first at her mother then her father.
“All right, who is Ana? I’ve only been awake a few minutes, but the chemistry between them is too obvious to miss.” Hugh remained stoic, but Paris smiled and nodded her head in agreement. “Why didn’t I know about her?” Olivia asked.
“It’s all quite new,” Paris answered. “It’s a very long story, but basically they met for an interview at a pub in London. Ben was attacked outside as they were leaving—the first kidnap attempt. After some passersby drove the men off, she took charge of him and his injuries. The rest is history, as they say.”
“There’s more to it than that, my darling,” Hugh said. “He was attacked again the next day outside his flat.” Olivia became wide-eyed as he continued. “Ben brought her to the country for a few days—part of a plan to keep them both safe from whoever was after him.” That kidnapping was a failure, but the ‘mastermind’ had set a plan in motion to use you as backup. It wasn’t long until you were abducted and demands were made. Since you and Valerie were together, it was obvious they had to take her as well.” He paused, giving Olivia time to absorb the story. “It was an elaborate plan that was supposed to end with the perpetrators stealing a fortune in Spanish gold that was bound for display at the museum where your mother works. The kidnapping was all about manipulating her to cooperate.”
Paris sat on the bed beside her daughter and took her hand. “The success of their plan was supposed to be your ticket to freedom, but they didn’t succeed. Interpol was there to intercept them as they were caught opening what they thought were crates of antiquities.”
Olivia said, “But I heard that awful man who attacked Ben talking to somebody and telling them that they no longer needed us and that he was going to ‘tie up loose ends.’ I don’t think there was ever any intention to let us go.”
Hugh leaned in and put his hand gently on her shoulder. “The so-called ‘ticket to freedom’ didn’t exist. I believe he was going to kill you both—that it was the intention all along.” He paused while his daughter took in another disturbing fact.
Olivia began to cry softly and Paris reached up to stroke her hair. She seemed to be remembering something important. “What happened to the other man? No one spoke, so she asked again, “The young man? I knew him— in London. Said his name was Clive Warren. I met him through my job and we dated a few times. I really liked him, and he seemed to like me a lot too.” She stared at the ceiling and said, “Oh my God … I was really attracted to him, but I guess he was interested in me for another reason.” She looked up at her mother and said, “Imagine how I felt when he showed up in Spain and turned out to be one of our captors.”
“All part of someone’s elaborate plan—apparently that ‘someone’ was the man who died at the airport while trying to escape Interpol,” Hugh said, beginning to pace at the foot of her bed.
“But I don’t think he wanted to be there—Clive I mean,” Olivia said, looking puzzled. “At one point he tried to explain himself—something about danger to his brother. When push came to shove and he knew we were to be killed, he attacked that ugly hulk of a man who had chained us to the beds and practically starved us of food and water.”
Paris looked at Hugh and said, “There is no punishment that will satisfy me.” She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed at learning the details of what they had endured.
“They have been punished, Mum. They’re dead. Anyway, Clive temporarily got the best of the big guy, but shortly before that they struggled with a gun and Valerie was shot. They continued to struggle, and I remember the gun sliding into the room where we were.” Paris shook her head in disbelief but signaled her daughter to continue. “Clive— or whatever his name is—was— looked very fit. He held his own from what I could hear. He must have knocked the other guy silly for a minute before he got attacked again. Then Ben broke through the door and distracted the man. There was just enough time for Clive to free our wrists from the handcuffs. He told me to run, but I didn’t want to leave Valerie. He said if I didn’t go, I’d die. By that time the man had attacked Ben. I ran and it’s all a blur after that. I’m not really sure I’ve got it all straight.”
Hugh assured her that no one could account correctly for every moment when under such stress. He explained what he knew, that Ben and the man had fought, and that Valerie had managed to get off one fatal shot. Olivia said that Valerie’s shot was a miracle and that now she deserved a miracle of her own. Ana entered the cubicle and inadvertently interrupted the conversation. Concerned for her other child as well, Paris stood up and tensed her body.
“Nothing serious with Ben,” Ana reassured them. “Just bruises and a little re-injury of the tissue around his shoulder joint. No broken ribs or internal bleeding. They have him icing his jaw and shoulder, and we’re waiting now to see if they’ll release him soon. He was advised to rest for a day or two.” Now that she had relieved their minds she wanted to get back to him. “We’re about three cubicles down. I’m going back to make sure he does as he’s told.�
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When she had gone, Olivia became quite verbal about how she wanted Ben to be happy and hoped Ana would be right for him, but even though she had a good feeling about them, she would have to get to know Ana before passing judgment. Her strength was returning and she seemed almost euphoric. Then she started on the Ben-Valerie issue. She was sure that Valerie still loved him but knew it was over. She made a special point of the fact that in spite of great injury, and without thought for her own safety, she had managed to get to the gun, take some sort of aim and fire. Valerie’s concern was for Ben, not for herself. She put aside the self-centeredness that had been so damaging to their marriage. Olivia hoped that Ben would have an opportunity to thank her. Perhaps the animosity between them could be put to rest. After her comment that it’s always better to have an amicable divorce, she stopped chattering because a nurse came through with a tray of food. She set it before Olivia, kindly ordering her in Spanish to eat every bite in order to regain her strength. She complied.
* * *
The emergency room doctor had insisted that Ben lie down while waiting for the results of his jaw x-ray. Impatient and anxious to leave, Ben studied Ana as she sat beside the bed with her eyes closed. He wondered how she could relax at all considering the din outside their small curtained space. A moment later a nurse stuck her head in and told Ben there was an Inspector Macias waiting outside the emergency room.
Ben said, “If it’s allowed, send him in.”
“Sí, pero sólo cinco minutos,” she answered, turning away to fetch him.
The Inspector cautiously stuck his head through the opening in the curtains and said, “I’m told five minutes is my limit. Do you have any major injuries?” Ben shook his head no, and the inspector came into the cubicle. “Señor McKinnon, I have more information now than when we spoke at the Comisaria. El Superintendente de la Policía de Pamplona is now working with Interpol to bring this to a close. It is becoming evident how today’s events are related.” He paused a moment as his expression turned serious. “Yet it seems that you are directly related to another death.”
Good Deed Bad Deed : A Novel Mystery Page 30
