Mind Games by C.J. Deurloo - HTML preview

27

Several weeks later

“My husband was involved in a conspiracy to murder Senator Collins?” May asked perplexed. Sitting in the waiting room of St. Jonathan’s hospital, she held a Styrofoam cup with black coffee.

“Why would somebody want to do this?” Anna asked.

“Although there are many different nationalities and races living in America, there are still people in this country who believe they’re superior over other human beings,” Lieutenant Dupree explained.

“I still can’t believe why they took Anthony so far to kill another human being?” May asked.

“For years our ex-colleague, Detective Garnham, has been impersonating a 19th century scientist named Andrew Crosse. During this period, he manipulated your husband. He even found a way to trick the psychiatrists at St. Joseph’s where Anthony resided. Garnham had several men working for him. Without them, he never could have done this. In the Delphi Clinic, where your husband supposedly was to receive some sort of miracle cure, one of Garnham’s men replaced a chip that would have monitored Anthony’s progress with a different chip. This gave Garnham the opportunity to directly speak to your husband,” Dupree added.

“By the way, did they tell you how long it would take to recover the chip from his brain?” Peter Black addressed May.

“The doctors said it could take about six or more hours. When he wakes up he will be delighted when he hears he isn’t responsible for the Senator’s death,” May replied.

“Indeed he will,” Dupree said.

“How is the man doing?” Anna asked.

“He is doing very well; although I can’t reveal his whereabouts, he is thanking your husband for his bravery,” Dupree said.

“That leaves us with one last question. Who was the dead man you found inside the house where Anthony stayed?” Anna asked.

“He was one of the men who worked for Garnham,” Dupree answered.

“Why did Garnham have such a grudge against the Senator?” May asked.

“Both he and Mr. Collins were taken hostage during the Gulf War in 1992. Apparently, Mr. Collins managed to escape. Later he came back with a division of their marine force, although they failed to rescue Garnham. He never forgave Collins for this. The man was convinced the Senator had left him on purpose. The imprisonment with the hostage keepers must have made him insane,” Dupree explained.

“Nevertheless, he managed to get a job at the LAPD,” Peter Black said.

“Who can refuse an ex-marine?” Dupree replied.

“Perhaps you would like to meet somebody while you wait for your husband to come out of surgery?” Peter suddenly changed the subject.

May gazed puzzeled at the attorney. Who else would she like to meet more than her husband at this moment? However, since it was going to take at least another five hours before the doctors were finished operating, she agreed to see the mystery person.

May and Anna sat quietly in the back of Peter’s car, as they drove through the heavy traffic of LA With the windows wide open, their hair blew repeatedly across their faces. After driving for almost an hour, they pulled in alongside the Marina Del Rey. A magnificent schooner lay between several other yachts. On board of the vessel, a man in his fifties greeted them.

“Ladies and gentleman, allow me to invite you aboard the Aphrodite.”

Baffled about the situation, the invited party walked across the plank.

“Mr. Clark here is financing your husband’s operation,” Peter explained.

“We couldn’t just leave him with that chip in his head, couldn’t we now, ladies” Mr. Clark said. He was sorry Jazz Tyler had lost his life so tragically. If he’d only knew his beloved friend was involved with a madman, he would have done anything to save him. Jazz had been another one of Garnham’s victims, like Senator Collins and Antony Baker. It made him understand there were more important things than money. Learning the hard way, he began to understand the dangers of the medical experiments. Only when the scientists in the Thompson Research Station discovered the correct combination, the experiments on humans would recommence.

Returning to the hospital a few hours later, May found Anthony asleep in the ICU. A thrush sat quietly on the headboard of the bed. Lifting a leg, it seemed to greet her.

Surprised by the bird’s audacity, May took a seat on a chair beside Anthony. She alternated her gaze between him and the bird. At ten past five in the afternoon, Anthony opened his eyes. May carefully embraced him, she said, “A bird has been sitting at your bedside all the time you were sleeping. It seems to be waiting for you.”

“Yeah, she’s been looking after me,” Anthony replied.

“Who is she?”

“She is my mother.”