Chapter 21
Sydney - Wednesday: October 5
The rest of the story I learned from Steve and Maria.
I awoke in a sterile hospital room aboard the US carrier. They had taken me there so that there would be no paperwork, questions and delays. I was very happy with the choice - what better place to get 'fixed-up' from injuries received in the 'line of duty'?
Apparently, our good mate: Jonesy boy; only needed a little convincing to give up his information in total. I think he even confessed to having sex with his dog. But, I may be wrong.
Within a few hours there were seven mysterious explosions around the globe - all of them involved unregistered cargo boats anchored in unconfirmed locations. They carried their undeclared and radioactive cargo, on a last journey: right to the bottom of the crystal blue ocean.
Good old Jonesy also gave up the rest of his mates. The group had nothing to do with any Muslims; it was some splinter group of a Neo-Nazi cult. They were trying to resurrect the third Reich - what better way to do that than by destroying civilization first?
They had posed as Arab terrorists in case their plot was discovered. That way, blame would be affixed on another of the many races they hated. Like all racists, they had not bothered to learn about their enemies and could not leave the bacon at home. I guess that when you are a racist ignorance works a lot better for you than knowledge.
"I think we have the lot rounded up now. The cult was quite extensive and worldwide. But it wasn't very hard to track down; each one we captured gave up his partners-in-hate, easily and quickly. As you would expect, their main common trait was cowardliness." Maria said. She was sitting on the side of my bed; Steve was sitting on the other side. He did not look good; his face was a mess of bandages, eyes black and swollen. He at least could still walk around.
"Funny thing," she continued. "They all resisted arrest and were fatally wounded," And then she smiled. Steve and I tried to smile back, it must have looked like a sick horror show.
Sometime later in one of my few moments of consciousness I asked Steve, what had happened to Jones once he had spilled his guts. He said that I should not worry about it; apparently, he had resisted arrest too.
Our promise fulfilled; I rested more peacefully then.
The knife in my leg eventually left a nasty, nasty scar. It was an even nastier and painful wound. The initial thrust and the twisting had cut a few tendons and messed up quite a bit of muscle tissue, but fortunately it had just nicked the femoral artery, any more damage and I would not be writing this.
I was told that I would be in bed for a few weeks and that I would be limping for the rest of my life. I wasn't unhappy though, everyone agreed that it had been a sheer miracle that I hadn't died from the infection and septicaemia the dirt on that knife had caused.
A considerable portion of the muscle tissue in my thigh had to be removed before the infection spread to other parts of the body. I was lucky to live through it. I was lucky to have two legs. I would have been luckier with no injuries at all ? but you can't have everything, huh?
The thoughtful navy surgeon had cleaned the knife for me and left it next to my bed as a souvenir. My shoulder wound was fairly clean, and had missed everything major on its way through me. Although painful, it did not prove to be too troublesome.
For a while, Maria and Steve were my only visitors. They spent quite a bit of time trying to get me to talk or laugh, knowing full well that it was painful to do so. But, what are friends for?
Once I was out of danger, my family was helicoptered-in to visit me. Mum brought us some of her home cooking. She loved being able to spoon-feed her 'little boy' once more. Federico, more commonly known as Rico, my GP brother checked me out from head to toe and declared me well looked after. Mum hugged every nurse and naval doctor that entered my room, and ensured they did not leave my room with empty stomachs.
Pip described their utter surprise when a huge UH-60 Black Seahawk helicopter had actually landed in my parent's back paddock. That surprise was only surpassed when Maria in a US navy uniform had stepped out from it. She had explained a little of what had happened and then she had herded all of them aboard to be flown to the aircraft carrier. Dad said that he could not be any prouder of his youngest son. Maybe, I wasn't the black sheep after all.
Later into the second week, even Commander Hoyt dropped in for a visit. He did not bring flowers or chocolates, but brought a handsome walking stick, very much like his own.
"I am told that you will be needing one of these. This one has been in my family since the Civil war and is a twin of my own. I would like you to have it, son," he said to me with a serious expression. I was rendered speechless for a few moments.
"Thank you, Sir ? thank you very much ? it will be an honour, Sir." I said gruffly, words seemed to get caught in my throat.
"No, son, thank you ? and thank you Steve, without your help, well ? we would not be here. I am sure of it," he answered firmly.
On the point of leaving, Hoyt turned to me and asked, "I believe that during this investigation you lost some one near and dear to your heart, Louie?"
"Yes ? Doris," I remembered sadly.
"Well son, the Smithsonian in Washington had an Eldorado in new and in immaculate condition, just as it came off the assembly line. It is been flown here as we speak, it took a few days because the steering had to be changed to right-hand drive. Doris II will be there waiting for you at your flat," he said, and smiling turned and walked out, his stick tap-tapping along.
I was surprised and elated, the smile spreading my sore mouth, pain forgotten. Just then a thought clouded my brow, and as usual, Steve read my mind. "Don't worry mate, I am being well looked after too," he assured me, and we all laughed once more.
Later, near the end of my convalescence, Maria's and I found ourselves alone. I felt a heavy weight on my chest; finally, I had to broach the subject that was worrying me.
"I guess you won't be coming back to work?" I asked Maria.
"No I guess not," she said.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"I am not sure, I guess there will be another assignment, another emergency, another panic button to push," she said. But, there was no enthusiasm in her voice.
"I don't suppose you would consider staying here?" I asked with my heart racing.
"Here? In Australia? Why would I do that, Louie?" she asked, surprised.
"You could stay here ? with ? err ? me, as partners," I choked.
"Mmm ? I'll think about it. " She said non-committedly.
"Err ? you could also ? err ? marry me?" I blurted out.
She looked at me for what seemed a very long time. I was convinced I had made a complete fool of myself. Why would she want me? She had much better, more intelligent choices; maybe she even had someone back in the US. What an idiot I had been.
But suddenly she smiled that killer smile, and the room filled with light, "Mmm ? I might do that ? and then again ? I might marry Steve ? or maybe both?" And she laughed her throaty laughter.
"Maria! That's not funny!" I said seriously. But, her laughter was infectious and I finally joined her, ignoring the pain.
Just then, Steve entered the room. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Maria is going to marry both of us," I answered, between spasms of laughter.
"That's not funny!" he said seriously.
"Ditto," I said, and we all collapsed in another fit of mindless laughter.
Epilogue
Press release - Sydney Friday October 5
Two for the price of one: Paedophile ring uncovered & Serial killer stopped.
In an extraordinary police statement, the Commissioner informed the press that a vicious paedophile ring had been uncovered when a man was arrested for the murder of seven of his companions in crime.
His name remains undisclosed at present, but evidence was found in his home of his involvement in killing seven of the members of the paedophile ring, because of fea
rs that one of them would confess to the police and hence expose his involvement.
As expected, the man denies killing anyone, but police Detectives Steve Lucas and Mike Chen confirmed today that the evidence against the man was substantial, and that it included the murder weapon as confirmed by ballistic examination and finger print evidence.
Detective Lucas said that the murderer must have stolen the murder weapon from the house of his first victim, the renown Industrialist Ian Harrison, who is also believed to have been part of the paedophile ring. The accused is to be remanded in Parramatta court on Tuesday. The rest of the men involved in the paedophile ring have also been arrested. All will be charged later in the week. Fear for their safety while in jail has resulted in their isolation until a trial date can be set.
The killer put down the paper and looked at his small son playing in the park. Finally, a measure of peace was his and he smiled at Frankie, who by some magical coincidence, looked up just then. Looked up to check that his dad was still there and would always be there to love him and protect him.
THE END
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