Sibling Rivalry

by E A Harvey

  Only later when they were alone did he tell Penny some of what had happened between him and Janet

  Chapter 46 Scott’s

  "Mrs Scott I am sorry to arrive at your door without letting you know I was coming but this whole affair is keeping me awake and giving me nightmares" said Sarah

  “Please don't worry Inspector I know you have a job to do even if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth".

  “I am starting to believe that after our time together you are getting to know me well".

  "You're correct, now what can I do for you”?

  "Truthfully Justine, have you heard from your daughter Penny in the last few days"?

  "No inspector I have not. I wish I had. That would, at least, mean she is alive"

  “And Janet where is she"?

  “Out at the moment but she will be back very shortly if you care to wait".

  At that moment the front door opened and Janet walked in.

  "Hello Inspector how are you? Can I help you with anything"?

  "I am fine thank you, have you had any news or heard from your sister by any chance".

  "No not at all. Has she been found, is she alive"?

  "No, I am sorry. It's just no matter how many times I add up all the facts, two and two never come back as four. Please, you never heard this from me, but I think she is alive.

  She was seen outside a restaurant where she dined with Bob Heath hours before she crashed her car. Did they stay friends after the breakup Justine?”

  “No certainly not. She moved to Paris to get away from it all”.

  “Justine, Janet, I feel I must ask you this but is Penny capable of murder”

  “Dear God inspector would in heavens name would make you ask such a question. Penny is a lovely caring girl. She would never harm anybody” said Penny.

  Sarah looked at Justine who held her face in horror shaking her head.

  “Sorry but it needed asking. If I hear any news I will call you immediately” said Sarah and, with that, she left the Scott’s home.

  “Penny darling what is all this about? I not sure I can go on with this pretence much longer. I am such a bad liar, and now the Inspector thinks you or Janet is capable of murder”

  “Trust me mother. Just a little bit longer. Please it is so very important”.

  Chapter 47 Awake

  “Officer just to let you know our young lady is awake, she is trying to speak but nothing she says makes any sense, just a few jumbled words at best “said the Doctor.

  “Can we talk to her doctor and see if she can tell us who she is or where she comes from"? “Five minutes officer but I am sure you will learn nothing"

  The policeman sat by the bedside and asked questions.

  She could hear him, and she wondered why he was speaking French to her.

  She so wanted to answer but nothing came out of her mouth instead she started to cry.

  "A few days’ time and the bandages will be coming off and then we might get a better idea about who she is, then maybe some more pictures”.

  "That's good that will be a lot of help, at present we have no other leads”

  "We are still hopeful that there will be no brain damage. Truthfully I am still amazed how this woman is still alive.

  "Thank you doctor, an officer will be posted outside her room at all times just to make sure there are no more attempts on her life.

  If there is any change please contact the office on duty immediately”

  “Of course, if there is the slightest improvement”

  Chapter 48 Adele

  "Pierre, would it be alright if I used your car for a few days"?

  “Of course Gabrielle, where are you off to"?

  "I want to take Mummy to see Auntie Patrice, I am afraid she is back in the hospital, her injury is playing up again. It seems it’s infected"

  "That's a shame. Well you give mother my love and Aunt Patrice, of course and wish her well, and you take care. I need you safe”

  "Thank you, Pierre. I certainly will, and I will see you as soon as I can".

  She kissed him goodbye.

  Gabrielle collected her mother and they started the journey to the hospital.

  “Please do not worry Mummy I am sure Auntie Patrice will be fine".

  “Oh I do hope so Gabrielle but she is getting on“

  "Well you will see for yourself soon. It's only an hour or so away. How are you darling? Are you feeling any better over the loss of your dear friend?"

  "Not really Mummy. I cry myself to sleep every night and pray they will find her alive".

  "Never give up hope Gabrielle. Never give up hope".

  Gabrielle and her mother sat next to the bed and chatted away to Patrice. The injury to her leg had become badly inflamed and swollen but the doctor had said that it would be fine once the antibiotics started to take a hold. They would keep her in the hospital to keep an eye on it.

  "Mother, Aunty Patrice, can I go to the cafeteria and get you a coffee or a snack”?

  "No thank you darling I am fine" said her mother

  "Not for me either, thank you, I have already had one” said her aunt

  "Fine, I will not be too long. I just need to stretch my legs and I fancy a drink".

  Gabrielle wandered off with no idea where the cafeteria was and soon found she was completely lost.

  "Excuse me, nurse. Could you help me? I am afraid I have no idea where I am".

  "I will if I can, Miss. where are you trying to get to"?

  “The cafeteria if possible, I am gasping for a coffee or a drink of some kind”/

  "That I can help you with, follow me, you're a long way off track".

  They walked around the centre, chatting until they came to the cafeteria.

  "Here we go. By the way, my name is Adele. No not the singer".

  They both laughed.

  "Hello Adele, not the singer, I am Gabrielle, please let me buy you your coffee".

  "Oh no that's fine, I don't need you to pay and I am sure I can get yours".

  Adele came back with two coffees and sat down.

  "I take it you are not a patient Gabrielle or am I wrong"?

  “Oh no I am here with my mother who is visiting my aunt".

  "Nothing too serious I hope"?

  "No it's just an old injury which has flared up once more. The doctor has got her back in for observation more than anything".

  "What about you Adele. How long have you been a nurse? Do you like what you do and are you intending going further in your career"?

  "No I am where I want to be. I have been qualified four years and I just love it. Even if I am underpaid" she laughed.

  "And you, Gabrielle, do people call you Gabby or do you hate your pretty name being shortened"?

  With that, a tear rolled down her cheek which she quickly wiped away

  "I am so sorry Gabrielle have I said something to upset you, I really didn't mean to".

  “Oh please it's not your fault. It's just my dearest friend who always called me Gabby is missing and feared dead"

  "That is so very sad Gabrielle do you want to talk about it or is it too painful"?

  "Really there is not a lot to tell. She crashed her car into the river Seine and she has never been found"

  “How long ago was this"? Adele asked quite excitedly.

  "It was some weeks ago, but why do you ask? Do you know something"?

  "No, I am sorry. It's just that we have a young woman in the intensive care unit who we believe was in the river near the bird sanctuary and we have no idea who she is. Also, and you never heard this from me, she had been shot"

  "The poor thing how long has she been here in the centre”?

  “To tell the truth I am not sure, I am not on duty in ICU, but stories of who she might be have been buzzing around the centre. She has become quite the celebrity. Could it be your friend by any chance”?

  "No it couldn't be. Nobody would want to hurt Penny, Out of curiosity though, what does your patient look l
ike"?

  "Well, her bandages came off yesterday and I must say, now that the bruising has gone down a little, she is very pretty. What about your friend, is she pretty"?

  “Penny is not pretty. Penny is the most beautiful girl you have ever seen. She has the most beautiful blonde hair and wonderful blue eyes".

  By now Gabrielle tears were flowing freely

  "Oh, you poor girl" she said handing Gabrielle a table napkin”.

  Just then a doctor walked in

  "Nurse what's happening here. Is this young lady alright? Is she ill"?

  “No doctor she is fine. Just upset about her missing friend".

  “Missing friend? Could she be our mystery girl in ICU nurse"?

  “No doctor her friend was in a car accident”.

  "Well take her round to ICU anyway. It won't hurt. See the nurse on duty and tell her and the WPC stationed there that I said you can both visit"

  "Fine doctor, what do you think Gabrielle? Is that alright with you"?

  "Why not Adele, it’s not as though it can do any harm. And then, if you can spare the time, you can help me get back to my mother and aunt. They will think I have been kidnapped".

  They walked back the way they had come and then took a detour down one of the side passages until they came to a ward marked ICU. A woman police officer was sat outside.

  Adele spoke to the police officer who popped her head around the door and called the nurse. The nurse came out and spoke to Adele. The WPC looked at Gabby and then waved them both into the ward.

  "Please do not be too long and try not to tire her she is a very ill young lady" said the nurse.

  Chapter 49 Identıty

  Gabrielle and Adele walked into the ICU and the duty nurse guided them around to the side of the bed. She lifted the sheet which had partly covered the girl's face.

  “Oh my God she screamed, it's Penny my wonderful sister you’re alive. Oh thank God he has given you back to me“

  Adele and the other nurse had to stop Gabrielle physically cuddling her.

  By now Gabrielle was sobbing uncontrollably and she did not care who saw her.

  The police officer came in from the hallway to see what the noise was.

  Gabrielle was trying hard to talk through her tears but she had no control of her emotions and the harder she tried to talk the more she cried.

  "Penny darling talk to me please. Please get well and come home, please”.

  More sobbing and tears followed that one sentence.

  By now the patient's doctor had arrived.

  "I am sorry but who are you and what's your relationship with our mystery girl”

  "My name is Gabriel DuPont and her name is Penny Scott. She is my best friend and she is English and she is going to marry my brother as soon as you get her well and I can take her home. When will that be doctor"?

  “One thing at a time Miss DuPont you said she is English"?

  “Yes and she crashed her car into the Seine and disappeared".

  "But that's not possible she has been shot. There was no car involved as far as we know".

  "Shot, what do you mean shot. Who would want to shoot Penny"?

  "Are you sure this is your friend could you be mistaken"?

  "I don't mean to be rude but are you stupid? This is my future sister in law. We live together in Paris. She is engaged to my brother and when he gets here stand back because he will squeeze her so hard she might go pop"

  The policewoman on duty had by now rang her senior and given him the news that the girl had been identified, or so it seemed.

  Gabby had now calmed down enough to think a little straighter.

  "You must excuse me but I have a few phone calls to make that’s after I find my mother, who really will think I have got lost, Adele would you mind showing me back to where my mother is please"?

  “Of course I will what ward is she at"?

  “Sorry I have not the faintest idea”

  “Let me take you to the main ward area and I am sure you will remember. If not we will look up your aunt's name and ward".

  "Would you mind coming back here after you have spoken to your mother, I am sure my senior will want to talk to you once he arrives”? Said the police officer

  “Yes of course, I want to be near to her, be with her when she wakes up”

  Eventually, Adele got her back to her mother and aunt.

  "Gabrielle where have you been, we were so worried about you. What has happened and why have you been crying. What's the matter" asked her mother

  "Mummy, Penny is alive. She is in this hospital, she is very ill, but she is alive".

  And the tears started once more.

  "That's wonderful news darling. So she got out of her car, she never drowned? I don't need to ask how happy that's made you, do I?

  She got up and cuddled her daughter and she began to cry as well.

  "Now I must telephone Pierre, Mummy. He is never going to believe that Penny is alive. He has been so unhappy recently. I can't wait to tell him".

  "Then go phone him, darling, go".

  Chapter 50 Who

  "Penny. My name is Penny Scott and I am English, but who are all these people”?

  “Who is this woman who seems to love me so very much”?

  “I heard her say I am going to marry her brother, shot, car crash in the river”.

  “Is her name Gabrielle”?

  “How long have I been here”?

  “Nurses and Doctors why’

  “What does it all mean”?

  “Oh, my aching head, will it ever stop”?

  “Why won’t my eyes stay open”?

  “Why can't I talk”?

  “Someone help me, please".

  Chapter 51 News

  "Pierre, Darling. It's Gabrielle and it's so very important. Please call me back the moment, the very moment, do you understand, that you get this message".

  Next, she called Peter Scott

  "Hello Peter. Is that you? It's Gabrielle. Yes I am fine thank you. Peter, I have some wonderful news darling, its Penny she is alive".

  "Alive? Gabrielle, sorry I don't understand. What are you saying? What's happened? Where is she”?

  "Peter I am telling you, Penny, is alive and she is in a hospital, the same hospital as my Auntie.

  "Hospital, where did they find her, you sure, how did she get there"?

  "I have no idea how she got here, but it is definitely her. I have seen her and talked to her. She is not really awake. She seems to drift in and out of a consciousness but she is alive. Isn't it wonderful news"?

  “Gabrielle, yes its fantastic news I can't wait to tell mother and Penny, Janet I mean”

  "Go then darling and tell them, I will talk to you soon, love you, bye".

  As Gabrielle rang off from talking to Peter her phone rang

  "Gabrielle. It's Pierre what is so urgent? Your message sounded as though you were very excited. What is it, is our aunt alright, what about mother?”

  “Pierre. It's Penny I have found her, she is alive".

  "Oh my God you sure where is she is she ok"?

  "Pierre, she is a hospital, the same hospital as Auntie Patrice. Just get here as quickly as you can please. Ask for ICU when you arrive".

  "Alright darling but as you have my car I will have to come by taxi. Love you. See you soon”.

  Chapter 52 Truth

  Peter knocked on his sister's bedroom.

  "Come in. Hello Peter, are you ok? Is something wrong"?

  “I have just had a phone call from Gabrielle"

  "How is she? What did she want? Is Pierre alright"?

  "They are both fine. She rang to tell me that they have found Janet and she is alive. She is in a hospital in France and Gabrielle says that she is in some sort of coma".

  "Oh my god Peter, how wonderful, you did not kill her. Now you don't need to worry all this charade was for nothing. When she recovers she will tell everyone it was an accident and that you did not mean to shoot her". />
  “No, it's not over Penny. There is more, much more, to this than I told you. You can't tell anyone that it's really Janet in the hospital. Please sit down and listen to me and let me explain why we must keep everyone in the dark for now".