by E A Harvey
Chapter 57 Comrades
Rene De Salis arrived at the hospital two hours after the phone call from his old friend. He found the ICU and Pierre and Gabrielle DuPont plus Detective Robert Franc waiting outside the ward. The two old friends shook hands.
“It’s been a long time Robert”.
" It certainly has old friend. When we leave the hospital Rene, a glass of wine for old times’ sake, agreed?
“Agreed most heartedly”
"I understand you already know Mr and Miss DuPont, Rene"?
"I certainly do Robert. How are you both"? He shook their hands.
"The Chief Inspector has filled me in with his part in all this over the phone; London and the rest and I have informed him of what little I know. But still we cannot understand the time difference between the accident and the shooting”.
"May I suggest that we go and see Miss Scott" said Rene
They walked quietly into the ward.
"I am sorry but I needed to see for myself that your patient was really Penny Scott. I am off to London to meet the Scott family and find out what has got DI Sarah Daniels in such a state.
"I thought she would be part of the reason for your trip" Robert said, laughing.
Rene said goodbye to Pierre and Gabrielle.
"Robert can we have a word outside" said Rene
“Look, we are going to take a rain check on the wine. I am sorry but what say we meet in Paris next week and we will share a bottle or two"?
“That's fine Rene when you get back from London you’re in the chair“
They shook hands and Rene left the hospital.
The first thing he did when he got back to Paris was to call Sarah.
"Hello Sarah I am sorry it's so late but I thought you would want to know. Penny Scott is alive and in a hospital about an hour or so from Paris"
"Hi Rene, it’s nice to hear from you even at this hour. So she did not drown after all"
"Sarah there is more. No she did not drown she was shot in the head. There is no way of telling if there is brain damage but the one thing which is sure, there is no chance to question her at this time".
“So she was at the cottage"?
"Yes, she was most definitely. Also, I met Pierre and Gabrielle DuPont there and an old friend who is now also on the case. But I will tell you more when I get to London"
"When are you coming"?
"Hopefully tomorrow, when I get off the phone I will try book a flight or Eurostar".
"Ok Rene let me know the details and I will collect you. Good night".
"Goodnight to you too Sarah, see you soon”
Next day
"Penny that was DI Daniels on the telephone, she and a policeman from France will be calling later today, so now will you tell me what's been going on? I said nothing when you lied about being Janet because I trusted you. This involves Peter doesn't it? Is he in trouble? Are you both in trouble”?
"Mummy, you may hear something terrible today but please if you love Peter remember I am still Janet, I will explain everything after the police leave just trust me please".
"Where is Peter? Has he gone back to work? He never said goodbye this morning, I thought I heard him leave early"
"I am really not sure Mummy, but he will call".
Later In the day Rene and Sarah arrived
"Good afternoon Mrs Scott, Miss Scott. This is Chief Inspector Rene De Salis. He is from Paris and he is a very old friend".
"It's like looking at the same person. You are the double of your sister" said Rene
"An old friend of Sarah’s, then I am pleased to meet you Inspector, and what is this Mrs Scott thing, it is still Justine".
"Thank you, Justine, but when you hear my news you may not be happy to see me".
"Is it my daughter? Have you found her? Is she alive"?
"Yes we have found her Justine. But she has been shot".
"Shot please tell me that you made a mistake. Who would shoot my daughter? Is she alive? She said glaring at Penny
"Yes Justine she is alive and we believe she will recover but she has had a bullet removed from her head. There could be brain damage but the signs are good, the Chief Inspector saw her yesterday"
“Please tell me that she will be alright Chief Inspector. Why have I not been contacted earlier"? "The doctor I saw yesterday said that she should have died but because of her will to survive and her strength he thinks she would pull through" said Rene
"Also Miss Scott an old boyfriend of your sister or so we thought, a Mr Heath, was with her.
Sadly he was shot to death “said Rene
"Oh my god poor Bobby" said Penny.
"How terrible, the poor boy" said Justine.
"Where is your son Peter, Justine” asked Sarah
"He left this morning he has gone back to work I think he is flying off somewhere. I will let him know about his sister as soon as he calls".
"Mrs Scott do you have any idea who would want to hurt your daughter and Mr Heath" asked Rene.
"Nobody, she is such a gentle person. Where was she when she was hurt"?
"Yes, sorry. They were at a cottage in France which is owned by Mr Heath's family".
"Could they have been victims of a robbery or was Mr Heath in some sort of trouble"?
"A robbery is a possibility. But if Mr Heath was in trouble with the wrong people, they would have left both bodies where they were as a warning I would think".
"Both the bodies you said, was she moved, where did you find her"?
"I am so sorry Justine; I hoped I would not need to tell you. We believe she was left in a river in an animal sanctuary but that she managed to crawl to a road where she was found by a lorry driver. He took her to the hospital, he is the reason she is still alive".
"Where is my daughter Sarah? I need to get to her as soon as possible".
"She is in hospital some distance from Paris, I have written all the details down for you" said Rene.
"There is something I would like to add to what has been said today. On the way here something crossed my mind which has sort of been lost, and that was Brian Peters. He was the reason all of this began. Patrick was the only one who knew him, and yet he has led us to this family, and then onto Robert Heath. The only reason, because he was Penny's ex-boyfriend, we then crossed the channel and that led us to the DuPont family. Is Brian Peters the link which will give us the answers? What is his connection in all this”? Said Sarah.
No one answered.
"Miss Scott I am not sure if you're aware but there is a time difference from when your sister was shot and when she crashed the car, any ideas"? Asked Rene
“None I am afraid. I was in the UK at the time as you know".
Later when they left the Scott's home
"I may never prove it Rene but they know so much more than they are letting on, I know it, I just know it. Did you see the way Justine looked at her daughter when I mentioned the shooting”?
Chapter 58 Visitors
Travelling back and forth to the UK was out of the question so a double room in a small local hotel would be ideal.
Justine and Penny made regular visits but Penny always checked with the hospital that there were no other visitors. She told the doctors that they did not want to meet the DuPont family because of personal differences. One being that her mother thought that, had it not been for the DuPont’s, her daughter would be in England and safe. The hospital agreed to their request.
Penny always dressed casually, wore her hair under a scarf and when possible a pair of sunglasses, anything to disguise the likeness between the two of them.
Justine asked many times for the truth; the facts, but Penny always protected her brother and wondered how her mother would react if she knew the truth about her beloved son.
How do you also explain that her beloved son is also her daughter, that’s hard enough I am sure if it’s because he is transgender, but Peter is what.
"Please mother what has happened has nothing to do
with Peter, and Janet would agree with what we are doing, trust me".
Peter had disappeared, maybe on a routine flight somewhere, but Penny doubted it.
By now Janet had started to talk, just a few words. Her speech was slurred but understandable. She had no idea who she was other than that her name was Penny Scott, engaged to a very handsome man and her best friend was Gabby, short for Gabriele. She had a sister named Janet and that they were twins. Also she knew she had a brother named Peter who she had never met. Her mother's name was Justine and father's name was Lawrence. She learned this parrot fashion to keep her brain working.
She had some idea what had happened to her and it was thought better that she did not know all the facts.
"Hello darling how are you feeling today? We saw daddy today and he sends his love. He is sorry that he can't visit you, but said he will when he is better".
"Hello" Janet struggled to say, the words hardly audible.
"Hello sister your speech is getting better and better, that’s wonderful".
"I know what, what I want, want to say but have trouble saying it" she blurted out.
The next visit
Darling do you remember anything about your past life," asked Justine.
"Oh yes Mummy, every day, sometimes just a silly little thing”
"Like what baby"?
"Oh I don't know. The swing daddy tried to build but he ended up buying one I think".
"You remember that darling? That's so special".
Later
"Penny this cannot go on. Every day Janet gets stronger, thankfully, but everyday Pierre grows further away from you. Don't you think it's time to tell him the truth before it's all too late"?
"Mummy, so much of what's happened is my fault, so how can I stand in the way of her recovery and her future happiness. I can't".
"Why is it your fault? You were not holding the gun. You did not shoot her and what about your happiness"?
"Maybe when she is fully recovered, maybe then, let’s wait and see.
The following day Penny went back to the UK to make sure her father was ok.
She had made up her mind not to visit Janet again for a very long time
Chapter 59 Memorıes
"Why are we never here at the same time as Janet? Why does she not want to see us, Pierre?
It makes no sense”.
"When I spoke to Justine she told me that it's because of what happened between Penny and Janet over Penny's last boyfriend, the one who was killed".
“But why does that concern us"?
"Janet promised Peter and Penny that she would never again be alone with Penny’s boyfriend and, although it seems silly now, Janet wants to stay true to her sister until she fully recovers. Yes it's ridiculous but when things are the way they are stupid things take on different meanings".
"Yes I suppose I get it. Actually I don't really, but Janet has gone back to London so it does not matter”.
Weeks later
"Penny how are you feeling today darling? You're looking great and getting back to your beautiful self once more," said Pierre
"Better darling, every day better than the day before, I have more and more memories flooding back, of Mummy and Peter and even one at a big stately home with pictures everywhere”
“That’s wonderful; soon it will be time for you to return home baby".
“I hope so Pierre. I do hope so”
“Hi Gabby, where have you been, I thought you were not coming”.
"Actually I was getting you a couple of magazines from the store, but it's a sign you're getting better. You're getting bossy".
"Sadly, my sister has not visited lately. Did you know I think she looks a lot like me".
"Not as beautiful, I bet. Hopefully, we will get to meet her soon" said Pierre.
“I do hope so. I want us all to be such great friends,” said Gabby.
But not if she had anything to do with what has happened. She thought
Chapter 60 Confused
‘George, I honestly do not know which way to turn with this case. The chief has told us to shelve it for the time being. For the first time in my career I am beaten. It’s gone on for months now and still we are no nearer to solving it. Penny Scott is the only one who knows the truth about what happened at the cottage and the doctors are saying it could take years for her to remember; if she ever does. The blonde, with the nice legs, in the Brian Peters murder, has disappeared off the face of the earth. Paula Costa, for a while, was a good bet. I thought it might be her but; of course, she was with Patrick for part of that weekend and her boss for the other half.
Janet Scott was in bed with flu. Her mother and Patrick Scott were her alibi. Peter Scott seemed a possibility but he was straight or so it seems. He has disappeared now but I would like to chat with him once more, even though I have run out of questions for him. His mother tells me that his sister's near death and Mr Heath's upset him so much he has taken on more work with the airline. She knows where he is and if we really need to contact him it's not a problem".
“Ma'am you gave this case all you had and I am sure you would have beaten it if one witness had not got himself killed and the second had not lost her memory".
"Maybe George, but one thing, no there were lots of things, but one of the things which puzzles me was why was a woman newly engaged to a very handsome man, she had all but sorted out her wedding, the dress was already hanging in a wardrobe somewhere, even down to the shoes, why was she with her ex? Maybe he wanted her back and they arranged to meet and fell back in love, unless of course, no, no I thought of that before"
“What's on your mind Ma'am"
"Unless Penny Scott's is really Janet Scott, no that's ridiculous. That would mean the whole family are in on it. Maybe even the DuPont family"
“Yes ma'am and I am the Pied Piper" said the Sergeant.
Chapter 61 Discharged
Many weeks later
"Miss Scott, Penny, we think you're ready to go home, we have done all we can for you here. The rest is up to you. Have you made up your mind where you will live? Will you stay in Paris or return to the UK? Before you decide, can I say that it would be easier for you and the hospital if you stayed in France? You will need regular check-ups and we will be pleased to see how you are recovering” said her doctor.
"For now it's definitely Paris, I have a wedding to prepare for if he will still have me. Also, I will try to get my sister to come and stay with me for a while. We have a lot of problems between us to sort out. Once I feel I can travel I will return to London to see my father. Mummy says he is very ill. She feels he has only stayed alive to see me, although he knows nothing about what has gone on. Can you hear me, doctor; I am telling you all my problems".
"Penny you have been with us for quite some time now, you’re almost part of the family, we will be almost sad to lose you. We have seen you grow from that, if you will excuse me, from that ugly drowned rat that arrived, into a very beautiful woman. Between you and me I think a couple of the junior doctors are in love with you. And who can blame them”?
They sat together laughing.
"You look, happy darling, what have you and the doctor been up, I hope you’re behaving yourself” said Gabby as she and Pierre walked into the ward.
"He said that he has had enough of me and that he wants me out of his hospital isn't that sad".
"No that's wonderful my Angel. When can she leave doctor"?
"Let's say the day after tomorrow. There will be some paperwork and also I would like to do a few more small tests, but then she is all yours".
"Good. That will give us the chance to get things ready at home for you" said Pierre.
"You look thoughtful Pierre, what's on your mind"? Asked Gabby.
"Nothing really, not really”
Gabby gave him a look which said something's not right.
“Mummy will be here tomorrow so I can give her the good news”.
After a brief visit, Gabby and Pierre lef
t to return to Paris.
"Well, what was that all about brother of mine"?
“What was what all about sister"?
"You know darn well what I am talking about, that look"?
“What look"?
“Don't piss about, that look when you knew Penny was coming home".
"Sis, I have never given a thought to her coming back to live with you or even me for that matter because all this time it's been about Penny almost dying and then about her learning to talk and after that her almost complete recovery"