BEYOND THE SPRING

by Mike S Martin

  Richards froze to the spot at the last sentence not sure if he had heard Mrs Jones clearly, his mind now working overtime, his expression not betraying his emotions

  “Yes Susan’s been quite ill recently so I haven’t seen her” replied Richards now intently studying the two in front of him.

  “Oh I’m sorry to hear that” replied Mrs Jones confusion written all over her face. “She certainly hid it well when she was here”

  Richards felt his adrenalin surge through him as his suspicions that had been put away through respect and hope were now on fire.

  “Was she here when her grandmother passed away?” asked a caring Richards.

  “Thankfully yes, Gwendolyn would have liked that. It was as though Susan knew her grandmother was about to take a turn for the worse because we had not seen her here for maybe three months when she came with her husband and son. Then she arrived and within three hours Gwendolyn had passed away”

  “Oh it’s good Susan was there for her. Anyway thank you once again, I’ll find my own way out” replied a now alert Alex Richards.

  He walked back to the reception area with his suspicions confounded. Although he dared not think it, mainly for Wyre and Oliver’s sake his experience had told him not every picture tells the right story. On reaching the car he dialled the phone number for the local police station in Tunbridge Wells. When the station officer answered Alex never hesitated in stating his demands. The body of Mrs Smith was to have a full criminal autopsy on suspicion of murder. His next job was to search the family tree of Mrs Gwendolyn Smith in the hope of uncovering some home truths. Alex Richards started his car and headed back to Bristol as he now had some thinking to do. Not only was Susan still alive but she had also killed the old woman to cut all ties. The questions now were how and why? Worst of all he was now faced with the prospect of informing Wyre what he had found.

  *

  1 Month Later.

  “Wyre Dr Montgomery is on his way” whispered the nurse as she dimmed the lights in the room.

  Wyre just about managed a forced smile but didn’t make eye contact as all his focus was on Oliver. They both lay next to each other in bed with Wyre stroking his son’s face whispering his love to him. Oliver was too weak to respond and also had been in and out of consciousness for the last few days. His intense round of treatment meant his hair had now all but gone. Wyre’s experience as a doctor told him Oliver’s life was nearly over which is why he had asked for the tubes and intravenous drips to be removed to make Oliver more comfortable. Sitting up on the bed he carefully picked Oliver up and held him in his arms tightly. Wyre’s breathing became shallower as he tried to listen to his sons breathing and feel his heart beat to see if it was still there. Many times Wyre had done this before on the streets of some war torn country making him long for home and to hold his own son who was full of love, life and laughs. Montgomery quietly entered the room and approached them both. Under normal circumstances Montgomery would have checked the patient and sat with the relative to comfort them and to inform them that the patient had passed away. This time Montgomery leant in closer to check the boy then drifted towards the seats in the window where Alex Richards was sitting. Montgomery glanced at Richards and with a flick of the head pleaded with him to follow him towards the back of the room. The doctor turned to face Richards.

  “Do you think he will be alright?”

  Richards turned his head towards father and son as Wyre could be heard talking to Oliver.

  “He’s strong enough to deal with this if that’s what you’re asking” replied Alex quietly.

  Montgomery leant in even closer and turned the quiet chat into a whisper.

  “Alex I need to tell you something”

  Richards didn’t react but just waited to hear what the doctor had to say.

  “There has been a security breech here at the hospital”

  “What do you mean? In what way?”

  “We’re not sure yet……..but we think it might be a rogue doctor”

  Richards didn’t react and let Montgomery finish.

  “I’m sure they’ve been in here, as for what they want who knows? If Bostock were still alive then I’m sure it would have something to do with him but my source in the government tells me that Cameron feels that you are no longer a threat and his focus is elsewhere. There are only three people who it could be and one of those could be here tonight…..as long as they think the boy is still alive”

  Richards nodded and stared at Montgomery not wanting to think the unthinkable. The expression on Montgomery’s face told Richards they were thinking the same thing and that they had heard of this type of thing happening before. If their gut feeling was right then maybe Bostock was also right by saying this was bigger than they could imagine. It certainly might be larger than anything Richards had been involved in before whilst working for Bostock. Richards looked over to Wyre and Oliver then back at Montgomery.

  “I’ll stay here tonight”

  Richards now watched as Wyre cradled Oliver in his arms stroking his face and kissing his forehead. They both knew that Oliver was breathing his last and Wyre couldn’t contain his emotions any more. As strong as he was trying to be for Oliver, Wyre could do nothing about breaking down. This day was inevitable but now Oliver felt so weak in his arms and his breathing had all but stopped, Wyre could do nothing but comfort him while choking back tears.

  “It’s ok Oliver, Daddy is here for you. Don’t be scared”

  Wyre kissed his son’s face and stroked him like he had done on the day he had been born. He whispered the first few lines of The Gruffalo, Oliver’s favourite bedtime story that he used to use to get him off to sleep when he was only a few months old. This time Oliver never responded with his normal cheeky smile but lay there lifeless just about able to clutch his father’s arm as Wyre gasped out the words.

  “A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood……..a fox……”

  Wyre could manage no more as the tears streamed down his face. As he cradled Oliver he placed his large hand on the boys now heaving chest until it gradually slowed.

  “….a fox saw the mouse and the mouse……. looked good”

  Wyre moved his hand from Oliver’s heart to his pulse and felt as it became weaker and weaker. Again he kissed his sons face and could feel the warm breath from his mouth. Wyre held his breath so he could listen and feel the moment Oliver passed away. The warmth coming from Oliver’s mouth slowed until finally Wyre could feel nothing and then a white phlegm appeared around the boys mouth.

  “Oh Oliver I’m going to miss you so much” gasped Wyre as he realised his son was gone. “My son, go to your mummy she’s waiting for you. I love you Oliver and I’ll never forget you.” Wyre held him even tighter and pressed his face up against the boys whilst weeping unashamedly and uncontrollably. It was almost like now Wyre knew he was gone he could relax and let his emotions come out without Oliver knowing anything about it. As Wyre wept, one of the most ruthless men he had ever met stood and watched him. Montgomery glanced at Richards with an almost shocked look on his face. He had been an ear and confidant to Alex Richards through thick and thin, all be it a few years ago and had been witness to some of the things he had done. This man was not known to have an ounce of emotion or weakness in his personality and yet here he was stood stone faced staring at the scene in front of him, a tear following an unfamiliar path down his face. Montgomery dared not react and decided it was time for him to leave Wyre and his son alone with Richards, who at this moment looked like the whole world would feel his vengeance. Alex too left father and son alone as he followed Montgomery out through the door. He needed to lay his trap.

  *

  It had been three hours since Oliver’s passing and the room was again silent, bar the familiar sound of transfusion and monitoring machines beeping and lighting up the room with intermittent flashing. Wyre checked his watch as impatience was getting the better of him. Richards stood perfectly still in the pitch darkness, l
eaning against the window frame and the closed curtains, not moving a muscle. He was used to lying in wait for his prey and this was one was no different. Richards felt as though he should have told Wyre what he knew but couldn’t be sure if he would actually believe him. With all what had happened Richards felt it would be better if Wyre see for himself because he knew that sometimes the brain refuses to take on board things when it is overloaded and subjected to too much stress. Richards watched Wyre and could not help but admire him. For someone as kind as honest as him to be put through what he had been through filled Richards with respect for Wyre. He could only imagine what Wyre must be feeling after losing his beloved son only hours ago. Things were not going to get any easier for the doctor any- time soon.

  As Richards stood and stared thinking about Oliver a vision returned to him. It was the vision of him lay over the sniper rifle in what looked like a playground. His mind almost tried to shut the vision out, not wanting to see the truth of his past. In the hospital room Alex’s eyes were now closed as the vision became more vivid. He took a sharp intake of breath as the first shot left the rifle taking down the child in the sight. The vision now became broader as the playground opened up to reveal more children and adults standing in a group talking. Screaming could now be heard at the realisation that a child had been shot dead. Men in suits could be seen running towards the group of adults, weapons scanning the horizon. As the vision became clearer Richards recognised the guy dressed in a suit being surrounded by what looked like protection. It was here the vision ended but not before he heard a voice telling him to drop the weapon then darkness descended onto the vision. The sight of president Obama and his wife cowering in fear amongst a playground filled with children, including their own had Richards frowning. The vision of him tied to the chair appeared once again and the voice questioning what he had done. The visions were coming thick and fast now meaning he was struggling to focus on one in particular. “On behalf of the president of the United States he would like to thank you for preventing a horrific tragedy. You saved his family from an assassination attempt and for that he his indebted to you” With these words Alex seemed to flinch, struggling to comprehend what this meant. The voices seemed far away and echoed. “Don’t be too hard on yourself Alex” said another voice. “You killed a boy but saved dozens more. Your knowledge of the boy carrying explosives in his system meant you prevented the assassination of the president of the USA and his family. Of course they thought you were there to kill the bastard which meant you nearly got killed yourself but you don’t mind dying do you my boy” Richards recognised the voice as Bostock’s which had him frowning once again. “Of course Alex my boy I’ve now got to explain to the boss why the guy who helped develop the idea of explosives in the bloodstream turned rogue and stopped the mission by killing the carrier but leave that to me. I’ll sort it like I did when they wanted to put you in the electric chair for this stunt”

  Alex realised then the visions in his mind had been played out in reverse. His mind would not let him return to the boy at the checkpoint and the explosion but now remembered the other incidents clearly. Bostock had planted a seed in his mind when he had mentioned that it was him that had developed the system but was now adamant he had also tried to stop tragic events occurring. He remembers being accused of attempting to assassinate Obama but was actually saving him. The visions slowly evaporated with Alex Richards feeling uncomfortable with the part he had played in all this. There was one thing he was certain of and that is he could not change the past.

  The sound of the door opening had Alex focusing again and Wyre intrigued but shrinking into the shadows never the less. It had Richards slowly caressing the trigger on his weapon in preparation. They both watched as a doctor dressed in a white coat and with a stethoscope placed around their neck approached the bed. It was obvious to both of them that the person who had just entered was a woman, her long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Wyre trusted Richards implicitly and never made an attempt to apprehend the person now acting very suspicious. The apparent doctor was too pre-occupied with who might enter the room as she leant over the bed at the small looking figure that was lay in it covered over with blankets and sheets. She checked the machines but seemed unsure at what she was looking at. As she grabbed the bed sheets to pull them back the silencer of a weapon was pressed up against her head. The intruder had not heard Richards move the fifteen feet across the room to where she was stood but screamed out loud as Richards now pinned her to the bed still pressing the weapon hard into the back of her skull. Wyre walked towards the light switches and turned them on showing the full picture of terror on the young woman’s face as Richards grabbed her hair and rolled her over to face him. A glance in the direction of the pillows of the bed had her realising there was no longer a patient lay under the covers, only towels and pillows.

  “What are you doing here and who sent you?” whispered Richards kneeling on her chest and placing his weapon back into his jacket pocket.

  Richards could tell straight away that the woman looking terrified in front of him was not the assassin. She remained silent though and scanned the room, making eye contact with Wyre before looking back at Richards who was glaring at her waiting for her answer.

  “Please don’t kill me, she made me do it. She said you would kill me if you caught me” said the shaking voice of the young woman.

  “Who sent you?” whispered Richards once again.

  “She said I was to come in here and check on the boy……that was it I swear to you. I’m not here to harm him”

  “Who told you to do this?” asked Wyre now also eager to make her answer the question.

  The young woman looked at the man now asking the question. She seemed to be studying Wyre as though she recognised him.

  “It’s you, you’re the guy in the picture she showed me” pointed the woman.

  Richards didn’t respond because he knew what was coming and he guessed the young woman would tell all to save her-self.

  “Listen you have to believe me I have nothing to do with this”

  “Go on!” said Richards.

  “She told me if I didn’t do it she would have my daughter and husband killed because she worked for the government. I had to come in here check on the boy then leave and that was it. She even showed me a picture of her and him with the boy to prove she was telling the truth”

  Richards allowed her to stand up and gather her thoughts. There was no point in threatening her. It was obvious she was scared. He also knew that the woman who had sent her in here wanted him and Wyre to know who she was. The only reason she didn’t come into the room again as she had done earlier was because she knew there would be a trap waiting for her. For her the hiding behind numerous people was now over as Richard’s and Montgomery’s suspicions were now confirmed. Wyre could see something was up as the young woman became more upset and Richards let her roam the room freely letting out her emotions. Wyre grabbed her arm as she walked past him, wiping the tears away from her face.

  “Please I don’t understand when you say you saw a picture of me with the boy and the woman who sent you in here…….you need to tell me who she was?”

  The young woman seemed full of fear again as she studied Wyre before pulling her arm away slowly from his grip. By now Montgomery had entered the room and Alex Richards eyeballed him before looking at Wyre.

  “Wyre as hard as this might be to believe but……….it seems someone very close to you has been behind this. They have manipulated the whole thing to the point where even I could not be sure they were involved until recently. It explains to me why Bostock did not seem in control and he was right when he said this is bigger than anything I have been involved in before”

  Richards approached Wyre to at least comfort him in what he was about to say next. Montgomery pulled the lose skin on his face down with the palm of his hand and watched Wyre carefully as Richards continued.

  “The person who sent this woman in to check on Oliver
was it seems at the top of the food chain. They held the leashes of Bostock and Rice and remained determined nothing would get in their way. It also seems she has manipulated these events and the whole system including Cameron, Rice and Bostock for her own needs. Wyre I believe your wife Susan was not the person she wanted you to think she was. I believe she is still alive Wyre and wanted to convince you she was dead. I’m not sure who she was working for or for even which country but it seems whoever she is, she is very powerful……..and I’m not convinced this is over yet. I have witnesses Wyre that have seen Susan only a month ago. It was at the nursing home in Kent. I went there Wyre and discovered that the Grandma you thought Susan had was also fake. I researched her and found that Susan was not even related. Susan killed an innocent old woman Wyre when she realised she no longer needed her”

  Wyre seemed calm under the circumstances and just stood staring at the picture on the wall of a desert scene with an Arab village nestled at the bottom of a foreboding looking mountain as he whispered to Richards.

  “No, No Oliver and I visited her at the nursing home, it was Susan’s grandmother”

  “Wyre it was an old woman with dementia who probably didn’t even know who anybody was standing next to her bed. Did she ever call you or Oliver by your names?”

  This comment had Wyre trying hard to recollect the very rare visits and went cold at the thought of Susan’s Grandmother never actually acknowledging who they were. Normally it was just nods and smiles with even Susan never getting any real answers from her.

  “You told me you saw her ashes……with the ring. You gave me the ring”

  Richards stood silently letting Wyre take what he could in.

  “Why would she?..........Why would she use and then murder an innocent sick old woman. Why has she done this to me, to Oliver…. why?”

  “I don’t know Wyre”

  Another nurse entered the room and Montgomery ordered her to take the rogue doctor out. As she left Wyre glanced at her trying to understand. Richards was unsure of what to say now as the whole picture was coming clearer of who or what Susan might have been. He had come across them before but never this deep. They were a special type of agent who would start a normal family life with some unsuspecting foe to gain access, gain confidence and create a second life as cover for what they were really in the country for. Governments and secret organisations all over the world had used them and still used them now but more thorough checks on personal details due to the electronic age had made it much harder for the person to stay un-detected. Richards was faced with a huge dilemma and that was explaining to Wyre how his life with Susan had most possibly been all a sham on her part and she had used him. She had used and manipulated everybody including Wyre, Bostock and Rice and whilst they were focused on making their plans come to fruition she had been exploiting them and everyone around them. Richards realised she was good and probably had very few people above her, meaning she was working for the highest payer but he still remained unsure of what she had planned and why. She had definitely instructed Bostock and Rice to feed Wyre and himself the story about cleaning the Governments of the Middle East’s Money but probably knew nothing about her betrayal of them. She had played everyone and had yet to finish her endgame. The only real innocent person in all this apart from Wyre was Oliver and the boy was now dead. How could anyone who had been put through this remain sane? How could a mother, regardless of the reasons, watch and put her own child through everything Richards had seen? Even he, after what his life had thrown his way remained unsure of the answers he would give Wyre. With all of Alex Richards’ experience he wasn’t even sure whose side Susan was on and what her motives were to cause so much pain to people so close to her.