The Choice: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  Dr. Rose cleared his throat. “Mr. Talbot, in a way, ye’ve gotten what ye hoped for. Ben is a fine young man with a passion for shipbuilding.”

  “With no memories and no way to explain why.”

  “But we do have a way to explain it,” said Benedict. “That’s why we went to Scotland for a week.”

  “What does Scotland have to do with this?”

  Benedict glanced at Sara, then Dr. Rose, before answering. Each gave him a slight nod. “You do believe us about the pocket watch?”

  Samuel nodded.

  “Then there is a bit more to the story. “We met a couple on board, Dr. Gabriel Soldani and his new wife, Elizabeth Quinn.”

  “Charlotte Matheson’s daughter?” Samuel walked back towards them taking his chair again.

  “Yes, the same.”

  “Wasn’t she in some terrible accident last winter?”

  Benedict nodded. “Yes, she was and she has profound retrograde amnesia. Or at least that’s what most people think. It turns out a soul from the thirteenth century, a girl named Elsie, landed in Elizabeth’s body as a result of the pocket watch. She overheard me saying something to Sara about Gertrude and the pocket watch and pounced on it. She told us everything.” Benedict told him the rest of the story, about their decision to go to Scotland and fake a head injury.

  Samuel frowned. “But you said it wasn’t serious. On the phone, you said you were all right.”

  “It wasn’t terribly serious, but it gave us a way to explain my memory loss. As you can imagine, Dr. Rose has a special interest in this field and has treated more than a few patients with amnesia.”

  “Dr. Rose, I don’t understand how such a small head injury can result in total amnesia. Will anyone believe it?”

  “Well now, I’m glad ye asked that. Memory loss is an odd occurrence. Profound memory loss can happen after a very minor injury, while other patients with severe trauma recover with essentially no disruption in memory. But as it happens for the last three weeks or so, Sara has been teaching Ben all she can about this time and your son. He should be able to get by in most situations with no one knowing. When he does appear to forget something, it can be blamed on the mild amnesia he experienced.”

  “And how will we explain his clear change in temperament?”

  Dr. Rose smiled broadly. “As it happens, frontal lobe injuries are particularly fickle and can be associated with behavioral changes. Young Dr. Soldani was thinking ahead when he selected the site for Ben’s injury.”

  Mr. Talbot nodded. “So what do we do now?”

  “Regarding the general public, ye’ll probably want to release a statement about Ben’s injuries in order to minimize questions about the changes in him.”

  Benedict shrugged. “After that, it’s really up to you. If you want to accept me as your son, I will do my best to learn what I need to learn and be an asset to your business. But if that isn’t what you want, I understand and I’ll go my own way, with Sara.”

  “You’d walk away from billions?” his father asked incredulously.

  “Yes,” Benedict said simply.

  Samuel shook his head. “Well, if I had any shred of doubt that you were a different man, your answer wipes it away.”

  “You don’t have to decide right now, sir. Take all the time you need to think about things. I will be staying with Sara.”

  “I don’t need any time. You are my son now. Had you made other choices, I would have no son at all. I believe you sincerely want to learn and so I will make a place for you in the company. I mean a real place, with a real role, not just a corner office.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “I am going to make one stipulation.”

  “Anything.”

  “Benjamin has always had billions of dollars at his disposal. I believe what you’ve told me, but in so doing, I also recognize that your lack of knowledge could be a liability. I am going to limit your access to all funds except what you earn as a salary.”

  “That seems perfectly reasonable.”

  “I’ll also continue to pay your household expenses.”

  “My what?”

  “Your household expenses. We own the property, but the utilities and so forth are all in my name and your employees are on my personal payroll.”

  “Sir, that seems unnecessary. Sara and I were planning to live together…for now…at her apartment.”

  Samuel frowned. “I would prefer you live at the condo. The security is much better there.”

  “Sir, I live in a nice area of Howard County. The crime rate is relatively low,” said Sara.

  He smiled at her. “I know you do, my dear. I know more about you than you think.”

  She canted her head to one side. “Why is that?”

  “I had a background check performed on you.”

  Ben frowned. “What is a background check?”

  “It’s an investigation into every aspect of someone’s personal history. At a very high level it is a check to see if someone has a criminal background, but it can be more in-depth. A detailed background check might also include where someone has lived, where they went to school, what they do for a living, how much they make, how much debt they carry, even who their friends and relatives are.”

  “And you had me investigated when you found out Ben and I were together?”

  “No, my dear. We had you investigated when you began to date Mark Holland.”

  “Why?”

  “His father asked me to, but either Ben or I would have had it done anyway. Sara—I’m sorry, this sounds extremely elitist but there is no other way to say it—when one has considerable means, one must be very careful with new people who find their way into one’s circle of friends.”

  “You thought I was a gold-digger?”

  Ben frowned again. “A gold-digger?”

  Sara explained, “Someone who tries to marry a wealthy person for their money. And, Mr. Talbot, I had no interest in Mark’s money. I’ve already told you, I do quite well enough for myself.”

  He smiled indulgently. “Yes, I know you do and that was all Mr. Holland wanted to know. But that isn’t the only reason it’s important to know who one’s friends are and I have a little more at stake. In some industries, industrial espionage is a concern, and new acquaintances are always suspect. Sometimes criminals work their way into certain circles to gain information that can be used for blackmail, to commit robberies, or to perpetrate scams. And occasionally, someone simply wants to become more visible to promote themselves or their personal agenda.”

  Sara looked shocked. “You check the backgrounds of everyone you meet?”

  Samuel laughed. “Not everyone. Just people who have the ability to become very close. Mark and Ben were good friends, thus someone who was dating Mark would have access to Ben.”

  “So I passed muster, but what would you have done if I hadn’t?”

  “We would have given Mark the information and if he continued to date you, we’d take any necessary precautions to protect our own interests.”

  “Well, this is all a little creepy. I guess I understand, but it’s still disturbing.” Sara shook her head. Her brow furrowed. “But since you checked me out, you know I am comfortably self-sufficient and I live in a nice place. And frankly, I just don’t have much that’s worth stealing.”

  “You do live in a nice place, but I’m not particularly worried about theft. The high-level security we have in our residences and businesses isn’t there to protect things. Sara, if you are going to be closely connected with our family, there are some harsh realities about which you need to be aware.”

  Ben felt Sara tense. Instinctively, he put his hand over hers and she curled her fingers into his. “Sir, maybe we should leave this discussion for another day.”

  Dr. Rose came to Samuel’s aid. “It’s clear this discussion has been distressing to both of you, but in this case ignorance is not bliss. My very dearest friends, Aldous and Jo Sinclair, face similar problems. Ben, I can as
sure you, for your own safety, you need to understand these things too.”

  “This all sounds very ominous,” said Sara, “but if Ben’s safety is at stake we need to be aware of that.”

  Mr. Talbot shook his head sadly. “Young lady, because of your association with this family, your safety is at stake as well. Wealthy people and those close to them can be targets for kidnapping.”

  Sara gave a little laugh. “Kidnapping? You can’t be serious. There are lots of wealthy people in the United States and I can’t remember the last time one was kidnapped for ransom.”

  Mr. Talbot nodded. “Fair point, but even though the incidence is very low, that may be because, like me, other people of means employ personal security. Sadly, I know from personal experience, the consequences of ignoring even the very low risk can be devastating.”

  Sara appeared stunned. “What happened?”

  Mr. Talbot sighed heavily. “Sixteen years ago, Ben was fourteen at the time, my wife and our older son were killed in a botched kidnapping attempt in Rio.”

  Ben was speechless.

  Sara stammered, “Oh, dear God. I knew she was deceased…but…how…”

  “I go to a variety of international trade shows every year. The boys always liked to go, but the shows were usually in the spring, when they were away at school. Still, there’d often be at least one major show during their spring break, so it became a tradition to go as a family. That year we were going to a major international show in Rio de Janeiro.

  “So Benjamin was there too?”

  Mr. Talbot shook his head sadly. “No. Benjamin had gotten into some trouble at school and he wasn’t keeping his grades up. His punishment was to stay at home and work with a tutor. He was furious at the time, but I’m glad I did it. He might have been killed too. Of course, with the hubris of a fourteen-year-old, he was certain it wouldn’t have happened if he’d been there and since then he has always blamed me for their deaths.”

  “How could he possibly think he could have stopped it?” Sara asked.

  Benedict shook his head. He knew the answer to this. “Because when you are a young man, not quite an adult but no longer a child, you are filled with the absolute confidence that you know everything there is to know and you are invincible. I remember it well and I suffered a similar loss, but I blamed myself for it. It took years to realize that I could not have prevented anything and might have lost my life as well.”

  Samuel nodded. “Exactly. I firmly believe, had he been there, he would have been killed too.”

  “You weren’t ever able to convince him that you weren’t to blame?” Asked Sara.

  “I never tried, because I am to blame. Not because I made my youngest son stay at home, but because I got caught up in business and wasn’t with my wife and other son. I told them to go on without me, foolishly thinking that nothing could happen. It wasn’t as if my wife was alone, she had our strapping eighteen-year-old boy with her.” His voice caught and he covered his eyes with one hand. “I’ve never forgiven myself so I couldn’t very well ask him to forgive me.”

  Sara was beside him in an instant, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry for your loss, sir, but you can’t blame yourself. It is just as possible that you would have been killed with them leaving Benjamin completely alone. No one can know what would have been.”

  “That’s true, but—”

  “Don’t finish that sentence,” Sara admonished. “The blame for what happened lies solely with the people who committed the crime.”

  He looked at her, giving her a half smile. “You’re right, of course. However, because of that, I swore that I would never take that kind of risk with my loved ones again. That is the reason I take the precautions I do.”

  “I understand,” said Ben.

  Sara nodded. “Of course, we understand. Ben, you should probably live in Benjamin’s condo.”

  “Me? Not we?”

  “Eventually. But I’m under a deadline. I have to finish the final version of my most recent manuscript. I can’t take the time needed to pack everything and move out right now.”

  Ben frowned. “Sir, Sara is my mooring. If something happens that I don’t understand or don’t know how to deal with, she’s there to help me. It’s how we’ve kept this secret. I fear living alone could be disastrous. If we are careful and don’t broadcast where we’re living, do you suppose it would be acceptable, in the short-term, for us to continue to stay at Sara’s?”

  Samuel appeared to consider things for a moment before answering. “When is your deadline?”

  “August seventeenth, two weeks from today.”

  “I suppose that isn’t too terrible. I’d rather you live at the condo, but as long as you both are very discrete, so there isn’t a media circus, it should be safe enough for a few weeks. But, you should make plans to move as soon after your deadline as possible.”

  Chapter 13 – What if I Fall in Love?

  Sunday evening, August 6, 2006

  “That was great babe,” Mark said as he rolled off Daphne, removed his condom and tossed it in the trash can near the bed. Then he grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

  “You are the last of the great romantics, Mark.”

  Mark had no clue why Daphne’s tone dripped with sarcasm, but didn’t care enough to ask. He wanted to see the sports highlights and flicked through the channels until he found a local news station.

  The Orioles finished up a three-game series at Camden Yard today with a one-six loss to the Yankees. The O’s only run of the afternoon came in the bottom of the fourth when Markakis hit a single line drive to left field allowing Conine to score.

  “Damn, I had a bet riding on that series.”

  “And you bet on the Orioles? They haven’t exactly had a winning season.”

  “But I can’t bet against them.”

  “Then don’t bet at all if you don’t want to lose.” She climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

  And in other news, Billionaire Samuel Talbot, owner and CEO of Baltimore-headquartered Talbot & Company, released a statement today concerning his son, renowned playboy Benjamin Talbot.

  “Wait, Daphne. Listen.”

  Apparently, while hiking in the Scottish Highlands, the younger Talbot lost his footing and fell, sustaining a serious head injury. Although his injury was not described as life-threatening, sources close to the Talbots confirm that Benjamin has suffered fairly significant memory losses. He is reportedly recuperating in his Baltimore home.

  “Holy shit, did you hear that?” he asked.

  “Of course, I heard it. I’m not deaf. This is fucking brilliant news. Maybe he won’t remember what happened on the ship.”

  “He might not remember, but Sara will.”

  She shook her head. “Not if I get to him first. You heard what the report said, he’s recuperating in his home. And from your stalkerish behavior, you know she’s at her apartment and hasn’t been going out nights. So it doesn’t sound like she’s keeping a bedside vigil. He probably got tired of her.” She grinned. “Or maybe he doesn’t remember her.”

  “That would be great, but you probably shouldn’t just waltz in there to see him not knowing if he remembers everything or not. I’ll give him a call tomorrow. If he doesn’t take my call, it’s a pretty good bet he remembers and if he does take it, I can see how things stand.”

  “Absolutely not. That’s too risky. If you start trying to contact him and he does remember everything, you’ll look pathetic and he might suspect something. No, we need proof first. Then I’ll go see him. If he has forgotten it all, I won’t need to use the photos. But if he hasn’t, I’ll have them. We need to put our plan into motion as soon as possible.”

  “Look, Daphne, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “That’s because you’re a coward without the gumption to go all out for something you want. You want whatever is between them to be over as much as I do. We have a plan for the future, remember?”

/>   He wasn’t remotely interested in that plan anymore. If he were, if Daphne was the woman he wanted to spend his life with, he’d dig in his heels right now. He was securely wealthy as it was and didn’t need whatever she could pry from Benjamin in a divorce to live happily ever after. He also no longer needed to best Benjamin. He just wanted Sara back. Maybe Daphne was right and this was the best way to ensure his way with Sara was clear.

  “I’m not a coward and you’re right, I want this.” At least he wanted Sara. “Were you able to get the GHB?”

  “I decided on roofies instead.”

  “Why? I thought you said GHB works faster and is out of the blood faster, and we could be in and out with less chance of being seen.”

  “I know, but the guy I bought the stuff from said you can taste GHB. If she tastes it, pitches her coffee without drinking it, and then you just go waltzing in, we’ll have lost our chance. Rohypnol takes a little longer to work, but it has no flavor and she is less likely to remember that anything happened.”

  Mark frowned.

  “Come on, baby, it’s not like we’re going to hurt her or anything. We’re just going to snap a few pictures. If we make sure she’s dressed the way we found her, she’s not going to suspect anything when she wakes up. She’ll just think she had a long nap.”

  “I guess you’re right. We should just get it over with. How about tomorrow?”

  “Not tomorrow. I need to get waxed first.”

  “Waxed? Are you kidding? We’re just getting some compromising pics of Sara. It isn’t a photo shoot.”

  “But I’m going to be in those compromising photos and I have to show them to Benjamin. So I want them to look good. I want to remind him of what he’s missing—especially if there’s a chance he doesn’t remember. Monday is Ludmilla’s day off, but I’m sure she can squeeze me in on Tuesday. Let’s plan on taking care of things Wednesday.”

  “Okay.”

  “You’ll need to watch for her to leave the house in the late morning, let yourself in, slip the stuff in her coffee, and leave. It’s probably best if you watch for her to come back, then give me a call. How long do you think that will take?”