Milo Moon: It Never Happened

by Derek Haines

  ‘That’s the only hope,’ Milo said, as he started to lose consciousness again.

  Marie went to the door to look for Dr. Fleury. She caught sight of him leaving the adjacent ward.

  ‘Dr. Fleury, Milo has lost consciousness.’

  ‘Right Marie. That’s all right and nothing to worry about. That’s normal with his treatment. Any luck with Michael?’

  ‘No. Milo seems convinced Michael has, as he said, been wiped.’

  ‘I’ll check on Milo. Go to the next ward. Mary is in there. See if you have any luck in communicating with Anne.’

  ‘Right.’

  Dr. Fleury went directly into Milo’s ward and Marie entered Mary’s.

  ‘Hello Mary. Are you awake?’

  ‘Marie. Oh Marie, so nice of you to come,’ she mumbled, as the sedatives slowed her speech.

  ‘How are you?’

  ‘It was bad Marie. Anne’s gone. I don’t know what happened, but I can’t hear her anymore,’ Mary said, trying to control her emotions.

  ‘Yes, Dr. Fleury told me Mary,’ Marie said, as she lent over to give Mary a hug.

  ‘Oh Marie, I don’t know what to do,’ Mary said, as she started to cry. ‘Anne was in control. I don’t know what to do without her. I want her back so much.’

  ‘I know Mary. I know,’ Marie said trying to, but knowing if she wasn’t really comforting Mary at all.

  ‘When did you last talk to Anne?’

  ‘This morning. She said she felt like she was spinning in colours. She was screaming out for me. It was awful,’ Mary finished before starting to sob.

  ‘Okay, okay Mary. It’s okay,’ Marie said, as she held Mary and felt her trembling. ‘It’s okay Mary. It’s okay, I’ll stay with you.’

  Marie stayed as she had promised until Mary lost consciousness and went limp in Marie’s arms. She laid Mary’s head on the pillow and made sure her bed sheets and blanket were tucked in before leaving the ward. Tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes. She stood leaning against the corridor wall trying to regain her composure, closing her eyes and trying to slow her breathing.

  ‘Come on Marie. I think you need coffee,’ Dr. Fleury said, when he found her.

  ‘Thanks. Yes, I think I need something. You don’t have a cigarette do you doctor?’

  ‘Sorry Marie. Only things more dangerous,’ he half laughed, as they walked towards the elevator.

  ‘Here you are Marie,’ Dr. Fleury said, as he placed two cups of coffee on the table.

  ‘Thanks. They’re not doing well are they?’

  ‘No, they’re both very ill I’m afraid. We’re trying a new drug flown in this morning in an attempt to stabilise them, but with such a daily cocktail of drugs their bodies were used to taking, there are so many effects from stopping so suddenly. We’ve only been able to identify just over half of the residual compounds in their systems, so it’s a lot of guess work.’

  ‘So what happened to Michael and Anne?’

  ‘We don’t know Marie. My best guess is that the additional personalities were maintained by some kind of drug or mixture of drugs. Probably some type of hallucinogenic.’

  ‘They both mentioned colours and spinning.’

  ‘Yes, that’s not a surprise. That would probably be one of the effects of a hallucinogenic compound.’

  ‘What? Like LSD or something?’

  ‘Yes, something similar, but much more powerful and refined.’

  ‘So what happens now?’

  ‘All we can do for the moment is try to stabilise them. Particularly their heart and lung function. Their systems are reacting to the sudden withdrawal of drugs, so all we can do is try to maintain their body functions as best we can.’

  ‘And their minds?’

  ‘For the moment Marie, there’s nothing we can really do except try and keep them alive.’

  Marie paused in thought for a while as she sipped her coffee.

  ‘They are both very innocent, aren’t they?’

  ‘They’ve not had a life Marie. If they’re lucky enough to survive, they’ll need a lot of help.’

  ‘Do you know how old they are?’

  ‘I’d guess between twenty-six and thirty-four. I looked at the numbers on their arms. There’s a two-digit part to each number. Milo has seventy-eight and Mary eighty-one. If they were an indication of years, that would make Milo about thirty-two and Mary about twenty-nine. But it’s only a guess. The numbers could mean anything.’

  ‘Do you hold much hope for them?’

  ‘Honestly Marie, I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.’

  ‘Yes, I understand. It’s just that, well, I don’t know why, but……’

  ‘You’ve got involved?’

  ‘I’ve been cop for six years now, and I’ve learned to stay removed. You know, I do my job the best I can, but always…..’

  ‘Do you think it’s much different for a doctor?’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry Dr. Fleury. I shouldn’t have thought it was, well,….’

  ‘It’s okay. You did your job very well by recognising so fast that they had problems. They wouldn’t have had a chance if they hadn’t got treatment so quickly. And in some cases, it’s difficult to stay above it all. I know full well. We’re all human. Doctors and cops.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Look Marie, I’ll keep you posted on any news, but if you want to come and see Milo and Mary, I think it really might help.’

  ‘I’d like to do that. Yes.’

  ‘Good. Well, I suppose we should get back to work then.’

  ‘Yes. But right now, I might just get back to my shopping.’

  Later that afternoon, Marie received an SMS from Dr. Fleury saying that there had been a slight improvement in both Milo and Mary’s condition. As she was reading, she received another SMS asking her to report to her commander, Pierre André, at the start of her shift at ten tomorrow morning. She put her phone back in her handbag and went back to what she was doing. Buying chocolates for Jean-Paul.

  Chapter 14 - Secret Secrets

  ‘Good morning Dupont.’

  ‘Good morning sir.’

  ‘Please, take a seat.’

  ‘Thank you sir.’

  ‘I just wanted to discuss your involvement with this case. Michael Fischer and Anne Drayford.’

  ‘Certainly sir. But if I may sir, have you been informed that we are now only able to communicate with Milo and Mary?’

  ‘Oh, I am sorry. No I hadn’t heard. And their condition in general?’

  ‘Not very good I’m afraid sir. I saw Dr. Fleury yesterday and visited Milo and Mary at the hospital.’

  ‘Right. I sense the you feel quite involved with this case Dupont.’

  ‘I’m sorry sir, but yes, I do. I know….’

  ‘It’s all right. I understand. However this case is now in the hands of Bern. It’s not a police matter any longer. In fact...,’ and André hesitated before continuing. ‘In fact, this was never a police matter to be more precise. Your arrest record has been removed from our system.’

  ‘Did I do something wrong sir?’

  ‘No, no. It’s just that this matter is highly sensitive and now needs to be managed by Bern. No, you did your job correctly. But as I said, it now a matter for Bern.’

  ‘Yes sir,’ Marie said, resigned to the fact that she would be told to stay away from Milo and Mary.

  ‘You are a good officer, Dupont, and I’ve discussed your involvement with the case with Bern. They would like to have you continue with this case. But on a temporary basis only I need to tell you.’

  ‘Yes sir,’ Marie said, but this time with less disappointment in her tone.

  ‘You’ll need to travel to Bern to obtain a special security clearance to continue, and then be temporarily re-assigned to their command. You’ll return to your normal police duties at the end of the assignment. Are you comfortable with this Dupont?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Any questions?’

  ‘Yes.
Just one sir. You said I would be re-assigned to their command. Who are they sir?’

  ‘A good question Dupont. I imagine you’ll only know the answer after you go to Bern,’ André said, with a knowing half smile.

  ‘Yes sir. I understand.’

  ‘Good,’ André said, as he passed an envelope to Marie. ‘Here are your train tickets and appointment details for Bern. You’ll leave tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Thank you sir.’

  ‘Right. Good luck then,’ André said, as he rose from his chair and Marie took her cue to stand and leave.

  ‘Yes sir. Thank you again.’

  ‘Stand back!’ Fleury said, as he prepared the paddles of the defibrillator for Milo and applied the first shock to Milo’s chest.

  ‘Come on Milo. Stay with me!’ he said, as he applied a second shock.

  ‘There’s a rhythm,’ a nurse said, as Fleury heard the heart monitor starting to beep again.

  ‘Good,’ was all Fleury said, as he replaced the paddles of the defibrillator and wondered what chance Milo had of survival. Luckily, Mary’s condition had improved and although heavily sedated, her heart function was reasonable compared to Milo.

  Marie called in to visit Milo and Mary around seven in the evening, shortly after she finished her shift. She sat with them for some time. Holding their hands and listening to the beeping of monitors. Neither Milo nor Mary were conscious. She asked for Dr. Fleury at the nurses’ station, but as they told her he had gone home, she didn’t want to disturb him. The head nurse gave her a few details of Milo’s seizure earlier in the day. At nine she left to get a good night’s sleep before her early morning train to Bern.

  ‘Please follow me madam,’ the gentleman said, after Marie had announced herself. She had arrived three minutes before her appointment time, but had actually arrived much earlier to make sure she found the correct address and had spent the last forty-five minutes in a nearby café. The building had no identification other than the small street number above the entry door. She had entered the code she had been given in the envelope André had given her, into the keypad near the door and a voice asked her to announce herself. After waiting about thirty seconds, the door opened and she entered a corridor that led her to a gentleman sitting on a sofa, reading. The gentleman was now leading her through the building to her meeting.

  ‘Please take a seat madam, someone will be along presently,’ the gentleman said, as he closed the door behind himself and Marie waited in a small bare meeting room. A dark, round wooden table and four chairs were the only furnishings in the room. The walls plain cream, with nothing hanging from them. The floor, wooden, polished and old. One strip of fluorescent tubes above shedding a cold light.

  Two men entered the room. ‘Please be seated madam.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘This is a very delicate matter, which I’m sure you appreciate,’ one of the men said without any greetings or introduction.

  ‘Yes sir,’ was all Marie could say in response.

  ‘Well, with consideration of the fragile state of the two persons, the recommendation from your commander and our own assessment of what may be necessary as we proceed forward, your services may possibly assist during the term of the investigation and possibly, further information from the two persons.’

  Marie nodded her head to indicate her understanding, but couldn’t help but note the cold and impersonal tone being used.

  ‘We understand you have had contact with the two persons during the last twenty-four hours. Is that correct?’

  ‘Yes sir. That’s correct. I saw them both last evening as well as the day before with Dr. Fleury,’ Marie stated clearly, but at the same time thinking that referring to Milo and Mary as persons was very cold.

  ‘And their condition?’

  ‘Still very serious I’m afraid sir. The man probably more so than the woman,’ she said carefully.

  ‘Well, in the short term, and so long as they survive, we believe you may be the best person to communicate with them. It was clear from the initial interrogation that you had their confidence.’

  ‘Thank you sir. Yes, I believe I do.’

  ‘Very well, but as this is now a federal matter, you’ll need to be seconded from your police duties in Geneva and given temporary clearance to work with our federal agency. You realise madam that this matter is of the utmost secrecy, as it could have very serious national and international ramifications.’

  ‘Yes, I understand that sir.’

  ‘Very well madam. I will arrange for your briefing and security clearances. This will be arranged for this afternoon,’ he said, as he passed Marie a mobile phone. ‘You’ll be contacted on this telephone later this morning.’

  ‘Yes sir,’ Marie said, as she took the phone.

  ‘I must remind you that you are not to discuss any details of this case whatsoever with any unauthorised person. This includes your commander in Geneva. No one. Understand?’

  ‘Yes sir, I understand fully.’

  ‘Very well. Please enjoy a little of Bern while we make the arrangements for you. You’ll be advised before midday,’ the man said, and Marie took that to indicate the end of their meeting. She rose and the two men rose also, and they then showed her to the door. The gentleman who had greeted her earlier was waiting outside the meeting room and escorted her back to the front entrance.

  Once out of the building, she started to think about the stories she had heard over the years about how secret the Swiss Secret Police were. Her meeting had done nothing to dispel the stories. She had just had a meeting with two nameless men working for a nameless department in a nameless building with a nameless gentleman on a sofa receiving nameless visitors. The only public name given to the Swiss secret service was Strategischer Nachrichtendienst (SND) (Strategic Intelligence Service), but she had a very strong feeling that her meeting this morning hadn’t been with them. She had met with the secret unnamed secret service that all the stories were about.

  After walking for a half an hour, she bought a newspaper, found a café and ordered a coffee. And waited for her telephone call. The phone rang at eleven forty-five. Without greetings or introduction, a woman’s voice gave her the details. She was given the time and address only. Marie put the phone back in her handbag and looked at her watch. There was plenty of time for lunch before her meeting at two thirty, just two blocks away. She thought about calling Dr. Fleury to ask about Milo and Mary’s condition, but decided not to as she had been instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone. She presumed she would find out that afternoon about, who she could discuss Milo and Mary with.

  ‘You look much better this morning Mary,’ Dr. Fleury said, as he walked into Mary’s ward.

  ‘Thank you doctor. Yes, I’m feeling a little stronger, but I’m so worried about Anne. Will she be all right?’

  ‘I’m not sure Mary. We’re trying to do what we can. You have been very ill you know.’

  ‘Can I see Milo?’

  ‘Soon hopefully Mary. He’s still very sick. We’re keeping him sedated for the time being, so he can’t speak just yet.’

  ‘Did we do something wrong?’

  ‘Of course not Mary. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Everything would’ve been ok if we’d just been erased I think. Maybe George asked us to do something wrong.’

  ‘Oh Mary. No, you didn’t do anything wrong. Quite the opposite. You and Milo, as well as Anne and Michael were very brave. And I think George must have been a very caring man from what I understand.’

  ‘I hope so doctor.’

  ‘Let’s just think about you and Milo getting stronger and feeling better huh?’

  ‘Yes. I want Milo strong again.’

  ‘And you too Mary.’

  ‘I miss Anne, doctor.’

  ‘Yes, I understand Mary. I understand.’

  Milo had at least stabilised overnight and was maintaining good heart rhythm once again. A change in the dosage of his drugs seemed to have helped, but he was still
having problems with his lung function and needed help breathing. After checking Milo, Fleury was a little less pessimistic than he had been the previous day. He spoke to the head nurse and said he would be back later in the afternoon. His mobile rang and he saw the incoming caller. Pierre André.

  ‘Good morning commander.’

  ‘Good morning doctor. I was just calling to see if I could get an update on their condition.’

  ‘Stable is all I can say commander. But still serious. Very difficult to know much more at this stage.’

  ‘Well thanks for the update.’

  ‘Oh, by the way commander. I tried to call Officer Dupont earlier. Do you know if she’s on duty today?’

  ‘Oh I’m sorry doctor. No she’s not. Do you need to contact her urgently?’

  ‘No. It’s just that I’ve been keeping her updated, and she usually answers her mobile.’

  ‘I’m sure she’ll contact you doctor. It’s not unusual for police officers to turn off their phones on their days off.’

  ‘Yes. Like doctors commander.’

  ‘Yes, exactly.’

  Marie caught the nine fifteen pm express train from Bern to Geneva. It had been a long afternoon, and she was exhausted. She was now temporarily a federal agent, and would have to return to Bern as soon as she was advised that Milo and Mary were being transferred there. The timing would depend on their condition, but it was hoped it could be possible soon, so they could be accommodated in a more secure situation. Until then she was assigned to keep contact with them in the hospital in Geneva, and to discuss the matter with only Dr. Fleury and a single contact telephone number she had been given for her agency contact. His name was simply Martin. She would announce herself to Martin as Barbara.

  Marie fell asleep and was woken by the announcement when the train arrived in Geneva. She took a taxi home and checked her mobile on the way. Two messages. One from Dr. Fleury and one from Jean-Paul. Her new mobile was clear.

  Once she arrived home, she showered and changed for bed, but couldn’t sleep. A small glass of Abricotine and a book helped, and finally she slept.

  *****

  ‘Do you think it’s possible?’ the President asked, as an agent outlined the plan to try to use a probe though the ducts that Michael Fischer had described.