With that assurance from the unemotional Kate, I drop into a deep sleep. My dreams turn into nightmares, and I return to the ambush scene outside the apartment building. I cannot shake the nightmare as it repeats itself over and over with the same results, Keith dies. Keith lives. Keith dies. Keith lives. These thoughts play over and over in my dreams. I try to wake myself from my dreams, but I cannot. In my dream I keep saying, “Wake up Francis, Francis you must wake up and protect Keith.”
Hours later I awaken and find Marguerite standing by the side of my bed, she says, “Francis our Grandson is alive; Keith lives; Francis, you are just fine.” Marguerite with tears on her cheeks hugs me and kisses me on the lips several times.
I think, “Keith is doing well and is peacefully sleeping next door.”
Marguerite informs Francis, “Provided you think you can stay out of trouble, when Keith wakes up I will go next door and visit with him. I would like to be the first person he sees standing beside his bed when he opens his eyes.”
Chapter 25
Marguerite Guards Francis and Keith
I, Marguerite, rest in a chair in Francis’ hospital room. I was unaware of the murder attempt until I arrived at Keith’s apartment building after midnight (Wednesday, April 15, 2009). I was unable to speak with Raj Arakkal before leaving Charleston or after arriving at O’Hare, but he and Francis had previously given me Ms. Seemore’s telephone and apartment number. They had told me that if the need should ever arise, I was to contact Ms. Seemore upon arriving in Rockford at Keith’s apartment building. Upon arriving at Ms. Brenda Seemore’s apartment, she could see that I was extremely upset and she said, “At present Francis and Keith are in stable condition. While I make us some tea, I will tell you all that I know about their current state. Also, I have a friend that will drive you to the hospital.” As we were drinking the much needed tea she called the friend on her cell phone.
Ms. Seemore told me that Kate, Keith’s friend, had telephoned her early yesterday morning, and informed her that Keith and Francis were both at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Kate said, “Ms. Seemore, Mr. Francis and Keith are both in triage. Keith is in critical condition; he has a bad injury to one of his legs and is going to need surgery. Mr. Francis is being treated for severe bruising to his chest.” She called again later and said, “Keith is out of surgery and is stabilized; Mr. Francis is also doing much better, but the doctors plan to keep him at least twenty-four hours for observation. Mr. Francis and Keith are under police and private security protection.”
“Marguerite, Kate called a third time later in the evening and reported that Keith was stabilized, he had suffered considerable blood loss and was to be kept in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) until the doctor’s feel it is safe to move him to the secure room next door to Francis,” Ms. Seemore continued her report.
I thought as Ms. Seemore spoke, “Katherine Kate may not know that Raj Arakkal has a standing order from Keith to do whatever is needed to secure a given situation. I am sure that Raj, after arranging for private security, telephoned the Director of the hospital and others to assure that Keith and Francis were given adjoining private rooms. Mr. Arakkal has great influence and does not hesitate to use it.”
Ms. Seemore also told me about the SWAT fiasco and Dillon being taken away, but she said after the shooting she had found Dillon carrying Francis’ cane. I took him upstairs and put him in Keith’s apartment. She said, “I have been looking after the little guy, he is okay.”
The kindly Ms. Seemore suggested that I leave my luggage with her and ease my mind by going to the hospital to check on Francis and Keith. She said, “Marguerite, I have been too emotionally upset to visit the hospital. Please tell Keith and Francis that my thoughts and prayers are with them. If you stop by here later I will take you up to Keith’s apartment and introduce you to Dillon. I will also give you a key to Keith’s apartment and a small package from Mr. Arakkal.”
I replied, “I will leave my bags with you, but I will take the package from Raj Arakkal with me now if you don’t mind.” Ms. Seemore retrieved the package and gave it to me. As Ms. Seemore gave Marguerite Raj’s package she said, “Dillon is friendly and kind, you will love him immediately. He is patiently waiting for his two friends to return to their home; his eyes are large and sad at the present time, but he will brighten up as soon as his family is back together.”
Ms. Seemore said to Marguerite, “Keith is a wonderful young man; he is courteous and patient with me and all of my employees, as well as his neighbors. He is very kind calling everyone by their first names, no matter their position in life. Your Grandson is respected and liked by all that meet him.”
Ms. Seemore’s friend and Keith’s neighbor, Mr. Thomas, arrived at Ms. Seemore’s door and after introductions we left for the hospital. Mr. Thomas and I talked as he drove. He said, “Ms. Seemore is concerned for your safety. Traveling around a strange city at night is dangerous. I will park outside the Emergency entrance and wait until you are safely inside. When you are ready to return to your son’s apartment call Ms. Seemore and I will be happy to pick you up at this entrance.”
I said, “I cannot thank you and Ms. Seemore enough for your concern and care. May God bless you both, goodnight.”
I entered the Emergency entrance introduced myself and inquired about Francis and Keith. I was told that Keith was out of intensive care and that he and Francis had adjoining rooms. I was told what floor their rooms were on, and that I could go up to their rooms. When I exited the elevator on the specified floor, I saw guards everywhere.
After Francis and I visited and caught up on yesterday’s happenings he told me that Keith was indeed next door, but still heavily sedated. Francis suggested that I go in and take a look at him. I did. I told Francis, “From what I could see in the dim light, Keith is a very handsome young man. I cannot wait to see him in full light. It appears that he looks a great deal like Brian. When I looked at Keith’s face in the semi-darkness, my heart stopped, I thought I was looking at our son.” Francis replied, “Marguerite, he is so much like Brian.”
Later I tell him that while he was taking a quick nap one of the guards told me that a young lady by the name of Katherine Kate, a nurse, has been constantly checking on you and Keith. I recall hearing you speak of her. I am sure we will meet shortly. Francis said that Kate was a triage nurse in the hospital emergency room.
I inform Francis that Ms. Seemore gave me a package that Raj had special delivered to her early last evening. I open the package from Raj Arakkal and hand Francis a loaded Walther PPK handgun which he places under his pillow, and I keep a second handgun from the package a loaded Beretta, a personal favorite of mine.
Francis is amused and thinks to himself, “I am not at all surprised that Raj would think of such preparedness or that Marguerite is a willing participant.”
I say to Francis, “While you close your eyes for some more rest I will be sitting in that chair waiting and watching.” Francis sees Marguerite point the Beretta downward with due caution at a chair in the corner of the room. With Marguerite’s pronouncement as she moves toward the chair she waves her cane in the air. Francis knows Marguerite isn’t joking; she can be a quite formidable opponent armed with cane and gun if we are threatened.
Marguerite walks to the chair turns it partially toward the door and drags it by the back to a position between Francis and the open door to Keith’s room. She can see Keith’s hospital bed and room door, and is very close to Francis. Marguerite places the Beretta under a blanket in her lap. That accomplished she takes her place as wife and final security on Francis and Keith’s team. Francis feels very safe, and gets quiet watching Marguerite intently. He smiles and nods off to more peaceful dreams.
Next door Keith is breathing softly unaware as yet that Nana Marguerite has arrived and is on guard. Nana Marguerite notices a nurse at Keith’s door. From her position, in Francis’ darkened room, Marguerite maintains her vigilance as the nurse observes Keith intently from the door. The nurse ca
nnot see Marguerite in the dimness of Francis’ room. Surmising the nurse to be Kate, Nana should be, but she is not, comfortable with Kate’s presence; Nana says nothing to her. She notes that Kate’s countenance is displaying confusion and conflict.
Keith has been sleeping a heavily sedated recuperative sleep. His eyelids fluttered when Kate opened his door.
Chapter 26
Katherine Kate
I, Katherine Kate, Triage Nurse, stand just inside Keith’s closed hospital room door and observe him as he sleeps a heavily sedated vulnerable sleep. The surgery to Keith’s injured knee went well and the doctor’s do not think that he will suffer any permanent impairment.
While looking at Keith sleeping, I begin to think and talk to Keith in my mind of our past, present and future. These are words I dare not speak out loud. I have a key to your apartment, but I want so much more than just a key. We have been close friends and companions for many years, but to my regret not lovers. I have never visited or stayed over at your apartment, but you have visited my apartment and slept over on my sofa after we have been out late with mutual friends.
After the failed first attempt on your life, I visited you at the hospital while you were comatose. Visiting you was easy since I work at Rockford Memorial. After your Grandfather arrived I introduced myself as your close friend and childhood neighbor. Mr. Francis allowed me to occasionally sit with him in your hospital room.
Kate’s guarded thoughts continue to reflect on Keith’s medical situation. Only your doctors and Mr. Francis knew of your total medical condition and prognosis for recovery after the gassing. I later learned from Mr. Francis that your prognosis included, but was not limited to, post-traumatic stress accompanied by acute amnesia.
I knew something more was wrong when I visited your hospital room one day and found that you were no longer in a coma. You failed to recognize me. I noticed that your personality was quite different. Mr. Francis immediately looked me in the eyes and then looked at you and said, “Keith, this is Kate a very kind triage nurse.” She has been stopping by daily to see how we have been getting on.”
You shook my hand, and I was heartbroken. I excused myself and left. I continued to visit you and Mr. Francis, but my heart broke more with each visit.
About a week after you woke from the coma Mr. Francis invited me to the cafeteria for coffee. After we purchased our coffee and had a seat in the cafeteria, Mr. Francis told me that your doctors had noticed that in addition to post traumatic stress and amnesia your personality was erratic, unstable. Mr. Francis said, “Keith has a personality disorder or split personality (dissociative identity disorder, DID). Sometimes he is very kind and easy going, and other times he is more stoic and stubborn. Neither personality is cruel or mean.” I was at a loss for words. We sat quietly for a long time and drank our coffee.
Finally, I opened up to your Grandfather telling him more details about my relationship with you. I told him that you and I grew up next door neighbors and attended the same schools. I told him that you were two years older than me, and always treated me like the younger sister you never had; we have always spent a great deal of time together.
I admitted to your Grandfather that I have had a secret crush on you for years. I told him, “Keith is very mature for his age, and quite attractive. He is also intellectually gifted and motivated to learn. Keith was in advanced classes and skipped a couple of grades, graduating high school when he was barely sixteen years old. I did not advance as Keith did; I was in my last year of middle school when he graduated from high school and left for college.”
Continuing to talk over coffee I told your Grandfather that we had been dating for the past year. I said, “I am very much in love with Keith, but fall short of telling him this since he has not voluntarily expressed anything but brotherly love for me. Keith either does not feel the same toward me, or he just will not make a commitment to me. I am never invited to his home, although he visits my apartment. I am very worried about him, and I am very confused about where our relationship is going, particularly now that he has trauma induced amnesia and a personality disorder.”
Mr. Francis replied, “Kate, for now we should keep referring to you as his close friend. After he gets out of the hospital we can arrange to meet for shopping trips and lunch or dinner.”
I responded with, “Mr. Francis that would be wonderful.”
I admit to myself that everything in your life seems more important to you than me. I wonder if finding your grandfather will be yet another relationship more important to you than our relationship.
I wonder, “Why won’t you make a commitment of love to me? Do you sense something about me that repels you in some way? No, that cannot be possible; I have been totally honest with you.” I go out with some girlfriends, but that is not unusual. Many people have friends that do not know each other. You are such a good guy Keith, but never the less you are also a prude about many things.
Since the gassing attempt on your life and subsequent partial physical recovery your amnesia blocks any memory of our past friendship or most recent relationship. I whine inwardly, “What am I to do?” I cannot go on like this. I have choices to make. I am actually very fond of you, but I need a life. It has been months since the attempt on your life and I have spent most of my time pining for you. It appears that now I will have to compete for your affections with your dog and grandparents. These further intrusions into and upon our fragile relationship are unacceptable.
This is going to be a tough decision for me to make. You will not break our relationship off since you do not know there is a relationship to break off. I feel that you are bad about keeping your promises; I felt before the attempt on your life and the resulting amnesia that I was close to a commitment from you.
I loved you before your remarkable success and resulting wealth, but I failed to get a permanent commitment from you. Even during the year before you were injured, we actually started dating, moved from just being close friends to scheduling time together. Sure the dating has been casual and you have dated other girls, but I felt we were moving toward a commitment to each other. The other girls must have approached you and planned dates, because you do not have it in your nature to do so.
I cannot understand how I can love and hate someone at the same time, but apparently I do. I, Katherine Kate Miller, would have been a loyal loving wife for you Keith. I am afraid it may be time for me to move on with my life Mr. Keith Edwards Sevan Sorrell.
As I continue to reflect, I see everything more clearly. I take comfort in knowing my love for you has been my most guarded secret. I kept my secret from you and prying friends. If my secret were known, I would not be able to mentally handle the pain of your rejection.
I think with a smile on my face, “I must wake up and smell the roses. Keith or Sevan, whatever your name is, you will never be mine. From this time forward your rejection of me will be dealt with more tactfully. It is sad but true, your red golden retriever, your sorrel dog, means more to you than I do.”
Chapter 27
Dillon Escapes, Heads Home
I, Dillon Sorrell (yes, I remind myself that I am what some describe as a sorrel dog, a small red golden retriever, who is very smart and has a cunning clever mind), relive the awful SWAT team invasion of our apartment. As scenes of the intrusion run through my mind, I shudder and settle myself on the back seat of the police car. I was duped by the SWAT canine officer and the nice lady in the blue uniform. I recall how while smiling innocently they both tricked me. I trusted them.
The female SWAT Officer had called softly to me saying, “Come here Dillon, come here Boy. Come here Dillon.”
I remember thinking, “I don’t know this lady. How does she know my name?”
After I walked over to her, she took hold of my harness and led me to another lady in the hallway. I was lured by friendliness and like a chump I walked right into their cuddling warm arms. The lady in the hall hugged me and petted me, somehow knowing that I loved the attention
of women. Before I realized what was really going on I was cajoled into police custody. The nice lady hooked a leash to my halter; I was caught. I immediately thought, “This is not fair.”
Remembering how the light within the apartment grew dim as it became increasingly dark outside our large window, I noticed that the darker it got outside, the darker it got in our living room. I shudder as I remember this. I felt like an ominous presence entered in through the window and encircled me and my family. I smile to myself and think, “Sometimes I have an intuitive and rather vivid imagination.”
As I lay in the back seat of the police car I snicker to myself and think, “I am in custody, an arrested canine, a presumed criminal.”
Su Chi Ku my cunning captor, pronounced Suzy Q, had talked nice to me after the other lady in uniform led me into the hallway. Both officers used nice words and had soft voices. I heard the first officer call my second captor Suzy Q. Su Chi Ku then placed the leash on the handle of my harness and immediately led me down the hall past the closed elevator door (I was disappointed to go past the elevator, because I love to ride in elevators). She walked me swiftly down the stairs to the first floor hall and lobby (not a good thing because I hate stairs).
I recall that we moved very fast, so fast that we stumbled on a few steps. Reaching the first floor hall I slid about six or seven feet on my buttocks (extremely undignified for a therapy dog, any dog). It was very embarrassing as my legs were splayed out. It was not one of my best moments or best poses.
As I regained my footing the lady in blue ran me through the apartment building hall and lobby, then through the front doors to the street. Her car was parked at the curb behind a big van. The female officer, Su Chi Ku, coaxed me into the back seat of the car and slammed the door so hard it frightened me, and also made me realize that she had trapped me.
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