Cruise Ship Golden Princess, at
Sea, 2240 hours EST, Tuesday, December 18,
2001
It seemed to take an eternity to
find Dr. Tom. He called Pat and Sheila, as he rushed to Kate’s room with Linda
and Meri in tow. 10 minutes had passed since Linda had left Kate sitting on
the toilet in her precarious condition.
Linda opened the door to Kate’s
cabin and immediately knew something was horribly wrong. There was blood
everywhere. She rushed to the bathroom only to find the door locked.
“Kate, honey, open the door” she
shouted, pounding as hard as she could. There was no answer.
“Excuse me Linda,” Pat said,
pushing her gently aside. He backed up and kicked the door in. Tom rushed
through; making a mental note of the vicodin bottle and the smell of the raw
alcohol of the vodka.
He turned the hot water off, and
the cold water on full Flipping the drain lever open, he turned the icy shower
on the unconscious woman.
“Damn, damn, damn! Not this time;
you were doing so well. Fuck! Meri, call the medical center, get a gurney up
here stat! Then get me a drip, ringer’s lactate. And, uh better get me 20 ml
of epinephrine.”
“Kate, why?” He struggled getting
the body out of the bathtub and onto the floor. He threaded the IV line in and
started the drip.
“Where’s that fucking gurney:” he
shouted.
The gurney arrived, accompanied by
Dr. Connors.
“What the bloody hell has happened
here?” was his not so professional question.
“Looks like attempted suicide
after being brutally raped and sodomized,” Tom informed him.
“Oh God, let’s get her to the
surgery.” Tom and Dr. Connors, with the help of Meri and Pat managed to get
the body onto the gurney, and left at a dead run for the medical center. Linda
followed close behind.
Sheila’s face grimaced into a mask
at the violence done to Kate. Violence she and Pat were supposed to have
prevented.
“Do you want to make the call or
should I?”
“I don’t care. God, I’m sick over
this.”
Pat unpacked a satellite phone and
dialed the Stevens estate, Jeeves’ private line. “Hello?”
------------------------
Stevens Hall, Massachusetts, 2250
hours EST, Tuesday, December 18, 2001
“Boss, it’s Pat. We have a
problem. Kate has been severely beaten and raped. Looks like she tried to end
it all, and they are rushing her to the ER right now.”
“Damn, okay, what’s your next port
of call?”
“Grand
Cayman, we’ll arrive in about 7 hours.”
“Pat, do you have a perp?”
“We have a partial name, but no
one in custody.”
“Okay, see if you can acquire him
quietly. The gloves are off – and I mean all the way. If you can’t quietly
take him into custody, we will pick him up in Ft.Lauderdale. Wait, change that; instead, Pat you stay with Kate at
all times; armed. In addition, I want Sheila glued to Linda’s side. Am I
clear on this?”
“Yes sir, guard Kate and Linda.
Use whatever force is necessary.”
“Crap, what a mess, I’ll get
things started from this end. Expect to be medivaced as soon as you reach the
Caymans; possibly before. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes sir.”
Jeeves hung up the phone and
walked down to Hal’s bedroom. Knocking, he went right in.
“Hal, Kate’s been hurt, bad.
Raped and beaten, she’s in the ER right now. I’ve instructed Pat and Sheila to
guard them. I’ve told them deadly force is authorized. I suggest you get dressed;
I’m calling in a security team, the pilots, and Dr. Bellows if I can get him.
“Oh God, not again; what’s the
prognosis?” Hal sprang out of bed; his face draining of all color at the news.
“Hal, I don’t know. Pat indicated
she tried to kill herself after the rape.”
“Okay Andy, let me get dressed.
I’ll tell Annie, and she can tell the kids in the morning.”
Hal quickly dressed. Outside of
Annie’s room, he paused, knowing how much a blow this would be.
“Annie?” he called, “I need to
see you. Are you decent?”
Annie was reading in bed.
“Come on in,” she called. Hal
entered the room, and Annie went pale at the look on his face. “Hal, what’s
happened? Oh God, it’s Kate, isn’t it?”
“Annie, she’s been hurt. Someone
raped and beat her. We don’t have much information yet, but I’m leaving for
the Caymans as soon as the plane is ready. I need you to tell the kids in the
morning.”
Annie looked as though she had
been hit, then the tears began to flow.
“She doesn’t deserve this,” she
wailed. Hal sat on the edge of the bed, holding the distraught weeping girl.
“No she doesn’t, but we’re going
to go get her and bring her home. I’ll do anything to help her, you know
that.” Annie nodded. Hal continued, “Annie, I’ve got to get things moving. I
hope to be airborne within the hour.”
-------------------
Jeeves walked to the Security
office, and called the Cendar Security Office.
“This is Andrew Jeeves, let me
speak to the watch officer.”
“Bill Reilly here, what can I do
for you sir?”
“Bill, I need a reaction force,
Mrs. Stevens has been badly hurt, and we may have to acquire the perpetrator.
I expect four officers will do, pack full tactical equipment, and wear casual
clothes, I expect them at Beverly airport within the hour. We’ll be in the Caribbean so have them
pack accordingly. In addition, I want our best forensics team there at the
same time. And, while you’re handling details, get a good trauma nurse to the
airplane as well.”
“Yes sir. I’ll get it done.”
Next, he called two most senior
pilots for Cendar. Jeeves instructed them to prep the Boeing business jet,
departure within the hour, and to be ready for a medivac mission.
Finally, he called Dr. Bellows. “Dr.
Bellows, it’s Jeeves at Stevens Hall. I’m sorry to wake you, but Kate’s been
raped and tried suicide, can you fly down with the team to pick her up?”
“What? Certainly. Where do I
need to go?” Jeeves was grateful for the quick decision.
“How soon can you be at the BeverlyAirport?”
“Let me throw some clothes on,
tell my wife what’s going on, and I should be there in half an hour or so.”
“Dr. Bellows?” asked Jeeves.
“What ?”
“Thanks. From the bottom of my
heart, thank you for this.” Jeeves voice cracked with emotion.
----------------------
Annie dressed and packed an
overnight bag. She walked down the hall, and knocked gently at Lisa’s door.
“Lisa, are you awake?” she called
through the door.
In answer, Lisa opened the door.
“Hi Annie; what are you doing up
so late?”
“Working on a project. Listen, what
I wanted was your grandmother Williams phone number, . I want to
contact her about Christmas and things.”
“Sure, here. I’ll write it down
for you, but couldn’t this wait until morning?”
“Well of course it could, but I wanted
to get everything lined up. I’m going to have a very busy day, and if you were
asleep, I knocked quietly enough that it wouldn’t wake you. Anyway, thanks,
good night!”
Puzzled, Lisa wished her good
night, and went to bed.
Annie went back to her room, and
dialed the number Lisa had provided. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Mrs. Williams?” Annie
asked.
“Yes, and who is this?”
“Mrs. Williams, this is Annie
Anderson, I’m the personal assistant to Kate Stevens, your son John.”
“Annie, how nice to meet you, even
if it is by phone; both John and Linda have mentioned you.”
“Mrs. Williams, I’m sorry to have
to tell you that Kate, that is John, has been raped and beaten. If I arrange
transport, can you come here to watch Tim and Lisa while Hal and I go and pick
Kate up?”
“Oh my God, how badly is he hurt?”
“Actually it looks pretty bad. I
also think it would be a good idea for you to be here for a while. Kate is
going to need you. Can you come to his home?”
“Yes, of course. Let me pack a
bag. What airport should I go to?
“Mrs. Williams, I’ll have a driver
there as soon as possible, but it will probably take a little while to charter
a flight at this time of night.”
“Okay, I’ll pack and wait, do you
think I should tell John’s brother?”
“Mrs. Williams, that is something
you would know better than I, but I’ll say Kate’s condition is very serious
from what little we know.”
“It’s still early; I’ll go ahead
and call him. Thanks Annie.”
“I’ll see you soon, bye.”
----------------------
Cruise Ship Golden Princess, at
Sea, 2300 hours EST, Tuesday, December 18,
2001
EKG leads, an oxygen canella, and
an oxygen monitor had been attached, and the vitals though depressed, were stable.
Additionally, Kate had been catheterized by Tom.
“Tom, do you know what she’s
taken?” Dr. Connors asked. “And by the way, call me Frank.”
“My guess is vicodin, with a vodka
chaser. Let’s get a nasogastric tube down her, and start lavage. In addition,
do you stock blood? If so let’s push a unit of O negative, she’s lost quite a
bit.”
Dr. Connors pulled necessary
equipment together, and they quickly started washing out the contents of her
stomach. The nurse returned with the required blood and started it through the
IV.
“Do you have N-Acetyl cysteine in
stock? I’m afraid of the liver damage from the Acetaminophen in the vicodin.”
“Yeah, and we can start a narcotic
antagonist to counteract the hydrocodone.”
Pat walked through the door. “Mr.
Stevens has been notified, and my orders are to not let Kate out of my sight.”
“Yeah, right,” Dr. Connors
stated. “At the moment you stay the hell out of the way and we might be able
to save her life.”
“Sheila is with Linda, with
similar orders.”
“Nothing like locking the barn
door after the horse gets out is there?” Pat turned red, but did not reply;
the truth was, he felt the same way.
With the first drugs administered,
the doctors turned to other tasks.
“Can we get a set of x-rays; at
least of the skull and upper torso?”
They monitored her condition while
a technician rolled in the equipment. X-rays were taken and the technician
took the plates away for developing.
Dr. Connors called the bridge and
informed the watch officer of the attack. A few minutes later, Captain Breton
himself arrived. Dr. Connors, with Tom explained what they knew so far; and
led the Captain over to Kate. She lay there, unconscious. Both eyes swollen
nearly shut. Traces of blood could be seen around her nose and mouth.
“My God, what happened to her?”
“As near as we can determine a
passenger, named John, raped and then beat her savagely. Linda can positively
ID the man who escorted Kate back to her room, and Kate told Linda that John
had raped her, before she tried to commit suicide.” Tom explained.
Pat interrupted. “I’ve been told
to expect a medivac flight as soon as we dock – assuming the Doctors approve
it.”
The technician came in with the
x-rays. The doctors looked at them. “Damn, would you look at that? The nose
is broken, and it looks like the hinge for the jaw may be all screwed up; and
then there’s the clavicle we’ll need to deal with that for sure.”
“Yeah, but there’s no cranial
fracture that I can see,” Tom noted. “And the fractured clavicle is something
we can go ahead and start treatment of with little difficulty.”
Tom watched as Frank set Kate’s broken
clavicle by gently forcing her left shoulder back, allowing the clavicle to
line up naturally. Once in place, a figure of eight bandage held the bone in
position. Ice packs were applied to the swelling.
“Captain, I’ve taken the liberty
of calling in a forensics team. I dare say, Cendar Security has greater
forensics resources than Princess Cruises. We’ll provide you with complete
records, but since the prosecution for this act will take place in a US Federal
Court, I want to personally preserve the chain of evidence,” Pat said.
“Normally, I would protest that in
the strongest terms. However, given the circumstances I’ll have my master at
arms coordinate and cooperate with you and with the Cendar personnel.”
“Thank you for that. Would you
order the room sealed until the investigation can begin?”
“Certainly, I’ll see to that
presently. Gentlemen, please keep me informed,” Captain Breton said, as he
left the MedicalCenter.
“TJ, it’s your mother,” Dorothy
Williams said into the phone.
“Hey, Hi mom! What’s going on?”
“John’s been hurt – badly I’m
told. Can you get some time off?”
“Lord, what happened?”
“I don’t have many details. His
company just called. I’m flying out as soon as they get a driver here. Do you
think you can get some time off? I’m scared, and I would appreciate it if you
could go with me.”
“Well, I have the vacation time
available. What time is your flight?”
“Apparently Cendar, John’s company
is chartering the flight, can you be to the airport in Santa Barbara in an
hour?”
“Mom, if you think it is that
important, of course I can. I’ll be waiting.”
“Thanks TJ, I appreciate it, I
love you.”
“Love you too; see you in a little
bit.”
-------------------------
Cruise Ship Golden Princess, at
Sea, 2315 hours EST, Tuesday, December 18,
2001
Linda sat in the lounge area of
Golden Princess’ MedicalCenter. Sheila sat next to her, acutely aware of her own failure
to protect Kate.
Sarah Matthew, the Senior First
Officer came into the lounge. “Mrs. Williams? I hope you remember me from
your first day. I’m Sarah Williams, and ship’s security is my responsibility.
We’ve put together a compilation of photos of male passengers named John. Are
you up to looking through them? We would like to make a positive
identification of Mrs. Stevens’ attacker.”
Linda looked through the photos.
There were thirty-seven photos. The twenty second was Kate’s attacker.
“That’s him, John Maxwell.”
“Mrs. Williams, are you sure?”
“Sarah, I’m absolutely certain, I
danced with this creep earlier this evening.” Linda teared up at the thought
of Kate’s treatment by this man.
Sheila asked, “How did you compile
this list?”
“We did a search of our A-Pass
(Automated Personnel Assisted Security Screening) system, which monitors
passengers and crew as they enter or leave the ship.”
“Can you leave a copy of this
picture with me?”
“Oh, certainly. The Captain was
most insistent that we cooperate fully.”
-------------------------
Beverly Airport 2330 hours EST, Tuesday, December 18, 2001
Hal arrived at the airport wearing
casual clothes; in one hand he carried a garment bag in the other hand a weapons
case. He boarded the jet and settled in the master suite. Jeeves was right
behind him, also loaded for bear. He smiled at the four hard faced men casually
dressed, seated and ready to go. Dr. Bellows boarded as Jeeves began to brief
the men. At the last minute, Annie rushed into the plane, with a small carry
on bag. There was a certain amount of argument, but Hal quickly backed down.
Annie would not be denied rushing to her adoptive mother’s side.
“I know you wanted me to be with
the kids, but I called Kate’s mom, and asked her to come out from California, please don’t
be mad, I called TWC Aviation, and they will pick her up and be airborne within
the hour. The kids will need her more than they will need me.” Annie explained,
eyes red from crying.
Hal relented, and moments later,
the Boeing Business Jet rolled down the runway bound for the Cayman Islands,
---------------------------
Cruise Ship Golden Princess, at
Sea, 0345 hours, Wednesday, December 19, 2001
“Well Doctor, I think we’ve got a
winner,” Tom informed Dr. Connors.
“Yeah, I agree. The vitals are up
a bit, and they’ve steadied some. If nothing else goes wrong, she will make
it.”
We need to get a rape collection
kit in here for documentation. Frank, can you see to that while I talk to
Linda?”
“No problem, I will get it taken
care of.”
Tom stepped into the lobby, and
gave Linda the news.
“Kate’s going to make it. It’s
going to take some time, but we’ve turned the corner on the overdose.
Officially, that’s what it will be labeled, an “accidental” overdose. We’ll
keep a close eye on her. Why don’t you go back to my cabin and get some
sleep. Meri won’t mind, and they’re going to be taking your cabin apart, inch
by inch, documenting everything. And, frankly, I wouldn’t want to sleep there
right now anyway.”
Linda began to cry anew at the
news.
“Tom, I can’t. I have to stay
here with her. You don’t know what it was like to find her. Whatever that
bastard did, he took away her soul. When I first got there, it was like she
was dead already.”
“Linda.”
“No! I mean it. This is all my
fault. If I had stayed with her, she wouldn’t have taken those pills.”
“Linda, you did what seemed best,
you did what I would have done.”
“Please, just let me sit by her,”
Linda begged.
Tom opened the door, pulled a
chair next to the hospital bed; and Linda sat there, holding the hand of the
person she loved most in the world, wondering how she could pull that person
back from the brink of hell.
-------------------------------
Cendar Business Jet, in flight
0600 hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
Hal speed dialed Cendar’s chief
counsel. “Erik, it’s Hal. Are you awake?
“Damn boss, I guess I am now.
What’s got you going so early?”
“Erik, Kate’s been raped. I need
you to coordinate with the US attorney’s office in Florida. We know who did it, and we are going to try to take him
into custody. If so, I want to hand him over to the USMarshall for Florida later today.”
“Hal, I’m not certain this is
completely legal.”
“Jeeves, and all my agents are
police officers within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Can you attempt to get a special appointment from the US attorney in Boston?”
“Hal, I’ll try, . I may
have to call the Governor’s office, but I believe Jane would call in a few
favors for you – under the circumstances. And I need to get in touch with the
British consulate; and, maybe even our ambassador in Kingston.”
“Erik, do whatever it takes. I’ll
be landing in the Caymans within the hour. I’d like to be nice and
cooperative, but I will protect Kate, and I will have this bastard put in
jail.”
“Be careful Hal. Let me get to
work.”
“Erik, I meant what I said. Do
whatever, spend whatever, promise or pay whatever it takes. Nothing means more
to me right now.”
“Hal, you know I will.”
-------------------------
Governor’s Residence, Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 0610
hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
“Governor Wells? I’m sorry to
wake you but Erik Moore is calling on behalf of Hal Stevens, and claims it’s an
emergency, can you take the call?”
Jane Wells, rolled over and sat up
in bed. “Hi Erik, what is so pressing?” She said groggily.
“I’m sorry to disturb you Jane,
but Hal needs a big favor. Kate’s been raped, and Hal has a team on the way to
the Caymans. They know who did it, and they want to take him into custody.”
“Oh my God, poor Kate; is she all
right?” Jane bolted upright, all thoughts of sleep gone.
“I don’t really know. I just
found out about it, and I’m trying to get the legal ducks in a row. Do you
know Susan Elliot?”
“Sue? Sure, we have met a few
times. Why?”
“She’s the Ambassador to Jamaica, and has
jurisdiction over the Caymans. Could you call her, and ask her to send the
legal attaché to Grand Caymans? If there’s an FBI agent, see if he could also
go, and have them get there just as quickly as possible?”
“Erik, I can and certainly will
try.”
“Jane, for the record, this is the
most important thing in life to Hal.”
“Please convey my sympathies, and
assure Hal I’ll do everything possible.”
-----------------------
Cendar Business Jet, in flight 0622
hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
“Hal?, It’s Erik. Jane called the
ambassador, and she will have the Legal Attaché Bruce Tristan and an FBI agent,
Mark Chapman ready and waiting for you. Here’s the problem, you will need to
pick them up. They will be waiting for you at the KingstonAirport, General
Aviation facility, I told them you’d be there between 7:00 and 8:00.”
“Erik, I owe you one. How will it
play out legally?”
“I will be on the phone with Pat,
Sheila, and Linda. Based on their telephone depositions, I will request The US
magistrate in Miami to issue an arrest warrant for a John Doe, name to be
provided by the FBI special agent. It’s a bit dicey whether he will cooperate,
but I’m hoping he will see reason. In any case, I’ve co-opted an attorney in Florida who is filing an
emergency hearing request at 7:00 this morning. So, if you will excuse me, I’ve still a lot
to do. If it all works out, you’ll have a facsimile copy in hand before you
reach the Caymans.”
“Thanks, Erik. I’ll be waiting
for your call.”
-----------------------
Norman Manley International
Airport, Jamaica 0720 hours EST, December 19, 2001
Hal watched impatiently as the jet
taxied to the main airport terminal, general aviation facility. The engines
were shutdown, and an external stairway jockeyed into position. Two men
dressed in business suits, carrying garment bags, climbed the stairs.
“Mr. Stevens? I’m Bruce Tristan,
Legal Attaché, and this is Mark Chapman, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, USEmbassy, Jamaica.”
Hal shook their hands, “do you
know the status of the arrest warrant? Erik Moore, my attorney, said you might
have a copy.”
“There’s a bit of a problem. The
US Magistrate in Miami wants something more than a “John Doe” description.
Hopefully, Mark will be able to put enough information on John Maxwell, and any
accomplices, together to have the warrant issued. But, I have to tell you, the
government would much prefer to make the arrest in Florida. It’s much
cleaner. While I can certainly understand your anger and desire for justice;
if we apprehend the perpetrator and transport him on your aircraft there will
be problems.”
“What kind of problems Mr.
Tristan?” Hal asked.
“Well, if I were the defense
attorney I would certainly raise issues of due process and prejudicial
treatment of my client. It’s possible a sympathetic magistrate would throw out
the case on a technicality.”
“You can’t possibly mean that?”
Hal asked with a look of disgust on his face.
“Actually, I’ve seen worse.”
Mark will begin the investigation
on the ship. I understand your security division is sending a forensics team?”
“As a matter of fact, they’re on
the plane with us.”
“We’re going to have to be
exceedingly careful. Mark will oversee the collection, and will take custody
of all material evidence. Analysis will be in the FBI labs – not Cendar’s.
The stairway was removed and the
pilots went through their checklists. Fifteen minutes later, the jet was back
in the air.
--------------------------
Beverly Airport 0725 hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001
The TWC Charter flight from Santa Barbara arrived
twenty minutes early due to a favorable jet stream. TJ and Dorothy Williams
descended from the jet and were met by a Cendar driver. Thirty minutes later
they pulled up in from of Stevens Hall.
Entering the mansion TJ turned to
his mother. “You know, when John told me about this job I didn’t believe him,
but after the flight, and seeing this estate, I think maybe if anything he
understated things.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a
place quite like this,” she replied.
Vikki met them in the lobby, and
showed them to their rooms.
“I was so sorry when I heard Mrs.
Stevens had been injured. Annie asked that I make sure you’re taken care of,”
she informed them. “Tim and Lisa have been taking it easy, but normally, they are
up by 9:00.
If you’re hungry or if you need anything, please just dial the kitchen and I
see it’s taken care of. Oh, and either Hal or Annie will call before 9:00 with the latest
information.”
Neither TJ nor Dorothy were
interested in lying down. The tension had both of them sleepless and anxious;
“Thanks Vikki, but could we get
some coffee?”
Vikki led the way to the kitchen,
playing tour guide along the way.
--------------------------
Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand CaymanIsland, 0812 hours EST
The jet coasted to a halt in the
general aviation area. Hal, Jeeves, Annie, Bruce Tristan, and Mark Chapman
descended from the plane as soon as the stairway was brought alongside. The
remaining members of the Cendar team would stay inside the plane for now.
At the foot of the stairs the
Americans were met by Burl McGuire and Gerry Braggs, the Commissioner of Police
and Chief Immigration Officer respectfully.
Bruce Tristan spoke,
“Burl, good to see you again, and
you too Gerry. This is Hal Stevens, Annie Anderson, and Andrew Jeeves of
Cendar Corporation. You know Mark Chapman, of course.”
“What a bloody business to wake up
to. I’m sorry for what has happened to your wife, and the Governor has
requested we offer every help possible,” Burl McGuire told Hal, while shaking
his hand.
“Thank you for that. Right now,
I’d like to get to the Grand Princess as soon as possible. Has she docked
yet?”
“Yes, she arrived at 0715 hours.
Mark, you are from the American Federal Bureau of Investigation as I recall?”
“Yes sir, I’ll be the principal
agent in the investigation of Kate Steven’s rape and assault.”
“If you’ll come this way,” Commissioner
McGuire led the way to a pair of official cars.
From the airport to the cruise
line terminal is less than five miles. Georgetown is a curious mixture of old style colonial and ultra
modern contemporary architecture. The roads were adequate; still, the short
trip took the best part of 20 minutes.
Cruise Ship Golden Princess, St.
George, Grand Cayman Island, 0835 hours, Wednesday, December 19, 2001
“Good morning, Mr. Stevens,” to
the others she said, “I’m Sarah Matthews, Senior First Officer. I assume you
want to go to the MedicalCenter straightaway?”
“Please Ms. Matthews,” Hal
replied.
Sarah led the party along the same
route Hal, Kate, Linda and Annie had taken only 3 days before. In the MedicalCenter, Linda looked up
as they approached.
Hal took in the scene; the medical
equipment attached to Kate, the bruising, the obvious damage to her face, and
the constant beep of the heart monitor. Linda looked like hell, still in her
elegant evening gown, her hair disheveled, and her eyes red rimmed from
crying.
Linda stood and flew into Hal’s
arms, “Oh God Hal, I’m so sorry. If I’d stayed with her she wouldn’t have been
able to overdose.”
“Shush, it’s not your fault. We
all knew Kate was having a hard time. You didn’t rape her. You’re not
responsible.” Hal soothed and comforted Linda.
Dr. Connors and Dr. Richards
entered, Hal turned to them, Annie pulled Linda into a hug, and the two women,
joined by a love for the patient, wept.
“How soon can we transfer her to
the airport?” he asked.
Tom replied, “Hal, she’s stable.
There’s still a broken nose to treat, but that can wait until we’re back in Massachusetts. Results
from the lab indicate she never really had a dangerous amount of hydrocodone in
her system. We could wake her most any time, but, I think I’d rather she slept,
until we could get her into a stable location.”
“I agree entirely Mr. Stevens.
She’s had a bloody bad time of it, and I suspect the emotional damage is far
more extensive then the physical. Blaming one’s self is a common reaction
among rape victims. She’s going to need all the support she can get,” said Dr.
Connors.
Hal breathed a sigh of relief and said
simply, “thank you gentlemen.”
“Hal?” Annie called. “Her necklace
and wedding rings are gone!”
“Tom, did you see them?” Hal
asked, “It’s not like Kate to remove them.”
“No, we’ve been pretty busy, but
no one took any jewelry off of her. In fact, I don’t remember her wearing any
when we brought her down here.”
Hal gave a description to Mark
Chapman of the FBI, and showed him the matching half heart necklaces he and
Annie were wearing.
“I’ve taken the liberty of
ordering an ambulance, and we can move her anytime,” Ms. Matthews said.
“Additionally, we’ve searched the records of Princess Cruise lines. It seems
that Mr. Maxwell sails on Princess at least twice a year. In comparing his
cruise dates with medical records we have two probable and 3 possible rapes
occurring on cruises Mr. Maxwell sailed on. I will, of course, turn over our
records to the FBI.
“Thank you Ms. Matthews,” Hal
replied. Turning to the Cayman officials, “do we need to do anything in the
way of paperwork?”
Bruce Tristan interrupted.
“Actually, my instructions are to take care of any details. Mark and I will be
working with these gentlemen for the next two or three days. Ambassador Elliott
made it clear that I was to make any arrangements necessary.”
“Her Majesty’s Government has no
problem with you simply transferring Mrs. Stevens from the Golden Princess
straight to your aircraft at the airport.” Gerry Braggs informed them.
“Tom, then let’s get her loaded
and back home. Pat, you and Sheila will be working with the FBI. The
forensics team will also be working for the FBI, and will go over Kate’s
stateroom under Mark’s supervision. I want the sick bastard who did this in
jail for a long, long time. I want you and Sheila to tail the asshole every
place he goes off the ship. If he goes to a jewelry store or hock shop, I want
you to notify Mark, and he can get the local authorities to question the owner.”
The medical staff arranged for the
transfer, and half an hour later Kate was loaded aboard an ambulance for the five
mile ride to the airport. Kate was accompanied by Pat and Tom. Jeeves
arranged the transfer of the two forensics experts to the Golden Princess, and
by 1030 hours Kate and Linda were aboard the jet with Annie, Hal, and Jeeves.
The plane left the runway on a direct flight home.
-----------------------
Stevens Hall, Massachusetts, 0915
hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Lisa stumbled down to the kitchen
and was surprised to find her grandmother and uncle sipping coffee and chatting
with Vikki.
“Grandma, Uncle TJ when did you
get here?”
“Hi honey, we got here this
morning. Is Tim up yet?”
“I don’t think so. Is something
wrong?” Lisa questioned.
“Yeah honey, very wrong. Why don’t
you show us the way to Tim’s room?”
Lisa led the way, and they found
Tim, awake, playing on the computer.
“Hey, Grandma, Uncle TJ; what are
you guys doing here?”
“It’s kind of complicated. First,
let me tell you that your Mom is okay, however, your dad was attacked, and
brutally beaten. Annie called me last night and asked if I could come out to
stay with you while she and Hal went to pick “Kate” up in the Caribbean. So, here I
am, and your uncle was kind enough to come with me. I expect to hear shortly
how your dad is doing.”
Lisa started weeping at the news;
Tim just looked shocked and scared.
“Hey, you guys want to get some
breakfast, and then show us around?” TJ asked the kids – a deliberate ploy to
change the subject.
Downstairs, the four ate
breakfast, waiting for news.
-------------------
Cendar Business Jet, in flight
1032 hours EST, Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
‘Amazing,’ thought Dr. Bellows
looking in on the sleeping Kate. ‘So much energy, so much to live for, and so
terribly broken.’
“Tom, we’re going to have problems
when she wakes.”
“I know. That’s why I want her
home. I think we can do better in a familiar setting. The thing she is going
to need the most of, is love and support. God alone knows what went through
her mind to cause her to try to kill herself.”