It was late the following morning. Jennifer was lying on her back, eyes open, staring at the ceiling, making no sound at all. Even when Peter spoke, it was as though she was deaf, as she didn't react. Her eyes showed no brief gleam of recognition and she didn't answer.
The surgeon ushered Peter out of the room as the nurse prepared Jennifer for surgery. On the verandah, the surgeon explained.
"Whoever did this to her needs to be brought to justice. The bastards have done extensive damage. We've x-rayed her and at least we can repair her physical body. She should be her old self after we remove the rings and we give her time to heal.
"What really worries me is her state of mind. She's acting like a zombie right now, but I won't be much help with her mental condition until we get the results of her blood tests to see what drugs they administered to her. You must rest, Peter. She won't be out of surgery until late this afternoon."
The clear sound of the small company chopper interrupted their conversation. It rose and, flying low, raced southwards.
The unexpected noise startled Peter.
Inquisitively, he raised his head to follow the chopper with his eyes.
Noticing Peter's un-stated query the surgeon explained. "Don't be shocked Peter. The chopper's gone to collect a friend, a plastic surgeon to help. By the time we're finished, as I said, she will be your Jennifer once more." With a pat on his shoulder, the surgeon turned and walked back inside.
Against the hospital fence was Peter's bike with his helmet on the seat.
Wearily he mounted it and rode to Deep Springs where Jennifer's family waited. He couldn't face returning to the building where he and Jennifer had started to build their future.
It all seemed a lifetime ago.
Riding hard and quickly, completely oblivious of his surroundings he sped into the backyard of the main house. Elizabeth flew out as if she'd been waiting for him and gently took his arm and led him into the kitchen. She sat him down and quietly spoke into the two-way radio on the bench. "He's here!"
Peter was exhausted but his mind wouldn't shut down. The events were just too catastrophic. Elizabeth's fresh hot toast didn't tempt him and he found it difficult to face his mother-in-law, knowing how he'd let her down. He had repeatedly vowed to protect and love Jennifer but had failed.
Well yes, he loved her more than life itself. However, did he protect her? He felt now, more than ever before, that he had failed.
"Ha. What a bloody fool." He voiced his thoughts.
"Are you talking to me Peter?" Elizabeth seemed surprised.
"I'm sorry, Mum. I was thinking aloud and I was talking about myself." He sagged as if all the fight had gone out of him.
A samfoo-dressed cook removed the untouched toast and placed a small bowl of Peter's favorite food in front of him - chilies swimming in soy sauce and fish oil. Handing him chopsticks the cook barked, "Eat!"
Wearily, he shoveled the chilies into his mouth and the cook refilled the bowl.
Elizabeth placed a serving of Pho Ga before him and urged him to eat. "You have to keep going for Jennifer's sake. She's relying on you so you can't give up now. She loves you and needs you." Elizabeth was doing her best to get him out of his black mood.
Andrew and Eric arrived with newspapers, which they spread before him as they sat quietly at the table. Their gentle presence supported him.
Eventually, Andrew broke the silence. "Hey cookie, that looks good, can you do a couple of plates for Dad and me?"
Eric's calm voice made Peter scan the headlines. "You've certainly stirred up the NSW Police Force," he commented. "Even Interpol is involved. Have a careful read and look at the pictures."
CRIME SYNDICATE SMASHED
'Acting on a tip-off, Sydney Crime Squad Detectives with the Dog Squad early this morning seized two cars outside an expensive brothel in Redfern.
'It is rumoured that the notorious underworld figure Dingo Ryan runs the brothel.
'Two cadaver dogs led the police into the building where the officers found several bodies. However, the police have found no trace of any 'ladies of the night' in the brothel.
I't appears that the bad luck that has dogged Dingo Ryan has continued. Since his luxury yacht sank, his home and boatshed burnt to the ground in baffling circumstances a week ago.
'Mysteriously a dinner guest and four bodyguards all died at a function hosted by Dingo in China Town.
'Now Dingo, his son and his wife are missing. All airports are under close surveillance as police in every state are searching for them as persons of interest.
'Police suspect that the Mickey Mouse Club (an Indian Crime Gang) could be the underlying cause of Dingo's unexplained disappearance and his bad luck.
'Interpol is assisting in the on-going investigations.
'To add more confusion Interpol earlier today announced the apparent assassination of a prominent NSW politician who was attending an international conference on crime in Hong Kong.'
The three men ate in silence while Elizabeth just stood silently her hands on Peter's shoulders.
Peter continued to scan the papers with thoughts of Jennifer's recovery never far from his mind