Mum, Sis and Bro Part 14
I was starting to regret the impulse purchase of the F150, it was a pain to use for anything other than work. Undoing the cargo cover to put shopping and bags in was a nuisance, even with 4-wheel drive it was practically useless in slippery conditions. Fortunately, Beth uses an Audi Q5, the downside is, I am a bad passenger and she is a lunatic! Beth considers the best way around a slick corner is sideways, her hysterical laughter as I hung on for grim death really irritated me. I had never been allowed to drive the big Audi as it was Beth's baby, she was always cleaning the wheels and polishing the gleaming black paint.
As part of my resolve to spend more time with my family, we had been away for a few days to a friend's villa on the shore of lake Como. Forgetting my commitment, earned me a sharp rebuke from Ruth and Beth as I started to talk to the owner of a hire and leisure business. Taking their point, I quickly emailed Jack with the details, asking him to see if it was something, we might be interested in. Although Jack and his team were expensive, the information they provided was incredible, I tried not to think about how some of it was obtained.
Getting to the Marina for 7.00, I watched as several boats were pushed out of the workshops, towards the slips, awaiting final inspection. Chatting with Hans and a few of the engineers I found myself longing to pull a pair of overalls and boots on. Walking back to the offices I grinned, remembering how as an 18-year-old I had worked so hard, trying to prove myself to the engineers and Harry. Finding the office door locked, jolted me back to reality, realising I didn't have a key I called Caroline, her mobile was switched off, the landline number I had, was out of service.
As I started back to Hans office, Katerina arrived, unlocking the door, she smiled briefly before scuttling off to her office. Reading reports from the Immobilien and accountant on the small Marina, confirmed likely costs and profit, together with future operating costs. Deciding to postpone the development, pending further evaluation, I signed off on the site being cleared. An email from Jack, confirmed that a settlement had been reached with Tracy. 200.000 CHF would be in mums account by 12 noon today, Sam's custody would be done by Friday. Shaking my head in disbelief I wondered how Jack had persuaded her so fast. Calling Mum to give her the news, she sounded relieved,
"I am going back to London for a few weeks, need to put this whole mess behind me. Going to stay with my sister, she has never met Sam. How are you feeling?"
Assuring her I was feeling much better, I caught the sadness in her voice as I wished her a good trip. As I worked through the rest of my emails, Katarina carrying coffee and cakes, provided a welcome break. Watching her put a cup on Caroline's desk I thought she must be in the building,
"Would you ask Caroline to come and see me please, also phone Beth and ask her to come for a meeting."
"I am sorry Mike, Caroline is not here, she didn't come to work on Friday either. What time would you like Beth here?"
Pulling Caroline's personnel file up on my Pc, I saw that her address and phone number had not been updated.
"Do you know where Caroline lives?" I asked more than a little concerned as I saw my desk clock indicating 11.45.
"Yes, they moved to a new apartment with a rooftop terrace, about 6 months ago. It's not far from here, I have only been there once, but think I can find it."
Getting into Katarina's Golf, we soon arrived outside a new apartment block, trying not to run, I headed into the building. The door had an electronic lock, fortunately an elderly lady was just coming out. Brushing past her, I jabbed the call button on the lift. Arriving on the 5th floor, Katerina pointed to a door marked 5b. Reaching for the bell, I noticed the door was ajar, pushing it open I surveyed the mess. Pictures laid broken on the floor and 2 of the doors had holes punched in them, telling Katerina to call the police I walked in as quietly as I could.
Seeing more destruction in the lounge and kitchen, the taps in the bathroom were running and the bath had started to flood the floor. The apartment had 3 bedrooms, the 1st a box room, with more smashed pictures and furniture. My relief, as I saw Caroline laying on the bed of the 2nd room, turned to horror as I saw she was unconscious, her body and face cut and bruised. Trying to remember my basic 1st aid training I felt for a pulse, it was weak, but she had a pulse.
"Call an ambulance, go downstairs to let them in the door, Caroline needs urgent medical attention and ring the police again" I instructed Katerina.
Not wanting to move Caroline, I tried to make her more comfortable by moving the debris and glass from her battered face and body. Collecting my thoughts as I heard the ambulance and police arrive, I took a picture of Caroline and grabbed a picture of Karl. Katerina asked to go to the hospital with Caroline, after a barrage of questions the police seemed satisfied that I wasn't involved.
Leaving them to do their job, I was relieved to see Katerina had left the keys in her car. Even though I knew Swiss police were efficient and thorough, I doubted that the punishment would fit the crime. Calling Jack, I asked what could be done, sending him pictures of Caroline and Karl, adding the caption "Don't matter what it costs." I heard Jack's sharp intake of breath as he opened the pictures.
"No bother boy, this one's on Jack."
Starting the little car, I noticed it had a manual gearbox. I hadn't driven a manual in almost 14 years, stalling the car several times, I headed for the hospital. Explaining to the receptionist who I was, she directed me towards the triage area. Katerina said that Caroline had regained conciseness in the ambulance as the Paramedics had been working on her and seemed quite lucid but in pain. I had called Caroline's parents from the car, I knew her father as he had done some work at the Marina over the years. After an anxious wait of an hour a doctor was able to give us a positive prognosis.
"She has extensive lacerations to her head, hands and upper body, 3 broken ribs and her right elbow was dislocated. Her Vagina and upper thighs have numerous cigarette burns, her anus is bleeding and currently under investigation. She has told us she is pregnant, as far as we can tell, the early stage of the pregnancy means baby should be ok. She is sleeping now, you should be able to visit tomorrow."
The news that their daughter was pregnant, came as a complete shock to her parents, maybe providing a slice of joy that the baby was ok. As Katerina drove me home, I was deep in thought, why the hell would Karl beat his pregnant wife so badly? Caroline had told me they had been trying for a baby for years, it just didn't make sense. As we got off the highway, onto the small road that led to the lake, a truck reversed out of a gateway and smashed into the side of the Golf. The impact pushed us into a small culvert on the other side of the road, as the car turned over, my head slammed into the roof, knocking me out.
As I started to come around, the side of my face felt warm, my head and body felt cramped and were freezing. Trying to move I gasped as pain shot through my left arm, as my brain cleared, I realised that the car had landed on its side in a small brook. The cold melt water was running through the smashed windscreen over my head and down my right arm and leg. Trying to move at all was very painful, about to try again, I froze as I heard voices and saw Karl peering through the shattered windshield as a passing car stopped.
As I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry, eventually focusing on the smiling face of Beth Trying to say hello, just didn't work, my mouth and tongue seemed to work, but no words came out. As I tried to sit up, Beth pushed my shoulder firmly back to the bed.
"You are in hospital Mike, you had a bad accident, you can't speak because you have a tube in your throat, go back to sleep, I will be here when you wake up."
The next time I woke, I felt much better, opening my eyes to see broad smiles on Beth and Ruth's face I managed to croak, "Hello." The left side of my body felt strange, I eventually realised my arm and leg were heavily bandaged a lighter bandage was covering my chest. Over the next few days, every time I woke, Beth was there, holding my right hand and talking to me. The next time I woke, something was wrong, I was being held at a strange angle and I could feel water on my body, panicking, I lashed out, my fist connecting with a nurses chest before I passed out again.
30 days after the accident, the hospital reduced the medication allowing me to slowly come out of my medically induced coma. Barely able to speak, I listened as Beth explained what had happened, as she out lined my injuries, I managed to croak
"How's Katerina?"
"Oh Mike, Katerina didn't survive the accident," she said as she turned her head, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I wanted to know more, clearly upset, Beth rushed out of the room as 2 nurses came in. Over the next few weeks, I was subjected to lots of Physiotherapy, the torture of learning to walk, and getting movement into my left arm. As I got stronger, I had lots of visitors, including a fully recovered Caroline, their chatter helping to ease the boredom. Beth had gone home but was visiting every day, as I finished my breakfast a medical orderly came into my room, with a wheelchair.