They arrived at the hospital about fifteen minutes later. After learning the location of Owen’s room, the three of them and a couple of additional officers headed towards it. When they arrived at the floor, a nurse greeted them as soon as they entered.
“Are you here for the shooting victim?” She asked.
“Yes,” Billy replied. “I understand he is conscious, is that true?”
“Hmm, in and out of it I’m afraid.” She replied. “Come with me, Dr. Reynolds will explain the situation to you.”
As they entered the room, a middle aged man approached them.
“Hello,” he said as he looked at them over a pair of gold rimmed glasses. “Is anyone here a relative of this man?”
“No,” Jett said. “He has no family that I know of. We’re very good friends of his though.”
“I see,” the man replied. “Well, the good news is that he’s alive. It’s pretty incredible when you consider how close the range of the entry wounds were. Remarkable really…” The man’s voice trailed off as he looked back over his shoulder in Owen’s direction.
“Excuse me, sir?” Daniella replied. “You gave us the good news. I’m almost afraid to ask but is there bad news as well?”
“Oh, forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself.” He replied. “I’m Dr. Alan Reynolds and over there are Nurses Madison and Weems. The bad news, I’m afraid, is he sustained a significant head trauma which resulted in brain swelling. We’ll have to keep a close watch on it.”
“Doctor?” Billy interjected. “Do you have a moment? I need to ask you a few questions about your findings as it relates to the gunshot wounds.”
“Yes, of course.” He replied. “Talk in the hallway?” He said as he gestured towards the door. Billy nodded and followed him out with the other two officers in tow.
As the door closed behind them, Daniella looked at Owen clearly for the first time. He seemed so frail and helpless with all the tubes and wires connected to him. Her eyes began to fill up with tears as she looked at him. She’d really come to love the gruff old bastard.
“You okay?” Jett asked.
“Yeah,” she replied. “It’s just sad.”
“I know,” he replied. “Come on.”
They walked over and stood nearby as the nurses finished their tasks. As they turned to leave, Nurse Weems stopped and said, “If he should wake up, try to keep him as calm as possible. He’s a long way from being better as I’m sure Dr. Reynolds told you.”
“Okay,” Daniella replied. “We’ll be careful.”
The nurses left and for several minutes, they stood quietly beside his bed. From behind, they heard the door to the room open.
“Jett!” A woman’s voice said.
They turned around to see Jett’s mother and father enter the room.
Jo rushed toward her son and hugged him followed by David. They then both hugged Daniella as well.
“Mom,” Jett said. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in jail.”
“Well… I wouldn’t go that far,” his father said. “They had us in there for questioning. Hard to say if they would have made something stick sooner or later. Anyway, Office Holder had an apparent change of heart. He said the police needed us here to verify the story you’d told them and to identify Owen.”
As David spoke, Jo leaned over Owen.
“My God, David, how long has it been?” She said as she covered her mouth.
“Hmm,” he replied. “Twenty-five, thirty years…”
“Doesn’t seem like it.” She said.
“Yes, seems like only yesterday when we left Fesser’s Grove.” He exhaled. David turned his attention to Jett and said, “Son, how was your time with Owen?”
For the next several minutes, Jett recounted his adventures with Owen at his cabin. As Daniella listened, she watched the reactions of Jett’s parents. The fact that he was able to finally experience the gifts of his birthright thrilled them. But at the same time she detected a sense of melancholy in their faces. As Jett finished, his mother leaned into his father and started to weep.
“Mom,” Jett said. “What’s wrong?”
Overcome, it was clear that Jo couldn’t respond. David stepped in for her instead.
“We always knew the day would come when you’d have to learn about your heritage.” He said. “Of course, we never imagined circumstances like this. Obviously, you know the identities of your real parents now.”
Jett nodded. “Yes, I do.” He replied. “Jo and David Conrad.”
Jo lifted her head from David’s chest. “Jett, your parents, they…”
“Yes, Mom,” Jett said. “I know all about the man and woman who conceived me. I am grateful for the fact that they gave me life but make no mistake. You are my parents. That will never change.”
Jo’s puffy red eyes filled with tears once more as she threw her arms around Jett and kissed him. After a moment, David joined in and the three of them held one another close for several seconds.
David looked at Jett and said, “We were lucky to have such a good friend in Owen. The world is a far better place with men like him in it.”
They smiled and looked at one another for several seconds when all of a sudden a scratchy, throaty voice said, “I should hope so. I don’t imagine I would enjoy a world without me in it either…”
“Owen!” Daniella shrieked as moved towards him.
“Daniella,” Jett replied. “Remember what the doctor told us? No excitement.”
“Ahh, doctors,” Owen said with a dismissive wave of his right hand. “They don’t know shit from apple butter. I’ll be out of here in no time.”
“Same old Owen,” Jo replied. “Stubborn as ever.”
“Indeed,” he replied with a wink. “And I see you are as lovely as the last time I saw you.” Owen looked at David and said, “And you, you old man, how did you manage to hang onto her all these years?”
“Good lovin’,” David said with a sly smile. “It makes up for a lot. Not everything, but a lot.”
“That it does.” Owen said with a nod.
“How are you my old friend?” David asked.
“Been better…” he said as he winced.
“Oh,” Jo replied as she touched Owen’s arm. “Please try to take it easy.”
Owen coughed for several seconds and then rolled his head in Jo’s direction. “Now, you know me better than that.”
She smiled at him as he spoke.
“Say,” Owen continued. “I was, um, real sorry to hear about your boy, Wyatt. I’m sure he was a fine young man if Jett here is any indication of the way you raised him.”
Jett chuckled. “Owen,” he began. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you just gave me a compliment.”
“Not you, boy,” Owen said as he coughed again. “Your folks. I’m sure they had their hands full with the likes of you. And I’ve only known you for a little more than a week. I can’t imagine twenty plus years of your shenanigans.”
***
Just then, Billy poked his head in the door.
“Daniella,” he said. “Need you out here for a second…”
“Okay,” she replied as she turned and hugged Owen. “See you in a bit.”
He smiled at her and a few moments later she exited the room. As she walked out, she noticed Dr. Reynolds and the two nurses who were in Owen’s room earlier. They appeared to be involved in a discussion of some kind.
“What did you need Billy?” She asked as she approached the policeman.
“Oh,” he began. “You, um, have visitors.”
“I do?” She asked as she looked around the room. Other than Billy and the two other officers, she didn’t see anyone. “Who? Where are they?”
“Yep, they’ll be here any second,” he replied as he looked at his wristwatch. “My guess is in five… four… three… two…”
Daniella wrinkled her brow in confusion but as the countdown neared its end, the doors to the waiting room swung open and through them walked her mother and her best friend.
“Mom? Tricia?” Daniella said as the women entered the waiting room. “What are you… How did you know I was here?”
As they rushed over to embrace her, Billy said, “I called them. Sorry I just figured you could use a little support.”
“Yes, honey.” Her mother said. “Billy told us that you are here with a friend of yours and…”
Just then, Jett emerged from the Owen’s room. As soon as he saw the women, he stopped dead in his tracks. Marilyn and Tricia looked at him in complete shock.
“You!” Daniella’s mother exclaimed as looked at him with a mix of disgust and surprise. “Do you have any idea the havoc you’ve wreaked in my daughter’s life?!” She screamed.
Tricia completely lost it. She lifted her purse and took off straight towards him but just as she neared him, Billy intervened and stopped her.
“Billy!” Tricia yelled as she struggled to break free from him. “What are you… doing? He’s the bad guy here, remember?”
“No!” Billy replied. “Stop! I… I don’t think he is. In fact, I don’t think he’s guilty of anything except being born into a bad situation.”
Over the next several seconds, she relaxed until her body went limp in his arms.
“What?” She said.
Daniella’s mom looked at him in confusion. “So, are you saying that he’s not a suspect in all of this after all?”
Billy released his hold on Tricia and turned towards Marilyn. “Well, sort of… I mean… things are a bit murky right now.” He replied. “New evidence has come to light that made me reconsider.”
“What new evidence?” Tricia said.
“I really can’t discuss it with you.” He replied. “But you should forget everything you think you know about this man for the time being.” He gestured towards Daniella and said, “Put your focus where it belongs. On her. She needs you right now…”
Daniella looked at Billy. “Thank you.” She said. “Maybe I was wrong about you after all.”
“No,” he said. “You weren’t. I was a piece of shit. All I ask is a chance to redeem myself. I hope you can at least give me the opportunity.”
“Of course,” Daniella replied as she hugged him. “Absolutely.”
“Daniella,” her mother began. “Sweetie, I am totally confused. Why are you here? You’re not hurt, Jett appears to be alright…”
“Yeah,” Tricia said. “What is going on?”
“I’ll explain all of it to both of you.” Daniella replied. “Right now, there’s a man in there that’s in bad shape. We need him to get better. I’ll leave it at that for now.”
While Daniella spoke, Jett’s parents emerged from Owen’s room. As they did, the nurses went inside behind them, presumably to check on Owen’s condition. Jo and David walked out, they came towards Jett and hugged him.
Tricia nudged Daniella and asked, “Who is that?”
“Oh,” Daniella said as she looked at her mom and her best friend. “Those are Jett’s adoptive parents, Jo and David Conrad.”
They noticed Daniella and walked over towards her.
“Hello,” Jett’s mother said. “I’m Jo and this is my husband David. We’re Jett’s folks.” She looked at Marilyn and said, “And you must be Daniella’s mother. You must be so proud, she’s such a lovely young woman.”
“Oh, I…” Daniella’s mom replied with an awkward smile.
Daniella knew good and well that Jo’s sincerity caught her off guard. If there was one thing she and Tricia were certain of, it was that her mother wouldn’t reply with anything other than a similar compliment about Jett.
It was against her very nature.
“Well,” her mother began. “Jett is a very handsome man. I’m sure that you are both proud that he turned out to be so, um, adven… turous.” Marilyn quickly extended her hand in an effort to alleviate the awkwardness she’d single handedly created. “My name is Marilyn,” she said. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”
Daniella and Tricia looked at each other and giggled. Marilyn never failed to disappoint. But no sooner did the laughter subside than the door to Owen’s room flew open. At once, everyone’s attention turned toward it.
“Doctor!” Nurse Weems shouted in Dr. Alexander’s direction. “Please come quickly!”
Daniella left her position next to her mother and Tricia and walked over to Jett. At the same time, Jett’s parents turned and stood next to him as well.
“I wonder what happened.” Jo said. “He was awake and fine when we left. Maybe a little drowsy but otherwise alright.”
Jett shrugged. “I dunno. In that delicate state, anything is possible.”
Marilyn walked up behind Daniella and whispered, “Daniella, who is in there? What is this all about?”
“Mom,” Daniella said as she turned to face her. “I promised you I would tell you everything just not right this second, okay?”
To Daniella’s surprise, her mother seemed to get the message and backed down. For several minutes afterward, the group waited in relative silence when Dr. Alexander re-emerged.
“Doctor,” Jett said with a nervous tone. “What happened? Is he okay?”
The doctor shook his head. With a grim look on his face, he gestured for everyone assembled to move closer.
“Everyone,” he began as he cleared his throat. “It seems as if the swelling in Mr. Carmichael’s brain caused him to go into seizure. In order to prevent any further possibility for serious injury, we induced a coma.”
“A coma…” Daniella gasped. “Well, how long will he be like that?”
“Very difficult to say, I’m afraid.” He replied. “Much of it depends on how the next twenty four to forty eight hours goes. Now, I’ll answer any question that you have but it will be just a few minutes. Please excuse me.”
As the doctor rushed back into Owen’s room, silence hung in the air for several moments. At last Jett’s father walked towards him and placed his hand on Jett’s shoulder.
“Son,” he began. “Owen asked me to give this to you.” He reached in his shirt pocket and produced Owen’s turquoise amulet necklace.
Jett took it into the palm of his hand and looked at it. “His necklace?” He said. “I… I don’t understand. Why would he give this to me?”
“Jett,” his father replied as he shook his head. “That… is no mere necklace.”
“What?” Jett said. “What do you mean?”
“That is the Amulet of Meruvis,” Jo said.
David nodded. “Owen told me he made a promise to your father just before he died.” He looked at Jett with moist eyes. “By giving you this, he’s fulfilled that promise now.”
“Daniella,” Marilyn replied. “What in the world is going on?”
Daniella nodded and said, “Don’t worry about it, Mom. It’s a long story but I’ll explain it all to you. I swear.”
Daniella walked away from her mother to Jett’s side.
“What should we do now?” She said.
Jett looked at the necklace for a few moments and replied, “I don’t know right now.”
“Well…” Officer Holder interrupted. “I can tell you this much… You need to figure something out and quick. I only have authority to keep you out of jail for a couple of days. There’s no time.”
Jett’s father put his arm around him. “Son, Owen told me how far you’ve come.” He said. “He believes in you. You’re the only one that can face Kane.”
Jett remained silent as Daniella rushed closed to him.
“Face Kane? Alone?” Daniella said with panic in her voice. She gripped Jett’s upper arm.
“Look Jett, there’s really nothing I can do from a police standpoint.” Billy said. “I have a couple of buddies up in the Fesser’s Grove PD. I’m not sure even what the hell I’d say to them though to be honest.”
“Hey man,” Jett said. “I appreciate it but as you can probably guess, this isn’t a matter for the police. I have to figure something out, for all of us and soon.”
“That’s true,” Billy nodded. “All of the evidence points to you. As far as Pine Hill is concerned, the case is as good as closed. I’m risking a lot but I trust Daniella and I have to say that it’s becoming harder to not believe you as well. But what I or anyone else here believes doesn’t matter. Unless you can come up with evidence or a confession to the contrary, I will have no choice but to put all of you back in jail.”
David stepped towards Jett and said, “Son, you know your mother and I support you as well. With any luck, Owen will get better soon but even if he doesn’t, we’ll figure something out.”
As Daniella hugged Jett close, he clutched the amulet and said, “I know we will.”
Daniella’s mother began to weep.