Page 32 of Once a Hero

And then there was the unanswered question about Beatrice’s own mother. The story had always been the same. Molyneux had killed Beatrice’s mother. Was that the truth though? Could her biological mother be alive still?

Another question that begged for an answer was about her bother, Benjamin. She knew that they had the same father. But who was Benjamin’s mother? Could it be Molyneux?

Beatrice might never know.

Dad and Philomena, the two people who could tell her the truth about their biological parentage, were both dead.

“Are your parents still around?” Beatrice asked Jake.

He nodded. “Why do you ask?”

“Because mine are dead.”

“I’m sorry.” Jake extended his hand toward Beatrice.

She didn’t take it. “Well, such is life.”

Raynelle entered the waiting room, her elbow in a Pepto-Bismol pink cast.

Beatrice had never pegged Raynelle as someone who liked pink. “I thought black was your favorite color?”

Raynelle lifted her arm slightly. “It’ll be under a sleeve.”

“What did the doctor say?”

“Broke a few bones. I’ll heal.” Raynelle didn’t look too confident. “I can’t use my right arm for a while. At least six weeks.”

“I’m sorry.” Beatrice knew what that meant. Raynelle’s right hand couldn’t shoot. “You’re still my bodyguard. You may have to stay in the van and let Kenichi run about.”

“Ha!” Raynelle made a face, as if relinquishing her job to a security specialist like Kenichi was beneath her.

Beatrice didn’t want to say anything in front of Jake, but she knew that Kenichi had enough training to go toe to toe with Raynelle, even though he was at least ten years older.

“Well, Jake, nice to see you again,” Beatrice stood up and changed her mind about accepting Jake’s offer to visit the cabin together.

“What about the cabin?” A slow smile appeared on his face. “And lunch with me?”

“Raincheck?” Beatrice read her watch. “It’s almost seven in the morning now. I need to get some sleep and I doubt I’d be up in time for lunch. Are you staying here?”

“Yeah. I’ll wait until Earl comes out of surgery.” He looked a bit disappointed that she was leaving. “I’ll get some breakfast at the cafeteria.”

“Thank you again, Jake.” Beatrice wanted to shake his hand but she did not. “Earl and I would have died if you hadn’t shown up.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to follow the two men if Raynelle and Kenichi hadn’t taken over beating the guys to a pulp.”

“Thank God we made it out of the forest alive.” Beatrice smiled at him one last time before they parted.

Jake snapped his fingers. “Ah. That’s what it is, Your smile reminds me of…uh…you know who.”

“No, I don’t know who.” Beatrice shook her head.

“Are you sure?” Jake asked.

Beatrice didn’t answer.

Chapter Fourteen

Beatrice gave credit to Kenichi for covering the van with new decals while she and Raynelle had been inside the hospital building. By the time Kenichi returned to the hospital parking lot to pick them up, the van was emblazoned with words that said “Plunging Needs Plumbers” and photos of several plungers all lined up.

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