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Part 38 "What do you mean you 'almost didn't come back from K2,'" her voice lowered in shock. He shook his head. "Gerhelm, my friend, naturally thought we were going to climb the usual route up the Abruzzi Spur, but I wanted to take the more difficult South-Southwest Ridge." A rueful smile played on his lips. "He tried to convince me to at least compromise on the South-Southeast Spur route, which is somewhat easier, but I would not be swayed." His voice softened. "We were almost halfway to the top when I lost my footing and started to slide." Alex's eyes went wide. "Oh my God..." His eyes had a far-off look. "I should have never insisted that we take that route. Reinhold Messner once described it as 'suicidal' and refused to climb it. It was noted for being horrendous, notorious even, as a very difficult route to summit." "How did you stop your slide?" He still looked so far away. "Derek?" "We slid for about 100 feet, until Gerhelm finally managed to stop us at the Negrotto Col." He turned to her with a small smile. "Needless to say, after that we continued down the mountain as carefully as we could and managed not to fall into the numerous crevices." Alex shuddered. "I'd be having nightmares about that." "I... actually had another nightmare, while you were asleep." "I hope it's not me." She gave him a slight smile. "You should have woken me up." "You were sleeping. What could you do?" His eyebrow rose. "Rock me to sleep?" Her grin turned wicked at the challenge. "You bet I could have rocked you to sleep; it just wouldn't have been the way your mother might." He laughed and his face moved closer to hers before there was a knock at their door. "Room Service." Derek backed up and tightened his robe. "That experience will have to wait for another time. I'll get the door; why don't you take your shower." She gave him a quick kiss. "Okay, I'll be as fast as I can." Sadly, breakfast had to be fast as well. Derek had called Williamson and set up a time for them to come in. A boat would be waiting at the dock, ready to whisk them to the police station in the main village of Fare. Within 30 minutes they were in the inspector's office. "It's good to see you both again," the man said as he shook their hands. "You're looking much better than the last time we met." "How could we not, on such a beautiful island?" Alex smiled at him, touching the flower behind her left ear. "I'm glad you feel that way after what you went through," he said. "And the tiare makes you look even lovelier." Alex could feel her face warm. The officer stepped behind his desk. "Now which of you wants to be first?" "You go, Derek," she nodded to him. "I need to go over the events in my head first." She glanced at Williamson. "I've been trying not to think about it." "I think that's understandable, under the circumstances," the officer said. The precept took her hand. "From what I can recall, I doubt I'll be very long." "If you'd please remain outside then," the inspector said, leading Alex to a seat by a desk. The young woman watched Insp. Williamson close the door to his office. She really had tried not to think of their ordeal once they had reached the hotel, but at the moment she did need to go over the events in her head as she waited for Derek. "Why didn't I just tell him about Charlie on a beach somewhere," she whispered. Her decision to tell him on that mountain had almost cost them both their lives. She was at the particularly dark point in her recollection when the inspector's door opened. "You and Ms. Moreau were very fortunate," Williamson said as he shook the other man's hand. "At least we can be sure that he won't be harming any more women," Derek told him. "If you learn anything else, please let us know." "I certainly will." The inspector turned to Alex. "I'm ready for you." The young woman entered the room, and Williamson gestured to a chair. "It seems Dr. Rayne was a bit confused as to what happened." "It's not surprising," she said as she looked up at him. "Derek came very... very close to dying because of Jeroen. He was a bit out of it the night on the mountain. He seemed to remember that I had fallen into the pit, but later appeared to forget it happened." "Why don't you tell me your version," the inspector said as he placed a microphone in front of her. "It was my fault we decided to climb the mountain," she began. "I had to tell him something personal, and I didn't want our friends to know what I..." She shook her head to brush old memories aside. "We were having fun, a really good time, and we rested every so often so we could talk and I could catch my breath." She smiled for a second. "There was a young couple... so we took another route, off the main track, to give them some privacy. We eventually heard a waterfall and there was a path behind it. Derek and I were standing there, getting soaked..." Alex grinned at the memory. "The rock moved when Derek leaned on it, and we were startled to see that it was a doorway to what was hidden behind the waterfall..." Alex described how they found the hidden marae, how they believed it was undisturbed. "Then suddenly Jeroen was standing there, claiming that we had discovered his secret." She continued, explaining that the young man had held her in a chokehold and she couldn't understand why. But Derek knew he was looting -- and selling the artifacts. Derek tried to get him to release her, but instead Jeroen shot him in the arm. At this point she managed to get away, but in running to the older man she fell in the pit. She no longer saw them, but she soon heard another shot. "My heart went to my throat... Then Jeroen leaned over the top and told me that Derek was dead... and I did hear the gunshot so... I... I think I screamed." His leering face was before her again, and she balled her fists. "He smirked at me, said Derek couldn't come and see me. He laughed and said he had to meet a buyer. Before he left I threatened to find him, make him suffer for what he did to Derek." "How did you find Dr. Rayne? Was he near the pit?" "No... no. I sort of stumbled over him. Almost literally, once I managed to get out of that pit." She briefly shivered. "First I stumbled over those dead women, and then I saw Derek half out of this... this grave." Her eyes looked into Williamson's. "I... I still wonder how Jeroen managed it." The man rose from his chair and sat next to her. "I have to tell you, Ms. Moreau, that when my men returned to the marae and began to recover the bodies up there they also..." His voice stopped for a moment as he retrieved an item from his desk. "They also found this syringe. A used syringe that we're quite sure contained ketamine. We're having the contents analyzed right now to be certain." Alex looked at him in shock. "A used syringe? But I don't recall Jeroen having used..." "Have you or Dr. Rayne experienced any of the symptoms associated with this drug?" he asked, placing the needle before her. "No, of course not..." We couldn't have... It does knock you out, paralyzes you, and leaves you helpless and vulnerable with no memory later as to what happened to you. You might not even realize that something did unless you discovered some time missing or you came to in a different place. Nick had given her that information when they believed that Jeroen may have used it on her... "I had just forgotten for a short period," he said and then laughed briefly. "Don't worry, Alex. It's probably due to lack of food..." Yes, that was it. That and his head injury. Derek was right. Hadn't she felt the bump on the back of his head? Jeroen couldn't have injected Derek. He couldn't... If the drug is taken in higher doses, you can dissociate your body and mind from each other and your brain feels as if you're floating away. While you are experiencing this sensation, you are actually being left in a vulnerable, paralyzed state, unable to defend yourself from whatever or whoever might want to harm you. You can't walk or talk. You are completely helpless because you have no awareness of what is going on around you. She had found Derek halfway out of a grave... Had Jeroen pulled the precept's body across the marae to that burial site? Did Jeroen know that Derek was still alive when he had made her believe he was dead? She tentatively reached out and rested her hand on Derek's chest, hoping he wasn't, that he would disappear under her touch, but his body was solid beneath her quivering fingers. "Derek, no..." She sat in the mud, the chilly rain falling on her, as she stared at the corpse before her. It wasn't possible... Hadn't she stumbled to him, believing he was dead? She shivered, remembering how hard it had been to pull Derek, with her arms and her heart breaking as she dragged him into the cave. But he wasn't dead. He was barely breathing then? Dear heaven, was it Jeroen's intent all along to bury Derek alive? Alex took a deep, steadying breath. There was only one way to know for sure... "I need to..." Her hand reached out and gently grasped the syringe. Concentrating, she calmed her mind. She had to know the truth. Alex gasped as the vision overwhelmed her... Jeroen walked over to the older man, a cruel smile on his face as he looked down on Derek, who was seated on the wet ground. "Having a bit of a problem standing, Dr. Rayne?" The other man tried to move but his actions were slow. His hand went up to his head and he stared at his fingers, covered in blood. "Yes, I thought I was a better shot than that. Hmm, I must be slipping." Jeroen grinned as he slapped the precept across the face, and Derek fell back to the mud. "You know, oude man," the young man sneered as he removed a syringe and bottle from an inside jacket pocket, "I usually save this for mijn speciaal vrouwen, but for you I'll make an exception." The needle filled with clear liquid as Derek continued to struggle. "Oh, sure, most guys just slip it into a woman's drink, but what's the challenge in that?" He suddenly thrust it into Derek's neck, then slowly pushed the plunger down as the older man gasped with pain. "But me?" He smirked as he squatted next to him. "Personally, I like to see the fear and horror on a woman's face as I jab the needle in." Derek's eyes went wide before his body slumped into the mud. The younger man's voice grew low and cold. "I'll bet you can't even hear me, now that you're off on your... long voyage. And a long one it's going to be," he said, pulling Derek's head back. "I had planned to use it on Alex, but you deprived me of that pleasure. However..." He ruffled the man's hair. "I do hope you enjoy the accommodations I've picked out for you. It seems a spot has recently become available." He grabbed the man by his neck collar and began to drag him away. "It's such a pity that by the time you wake up it will be... te late voor uto. Tot ziens, Dr. Rayne." "Are you all right, Ms. Moreau?" His concerned eyes looked down on her. "I have to make a call," she said, her voice quivering. "I... I have to call some... someone..." "Would you like to..." She noted the worried look on his face and smiled faintly. Feeling the sting of tears, she looked up at him. "I'm sorry, I need to make a confidential call. It will be quick, but it's just that we're heading back to Bora Bora from here and I need some privacy." "Certainly. Hit the last button on my phone; it's my private line," he said softly. "I'll go out and talk to Dr. Rayne." He left her alone. Alex took a firm breath and dialed. As promised, her conversation with the person on the other end was short, lasting just two minutes. "Thank you. We'll be in touch." She put the handle back in its receiver, then brushed away the tear that had fallen. Everything had changed now. How could she face him? The officer knocked softly, and she straightened back her shoulders as he entered. "Are you all set?" "Yes, and thank you," she said as she stood. "Oh, and Insp. Williamson?" The man turned to her as she removed the flower in her hair. "When you go up to the marae again, would you drop this into the pit for me? Tell her that I'm sorry." He took the tiare from her hand. "Of course, I'd be happy to." Another tear fell from her eyes as she took another deep breath. She didn't wipe this one away, wanting Derek to see that she was distressed and have him believe it was due to Jeroen. There was a partial truth to it. Turning around as she reached the door, she gave him a faint smile. "Thank you for your help, and your kindness." "You're welcome. And the best of luck to you and Dr. Rayne." Alex shook her head. "I think our luck has just run out." She opened the door and left his office. End part 38
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