Love Lost and Found

Chapter 20/?

He stared intently at his partner, nervously chewing on his lower lip. MacLachlan sat hunched over a pile of papers, quickly leafing through and occasionally reading one of them. His brows were knitted into a frown of concentration and he hadn’t uttered a single word fir almost an hour, which was totally unlike him. After a while Goodie cleared his throat and addressed Kyle cautiously. “You do realize,” he said slowly “that Mortensen can’t be the one who attacked Mr Bloom yesterday? He was undoubtedly asleep in his bed. A nurse was reapplying salve to his wound just as it happened.”
Kyle ignored Goodie for a while before he answered, measuring each word carefully. “We only know that Mortensen himself is innocent on that account. But what if there are two of them?”
“What do you mean, two of them?” Goodie asked incredulously. “There’s no evidence which suggests that there are two burglars.”
“But it could be.” MacLachlan insisted. “What if Mortensen hired some accomplice after his first attempt to kill Mr Bloom failed? It would have been sufficient to clear himself from any suspicions we might have had.” MacLachlan paused to stare intently at Goodie before he resumed his speech, looking out of the window at the grey mist the wind chased through the street. The rain was starting to get on his nerves. He sighed again. “Don’t you think so, too?” he urged Goodie.
“I don’t know what to think anymore.” Goodie said slowly. “The whole case seems to become more and more bizarre the more I think about it. But I think that Mortensen is truly innocent of any crime.”
“Why? Mr Bloom is beautiful and it is not uncommon that those beautiful guys hook up with some overly jealous lover, who’d like to keep them somewhere, where no one can look at them or take their precious boy-toys away.”
Again Goodie shook his head as MacLachlan had finally finished his rambling. “Kyle,” he sighed “I really don’t understand where this strange fixation on Mr Mortensen comes from. Have you looked into the file I gave you yesterday?”
“Yes.” MacLachlan said sullenly, making a point out of not looking at Goodie.
“And?”
“There are some similarities.” MacLachlan acceded hesitantly.
“Are you willing to continue looking into that direction then?”
“Oh, alright. But as soon as that Mortensen-guy does anything even remotely suspicious…”
“Yes I know.” Goodie rolled his eyes exasperatedly and then took his coat from the hook on the wall, already walking to the door of their small office as he put it on.
“Where are you going?” MacLachlan asked, irritated that his partner would live in the middle of a discussion.
“I want to have a look at the place where the last victim was found. Are you coming?”
Throwing his hands up in a defeated gesture MacLachlan followed his colleague, inwardly cursing the fate which would bring him to that place again. He had thought that he might finally get a chance to forget but it seemed as though that chance wouldn’t be granted to him once again.

“So…” Orlando ended his speech, his brown eyes shining hopefully after he had finished telling Viggo his plans. “What do you think?”
“It’s a great idea.” Viggo smiled, cupping Orlando’s soft hand with his own. “We just have to find some trustworthy bodyguard then. Did Dr Stein really say that they’d discharge me today?”
“Yes.” Orlando grinned happily, some small dimples showing as he did so. “But we’d have to find two bodyguards, one for you and one for me.”
“Ok.” Viggo nodded again, glad that Orlando was still willing to live with him. “Did Dr Stein say at which time he’ll let me out of here?”
“No, but I suppose he wants to examine you once more. To make sure that you’re really well enough to leave. I’ll go tell him that you’re awake.”
Viggo watched the younger man thoughtfully as Orlando left the room. //He seems so much surer of himself… so certain that everything will work out fine… I wonder if it’s just a façade again…// Sighing he lay back again, remembering the moment he had found Orlando by the river. //The worst moment of my life.// he thought sadly. He had taken an immediate liking to the young Brit the first time they had met. He smiled as he remembered the way Orlando had smiled at him as he, the newcomer, had been introduced to the rest of the cast. The young man had seemed so vivacious and full of energy, yet quiet and sort of sad. He had intrigued Viggo right from the beginning. And now he was going to live with him again. Truly live with him this time. A feeling of warmth rushed through Viggo as he thought of living at Orlando, while he stared at the bouquet on his bedside. The rest of the fellowship and his other friends from the set had been more than generous with their flowers and get-well cards.
He had known at once that Orlando would come to mean a lot to him but he had never thought that it might become that much. And he hadn’t even noticed when he had fallen for his brown-haired enigma. Now he only had to make it work, Viggo decided. Had to show Orlando that there was always something worth living for if one looked only close enough.

“Why did you bring him here? This is a hospital, not a day-care centre! It’s no place for a child!”
“I’m sorry…” Ludmilla stammered, glancing at Dr Stein with apprehension as she hugged her five-year old nephew close. “His babysitter got ill and I couldn’t leave him alone at home… I just thought I could bring him along… he won’t get in the way… I promise!”
“Very well.” Dr Frank N Stein said with an exasperated sigh. “I’ll make an exception. But only this time! Tomorrow he stays at home. And only as long as he doesn’t keep you from getting your work done!”
“Yes, doctor.” Ludmilla smiled, relieved that Jamie could stay with her, wishing that she could tell Dr Stein or someone else the truth. The babysitter wasn’t really ill but she needed to have Jamie close today, needed to know that he was safe.
“Dr Stein?” a smooth, warm voice suddenly asked from behind.
“Yes?” Dr Stein snapped and turned, thus transferring his stern glare from Ludmilla to Orlando. “What are you doing out in the corridors alone?” He quickly looked around the bare entrance hall but the only things he could see were the uncomfortable waiting chairs and some withered plants, which had been meant to brighten the atmosphere of the hall but their brownish leaves had ceased to serve that purpose long ago.
“Well,” Orlando smiled, brushing a fly off his shoulder with the sleeve of his dark-blue sweater, which clung tightly to his torso.
“Dr Stein looked at an incoming nurse in irritation as she dropped some of the magazines she was carrying to the waiting area.
“Well?” he asked, turning his attention back to Orlando, who was, curiously, making faces at someone behind his back. Turning again he saw Jamie, who was grinning broadly at the actor, brown eyes twinkling over freckled cheeks as he hid behind Ludmilla’s thin form, only to jump back and peek at Orlando again. The boy was clearly mesmerised by the young Brit.
“I believe you wanted to tell me something.” Dr Stein reminded Orlando, thus ending the interaction between the actor and the child.
“Yes.” Orlando shifted his attention to the doctor. “Viggo is awake and wants to know when we can leave.”
“As soon as I have examined once more to ensure that his wound has healed sufficiently.” Dr Stein answered, happily noticing that Orlando had used the word “we”. “You’ll be living with him again, then?”
“Yes.” Orlando mumbled, nervously glancing from Dr Stein to Ludmilla and Jamie, who were still listening.” Neither of us would be comfortable with living alone right now.” he explained as he eyed Ludmilla curiously, while he waited for Dr Stein to say something.
She was tall with shoulder-long brown hair and green eyes that seemed to be freckled with gold. They put the image of leaves in the warm summer sun into his mind. Even the totally white clothing she wore couldn’t hide the regal beauty her high, slanted cheekbones graced her with. She was the image of professionalism personified with her hair tied back into a straight pony-tail. The child at her side only made the image more endearing.
Jamie had a mop of blond hair and intelligent brown eyes in a round face full of freckles. He was staring at Orlando with just as much interest as the actor showed in him.
“I’ll check on Mr Mortensen and then I’ll tell you when you can leave, okay?”
Orlando nodded absent-mindedly, still almost fully concentrated on Jamie.
“Maybe Ludmilla can show you to your old room.” Dr Stein continued. “You can pack your things then.” Shaking his grey head the doctor left, muttering something about the silliness of the young.

“And then,” Orlando said slowly, drawing in a deep breath “something happened. Can you guess what happened?”
Hectically the boy shook his head, his eyed unwaveringly fixed at Orlando as he squirmed around in anticipation. Ludmilla smiled as she took in the scene before her.
Orlando and Jamie were both sitting cross-legged on the uncomfortable hospital bed, heads bent towards each other, as the actor told his newest fan a story. //Fan…// she thought with a remorseful smile. //yes, Jamie has most certainly become one of his fans…//
“Well,” Orlando continued “This is what happened: Rose had already ridden deep into the dark, gloomy forest, totally lost beneath the roof of the towering trees, as her horse suddenly bolted. It whinnied furiously and went on its hind legs, throwing her to the mossy ground. She fell, even more lost while the horse ran and never came back. She lay on the ground, alone and cold, fighting for consciousness, fully aware of the fact that she would probably die out there.” Again Orlando paused, looking intently at the child in front of him to increase the tension in his story.
“And then?” the boy demanded impatiently, his eyes shining with curiosity. “What happened? Did she die?”
“Well, she was laying there on the ground,” Orlando resumed the tale once again. “Already gliding into unconsciousness, when she was suddenly lifted by two strong arms and a quiet voice told her that everything would be alright.”
Sighing Ludmilla stepped closer and cleared her throat loudly. She hated to interrupt things but it had to be done. And she couldn’t allow Jamie to grow even more attached. To a man, no less. //And of course it has to be Orlando Bloom…// she sighed inwardly, cringing at the disappointed look in Jamie’s eyes as she reminded them that it was time for Orlando to return to Dr Stein and Viggo. //I will make him understand.// Ludmilla swore. //One day I will make him understand. It must be so hard for Jamie…poor baby…//
Orlando took his already packed back and turned to look at the impish boy once more. Suddenly he had an idea and a broad grin brightened his features. “Do you know where the Intensive Care Unit is?” he asked Jamie.
“Yes. Why?” The stunned boy replied.
“Race you there!” Orlando yelled over his shoulder, already running out of the room. Only seconds later Jamie was at his heels, running after him through the corridors, a trail of laughter marking their way.
Ludmilla was left behind, staring after them in something akin to shock. //I have to separate them.// She thought desperately. //Jamie mustn’t spend any more time with Mr Bloom… it’s too dangerous…// She shuddered as an image of burning, green eyes invaded her thoughts. //What if he finds out?...//

Tbc…