Constance listened to the scolding from the nurse as she was accompanied to the elevators. The accidental bell press had apparently upset the nurse's station because Godzilla had been manning it by herself and was forced to leave several other monitors unattended.

"I apologize. It was an accident. We certainly didn't mean to--"

"Yes, well isn't that how accidents happen? Cavorting on the bed with a patient in recovery."

"We weren't cavorting!" Several nurses and visitors all turned to hear more.

"Well Mr. Borden's visiting hours are over."

"Not so fast." Rodney stepped out of the elevator, still wearing his angry frown. "I want to see Mr. Borden . . . now."

Constance put a hand on his arm and made a calming gesture with the other. "I'd let him have a minute, it will be much less trouble than if you don't."

"Ten minutes." The nurse said uncertainly and fled back to her post.

Humphrey picked up the buzzer as Rodney surged into the room with Constance, pausing to look at all the unused monitors standing around.

"Are you better?"

"I'm improving, Rodney. Thank you for looking in but I'm supposed to be sleepi--"

"Patton sold the property."

"Uh yes, Constance told me. We may have to come up with a strategy to get at it through the divorce court."

"Can we do that? How long would it take?"

"Hard to say. Papers would have to be filed. Meetings arranged."

"Fine. let's get to it."

"Rodney, he is still in recovery!" Constance clasped her hands, beseeching him.

"He can recover on the way."

Humphrey reached for the buzzer but it was snatched away as Rodney dragged him from the bed and into a wheelchair.

"Rodney! What's come over you? You are acting like a mad man."

"I am a mad man. How do you think I feel having some sixty year old accountant best me with a table lighter when I'm holding a gun! Then he goes and makes it almost impossible to collect my money after all the trouble!"

"Our money." Constance reminded him.

"He's only fifty-seven," Humphrey added.

The arguing stopped as the nurse appeared in the doorway, hands on hips and an irate scowl.

"Again! Who pushed the buzzer this time? And what are you doing out of bed?"

Rodney looked down at the cracked case of the buzzer still clenched in his fist.

"That's it. Everybody out!"

Rodney tossed her the broken buzzer and began wheeling Humphrey out the door.

"Wait! You can't take that man out of here! He's recovering."

"Yeah? Watch me."

The trio hustled down the hall with the nurse in pursuit. Humphrey grasping at carts and door frames to stop the escape and Constance trailing, uncertain who to obey. At the elevator, the doors opened coincidentally and Rodney shoved his way aboard, trapping the people trying to get out. Constance followed, a sad shrug for the red-faced nurse who stood mouth open and arms extended.

********

Constance wrapped the bandage around Humphrey's arm where the IV had been wrenched out and taped it in place.

"Do you always have a first aid kit in your hotel room?"

She smiled, putting the things away. "In my business I find it prudent to carry that and a few other items at all times.

"I'm sorry about that." Rodney offered.

"I was supposed to have more tests this evening."

"You look okay to me."

"Oh, imagine my relief, Doctor Riddler."

"Alright, none of this is going to help. We need to decide on a plan of action." Constance pushed Rodney back toward a chair. "So what's first?"

"I need a copy of the papers we already filed. I need to create a codicil regarding the division of the estate and I need Lillian for her signatures. Do we know where she is?"

"She was with Rudman when I left his office." Rodney pouted. "How long is this all going to take?"

Humphrey moved his wheel chair back a few feet. "Days. And before you blow your egotistical mind, it isn't me it's the law."

"I think you'd better watch your mouth, Borden."

"He's right, Rodney. Once the codicil is written it has to be filed and then be reviewed by a judge before any meetings with the parties involved."

"So, first thing to do is get a copy of those papers from my file. Pass me that phone would you, dear, please?"

********

"Mr. Rudman. Your private line."

********

"Well?" Rodney said impatiently.

"All he could do was rant about what you did to his putter and the fact that his private line was becoming a worldwide chat room."

"What about the papers?"

"You'll have to go there and pick them up from reception along with my laptop. He said he didn't want to see any of us."

"Connie can go. I'll kill him if I see him again." He tossed her the car keys and told her to hurry, meanwhile he would be making calls trying to find Patton.

********

The purchase agreement arrived at the hotel care of M. Patton and Mathew lay on the bed reading all the legalese, satisfying himself they had accepted his demands without question. All that was left was a meeting to have both parties signatures notarized. That was fly in Mathew's ointment. He didn't want to fly down to the island just to sign a paper.

After a phone call to see what other arrangement might be made he was told that he could get Percy Rudman to witness the signing of the papers with a local notary. Percy was a member of the board. Mathew choked and had to call back.

He advised them he would arrive at Blue Shoals the day after tomorrow.

********

Having exhausted all his sources, Rodney sat in his car pulling at his lip. Time was still important but he had a little more of it now that Rudman was benched. Still, frustration was building and he dearly wished he was aboard his boat, sailing the crystal waters of Blue Shoals . . . he smiled suddenly and gave himself a mental head slap. A call to Blue Shoals Management offices under the pretence of looking to purchase the Patton villa, he learned it had been sold and while there was little likelihood of a change he was welcome to try, netting him the contact address of Mr. Mathew Patton.

Rodney smiled with his back teeth gritted as the young woman desk clerk went through the hotel privacy policy.

"I understand and it's only right . . . it's just that his wife was rushed into hospital and we can't locate him."

"Oh! Oh dear, is it serious?"

"Too soon to tell. I don't know what to do. If we don't find him and . . ." Rodney presented his most concerned, compassionate face.

"Well he checked out very early this morning but there is no forwarding address." She matched him, facial emotion for facial emotion.

"Did he have any visitors-- any phone calls . . ." He sighed helplessly. "Anything that might help?"

She hit a few keys and stared at her screen a moment. "He ah, he made a flight reservation last night."

"Where to?" Rodney leaned closer.

"I don't know," the women leaned closer as well. "But it was with JetAir."

"You wouldn't happen to have any other details there . . .?"

They both leaned closer at the same time and bumped foreheads.

"I'm terribly sorry, are you okay?" Rodney watched her eyes roll and she made a mini burlesque of fixing her hair and recovering a professional demeanour.

"I think that's all I can offer, sir. If you will excuse me."

"Mrs. Patton will be grateful." Rodney hurried out missing the falling features of the desk clerk.

********

"Has a flight left yet for the Caribbean?" Rodney huffed and puffed at the JetAir counter. "I was supposed to meet a friend. We were on our way to Blue Shoals Resort."

"That flight leaves in twenty minutes. You are in luck, sir." A dazzling smile from the uniformed attendant. "May I have your ticket."

"I need to buy one. We were going to-- well it's just too complicated." He dazzled back.

Ten minutes later, boarding pass in hand, Rodney crowded down the aisle of the plane, keeping as low as possible while scanning for Patton. Mathew was by a window, his nose buried in what looked like business papers and Rodney slipped by, taking his seat several rows back.