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The next morning Weller released Rick from the hospital. With no place else to go he went home. He still had at best sixteen to twenty-four hours before Hobbs would let him anywhere near the Legal building. Weller had already set up an appointment for the next day to do a full body scan to see if Ridges tags were gone.
Hobbs wanted to put to put him in protective custody, but Rick wasn’t going to have that. He felt he was safer at home.
As Rick arrived Benson was standing at the door ready to welcome him home. “Good morning Sir. How are you doing?”
“Benson, I’m doing great.” That was not just a way of handling Benson’s concerns Rick really meant it. His mind was clear, and the thought flowed faster than normal. He thought about the conversation he had with Benson on the first night in this house. Benson wanted to show him around. Rick now realized that Benson had put a lot of work into the house getting it ready for him. At the time Rick had refused. Looking back on the incident, Benson looked somewhat despondent about Rick’s refusal. Rick saw that he needed to fix that.
“Benson, The CEO wants me to take the day off. I have time. Why don’t you show me the House? After all, if I’m going to live here I should at least know where everything is.”
“Very well Sir.” While his tone was even and totally Benson, Rick could see the excitement behind his eyes. “Let’s start with the sitting room.” Benson went to the door next to Rick’s office. He opened the door and for Rick to enter the room. It was a bright room with large bay windows that let in the light. The windows looked out onto the garden that had multicolored flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. The couch was lining the windows so you could look out and admire the view.
“Benson let me ask you. What is the sitting room used for?”
“It is used for entertaining a single afternoon guest.”
“Ah,” said Rick. “Like when I came to visit Mrs. Collier?”
“Yes Sir. Exactly like that.”
“I see, do all rooms have special functions?”
“Yes, for most rooms the function is self-explanatory. You will dine in the dining room. But others will take some explaining.” Benson seemed delighted that Rick would take an interest in the house.
“So take me on a tour of the house.”
Benson did so and with every comment and compliment Benson seemed more pleased. They went through the bedrooms. Each had a different style and color. To Rick it was like a show room in a furniture store. But for Benson it was a show place.
The last bedroom to be seen was the master bedroom. It was spacious with a large four poster bed surrounded by Victorian style furniture.
“Wow, this looks magnificent.” Rick thought about spending the night with Nancy in this room. “Who designed this room?”
“I did Sir.” Benson was beaming with pleasure.
“Why am I not surprised? You did a great job. It would be my honor to live in this house.”
“Thank you Sir. Have you had something to eat yet sir?”
Rick realized that it was Benson’s pleasure to serve. Especially to someone that could appreciate the service. “I have not eaten. Nothing heavy. How about tea and scones?”
“I will serve you out in the garden.”
“Only if you would join me. I don’t wish to eat alone.” Rick was already one step ahead of Benson’s objection.
“Very well Sir,” Benson led Rick to a shaded area with a table and chairs overlooking the garden. It was a beautiful sight.
As he sat and waited for Benson, Rick realized that until this moment he had felt like a visitor in this house. Everyone tried to reward him for the things he had done. Yet he felt like he had not done anything worth being rewarded. And now with his mind clear he felt like he could finally accept this gift.
Benson came back with a tray; he poured a cup of tea for Rick and then one for himself and sat down.
“Benson,” said Rick. “I’d like to talk to you about Mr. Collier?”
“Sir. Please forgive me, I do not wish to be rude however, my personal code of honor will not allow me to talk about my employer. That means past as well as present. I keep the family secrets.”
“Please forgive me, I think you misunderstand my question. I can find out his secrets on my own. No, what I want to know is what kind of man he is, not what he’s done?”
“Oh,” Benson still seemed hesitant. “What would you like to know.”
“What kind of father was he? How did he treat the children?”
Benson smiled. This was not the kind of question he was expecting. “Mr. Collier was a loving father and husband. He was the type of man that got involved in the children’s lives. He went to plays and the sporting events of the children. I remember there was a time that he put off a business trip to go to Marsha’s play. Marsha is the eldest.”
Rick sat and listen Benson talk about the children. If he didn’t know any better he would say that Benson was the father. In a way Rick understood that Benson was a big part of their lives, but did the family realize that they were a big part of Benson’s life.
Rick let Benson talk about the children, after a while they got back on the topic of Collier “Mr. Collier loved the children, and he did his best to share his life with his wife as well.”
“Were they not getting along?”
“No that’s not what I meant. To both of them the children came first. With Mr. Collier being gone so much of the time, they had little time together.”
“Did they care about each other?”
“Very much so Sir. They were faithful to each other.”
“Thank you Benson. I just needed to know what kind of man I was dealing with,” said Rick.
“Dealing with Sir?”
Rick debated with himself if he should tell Benson. “I have some bad news for you. We have Mr. Collier in custody. I wanted to get the other side of the man from you. I was trying to understand what motivates him. You have given me some positive aspects of his personality.”
“From the information in the trial of Nash, I am not surprised that you have Mr. Collier. What I am surprised about is that you would use me in that manner, to gather information about Mr. Collier.” Benson stood up, “Yes you have become a Director.” Then turned and left.
Rick let him go. It seems that Benson’s feelings ran deep for the Collier’s.
A few moments later Rick heard a bell ring in the house. He didn’t know what it was until Benson came out to the garden. “Sir, you have a call from CEO Hobbs.”
“Thank you Benson.”
Again Benson turned and walked away without a word. Rick would have to handle that later. For right now he went into his office to take the call.
Hobbs came on the screen. “Rick how are you doing today?”
Rick smiled, “Extremely well Sir, thank you for asking. How are you doing?”
“I can see that Tim has been working with you,” said Hobbs with a chuckle.
“Yes Sir he has. What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted you to know that I went over your head, down to Tim.” There was a smile on Hobbs face. “We got the ship in last night and I had Justin look at the flight data. He confirms that it hasn’t been tampered with.”
“Did we see anything unexpected?” Rick knew that this was an open line, so he was careful about how he said things.
“No, it was almost exactly as he described it. It seems that he was telling the truth all along.” Rick knew that Hobbs was referring to Collier.
“Well it seems like there is a streak of goodness in the man. And the shields?”
“We got Justin pulling that apart now. He going to take a look at how we can mass produce them. With everything coming about, they would be good to have.”
“Did we ever get Jennings home?”
“Yes we did, and his ship is in space dock. By the looks of it I’m surprised that anyone on that ship survived. And before you ask yes we have the computers.”
“I really...”
“Rick,” said Hobbs stopping him. “Before you go off the deep end I need you to remember you are still tagged. I need you to stay away from everything until that is cleared up.”
“You make that sound like a rash,” said Rick with a smile.
Hobbs smiled. “Well go get the rash checked out tomorrow and if you are clear you can come back to work.”
“Okay,”
“Wow. I thought you would argue with me.”
“What’s the point,” said Rick. “I’m not going to win.”
“That’s my boy,” said Hobbs like a proud father. “By the way Nancy is coming in to see you after she gets off work at six tonight.”
“Okay first off, how is it that you know that, and I don’t. And second why didn’t she ask me about that.”
“She asked me because she needed access to Riverside Sector. And second she wanted it to be a surprise, so be surprised.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good. Hobbs out.”
“Benson!” Rick knew that Benson was upset with him, but he would still do his job.
Benson came to the door “Sir?”
“Sit down!” Benson came in and sat down. Then in a softer tone Rick said, “Look I know you are upset with me, still there are serious events going on. I can’t go into what they are, and Steve is at the heart of them. I was trying to determine if I should trust Steve or not. What you told me just a little bit ago made me decide that I should trust him. The call from the CEO just confirmed that Steve has been telling the truth. So I need you to know that I was trying to vindicate Steve, not convict him.”
“Then I need to say I’m sorry. I should have known better.” Benson seemed truly sorry for the way he acted.
“Benson I understand they you are a human being with feelings. But I need you to understand that my first concern is the welfare of all people. I am sorry for making you feel like I was using you. Can you forgive me?”
“Sir the fact that you would even ask that question shows what kind of man you are. You are forgiven.”
“Good, with that done, Ms. Weller will be joining us for dinner. I would like to ask if we can give her the whole show?”
Benson smiled and said, “The whole show?” Rick was sure he knew what he meant but just wanted to make sure that is what Rick wanted.
“Yeah, the big meal served in the dining room, and do we have any of that fifty-year-old brandy?”
“Yes Sir, we do. And I will serve it when the time is appropriate. Sir may I give you some advice.”
“Please do.” This was a good sign as far as Rick was concerned.
“I will make this simple. As we go through the dinner start on the outside of the silverware and work your way in. Is there anything special you would like for dinner?”
“It’s all new to me so whatever the cook makes will be fine.”
Benson stood, “If that will be all Sir, I better go get dinner started.”
“It’s ten in the morning?”
“Yes Sir, I know. We shouldn’t be starting this late.”
Rick laughed, “Okay go.”