The CBB :: View topic - Jack's Secret

#1: Jack's Secret Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:28 am

Jack Maynard had finished his day’s work, and was half way through his office door when the phone began to ring.
The vibrant tones could not be described as shattering the peace, the san was never that peaceful, but it did shatter Jack’s contented mood, but swear as he did, it did not occur to him to leave the phone to ring.
He picked up the receiver, prepared for anything. Or so he believed.
“Jack, it’s Jem. Have you nearly finished for the day?”
“Yes, I was just on my way home, as a matter of fact.” “Good. I need to see you now. I’m in Interlaken, at the Victoria - Jungfrau, room 248. Get here as soon as you can, will you?
“What? What is it Jem? Can’t it wait until morning.” Jack did not trouble to hide the annoyance he was feeling. He wanted to go home to have dinner with his wife, he certainly did not want to go chasing around the country.
“No, it can’t wait.”
“Then why don’t you come here? I presume this is about San business, if so, this is the proper place to talk about it.”
“I don’t think you’ll want this to be public knowledge, Jack. I’ll see you here, shortly.” Jem ended the call, confident that Jack would do as he asked.
Jack stood looking at the phone, a nervousness welling up inside him, making the idea of eating irrelevant. He had no idea what Jem wanted to talk about, but the final comment had sounded ominous.
Added to that, Jack was resentful of Jem’s peremptory summons, and his calm assumption that Jack would drop his own plans to fall in with Jem’s wishes, yet, he knew that he had no real choice but to obey. Ignoring Jem would not make him go away.
Jack reluctantly picked up the phone again and rang Joey, explaining that he would be late home as something had cropped up.
“Doesn’t it always.” Joey sounded resigned, heJack had been forced to make so many similar phone calls that she was no longer surprised, or even disappointed when he failed to arrive home on time. That didn’t stop Jack feeling a pang of guilt, that he had let her down again and it was a far from happy man who set off to drive to Interlaken.

Jack made his way into the plush hotel, one of the more expensive establishments in the town, and went straight to Jem’s room, without stopping to trouble the receptionist.
Jem opened the door instantly and ushered Jack to the writing table by the window. “Sit down.” Jem pulled up a chair for himself, and busied himself by pouring a generous measure of whisky into two sparkling tumblers. “Here,” he pushed one of the glasses across the table, “I think you’ll be needing this.”
“What is all this about Jem?” Jack snapped, leaving the spirit untouched. “I’m not in the mood for all this secrecy nonsense.”
Jem shrugged, “Very well, then, you’ve been found out.” Embarassed

Last edited by Ellie on Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:58 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:29 am

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Shocked

What a wonderful cliff, Ellie! Laughing

Fantastic! Definitely want to know more. Laughing

#3: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:37 am

Don't stop there! Carry on please

#4: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:21 am

Not another cliff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

#5: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:47 am

More please Ellie!! Preferably v soon...am very impressed at the speed the cliff cropped up!

#6: Author: Bookwormsarah, Location: Cambridge, UK

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:02 pm

Oooooo! Please don't keep us in suspense...

#7: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:42 pm

*giggles*

Hopes this is what I think it is but if not it looks great anyway!

#8: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:07 pm

I think it's what you think it is Ally, unless you're expecting the odd sheep to pop up. Twisted Evil

#9: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:29 pm

*smirks*

Goody, that means I can have a go at gloating

*I know what the secret is*

Isn't this fun Twisted Evil

#10: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 3:26 pm

I think I know what it might be... but I'm usually wrong, so no real chance for gloating there then! Damn..

#11: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 4:04 pm

Has the boby of Dr Hunter been discovered?

Sorry, wrong drabble!

#12: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:28 pm

Laura wrote:

I think I know what it might be... but I'm usually wrong, so no real chance for gloating there then! Damn..

I'd love to know what you think Laura - PM me if you want, and let me know whether or not you want me to say if you're right.

Jack knew instantly what he meant. Once he had lived in perpetual fear of discovery, but as time passed, and the prospect had receded with each year, from near certainty to faint possibility, he had become more comfortable, complacent even, about his secret. Indeed, for most of the time he had succeeded in forgetting about it altogether, in convincing himself that the story he had fabricated was the truth. To suddenly be confronted with his secret now, after all this time, came as a nasty and unwelcome surprise.
Yet he had long ago perfected the art of remaining seemingly impassive and calm, no matter what the world threw at him, and it was only by the slightest loosening of his facial muscles that he gave himself away.
Had Jem not been closely scrutinising Jack’s expression, he would have failed to notice even that small flicker of dismay. But that, Jem reflected, was only to be expected from a man who regularly cleaned him out at poker.
While Jack looked coolly at Jem, his considerable intellect was calculating the percentages; What exactly did Jem know? And more to the point how much? Was there anything to be gained by feigning innocence? Was it possible that Jem might be referring to something else?
There was no clue to be garnered from Jem’s own expression. He had had time to prepare for this. His own thoughts were as concealed as thoroughly Jack’s.
“What do you mean, found out?” So quickly had Jack’s mind raced, that the question followed almost instantly after Jem’s comment.
Jem sighed, he was going to have to explain, show Jack the letter. But then again, he had known all along that he would have to do so. He just had to keep his wits about him, to make sure that he didn’t let it slip that he had known all along.
“Don’t play games, Jack. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Here, read this.”
He turned over the sheet of paper which had being laying face down on the table.
Jack read “Dear Sir James,” his eyes skipped to the bottom of the page, checking to see if the missive had been signed. If it was anonymous, he felt that he would be in a stronger position. The letter had been signed, and the name at the bottom caused him to raise his eyebrows a fraction,
He returned to the top of the page, and began reading again, “Dear Sir James……”

#13: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:30 pm

Come on, Ellie, you can't leave it there!

#14: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:35 pm

Keep spinning it out m'dear you know you want too Wink

(And surely Joey could be afforded the luxury of a sheepskin coat!!)

#15: Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:35 pm

people who leave readers on a cliff edge!!

#16: Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:31 pm

Now I'm glad that I decided to keep that abseiling gear on.

This is very good Ellie, now please may we have a resolution to this cliff without another one cropping up?

JackieJ

#17: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:35 pm

What has Jack been up to? Shocked

#18: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:15 pm

*sits on edge of cliff looking curious*

#19: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:47 pm

Nice cliff, Ellie! Smile

#20: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:27 pm

Another cliff! Can I cope with it?

#21: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:17 pm

Sorry Laura - I know I said all would be revealed tonight, but I've run out of time.

At Freudesheim, Joey Maynard, totally unaware of the real reason for her husband’s tardy return, pulled on her new sheepskin coat and stepped out to visit her friend Rosalie Dene at the Chalet School. It was a long standing invitation which she, happy in her innocence, saw no reason to cancel.

Jem had always known that he was taking a chance employing Jack Maynard, ever since he had made his initial discovery, but the younger man had seemed knowledgeable, and full of enthusiasm, and there had been no mistaking his capcity for hard work. Just as importantly, he had offered his services cheaply, or rather he had accepted Jem’s low rate of remuneration without too many quibbles. That had been an important consideration at the time, when the San was still becoming established. Jem had invested nearly all his money into the project, he could not afford to see it fail.
Of course, as it turned out, Jack had, in time, done rather well out of Jem’s promise of a percentage of future profits. Rather too well, Jem considered, but at the time he had no idea just how wildly successful his business would become.
Jack read to the end of the letter, decided to try to bluff his way out of the situation, “For goodness sake Jem, how long have you known me? Are you really prepared to condemn on the basis of one letter? Written by someone with an obvious chip on their shoulder. I thought better of you than that, I thought we were friends for heaven’s sake.”
We are. At least we have been, but if you’re ready to start accusing me of taking the word of a, a dissatisfied client over yours without checking the facts, I’m not so sure of that. Do you think I’m stupid, Jack? Do you really think I’d fly all the way to Switzerland without looking into the matter?”
Jack swallowed. At least he now had the answer to one question. How much did Jem know. The answer was that he knew enough.

#22: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:21 pm

Thank you Ellie!

And I just love the way you are spinning this out Very Happy

#23: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:25 pm

I guess we'll have to wait, Ellie. I'd love some more when you can manage it.

#24: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:07 pm

We've been standing on the edge of this cliff an awfully long time. I hope it won't start to crumble away...

#25: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:15 pm

Another good start Ellie! Not exactly sure to what this is referring but will gladly read more when it is available.

#26: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 5:46 pm

Sorry for the delay, but I really did have to dash off to work.

“So, what happens now?” Jack asked rather sulkily.
“What do you think is going to happen?” Jem snapped, pausing for a moment, to allow the implications of his words sink in, then in slightly more moderate tones, he continued, “You are going to take a leave of absence, starting now, until I have had a chance to speak to Mr Bubb.”
“Paid?”
“I hardly think so, do you? Do you realise exactly how catastrophic this could be, if this fellow goes blabbing to all and sundry that the head of Swiss branch has no more qualifications to practice as a doctor than he has?”
Jack was silent, there was no real answer to that.
“For goodness sake, it’s not even as if you took you’re exams and failed them, at least that would be something, but to never even take them in the first place.”
“With all due respect, Jem, you’re not totally blameless yourself, the time to check my qualifications and references was when you first employed me, not after all these years. And I am a good doctor, dammit, you don’t need a piece of paper to tell you that, and I worked hard for you, the San wouldn’t be the establishment it is today without my input.”
“I appreciate that, which is why I haven’t dismissed you outright. Yet. But don’t be under any illusions, Jack, it’s going to cost a considerable amount to buy this Bubb’s silence - and I’ve no intention of bearing the expense alone.”
Jack picked up the letter again, more to create a few moments thinking space than to re read the words he already knew by heart.

“I want to complain about the treatment of my Great Aunt, Miss Mabel Bubb at your Sanatorium.in Switzerland. She came to you for treatment about three years ago, but you might remember her from when she was the headmistress at your school during the war.
She did not have a lot of money but I am surprised that given her connection to you, you did not see fit to give her better treatment.
If she had been treated by a proper doctor she might still be alive, but you left her in the care of John Maynard, who, I have found out, is no more qualified to treat her, or anyone else for that matter, than I am myself, since he was sent down from Oxford before he even started to take any exams.
I’m sure that you had no idea about this, and this must have come as a shock. If not you must have knowingly employed in, which I’m sure a man in your position would never do, with you being a knight.
I am her last surviving relative and I think I deserve compensation for being deprived my aunt’s company.
I don’t think you would like this to become common knowledge.

Yours Sincerely
Frederick Bubb.

“This is ridiculous, the woman would have died anyway, no matter who looked after her. If she’d come to us in time we might have had a chance, but she left it far to late.” And he wants to claim compensation for being deprived of her company? Huh. He had plenty of opportunity to spend time with her when she was ill. Come to that, where was he when she was practically destitute and had to come here looking for a job? It wouldn‘t surprise me if he‘d hardly had anything to do with her when she was alive.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but it doesn’t really make any difference, does it? The fact remains, as this Bubb fellow says, you have no business to be practising as a doctor. You’re whole career has been built on a lie, Jack. I’m not sure that you fully understand the implications, if this gets out the San will suffer, certainly, and no doubt I’ll get a rap on the knuckles for being negligent in checking you’re credentials, but you stand to lose a lot more. You’ll be charged with fraud, deception, impersonating a doctor. Whatever the charges, you’ll most likely be facing a jail sentence.
No doubt I’ll get a rap on the knuckles for being negligent in checking your credentials, but I can survive that.”
Jem hoped that this was true, that his queries to Jack’s old university were lost or forgotten, not on some easily retrievable record.
He had, naturally, made an informal check on the younger mans credentials whilst he was negotiating Jack’s terms of employment, and he had been rather annoyed when he discovered that there was no record of a John Maynard passing his exams that year. John Mallard had passed with distinction, and Jonathon Mayes had done rather well too, but John Maynard was not recognised.
At he time he had cursed the inefficiency of his contact, and made up his mind to pursue the matter later, but he had many other things to think about at the time, and there had not seemed to be any great urgency about the matter, Jack had soon proved himself to be more than competent, and by the time his suspicions were aroused, it seemed better to let the situation continue than to awaken sleeping dogs.
He bitterly regretted that decision now, but it had come about from an innocent remark, a throw away comment really, and it had taken a few days for the significance to sink in.

#27: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:10 pm

Curse those Bubb's, Frederick isn't much of a great-nephew and Jem should really have checked better.

Thanks Ellie Very Happy

#28: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:41 pm

Frederick isn't very nice! 'I think I should be compensated for the loss of my aunt's company' indeed!! Ha. And blackmail??!

And you're right, Ellie...I wasn't even close! Very Happy

#29: Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:58 pm

Naughty Jack *raps the 'Doctors' knuckles*

This is sehr gut, can't wait for more.

JackieJ

#30: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:36 pm

Oooh!!!!
Shock horror and scandal!!!!!

#31: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:47 pm

Definitely didn't expect this Shocked

!
Where'd Jack learn his doctoring, then?
Love the Miss Bubb angle!

#32: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash, Cornwall (holidays), Aberystwyth (termtime from September)

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:28 am

Goodness! I'm presuming he did actually attend Med School - it's just that he didn't take the exams, right? He couldn't have just known everything he knows!

#33: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:00 pm

Jack!!!!! I can't believe it of him. Would rather Frederick got his commeuppance than Jack!

#34: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:20 pm

Didn't see that one coming. I wonder how Joey'll take it when she finds out her husband is a fraud?

#35: Author: Lynsey, Location: Fife

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:09 pm

Wow, I would have guessed it would that, even though the same thing is happening at my school with a PE teacher. Great, can't wait for more.

#36: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:50 pm

One word "Wow"! Blackmailers don't stop either!

#37: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:17 pm

That really surprised me. Not sure how (if) you're going to get them out of that situation, unless you could convince Fred that Jack is the head of the San in an admin capacity rather than medical (although if Jack signed the death certificate that may be hard - and if he did does that mean that legally she wouldn't be dead?)

#38: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:46 pm

I Haven't got the foggiest idea whether Miss Bubb would be legally dead or not - the thought hadn't even occurred to me - it's an intriguing question though.

Jem could no longer remember how the topic of conversation had arisen, nor who had made the fateful remark, it might even have been Jack himself, but at some point Jack and Mollie Maynard’s twinship was mentioned. After that the conversation had continued to eddy, and drift backwards and forwards and it had not been until fully two days later that Jem had suddenly sat upright in bed, hearing the words again.
If Jack was indeed Mollie’s twin, and not, as he had previously claimed, her elder brother, then he was absorbedly young to be a fully qualified doctor. Indeed, he would have had to have been a positive child prodigy to have even begun his training early enough to gain his qualifications, and although the man was obviously highly intelligent, with excellent powers of recall, he was not, in Jem’s opinion, a genius of that order.
At first Jem had been tempted to pretend that the thought had never occurred to him, feeling that he may be better off remaining ignorant of the true facts, but try as he might to put it out f his mind, he kept returning to the mystery, puzzling it over, just as his fingers kept returning to, and scratching, the site of an ancient gnat bite.
Finally, he had been compelled to make a few discreet enquiries. Information had been hard to come by, Jack’s friends had obviously served him well when they tried to cover up the matter, or perhaps Jem was hampered by only being able to make his enquiries through just two or three trusted people, but eventually he had uncovered the main facts, if not the whole story.
He had been shocked by what he had discovered, although some part of his mind could understand Jack’s actions. On the whole though, he felt his initial reaction had been correct - he had been better off not knowing. Now he was faced with the dilemma of just what he should do with, or about, his new found knowledge.
He knew what he ought to do, of course, but it wasn’t quite that uncomplicated. Jack’s input had indeed made a great difference to the prospects for the San, and more than that, Jem had found himself increasingly drawn to the younger man. In many ways they were kindred spirits, and a strong and genuine friendship had grown between them.

#39: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:57 pm

Ellie this is great - hope to see Joey's reaction too! Why did Jack get thrown out of Med School?

*Thinks the question of whether or not Miss Bubb is legally dead is somewhat academic as far as Miss Bubb herself is concerned! Wink

#40: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:15 pm

This is great Ellie!!! Love the way you've explained the Jack/Mollie twinship EBdism... Wink

#41: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:47 pm

Thank you Ellie Very Happy

I want to see Joey's reaction! Ppppllleeeeeeaaaasssseeeeee!!!!

#42: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 5:51 am

More interested in what happened with Jack! How? Why? Soon!

#43: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:39 am

More of this is definitely needed! Soon!

#44: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:00 pm

That was a good explanation Ellie. Looking forward to hearing exactly why Jack is supposedly unqualified.

#45: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:34 pm

In the end, torn between betraying his friend or his profession, he had done nothing, his uncharacteristic indecisiveness had him swithering from one point of view to another. At the same time, he managed to convince himself that there was always some other important matter which needed to be considered first, and eventually, he too found that he could live with Jack’s secret, without his conscience being unduly troubled.

“You’re going to pay this Bubb character off then?” Jack’s query recalled Jem to the present. He looked up, Jack was intently studying his fingernails, avoiding meeting Jem’s eyes.
“Unless I can talk him round. We don’t really have any other option. I can’t imagine that you would be prepared to allow me to take this letter to the police.” Although Jem phrased his statement negatively, there was a faint gleam of hope in his eyes. If Jack was prepared to do the right thing, even at this late date, there was a chance that the whole affair could be settled without too much fuss. But he knew that Jack had so much more to lose now, than he had in the early days. Jem doubted that he himself would have the courage to take such a step, to admit that his whole life, professional and personal, was based on a deception.
As Jem had expected, Jack was equally unable up to face up the prospect. He shook his head, still looking anywhere and everywhere rather than at Jem. “If it was just me, but it isn’t. There’s Joey and the children…”
“I won’t farce you to confess Jack, I can’t do that. But Joey is going to have to be told. She’s not going to accept you suddenly leaving the San without asking questions.”
“I’ll take her abroad, to America or somewhere. She’ll believe me if I tell her it’s an important series of conferences. Perhaps there is a conference somewhere….”
“No Jack. It’s over. You cannot keep up this pretence any longer. If you want to practise, you’ll have to go back to Med School, if such a thing is possible. Otherwise, you need to start thinking about what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. If there’s any way that I can help you, I will, but I can’t allow you to keep working as a doctor.” He paused, hoping his silence would emphasise his words.
“It’s not fair dammit, qualified or not, I’m a bloody good doctor. Having a piece of paper wouldn’t make me any more competent.”
Jem allowed Jack his outburst. In a way, it wasn’t fair, it had not been due to any failings in his work that Jack had been sent down, and yet, there was no escaping the fact that he was responsible for his own fate.
“That’s probably the case, but it’s hardly going to stand up in court is it?” he said mildly, “So, the next step is to find out just how much it will take to buy Bubb’s silence.”
“I’d like to silence him for good!” Jack thought viciously, before being instantly overwhelmed with a sickening sense of shame. He was appalled that such a thought could enter his mind, even unbidden. He had dedicated himself to the preservation of life, yet, he could so casually contemplate taking a life to preserve the façade he had constructed. Until that moment he still felt fully justified in his actions, he had made a difference, but until that moment, he hadn’t known that that one untruth would lead him to become someone he despised.

#46: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:48 pm

I'm not sure whether to say thank you or 'Oh Dear!!!'

Thank you anyway - this is taking us where we have never been before!

#47: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:52 pm

Thanks Ellie - are we to learn why Jack never sat his exams? No hurry or anything, just asking! Wink

#48: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:53 pm

I have to admit, it's taking me to places I didn't expect to go, but I think I can get back on track. And at least I know the ending now.

#49: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:55 pm

I'm going for 'Oh dear' but I do feel sorry for both Jack and Jem, and wonder how their friendship with deal with this.

If you are thinking of going that way, it would be interesting seeing Jack take up his studies and how his family deal with it.

#50: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 10:31 am

OOh also gping with oh dear! Poor Jack!

#51: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:26 pm

Poor Jack and poor schoolgirls too. Just think of all the gallons of doses he's made Matey et al pour down the girls' throats, and he's not even qualified.

#52: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:47 pm

I'm finding it interesting that everyone is feeling sorry for Jack when he has done something totally unethical, to say the least.
I may post another bit before I go off on my hols, but it's unlikely. I will get it finished while I'm away though, I don't want another drabble hanging around for a year.

Jack, feeling Jem’s eyes drilling into him, flinched away guiltily, fearful that Jem would know the direction his thoughts had taken. He was unaware that Jem had had exactly the same idea.
Indeed, during the two sleepless nights Jem had endured since receiving the letter, he had occupied the wakeful hours in devising a plan to achieve that end. He knew that it served no practical purpose, save to make him feel better, but vicarious revenge was better than no revenge at all.
He yawned suddenly, the effects of the past couple of days catching up with him. Maybe he would sleep better that night, since the worst of the business, the part he had been dreading most, the confrontation with Jack, was over.
He did not anticipate that Bubb would be difficult to deal with, the man was obviously of limited intelligence, and probably he had limited expectations. Jem was prepared to call his bluff, to a certain extent, and make a few threats of his own, pointing out how the courts viewed the crime of blackmail. He was confident that he could negotiate a settlement which would not hurt his pocket unduly, though he saw no reason to tell Jack that. Despite Jem’s own culpability, in allowing matters to go so far, he could not totally prevent himself for resenting Jack for putting him in this position. If only Jack had learned to control his temper before it wrought such drastic consequences.
“I’ll fly back to England in morning,” he said, “This Bubb chap lives not far from London, I may as well take the opportunity to pay him a visit on the way home. I don’t think I’ll let him know that I’m coming, let it be a surprise to him. May as well have one advantage eh?”
“Hmmm,” Jack was only half listening, he felt that Jem was speaking to him from a far distant point. It was of less importance than the feeling of nausea which was intensifying by the second. He stood up suddenly, “I’m sorry Jem, I need to use the bathroom, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
“Of course.” Jem looked at him speculatively, “There’s nothing more to say really, is there? At the moment. There’s not much point in you hanging around any longer, you may as well get off. I’ll let you know how I get on tomorrow.”
“But, what am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?”
“Go home Jack. Have a drink or two, it’ll settle your stomach.” he recognised the symptoms, he had felt the same when he first opened the letter, but he recognised that it was much worse for Jack. “You’ve had a hell of a shock, I know. The best thing for you now is to get home and try to calm down.”

#53: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 3:19 pm

Oh Er!!!

Are we to see murder before this is resolved?
And what did Jack do???!

#54: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 9:37 pm

Thank you Ellie - I don't feel sorry for Jack - just intensely curious as to why he didn't take the exams - after all, he's been a pretty good doctor all this time, he must have had some training.

#55: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:48 am

Am really enjoying this Ellie, thank you. Hpe to see more of i. Am v curious as to waht Jack did to not be able to take his exams

#56: Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:52 pm

*Joins mg99's drabble-bouncing*

Jumping

Is there any more of this, Ellie?

#57: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:02 pm

Yes, there is a litte bit more written, but it's not typed up, and I'm not very happy with it.

I've also changed the title coz I just discovered that Aletea had already used it - I knew I'd hear it somewhere but I thought it was just a film.
Sorry Aletea.

#58: Author: Kelly, Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:34 pm

I've just read this from the start, I'm intrigued as to where this is going to lead . . .
Looking forward to more when you are ready to post it Ellie.

The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod, All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1