Previously, on Tomorrow Waits For No One: "Gian" (Marcus) successfully evaded Cole's questions about his new housemate, Frank.  He and Cole drank a bit too much wine at dinner and decided to walk to Cole's apartment.  Someone followed them, watching from a car.  In the apartment "Gian" (Marcus) and Cole made love.

Cole discovered that it was Leo Corelli who attacked Frank the night of the break-in.  He began to suspect that Frank knows more than he's letting on.  "Gian" (Marcus) overheard Cole and Ginny discussing Cole's plans to fly to Twin Creeks to dig for more clues into his past.  After they left for lunch, Marcus snooped through Cole's email, learning that he'd already followed Frank to Twin Creeks.

Philip and Rhonda argued once again as Philip was forced to cancel dinner plans.  "Gian" (Marcus) and Jenny overheard the commotion prompting "Gian" (Marcus) not to ask for time off.

"Gian" (Marcus) confronted Frank about his trip to Twin Creeks.



Installment 12

Sept. 17

Frank's Apartment

      "Twin Creeks?" Frank pauses.  "Well, uh...yeah.  I flew to Twin Creeks.  I went there to visit my good friend--Marcus," he snidely replies.  Marcus's jaw falls.  "See, he recently lost a large sum of cash and some jewels.  You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Gian?" asks Frank pointedly.
      
      Marcus gasps.
      
      "Ah.  Poor, Marcus.  He's had a rough time.  So much violence in his life, what with his mother being murdered and all..."
      
      Suddenly, all of Marcus's memories return in an intense flash.  He grasps his head as if in great pain and falls to the floor, catatonic!
      
      "Gian?" Frank soberly asks.  He kneels beside Marcus's motionless body.  "Marcus?"
      
      Frank whips out his cell phone and dials 911.  "Yeah, I need an ambulance.  My housemate, he's, he's collapsed.  1019 Celeste Street.  Yeah, hurry."
      
      Soon, the ambulance arrives and Marcus is rushed to the hospital.
      
University Hospital: E.R.

      Marcus is taken to the E.R. and seen by Dr. Martinez.  "Get Dr. Park down here," he tells Nurse Renwick as he flashes a penlight into Marcus's eyes.
      
University Hospital: Nurses Station

      When Dr. Park arrives to examine Marcus, Dr. Martinez calls Cole to tell him of 'Gian's' breakdown.  "The EMTs reported that he just collapsed at his apartment, detective."
      
      "How----" Cole's voice wavers.  He clears his throat.  "How is he now?"
      
      "He's received a sedative and is resting quietly at the moment," Dr. Martinez explains.  "Dr. Park is in with him right now."
      
SMPD: Detectives Squad Room

      "I'll be over as soon as I can," Cole pledges, hanging up.
      
      "What's the matter, Cole?" asks Ginny.
      
      Cole hesitates, trying to regain his composure before responding.  "Ahem...uh, it's Gian.  He's had...some sort of attack or something."
      
      "Hey, are you alright?" she inquires tenderly.
      
      "Yeah...ahem.  Yeah.  I'm okay," he bluffs.  "But I have to go to the hospital."  He turns to his partner and looks her in the eye.  "Look, I'm not going to be able to leave town now.  Not while...not until I know Gian's okay."
      
      "I understand, Cole.  You've, uh, you've really come to care about him, haven't you?"
      
      "Yeah," he whispers.  "More than I know I should."
      
      "Then leave everything to me.  I'll fly to Twin Creeks and scout around, see what I can dig up."
      
      "Thank you, Ginny," Cole replies as he grabs his coat and exits.
      
University Hospital: Patient Room

      Cole arrives at the hospital to find Marcus in bed, asleep.  He sits bedside, watching him and holding his hand.
      
      Dr. Park enters the room.  "May I have a word with you, outside?" she quietly suggests.
      
      In the hallway, they are met by Dr. Martinez.  Together, they explain Marcus's condition to Cole.
      
      "Gian is in a state of catatonia," Dr. Park tells Cole.  "Currently, the cause is unknown but it could be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress, depression, or another mental disorder."
      
      "We're running a toxicology scan to rule our drug use or exposure to other toxins," adds Dr. Martinez.  "We're testing for infection as well.  We've already ruled out any autoimmune disorder."
      
      "What's his prognosis?" Cole asks somberly.
      
      "Gian must rest tonight," Dr. Park asserts.  "But, depending on his mental state tomorrow morning, I may have to treat him with psychoactive drugs.  Ultimately the underlying cause needs to be treated.  Electroconvulsive therapy may be useful to address both his current acute state as well as the chronic issues causing it."
      
      "You're telling me you want to zap his brain with electricity?" Cole asks, becoming alarmed.
      
      "Let's not jump the gun here," cautions Dr. Martinez.  "ECT is a last-ditch option, isn't it, Dr. Park?"
      
      "Yes.  Detective, I understand your concern.  But it's too soon to consider ECT.  Besides, the patient cannot currently give informed consent so the only thing we can do now is wait and hope that he improves on his own."
      
      "Yeah, we just gotta wait."  Cole turns and looks at Marcus through the window into his room.  "You have to improve, Gian.  You just have to."
      
Rhonda Lynn's Apartment

      Arriving home, Rhonda turns on the television, and sets about to prepare dinner for herself.  In the kitchen, she searches her cupboards for something quick to make.  Rhonda is in no mood to spend much time or effort making a meal.
      
      The doorbell rings, summoning Rhonda to the living room to see who it is.  After peering through the peephole, she opens the door.
      
      "Philip!" Rhonda exclaims.
      
      "I want to apologize," begs Philip as Rhonda invites him in.
      
      "Apologize?" she reacts as she shuts the door.  "I think that I'm the one to apologize.  I had no right to snap at you the way I did.  I understand that your career is important to you, Philip."
      
      "No, Rhonda, you were right.  I have been blowing you off."
      
      "But Philip.  Why?"
      
      "I wish I had an excuse--things are tough at work, I haven't been getting enough sleep, anything--but the truth is, I guess I'm just a little frightened of our relationship."
      
      "Why, that's silly.  What is there to be frightened of?"
      
      "I guess I've never had a serious long-term relationship before," Philip begins.  "We seem to be moving in the direction of, ‘'til death do you part.'  I mean, I'm not saying I'm opposed to that.  It just seems a lot bigger to me than I can handle."
      
      "Oh Philip, darling," says Rhonda as she embraces him.  "I'm so happy to hear that.  I don't want to push you, sweetheart."  She steps back and looks him in the eye.  "But you know, you are all grown up now.  Don't you think you've sewn enough wild oats?  You'll have to settle down some time."
      
      "I suppose I will...some day," sighs Philip as he steps toward her and caresses her shoulders.
      
      "Tropical storm Jorge has now been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as it begins to shift course," announces the KSLV newscaster.  "Currently over the Caribbean, weather service computer models predict Jorge will track toward the coast off of North Carolina and Virginia.  The hurricane is expected to intensify over the next several days, and may make landfall by Sunday."
      
      "Turn off the TV, will you?" asks Rhonda as she leans into Philip.  "Let's have a quiet dinner together at home tonight."
      
Sept. 18

University Hospital: Patient Room

      In the morning, Dr. Park visits Marcus to analyze his condition.  But his state has not improved.  She decides to move forward with drug therapy.
      
      Stepping to the phone, she dials.  "Hello.  This is Dr. Park.  I'll need a legal consult on a patient whose legal status for treatment is in limbo.  Yes, I'll be down in a moment."
      
      The doctor exits Marcus's room.
      
University Hospital: Nurses Station

      As Dr. Park heads toward the elevators, she bumps into Cole.
      
      "How is he this morning, doctor?"
      
      "I'm afraid to say, there's been no improvement overnight," she consoles.  "As he is unable to give informed consent and no information exists about his next of kin, administering the indicated therapy is legally questionable."
      
      "How can you proceed then?" a concerned Cole asks.
      
      "I'm on my way to see legal counsel about this unique case.  The standard procedure will be to have a judge declare him incompetent, effectively giving us the legal ability to treat him without his consent."
      
      "I hoped it wouldn't come to this," worries Cole.
      
      "Neither did I," she agrees.  "At this point, time is of the essence.  The longer he stays catatonic, the more chance there is that it will become irreversible."
      
      "Once you get the go-ahead to treat him, how will you proceed?"
      
      "I plan to administer a minor tranquilizer in the benzodiazepine class to bring him about," she explains.
      
      "Tranquilizer?" Cole reacts.  "Forgive my medical ignorance but isn't that the opposite of what he needs?"
      
      "On the surface, it would seem so," Dr. Park explains.  "But I believe that his catatonic state is the result of tremendous anxiety.  Gian may possibly have begun to remember his past which may have overwhelmed his psyche."
      
      "So, if you bring him out of catatonia, he may have gotten his memory back?"
      
      "It's too soon to say," she demurs.  "I only wish that we hadn't released him so soon.  He obviously wasn't ready for the stress on the outside."
      
      Cole reacts with a small groan.
      
      "Please excuse me," the doctor continues.  "I really need to see our legal counsel."
      
      "Yes.  Thank you, Dr. Park."  Cole walks toward Marcus's room.
      
University Hospital: Hallway

      Coming to see Marcus, Frank sees Cole walk into the patient room.  He decides to wait until the detective leaves before continuing in to pay Marcus a visit himself.
      
University Hospital: Patient Room

      Cole goes in and sits at Marcus's bedside.
      
      "Hey, Gian.  It's me, Cole."  Marcus does not respond.  "Gian, man, you have to pull out of this.  There's...there's so much good stuff ahead, waiting for you.  For...for us."  Cole begins to tear up.  "I love you----"
      
      Cole's cell phone rings.  Regaining his composure, Cole answers the call from Ginny as he wipes tears from his eyes.  "Washington," he answers, his voice quivering slightly.
      
      "Cole, I've arrived in Twin Creeks," she reports.  "I've been in touch with the TCPD and I emailed you some information that I think you should see."
      
      "Great," he replies, halfheartedly.  "I'll, uh, I'll head back to the office and check it out."
      
      "How is Gian doing?"
      
      "No change so far," he tells her.  "They need to have a judge declare him incompetent so they can treat him with drugs."
      
      "I'm sorry, Cole," Ginny says.  "How, how are you?"
      
      "I'm good," he lies.  "I'll be in touch after I read your report."
      
      Cole hangs up then looks at Marcus tenderly.  He sighs heartily as he leans forward and kisses him gently on the lips before exiting.
      
University Hospital: Nurses Station

      Cole walks to the elevators and pushes the button.  Frank, skulking behind the corner away from the elevators, watches.  As the elevator doors close, Frank slinks into Marcus's room.
      
University Hospital: Patient Room

      Feeling remorseful for his part in Marcus's breakdown, Frank approaches the bed and begins to apologize to a catatonic Marcus.  "Look, I uh, I didn't mean to...you know...that crack about your mother, that was pretty low.  I'm, uh...I'm sorry."
      
      Suddenly, Marcus becomes lucid.
      
      "Uh...Marcus?  You okay?" Frank asks as Marcus stares intently at him.  "I'm gonna call the nurse."
      
      "No!" Marcus begs.  "Please, you can't tell anyone anything."
      
      "Is this all a scam?" Frank wonders, gaining appreciation for Marcus's possible deviousness.
      
      "No.  It's no scam.  Okay, so you know who I am," he admits.  "But you can't let anyone else know!"
      
      "What's in it for me?" Frank selfishly asks.
      
      Remembering the jewel heist, Marcus tells Frank that he can make it worth his while.
      
      "If you know about my mother's death, you probably know about the break-in at the Van der Griff Museum.  I did that, and as long as you keep my secret and help me recover the jewels, I can make you a very rich man."
      
      Frank greedily accepts the offer.  "What do we gotta do?"
      
      "We have to go to Twin Creeks," Marcus plots.  "But in order to do so, we both have to pretend that I still have amnesia.  And I have to convince Dr. Park that I'm otherwise mentally sound."
      
      Dr. Park walks in, nearly catching the two scheming.
      
      "Gian?  How are you feeling?" she asks, taken aback.
      
      "Dr. Park.  I, uh, I'm feeling fine," Marcus tells her.  "Why am I back here?"
      
      "You were brought in yesterday evening," she explains.  "You're housemate called the paramedics because he found you unresponsive."
      
      "Uh, yeah.  That's right," Frank nervously agrees, eyeing Marcus.
      
      "You must be Mr. Cain," she verifies.  "I never did have a chance to ask you about the events leading up to Gian's breakdown."
      
      "Uh...well?  Um, he...uh..." Frank splutters.
      
      Quickly thinking, Marcus jumps in.  "I remember...I, uh, was doing repairs at Frank's apartment...and...I fell from a ladder."
      
      Frank chimes in.  "Right.  The ladder.  Uh, there was, uh, a break-in at my apartment and they tore the place up.  Gian here, he offered to do some, uh, some repairs.  I just walked in and found him on the floor next to the ladder."
      
      "May I ask you to leave for a moment?" she requests.  "I'd like to examine the patient alone."
      
      Frank and Marcus exchange nervous glances before Frank exits.
      
      "Gian, have you begun to recall memories from your past?"
      
      "No," lies Marcus.
      
      "Alright," she acquiesces, suspiciously.  "I'd still like to run some tests."
      
      "Sure thing," Marcus nervously agrees.
      
SMPD Headquarters: HR

      "What?" gasps Rhonda into the phone.  "Already?  Well, alright.  Keep me posted on his condition."  She angrily hangs up the phone.
      
      "What was that all about," Jenny asks as she enters Rhonda's office.  "Gian sick or something?"
      
      "It appears so.  That was Det. Washington.  Gian has had some sort of relapse and is back in the hospital.  I knew I'd regret hiring someone with such...issues."
      
      "Rhonda," Jenny interjects.  "Gian got more done yesterday than we'd have expected in a week.  You were thrilled with what he did on his first day."
      
      "Well, that is true," concedes Rhonda.  "I was beginning to wonder why I should keep you around."
      
      "Because you know that no one else would put up with you," Jenny goads.  "And as soon as Gian gets to really know you, he'll bolt, just like all the others."
      
      "Oh, you think so.  Hmm, well, your job is safe...for now." Rhonda says, only partially joking.  "But calling in sick on his second day?  Really."
      
      "Well, at least we know he not faking."
      
University Hospital: Nurses Station

      After a complete psychological evaluation by Dr. Park and a physical check up by Dr. Martinez, and against their better judgment, they give in to Marcus's request to be released.
      
      "Goodbye, Dr. Park, Dr. Martinez," Marcus sings as he passes the Nurses Station.
      
      "Gian, I wish you'd reconsider," starts Dr. Martinez.  "At least stay with us another night."
      
      "No, I'm telling you.  I feel fine.  I promise, if anything happens, I'll have my housemate bring me right back."  He joins Frank and they head toward the elevators.
      
      The doctors wave them farewell.  "Something doesn't feel right," Dr. Park tells Dr. Martinez.  "I find the events of the past 24 hours...suspicious."
      
      "How so," Dr. Martinez inquires.
      
      "Marcus's demeanor has changed.  It feels as if he's hiding something."
      
      In the meantime, the strange man who has been tailing Marcus makes a call to someone.  "I think your boy has regained his memory."  He pauses as if listening to instructions.  "You got it."
      
University Hospital: Main Lobby

      Marcus hatches a plan.  "Pack your bags," he tells Frank.  "We're heading to Twin Creeks.  Book us on the next flight.  I'll meet you at home.  In the meantime, I'll deal with Cole.  I'll make up some reason why I won't be around for the next few days."
      
      "Got it," Frank acknowledges, heading toward the parking garage.
      
Marcus approaches the hospital pay phone to call Cole.  While dialing the number, he is attacked from behind, and chloroformed.



On the next installment of Tomorrow Waits For No One:

Cole to Nurse Renwick: "Excuse me.  Gian Capriola isn't in his room.  Has he been taken somewhere for tests?"

Nurse Renwick to Cole: "No, Det. Washington.  He was released.  You just missed him."

Cole to Frank: "Where the hell is Gian?!?"

Frank to Cole: "I swear, I haven't seen him since he was released from the hospital this afternoon!"

Vincenzo to Marcus: "What the hell did you do with my jewels, you little punk?!?"

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