Chapter 113


    113 Friends Talk


    Luke.


    Mike was too distraught to speak. Apparently, he had been crying, and I did not know how to console


    him. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through because I had never been in his shoes before, but it


    was hard.


    “How are you holding up?” I asked him, and he looked at his wife.


    “They say they will discharge us tomorrow, but I am not allowed to leave her by herself. She is suffering


    from bipr one disorder,” he said and sighed. “Her grandmother had it, but her mother was okay. I just


    didn’t get it,” he said more to himself than to me. I motioned him to sit down, and he did gently, still


    looking at his wife. Tia stood midway between us and the door, a bit confused about whether she should


    be in the room. Anyone would feel helpless in this situation because there was nothing we could do to


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    “I should have suspected it. Her mood swings, depression, and anger. They were there, but sometimes,


    she was so happy that I wouldn’t think much of it. She had been depressed for a while, even before we


    got married. That was why the wedding was quiet. I did not know Before our mission to Santa Braee, she


    acted funny and made unusual utterances. I didn’t think much of it because I believed she would tell me


    if she was feeling oft. By the time I returned, she was in the psychosis stage. I have an aunt that lives


    across the street from us. She was the one that took her to the hospital. They imed the depression


    and stress of not knowing what had happened to me while I was away had made her break from reality.


    She was talking about the kitchen and people attacking and kidnapping someone. When I came for the


    meeting we had before the attack on Tetra, she was silent. She did not talk. At first, I thought


    ne meds, but Iter found out it was out of choice. When she finally spoke, she imed I wasn’t taking


    her seriously. I was still trying to calm her down when I was summoned for a


    n you left for Tetra, I had returned and saw she had harmed herself with silver. I was mad at my aunt for


    letting her return to our house when I had note home yet.” he said, and I looked at Tasha sleeping


    peacefully on the bed. She had lost a lot of weight.


    “What about the baby?” I asked him, remembering she was pregnant. He nodded.


    “The baby is fine. She is fine too. The doctor said she was okay, but I had to avoid triggers Which is why


    I have decided to drop my rank.” he said.


    I knew he loved military service, but Tasha meant the world to him. If leaving the military is what it would


    take to make sure she is okay, and they are happy, I was willing to ept without a grudge.


    “I will have Kirk handle the details. You will get the full package with honour,” I told him, and he nodded at


    me.


    “I really wished I could help you fight that bastard, but my world is in pieces at the moment, and I need to


    get it together,” he said, and I touched his hand.


    “Do not tell Tasha you left the military for her sake. It will hurt her. Tell her I dismissed you.” I said, and he


    understood my reasons. Everyone knew that Mike enjoyed being in the ranks, it was a hard decision for


    him. It will be unwise for us to let Tash me herself “Tasha?” I heard Tia say and move quickly to her


    side. Tasha looked a bit disoriented. We


    walted a bil for her to figure out who we were Tasha gripped Tia’s hand and began to cry


    “You came, you came,” she cried, and we all went to her side. Her skin looked a bit pale. Even though


    she had dark skin, it was pale.


    “I am sorry, Tia I really am I did not know what Lisa was doing until it was toote,” Tashained


    and honestly, I did not know if we should take her seriously or not.


    Tia picked up the water on the table and ced the straw by Tasha’s lips because she looked thirsty. We


    cranked up the bed so she could sit up then she slowly sipped the water while Tía gently stroked her


    hair


    “Nothing is your fault, Tasha,” Tia said without knowing what she did.


    “I did not know Elisabeth was working with Luis Moon. I was the one that gave her the address to your


    holiday home, Tia,” Tasha said in tears. She told me she wanted to send you a letter Then I told her you


    moved back to the mansion. I told her everything we were doing. I Told her everything I knew that was


    happening with you guys. I am sorry. She was my friend, and I hated seeing her hurt. I believed Luke


    had wronged her.” She said in tears, and Tia just stroked her hair and told her it was okay.


    “Let it go, Tasha. It is okay. You were just a good friend. There is nothing to be sorry about.” She said to


    her gently, and I was silent.


    “Elisabeth has someone in the kitchen working for her. I found out she was trying to poison you. I called


    you when Mike went for a meeting, but I couldn’t reach you, and because Mike lingered, I began to have


    scary thoughts about something happening to you. The thought was horrible, and soon, I believed


    Elisabeth had seeded. A voice kept telling me that the person in the kitchen had seeded and you


    were dead. It told me that Mike would be arrested for conniving with Elisabeth to kill you. It told me I was


    the real aplice. I could not live with myself knowing I had given her all the information she used to


    harm you. The voice was so loud, and I tried to end it.” She said and began to weep. Tia hugged her


    immediately.


    “I am here, Tasha Me and my baby. We are here. Elisabeth failed, and you didn’t help her do anything.


    You did nothing wrong.” She said tearfully. Tasha held on and wept, and Tia held her.


    “I am sorry for pushing you away. I do not hate you. I just had a lot going on then and still do. You and


    Mike are wee in our home anytime,” she said, holding Tasha, and Tasha held on tightly.


    As weird as what she said sounded, I knew she was telling the truth. I had already sent Kirk to arrest


    Elisabeth for me. I would leave Tia to get the fact out of that bitch. She was inconsiderate; knowing


    Tasha’s situation, she still chose to use her in the worst way ever. Elisabeth deserved to be locked away


    for good. The fact that she nned to have my wife poisoned was horrible. I also now knew how Regan


    was able to send Tia a letter to our Holiday home It was Elisabeth that helped him send it. How long had


    she been working with that bastard? Was that why she moved into the moon mansion?


    They broke the hug, and Tasha turned toward her husband.


    “I am sorry, Mike. I didn’t mean to, but the voices won’t stop telling me I had screwed up,’ she said, and


    he ced his forehead against hers.


    “You have nothing to be sorry about. I should have been home with you. I should have been there It was


    my fault. I promise I will never leave you alone again.” He said, and she shook her


    head


    “Do not neglect your duty because of me, Mike. That would be too much sacrifice. I promise to take my


    meds and be happy. I have ended my friendship with Lisa. Please do not abandon Luke in his time of


    need because of me. Luis is dangerous, and he has a widework Luke will need all the help he can


    get,” she said, wiping away her tears, and he shook his head. “I am not quitting because of you, Tasha.


    Luke feels it is best this way,” he said just as I had instructed him to. She shook her head immediately


    and looked at me.


    “Don’t dismiss him because of me. You need him. You need people you can trust in these hard times.


    Please, Luke. Don’t dismiss my husband.” she pleaded, and I looked at Mike. “But you can’t be left


    alone,” I said, and she shook her head.


    “I will take my meds,” She repeated, and Tia cut in.


    “She won’t be alone, Luke. She will be with me at the Mansion until the matter is resolved and we have


    peace again. I won’t let her out of my sight whenever Mike is not around; I will take care of her.


    Whenever there is a need for mike to be away, he should bring her to the mansion. I will love to have her


    around. Besides, we have a lot to do together,” she said, talking about her pregnancy. Tia was trying her


    best to make light of the situation, but I doubted Mike would want his wife in the mansion right now, with


    the way things are.


    “Do you like that arrangement?” I asked Mike, and he looked at Tasha, who looked at him eagerly. “You


    need to promise me you will take your meds, and you will tell me the moment you start feeling


    depressed. You have to promise you will talk to me, Tasha. You have to promise me you won’t let it get


    this bad again. I can’t live without you. Please do not ask me to,” Mike said to her pouring out his heart,


    and she nodded.


    “Notwithstanding, I am still giving you three months off to spend with your wife. I want both of you to go


    on vacation,” I stated and would not let them refuse. Before he could speak, I quickly changed the topic.


    “I will need Elisabeth’s new address to send to Kirk,” I said to Mike, and Tasha was ted.


    “You believed me,” she said with surprise. I understood her joy. Whenever people broke into psychosis


    and came back to reality, people rarely took them seriously, but I believed her, and I also believed she


    would be okay. All Tasha needed was love,panionship and support. I knew she would be okay. She


    was surrounded by the people that loved her. I knew she would be alright. I forwarded Elisabeth’s


    address to Kirk after Mike had given it to me. I couldn’t wait to unleash Tia on her. The interrogation room


    would do well. I will watch from behind the ss while Tia gets at her.


    We stayed a bit in the hospital. Tia and I still had a lot to do, so we could not wait until Tasha was


    discharged. I promised Mike to stay in touch and told him to make sure he leaves Woodw on an


    extended honeymoon. I advised him to go anywhere but Santa Braee. On a typical good day, that would


    be a nice ce to go for holidays, but it was a war risk right now, and I did not want my friend and his


    wife to be caught up in it. Tia and I left the hospital feeling happy. I was d I searched for Mike and did


    not deal with him the way I wanted to. I would have regretted it, and nothing would have been able to fix


    the situation. Mike and Tasha had a challenging life ahead. I just hoped they both ovee it and have


    a good life together.


    While we drove towards the cliff, a call came in from Kirk that they had arrested Elisabeth. I hung up and


    turned to Tia.


    “Are you ready to torture the truth out of Elisabeth?” I asked her, and she had a broad grin on her face. I


    could only imagine what was going on in Tia’s head at the moment. I knew my wife was itching for


    payback. I was also nervous about what I might find out. Hopefully, this will lead us to Regan finally, and I


    can end him.