Jiang xi's pov;
I came back to my room before my friend catch me, changing into the hospital gown I lay down on my bed. I can't stop thinking about her.
All my life I've felt like I led a life of a heartless doll. Like I had no feelings, I never cared about the victims as well. All I ever cared about was my work, those unsolvable cases, which were my life force turned out to be something extraneous to me.
Still even if I wasn't a human, even if I was just a puppet, I felt alive with this girl. Even if it was brief.
I can't help myself musing over her.
She might be the only string that connects me to life. I'm glad that I ran into her, or you could say she entered my life.
I was just mulling over my thoughts when that fool officer entered my room, well his name is Alex, he's an elite field officer from HQ. Not that I ever call him by his name. I stopped after he rose in rank.
He eyed me up and down before saying.
"Chief, why do I feel like you're in a good mood today? "
:"Am I? "
:"yeah and do you actually know how to smile, I thought you were not capable of showing human emotions.. "
"This bastered" I muttered under my breath.
:"Do you think I'm a ruthless monster or something? "I asked.
:"no! It's just that I've never seen you smile in my brief time with you.. "He said mocking.
:" Are you tired of Living officer "I asked him.
:"well, no, I'm not.. But seriously you look different, did you sneaked out even after my warning? You met her? "
:"yess, I did, but it has nothing to do with her" I exclaimed.
:"she didn't do any magic on you, did she? " He asked in a teasing tone.
:"if she had I wouldn't have come back, would I? "
:"well, yeah guess you're right... But your smile, how do I say it, it's bothering me that's why I asked.. "He said averting his gaze.
:" You're thinking too much officer, that's so unlike of you"I said to him.
:"or is it just that you're too much!, anyways I've come to inform you about our next mission. Not draining since you're bedridden, you'll just be giving instructions after reading the docs. Simplest case picked up only for you since they can't really see you having a break"he completed with a snort.
:"you know how they are, we can't really laze around so it's for the best, ah so it's about thefts in a hospital."I said while examining the document."Well this one isn't far, am I going to be transferred there if I am to continue this case? "
:"probably, you'll rest here for today but by tomorrow morning they'll shift you there, this way you can blend with patients and keep yourself away from arising any suspicion as the suspect is more likely someone from the staff. "He concluded.
:" Sounds easy, so I can rest there till this case is solved right? "
:"you can stay there till you heal completely, it's just a small one so you'll be occupied with something and won't feel bored enough to wander around "again, he averted his gaze.
:" You told them, didn't you? That I sneaked out to meet ms. Anya. That's why they gave me such a case to solve knowing very well they could do it in a day, so they can keep me still right officer? "
:"hahaha, no wonder you're so smart, so now that you've figured your purpose, you should focus on healing and solve this case slowly"
He took his leave after handing me the files, basically little torture to keep me still.
A case where items keep disappearing from patient rooms in the hospital. A nurse reported this discreetly, not wanting to cause any panic. 'She's smart', Or the suspect would've ran away, if they knew.
Guess I can only check when I go there...
A week later..
Things got rough after I shifted to the hospital where I was to catch a suspect. I never knew such normal case would be so tricky. The items that disappeared from the rooms were not random but a sedative, midazolam, one used as a sleeping aid, but too much is enough to stop someone's breathing.
The very first day I came here, I became the prime suspect for the theft, the nurses all troubled, I didn't wanted to drag it too much, so I talked to the pharmacist, the night shift nurse, and two Orderlies.
I noted that none of them were wearing gloves expect one orderly and that too a size bigger than his fitting. Turned out his cousin was admit in this hospital and recently discharged.
The doctor claimed she was fine, but she had severe anxiety and trouble sleeping. She was a victim of abuse. Her husband was kept away from her after the orderly reported this to the police.
He stole the drug so he could help her sleep, unaware of the risks of overdose. Good thing I noticed the gap, or her sister would've been in great danger.
The sedatives were taken quietly from his house.The case closed with a minor warning. Cause we knew his cousin's case was hopeless and he was the only one she could call a family. So he wasn't arrested nor fired. It wasn't worth destroying the man's life when all he wanted was to help his cousin sleep. And she'd already been through enough.
I too had to ask the officials to let this one go cause it was an unfortunate case by which no one was harmed.
Now I'm preoccupied by stacks of paperwork as punishment of leaving my room that day Or maybe because of alex's snitching.
I'm healed enough to walk out of here but they made it clear- no discharge until every document is signed.
Alex dropped another file onto my desk with a thud.
I didn't bother looking up "if this is another hospital inventory logs, I'm throwing you out with it. "
:"nope" He said, his tone missing it's usual mockery.
"New case, serial patterns, three victims so far, this is fourth"he completed.
:" You could've handled it yourself. why bring it to someone still healing? tsk when I want to leave and work, you keep me holed up here. and now when I'm drowning in paperwork, you bring me a serial case?, tell HQ to take away this load first, then I'll look into this "I said annoyingly.
:"it's not that" His gaze didn't waver "I think you should see this"he slid the file across to me.
I opened it without much thought- but after few flips, my eyes froze, my stomach turned cold.
Name- Anya Bevesta
Status- missing, last seen near the east wharf.
Crime scene matches the previous ones.
The photos of the other victims, pale faces, lifeless eyes- stared back at me from earlier pages. All of them found too late.
I clenched the file until the paper crumbled "how long? "
"Less than twelve hours since the abduction" Alex said " But you know the window... "
:"I know" My voice was sharper than I intended.
"Get the car ready"
:"but chief, you're still recovering, the HQ wants... "
:"Now! "I cut him off again.
My hands trembled as I reopened the file.
For a moment, the words blurred. The hospital noise vanished under the roar in my ears.
Her name didn't belong here. Not in black ink. Not in a place reserved for the dead and the nearly-dead.
Alex's voice cut through. "Chief , this case wasn't supposed to be yours, but because of that name, I brought it here first!, will you please wait until I ask the higher-ups for permission" He said , his voice pleading.
:"if I don't move now, she'll end up like the others. Are you telling me to wait when there's a life hanging by a thread? Do you know I would've been dead if not for her? If she'd hesitated for even a second. I would've died. But she didn't, she's nothing more than an ordinary citizen yet she risked her life for me. And you're saying I should wait? " I said my voice sharp.
He stayed silent.
I didn't stay to listen. I won't let her end up like others. Not when I finally opened my heart to her. I wasn't sure at first but now I'm sure.
I can't let her die... Not while I'm still breathing..