A Wounded Father's Heart

William took an old file case on his table, the case was too old and covered with thick dust. He put all the documents out and scattered it so that Angelic could help her find the document they are looking for.

They started to scan every detail written on the dusty papers.

“LITTLE GIRL FOUND TORTURED TO DEATH AT MCLEOD’S MEDICAL INSTITUTE, September 5, 2005.”

William was shocked after reading the headline from the dirty newspaper. Now, he remembered the case he handled 10 years ago. And that was the case that would connect questions in their minds.

He took a strong and tight grip on the newspaper, Angelic asked if he was all right but William excused for a moment and went inside his bedroom. There was a scene flashing on his mind, a scene he never wanted to see again.

Ten years ago, William Smith handled a case about a little girl who was found dead at McLeod’s Medical Institute. The little girl was Marie Anderson, six years of age. She was bathing in blood when his father, Makar Anderson returned in her room after paying the hospital bill he loaned from his friend since he got no money left in his pocket. There was a knife stabbed on Marie's neck. Mr. Anderson checked her daughter’s pulse and found that it was still beating, his child was still alive. He run quickly to call Doctor Ernest Schwann who was talking over the phone with his mistress, the doctor got annoyed and told Makar to wait. But his daughter was dying and there was no time left to save her.

Makar shouted for the second time begging to save his daughter. But the heartless doctor shut his door and told him that it was already his rest time and perhaps he should look for another doctor to check his daughter.

Makar went back to his daughter’s room, that time, a nurse came to rescue the child but she was already unconscious. No pulse rate, no reaction from her nerves, it was also found out that Marie was tortured, there were cracks on her head back and forth, wounds on her flesh and dark glitches on her face.

Makar took the knife and attacked Doctor Schwann with three stabs, the police came and William Smith was one of them. They arrested Makar without giving him a chance to defend his stand. The doctor survived and asked the authority to close the case in order to cover up his negligence as a medical practitioner in exchanged of money.

William tried to continue the investigation for he believed that Makar did it because of his daughter. But Gen. Arnold  Thumper, the chief of police, framed him up which led to termination. After leaving his job, he worked in his father’s group of private detectives so that he could still perform his former duty as an investigator.

Although the doctor survived, Makar was sentenced for a lifetime detention in order to secure the safety of the Doctor Schwann. He experienced police brutality while he was inside the jail. One rainy night, when everyone was slept, Makar escaped from his cell and until now, no one could tell where he hid.

It was only a week after his escape, Doctor Schwann was found dead at the same room where Marie died, tortured with one knife stabbed on his neck. Same knife ended the ruthless doctor's life at room 101.

And that was ten years ago. Now, William knew that the crime taken from his past could possibly have big connection with what was happening right now.

Angelic was bothered about William so she followed him at his room and knocked .

"William...? Are you alright, is there something wrong?" Angelic asked him on her worried voice.

William cam out from his room and showed Angelic the newspaper he had just found from his old file case. 

"Oh Jesus! This one happened in the same room where Anika Foster died..." Angelic held her breath and sit on the couch so weak. 

William gave her a glass of water so she can feel better now. He discussed the case that he handled 10 years ago, he wished to continue the investigation but Gen. Arnold Thumper framed him up that caused his termination from the authority. 

"Perhaps, it was the fate that crossed our paths for this. Would you promised to help me solve this case until the end William?"

William raised his right hand as sign of fulfilling his promise. Angelic hugged him tight and he felt something u explainable the moment their body touched one another. 

Angelic put out her laptop on the table and they begun to plot all the plans and steps needed for the investigation. They tried to search Makar Anderson in the internet but there was no result, they thought that he was not using any social media site in order to hide his identity. 

It was already 6:00 p.m. so Angelic decided to go home since they need to prepare for tomorrow. She prepared all her things and gave William his initial payment as her private detective. 

"Angelic, I can't keep that. This case is not just for Doctor Morgan but also for me. My termination as a police became unjust. I wasn't able to defend myself that time. And now, this is the right time to fight for my rights. Please, I really can't accept that."

"But, I hired you as my private detective."

"Yes, but this case is personal to me." William kept the money on Angelic's hand and he accompanied her to the gateway. 

"So see you tomorrow?" Angelic asked with her sweet smile.

"See you tomorrow..." William replied and Angelic started the engine of her car.

It was already 8:00 o'clock in the evening when Angelic got home. She opened the door and switched on the light of their living room. She sat on a sofz white couch and gently closed her eyes. That night was really new, the entire house was filled with silence. She missed Doctor Morgan. She missed her dad giving her special sandwich whenever she arrived home in the evening. She missed his laughter that she have not heard since the incident happened. 

Angelic took a deep breath and went upstairs. She continued her research about Makar Anderson, but still, no result was found. 

She closed her laptop and went inside her bathroom to take a hot shower.