LOGINOne of the reasons I chose psychiatry was there is rarely any kind of emmergency that cannot wait until morning. That means I get to sleep through the night and not worry that my patients may be dying. So when my phone started to ring in the middle of the night, I took a pillow and covered my ears and went back to sleep. In the morning I get up and find that I have two messages on my voicemail. The first is from an unfamiliar number and the calller does not identify himself. "Hello, sorry to disturb your sleep but I was wondering if you think a life should be repaid by a life? If not what do you think is an equivalent of someone's life? Do you think gender,age or the income of someone should be used to calculate the value of their life? And what about the dignity of someones death. As someone who's been experimenting with death yourself how do you measure someones' worth before deciding to send them off to their deaths?"
I look back at my phone. I feel like someone is watching me. Who is that? What does he mean as someone who has been experimenting on death myself? I walk back to my bed where my phone is. I replay the message. The voice is not familiar but it is obviously foreign with a unique accent I cannot place. I feel all the blood rush from my head and I start feeling dizzy. I have not said anything to anyone about the police's accusation. Did that fool detective go around running his mouth. The second message is from Jade telling me all about her date. Honestly I barely hear anything she says. I take a quick shower. I rush out after a quick cup of coffee. I have a feeling today is going to be one of those days.
The police station smells like what you would expect. It does not seem to bother the people there. I walk to the officer who's closest and looks the least terrifying. "Hello sir," he looks up just for a second and goes back to looking at his computer. "How can I help you on this fine day miss?" I do not appreciate the sarcasm but figure I have bigger problems. "Can you please tell me where I can find detective Swindler?" he looks up at me again before pointing to a door with 'SWINDLER' written across it very clearly. I feel a bit embarassed and whisper a small thankyou, which I doubt he heard or has any much use for.
I knock at the door twice before a booming voice from the other side of the door replies. I open to see three guys that is including detective Swindler. They excuse themselves and I am left stading across detective Swindler in what is actually a very neat office. "I did not think you'd come see me voluntarily," he points to the seat that is next to me. I sit and remove my phone from my bag ready to play him the recording. "So, come to surrender yourself already?" he looks at me with a little twinkle in his eye. If he wasn't so damn annoying I might have found him attractive. I cannot help it but roll my eyes, to which he lets out a laugh. "No, I have a complain. Actually I should be talking to your superior but I decided to come to you first," he does not look concerned by the mention of his superior. "Well doc what did I do?" I play him the recording. As the recording plays out his face gets more serious. I notice the way he plays with his earlobe when he concentrates.
"Listen I don't know whether you'll believe me but I have noting to do with it," he looks genuinely surprised. "You mean to tell me you do not recognize that voice?" he looks at my phone and then back at me. "No, I have never heard that voice in my life. " How about this, you go to work and i'll dig deeper. If I find something I will come tell you right way or even call," I stand looking at my wrist watch. I had not realized how late it was. "Fine but what about the recording?" "Send it to me, and i'd advice you to delete the one you have. It will only drive you crazy." I send him the recording and leave.
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kerrick's pov.
I have been at this freaking place for a week now. I suck at remembering people's name so when two detectives show up in my office to invite me to drinks after work I try my best to keep the conversation short. In my head I refer to them as detective leather jacket and the other as detective shortstuff. That way i'll remember them but I cannot say that to their faces. After rejecting their offer as politely as I can they still have other follow up questions and my answers are not so polite. So when I hear the first knock I cannot believe that I can be so lucky. It is until the second knock that I am sure it is not a hallucination.
I look at her as she starts to play the recording and all I can see is fear written all over her face. I have not told anyone about the case. Questioning her was actually a matter of protocol. I do not believe that she has anything to do with murders. After she left I started thinking. Either someone out there believes she has something to do with the murders or someone wants me to believe it.
I hear another knock in the middle of replaying the recording. It is detective leather jacket and detective short stuff. I really have to learn their names. "Hey we thought he left the country after his last arrest,"detective shortstuff says before taking a seat across from me. "Who? the guy from the recording?" "Yeah we arrested him a lot mostly for drinking and driving," said his partner who was standing behind him. "You know him? Where can I find him? I think he might be connected to a case I am working on." The look at each other for a brief moment, "impossible, the last time we arrested him was almost two years ago on assault. It was so serious, the victim refused to settle and insisted on going to court. The morning before court the captain told us to let him go. " detective leather jacket looks so mad as he tells me. His partner laughs, "it always bothered him because we had a solid case and the captain refused to tell us the reason why we had to let him go. After a while we went to look for the alleged victim and he had disappeared." I look at both of them, "he died?" they shake their heads in unison."No one seemed to know where he had gone and the ones who were close to him looked scared to talk."
Detective leather jacket hit replay after the recording had stopped. "You know what always nagged me about the case, the guy did not have enough resources to make all of that happen. Including getting the captain on his side, something was not right." "Why did you stop following up on him?" I asked them. "Because captain made a sort of deal with the person who was backing him that he would never come back to the country," "And you believed him?" detective shortstuff continued "Of course not but the captain said the person who had made the deal had so much to loose to allow him back to this country."
"Hello," I say as soon as she picks up. "Hey, girl. How have you been?" It's so nice to hear her voice. "I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever," I say, trying to push away what just happened from my mind. "I am still mad at you," Jade is someone who can't keep what she's feeling to herself. I like that about her. "What did I do?" I try to recall the last time we talked. I can't think of anything I might have said to make her mad."You refused to let me join you on your trip," she says. "Oh that," I smile and adjust the covers on top of me. "Don't say it like that," I can imagine her scowling. "Like what?" I can't help but laugh. "Like it wasn't a big deal and I shouldn't be mad," I stop laughing. She is serious. "I am so sorry honey. I just needed some time alone, and believe me I regret not allowing you to join me," I mean it. "Why? What happened?"I tell her everything that happened. From meeting Garden, to receiving the package and running, to Avan saving me and finall
I can't seem to keep my eyes off him. Something about him has changed, but I can't seem to place my fnger on it. "How have you been these days?" I ask, as he stops at a pedestrian crossing. "I have been good," he gives me a small smile. "Anything unusual happen when I wasn't around?" I probe. "You were only there for two days and one night. What could possibly have happened?" I don't know what to say, but I am sure something about him is different. "How do you know Garden?" I ask. "We're friends, well sort of," he replies clearly not wanting to get into details. "Did you bribe him?" "No," he says without hesitation. "And,,," I start but he cuts me off. "Enough with the questions Starr," he sounds annoyed.We drive in silence for a while. I want to ask where we are going, but I am scared he might bite my head off. "What do you want to eat?" he finally speaks, breaking the silence which I appreciate. "Anything really," he nods. He puts on some music. I close my eyes and think of a s
Avan's p.o.vOne year ago,"Sir, we're being followed," my driver says. I look back and see three identical suvs on our tail. "Can you lose them?" he looks at the rear view mirror. He has a look of uncertainity."What do you suggest we do?" Just my luck, the one day I don't use a follow up car. "You should get off," he says looking back at them. He swerves, overtaking the cars in front of us. "When I make the next turn, I will slow down but just for a second, You jump out," he says. I have been in worse situations than this. But today I really wasn't in the mood for this. I was just from having lunch with my father. After all the training I have undergone he still won't let me take over his businesses unless I see a psychiatrist. Now this. "Sir?" my driver asks, as we approach the next turn. "Sure," I reply. I jump out immediately he makes the turn as planned. Luckily there are few business stalls at that corner and I am able to blend in with people. I watch as the cars followin
I did not hear him leave. I wake up to an empty bed and a lot of noise from the neighbouring cells. "Girl, do you always sleep talk?" the woman in the prison cell next to me asks.I cannot say that I just spend the night with the leading detective on my case. "Sometimes," I lie, hoping she'll just let it be. "So,,," she starts but is interrupted by Kelly who comes to get me. "Your lawyer is here," he says, opening the door for me to come out. "How was your night?" he asks, as we walk to the interrogation room. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." "Good morning, Miss Kilmartin," Alec walks to me the moment he sees me. "Morning Alec," he smiles. It is the first time I have seen him smiling. "Let's talk in there," he leads the way to the interrogation room. "I didn't expect to see you today," I say, taking the seat I have become accustomed to. "You should expect to see me every day until we get you out of here," I am not sure how I feel about that. "So, I went to the home,"
I am wishing for that hotel room right about now. I am on my own in a cold prison cell with a metallic toilet and a hard bed if I can even call it that. I try to sleep but I can't. Other than the utter discomfort of the bed, I am anxious and nervous about this whole situation. I know Avan told me not to worry and he'll take care of it but I can't help but worry. Just as desperate as he is to get me acquitted so is Kerrick to get me locked up for good. I hear the gate outside unlocking. I close my eyes and pretend I am sleeping. "It's me," it's Kerrick. Still with my eyes closed I turn to face the wall. I hope he goes away but instead he opens my cell door. "I know you are not asleep," I slow my breath. I hear his footsteps coming closer and closer until they stop by my bedside. I feel his breath as he leans over me. His cologne floods my nostril and bring more memories of us. "Wake up Vienna," he whispers and I can't help but shudder. I open my eyes to see his smiling face. He t
"How are you holding up?" Avan looks so concerned. It makes my heart break a little. "I'm good given the circumstances. "Please tell me you didn't tell them anything," he says. "There's nothing to tell, I didn't do it," he reaches out and places his hand over mine. I move my hand away. I am afraid the more care he shows me, the weaker I'll get. "I've gotten you a lawyer. He can make almost anything disappear, and I mean anything," I don't want to ask how he knows that. "Thank you." "You believe me though, right?" my voice breaks at the end. "Of course I believe you. Anything you tell me I'll believe," I can't help feel like crying. I hold it in and nod. His face curves into a tiny smile. The door opens to reveal a guy I have never seen before. "I am Alec, your lawyer," he is in an expensive suit. That must mean he is good at what he does or it's just something I desperate need to believe."I think you should leave," he looks at Avan who gives him a death stare. "I am not leaving,"







