MANNER OF DEATH 3

 

Chapter 3

"Suthep." I called the male nurse sitting near my head. The ambulance was driven at high speed, the passenger’s heads were bobbing. The blare of sirens only sent more headaches up my head. I had been carried on to the solid spinal board before being lifted onto a gurney, and then into the ambulance.

"Yes, Doc?” He turned to look at me with a look of concern. “We'll reach the hospital in no time."

"Report, 30-year-old male patient," I was about to say what I wanted to say, but the emergency medical technician's voice interrupted me. His mouth hovered above a black radio communication in his hand, providing information to the ER, "A neighbor notified us that he fainted, head hitting the floor, unconscious. Evaluation on arrival: Awake, O2Sat 100% E4V5M6 DTX 101. An open wound on the left side of the forehead…"

The neighbor said that I've fainted? And my head hit the ground? I frowned.

"Suthep…" I called out to him for a second time. "Who called the ambulance?"

Suthep shook his head. “I don't know. Have to ask the notified person. I only heard that it was your neighbor who was with you at the time. Can you remember?”

Of course, I remember. Why wouldn't I? That person was not my neighbor; he was the killer. "When you arrived, did you see the person who made the call?"

"No. I came and saw you were alone. It's quite strange, though." Suthep, who was a few years older than me, uttered, with a skeptical look was on his face. "Did something happen?"

I was beyond glad that someone had noticed something fishy in this situation. "I didn't faint. I was assaulted."

Suthep widened his eyes. "Are you serious?!"

Since the distance between the hospital and my house was not far from each other, I arrived at the hospital within a few minutes. The dialogue between Suthep and I was cut short when the ambulance came to a stop. Both Suthep and the EMT staff lost no time opening the door and lowered me, who was still lying on the gurney, down the ambulance.

What happened next was complete and utter chaos. I was quickly pushed into the emergency room. A male intern who was on duty tonight rushed to me, two nurses trailing behind him. I closed my eyes from the intense dizziness.

"Professor Bunn!" The intern called my name. I tried to open my eyes to look. One of the nurses rolled up my sleeve to check my blood pressure. "Professor, can you hear me?"

"Yeah…” I replied softly.

He started to examine my body from head to toe. When he was confident that there were no fatal threats that needed prompt attention, he turned to shoot a question at me. "What happened?"

I rested my hand over my head, debating whether or not he should tell the truth about the incident. However, since my life was in danger, I decided that it would be best if someone else aware that this wasn't just an accident. Regarding the details that the intruder might be the one who killed Janejira, I would save this piece of information for the cops, "Someone came into my house, banging my head on the floor and knocking me out…”

There was an expression of shock on his face. "The nurse said you have fainted and hit your head on the way down. So, that's not what it was, right? Professor, do you remember his face?"

I shook my head, closing my eyes, owing to a series of headaches and nausea. The intern shined a flashlight in my iris once again just to be sure.

"How do you feel right now? Any headache? Nausea? Blurred vision?"

"Intense headache… nausea too. Puked in the ambulance many times.”

The intern nodded in acknowledgment. “We need a CT scan in this case. I'll book the CT scan for you. If the staffs know it is you, they'll probably put you first in the queue soon. Please wait a moment." After this, he hurriedly walked away from my gurney and headed to the nurse station. My eyes trailed after him. Inside, I felt more anxious about the intruder more than my own head injury. I was most likely diagnosed with a head injury at risk of intracerebral hemorrhage that required a CT Scan. After this, I would probably have to stay in the hospital for further observation.

I should wait for the treatment to finish. Once I got to rest on the ward, I would suspend the line of my stolen cellphone and find a way to reach Captain Aem. It would have been easier if I speak with him directly because he should be the one who understands the situation at hand.

‘And don't even think you can trust the cops.’

This statement would creep into my mind whenever I thought of the police, fueling my apprehension…

I was in a quiet, cold room. The only sound here was the sound of an old air conditioner installed overhead. The wound on my forehead had already been stitched up, hiding under the gauze. The back of my right hand was tethered by a needle, hooking to IVs and a bottle of saline. I was brought into a special room in the surgery department of the hospital after the CT scan results came out. Fortunately, there was no sign of cerebral bleed. I would be resting in the hospital for a short while if there were no complications. I was glad that I was staying here. The hospital was safe. Surely, no one could bring me harm here.

I intended to press a nurse call button and borrow a mobile phone as I had planned. I also had to use the internet to find information about how to suspend the line. So, I reached out for the call cord on the head of the headboard.

My finger hovered just above the button when there was a knock on the door. I jumped slightly because of the loud and strong knocking sounds. The door opened to reveal a tall man with a familiar handsome face.

"Pert?” My eyes widened, startled. I looked at the clock on the wall-almost midnight. "How did you know?"

"Hey, why wouldn't I know if my best pal were hospitalized?" Pert dragged a chair from the dining table to sit next to my bed. “I told the nurse outside your room that I was your relative.”

“Seriously, how did you know I was in the hospital?" I eyed Pert with a penetrating gaze.

"Well, I tried to call you. Wanna invite you to enjoy a glass of wine at my friend's newly opened restaurant. Heck, it was an important invitation at 11 p.m., alright? That's why I didn't tell you beforehand. I tried to call you five or six times, but you didn't answer. I was worried so I drove to your home. I met a guard, riding a bike pass by, and he said the ambulance has already taken you away. I was shocked, so here I am." Pert reached out to brush away a wisp of hair from my forehead and stared at the wound. I paused a little. "What happened? Please tell me.”

This was my chance. If I told Pert what had happened, he would definitely be able to help me. If the suspect really were someone inside the police department, he would not know that I asked for help elsewhere. Pert was the person I trust the most right now.

"You heard the news about a woman hung herself in a condominium today, I presume?" I started with a question.

"Yeah, I know. I’ve been informed. I saw the news on the internet. Are you the one who performed the autopsy, right? "Pert pulled out his phone, looking for something on the screen." The Captain said she had committed suicide after having a fight with her boyfriend. Severe depression. And a suicide note. What else, Bunn?"

"What does the news say?" I quickly took the phone from Pert. On the screen, an online news website's headline said, ‘Depressed Teacher Found Hanged in Her Condo. Might Be Depression After Break Up.’ In the article, there were photos of Janejira's body wrapped in a white sheet and was moved onto the ambulance.

I skimmed the content of the news until I reached the last sentence. ‘…. the rescuers have taken the body to the provincial hospital to determine the cause of death.’

The news did not mention my suspicion of Janejira being murdered. Captain Aem had called me this evening to inquire about the autopsy results, in which I reported what I've found to him. The Captain said he did not tell the reporters about my suspicion of Janejira's murder, and that might make the killer become complacent about the success of his staged death. This might even lead to an easier way to apprehend the murderer.

"The thing is…" I took a deep breath, telling Pert what had happened. His attentive gaze gradually morphed into an expression of shock by the minute. When I reached the part where the intruder came in and knocked me out cold in my house, the Prosecutor cursed under his breath with irritation.

"Holy shit! You're screwed, Bunn.” Pert hurriedly pulled out something from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a white smart phone, an older version than the one he gave me to read the news a moment ago. Confused, I took it. "Here, you take it. In case there is something urgent, call me or the police. I have Captain Ithipol's number too. It's in there.”

This was what I want. "Are you carrying two phones around?"

"Yeah, just a spare phone for calling girls, I don't really need this one." Pert chuckled as if he was trying to ease the tension in the room. I sighed softly.

"Do you think I should call Captain? Will he know if I do? He could really be an insider." I admitted that I was so terrified at the moment.

Pert had a pensive look in his eyes. "Okay, how about this, you don't have to do anything right now. Just lay low. Write an autopsy report accordingly. I'll find a way to tell the police. I have many acquaintances both in and outside. Should be able to find some clues. In the meantime, I'll send my subordinate to be your bodyguard." I had never seen Pert in such a serious demeanor saved for when he was working. He reached out to squeeze my shoulders. "Take it easy. I won't let anyone hurt you."

"..Sorry to bother you." I felt like I had lifted the weight of the world off of my chest. There's nothing more magical than having a sense of security in life.

Pert nodded before standing up. "Hey, this is a matter of life and death. I can't just sit back and do nothing. If something comes up, call me, Bunn. Got it? Now, I'm gonna find someone to watch over you.”

"Hmph, thanks a bunch." I truly appreciated it. After this situation came to an end, I would have to buy him a meal, a big one, no doubt.

Shortly after Pert left the room, a young nurse entered to check my temperature and blood pressure. I asked her to turn off the lights before she went out. At this moment, only the dim light creep through the small glass pane on the door into the room, allowing me to see objects inside. I had managed to suspend my stolen phone's number. After that, I laid down, gripping Pert's phone firmly, trying to shut my eyes and sleep. My headache had improved significantly, but I still didn't feel quite right. I was certain that tonight would go smoothly.

Some indeterminable amount of time had passed- I woke up with a jolt in the middle of the dark, the dim light outside seeping through, allowing my sight to see the clock on the wall. It was 2.45 a.m. The headache had significantly subsided; it had almost completely vanished. I slowly propped myself up in a sitting position, feeling drowsy that I was practically unable to keep my balance.

А piece of paper dropped from my chest onto my lap…

My heart pounded erratically…

What is this?

My hands were shaking and frigid as I reached for the A4 paper, folded in half. I unfolded it slowly. Beautiful handwriting engraved inside, the one still fresh my memory, the one had seen only recently.

‘I said don't tell anyone. You don't like me being nice? Guess I have to teach you a lesson. Say goodbye to Mr. Prosecutor.’

Oh no… My heart almost stopped beating, seizing by the wave of terror. I looked around slowly until my eyes found a silhouette of a man sitting still on the sofa.

The only thing I could think of right now was to flee from here as quickly as possible and cry for help. I intended to sit up. But then, I felt something was totally off about myself. All my strength evaporated. Only a state of somnolence remained. I couldn't get out of the bed despite my every effort.

The shadow rose and approached me swiftly. I tried to turn around to fumble for the call cord and call the nurse, but the shadow easily held my shoulder to lie down in its original position. Even though I tried to shout at the top of my lungs, a big hand clad in a black leather glove covered my mouth.

"If you don't wanna die, hold still," The person before me commanded with a resolute voice. I couldn't help but go terribly still in terror. He must have been the same person who broke into my house. I could remember his voice and the way he concealed his face.

How can I feel so sleepy in kind of situation?

My eyes flickered to the shadow of the saline bottle at the headboard before I felt my breath hitched.

Don't tell me…

"Just so you know, I didn't wanna do this to you. But you've brought this upon yourself." He reached for the IVs, adjusting and rotating it deftly. I tried to pry away the hand clasping over my mouth to no avail. After he had adjusted the IV, the intruder took something out of his breast pocket. It was a 5cc syringe, containing clear liquid inside. He moved his hand and pinned my left arm, which was embedded with an IV catheter on my forearm, in place. Despite my struggle, I was unable to stop the injection administered into my vein. The next thing I knew, my eyelids were heavy like leads. A sedative? Diazepam? Midazolam? My consciousness was losing to the effect of the drug invading my unwilling body.

"You have a secret that no one else knows, Doc.” The man's voice seemed to echo from a distance. "But I know, and I'll use it against you."