FICTION — SERIES
Whispers in the Head
Chapter 3 — The Illness
“Welcome, my dear Hans, I really missed you." A tear rolled down Roger’s cheek as he hugged him tightly.
“Seriously, are you crying? I missed you and your 'psychologically speaking' sessions, Roger!” Hans replied with a smirk.
Their embrace lasted for a minute until a police officer interrupted them, saying, “Ladies, if you’re finished with your melodrama, let’s get back to work.”
"Sneaky, how are you doing?" Hans asked, side-hugging him.
“Seriously, after all this time, Sneaky??” Sneaky replied, one eyebrow raised.
"Always, you are my Sneaky," Hans said, winking.
“Fine, may I ask why the sudden comeback?” Sneaky asked.
“Because I missed your sneaky behavior, and I heard you’ve messed up your love life, so here I am with the world’s best love advice,” Hans replied. Roger began laughing.
“Alright, someone’s waiting for you, Hans,” a voice echoed behind Sneaky.
“Good morning, captain!” Hans greeted, turning to face Captain Robert.
“Good morning, gentlemen. How are you, Hans? Good to be back?”
“Yeah, it’s wonderful to see you all again. Sir, will my hallucinations affect my job?” Hans asked, his tone changing suddenly serious without hesitating.
Roger and Sneaky looked at him thoughtfully. “Hans, we’ve talked about this. As long as you’re managing your condition with therapy and medication, there shouldn’t be a problem. But we’ll monitor your performance closely. If you ever feel overwhelmed, you need to let us know. Understood?” Robert said.
Hans nodded, feeling a mix of relief and determination. “Understood, sir.”
Hans stepped into the bustling police headquarters, greeted by familiar faces and the hum of urgent conversations. He made his way to Captain Roger’s office, where a new case awaited him—a puzzle that had been waiting for him a long time.
A board filled with crime scene photos hung in front of them. "We’ve got a troubling case involving a young girl named Lily Watson. Her medical history is... complicated," Roger said pointing out Lily’s picture.
Hans studied the photos—a pale, fragile-looking girl surrounded by hospital equipment, her mother’s anxious face hovering in the background. “It happened at the hospital where Lily was treated for a variety of diseases.”
“Variety of diseases??” Hans’s curiosity interrupted his narration.
“Yes, Lily Watson is a 7-year-old kid, who has been hospitalized for the past two years for several unknown reasons, the doctors took several tests, and everything seemed perfect”
“What if she was acting for some reason?” Sneaky asked.
“Well, after all the tests are negative, she suddenly gets dizzy, vomits blood, suddenly reduces weight, and has heartaches but there is no problem with her heart.”
“What on earth is this condition?” Sneaky wondered.
“The doctors were unable to identify the root cause, but the real issue arose when a janitor discovered some medications that should not be in a hospital!”
“Illegal medications?” Hans asked.
“Yeah, but they couldn’t find who did it. So, with her doctor’s and mother’s concern, the case was filed.”
“Any surveillance?” Sneaky asked.
“Her mother confirmed that one day there was some kind of bruise which was unusual and it was the same day they found the medicines in her room. There is no CCTV in her room, but there was one outside the room in the corridor and another at the hospital entrance.”
“So, we can check who entered the room?”
“It’s of no use. I already looked into it and, except for her mom, doctor, and the janitors, there are no other visitors. I confirmed this with her mother; she’s the only one who takes care of her.”
“Okay, this seems intriguing. I need to speak with the individuals involved,” Hans replied.
At the hospital, Hans met with Dr Patel, Lily’s weary-eyed physician. They stood outside Lily’s room, the sterile corridors echoing with distant footsteps and murmurs.
Dr Patel greeted him, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “Thank you for coming. Lily’s case has become... challenging."
Hans nodded, exchanging a handshake with Dr. Patel. "I’ve read through her medical records. It’s quite extensive," he replied, adjusting his gaze toward Lily’s room.
Dr Patel hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting as if contemplating her next words carefully. "Lily’s symptoms are... unpredictable," she began cautiously.
Hans listened intently, his mind processing the information.
"Dr Patel, what are your thoughts on the illegal medication found in Lily’s room?"
Dr Patel sighed, her breath fogging the air in the chilly hallway. "We’ve found traces of sedatives in Lily’s room, which may or may not involved in her illness, I have sent for a detailed report."
Hans nodded, jotting down notes in his pocket-sized notebook. "And her mother’s explanation?"
"She’s protective and caring as a single mother, always worrying about her daughter. I can see her mental condition seems bad as Lily’s condition gets worse.”
“What do you mean by that?” Hans asked.
"While chatting with me, I noticed that she doesn’t have any family other than Lily. She seems worried and keeps talking about Lily’s weakness, which makes me concerned for her. I always feel bad after talking with her."
Hans sought out Lily’s mother to question.
"Mrs Watson, I’m Hans," he began.
“Donna is enough,” she replied, sharply.
"Okay, Donna, what happened to your husband?"
"He is inhuman. He left me in the middle of my life. As Lily started to get ill, he said to kill her as he couldn’t take care of her medical bills, but I refused. We both fought, and I moved to another town with Lily," Donna stated, crying as she spoke. "I love my daughter."
Hans nodded. "We’re here for you Donna," he reassured her, his tone firm but compassionate.
With Sneaky’s help, Hans investigated Donna and Lily’s background and Donna’s childhood. They found that Donna had a troubled past, but nothing concrete that linked to the mysterious illnesses of Lily.
That evening, Hans found himself standing outside Dr Miller’s office — his only sanctuary of calm amidst the storm of his thoughts. As he entered, the familiar scent of books and herbal tea enveloped him like a reassuring embrace.
"Dr Miller," Hans greeted him, his voice betraying a hint of exhaustion. "I need your perspective on a case—a challenging one."
Dr Miller listened thoughtfully. Without revealing names, Hans recounted the details of Lily’s case, her mysterious ailments, the unsettling evidence of illegal medications, and also her mother’s unwavering devotion.
“Why do I feel it’s like staring into a mirror?" Hans asked, his voice low and introspective. "The thin line between genuine concern and ... something else."
To be continued…
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Reshma 😁!!
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