FICTION — SERIES
Whispers in the Head
Chapter 5 — Loving Memory
Sneaky entered the room where Hans and Roger were resting. “Guys, this is something really interesting. You have to check it out!!”
Hans looked up from his desk, where he had been absent-mindedly going through case files. Roger, who had been leaning back in his chair, straightened up, curiously.
“What is it, Sneaky?” Hans asked with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.
Sneaky walked over and placed a thick file on the desk. “After Donna was arrested, I found out that the medications given to Lily were different from the ones found in her room. Donna’s illegal medications that were bought from her friend were mixed with Lily’s other prescribed medicines.”
Hans’s eyes widened. “So, what about the medications we found in her room?”
“They’re illegal, that’s true, but they weren’t for Lily.”
“Then for whom?” Roger asked
“Who knows? All I know is that the medications aren’t in the right place, so we should find out who did that and why? Or else someone will get hurt.”
“Zack, three coffees, please,” Roger asked, leaning back again. He had never been exhausted like this before, but the case of Lily Watson made everyone physically and mentally tired.
Hans was lost in thought about his life. ‘Why the hell did my mind do this to me? Aching forever inside me, not dying and nor living, as numb as anesthesia.’
Sneaky, a little fed up after seeing his friends' reactions to his new findings, sat down and began to zone out. He began to mentally scold himself. ‘You should have given some time to her. I feel shame about you. I just hate you!’
Zack entered with the freshly brewed coffee in a wooden mug, the ‘trio’s mug’.
Hans suddenly rose from his chair and went over to Roger. “Buddy, you know everything about me and I know that. I never asked you anything about Sarah’s death. You never talked to me about it. I thought of talking to you, but we were busy with the case as soon as I came here, and you never came to visit me after her death. You didn’t want to talk about it, or you are hiding something from me? You thought I would just let it go like that? She was everything to me, and do you think I don’t want to know about her death?” He raised his voice so fiercely that the people around him stared. His face was filled with anger and pain.
"Okay, Hans, you need an explanation from me, right? Before that, what do you actually remember about your life? Tell me, Hans, tell me!" Roger responded, keeping his voice low yet strong.
"Honestly, I’ve been a cop for the past seven years, and I had a girlfriend named Sarah. We had been in a relationship for eight years, but when Sarah returned from New York to Seattle, we had a fight and she broke up with me. I’ve become addicted to alcohol and started therapy. My therapist is Dr Miller. One day, when I couldn’t resist my feelings, I asked him why my life was like this. Why am I living a life that appears repetitive, boring, and lacks my soul’s interest in living? He told me the truth that Sarah was gone forever. I was in a coma and have no memory of anything after that. I was shattered because I thought we had broken up, but I never knew she’d died because of some gang war, which I barely remember. When I returned to the department, nobody asked me about it. Now, I’m here looking for my answers. I know this is sudden, but can I just go on with my life when I’m so unclear about my life? My brain can deceive me very well. It’s like I’m living in a matrix world, it’s driving me crazy. What am I doing? And I can’t ask everything of my therapist, who barely knows me."
Hans started to cry, hardly able to sit. He felt so helpless. Roger and Sneaky helped him back in his chair.
“I understand your feelings, Hans, but trust me, everything is going to be alright,” Sneaky said as he consoled Hans.
“ What’s happening, Sneaky, tell me, please,” Hans pleaded.
While Sneaky consoled him, Roger hesitated but then reached for a small vial of midazolam, a sedative. "Here, this will help you rest," he said dispensing the drug into the mug and passing it to Hans. Within moments, Hans’s eyes fluttered shut, his mind drifting away from the horrors that plagued him, and the questions slowly faded from his memory.
“This is not good, Roger. We are cheating him, and we are hiding things from him; he deserves to know the truth. This drug will just reduce the symptoms temporarily.”
They both brought Hans to the sofa and covered him with a blanket.
“I know, Sneaky, but you know what happened that day in the hospital when we told him the truth? He fainted and shouted when he faced the truth, and even the doctors got confused with his behaviour,” Roger responded.
"He is in a very pathetic stage of his life. The Hans I knew was cool and awesome. He had a caring girlfriend and was one of the best human beings. Man, mental health is as important as physical health. We take care of our physical health by hitting the gym, but what do we do for our mental health? Nothing, not even a peaceful sleep at night. Fine, let’s leave Hans to rest."
They both left the room. Hans slept here all night and woke up to the sound of Sneaky.
Hans with his sleepy eyes, stared at his watch, then at Sneaky.
"Good morning, Hans," Sneaky said, his bright black eyes flashing. Sneaky is shorter than Hans and Roger. His hair is dyed brown, yet he looks dashing with his brown skin and clipped beard.
“Good morning,” Hans asked as he reached for the glass of water placed near the sofa. "Why am I sleeping and how long have I been here?"
“Huh, quite a night!” Roger exclaimed as Sneaky placed his final set of files on the table.
“Hi buddy, why didn’t you guys wake me up?” Hans stood up from the sofa, removing his blanket.
"You were already on your way to heaven’s doors to see Sarah, so why should I disrupt your love union?"
“It’s not funny, okay?”
“Just kidding Hans, I’m sorry,” Sneaky said, his teasing tone replaced by sincerity.
Hans sighed, letting it go.
“Fine. Go take a good shower. We’ll meet you at Mr Smith-Johnson’s house, which is straight down Denny Way Street,” Roger said handing him his coffee.
“Who’s he?” Hans asked taking a sip.
“It’s regarding the medications found in Lily’s room,” Sneaky replied.
Hans started thinking and said, "Oh my gosh, I didn’t go to Dr. Miller’s clinic yesterday."
Sneaky noticed the worry in his eyes and quickly reassured him. “It’s fine, Hans, You can visit him today.”
Hans nodded, though the concern still lingered. After finishing his coffee, he headed home to take a shower, trying to shake off the unease. He had a quick breakfast and then got into his car, driving straight down Denny Way Street, the familiar streets whizzing by as his mind oscillated between the case and his inner turmoil.
To be continued..
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By
Reshma 😁!!
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