Chapter 108
HAZEL
PRESENT TIME
Ravel chose to bring Daisy to the park while I dropped by the hospital to see how Elenor was doing before meeting them. I’m relieved that Ravel has found a way to distract himself from the challenging circumstances he’s facing
It appears that there may be some tension in his relationship with Raymond, as I haven’t noticed Raymond spending time with Ravel recently. Whenever I’ve inquired about Raymond, Ravel’s responses have been vague and uncertain.
Roger, Ravel’s security detail, pulled over in the hospital parking lot, turned off the car’s engine, and followed closely as I entered the hospital premises. My decision to leave Robert, my security personnel, with Ravel was driven by my desire to have more familiar faces around Daisy, ensuring her comfort and safety.
Upon entering the hospital hallway, I instructed Roger to remain outside while I proceeded to enter Elenor’s room. However, just as I was about to step into the room, I noticed something unusual through the transparent gap in the door. June was standing by Elenor’s side, speaking to her in hushed tones. The tense posture of June’s body suggested that she was delivering a message of significant gravity.
I continued to observe the situation through the door’s opening, my concern mounting as I witnessed June’s hand inching
closer to the switch that controlled all the machines connected to Elenor.
It was at that pivotal moment when I realized I couldn’t merely stand by and observe. With a determined push, I swung the door open and strode into the room, my concern evident. “What on earth are you attempting to do?”
June jumped in startled response to the sudden intrusion, swiftly turning to face me. She stammered, “I, uh… I thought… it seemed like one of the machines wasn’t properly connected, so I wanted to make sure it was fixed correctly to prevent any accidents that could endanger her life.”
However, what I had witnessed didn’t appear to be an innocent attempt to fix anything. It seemed as if she had been tampering with the machines, almost as if she were trying to disconnect them. With a furrowed brow, I countered, “If you had noticed something like that, you should have immediately summoned the doctor or nurses rather than attempting to handle it on your own.”
She offered a nervous smile in response, saying, “I understand, I truly had no ill intentions.” However, my doubts lingered, casting a shadow of suspicion over her actions. Clearing her throat, June reached for her purse and continued, “Since you’re here now, I have an urgent matter to attend to.” Without waiting for my reply, she made a hasty exit, her hurried departure only deepening my uncertainty.
I kept a vigilant eye on her until she vanished from my sight. Drawing closer to Elenor, I carefully inspected the machines to ensure nothing had been tampered with. For the sake of safety, I felt compelled to remain in the room until Raymond arrived.
When Raymond entered the room, he greeted me with a warm smile. “Hey… when did you arrive?” He settled onto the sofa, his demeanor appearing casual.
I checked my wristwatch and replied, “I’ve been here for about an hour now,” However, I felt the need to make a move. “I should be heading out, though. I promised Ravel I’d meet them at the park.”
I then turned my attention to Raymond and asked, “Raymond?” He looked up, blinking in response. “I would greatly appreciate it if you could avoid leaving Elenor alone with June.”
Raymond’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t. I left her with Anne.”
“Well,” I began cautiously, “when I arrived, I found June with her, and what I observed, or at least what I think I saw, was rather concerning. The thought of what might have occurred had I not intervened weighed heavily on my mind.
Raymond leaned in closer, his expression serious. “What did you see?”
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I hesitated for a moment, aware of the gravity of my words. “Well… I’m not entirely certain if I interpreted it correctly, but it appeared as though she was attempting to disconnect the machines connected to Elenor.”
Raymond was visibly shocked and at a loss for words as he glanced over at Elenor. “What did you just say?” he asked in disbelief. I reiterated my previous statement, but it did little to case his shock. “Why would she do that?” he wondered aloud.
I shrugged, still uncertain about June’s motivations. “As I mentioned, I’m not entirely sure about what I saw, but it’s best if we err on the side of caution and not leave Elenor alone with June.”
Raymond nodded, his expression thoughtful. “You’re right; it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
I gathered my purse and stood up. “One more thing, though. What kind of accident did Elenor have? I never had the chance to ask before.”
Raymond replied, “She was in a collision with a truck. The driver’s condition wasn’t as severe as hers, and he was discharged from the hospital two days after the accident.”
I nodded in response to Raymond’s explanation of the accident. “I see. That’s quite a revelation about the accident itself. Has anyone reviewed the CCTV footage?”
Raymond confirmed, “Yes, I reviewed it with Ravel, and from what we observed, it appeared that Elenor was at fault. She had the opportunity to evade the truck driver, but it seemed as though she wasn’t paying attention.”
I tilted my head in thought. “If Elenor could have avoided the truck driver, it implies that the driver could have done the same, but chose not to. Why do you think that might be?”
Raymond’s forehead creased with concern. “Honestly, we hadn’t considered that possibility.” He glanced over at Elenor. “Are you suggesting that the driver might have intentionally not avoided her?”
“I’m not making any accusations,” I clarified, “but I believe it’s worth reviewing the case while keeping a closer eye on Elenor’s well–being. I’ll also discuss this with Ravel.” Raymond nodded in agreement. “And Raymond, for all of this to work out smoothly, it’s essential that you and Ravel reconcile your differences.”
Raymond tensed up at my suggestion. “Ravel and I are fine, we don’t have any issues,” he asserted.
I met his statement with a knowing look. “You know that’s not true,” I countered gently. “I may not be aware of what transpired between you two, but I’d like to see you both as friends again. I’ll speak to Ravel about it as well.” With that, I turned to leave the room, leaving Raymond with my words.
As I exited the room and made my way towards the sharp u–turn in the hallway, I accidentally collided with a male doctor. I nearly stumbled backward, but Roger was quick to steady me. “I’m terribly sorry, doctor,” I apologized hastily, feeling a bit flustered by the unexpected encounter.
The doctor seemed to be in a rush, giving me a hurried nod before swiftly making his way to an elevator. However, as he passed by me, a familiar scent caught my attention – the distinct perfume that David used to wear. While it didn’t guarantee that it was him, I knew that David was in New York, so there was a strong possibility that it could be him.
Without hesitation, I instructed Roger, “Take the next elevator,” and then I acted quickly, sticking my foot between the closing elevator doors to prevent them from shutting completely. I needed to confirm if it was indeed David who had just passed by.
The moment I entered the elevator, his entire demeanor tightened.
He quickly averted his face, an attempt to hide from me. I noticed that the doctor had covered his face with a mask, perhaps in an attempt to conceal his identity. However, I chose to ignore his actions and focused on the elevator doors as they closed.
With a sense of determination, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, dialing David’s number. I watched as the phone in the doctor’s pocket began to ring, but he blatantly chose to ignore it.
In response to his deliberate indifference, I couldn’t help but scoff. Turning towards him, I addressed him directly, “You can answer the call, David. I know it’s you standing right beside me.”
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He finally gave in and lowered his mask, revealing his face.
Indeed, I was right, it was David dressed in a hospital lab coat and daring to act indifferent even after being caught.
Something tells me that he is also the stalker who has been following me around.
“What the fuck is going on David?” I snapped. “What are you doing in New York, and in this hospital and how long have you been following me?!”