Chapter 30

"So.. you're saying that the investigation is still on, but you already have some ideas of who's responsible of Mr. Southerisland's poisoning, am I right?" Kai asks at the detective Philip Smith, who's in charge of this case.

"Exactly, in jail there are criminals of all kinds, but those who are the most hated are pedophiles and rapists. It's not as rare as someone might think, it's common situations like this. We have even found some connections between the convicts, one of Mr. Southerisland's victims has a brother and fate wants that he's in jail too, to be precise, in the cell next to your patient. He's the main suspect, but that doesn't mean there can't be any other, after all the poison it was brought from the outside, that means there must be at least two people involved, if not more."

Kristoff stays quiet listening to those man's words and meditates on Hans' medical records, there's something off.

"Mh.. The lab analysis shows that the amount of poison seems to have been taken in more than once, is it possible that it may have been a continuous poisoning?"

"Dr. Bijorman, are you saying that they wanted to make him suffer slowly?"

"I think it's a possibility we should consider, I've spoken with the prison's doctor and he told me Southerisland, despite his first check, seemed he was starting to feeling bad, but he thought it was the flu, since in those days there were some cases of influence, so he didn't give much thought about it."

"This means that there could be more suspected than we were thinking.." Smith checks his watch on his wrist and starts standing up. "Thanks for these new information, they are really useful, I wish you a good day."

This working Monday seems to be quiet for Elsa and that makes her a bit on the alert. She spent the rest of her weekend with her cousin and her fiancé, before they left, she drove them to the airport and after a long, emotional and a lot embarrassing good bye for the blonde, the young couple left for the terminal. If she has to be completely honest with herself she is sorry for their leaving, she was getting used to their presence and it is always nice having someone around with whom spend the hours. After a long time she feels relaxed, happy, light, calm and she likes this feeling of wellbeing, she'd like that it would last long but she knows that working in a working environment like hers doesn't make it that possible. Nothing less, a break it is always good for your wealth.

She's heading towards Kai's office to discuss a procedure that it was appointed to a patient of hers, but she isn't that sure it's the right choice for him.

At the same time, detective Smith exits from the office and he's about to take out his mobile phone from his pocket when he collides with an absent and careless doctor.

"Oh excuse me-"

"Sorry-" they say at the same time raising their eyes.

"Doctor Winters?" Smith looks closely at the young woman in front of him and he is surprised and with his mouth wide open in recognizing her, just like her.

"Detective Smith! I'm so sorry.. I haven't totally seen you.." after a moment of silence while their eyes are locked on each others, Elsa notices the papers that are now all over the floor and she knees to take them back, the same action is done by Smith.

"I didn't know you had a shift today, how are you doing here? Recently, I've heard from your lawyer Snow."

"Everything is fine, the working environment is much better. If I may, why have you talked with Marshall?"

"Oh you know.. after the arrival of Mr. Southerisland in this structure. There's an investigation going on the cause he's under hospital care." The woman stays quiet trying to recollect her thoughts on why the police is involved.

"I know that it's about a convict but I didn't think it requested looking into it. Of course I am not aware of the medical condition of Mr. Southerisland, but from what I've heard it was something like a sudden illness."

"I can't divulge any kind of information during the investigation.. but don't worry he can't do anything to you. Not anymore and with the current precautions involved you don't even risk to have contact with him casually. I have to go back to the office now, take care and have a good day." He takes his leave placing an hand on her shoulder and giving a little reassuring smile. Elsa says bye back and the man starts to walk towards the elevator.

Anna is with her mother leaving the elevator in order to pay a visit to her father when the run-in between the doctor and the detective happens. The two Summers women keeps their distance and immediately the redhead notices the man's badge on his belt, but it's not that that makes her curios, it's the fact that those two seems to know each other and there's at least a bit of confidence between them, seeing how he hasn't any problem in placing his hand on the blonde's shoulder, who usually isn't up to have some contact with strangers. Now she's curious to know what happened between the two of them. She remembers the story about the scar, so it seems legit after the blonde called out for help someone could have asked what happened and then called the police, probably. So maybe that could be the reason. But why is he here? Leaving her father's office?"

"Elsa, it's a pleasure seeing you again." Gerda comes closer to the blonde to greet her while her daughter stays behind with her feet and thoughts.

"Mrs. Summers, hello. How are you?" she smiles politely at her and she notices Anna at the woman's back. "Anna, you are here too?" but the redhead seems to be in her own world and she doesn't realise of anything.

And if it isn't enough, the door opens, Kai and Kristoff comes from the inside of the room finishing a conversation.

"-so we keep doing that and in the meantime every lab analysis goes to the station."

'Elsa. Police. Scar. What.. –Kristoff? Something is off! Wait..'

"Oh my women, what a lovely surprise." Kai notices in a blink of the eyes his wife and daughter and only after he looks over Elsa. "Dr. Winters, how can I help you?" in front of the chief of surgery there's a lot of people, and this commotion doesn't pass unnoticed by the other employee of the hospital.

"It's about of a patient, if you don't mind, I'd take from you only 10 minutes." The man sends a glare who ask for understanding from his wife and nods at the doctor, pointing at the door office.

While the two surgeon are inside, Kristoff, his cousin and his aunt are sitting in the hall and start talking about everything and nothing.

"So, why are you here? Today you don't have a session, if I'm not mistaken.."

"Nope, today nothing, but mom and I were starting getting bored at home so we decided to come here and see dad."

"Ah, I see.." the blonde has found out only the evening of the past Saturday, the one they had the masterchef-style challenge at Elsa's, that his aunt knows about his cousin and boss. At first he was surprised by the news, but the redhead was more surprised when he replied with "Finally! Poor aunt.. she was almost dying from the wait!" Clearly Anna was really oblivious that her mother knew about her. Nevertheless, there's still a big step to make, telling it to Kai. They haven't found the better way and moment to tell him yet, even if there isn't one.

"Why were you in the office with dad? Have you messed up something?"

"What? No, no! We were talking about my patient, but nothing I can tell you, as you know well." He smiles at her and starts to stand up.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go and do some exams, see you later at lunch if you're still here!"

"Sure, we'll let you know. Bye and be good!" Anna follows with her eyes her cousin, she keeps thinking about what she saw earlier. She wants to know what's happening, but it's her place to pry into this matter?

It's Anna Summers, so of course it's pointless asking that question, since she's nosy.

At the same time in Kai's office, Elsa has offered another procedure for her patient and her chief has decided to give her this chance and do as she thinks it's right.

The blonde is unsure if asking him about the detective, but she knows too well she won't and can't leave with any kind of information. The man notices her silence, but not the one that means the conversation is over and it's time to be dismissed, but the reflective one, the uncertain one.

"I think you've seen that there was the detective Smith. And from what I've understood, h was in charge of your case and so you know him." when he sees that the blonde's eyes raising and meeting his own, he understands. "I'd like you to not worry about anything, can't hurt you in any way." For Elsa it seems like a déjà-vu. "Your only concern should be do your job and take care of the people under your care, and I'm sure you're totally able to do so." With that, the young surgeon nods and stands up in order to make her rounds. She thinks that distract herself and dig in her job may be helpful, but she can't shake that feeling off, the one that tells her that something could go wrong. 'Nah, maybe it's just because of having seen Smith.'

Everyone has its own work to do during the morning and the break hour is clocking by and for the moment it seems everything is doing just fine. Kai is enjoying the presence of his wife and daughter, who after a short while leaves her parents alone.

Anna was bored, that's why she's in the halls of the hospital with only the company of her own thoughts that doesn't want to shut up not even for just a second.

She keeps remembering the face and badge of the policeman, Elsa's face, she tries to assemble the pieces of that puzzle. While she's going around without a destination at one point she notices a detail: the patient of his cousin, it is his first one and from what she knows, he's not an easy one, and, an unforgettable detail, Elsa couldn't be on the case, that happens only with relatives, but from what the redhead knows the blonde doesn't have no one in the nearby. 'There was something else.. but I can't manage to remember what..'

"I don't care how many time you tell me! I want to see her! I have to see her and make her pay!"

"Mr. Southerisland, if you don't calm down right away you'll receive a nice electric shot."

"I don't fucking care, now you make me stand and you take me to Wint-" and the shouts are stopped by a sudden and short scream followed by silence.

"I really have no idea how you can do it.. having to deal with those kind of people.. I couldn't do your job." Kristoff confesses at one of the officers, who just smiles.

"Well, your job is to save lives and our job is to have to keep an eye on those who have taken or damaged lives. Everyone has its own, doctor."

The young surgeon exits from the room and takes a deep breath of relief, it doesn't matter if his patient's heart had failures because of the poisoning, he doesn't care much that right now he's unconscious because of the taser.

'At least now there's a bit of silence and maybe this headache will go away..' the blonde rises his gaze after closing the door behind himself and he finds a familiar face.

"Anna? What are you doing here?"

"I was around.. I don't even know where I am, I was lost in thought.. that was you patient?"she asks with wide open eyes. "Really difficult to handle.."

"Yeah.. look, when I come back home from the shift I'm always KO, I hope that he can be discharged soon, I can't take it anymore.." he says exasperated.

"But does he have a problem or.. he's just like that?" curious, she tries to nothing take quick peek of the folder Kristoff has in hand, even if she doesn't understand of medical terms, she likes to try to find out the meaning of every specific word.

"no, no.. he's just like that, he has just done.. ah, I can't tell you I'm sorry.." the blonde tries to deviate the topic of the conversation but the door opens and from the inside comes an officer.

"Doctor, excuse me if I'm interrupting, but.. you forgot these." And he hands over some papers, right after that he returns at his place in the room and the cousins are alone again.

'Okay.. what's with today? The national uniform day? There's police everywhere!'

"Anna, sorry I have to go to the lab to check if the test result are ready, see you at lunch, okay?"

The redhead nods and she sees him walks away, she does the same, leaving the hall and the floor, she decides to keep some company to Elsa, when she saw her earlier she doesn't even greeted her and now she's feeling terribly guilty about that. While she's getting closer to the Relax Room something happens in her mind.

"Police.." she murmurs while she across the threshold. She's happy to see the blonde already busy in drinking her typical cup of hot tea sitting on the couch.

"Ehi!"

"Ehi, hi." The blonde smiles warmly and she invites her to join her. As soon as the redhead is next to the doctor, she decides to let it all out.

"You know, I've seen Kristoff's patient, oh well.. I've heard not seen seen. He must be, I don't know, special? He's driving him crazy! There were even some officers in his room.. weird thing, and you know what is even more weird? This morning I've seen a policeman coming out dad's office.. but I think he wasn't a common agent, because he wasn't wearing the uniform, just the badge and that authoritative attitude, you know? A bit like the one my dad has.. so I think he's someone of a certain importance. Then I saw you two together and I thought you knew each other, then I understood he was talking with my dad and Kristoff and, having noticed the condition of my cousin's patient.. I think they were talking about him.. may he be a criminal? Uh! Do you know something? I know you're not on the case, but at first I thought because it was a relative matter, but then-" and in that moment Anna stops herself. she realises how she's talking too much, too quickly, without some kind of logic and most importantly, judging by Elsa's face, without any tact. Saying her thoughts out loud and hearing them she's became aware of the situation. Or at least, she has a more vivid and clear idea now. The blonde told her about that accident, how she got that injury, she' not on the case, he's not a relative and he's clearly a criminal, the only answer? He could be the responsible. Then Anna remembers the voice of the man, right after he stopped talking and the silence went down, he was saying a name. 'Wint-'

"Winters.." the redhead whispers and in that moment it is like a wind cold as ice enters in the room, freezing the two young women outright and an incredible massive weight drops on both of them.

'Shit.' They think at the same time.

Author's Note: Hi everyone! Damn.. I'm so sorry for the wait, the terrible writer's block got me one more time! I really hope I manage to write the new chapter soon, I have my ideas, don't get me wrong, but really.. my fingers doesn't want to type how I want them too and my brain of course is in holiday.. anyway I hope you'll enjoy this new chapter and thanks for your kindly support and patience! Thank you so much, without you this story wouldn't exist.

Have a nice weekend everyone!