CASE 06: HIDE AND SEEK OF TRUTH AND LIES

"Sometimes lies paints a more beautiful portrait than the truth; but it isn't true art." -Anonymous

Detective Hans observed the man under his custody, he had been observing the man for a few days now, and he had noted how Mr. Overland maintained a relationship with every child from the pediatric room. The man looked at peace while the children played with each other, but his eyes would hollow and from time to time, he would clutch his head and seal his eyes. It was on such occasions that the children would flood towards him like a torrent to ask him if he was okay and then they would offer the best comfort a child could ever give: an invitation to play.

Then much like a father would behave, he would smile, assure them that he was feeling much better, and then watch over them play once more. However, the seasoned detective also noted that he was more gentle with a little girl, who happened to be blind, with little braids framing her face. Mister Overland would guide her around places she wished to go to. However, the one thing the girl seemed to love to do was to listen to Mr. Overland play the grand, dusty, black piano.

Perhaps the children also sensed his most deep inner pain and confusion when he softly played a wondrous hum with the shiny black and white keys. They would encircle him quietly and sway their tiny bodies as they listened to the music. It was a sad tune, but etched to its lonesome melody was a strange sense of comfort. Warmth still clung to each note as the sound echoed across the rooms. Furthermore, it wasn't just the children who were effected by the peaceful tune, the adults- including the other doctors and nurses would stop and watch the phenomenon with small hidden smiles on their tired faces. It seemed to comfort everyone's' souls like another form of medicine. He also had to admit that the tranquil song soothed him. It was almost magical.

Today was one of those magical days as Mister Overland spent more time playing the piano. Like any other day, Hans continued to observe him from the distance. It was quite wondrous how the songs he played sounded so painful despite all those who were attracted to be close to Mr. Overland. There were children who clearly adored him and there were the staff and peers who cared for him. However, nobody dared to get so close to him while he played the musical instrument. Yes, the children sat calmly around him, but they still kept some distance away. The adults enjoyed the tune, but they too never approached him. Perhaps it was because Hans was an outsider that he could notice this minor detail so clearly, but he always saw a thick, invisible barrier which kept everyone at bay. It was a barrier that Mr. Overland projected for himself.

Yet there was that little, blind girl. Maybe it was because of her loss of sight that she could freely approach him, like the way she was doing right now. The girl tugged at Mr. Overland's sleeve and the man's eyes were momentarily cold, frosty, and devoid of any emotion. Rapidly, some warmth returned to them as his eyes laid upon the fragile girl along with a small smile.

Detective Hans approached the two casually and asked Mr. Overland, "Is the girl bothering you?"

The man's pale and icy eyes turned on him and this time, they remained void. He never uttered a word to him and Mr. Overland merely shook his head side to side. Feeling slightly dejected, Hans asked the girl, "Little girl, what's your name?"

The girl tugged on Mr. Overland's sleeve again and demanded, "Who is talking to me?"

Mr. Overland replied, "It's Detective Hans."

The girl repeated, "Detective? Why is there a detective at a hospital?"

For a moment, Hans saw Mr. Overland throw a quick glance towards him and muttered, "That's a question that has been on my mind for a very long time... but I do not know the reason why."

The girl questioned, "But he is a good man, right? After all he is a detective."

There was a moment of cause as if Mr. Overland had pondered such a question several times before. Then he finally shrugged as he said, "I suppose..."

Hans's lips thinned at his response, it wasn't a kind response in the least. Now it was certain that the man had no trust in him. His boss had warned him that Mr. Overland could be rather distant and aloof with the others because of his amnesia. Of course, Mr. Overland was not fully aware that he was suffering amnesia and which part of his memories were missing, but it was a grand possibility that the man sensed that there was something wrong within himself. In fact, it was possible that Mr. Overland did not trust himself and thus, could not even begin to trust others.

The little girl finally answered, "My name is Addrian."

Detective Hans smiled at seeing the girl beginning to introduce herself. He gently said, "I think that's a very beautiful name."

Addrian beamed radiantly like the sun and replied, "Thank you!"

She was clearly a kind spirited child and he observed her continue to clutch onto the sleeve of Mr. Overland's robe while he grunted painfully as he slowly rose from his seat and wobbled like a newborn calf towards his armchair. When he hissed in pain and one of his legs failed him, Hans rushed to hold him up, but he was shocked to be swatted away immediately as anger filled Mr. Overland's eyes. His heated eyes screamed: don't you dare touch me!

Hans stepped backwards to give him some room while the blind African girl worriedly tried to support and help him stand strong. Even the child was gently pushed away as he breathed, "I can manage sweetheart. Do not worry."

He glared at Hans as he slowly stood back up and dragged himself onto the black wheelchair with his own power. The girl tightly held on the rim of his wheelchair and she asked again, "Are you okay?"

Mr. Overland curtly replied, "Yes, I am okay."

Hans felt confused as the two began to walk away from him and exit the room. As he followed after them, he asked, "Where are we going?"

He glanced down at Mr. Overland, who was refusing to give an answer or look at him, as he wheeled himself slowly down the empty corridor with the child in toll. Instead the girl said, "We are going to see my ma and pa."

It wasn't exactly as if Mr. Overland was finally conversing with him, but more of a nonchalant comment as the man muttered, "I am betting that you thought she was the one who was ill..."

Hans gulped because it was true and the girl similarly mimicked Mr. Overland as she said, "That's what everybody presumes. Some days I feel like it's the people around me who are blind... not me."

Mr. Overland replied, "That can be true to a certain degree."

Finally the trio arrived at a hallway where it was crowded with nurses and doctors. They walked towards one of the private rooms and Hans politely knocked the glass sliding door before they entered the room. There was a tall woman by the bedside and on top of the bed was a sickly man. They turned their heads and saw their beloved daughter. They were smiling until the moment their eyes met the two strangers.

The woman came and hugged her child and asked, "Excuse me, but who are you?"

Addrian kissed her mother's soft cheek and embraced her arms around her neck, clinging on her tightly. She gleefully said, "The one in the wheelchair is Jack! He's been my new friend and the other one is a detective and he is Jack's friend, I think."

Mr. Overland calmly said, "Normally, I would greet you while standing, but with my currently condition, I clearly can't. Anyhow, I am Doctor Overland."

The woman looked visibly concerned as she said, "Has our doctor been changed? We haven't been told about this."

Mr. Overland appeared calm in this situation and said, "No, your doctor has not been changed. I am merely visiting."

Addrian giggled happily and said, "He promised that he would come and see Pa with me. Isn't that nice, Ma?"

The girl's mother's pink lips thinned and said, "Yes, it is very nice."

Ignoring the clear displeased expression of the mother, Hans watched Mr. Overland approach the bedside of Addrian's father. He did nothing, but observe the man who looked extremely fatigued from battling his illness. Then the man shifted in his bed and slowly opened his heavy eyelids and gasped, "Is my favourite, little girl here?"

Addrian, though she was blind, leaped from her mother's arms and chased after her father's raspy voice until she bumped herself against the bedside. Hans could only assume that the girl could smile so brightly because she didn't have her sensory of sight. If it was any other child, they would have probably cried instantly, wailing from the sight. Nevertheless, the father gently patted his daughter's braided hair and smiled feebly.

She happily answered, "Yes, I am!"

It should have been a sorry sight, but due to the girl's innocent smile and love for her father made the scene so warm and serene. Then the father asked, "What did you do today?"

The girl riddled her father with everything she had done throughout the day. She mentioned the nurse who kindly read her a short story, the kids who teased her unjustly, the hot chocolate she drank at the cafeteria, how Jack played the piano again, and how her friend was currently here. They were all minor details, truly insignificant, but such short sentences from his daughter made the man much happier as he listened to every uttered word.

Then he finally glanced at him and Mr. Overland, who remained coolly detached from the emotional scene. Hans couldn't imagine what was going inside that man's head at that moment. However, it must have made the girl's father quite uncomfortable as he said, "Honey, Daddy is a bit hungry, could you go get me a snack?"

His wife frowned as she knew that her husband had no desire to eat for the past several weeks. Naïve as she was, she replied, "Okay, Pa!"

Then Mr. Overland wheeled himself out the door and said, "I will escort you, Addrian."

The girl held onto his wheelchair once more and he guided them outside of the private chamber. As he glided along, he called upon a nurse and asked her for the patient's file. From Mr. Overland's stern expression, he could presume that something was wrong. He placed the folder on his lap as he guided them. To his surprise, he took them to the staff room!

Hans said, "We shouldn't be here. This room is not meant for me or the girl."

Mr. Overland coldly replied, "It is the staff room and I am a staff. I give permission for the girl to be here. As for you... well, you must constantly shadow after me."

Addrian looked very content as Mr. Overland showed her to the refrigerator. Hans asked her, "What are you doing?"

She turned and said, "Jack said that I could bake Pa some muffins because Pa loves muffins!"

Hans was shocked to hear her words. Then he noticed the small oven and stoves next to the fridge. It would be possible for her to make what she desired. He asked, "How are you planning to bake muffins if you don't have the ingredients?"

Then an impish grin appeared on Mr. Overland's lips as he said nonchalantly, "That's where you come in, Detective Hans. Go purchase some of the things she needs. We can use the eggs and flours here, but we still need some other things."

Hans was taken back as he continued to speak, "Otherwise, you might make a little girl so sad."

He looked down at the young girl, who did make a sad expression as she pouted her lips. He had his duty to protect Mr. Overland so he couldn't possibly leave. He crossed his arms and glowered down at Mr. Overland and Addrian.

Then Mr. Overland spoke to the girl, "It looks like our Detective Hans is going to be very mean and not buy us what we need. And I had such a good secret to share with him. I suppose that I won't share it now..."

It was very juvenile of Mr. Overland, but Hans had to admit that he was curious to know what it was. Mr. Overland snickered a wicked smile and whispered into Detective Hans's ear, "A secret of a murder that is unfolding, dear Mr. Detective."

Then he pulled back, the wicked smile still glued onto his face, and said, "So Mr. Detective. Shall we repeat our favour? Will you ever be so kind to go buy some of the ingredients that Addrian needs?"

For the first time, he was having a short conversation with the man and he was already being very unfavourable! With a stiff smile, Hans replied, "Of course, Mr. Overland."

Before he left, he glanced at Mr. Overland, who difficultly lied onto the comfy couch while the girl started digging through the fridge. A murder. Was it the murder of his wife he was talking about? Or was there another one unfolding without anyone else noticing?