White Coats and Red Hands

Chapter 4 – The Security Footage

Entering the large gates, as we saw people buzzing around, we went into the security room after the officers knew our positions as detectives.

June and I glanced at the cameras displayed in front of us with all the photos and images taken right at 8:50 AM. June, with his accurate observations, leaned suddenly into one of the videos and replayed it, zooming right into the corner. Something caught his eye, and I knew it the moment I felt the air shift.

I leaned in as well and saw what he was zooming into — a bracelet that had fallen to the ground. It was gold and green, pretty and simple, and enough to give us the hint that it belonged to Liah. I was silent before I spoke, “Let's clear things here. Liah left the house exactly at 8:45 AM towards the hospital for her appointment, then the sudden disappearance happened right at 8:50 AM. Not long after she left the house. Meaning the people who took her knew where she was going and headed to and easily tracked her right at the security gates.”

June was silent before he spoke, keeping his intense gaze on the screen. “That's true, the incident didn't take long to occur… just in 5 minutes. Then who could have known other than the doctor?”

Glancing back at me with a questioning look in his emerald, green eyes, I was silent, thinking with focus to capture the roots dug deep. Before I spoke, I said, “We have to talk to the Doctor then. He might give us some sort of answer.”

June looked at me with confusion. “How come the doctor will answer this incident? He didn't even see Liah at her appointment. He'll give us unclear and vague answers just like the lady, general info.”

I sighed and spoke to June while grabbing him by the arm as we walked outside the security room. “June. We don't have time left. We'll figure out whatever response is given to us.”

We entered the hall and into the waiting room for Dr. Elias Verren. June glanced at the patients; there were a lot, and it seemed like the doctor was good at what he does, just like what the lady said.

Rhys entered the room with June following behind him. The man, Dr. Elias Verren, was working at his desk when he glanced up at the incomers and smiled lightly, his presence soothing and calm as he stood up to greet Rhys and June. Shaking hands with them, the man spoke, “Ah, hello… I'm Dr. Verren, nice to meet you two.”

June smiled at him and nodded. “Nice to meet you, Doc. We just have a few questions, we don't mean to interrupt your work or anything.”

The doctor, who looked like he was in his mid-40s with greying hair at the edges and some wrinkles on his forehead, nodded happily to have us with him in the room. He sat down and gestured for us to take the two seats next to his office desk. He smiled and spoke, “Right, no worries. You can take your time. What are your questions?”

I nodded after observing him. I soon spoke and went straight to the point — blunt, classic Rhys. “Do you have any sort of information of any kind about a patient of yours called Liah?”

Dr. Verren listened closely before frowning slightly, as if sad and still concerned like he knew, before he spoke, “Liah… yes, I remember her. She had arrhythmia and anxiety. She complained a lot about that, so I registered her for an appointment — not our first time. But I have no idea why she didn't come to the appointment, which disappoints me.”

June listened closely and was now conflicted. Nothing made sense. Meanwhile, I nodded gently at the answer, before I gently pulled out a white card and spoke, handing it to the doctor. “Well… was Liah holding this type of card in her bag or anything?”

Dr. Verren took the card and glanced down at it before shaking his head slightly and spoke, “No… I've never seen her hold this card. I'm not really so sure since I didn't see her much, I remember…” handing it back to me.

Meanwhile, June glanced between the doctor and me, confused as to why I held this white card in my pocket, but decided to not question it for now.

We had a short talk with the doctor before we left. We didn't get much, only some general answers like predicted.

We walked through the hallway, across the waiting room, when June's observant eye caught on a suspicious man sitting in one of the waiting seats in front of Dr. Verren's office. June leaned in closer to me as we walked while he spoke and muttered in a low tone so no one around us could hear, “See that guy? He looks suspicious.”

I heard June's words and glanced towards the direction where the guy was, wearing a long black coat with a black hat on his head, covering most of his face with his head lowered down to the ground and legs crossed. Jonas Mett.

I was silent for a few moments before nodding gently and spoke in a low voice, “Yah, you're right… then why is he here in the waiting room?”

June was silent for a few moments before he spoke and said, “I have no idea. He looks like he's up to no good, but let's keep a close eye on him from now on.”

I soon nodded in agreement before we went to our place to clear things up about the small clues and hints we found about this case.