36 // Scott Free
1060 Words
Samantha had such a good night sleep, no nightmares or ghosts.
The morning was even better, the atmosphere within the hospital walls was dark, aloof faces marching across the halls as if attending a marquee.
Her mood brightened when the doctor came to check up on her and tell her that she was being discharged, and she filled the discharge forms happily when the nurse brought them.
Every single face she saw that day, looked like death had come knocking in the morning, and she could not help her curiosity.
"Why do you look so sad, did something happen?" She asked.
The new nurse sighed and took a seat next to Samantha's bed. "One of the nurses, Leah, committed suicide last night," she stammered, tears leaking at the corners of her eyes, but she quickly swatted them away to avoid ruining her makeup.
"What?"
"She was found hanging in the laundry room this morning. I can't believe it, I just saw her yesterday."
Samantha's eyes perked up. "Was she having problems? What did she tell you?"
"Well, she had financial problems. For a while now, management suspected that Leah was stealing medication and selling it to drug dealers in order to pay off her husband's gambling debt. She was facing a possible dismissal and jail time, it was only a matter of time before they moved in on her."
Now, that was news! Samantha tried by all means to not show her relief and joy at the unexpected turn of events. As it stood, cause of death was literally hanging by a bedsheet from the laundry window, and it would stick.
No one would even dare look her way.
"That's so sad."
"That's not all," the nurse said. "They found a message on her phone, it was sent an hour before she died."
Samantha felt every cell in her body stop. "A message, you say?" She asked.
The nurse did not notice how rattled Samantha was. "Yes, apparently, she sent a message to her husband, talking about how everything she's ever done, she did it for him."
"Oh!" She attempted to smile, but failed miserably.
"Yeah. So, uhm... is anyone coming to get you?" The nurse said, getting back to work mode.
Just as Samantha was about to answer, Demi and Carmen walked in.
"Hey, I hope we are not late," Demi said.
"You are right on time," Samantha said, her eyes trained on Carmen's neck which was now without a collar. "Carmen, you look different."
Carmen chortled and flipped her hair dramatically. "I feel different!"
Demi rolled her eyes. "The doctor removed the collar yesterday. Anyway, are you ready?" She asked, her eyes on Samantha.
Samantha had already changed, she was just waiting for them to arrive. "Yeah, we can go," Samantha said.
Carmen took Samantha's bag from the side table. "I thought we were late because we had to take a taxi because someone refused to get us an Uber." She threw Demi an accusing look.
"Stop whining. Let's get going, Samantha."
"Your bag is so heavy, what do you have in here?" Carmen asked, but Samantha ignored her.
They left the building, and throughout the entire journey, the hospital halls buzzed with the news of Leah's death.
Samantha and Carmen went to the car while Demi was conversing with some of her nurses acquaintances.
By the time she came back, Demi looked like she had just seen a ghost.
"What's the matter?" Samantha asked.
"One of the paramedics was found dead, his body was ditched in the ambulance he was driving, he was shot and stripped naked," she said.
That was quicker than Samantha expected, but one thing that took her by surprise was the fact that he found naked, somebody must have tracked down the ambulance and gotten rid of the evidence. Doctor Becker's fingerprints were all over the car and the corpse.
"I swear, God has forsaken the Mother City," Carmen said.
"I'm just worried about Sasha, what if the next victim is her? She's been missing for weeks now, and I don't know she is." Her voice broke off. "Carmen, I think you should drive." She hopped out of the driver's seat and went to the back.
"What?" Carmen shrieked. "I can't drive!"
"You gotta be kidding me," Samantha muttered under her breath and then moved over to the driver's side.
They safely drove out of the hospital, luckily, there was a different security team, so they did not question the identity of the car or driver.
"Can we stop and get food on the way? I'm hungry."
That was not such a bad idea, plus Samantha had a pregnant guest. However, if Demi was worried about her sister being the next victim, she was completely wrong. She should keep a close eye on her best friend because she was really working on Samantha's nerves.
They got food on the way and drove back to the guest house.
"Just so you know, we have a guest," Samantha announced as they all got out of the car. She went into the house and ran upstairs to check if her guest was there, and most importantly, whether she was still alive. She unlocked the door and peaked inside, only to find the doctor just sitting on the bed. "Doctor, sorry for keeping you waiting, I had to go and sign my discharge forms at the hospital. Come out and eat, you have to take good care of yourself for the sake of your baby."
She did not wait to hear what the woman had to say, she left the door open and went back downstairs to get her back before the other two could open it. She took it to her room and hid it away before going down to eat.
When she arrived in the dining room, Doctor Becker was still not there.
"So, where is this guest of yours?" Demi asked.
"That's all you have in mind? I'm more interested in WHO our guest is." Carmen chimed in.
If eyes could kill, Carmen would be dead by now. Samantha was saved any more questions when Caroline came down, her presence rendering the other women speechless.
Samantha smiled tightly. "Doctor, make yourself comfortable and have something to eat."
Lunch was quite an uncomfortable event, and Samantha could see all the questions brewing in everyone's eyes.
- Writer
