The Mysterious Case of the Mayflower Dame

Chapter 2: Playing with Fire (Part V)

 I woke up with the morning dew still embedded on the windows, needles attached on my right hand and some sort of device can be heard beeping on my side. Rubbing my eyes for some debris, my body feels weak, a bit wobbly based on the amount of force I can use to move my arm. Taking a look at my room, it appears that I’ve been brought to a nearby clinic. The smell of Isopropyl alcohol and betadine linger, walls painted green for the sake of ambiance and the ceiling for some reason has stickers of the British flag. A stainless door with a wooden knob which is located at the upper left side from where I am, it somewhat prevents me from seeing the outside of this room.

“Where in the world am I?” I asked myself trying to remember what happened.

  From what I know, I passed out after the explosion with a wood stuck on my back. I wonder if the two were safe, since I somehow did manage to absorb most of the shock, they should be in a better state than I am. No matter, I sense the urgency to stand but I don’t think my physique is fit to leave this bed. Worrying about others when I am in a bad situation, I’m beginning to understand why I chose this line of work after all.

Suddenly I heard the door knob turning, quite the suspense since whoever is behind will be the first human I’d see for today at least. I sure hope it’s a nurse to keep me company.

  As soon as it opened, a familiar face can be seen. Sadly it isn’t female as far as I am concerned. However, he appears to be a resident doctor of this facility. He is Caucasian, probably on the same age as me, eyes have a grey tint to it with the usual Austrian gesture: straight body and chest out, his feet are perfectly aligned, robust and elegant. His blonde hair is brushed up, the length of his bangs overlap up to his nape.

  He is wearing a white coat with various utensils related to surgery hanging on his waist. Each scalpel has some sort of sheath, with the tongs and surgical threads placed on a leather pouch, slightly close to his buckle. He smells like a dead rat for some reason which made me almost think that this was a morgue rather than a clinic.

“So you are finally awake my dear inspector? You have quite the visitor last time, but then you were still sleeping when they visited.” His accent is indeed German, moreover, his English is rather fluent with some stress on the consonants due to his heritage.

“How long was I asleep?”

“At least 36 hours. Eleanor, the famous actress visited you during your initial stay and left a few stuff for you.” He pulled a basket of fruits and several boxes of chocolate. Understandably, I can eat the fruits but for these chocolates? I don’t have a sweet tooth to even munch a single piece of these. The box undoubtedly tells me that it’s from Belgium indeed.

“Do I know you personally?” I need some clarifications.

“You’ve noticed jah? It’s me Ronald!” Trying to keep my composure in check, I have to remember who he is.

  He must be one of my companions back when I was in high school. Frankly speaking, I never indulged myself in too many social gatherings during college that’s why I can be dead certain that he isn’t one of my colleagues. I am indeed feeling a bit distraught with this, a riddle that even I myself cannot seem to remember. Looking at him, I am certain that his name rings a bell but on what degree? I bet Eleanor has more ideas about his identity than me, if only she was here to help me.

“I may be able to familiarize if you give me certain clues,” I said to him, pulling a banana out of the basket. If I were at least a day asleep in this room, I need to eat whatever of reach to recover.

A minute has passed, I finally have something going on. I have to say something nonetheless just to keep face. It may sound like a farce but I’m not one to complain.

“Come on, spill the beans. I’m bad with guessing games.” I said to him.

He let a deep sigh before talking “I was one of Eleanor’s admirer way back in high school. I used to follow you around since you seem to be acquainted.”

“For the love of god, up to now I still don’t understand all of what you’re saying. So that’s the only reason why I’m supposed to be acquainted with you?”

He just nods in disappointment, something that I could understand.

Suddenly, we heard a loud knock on the door. As soon as Ronald opened it, it was Cecil who came to visit. She is wearing a tucked black turtle necked long sleeve and jeans that are slightly above her waist.

“How’s it going Jonathan?” Cecil said, while carrying a grocery bag of food.

I leaned up properly on my bed, trying to adjust with my wounds. I stretched my shoulders for a bit before replying to her. “Better than yesterday it seems. What brings you here though? Don’t tell me the fruits were from Eleanor alone?”

She went close and took the tray, placing the contents of the food on it. Ronald brought some containers due to the amount of food that she bought along the way. From the size of it, that could be enough for four people at least. She spoke while transferring some soup “Oh, those fruits weren’t from us. It’s from the mother and child that you saved along with several individuals who were touched by your efforts. In the case of Eleanor, she seems distraught over something. I tried talking her out of it but she seems tight lipped.”

“Eleanor shouldn’t be concerned about anything since it’s an accident. It would be best if you make it clear for her,” I replied to Cecil, receiving the bowl of soup as it was placed on top of the tray on my lap. I took spoonful and realized that it was corn, with lamb meat cut into bite sized slices. The taste was so remarkable I gobbled everything up without even realizing the bowl was empty.

Even Ronald seems astonished with the taste and decided to take another bowl at hand. In my case, however, my tray is full of bread, and medium rare steak that is partially cold. I began to munch the meat and the bread alternatively until only the bone remains on my plate.

She gave me a tissue with alcohol smothered all over it to clean my hands as she pulled the tray away from me. Clearing every last bit of stains from my hands, I threw the tissue on a nearby bin beside me.

“Did Eleanor send you?” I asked Cecil, although the answer seems to be obvious.

“Yes and no actually. For starters, she just asked me to check on you since she is having a rehearsal for a new song. The problem here is that I wasn’t supposed to be the one to do it, but rather her father.” Her father? It’s been a while since I’ve heard that word. 

I did see her father before in high school but it’s just a brief interaction as far as I could remember. A tall man with the gesture of a noble. His eyes carry a sense of prudence even though he isn’t a man of the law like what I am now. His Nordic origins would dictate that he is ill tempered, but when I met him, it seems to be quite the opposite. That is when I had a bit of a conundrum if it’s because of his family or he is just what he appears to be.

“It is what it is. Well, my job is already done. I have prepared most of the food here on the table, so feel free to grab some if you could. Do you have any message that you would like me to pass on?”

“Would you please tell Eleanor thanks for the kind gesture?”

“Is that all you want to say? I mean, you two seem like a couple though.” She is assuming things.

“Don’t joke like that. Even if I’d like to be with her, the gap is too far for me to reach. I am yet to make formal advances with the right intentions.” I said to her with a smirk.

“Suit yourself Jonathan. I’ll be leaving, just give us a call if you need anything in particular.” She said leaving the place, being escorted out by Ronald.

Several seconds have passed and Ronald went back to my room, took several stuff from the food Cecil gave, and prepared himself some fruits to match his own personalized meal. He took a chair and sat beside the windows, staring at me while munching. Once again, we are in an awkward position since I do not even recall him the slightest bit. He is an interesting chap but I’m not in the mood for such peculiar jokes.

“I need to get back to my post. Do you have any prescriptions?” I stood up from my bed and stretched for a bit, trying to get a feel on my wound. I removed the gown on top and wore a shirt, while waiting for Ronald’s response.

He placed his food down on his lap and spoke, “I do have one. It’s called proper rest and a sick leave. Also, if you want something for intake, drink Earl Grey to replenish blood.”  

“I meant medicine, Doctor…” I emphasized the word, feeling a bit distraught with his sarcasm. 

“I can give you several doses of opioids if you are desperate. There is also another drug being manufactured that harnesses pain relieving aspects, and it comes in the form of a pill. We apparently have a bottle of its prototype, but we cannot guarantee its effectiveness. Are you willing to be the guinea pig?”

If it grants me more time to be agile than staying at home, then I might as well take the gamble. “One bottle of death’s door please,” I replied to him.

The Doctor completely left his food on the table and got out of the room. After a few minutes of waiting, he came back with a white plastic bottle of unknown origins. Ronald handed over a waiver for me to sign and a sheet for monitoring usage.

“Just sign this, and baby, it’s yours.” This bastard knows how to play with words that I could tell.

I signed it wholeheartedly and packed all of the food that I have from Eleanor and Cecil. With the help of a few nurses in carrying my stuff, I took a cab bound towards the police station. As soon as I arrived I was greeted by several officers checking me if I’m fine. They can immediately notice the paleness of my face under the twitching lights of the main lobby.

“So you’re finally here huh?” As I turned around, I saw Rubik arriving at the same pace I am.

“Yes sir, I have to resume my investigations,” I replied, placing most of my stuff on the floor.

His face crumpled like a grumpy old troll as he stomped his feet on the tiles. “You bastard! You just lost a s**t ton of blood and you come back here as if nothing happened?! I’m giving you the orders to sit your ass down at home or I will whoop you with an iron bar myself you got that lad?!”

His voice echoed all over the precinct as my deviousness was known all across the floors. I was set as the perfect example of an overworking officer, and Rubik doesn’t like that. Amidst his anger and bloody mouth, he is prudent enough to notice what’s wrong and what’s right.

“Yes sire…” I took my stuff and placed it on one of the benches at the lobby. I had the janitor fetch my case files on the desk, taking a bit of a break before filing a proper leave. Rubik continued deep in the offices, giving every single room an earful of remarks. Suddenly, the radio was turned on by the floor guard. As he was browsing for the stations, he stopped on a certain talk show where Eleanor happens to be a guest celebrity.

The static noise was rampant though quite audible amidst the lack of proper tuning. A male host introduced the segment, bursting with enthusiasm. “Welcome to the number one station in the UK, London Times! I’m your host, Kennedy Barr with today’s guest, Eleanor!” The Crowd inside the studio went wild as cheers and claps resonated.

As soon as the energy dwindled down, the Host went along with the interview. “So Eleanor, I heard your performance in the London Theatre was a ball… do you have a source of inspiration for it?” Quite a cheesy question to start off.

She paused for several seconds before answering, “I do. As a matter of fact, I didn’t expect someone to be there to cheer me up.” Whistling sounds could be heard on the background, as the studio viewers are curious with her words.

“Oooohh. Is this someone special?”

“You could say that.” Her tone shifted, as if I could visualize her bashful face while saying it.

The host laughed, teasing Eleanor for a bit. “Care to give hints? Is he on showbizness too?”

“I don’t think he is Kenn. He works as an officer, but that’s the only thing you can squeeze out from me.”

Well, I guess I know who she is referring to. I personally don’t understand why she would show such intentions. Eleanor has everything the world has to offer, I on the other hand chose a path that I cannot be proud of. What I’m doing now is a form of atonement for the sins I’ve done for myself and those around me. Do I deserve such love?  

(To be Continued)