Kindred Hearts

CHAPTER 2 SURPRISING TWIST

CHAPTER 2

SURPRISING TWIST

Lisa’s hands shook while gripping the paper as the words on the page sank in.

I know what happened in the past and you need to pay. You believe you helped people as a nurse, but you failed them all. You’re not as great as you think you are, and all you deserve is punishment. You as a nurse is simply an illusion, a facade, a fabrication of your life that moulds you like others, but you are not like others. You are not who you proclaim to be. You are a fraud, a fake, and you simply cannot go on the way you have been. You’ll be taught a series of lessons by me and, hopefully, by the end of it, you will learn. If not, then a surprising twist will come your way. No-one can get away with what you did and still live freely. You should be imprisoned and maimed. You do not deserve to live. If I were you, I’d be looking over my shoulder from now on. Nowhere you go will be safe. No more haven for you. You’ll be watched, scrutinised and punished as the wretched woman you are. Watch your back! Doomsday is coming!!

She put down the letter and swallowed. With a hand on her chin, she wondered who could write such a thing. She didn’t make any mistakes as a nurse. How was she a fraud and fake, and how was she not like others?

She wondered what to do next. It was probably just a prank from someone who was ill. One of those fraud scams that threaten people to get money. Surely she could simply ignore it and move on. There was no point in going to the police as this was probably a one-off letter. She’d wait and see before letting panic get the better of her. She’d be reasonable and calm about this. She didn’t want to call her friends and worry them. The letter had to be someone getting their jollies by scaring people, surely?

With a nod of the head, she decided to leave it alone. She headed inside and tossed the bills and the letter on the coffee table. As she sank onto the couch, she found a channel playing a romantic comedy, but her mind wasn’t on the movie. Her thoughts scattered around her friend Julie. Two years ago, Julie was almost killed by a stalker. The same stalker who had killed Julie’s friend Jane. Lisa helped Julie investigate Jane’s death. The stalker had been involved in corporate fraud and corruption within the recruitment agency Jane worked at just before her death. The crazy man had been arrested and sentenced to serve over twenty years in prison.

Could the letter be part of something serious like the threats Julie received? No, it had to be a prank.

The phone rang. With a jolt, she rushed for the phone and answered it.

“Lisa, it’s Julie. How are you doing, girl?”

She gave herself a few seconds before replying. “Fine, gorgeous. How’s that lovely husband of yours?”

Julie giggled, apparently still in the honeymoon phase after marrying Daniel a few months ago. “He’s amazing. Married life is great. You should try it.”

Lisa shook her head with a hint of a smile. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

“Listen. Daniel’s worried about Johnson. His mother’s been very sick, but she refuses to go to the hospital. Any chance you might pay him a visit and cheer him up? Maybe convince his mother to continue with her treatment.”

Lisa swallowed her nervousness. She and Johnson, Daniel’s friend, had met when Lisa was helping Julie investigate their friend, Jane’s death. They’d become close friends. “I don’t know, Julie. Maybe he wouldn’t appreciate me getting involved. You know how proud he is.”

“I guess he is, but Daniel thinks you’ve always been able to cheer him up. Maybe just a quick visit.”

Lisa wanted to see Johnson again. He was her friend, after all. If her friend needed her, how could she say no? “Alright. I’ll try to visit him tomorrow night. Should I ring first?”

“No, just drop in. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

They said their goodbyes and ended the call. Lisa had never met Johnson’s mother but, from what Johnson had mentioned about her, she’d been sick and depressed all of his life. His father had left them when he was five, and it’d only been him and his mother for all these years.

She glanced at the pile of mail on the table. Lisa had more important things to worry about than a silly joke of a letter.