Confidential Scheme 1

Chapter 12: Unobtrusive

Chloe's POV

"He'll be fine, Chloe. Calm down."

"W-what if it's poisoned?" I cried as I remember Lorcan's body fell down the floor.

Minji hugged me. "Sshh, let's trust Lorcan. We know him better than anyone else." She pat me in the back.

Earlier, when that happened, I quickly stood and was about to open the door. When someone opened it for me. It was Minji with Dustin on the back.

They are shook when they saw them. I told them that we need to bring Lorcan to the hospital as fast as we could. Minji and I lift Lorcan up the floor. Dustin on the other lift Gabriel who was unconscious on the floor.

I don't care about him at all. And I probably would kill him if ever but I didn't think of it at the moment because I know Lorcan's lifenis on the line or so it seemed.

Dustin drove off to the nearest hospital. Fortunately there's one near the school. It was like 6 to 10 blocks before it. The moment we get there, nurses lift him to a trolley and brought him to the emergency room.

Minutes later and we still don't have any news from the doctors or any nurses. It's really bothering me. The three of us were sitting on the waiting area. How long will it take? I really hope Lorcan is okay.

Then we heard footsteps coming from behind. When I looked up, the doctor is in front of us. He exposed his face by removing the medical mask.

"Are you Mr. Rim's relatives?" The doctor asked.

"No, but they're on their way here. Please tell us what happened to him." Dustin said.

"Mr. Rim's condition is stable." Oh, god! I thought it was something else.

"But he is still unconscious. Don't worry we're filtering the amount of arsenic from his body. I'm glad that the amount of it isn't that much to cause death but it's definitely the reason why he lose his conciousness."

Arsenic?

"He drank coffee earlier. Must've been because the water he used it's contaminated but we're not sure."

I looked at Dustin after he said that.

"We expect Mr. Rim's family to come and visit him here. I'll go now, I have to check other patients including him." The doctor said.

My eyes followed as he entered back to the Emergency Room. "Why did you lie about that?" I asked Dustin.

He sighed. "He's not a police officer so there's no need to tell him what exactly happened. Also Lorcan would definitely want to hide the situation as well. Remember? We must keep it confidential."

I didn't reply to what Dustin explained. The important thing right now is that we know that Lorcan will be fine. I'm now more comfortable sitting here than a while ago. I am so glad that Lorcan's condition is now stable. I don't know what will I feel if ever something bad happen.

---------------------------------------

"Someone said you were crying earlier when I'm knocked out."

"What? No! Of course not. Why would I do that?" Lorcan is just staring at me.

Two hours after the successful filter removal of the arsenic on his body, he woke up. And to see him open his eyes and talk the usual way, makes me feel good. I wouldn't want anything like this happen again.

"Exactly. Why would you do that?" He asked me.

What do I do? What am I gonna say? Then the opened up. I was so thankful that it did. It exposed Alexander, the student council president and Lorcan's brother.

"No need for that. I'm sure he's not going to stay for long. He'll be out in less than five minutes." Lorcan stopped us when we're going to go outside to give the two privacy they wanted.

But I guess they do not need privacy at all?

"How are you?"

"Did Dad asked you to come in here? 'Cause if he did, you can walk through that door." He pointed out the only door in the room.

"He didn't. I actually didn't tell about what happened to you."

Lorcan looked at his brother with his knitted eyebrows. "Imagine what will he do if I'd tell him this." Alexander added.

Lorcan shook his head. "I didn't ask you to do that. And I don't need you to that. Now can you leave the room at once because I'm sleepy, I need rest."

Alexander just looked at him. He then turned his face directly at me.

"Chloe, may I talk to you please?"

I gulped. I nodded then I followed him went outside the door. While I was walking towards it, I gave Minji and Dustin questioning looks but they it seems like they don't have any idea either.

We stopped near the vending machine meters away from the room.

"I would like to say that I'm sorry and bare with him as long as you could. I know it's hard to tolerate his attitude sometimes but if you can I guess, don't give up on him."

He didn't even stutter. He said those words slowly and precisely. He's not on a rush and I'm glad about that.

"We will not give up on him." I said seconds after he spoke the last word. "But do you mind me asking the relationship between the two of you?"

"I have no beef with him at all. That's really unnecessary. But... he hates me now for a reason and I understand that... very well." The whole time, his eyes were on the ground.

"I assure you that we'll not leave him. We'll be on his side on behalf of you." He them smiled and nodded. He took his way out of the hospital.

The issue between them is still unknown. He can't seem to give the reason as to why Lorcan is distant from him.

He said that he doesn't have any personal issue with his brother but I can't say the same for Lorcan himself.

Is there a deeper reason behind that?

"What did he tell you?" The moment I entered the room, Lorcan asked me immediately.

"He asked about the reason as to why you're hospitalize." I lied.

I mean I don't know if I should lie about what his brother just said. It's not really an important thing. But that's my natural response to the question and I just answered it.

Lorcan did not follow up or added another question. I took a deep breath silently. We should focus now on his full recovery. He's now stable and the poison is now out of his system.

But the doctor said that we should wait for at least a day before he discharge to build up the energy he lost from being poisoned.

"Where's Gabriel?" He asked.

"He's dead. There's actually no trace of arsenic or any other tyopes of poison in his system. The doctor said." Dustin explained.

So that means...

"He only used arsenic in you, Lorcan." Minii said. "The x-ray results revealed that he used needle and put it in the coffee of the victims."

"I knew it. That explains why there's no scent of any types of poisonous substance on the mugs."

"Wait. So you can smell a poison from a cup of coffee, right? Why did you chose the other one instead of the other?" I asked him because I am really curious about it.

"I told you, I knew it. When we're still in the crime scene, Minji revealed that poison is not used indeed. Without poison, what could possibly be the reason why the two victims mouth were bleeding just from drinking a cup of coffee?"

That explains why he chose the one with poison instead of the other. But that could go wrong if ever the amount of arsenic on his coffee is high.

"I'm still alive, Chloe. No need to stress yourself about that." He said later on.

"But...nevermind."

"By the way, Minji. What about the CCTV footages you copied. Did you retrieved the missing parts?"

"I did. And it shows that Gabriel Santi is the killer. It fits the time he entered and went outside the place where the crime happened. The two victims, Dina & Chris were the ones who brought the cups of coffee."

"Where's the copy?"

She then took out something from her bag. She showed a black flashdrive that is the same she brought earlier going to the CCTV room with Dustin.

"It looks like the culprit this time didn't want us to have any troubles identifying who he is. He straight up revealed himself. How bold." Dustin commented.

"Possibly because he had planned to reveal himself in the first place." Lorcan said.

"But why would he do that?" I asked. What kind of criminal who wants to set himself/herself up a crime?

"That's what we need to know." He ended the conversation. "Now, we go back to Michael Writher Case."

What? I thought we have finished that one.

"We haven't heard the full statement he gave during the interrogation yet. We'll pass this to Officer Bernard as soon as possible."

We got interrupted because of the recent case. I almost forgot about that since I'm occupied about what will happen to Lorcan.

Well, that's from earlier and I am satisfied now.

Lorcan asked for his backpack and since he's still ont he hospital bed, Dustin was the one who handed it to him.

We all stood beside Lorcan's hospital bed. Lorcan himself is sitting. He then put the recorder and played it over again. Static noise from the beginning isn't new.

"How are you, Michael?"

"You detained me here, then you'll ask me how I am? What kind of question is that? Get straight to the point!"

"Michael... I just wanted to know why you did that?"

"Did what?"

"kidn*pped Madeline Bayhart."

"What? Do you have any proof that I kidn*pped her?"

"The ARC Club found you in an apartment with Madeline being on the ground tied. How can you eplain that?"

"I didn't kidn*pped anyone. And Madeline, I loved her why would I do that?"

"Loved? So you don't care about her any more?"

"I loved her. That was when we're still going along together. But she did this? She set me up of abusing and k********g her when I don't!"

"Okay. Okay... Michael. Tell me more about it. Why do you think she set you up?"

"I- I don't know. We're still okay the night before it happened. So I was shocked to see her there on the floor tied and later accused me of doing bad to her."

"Madeline was missing for days. She didn't attend any classes or even rehearsals for her opera. Why is that?"

"She said she doesn't want to go to school anymore. That she wanted to have a peaceful life with me. She wanted only the two of us and no other."

"The night before that happened, do you sense something weird about her?"

"No. She was... She was okay. It's just..." Michael seemed to be hesitating to say a word.

"What is it Michael?"

"I knew it. That's why she didn't told me who it was."

"Michael what is it?"

"She is talking to other guy from the phone. I didn't hear it clearly but the guy or whoever he's talking has really... really deep voice."

"Did you check her contacts right after that?"

"N-no, I didn't." Michael seemed to struggle a bit, his voice sound like he has phlegm. "B-but... B-"

We then heard continous coughs definitely coming from Michael.

"Tif...t-ti.. HAH.. huGh"

"Michael? What's happening? Are you alright?" The officer sounded really concerned about the situation.

Then we heard chair and something hit the ground.

"Michael!"

The recorder stopped as soon as we heard the scream.

Although I really wanted to stay with Lorcan on the hospital, I can't. His family driver came and we wanted to give him privacy. Dustin also suggested that we take a rest on our own beds and not in the couch on a hospital room. Minji didn't complain about it as well.

"Chloe, we're here now." I didn't realize that we're already in front of the apartment building where I am staying at.

"Thank you Dustin. Goodbye Minji! Take care."

"Bye. Rest well, Chloe." Minji waved her left hand at me while Dustin nodded. I heard them started the car engine and take their way, once I got inside my apartment.

I really appreciate that they really waited for me to be inside before they leave.

I placed my bag on the one and only couch beside my bed. It's necessary to have a couch in the room not because it's small but because most of the time, I do all the things on my bed.

That's what I'm comfortable to do. I lay down but I'm not gonna sleep yet, I'm just going to rest a bit and get ready for a night shower. I closed my eyes and remembered what happened earlier.

"I am waiting for somebody." Blaze said as I asked him why is he here.

"What about you? Why you in here?"

"Well, one of my friends feel... a bit nauseous that he fainted so we really have to take him here. He's stable now though."

I've got to becareful but what am I going to say. I don't fully trust Blaze but that's not the reason. If Minji didn't even revealed the truth to the doctor then why would I tell it to a person whom I don't know much about?

He nodded. Seconds later, I got a text from Minji saying Lorcan woke up and regained his consciousness.

"Uh, Blaze. I have to go back now. He woke up so..."

"Right. I'll be heading as well to buy fruits."

"See you later." I said and he nodded.

These days, I feel like Blaze always comes around whenever I need someone to talk to. I don't know if it's just coincidence but I think it's more possible than he's following me. I mean, why would he follow me in the first place?

But what I'm more curious about is why is she in here? When I was heading towards Lorcan's room, I saw such a familiar hairstyle so I slowed down and stopped. Then there I saw Addison talking to someone on phone.

That's the only explanation I could think to because her phone are on her ears. I didn't see her face because she was turned away and I can only see her back.

There's no way it's not Addison because it's the same uniform as mine. Same hairstyle. Same bag.

I want to approach and ask how is she these past few days. I haven't talk to her that's why.

I also want to ask, why is she in here?