Beneath the surface

Chapter 4

The girl was carried onto a stretcher and pushed into the of the ambulance. She was bleeding profusely from cuts over her body sustained as a result of the hit.The ambulance took off immediately, heading to the hospital, leaving the police behind.

One of the police men used the crime scene tape to surround the spot where the girl had the accident, warding off the viewers away.

''Please, move backwards, do not step into the crime scene.'' The policeman cautioned. Cameras could be heard clicking as some Policemen took pictures of the scene.

'' What happened here?'' A policeman who appeared to be their leader questioned with a frown.

'' It was a car accident.'' A lady standing close to the policeman replied.

''We were at the spot when she suddenly raised alarm about a girl being hit by car.'' The lady continued, pointing at Ariana who was standing some distance away from the scene, still trying to process everything that happened.

'' Wasn't that Leilani Thompson?'' Another viewer questioned with a gasp pointing at the crime scene stained with blood. The sergeant, who was the leader heard that statement, turning around to look at the person who spoke.

He grabbed a pair of forensic gloves and moved close to the crime scene. He squatted, picking up the victim's bag pack and opening it. He found a bunch of textbooks and other girlish stuff. He opened one of the books and saw the name written on the front page. It was truly Leilani Thompson. His eyes widened in shock. Leilani Thompson was the only child of Roderick Thompson, The CEO of Thompson Holdings which is one of biggest and wealthiest Real Estate companies in America. Leilani being the only child, will be the next CEO of Thompson Holdings.

''What was someone of such status doing, hanging around without body guards?'' He wondered, going through the back pack. He also found her phone, but it was locked.

''Is it really the Thompson's daughter?'' A junior police asked the sergeant. He nodded in affirmative shaking his head. He walked to Ariana who was still standing there, observing all the processes.

''You witness the accident right?'' The sergeant questioned. Ariana was quiet for a while then she nodded.

''I know how exhausting all this can be but we will need your statement at the police station.'' Ariana nodded in reply regretting strolling to the main road. She hated being involved in situations like this. She already had a lot to deal with and wouldn't be pleased to add another problem to the issues on ground. She promised herself she would only spend 15 minutes at the station. The sergeant also agreed to pay for her transport fare.

''I'm sergeant Phillip by the way.'' The sergeant introduced himself. As Sergeant Phillip was talking to Ariana, Ariana's phone suddenly rang. She pulled out the phone to check the caller ID. It was an unknown number. She picked the call, placing the phone beside her right ear.

''Are you Ariana Rodriquez, the grand daughter of Alice Rodriguez?'' The person on the line asked.

''Yes, I am'' Ariana replied with a frown.

''What is the problem? Where did you know my grandma from?'' She questioned back in confusion.

''Well, your grandmother, Alice slumped and is at the hospital.'' Ariana's heart sank upon hearing the news.

''What hospital is she in right now? Is my grandma okay?'' She panicked bombarding the caller with questions. Her hands were shaking as she listened to the address of the hospital. She totally forgot about the car accident and ran across the road without even looking. Cars honking incessantly, causing one of the cars to brake suddenly.

''What the heck!'' The driver yelled at Ariana, popping his head out of the driver's window with rage. Ariana couldn't hear anything. All that was in her mind was the state of her grandma.

''Hey! I didn't get your number!'' Sergeant Phillip called out, but Ariana had already crossed the road and was running up the street, to the delivery car.

''How am I suppose to talk to the witness?'' Sergeant Phillip sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. As he turned his head back to the spot Ariana stood, his eye caught a card on the ground. It was a business card. He picked it up and read it's content.

''Leavers Pizzeria palace?'' He muttered, staring at the street Ariana disappeared into.

******************************************

At the hospital.

The hospital's emergency entrance doors burst open, and a team of paramedics rushed in, pushing a stretcher at a breakneck pace. On it lay a Leilani, her face pale and lifeless, her clothes soaked with blood. The nurses were quick to respond, joining the paramedics as they wheeled her towards the ICU. Her guardian, Dorcas, who monitors her and takes care of Leilani when are parents are away on business trips, ran alongside the stretcher, clutching the Leilani's hand.

Hang in there, Leilani," Dorcas whispered, her voice trembling with fear and hope. The nurses moved with practiced efficiency, their faces set with determination. One nurse, pushing the IV stand, called out vital signs while another held pressure to a deep wound on the victim's abdomen, the bandages already saturated with blood.

The group crashed through double doors into a brightly lit corridor, the wheels of the stretcher clattering against the floor. They reached the ICU, where a team of doctors were already waiting.The doors to the ICU swung open. Dorcas tried to follow them inside as the nurses and doctors pushed the stretcher through, but was stopped by a firm but gentle hand.

I'm sorry, ma'am, you can't go in there," a nurse spoke.

"Please, let me stay with her!" Dorcas cried, trying to push past. But the nurse held her ground, shaking her head.

"We need space to work. She’s in good hands, I promise."

Dorcas, her breath hitching with sobs, pressed herself against the glass door of the ICU, her eyes glued to Leilani. Inside, the scene was a flurry of motion and sound. Monitors beeped incessantly, the flat line on the EKG causing a collective urgency. The doctors quickly assessed the situation, calling out orders.

"Charge the defibrillator to 200 joules!" one doctor shouted, his voice commanding authority. A nurse repeated the command and prepared the defibrillator, the device emitting a series of beeps as it powered up. Another doctor was intubating the patient, while others were establishing additional IV lines and administering medications.

Dorcas watched, her heart pounding in her chest as the nurse placed the defibrillator paddles on the Leilani’s chest.

"Clear!" The doctor called, Dorcas could see her Leilani’s body jolt as the electric shock coursed through her. The heart monitor responded with a momentary spike before returning to a flat line.

"Increase to 300 joules," the doctor instructed, his voice growing tense. Again, the paddles were charged, and again the body jolted, but to no avail. The team switched to manual chest compressions, while another nurse squeezed a bag valve mask rhythmically to provide breaths.

Despite the doctors' efforts, the minutes ticked by without a change. Dorcas hands were pressed against the glass, her face contorted in anguish as she watched. The room was filled with the sounds of medical equipment, the rustle of scrubs, and the doctors' and nurses' urgent voices.

"Administer another dose of epinephrine," the lead doctor ordered. But even as they worked, the tension in the room thickened, a grim realization beginning to settle over the team. After what felt like an eternity, the lead doctor finally stepped back, removing his gloves with a slow, resigned motion.

Time of death, 8:43PM, June 24, 2022.'' he said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow. The monitors were silenced, and the medical team began to step away from the stretcher, their faces reflecting the weight of their loss.