Chapter 4: In the Name of Care

Chapter 4: In the Name of Care

After wrapping up the case meeting, Captain Harper hurried to meet Dr. Turner. It wouldn't do to keep Chief Zheng's esteemed invitee waiting too long.

Approaching the meeting room, Harper overheard a conversation inside.

"Yes, psychology can offer fascinating insights when combined with other fields of study," Dr. Turner was saying. "By the way, Chief Zheng mentioned a case you're handling involving a patient with depression who had suicidal tendencies. Was the individual saved?"

Officer Yan hesitated, "Um... I'm not sure. I'm new here."

Harper couldn't help but smile at her cautious answer. He paused at the door to eavesdrop a bit longer.

Realizing he wouldn't glean much more, Dr. Turner made light conversation, "It's quite rare to see a woman in the detective unit."

Officer Yan replied, "Ah, yes, working in Homicide has always been my dream."

Dr. Turner acknowledged, "I apologize for my stereotype—it's wrong to assume based on gender. If I've offended you, I am sincerely sorry."

"No, not at all," Officer Yan hastened to reassure.

This was Harper's cue to enter, feigning the weariness of his responsibilities.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Dr. Turner."

"It's okay, I haven't been here long," Dr. Turner responded gracefully.

"Apologies for taking up your morning with all the department's urgencies. I owe you a meal," Harper said, full of apparent regret.

Then addressing Officer Yan, he casually ordered, "Yan, prepare to take the statement."

"Yes, Captain," she replied promptly.

Turning to Dr. Turner, Harper maintained his polite demeanor, "Dr. Turner, can you give me a brief on Mike Evanston's condition? Or do we need to check his medical records at the hospital?"

Dr. Turner professionally summarized, "After Mike called me this morning, I had his records sent over. I've reviewed them again just now. On March 6, I first treated Mike, diagnosing him with moderate depression and anxiety, which seemed to be worsening. I advised medication and a reassessment in a week, with consideration for possible hospitalization."

"May I get a copy of his records?" Harper requested.

"Certainly. Shall I send them to you via message? I only have the electronic records. Lab reports will require a visit to the hospital system tomorrow," Dr. Turner offered.

"Message will be fine," Harper agreed, taking the opportunity to add Dr. Turner on the messaging app. He couldn't help but smile at the doctor's profile picture—a classic floral landscape, reminiscent of the kind his parents' generation favored.

"Thank you. I'll drop by the hospital for the rest of the documents. You suggested hospitalization for Mike?" Harper further inquired.

"I did, but he refused." Dr. Turner sighed, "Upon pressing, I learned about his financial difficulties; he didn't want to spend more on treatment."

This aligned with Harper's own understanding of the boy's family situation. "So you continued his medication?"

Dr. Turner nodded, "Yes, on March 13, I asked him to see me at 6 PM after my shift for a counseling session, hoping to assess whether we could manage his condition with medication and therapy instead of hospitalization."

"Another round of volunteering?" Harper couldn't help asking.

"It might seem so. After my shift, I'd rather help if I can," Dr. Turner said.

Harper thought the doctor epitomized 'cold outside, warm inside.' It was heartening to know that this seemingly distant professional was ready to volunteer help so readily.

Seeing through Harper's thoughts, Dr. Turner shared, "During my research, I've encountered many cases of illness-driven suicide. The loss of such young lives is always tragic. I often wish I could turn back time to offer support."

Harper reflected inwardly, both their professions frequently contended with death, but where the doctor fought to snatch life from its jaws, the detective sought to ensure the dead received justice and truth.

"And the counseling? How did it go?" Harper inquired.

"Counseling needs continuity—usually a few months with at least eight sessions," Dr. Turner explained. "We only had two before Mike... Well, I can't claim it was ineffective because the full course wasn't completed, but I must admit, it was a failure on my part."

Harper offered reassuring words, "In severe mental illness cases, even temporary reprieves are remarkable. Even the best doctors aren't miracle workers."

"Thank you," Dr. Turner appreciated the sentiment, then cited a quote from Dr. Trudeau, endorsing the dual goals of treatment and comfort.

Harper paused, slightly surprised by Dr. Turner's literary reference, finding it aptly descriptive of the compassionate approach the doctor pursued.

After a meeting enriched with critical information, Captain Harper promptly proceeded to where Dr. Turner awaited. Time was precious, especially for the expert personally requested by Chief Zheng.

Right at the meeting room's threshold, Harper caught the tail of an ongoing conversation.

"Yes, psychology often overlaps with other studies, igniting wonderful sparks of discovery," Dr. Turner was saying. "I heard from Chief Zheng about a case on your desk; a depressive patient with suicidal ideation. Was the person saved?"

Officer Yan, slightly flustered, managed, "Uh... I'm not certain, I just started here."

Harper silently commended the newcomer's tact, choosing to linger at the door to 'overhear' a bit more.

It seemed Dr. Turner realized he wouldn't extract much from her and ventured into casual chat, "It's somewhat rare for a woman to be in the detective squad."

"Yes, it's always been my aspiration to work in Homicide," Yan confessed.

Upon the mention of 'dreams,' Dr. Turner quickly remedied, "Forgive my preconceptions, and if I've somehow offended you, I apologize."

"No offense taken," Yan assured, waving off the suggestion.

Choosing this moment, Harper breezed in, adopting an air of just-concluded labor.

"Apologies for the wait, Dr. Turner."

"It's alright, wasn't waiting long," Dr. Turner replied amiably.

"Really sorry to have occupied your morning with departmental issues. Let me make it up to you by inviting you for a meal another time," Harper offered with palpable contrition.

Turning business-like to Officer Yan, he instructed, "Yan, please take notes."

"Yes, Captain," she responded, ready to document.

Harper, maintaining his courteous approach towards Dr. Turner, inquired, "Could you tell me about Mike Evanston's condition, or shall we pull the medical records from the hospital?"

Dr. Turner relayed his professional assessment, "Following Mike's call this morning, I had his records sent over. On March 6, during our initial consultation, I diagnosed moderate depression with ascending anxiety. I insisted on medication with a follow-up and proposed possible hospitalization."

"Would you mind sharing his records with me?" Harper requested.

"I can surely send them via message; the physical reports can be accessed at the hospital system tomorrow," Dr. Turner consented.

"Message will be just fine," acknowledged Harper, and quickly added Dr. Turner on the messaging platform, noting the somewhat old-fashioned, serene profile picture.

"Appreciate it. I'll visit the hospital for other reports. Did you suggest hospitalization for Mike?" Harper dug deeper.

"Yes, but he refused," Dr. Turner sighed, "I pressed and found out his financial strain; he didn't wish to incur further treatment cost."

Aligning with the family's financial constraints Harper was aware of, he continued, "So you just prescribed meds?"

"On March 13th, for our second consult, I asked him to visit at 6 PM post-work for psychotherapy, considering it alongside medication instead of admitting him," Turner explained.

"Was that also unpaid?" Harper probed.

"In a manner of speaking. After hours, I prefer aiding where I can," Turner averred.

To Harper, Dr. Turner was the embodiment of 'cold outside but warm inside.' Initially distant, yet here was someone willing to volunteer his services. Catching the semblance of Harper's thoughts, Turner spoke earnestly of his intent to help.

"On that note," Harper shifted gears, "You must've discussed quite a bit of personal history during counseling. Did anything come up that might have triggered these drastic thoughts?"

Turner nodded gravely, recounting Mike's troubling family experiences—the ongoing domestic violence culminating in acts of sexual assault perpetrated by his father—and grandfather, the latter being a fresh revelation to Harper.

Dr. Turner maintained his professionalism despite the heinous nature of the revelations, while Officer Yan, momentarily overcome by the gravity of the situation, openly expressed revulsion. But Harper was quick to usher focus back on the task.

During the pressing interrogation, Dr. Turner divulged Mike's past initiatives to report the crimes and the subsequent failure of legal action, which forced him into silence, with direful consequences.

Harper absorbed this grave information with a placid facade, thanking Dr. Turner for his cooperation and encouraging any further recollections pertaining to the case.

As Turner pondered on Mike's prognosis, his concerns meshed with details of Mike's mother planning a trip back to her hometown, aligning with Harper's investigative follow-ups, which had hit a phone-off-wall.

Upon gaining a clear picture, Harper sought to validate specific dates pertinent to Mike's mother's movements and learned she hailed from the same hometown Mike had spoken of—the ongoing investigation seemed to have unearthed a labyrinth of secrets and sorrow.

With Harper's demeanor noticeably taut with newfound understanding, the conversation with Dr. Turner pointed towards the tragic reflections mirrored within the files of Southern Cloud District, ultimately mingling with the history of Yang's Village in J City.