THE MURDERER

A white benz drove into the hospital premises and parked in an empty space in the parking lot.

A security guard rushed to stand beside the car, waiting for the person in the car to come out.

After a few moments of waiting, a young woman alighted the car, and a black handbag hung on her left arm.

She was looking quite presentable and beautiful with her blonde hair neatly combed to the back. She was wearing a black pencil skirt and a white button-up shirt with a black blazer and black short heels.

A smile spread out on her face when she caught sight of the security guard waiting for her.

"Doctor Abby, good morning." He greeted cheerfully, smiling back at her.

"Good morning, Mark. How was your night?" She asked, locking her car.

"Amazing. You look beautiful this morning, Dr. Abby." He complimented.

"Oh, please." She blushed. "I always look like this every morning. Nothing special."

"Well, you still look beautiful. Let me help with the bag."

"No, no." She objected, taking her bag out of his reach. "You don't have to, Mark."

Mark always does this whenever she comes around every morning to work. He would help her with her bag to her office and whenever she tries to give him money for the kind gesture, he would reject it.

"Please don't reject my offer. Let me help." He said pleadingly.

"You don't have to," She repeated in a murmur.

"I want to." He insisted.

Abigail let out a sigh of defeat and handed over her handbag to him.

"Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you. You haven't told me why you always do this." She said as they began walking towards the entrance of the large and buzzing hospital.

"You are a nice person, Dr. Abby."

"Am I?"

He gave her the 'are you seriously asking me that?' look.

Abigail chuckled. "I am not the only nice person in this hospital, Mark."

"I know. But still, you were the one who paid for my wife's medical bills and took care of her. I am forever indebted to you."

"Wait, are you doing all this because of that?" She sounded surprised.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Come on, Mark. This event you are talking about happened three years ago."

"It did. But because of that single heart of kindness from you, she is very much alive and well as we speak now. I should be grateful, right?"

"You already showed me enough gratitude throughout the years. You don't have to keep doing this, seriously."

Mark did not say anything.

🗣Good morning, Dr. Abby.

🗣Good morning, Dr. Abby.

🗣Good morning, Dr. Abby.

Nurses, doctors, security guards, and even patients greeted her as she and Mark walked past them.

She made sure to reply each and every one of them with a smile.

"You see, everyone loves you, Dr. Abby." Mark noted.

They both entered the elevator, going to the sixth floor.

🗣Good morning, Dr. Abby!" Those in the elevator greeted.

"Good morning." She replied them.

Abigail Inocencio popularly known as Dr. Abby has been working for Santos Hospital for the past four years.

She is loved, respected, and honored by her fellow colleagues, security guards, and patients.

Abby doesn't know what she has done to receive such warmth and love from them. All she ever did was do her job and make sure none of her patients die under her watch.

However, she doesn't want to be ungrateful to them for their love and care toward her so she always makes sure to match their positive vibe and appreciated them as much as they appreciated her.

The elevator ride came to a stop on the sixth floor.

"I will take it from here," She told Mark and quickly collected her handbag before he could refuse.

"Dr_"

"Thank you for your assistance," She cut him off immediately. "you can go back to your duty post."

Mark hesitated before smiling and bowing his head a little.

"See you around, ma'am."

The elevator's door slid shut.

Abigail let out a deep breath and started walking the distance to her office.

As much as she love how everyone treated her nicely in the hospital, she won't deny how exhausting it felt to be the center of attention all the time.

She is only doing her job as a doctor for Pete's sake! Why should she be worshipped and served like God for that? Besides, she is not the only doctor who saves lives in Santos hospital. Or is she?

Sometimes she wonders if they truly love her like they proclaim or if she is even worth the whole praises and affection.

Abby got to her office and turned the doorknob, pushing the white wooden door that has 'Doctor Abigail Inocencio' crafted on it open.

She stepped inside the large and well-furnished office.

She felt the warmth that brought a small smile to her face as she entered.

Her office has the scent of her - her favorite body deodorant that smelled like vanilla and rosemary.

Abby shrugged off the black blazer she had on and hung it on the coat rack, she dropped her handbag on a white table behind the desk and heaved out another deep breath, running her fingers through her blonde hair.

She attempted to walk to the chair and sit down when she heard a knock on the door.

"Oh, God." She groaned, knowing who it was already. "Come in."

The door flung open and a young man in his early thirties stepped in, wearing black trousers, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a white doctor's coat.

"Good morning, Dr. Abby." He greeted warmly, giving out a fake smile.

"Good morning, Dr. Marshall." She responded, forcing a smile onto her face.

"I can see you are just resuming for the day." He looked around and settled his gaze on the wall clock. "You are late."

"Two minutes late." She pointed out.

"That's no different. You are still late."

"So what are you going to do, report me to the higher up?" She rolled her eyes.

"I get where your confidence is coming from, Dr. Abby." He stepped closer to her. "You feel mighty and powerful simply because you are loved and respected in the hospital, isn't that right?"

Not everyone is entitled to love and respect her. Just as she was loved, she was also hated and badmouthed. Such is life. Some people will love while some will hate and some won't give a shit about you at all. No one owes any explanation to anybody. Everyone is allowed to feel and express their emotion as they think best suit them. You can not satisfy everyone just as everyone can not satisfy you.

Marshall was one of the few persons in the hospital that hated Abigail for no reason.

Oh, wait. There is a reason; Jealousy.

While Abigail takes the spotlight, Marshall and some other doctors take up the backstage. It is normal that she gets hate from her colleagues for that. She understands their plight and fury but hating her like this and always picking at whatever she does isn't the best way to take authority or the spotlight from her.

Not to brag or anything, but Abigail still remains the best of the best in Santos Hospital.

"Think whatever you want, Dr. Marshall. I don't care. I have better things to do this morning." She grabbed her doctor's coat and wore it.

"Listen, Dr. Abby. One day... just one day, things are going to turn bad for you."

She creased her brows. "Is that a threat?"

He simply shrugged and left her office, humming to an unknown tune.

Abigail stared at the closed door for a moment before shaking off negative thoughts from her head. She doesn't want to start up her day bearing the thoughts of Marshall and his hateful words toward her.

He isn't worth her time for he will always be a hater who has nothing good to offer her.

•••••

Emma entered the station, filled with criminals, people who came over to drop complaints, and her colleagues.

The station is always a busy place so the commotion around was nothing new to her. In fact, it was better than some other days.

She approached her partner who was attending to a group of five male students and an elderly woman.

"Good morning, Robert." She greeted him.

He gazed up at her, looking so tired and frustrated.

His black hair fell to his face, covering a part of his eyes. His pink lips were partly open and he had his fist balled. It was obvious he didn't have a good night's sleep and whatever case he was handling now was annoying the hell out of him.

Emma won't deny how attractive he looks this morning but now is not the right time to lust over her partner who she has been working with for four years.

"Good morning," He mumbled in response.

🗣Don't tell me that, you lying old woman!

🗣Did you just insult me? Say it again, I dare you.

🗣What are you going to do? Tell me!

The group of boys and the elderly woman kept arguing, raining insults at each other.

"Want a cup of coffee?" Emma offered.

Robert hurriedly stood up from his seat. "Yes, please."

They both left them and went to make coffee for themselves.

"How was your night?" He asked her.

"Good." She studied his face. "I can't ask you the same. You obviously didn't have a good night's sleep."

He ruffled his hair. "Do I look that bad?"

"Well,"

"Don't say it. I know I look bad." He grunted, cutting her off.

Emma thought the opposite, actually. He was looking so hot and sexy this morning but she was never going to tell him that.

It will make her sound weird and obsessive and that is the last thing she wants her partner to think about her.

She stayed quiet, watching him closely.

"I had a night shift, that's why. Gosh. I'm so tired and these people," He gestured at his clients. "are making matters worst for me."

"What is the case?" Emma asked, handing him a cup of coffee and then started making one for herself.

He sighed. "According to the woman, the students came to her shop to steal but the boys are denying it."

"I see..." Emma studied them from a distance. "Do you want me to handle the case for you?"

"Can you do that for me?"

"Mm-hmm. We are partners, remember?"

He smiled. "Thank you."

"Go and take a nap, okay?" She grabbed the cup of coffee she made for herself and walked toward the arguing civilians.

"Good morning, peeps." She greeted, sitting down on the chair Robert was once sitting on.

They stared at her for a moment and then continued arguing over again, ignoring her completely.

"Ma'am...boys...uhm, can you listen to me, please? Guys..."

No answer.

Emma gulped down the whole coffee in the paper cup, crushed the cup, and threw it in the trash can beside the desk.

She inhaled and exhaled before standing up to her feet and slammed her fist on the desk loud enough for everyone in the spacious room to hear.

The whole place fell silent as all eyes were now fixed on her.

"Emma being Emma. Always have a way of grabbing everyone's attention and putting the place to order." One of her colleagues muttered, smiling to himself.

She gave out a sweet smile to the confused faces staring at her and sat back down on the chair.

"I'm glad to have your attention now. I was almost forced to draw out my gun but I don't want to scare poor civilians like you all." She said to the woman and boys. "I will be the one in charge of the case. Now, who cares to go first to explain to me what happened?"

"I will," The woman stated.

"Sure. Go on, I'm all ears." Emma said.

"Thank you." She cleared her throat. "This morning I was in my shop when these boys came over to get some things. I thought they were just regular customers not knowing they were thieves."

"We are not thieves. We didn't steal anything!" One of the boys retorted.

"Don't talk unless I point at you, do I make myself clear?" Emma questioned.

"Yes, ma'am." The boys muttered.

"Good. You," She pointed at the boy who retorted at the woman. "What happened?"

"We really went over to buy something from her shop but we didn't steal it. We were going to pay." He said.

"Is that so?" Emma's eyes settled on one of the boys who had his head lowered, he was trembling. "You,"

He didn't answer.

"The boy with the glasses on," She called out.

He slowly looked up at her.

"What happened?" She asked him.

"I... I..." He gulped nervously.

"He is just scared." Another boy stated, glaring at the boy on glasses.

"Scared about what exactly?"

"About the whole thing happening. This woman is trying to set us up for a crime we did not commit." He said.

Emma moved her gaze back to the woman.

"What makes you think they were going to steal?" She queried.

"After taking what they wanted, they tried to leave my shop without paying. I quickly notify those who had shops alongside mine and they help called the police while holding these boys captive so they wouldn't escape." She explained.

"Okay." Emma heaved out a breath and eased back into the seat. "Why did you steal?"

The boys' eyes widened. "Are you going to believe her? We are students, why should we steal from a mere shop?"

"Exactly. You are students so why are you not in school?'

They didn't say anything.

"You with the glasses, are you not going to talk?"

No response.

"Alright then. I guess you will all have to stay in jail until your parents come over to_"

"Please, detective," The boy with glasses fell to his knees. "You can't call my parents. They will kill me if they found out about this."

"Then tell me the truth, what happened?"

He hesitated, ignoring the gazes of his friends who were giving him the 'don't say anything' look.

"She is telling the truth." He admitted.

"Oh, shit!" His friends cursed loudly, sighing in defeat.

Emma smiled and nodded her head.

"You're all going to write down your statements. I will tell the truth now if I were you," She said to the other four boys, coming up to her feet. "Come with me to the detention hall."

"Wait, I thought you are going to release us if we tell the truth?" The one on glasses asked.

"Of course not," She chuckled. "Your parents still need to come over to get you. Sorry, that's the protocol for minors."

"Bu...but you said..."

"I never said I will let you all go if you tell the truth, did I?" She slightly shrugged and started walking away.

"You've been scammed by a detective. Good job, d*ckhead." One of the boys hissed.