Asking around about Brianna Cordova

That day Allen Denver went to interrogate Brianna Cordova was a disaster. The lady insisted that Bianca was alive and that she did not trust Allen Denver's words.

She went hysterical that the doctors had to put her to sleep again, and warned the detective, "Please, detective, can we postpone the interrogation until the patient is completely healed?! Even a little stress can strain her eyes and they might bleed again!"

Allen had no choice but to retreat. Going back to his office, the chief of their department came to him demanding progress, but however much he explained that the case was halted because the main suspect's welfare was at stake, the chief's bald head couldn't understand him.

"What's happening to you?! You used to yield results in just a week of investigation, but it's been a month already! The Bureau of Corrections is grinding us for results! They've been receiving petitions to move the inmates to another state prison! And threats are flying everywhere! Give me a proper result the next time you come, Denver!"

That was the first time Allen Denver was yelled at by their chief. Even the others in the room who witnessed that spectacle expressed disbelief and pity to him.

He threw the murder book on the desk and loosened his tie quite aggressively. He always comes to work in proper attire. A two-piece black suit over a white long-sleeved shirt and gray necktie, and a black trench coat over to maintain a perception of authority and competency.

However, that appearance didn't work as Brianna Cordova couldn't see yet.

Allen's always neat look was ruined by his frustration over the recent matter. Even his stony and emotionless visage was broken when he remembered what the woman kept insisting.

Bianca Acosta was alive?

He would have believed that if he hadn't seen the mutilated body himself. If he showed the photos of the crime scene to Brianna, would she stop pretending and answer him seriously?

Allen ran his hand over his face and sighed exasperatedly. He muttered with great annoyance, "She can't see right now…dammit. How long do I have to wait?"

He leaned on the edge of his desk and began sorting through documents.

Allen exuded a chilling aura as he sifted through the records, so no one dared to approach him. All of a sudden, his head perked up. His slanted sharp eyes slightly widened in realization.

"Ian Merlin, come with me," Allen Denver ordered as he took his coat again. He threw the record book to his junior and dashed out as he wore his coat.

They went back to the hospital.

Hospitalized inmates are always placed inside a room with cameras to monitor them. Allen decided to check the footage in the control room.

"What are we checking, sir?" Ian asked, quite baffled by the hurried actions of his senior.

Allen ignored him. He talked to the personnel in charge of the unit and explained what he wanted to look at.

The personnel then began scrolling through the recorded videos of the day Brianna first regained consciousness.

Allen and Ian stood behind the personnel as they watched the footage.

After a while, Ian hugged himself and mumbled fearfully, "Shit. I'm having goosebumps."

Allen didn't speak. He just focused on the woman's lips, trying to make out of what she was mumbling to herself. 

The video was as clear as the movie. Brianna turned to the part where the door was, which the camera didn't cover. However, no one entered. 

The woman's lips then began moving, as though she was speaking to something. Then, after a few minutes, she strangled herself but kept struggling as if the one who was choking her wasn't herself.

Then, it showed Allen running to the bed, yanking Brianna's arms and locking them on the bed.

"This video could be proof that she really is mentally unstable, sir. But if we submit this, then wouldn't we basically be telling them that she was the culprit, and committed the murder with an unsound mind?"

Ian crumpled his face after thinking of something. "The pressure in our department was putting everyone on edge because of the chief's cranky behavior. He might submit this to the Bureau of Corrections to prove our progress, but they might take it the wrong way."

Allen glanced at Ian and asked, "Do you believe that she didn't do it?"

Ian Merlin hesitantly nodded, "I went over the records again. Even the medical ones on the list of possible suspects. Among them, I focused on Cordova's medical history. She was constantly in the infirmary for always fainting. Aside from that, her weight and figure won't be able to cut a bone skillfully with just a butcher knife. Ugh, just remembering the crime scene really churns my stomach."

"That's true. But the purpose of watching this video wasn't to submit it as evidence. It's so I can prove to her that she was talking nonsense," Allen turned to the personnel. "Can you make me a copy of that? Please send it here."

He jotted down his email address and left.

Ian followed him behind. "What do you mean, sir?"

"She was insisting that Bianca Acosta was alive. It might be because of her medicines that she started to hallucinate. However, according to the inmates' statements, the two weren't in a good relationship. So, why of all people, would she hallucinate of that woman?" Allen remarked.

He glanced at the closed door which two police were guarding, "She was hiding something. Let's start with finding that out."

The two went to the Women's State Penitentiary and asked for the inmates who shared the cell with Brianna. The last time they interviewed the inmates, they asked questions about Bianca's behavior and routines.

Now, they were back to ask about Brianna.

Allen sat next to Ian on a four-seater table while waiting for the interviewee of the day. Soon after, a largely built woman with buzzcut hair and piercings on her ears entered with a female officer.

She sat opposite them with a lowered head.

Ian cleared his throat and began, "I'm here again to ask you about Brianna Cordova this time. Please, answer our questions honestly."

Melissa lifted her head, and asked with eyes bulging, "Did she really do it, officer? I heard the body is in pieces…eek! I'm having goosebumps. I can't believe I bullied the person! What if she comes back and takes revenge on me?"

"It's not yet confirmed. Let's not jump to conclusions," Allen strictly muttered. He hated it when someone was being wrongfully accused. If Brianna was the culprit, then he must gather absolute evidence to indict her. Until then, spreading the notion that she was the killer would be unfair.

Ian tapped his hand on the table and stole Melissa's attention. He began asking her, "How did Brianna was when she first arrived here?"