Nurse Mika
Marco
"Yes, sir," he replied. "She's easy to find since she's the only nurse named Mika in the hospital. And when I checked the records, I saw that she was also the nurse assigned to Ma'am Ashlyn when you first brought her in."
"And she was found dead just this morning?" I asked, my voice quieter than I expected. He nodded solemnly, his lips pressing into a thin line. My fingers tightened around my phone as I pulled up the message Mika had sent me earlier today, the bright screen feeling almost unnatural against the dark cloud forming in my mind.
"That's impossible, sir!" Andy exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. He fumbled with the folder he held, practically shoving it into my hands. "I even paid off the investigator handling this case to get access to classified information," he added, a hint of pride laced with concern in his tone.
I wasn’t surprised by his methods. Andy had always been willing to bend the rules, but I knew he never crossed the line into outright corruption. He found loopholes, used his resources effectively, and worked around obstacles in ways I couldn’t argue with. He did things his way whenever I was desperate for an answer, just like today.
Flipping through the report, I skimmed the key details. Mika had been hit by a truck early this morning. The driver, apprehended shortly after, had confessed to falling asleep at the wheel. He had been on a long-haul drive, exhausted beyond reason, and by the time he realized he had veered into her path, it was too late.
Despite the logical explanation, a strange feeling crept up my spine, the kind that whispers when something is terribly, inexplicably wrong. I barely knew Mika. There was no reason for me to be this unsettled by her death, yet here I was, unable to shake the unease slithering into my thoughts.
"Look deeper into her case," I ordered, shutting the folder with a snap. "Something doesn’t add up. I don’t know Nurse Mika personally, but I can’t ignore the feeling that her death isn’t just an accident."
Andy hesitated. "Why, sir?"
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know... It just doesn’t sit right with me. She’s already dead, yet I still received a message from her today. Isn't that a big loophole? A big question mark that needs to be answered?
Giving this information to the police would be the best option, but something in me prevents me from doing so.
What if there was someone behind her death and telling the police about the text message I received from nurse Mika might cause trouble for me and my company?
It's not that I'm selfish. However, I decided to find out more about the incident before handing the police all the necessary information to help them solve the case. I need to know more about the driver because he already surrendered himself and admitted guilt.
Andy furrowed his brows. "That doesn’t make sense. I’ll check her belongings to see if her phone was recovered at the scene. Maybe someone else sent that message."
"Good," I said, nodding. "Also, shift all your minor tasks to one of the secretaries and focus entirely on Mika's case. I want to know everything. Her life, routine, and secrets."
Andy nodded but hesitated before speaking again. "Actually, sir… wouldn't it be better to hire a professional detective for this? Someone who knows how to dig deeper without attracting unnecessary attention?"
He was right. "Fine. Find someone competent. And while you're at it, investigate the truck driver, too. I want to know everything about him. His record, his habits, everything."
My assistant gave me a firm nod before I dismissed him. Left alone with my thoughts, I sat motionless, staring at the folder in my hands. Something about Mika’s death gnawed at me, but instead of dwelling on it, I decided to head home. Maybe seeing Ashley would help clear my mind.
When I arrived, the warm glow of the house lights greeted me, casting soft shadows across the walls. Ashlyn met me at the door as I stepped inside, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Hi! You're home early!" she greeted.
"Yeah, something came up," I murmured, my mind still tangled in thoughts of Mika. I stepped into the living room and sank onto the couch, my gaze lingering on her longer than usual.
She frowned slightly, tilting her head. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
I shrugged. "I was just thinking... Maybe you're getting bored staying home all the time."
Her doctor had instructed strict bed rest. No outings, no work. She seemed stronger now, though, the delicate curve of her stomach just barely noticeable. Most wouldn't see the change, but I did.
She smiled softly. "I'm fine. I already told you that if the Lord blesses us with a child, I'll dedicate myself fully to our family."
I returned her smile, but something inside me twisted. Her words should have filled me with joy, yet they didn’t. The truth was, my heart belonged to someone else now.
And then, a realization struck me.
Where was Ashley?
The thought came so suddenly that I nearly startled myself. The name had slipped into my mind before I could stop it. I cleared my throat and pushed off the couch.
"I'll head upstairs to change," I said abruptly, not waiting for her response.
In the shower, my mind drifted back to Mika. Why did I receive that text? Was it scheduled? But why would she do that? If it was urgent, she should have informed me earlier. And if it was truly an emergency, why would she schedule a message instead of sending it immediately?
Something wasn’t right.
After my shower, I stepped into the walk-in closet, reaching for a fresh shirt, when my eyes landed on something out of place.
A cellphone.
It wasn’t Ashlyn’s usual device. It sat tucked between her handbags, barely noticeable unless you were looking closely.
I reached for it, turning it over in my palm. The sleek black casing was unfamiliar.
A chill ran down my spine. Something about this phone felt... wrong.
Without a second thought, I dialed Mika’s number.