Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Donovan stormed the Central Ward where Natasha, the mystery lady, had been placed under emergency medical surveillance in a bid to salvage her. His arrival at the ward was not without an entourage of cops who sieged the ward in their numbers and hoped to man the precinct from the roaming wolf and other intruders. 

The Central Ward was a special medical centre located uptown, a short drive away from the city’s metropolis. The ward was reserved exclusively for emergencies and exigencies of crime services; thus, it was no surprise that Natasha had been rushed down to the Ward for urgent medical care. Without wasting time, the cops took positions and stood guard at different strategic points of the ward. They jogged around towards different strategic posts assigned to them with much urgency while Donovan and Miriam strode calmly across the space leading towards the doctor's lab. The atmosphere was tensed and medical activities within the ward seemed fragile—a slight error could have a domino effect on medical proceedings. The ward’s vicinity bustled with busy medical personnel who paced about with caution.

‘’Inspector Miriam,” a feminine voice called from a distance behind as though to wade into the tensed chat between the duo.

The voice drew attention from Miriam and Donovan who turned back to have a look at the woman advancing. She was a busy-looking woman in a knee-length white coat and navy-blue suit pant. She should be roughly on the wrong side of 50. Flanked by two nurses on either side, she advanced with much urgency at the heel of her black leather shoes. Stopping dead in her tracks, Miriam’s face beamed with anxiety and expectation as she discovered it was Doctor Leah who had beckoned.

‘’Glad to have you around, inspector,’’ Leah remarked, drawing a tight-lipped smile while scurrying towards Miriam to catch up. She waved the two nurses out of sight to continue in their tracks.

‘’I’ve got some news, ma’am,’’ Leah continued, this time, making a straight face, thereby raising the duo’s curiosity more. ‘’The victim in question suffered a great deal of compression to her larynx down to the trachea. The compression impeded her speech and drained her energy.’’

‘’where’s she now?’’ Donovan asked concerned and anxious for an answer.

Leah smiled assuringly. ‘’She is well under the oxygen concentrator and recuperating really fast. Rest assured the victim will be fine in due time.’’

Discontent by the doctor's reply, Donovan attempted to raise more questions out of sheer curiosity but for the Miriam who waded in and cut him short.

‘’Thank you for the assurance, Dr. Leah. We have our fingers to have the victim back in our custody soonest,’’ Miriam cut in. ‘’...And I hope you understand how crucial that lady is to our investigations of Senator Kasidy's murder?''

Miriam drew closer to Leah, closing up the close between them and placed her hand on her shoulder.

''This matter is of importance to the state,'' Miriam whispered to Leah and set her gaze upon the doctor's face as if to drive words into her. ''Ensure you save that Lady....Doctor Leah.''

Leah swallowed hard and caught her breath as she sighted Miriam's steely countenance and hard words.

''She will be all right, ma'am,'' Leah said, nodding--not out of confidence, but out of fear emanating from Miriam's imposing appearance. ''You have my words.''

Miriam stepped back a bit allowing a breathing space for the doctor who seemed overwhelmed by Miriam's solid presence.

''And, forgive my manners, doctor,'' Miriam said affecting an apologetic stance while she turned towards Donovan, ''here, this is Donovan Daniels, a top detective from the Dynamos Investigators Ltd. He's been assigned to get on top of the death toll ravaging city.''

Leah made a moment to take a special acknowledgement of Donovan who was dressed in a brown suede jacket with a v-neck black vest poking just from inside, and a black pair of jean trousers to match.

''Oh, apologies, detective,'' Leah remarked, stretching forth her arm to have a handshake, ''I'm doctor Leah; department of crimes medical emergencies, the Ministry of Health.''

''I know,'' replied Donovan curtly.

''Oh, you do?''

Just as a conversation was building up between the duo, Miriam waded in, stamping her presence again.

''I shall leave you to take it up from this point, Donny,'' said Leah. ''But I must have a word with you before leaving. Shall we?''

Miriam stepped aside with Donovan away from Leah's earshot in a bid to have some words.

''I shall take my leave now, Donny. I must get Salim before the bastard gets him. The ball's in your court; play it.''

''Rest assured Natasha will divulge the gory details to me, ma'am. I'm on top of this.''

''I trust you to make a good job of it, Donny,'' Miriam replied expressing confidence. ''I must run now.''

Miriam left the scene to the salute of the cops and escort as she was driven away from the precinct. Meanwhile, Donovan walked along with Leah towards the ward where Natasha had been kept under medical surveillance.

Arriving the ward where Natasha had been placed on a bunk bed with an oxygen concentrator strapped around her nose, Dr. Leah examined Natasha again to make sure her condition. Upon verifying and making certain that the victim was still in the recuperation process, Leah excused herself briefly to attend to other pressing emergencies, leaving Donovan to Natasha, who still lay unconscious on the bunk bed. In this moment, Donovan paced around the ward to examine Natasha's body--which still bore traces of injuries and damages--but found the lady still laying unconscious; however, her pulse was in fine shape.

The day wrapped up too soon with Donovan taking record of details about the victim's health and the gravity of the body mutilation she had been subjected from the tending medical personnel. The twilight gradually transitioned to dusk and the dusk to night. Donovan stayed put in the ward regardless and kept a close watch over Natasha’s body as she continued to recuperate still. He was eager to meet with the mystery lady as she was his only clue to Frank’s killer. He could not get his eyes off the victim even as the ward was now brightly lit to dispel any impression of night time.

The ward was quite a lengthy room with eight bunk beds on either side of room well spaced apart from each other. Donovan proceeded to take a more pedantic examination across the ward, checking the furniture content and equipment for details. He paced along the isle to the end of the room away from Natasha's bed. Everything looked perfect and safe. But as Donovan made to turn away from the desk upon which a landline phone was perched, a ring blared out of the landline phone. The ring was so loud and almost deafening Donovan had no choice than to pick up the phone’s receiver in a bid to restore serenity and quietude. But the voice that wafted into Donovan’s ear from the receiver made him cringe and stagger back a bit. It was a string of cacophonous babbles that culminated in a satanic and sinister repetition of words which Donovan would not want to hear at the moment. He summoned up courage and picked the receiver back up panting and dreading the worst. The voice came off more distinct this time, albeit with a steaming sensation: ‘’I AM FURY,’’ ‘’I AM FURY,’’ ‘’I AM FURY.’’ The phrase rambled on much to the shock of Donovan. Of course, he was no stranger to the notorious phrase which had been the badge of the mystery killer that had been running amok through the city. In this moment, Donovan could only perceive danger close by. His sense of suspicion was aroused as he shot a look down the isle to examine the surrounding space, but everything seemed quite all right. Again he shifted his gaze towards the bunk where Natasha had been lying only to realise a vacant bunk. Alas, Natasha was no longer in her bed space. She had vanished out of sight. This time, Donovan was startled to death even as the receiver rambled on in his clutch with the killer phrase. He was engulfed in sweat as he froze to a spot. Nothing seemed all right anymore as Donovan was forced to pull out his pistol from his back pocket in a bid to brace up for the worst. He carelessly replaced the receiver on its cradle and stealthily moved an inch away from the desk. Making to proceed down the isle with cautious steps, a shroud of blackout struck across the ward. The power went out and the space became suddenly became dark leaving Donovan terrified and clueless.

''Are you there, Natasha?'' Donovan ventured, frozen to a spot and not daring to move further down.

He could only hear the echo of his own voice and the dead silence that gripped the air. Suddenly, the door creaked sharply and slammed shut in quick sequence as though an intruder had quickly dashed into the ward. In a reflex, Donovan was forced to venture the same question in a moment of terror

''Natasha? Is that you?''

Again, his question was greeted by a dead, sinister silence. The darkness that shrouded the ward was such that made Donovan tremble and directionless. His face was engulfed in a mass of sweat and his heart palpitated with jitters while he stayed frozen to a spot pointing his gun into space should he sight an oncoming attack.

Donovan knew at this point that danger was nearer than he had thought. But he had no idea about the direction and gravity of the danger lurking around.

''Is there anyone there?'' Donovan barked out again impatiently making vain effort to keep a steady voice, ''you gotta speak out now or I'll fire whoever is playing this game.''

Suddenly, in a flash, the ward was lit again--but this time--with a flood of red emergency light spreading across the ward. The red light flooded the room from the ceiling and it afforded Donovan a chance to regain a clearer view of his surrounding space. However, he managed to keep his eyes partly open, staring down the isle towards Natasha's bunk again and he suddenly caught the sight of a looming epicene figure from a distance. The figure was shadowy and its identity was not clear at first sight. Donovan braced up his pistol clutching it with both hands and moving sideward away from the desk, not daring to venture a step forward.

Fixing his gaze on the mystery figure, he made effort to no avail to figure out what it was in spite of the flood of dazzling red light. In a moment, the figure ventured forward taking gentle strides much to Donovan's terror. His heart skipped a beat, making vain effort to steady his gun in his trembling clutch. He staggered backwards and maintained his gaze on the oncoming mystery figure, only to discover--by a strain of his eyes--that it was the mystery lady who had been laying on bed all day. Yes, it was Natasha. The poor lady still had her oxygen device strapped around her nose. In stitches and bandage, she slowly strode along the isle in Donovan's direction, speechless, pointing her index finger feebly in Donovan's direction. For a moment, Donovan wondered why the poor lady might be pointing finger in his direction. She looked terrified and anxious as she increased her pace suddenly towards the detective. Donovan staggered backwards holding his gun still, hesitating to pull the trigger while he barked out a warning to Natasha.

''Stay right there or I shoot,'' Donovan warned staggering backwards as Natasha forged in his direction regardless. ''You have to listen to me, young lady. You have to...''

In a wink of an eye, the rushing Natasha sprinted towards Donovan and lunged at him. The duo went down crashing with Natasha falling flatly across Donovan's body. In a reflex, Donovan made to brush Natasha's body aside to repulse further attack but, instead, he caught the glimpse of a dagger thrust in and out of her jugular in quick sequence, forcing a stream of blood from her jugular vein. Donovan's face was splattered with dollops of blood even as he struggled to have a clear view of the intruder who had just stabbed the young lady. While making effort to get Natasha's body off his, he wiped his blood-stained face with the back of his fist to catch a view of the intruder who ran swiftly across the ward towards the door. Suddenly, the emergency alarm went off and flood of red light started to blink in fits and starts. Donovan struggled to catch a view of the intruder but, in spite of the fitful blink, he managed to catch a glimpse of the intruder's heel and the hind of her legs. Those were typical of a woman's. He was damn certain it was a woman who had intruded the ward and stabbed Natasha. But, given the red light, he was not very sure about the colour of pants the mystery woman had on her. However, he was able to catch a glimpse of the soft tennis shoes she wore.

Donovan sat up, but it was rather late to chase after the intruder. He would chase after the intruder regardless. He sprang to his feet, brushing Natasha's body aside and sprinted across towards the door that just slammed shut a moment ago, but he came to realise that the door had been locked from outside. He jiggled the handle impatiently in a bid to force his way out to no avail. The mystery woman was gone and Donovan was trapped in the ward alone with Natasha's lifeless body to tender to. In this moment, he screamed at the top of his voice for the cops to come to his rescue but no response came forth. He paced across the ward in a bid to make a call to the cops. But as he was headed for the telephone line, the power was suddenly restored and a swarm of cops came banging at the door.

''It's an emergency. Open up!'' The cops shouted rattling the handle, attempting to force their way in. ''It's the cops. Open up and let us in. Now!''

''The door's locked from behind. I'm trapped in,'' Donovan snapped back impatiently as he watched the cops and medical personnel troop in heavily armed with ammunition and medical equipment respectively.

The arrival of the cops and medical personnel into the ward was greeted by the bright light that poured across the ward revealing the killer's signature boldly scribbled across the walls in blood lettering: ''I Am Fury.''

The graffiti was not new to the cops but, this time, it's conspicuous appearance on the Ward's wall caught attention in a differently horrific way that baffled the cops and struck fear amongst the them. More horrific and gorier was Natasha's lifeless body which was found bleeding profusely still. The cops froze to a spot in utter shock while the medical team, led by Dr. Leah, rushed to the rescue of the lifeless Natasha sprawling across the floor.

''We've got an intruder. It's the killer. It's a lady. I saw her,'' Donovan shouted at the cops who stood still glaring at blood-stained detective. ''We have to trail her this instant, guys! Do you roger?''

The cops stood still watching Donovan in defiance as though his words had no effect on them whatsoever.

''You've got blood stains all over you, detective, and we met no intruder while marching down here,'' said one of the cops.

''Have you lost mind, Johnnie?'' Donovan snapped back. ''I was almost killed by some monster and this is all you've got to insinuate?''

Donovan stepped back an inch to interrupt the medical personnel as they tendered to Natasha's corpse. He slouched over the dead body and pointed at the stab on her neck to the cops' attention.

''Over here, do you see this? It's a dagger's stab,'' Donovan noted calling the cops' attention to Natasha's jugular. ''Is it different from the one on Senator Kasidy's neck?''

''No, it's exactly the same,'' Leah chipped in. ''In fact, I must admit that the killer in question has a trademark style of taking out his victim. And this is one.''

''Are you seeing this bloody graffiti for the first time?'' Donovan continued, pointing at the blood-stained wall as he attempted calling the cops to their senses. ''And, the door...Did you find it locked from inside or outside?''

Donovan's barrage of questions cancelled out the cops' statement and whatever funny assumptions they might have in mind. His intellectual analysis, expertise and the backing of medical statement from Leah were enough to shame the cops and put them in their place.

''We didn't mean to be insinuative, detective--sir. It's part of the job to raise logical assumptions, and I'm sure you quite understand, sir,'' Johnnie replied in defence. ''I shall marshal my boys to spread all over and be on the lookout, however.''

The cops marched out--five of them led by Johnnie--as they bumped into Miriam who was equally rushing down to the ward with two other senior cops flanking her. The inspector was duly saluted by Johnnie and his team but Miriam paid no attention to the outgoing cops. She seemed to have her heart set on the ward and what had transpired within.

Arriving inside the ward where Donovan and the medical team were still tending to Natasha's corpse, Miriam walked past Donovan, who attempted having words with her, to have a sight of the corpse as she crouched beside the dead body.

''Is she dead now? Can't she be salvaged at all?'' Miriam asked crouching still as she looked at Leah, ostensibly for a positive response.

''She lost a lot of blood, ma'am,'' Leah replied. The killer's dagger already disconnected the carotid arteries supplying blood to her brain. That worsened her recuperation process. It was too late, ma'am.''

Crouching still beside the body, Miriam shielded her face sadly and went deep thinking.

''I tried to stop the killer..but the blackout... the dazzling red light and the whole misfortunes killed the plan, ma'am,'' Donovan said spanking his forehead in disappointment. ''I was close. Just this close!''

''It's okay, Donny,'' Miriam rose to her feet to sound caution. ''Do we continue crying over spilt milk?''

''Of course, no, inspector,'' Donovan replied bracing up his mind, ''But I've sent the boys out to be on the lookout By stroke of luck, they should get the bastard.''

''Did you, by chance, sight the killer, Donny?''

''Oh, yes!'' It's a woman,'' Donovan replied, ''But I could only know that piece of fact by catching a glimpse of her leg, ma'am. She was too fast in the blackout.''

''Oh, Donny,'' Miriam called drawing Donovan's rapt attention. ''We have a problem right now with Salim. We just received a stern letter from the commissioner who is strongly taking up the mayhem. We need to talk, detective.''