Investigation

"I'm tired, and it's not even 10 yet," said a man sitting in his chair. Although he appeared to be in his 50s, he looked as healthy as someone in his early 40s. "There aren't any appointments until 3, so I should go out," he thought, flipping through his notes.

He gets up from his chair, takes his phone, and starts walking towards the door. As he reaches it, he stops and looks at the images on the wall of his office. The photos, framed and scattered around, depict different locations but feature the same people: himself, a woman, and a little girl. As he studies the images, a sad expression crosses his face. The memories captured in those photos seem to weigh heavily on him, hinting at a sense of loss or nostalgia.

With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the door and returned to his desk, slumping back into his chair. He sat there for a moment, staring blankly at his notes, lost in thought. The weight of his emotions seemed to pull him down, leaving him to grapple with his feelings.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and started scrolling through his contacts. His thumb moved slowly over the screen, but he found his gaze drawn to a framed photo on his desk. In the picture, the girl was smiling brightly, her joy evident.

Frustrated, he threw his phone down onto the desk and muttered to himself, "She won't talk even if I call her." The weight of his realization settled heavily on him, making the emotional burden even more palpable.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Startled, he grabbed it from the desk, his heart racing as he glanced at the screen. The caller ID showed a familiar name, and for a moment, hope flickered in his eyes. He hesitated, taking a deep breath before answering.

As he swiped to pick up the call, he reminded himself, "I should act normal." He steadied his voice and put on a calm demeanor, trying to mask the emotions that had been weighing on him.

"Hi, it's Maria, Susan's friend," Maria said.

"Hi Maria, it's been a while since we last spoke. How's everything?" he replied, striving to sound as normal as possible.

"I'm calling about Susan. Has she been visiting again?"

Hearing Susan's name made his demeanor change instantly. He took a few seconds to gather his thoughts and replied, "No, I haven't. Is everything okay? Has something happened?"

"Is it her health again?" the man asked, now tinged with worry.

Maria responded, "Everything is okay. She's just been feeling down for a few days. I'll call again later to check in."

He absorbed the information, concern settling over him. Maria's call had stirred up his emotions.

Just as the call ended, he looked through his notes and found a number written below a name: Detective Mathew. The name and number caught his eye, stirring a new wave of urgency. The connection to the detective could be crucial, and he realized he might need to reach out to him to gain more insight into Susan's situation or any underlying issues that might be affecting her.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number for Detective Mathew. After a few rings, the detective answered.

"Detective Mathew speaking."

"Hello, Detective Mathew. This is James. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."

"Dr. James, how have you been? How can I help you?"

"I'm calling about Susan. I recently heard she's been feeling down, and I was wondering if you could provide me with any updates on her recent activities or situation. I know it's a bit out of the blue, but I'm concerned about her well-being."

There was a brief pause on the line. "Susan, you say? Let me check my records."

A moment later, the detective continued, "I don't have detailed information on her recent activities, but I can tell you that there have been no significant incidents involving her recently. However, if she's been feeling down, it might be worth checking in with her. I'll get someone to keep an eye on her."

"Thank you, Detective Mathew. I appreciate your help. If there's any way I can assist or if you get any new information, please let me know."

"I will. If anything comes up, I'll be in touch."

After hanging up the phone, Dr. James looked at the framed photo on his desk, the image of the girl's bright smile juxtaposed against his current emotional state. He picked up the frame gently, holding it in his hands as he spoke softly to himself.

"Would things have been different if I had listened to you that day?"

His voice was barely a whisper, filled with regret and longing. The question lingered in the air, a poignant reflection on choices made and missed opportunities. He set the frame back down, feeling the weight of his unresolved feelings and the burden of what might have been.

"Maria, I won't let you down again."

With renewed determination, Dr. James steeled himself to take action. The resolve in his voice marked a turning point, as he prepared to make amends and offer the support needed to navigate the challenges ahead.

James walked over to his cabinet, his steps purposeful. He opened the cabinet and began searching through the files. After a few moments of rifling through paperwork, he found a file labeled "Susan." He pulled it out, the name written on the tab bringing a fresh sense of urgency.

He opened the file and began to review its contents, hoping to uncover any additional information or insights that could help him understand Susan's situation better and guide his next steps in offering support.

In Susan's house, sitting on her couch in front of a TV, she asked Jose, "What did you do to Maria? She always runs off whenever I mention your name."

Sitting beside Susan, Jose stared at her, smiling back as he said, "I just flirted with her."

Susan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Flirted with her? That's it? She runs off whenever your name comes up and all you did was flirt?"

Jose chuckled, leaning back on the couch. "Yeah, I guess it was more than just flirting. I didn't exactly handle it in the best way. I might have been a bit too intense and then pulled away abruptly."

Susan looked thoughtful. "That might explain why she's avoiding you. It's not just the flirting—it's how you handled it afterward. Maybe you should reach out and clear things up with her. It might help smooth things over."

Jose nodded, looking a bit sheepish. "You're right. I should probably talk to her and explain. I didn't mean to cause any discomfort."

Susan smiled knowingly. "Good idea. A little honesty can go a long way."

Jose looked at Susan and whispered in her ear, "There are too many bugs hanging around; you should sleep. I'll clean it up."

Susan's eyes widened slightly at Jose's whispered comment. The room's atmosphere shifted subtly, and a hint of unease flickered across her face.

"What do you mean, bugs?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

Jose leaned back, his smile turning slightly mysterious. "Oh, it's just a figure of speech. I meant that things are cluttering up the space—figuratively speaking. You should get some rest, and I'll take care of tidying up."

Susan studied his face, trying to gauge his sincerity. Something was reassuring in his tone, though it also felt a bit cryptic. She nodded slowly. "Alright, if you say so. I suppose I could use a break."

She fell asleep there, and Jose looked towards the door and walked out.

Back at Sam's house, seeing Maria's hurried departure as soon she reached Susan's house, he grew increasingly concerned about Susan

Realizing the situation was more serious than he initially thought, Sam decided to take a leave from work and kept a watchful eye on Susan's house from his window. His anxiety spiked when he noticed someone lurking around her property. Sam quickly reached for his phone to call the police. However, his concern intensified as he saw Susan walk out of her house and head directly toward the suspicious figure.