KNOCK KNOCK CHAPTER 14 "KILLER'S APOLOGY"
CHAPTER 14
KILLER’S APOLOGY
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John
was discharged from the hospital. He had some bandages left to be open but he
was ready to get back on the case, his devotion had increased. After hearing
about John’s recovery, Harry called Sara and John in the office. Charles was
still in the ICU so Jennifer stayed at hospital. Harry told them about the new
death and Sara told him about the apology of the killer and Charles’ condition.
Sadness was the only thing on every face. Everyone was missing Charles’
leadership but Harry had to take charge, as he was senior among them, which he
did. He wrote all the words on the board they got so far,
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO’S THERE?
IT’S ME
ME WHO?
“It’s like a
poem. The next line will tell us about the killer most probably” Sara gave her
opinion.
“But we can’t
wait for another murder” John objected.
“John’s right. We
have to stop the killer before his next attack” Harry reacted.
“Didn’t you find
spider-phobic people in the city?” asked Sara.
“I did find two
of them, put security on these two but Zoey was not among those I found” Harry
replied sadly.
“What do you say
about the bouquet of white lilies and the apology on CCTV camera? It doesn’t
make any sense, does it?” asked John.
“Speaking of
white lilies, they are often used on the funerals of young ones, so maybe the
flowers were for Peter, Edwin and Julie but the apology, that’s unusual for a
serial killer and another murder after the apology…either he’s a real psycho or
an attention seeker I think” Harry explained his point.
“It can also be
that the accident was not according to the killer’s plan, so he was apologizing
for what happened to John and Charles” Sara gave the conversation another
angle.
“Aren’t you
getting too optimistic? I mean why would a serial killer say sorry? Maybe he’s
saying sorry sarcastically, he’s apologizing for us not being dead in the
accident?” John refused to see the story through Sara’s angle.
“I think John’s
point is more logical, I am not saying Sara’s wrong but we are not in a
condition to forgive” Harry gave his vote.
“See…that’s the
difference between you and Charles, Harry. Charles never took sides, he used to
listen everyone’s opinion and decide by taking all the ideas together, not by
denying one’s opinion completely” Sara expressed her frustration.
“I can never be
like him, because I’m Harry Karl not Charles Lane. I am just trying to lead the
case in absence of both the seniors” Harry reacted.
“I think I was
wrong about you; I am going to take Madam JJ to her kids and will come back
when Charles will lead again” Sara told her own decision and left.
Harry tried to stop her but in vain.
He screamed in pain and frustration. There’s a knock on the door. John opened
the door to receive the autopsy report. The same natural death due to cardiac
failure.
“Let’s go to Dr.
Stella” Harry ordered.
*******
Sara went to the hospital and convinced Jennifer to go home to her kids now. After leaving her home, she came back to the hospital and asked the doctor about Charles’ current condition and recovery.
“I’m sorry to say
that he’s in coma now but the good thing is that, miraculously, his vital
organs, spinal cord and all the bones are intact. So, if he gets out of coma,
he’ll be fine in no time” Doctor explained.
“And how long
will he take to get back into his consciousness?” asked Sara curiously.
“We can’t predict
that actually. I’ll be honest with you, he can get out of coma in an hour, a
day, a week, a month, a year or maybe never. Just pray for him and hope for the
best.” Doctor replied and left Sara alone in despair.
*******
Meanwhile, Harry and John went to
Stella’s home. In the car, John asked, “Every kid killed had his parents
involved somehow in drugs. Do you think Stella will also be dealing with
drugs?”
“She’s a doctor,
I don’t think she’s in drugs but anything is possible. We’re not going to ask
directly rather we’ll implant a hidden mic like Charles did last time at
Oliver’s” Harry told his plan.
Stella’s depression was right, she
lost her young daughter that morning and the police came to investigate her.
She finally agreed to talk after Harry told her about all other young deaths.
“Thank you doctor
for agreeing to help us in catching the murderer. I am sorry for your loss but
I hope we’ll catch the killer with your help” Harry started, “Now tell us if
you have doubt on anyone or Zoey had a fight recently?”
“No, she had
never been in any fight, she was an intelligent and humble girl, fully focused
on her studies and future” Stella replied sadly.
“Zoey was afraid
of spiders; we know but who else knew that?” John asked confidently.
“What? No, she
wasn’t afraid of spiders, in fact she loved spiders. Instead she was
caulrophobic and everyone knows that. I wrote that in every legal document of
Zoey” Stella replied instantly.
Stella’s reply shocked both Harry
and John and then Harry remembered that the red rubber ball they got was
actually a clown’s nose. The spider web was just for a diversion. Then Harry
asked the important question, “Do you know Edison, Oliver or Sophia?”
“No..No…Never
heard about them” Stella suddenly stammered. “Well, if you allow me officer, I
have my daughter’s funeral waiting” She continued and asked to leave.
“Yeah sure, I am
sorry for coming at this time, you can go, we’ll come back later” Harry allowed
her and also left Stella’s house. Harry went to the hospital and asked John to
keep a secret eye on Stella’s house and inform him immediately if someone would
come to her home.
*******
In the hospital, Harry saw Sara
sitting outside ICU with her head down. He went close to her and said, “Aaaa…I
am sorry about earlier, I’m not like that you know, it’s the pressure of
deaths. I’m too stressed……”
Sara stood up and hugged him before
he could complete and started crying. “What…What happened? Everything alright?”
Harry asked curiously by helping her sit on the chair and wiping her tears.
“Doctor….Doctor
said that Charles had gone in coma and they couldn’t say about how long would
he stay in coma” Sara said in a low voice while weeping.
“He’s a fighter
Sara, he will be fine very soon I know” Harry tried to give hope.
Sara kept weeping
without saying anything. “Stop crying Sara...wait let me bring you a mirror to
see your face right now, your make up is going down. People are all looking at
you” Harry played a funny trick in difficult time. The trick worked, Sara
giggled a little and wiped her tears with tissue and went to the rest room to
clean her face.
Harry stood next to Charles’ bed in
the ICU, got tears in his eyes on seeing his team leader lying there quietly.
“Hey Charles, just come back now, it’s enough already, we need you badly,
everyone’s missing you. You know Jennifer was here constantly with you even
forgetting about her kids. John’s back in office but I can feel it in his eyes
how much he’s missing you. Sara was just crying outside for you and here I am,
I never cried after my parents’ death as I promised myself but I can’t keep my
promise anymore, here I am crying and begging you to return to us” Harry spoke
to Charles from his heart.
*******
Stella went to the hospital and
asked about the emergency because of which she was called. She was informed
that her patient was waiting for her in her room. Stella went to her room where
she was shocked to see a man sitting on the chair.
[Stella] “What’s the issue?”
[Man] “The issue is that your mobile phone
is switched off”
[Stella] “So? I don’t want to talk to anyone,
my daughter died yesterday and I need some time to rest”
[Man] “Time, that’s the thing we don’t
have at the moment”
[Stella] “Police is investigating, they
already know about Edison, Oliver and Sophia”
[Man] “I am going to follow your order but
you have to decide fast”
[Stella] “We are not cancelling the order; we
have worked very hard for a long time to achieve this. Convey my stance but you
have to leave now, Albert!”
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