Chapter 39: Bearer Of Bad News
Stone River was crowded with reporters, cops and even heroes who had their various reasons for being there.
Headlines had formed on the incident with various publications using it for their own agenda.
Veronica had settled into her office hours ago and dove straight into work, reading through inmate profiles, staff reports, and medical evaluations.
After going through the last batch of files, she decided to reward herself with tea.
A knock came on the door as she stood up. She told the person to come in.
The door opened and a nurse clutching a folder walked in while Veronica was bent over the pot.
The nurse dropped the file on her desk. "These are the reports you asked for on Frost-Spice."
Surprise briefly crossed Veronica’s face at the sound of the nurse’s voice. She turned around to see a middle aged woman.
"Matilda?" she said, standing up. "I didn’t know you were back."
"I resumed work yesterday ma’am. I didn’t see you around."
Veronica pressed her lips. "I had important matters to attend to." She returned her attention to the kettle.
"How is the family and is your child better now?"
"They are fine and yes, my child is better now."
Veronica finished with the cup and went to her table. "That’s good to hear." She sat down. "Glad to have you back."
"Thank you," Matilda replied, giving Veronica a subtle look which made the doctor raise her eyebrow.
"Is there something on your mind Matilda?"
The nurse smiled. "Nothing ma’am. I was wondering if something happened to you while I was away."
Veronica’s ears perked up. "How so?"
Matilda paused. "It’s just... you have this nice glow about you."
Veronica glanced at herself, smiling faintly. "Let’s just say I found something interesting."
"Whatever it is must be worth it," the nurse replied with a smile then gave a bow. "Have a wonderful day, ma’am."
"You too, Matilda."
The nurse left and Veronica picked the file and read through.
Most of Frost-Spice well-being was in order, except for an illness that made his skin pale.
For a moment, she wondered why they had gone to such lengths to break him out. Doyle was a mercenary, and for the right price, there were few things he wouldn’t do.
She set the file down. It was a problem for the cops to handle since they were the ones who requested it.
She took a sip from her cup and opened WeTube to watch videos.
Her desk phone rang minutes later and she picked it up. The voice at the other end said something which made her eyes widen in surprise.
"Send them in," Veronica replied. She straightened herself and moments after, the door opened.
A man who looked to be in his forties and a girl who looked to be in her early twenties walked in.
Veronica already knew who they were: Nathan’s father and sister.
Both of them had jet black hair, fair skin and dark circles around their eyes. For a brief moment she wondered if Nathan was adopted.
Veronica gestured for them to sit before she spoke.
"Mr. Henry and Ms. Catherine Ledger," she said, her voice calm.
"I am Dr. Veronica Von Richterstein. The head of medical at Stone River."
Henry spoke up first. "Pleased to meet you doctor. We’re here to see my son but we were told to come to your office."
"Is Nathan sick or injured?" Catherine said as worry began to line her face.
She looked around the office, expecting him to walk through the door at any moment.
Veronica let out a quiet breath and leaned forward. "There’s no easy way to say this," Veronica began. "So I’ll be direct."
Catherine’s smile slowly disappeared.
"Mr. Ledger passed away three days ago," Veronica said, keeping a neutral expression.
The air in the room seemed to get thicker.
Catherine stared at the doctor, her mind refusing to process what she’d just heard.
"What?"
Henry frowned. "No. You must have the wrong person." His voice, barely a whisper.
Veronica held his gaze. "I’m sorry, Mr. Ledger but it’s your son, Nathan Ledger."
Catherine’s breathing became shallow and Henry’s face went pale.
His hand gripped the armrest of his chair. "That’s...that’s not possible. He’s...in good health."
"The cause of death is still being investigated. But at this point, we can’t rule out suicide or foul play," Veronica said calmly.
"You’re lying! There’s no fucking way my brother would ever commit suicide." Catherine shot out, her voice rising.
"I saw him a few days ago and he was fine! There’s no reason..." she let the words trail off, her hands molding into fists.
Veronica pressed her lips. "I understand this is difficult to hear but—"
"Difficult?" Catherine stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You’re telling me my brother is dead and you’re calling it difficult?"
Veronica didn’t waver. "Ms. Ledger..."
"Where is he?" Catherine demanded, tears blurring her vision. "I want to see him. I want to see the body."
Veronica’s expression softened slightly. "That won’t be possible anytime soon. The body has been sent to the coroner for processing."
"Processing?" Catherine laughed, but there was no warmth in it. "You guys killed my brother and now we can’t even have his body?"
"What about a picture?" Catherine persisted.
"The only images we have are part of an ongoing investigation. They aren’t available for public viewing," Veronica responded.
"But I’m his sister!" Catherine yelled.
Veronica’s gaze softened. "I understand. But I cannot release them. I’m sorry."
Henry stood slowly, putting a hand on Catherine’s shoulder. "Catie, please."
But she shook him off, her eyes locked on Veronica. "Was this related to the prison attack? Who is his cellmate?"
Veronica paused for a moment. "I cannot say anything about that." She met her gaze without flinching. "I am truly sorry."
The words sounded empty. Catherine could hear the rehearsed quality in them. It was the tone of someone used to delivering bad news.
"Sorry," Catherine said bitterly. "You’re sorry? Sorry isn’t going to bring my brother back. It’s not going to..." Tears welled in her eyes, stopping the words.
Henry wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his chest, muffling the sob that escaped her.
Veronica stared at the sight for a moment. It triggered a flash of a memory: The echo of a child’s scream, the smell of antiseptic and beeping of a heart monitor. She shook it away.
Moments later, Catherine lifted her head, her eyes already getting red. She broke away from her father and stormed out of the office without another word.
Henry gave a small bow then rushed after her. The echo of their footsteps grew fainter, the farther they went from her office.
Veronica sat still after the door closed behind them, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment. Her hands were clasped in front of her as her mind drifted in thought.
She had done as Nathan asked and told Catherine her brother was dead. She’d watched the girl’s face crumble, watched her father hold her as she sobbed.
She’d played her part perfectly but for some reason it upset her.
She knew why Nathan had asked her to lie. It was the safest way for him to disappear and Veronica understood that.
But she hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.
As a doctor, she was used to delivering news of death to grieving families. She had seen people cry, scream, collapse and refuse to accept what they’d been told.
But this was different. She knew Nathan was alive and had even spent a night with him in bliss.
And now she’d watched his sister mourn a death that had never happened.
Catherine’s grief had been real and was her father’s pain. In some way, Veronica had caused it.
She let out a heavy sigh and stared at the door. "You’re a cruel man Nathan."
Her desk phone rang again. She set her cup and picked it up.
["There’s an officer... Uhm detective here to see you."]
Veronica frowned, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "I’ve already given statements."
["She said she’s not here because of the incident."]
Veronica’s eyes narrowed. She? Was she the same detective Nathan had talked about?
"Let her in," Veronica replied, setting the phone down.
A moment later the door opened and a woman walked in. She had dark hair, grey eyes and wore a waistcoat over her clothes
She came to a stop in front of her desk and flashed her badge.
"Good day, ma’am. I’m Detective Della Decker, and I have some questions regarding a certain inmate of yours."
Della’s gaze swept across the office. She took note of the mug, the scalpel on the desk and files.
Veronica’s expression remained unchanged as she asked a question she already knew the answer to. "Which inmate?"
Della tilted her head.
"Nathan Ledger."