Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 40: CASE VIII - THE MYSTERIOUS FRIENDS OF LITTLE SLYVIA

Junko Ito: The following story contains discussions of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, self-harm and more triggering scenes. It also includes unsettling and potentially distressing scenes involving violence and disturbing imagery. Reader discretion is advised.

Case 8: The Mysterious Friends of
Little Sylvia (The Investigation
Begins Chapter, Part Five)

ROSALINDA

"How did ya even get in here?" tanong ni Dmitriy habang nakapamaywang. Namumuo ang pagtataka sa mukha niya dahil sa biglaang pagsipot ni Doyle sa mansyon nila. "I didn't see ya follow us here; ya weren't in the car neither. Did ya teleport or somethin', huh?"

As usual, nakaguhit ang pilyo niyang ngisi. "I wish I could do that, bro. Running around like crazy is very time-consuming and tiring," Doyle sighed.

If you’re wondering if I told Doyle about what happened on the call, no, I didn’t say a thing. My intuition is telling me to keep it a secret for now. I don’t know why, but I think there’s nothing wrong with keeping it to myself, at least for now. I hope nothing bad happens because of it, though. Even so, part of me says I should tell Doyle. Kung kayo ay naguguluhan na, paano na lang ako?

I don't know anymore.

"Let's put aside this meaningless conversation and proceed to talk about the situation with your cousin," Doyle said, changing the topic as he stood up from the couch and walked around the living room. "May I know who her psychiatrist is?"

"Dr. Allan Rayman."

Doyle put his index finger on his lips to think. "I know that man for sure, and I’m also sure I saw him and Robin having dinner at a fine restaurant near Robin’s workplace."

"Really?" gulat niyang sabi.

"Yes," bahagya siyang tumango. "If I remember correctly, they met in that restaurant to talk about something. More likely, it was a collaboration to give Allan the best knowledge and provide comprehensive care for their patients. But they seemed more focused on dinner in their conversation—perhaps they wanted privacy for their work discussion."

"'Yan lang ba ang pinag-usapan nila o meron bang iba?" tanong ko.

Napahawak si Doyle sa kaniyang baba at napatingin sa itaas. "Other than that, I didn’t hear anything aside from them complimenting each other," he said as he looked at me. "I must say they seemed very comfortable with each other, like close friends."

"You said you saw them, right? When was this?" tanong ko.

"Last year, I presume."

"Did they mention the name of the patient they’re handling?"

"No, I didn’t hear a name," aniya, saka napahalukipkip at napabaling kay Dmitriy. "When did Dr. Allan becomes your cousin’s psychiatrist? Was it already a year or just for months?"

"Five months pa lang," he responded without hesitation. "Doon pa siya dinala kay Dr. Allan nang lumalala na ang pagkilos niya," napabuntong-hininga ito. "My grandmother said she has suspicions about Dr. Allan, but she didn’t say why she suspects him."

"What if your grandmother expects that treating someone with schizophrenia isn't that complex, and that’s why she doubts Dr. Allan’s efforts?" I shared my theory. In fact, it’s very challenging. The prognosis for patients with schizophrenia is generally difficult to predict, and determining the long-term outcome or course of the illness for each individual is complex.

"How about confining her at the hospital so Dr. Allan can monitor her? That’s what they should’ve done in the first place so she can be observed, especially when she’s harming herself."