Lovers and Lawbreakers

Hospital Visit

"Ah, you're awake," someone said from across the room.

Mari's eyes fluttered open and she looked around her. She sat up rather quickly and hissed.

"Oh, don't do that sweetie," the nurse said, pushing her back down onto the bed. "Rest up. That was a nasty blow to your head."

"W-where's Peter?" She whispered.

She knew she shouldn't ask. She knew the answer, he was dead. But she couldn't accept that, there's no way that could have happened. That's the stuff that happens in TV shows, not real life.

The nurse shook her head. "Who's Peter?"

Mari bit her lip. "Nevermind."

The nurse smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

"How are you feeling?"

Mari hadn't thought about the level of pain coursing through her head. It hurt to think, even.

"Pretty sh... bad. Pretty bad."

The nurse nodded and fiddled around with some papers and machines before bidding Mari a sweet goodbye and shutting the door gently behind her.

Mari sighed once she had left and laid down in the bed fully. She didn't even know what had happened before she passed out. Surely it had all been a dream, right?

But then why would she be in the hospital?

It didn't make sense. But then again, her head was killing her.

She closed her eyes, thinking it was best to get some sleep.

*

David had missed the exit.

He groaned as he realized he'd have to spend fifteen extra minutes on the road.

He flipped through the radio stations until he found a station that was playing Fall Out Boy and continued on the road.

He had located Mari's hospital. He figured she'd know at least a little bit about the murder.

But the other three women didn't know anything useful before, and if Mari was a part of the pattern, this was a waste of gas and time.

David sighed and shook his head as he turned on his blinker.

He arrived in the parking lot and pulled on his jacket as he stepped out of his car. He walked into the hospital and approached the receptionist.

David mentally gagged at the sight of her. She looked so sweet it was sick.

She flashed him a bright smile and asked him what he needed.

"I'm here to see Mari Takahashi," he said, in a tone that suggested he wasn't interested in small talk.

She pulled a face at him and he caught sight of her name tag. Kalel. David scoffed at the name, it suited her.

"What?" She asked when she saw his face.

David shook his head and Kalel sighed.

"Friend or family?"

"Friend," David yawned.

Kalel rolled her eyes and David laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

David smiled. "You."

Kalel gaped at him and shook her head, but passed him a name tag and a sharpie anyway. David quickly scrawled his name on it and threw the sharpie back onto the counter before peeling the named tag off of the back and placed it messily on his shirt.