The Amnesiac's Secret

Chapter Two: The Investigation

Evelyn sat in the stark interrogation room, her mind whirling. The accusation felt surreal, like she was caught in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake. She was a surgeon, not a killer. She had dedicated her life to saving people, not taking lives.

Detective Harris studied her for a moment longer before speaking. "Dr. Carter, do you have any idea why someone would want to frame you for this?"

Evelyn shook her head, her voice trembling. "No. I can't think of anyone who would want to do this to me."

Harris nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We're going to need your cooperation to piece this together. Let's start with the night in question. Who did you interact with after your surgery?"

Evelyn tried to recall the details, but everything felt hazy. "I... I finished the surgery around midnight. I remember speaking with the patient's family, assuring them that the operation was a success. After that, I went to my office to finish some paperwork. Then I decided to head home. I don't remember anything else until I woke up in that alley."

Harris jotted down notes as she spoke. "Do you remember anyone unusual at the hospital that night? Anyone who seemed out of place?"

Evelyn closed her eyes, trying to picture the hospital's corridors and rooms. "No, everyone was staff or patients. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary."

Harris leaned back in his chair, contemplating. "We'll need to check the hospital's security footage and talk to the staff. Maybe someone saw something that can help us."

Evelyn nodded, feeling a sliver of hope. "Yes, that's a good idea. There has to be something."

Harris stood up. "In the meantime, we'll need to take a formal statement and run a few tests. Standard procedure."

As he led her out of the interrogation room, Evelyn's thoughts were a chaotic whirl. She couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. Her reputation, her career, her life—all at risk because of a crime she couldn't remember.

She spent the next few hours with various officers and technicians, recounting her story over and over, submitting to fingerprinting, and giving a DNA sample. Her head ached with the effort of trying to recall any small detail that might help clear her name. By the time they were done, she felt drained, her energy sapped by the relentless questioning and her own gnawing fear.

Detective Harris returned as she was finishing up. "Dr. Carter, we've arranged for a temporary place for you to stay. It's best if you don't go home right now, for your own safety."

Evelyn's heart sank further. "Am I under surveillance?"

Harris shook his head. "Not exactly. But until we know more, we think it's safer for you to be in a secure location. It's a precaution."

Evelyn nodded numbly, following Harris out of the station. They drove in silence, the city's lights flashing by in a blur. She tried to make sense of everything, but it was like trying to catch smoke with her bare hands.

The car pulled up to a modest motel on the outskirts of town. Harris handed her a key. "We'll be in touch. Try to rest. We're doing everything we can to solve this."

Evelyn thanked him and stepped out of the car, feeling the weight of her situation settle heavily on her shoulders. She walked to her room, the key trembling in her hand as she unlocked the door.

The room was small and impersonal, but it was clean and quiet. Evelyn sank onto the bed, her mind racing. She knew she needed to rest, but every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts spiraled into fear and confusion.

She forced herself to get up and plug in her phone, hoping it might yield some clue once it was charged. As she waited, she paced the room, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory.

Her phone finally buzzed to life, and she eagerly checked it for messages or calls that might explain something. There was one missed call from her colleague, Dr. Laura Mitchell, and a voicemail. Evelyn's heart raced as she listened to the message.

"Evelyn, it's Laura. I've been trying to reach you. Something strange happened at the hospital the other night. Call me as soon as you get this."

Evelyn dialed Laura's number with trembling fingers. The phone rang twice before Laura picked up.

"Evelyn! Thank God. Where have you been? Are you alright?"

"I'm... I don't know, Laura. I need your help. Can we meet?"

"Of course. I'll come to you. Where are you?"

Evelyn gave her the address of the motel. "Please hurry."

"I'm on my way. Hang tight."

As she waited for Laura, Evelyn's anxiety grew. What had happened at the hospital? And how was it connected to her missing hours? She had to find out. Her life depended on it.