Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai

Chapter 13

A tense atmosphere fills the ICU once more as Mom Luang Chatklao and the team meticulously examine the evidence. There's a possibility that Phon might have been murdered, suggested by the various marks found on his body that don't appear to result from regular resuscitation efforts. There are scratches around the deceased's mouth and blood under his nails. Both nurses and assistants on duty unanimously confirm that none of these marks were there previously.

Bruises on his chest and face, along with smudges on the pillow, raise even more suspicions. These critical pieces of evidence lend significant weight to the theory of murder. Upon questioning, an emergency nurse recalls that, while escorting an emergency patient to a monitoring room, a man claiming to have stomach pain suddenly disappeared.

"I'm sorry, Phon," Treenate whispered, covering her mouth to hold back her sobs, while Chompoo's face turned pale.

Chatklao looked more tense than ever. "I'll contact Captain Chitkhet. I want Phon's body sent for forensic examination. We might learn more this way."

"Yes, the girl who always sells food around the hospital. She's slim, rides a motorbike," the nurse said.

Chatklao fell silent, then turned to the young captain beside him.

"Is it Tai, the food vendor?"

"Yes, that's the one. She came to visit Phon without my permission."

Chatklao decided to call the police. It wasn't long before Captain Chitkhet and his assistant arrived at the hospital. The police immediately contacted Phon's family to seek permission to send his body to the forensic institute in Bangkok for further investigation. Phon's mother fainted, crying, while his sister's face was full of sorrow.

"From what I gathered from the hill tribes who encountered Phon and Pranbun, I suspect they might have come across drug traffickers, which led to both of them being silenced," the captain remarked.

"Didn't the authorities already eradicate the drug rings here?"

A decade ago, law enforcement had dismantled the notorious drug lord Khun Sa's operation, known to many as Zhang Sifu, whose drug production base was in the village of Ban Hin Taek, now known as Ban Thoed Thai. A major crackdown on January 21, 1982, forced Khun Sa's forces to retreat across the Myanmar border, and the production base was destroyed. But drugs never truly vanished from Thailand; remnants of the network continued to operate. The authorities were still in the dark about the exact location of their latest base.

"Not completely, Mr. Chat. From what I know from my Border Patrol friends, there's still illegal drug activity here. We just haven't managed to catch the kingpins."

"Aside from Khun Sa, is there someone else in charge?"

"Doctor, are you certain that Phon was murdered?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. But there are many things that raise doubts. You saw yourself that Phon's condition improved this morning, so how could he just suddenly stop breathing?"

Treenate fell silent, guilt sweeping through the room. The patient had just regained consciousness today, only to pass away unexpectedly. His family would be devastated.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left him alone."

"Now isn't the time for blame. I need you to think carefully. If Phon was truly murdered, what I don't understand is how the perpetrator knew he had regained consciousness."

"Could someone have told the killer?" another doctor speculated.

"Did you inform any other relatives that Phon had woken up?"