ℂ𝕃𝕆𝕊𝔼ℝ 𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕋ℍ𝕀ℕ𝕂

║THREE║

“DAD!” Nicole walked briskly into her dad's ward squealing in excitement. She leaned over to kiss his forehead.
“What a surprise! You came?!” her dad was delighted to see her. She drew the chair beside his bed closer, so she could sit.
He had aged since the last time she visited him, she held his frail hands, he was on a drip.
“Dad, I have missed you.” she smiled
“Me too, darling.”
“How are you?”
“I am well. You?”
“Better than ever.”
“Good to hear.”
“How about your Mama?”
“She is hale and hearty…oh! That reminds me, I brought food for you.” she picked up the basket of food she had brought along, showing him.
“That so sweet of you. Did your mom tell you, she came here two days ago, she spent almost all the day with me.” He chuckled.
“If not for her job, she would have been sleeping here with you and then you will not feel lonely.” she rubbed his hand.
“I don't feel lonely anymore, anyway how is your job?”
“Hectic… so hectic. Especially with the new murder case I'm working on. Oh goodness! I have never seen any case like it before. Neil and I are clueless, we don't even have any suspect at all…”  she slapped her forehead.“I’m fed up. So have you had any visitors apart from Mom and I?”
“Yes. two interesting visitors. Couples.” he tried to sit up.
“Oh good!” she said adjusting his bed, so he could sit properly. “So, tell me?”
“They gave me that flower vase you see sitting on the window.” he pointed to it.
“Wow! And the book on the table?” she asked sighting the book laying on the table beside his bed near the window.
“it’s not just any book, Nikky. It's the word of God… the bible.”
“The bible?” she laughed as if it was some sort of joke he told her.
“What is so funny? It's because you haven't read it. Since I started reading it, I feel different… I feel peace and joy. I am no longer afraid of death. You need to read it.” he said reaching out to take the bible on the table.
“’I’m not going to waste my precious time reading the lies in that book, okay?” she rolled her eyes.
“It contains the truth.”
“Dad, you let those couples brainwash you with their religious belief. Are you not the one who told me that such beliefs don't exist?”
“That was then, but now I am telling you that God is real, he died to save us from our sins okay?”
“Oh please!” she threw her hands in the air not wanting to hear or believe what he was saying. “What’s the proof that God exist?”
“Creation. Let me open the bible to John chapter one… I am going to be reading verse one to three” he said opening the bible “okay, here is it… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. So have I answered your question?” she folded her hand across her chest ignoring his question.
Taking hold of her hand, he said “Nikky,you may find it hand to believe, but, it's the truth. I pray you will believe someday.” she sighed and smiled wryly.
“I have to be on my way now dad.” she told him.
“Alright then. Do say hello to Neil for me.” she stood up heading for the door.
“Nicole?” he called her. She spun around, looking at him.
“Please think about what I told you” he smiled and waved at her.
   As she drove to work she wondered how her dad could change his belief all of a sudden.

    ☬            ☬             ☬ 

Dragging the chair backward, Neil sat down. “How was it? Your visit to the hospital?”  Neil asked Nicole who was busy working on the computer system.
“It was good. On my way going, my car broke down thank goodness a good Samaritan was available to help me.” she looked at him before focusing her gaze on the computer again.
“How is he doing?”
“He is getting stronger, he sends his greetings.”
“oh…”
“He was brainwashed by some couples who came visting, they told him about God and he believed them. I was so shocked, seeing my Dad who was a strong atheist talking to me about God.” she said now looking at Neil.
“Awesome! Praise God!” Neil threw his fist in the air in excitement.
“You are happy?” she shook her head and exhaled.
“You need him too.”
“God? No, I don't need him. I have been living without him for good twenty two years of my life and…”
“You should give him all the appreciation.”
“Ah! Neil, can we just change the topic. I've heard enough already!” she said anger boiling inside of her.
“I am sorry. What I'm trying to say is…”
“So have you gotten any information about the McBride’s?” she interjected.
“um… yeah, I was able to speak with Sally's mom this morning. Her name is Jacqueline Roosevelt.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Sally was in a rough relationship before she got married to James, the relationship didn't last long because Sally and the man named Gary Baxter never got along. She said Gary was too bossy and Sally hated it, she doesn't like people taking decision for her.”
“Was he abusive?”
“No, he was a nice gentle guy.”
“Did you ask her how the man looks like?”
“Yes” Neil said, giving her the portrait drawing of the man.
“He may have killed her out of jealousy” Nicole said starring at the drawing.
“Maybe. At least we have gotten a suspect now.”
“We’ve go to track down where he lives and maybe know where he works. Excuse I have a call.” she said answering the phone that was ringing.
“Hello. Who am I speaking with?” she said to the caller.
“Hello. I am Clyde Lincoln, James McBride’s friend and former colleague.” the caller introduced himself.
“Okay. How may I help you?”
“I think I may be of help in solving the murder mystery.”
“Do you live around?”
“Nah…I’m out of town now but I could come around tomorrow.”
“Okay. No problem. I will be expecting you. Thanks for calling.”
“You are welcome.” he said and she hung up.
“Just got a call from James friend, Clyde Lincoln.” she told Neil.
“What did he say?”
“He’ll be coming tomorrow.”