The Phantom Ritual (DCI Morgan Chester: Case One)

Chapter Sixteen

The forensic team had already set up in Olivia's hospital room when Morgan arrived on the ward. Oliver was close behind her and stopped to speak with one of the constables who stood by the yellow police tape that cornered off the horrific scene. They flashed their badges, and they lifted the tape for them to duck underneath.

Stefan sat in the waiting room guarded by three police officers. Furious with himself for leaving Olivia alone to grab a coffee and sandwich from the shop on the lower ground floor. He heard the student nurse scream as the lift doors opened when he returned. It took two doctors to restrain him as he fought to get into Olivia's room when he noticed the screaming came from there. Mr Chester would castrate him for not protecting one of the girls. But he feared something far worse than Mr Chester, and that was his daughter.

Morgan stormed towards the waiting room and raised her badge for the officers to see. One turned and opened the door to let her inside. Her eyes glared into Stefan as he looked up at her. The colour slowly drained from his face.

"I would like to speak with this one alone." She ordered them through gritted teeth.

They looked at each other with a blank expression before they slid out of the room. Morgan closed the door tightly behind her.

"Detective, I am sorry." He stammered.

Morgan turned and leant over him. Her hand wound around his throat and gripped tightly.

"What happened?" she growled.

"I don't know. I went downstairs to get some food as I was hungry, and when I came back up, I heard screaming," Stefan licked his lip, "I swear, I was only gone for five minutes."

"Bullshit, I can smell weed on you. You went for a spliff. Do I look fucking stupid to you?" she spat.

"I was feeling anxious, detective."

"You were supposed to stay with her. Jesus, we are so fucked!" she hissed and paced the room with her hands on her head. A dull throbbing migraine brewed in her temples.

"Please don't tell Mr Chester. I am sure we can find another girl, and I will move more stock once it comes in. I will do anything to make it right." He stuttered his empty promises as he rose from the chair.

Morgan turned and gripped him by the neck again and forcefully pushed him against the wall.

"I do not care what he will think or do to you. Olivia was our only lead into catching this bastard before he kills again!" she cursed and let him go.

Stefan coughed violently and rubbed his neck that now had red finger marks forming.

"I am sorry."

"Oh, stop snivelling and be useful for once in your goddamn life and tell me exactly what you saw."

"I was coming up with some food; I even picked up a bottle of fizzy orange juice Olivia loves. Then I heard the nurse screaming. I tried to get into Olivia's room, but two doctors pushed me into here and bolted the door until the police arrived."

"What doctors, what did they look like?" Morgan fired questions at him.

Stefan wrapped his arms around his chest tightly.

"The really good-looking one you were speaking with earlier, and another had curly dark hair, shorter than you, and had glasses."

"If I ask you to stay in this room and not move, will you actually do it?" she asked him, and he replied with a sullen nod.

Morgan pulled open the door and nodded at the policemen as she ventured into the hallway. Aaron was talking with another officer when Morgan turned the corner. He looked up at her and their eyes connected as she passed him to get to Olivia's room.