Murder in the City of Marylane

20. Chrysanthemums

My aunt was so surprised to hear that I had a psychiatrist. I explained, then my aunt did not respond at that time. He only asked Doctor Oriel to talk to him outside. I don't know what he's talking about.

Ah, I also don't know why Doctor Oriel came to visit me all of a sudden. Who told him? ‘Dia’, huh? Huft, stop. Let it be a mystery.

There are still days left before I can be discharged from the hospital. I got word that Ashley's coming home tomorrow, so maybe I'll see her today.

I've also been told a lot by my friends how he is and what happened after that.

They said that at first, the incident had made Ashley have a bad dream and did not want to see anyone except Aileen, the head of the orphanage. Aileen also apologized to them for not overseeing Ashley's actions.

To be honest, I was a little awkward for having hugged her. I didn't know what to do, and I wasn't good at calming others at the time.

Maybe I should apologize to him for being so presumptuous.

I held a bouquet of chrysanthemums in my hand. I asked Harry to buy it. I don't know why I wanted to give her this type of flower. Ah, ja. My other friends went to work. They may have a new case or are investigating Mort and Levon.

Just information (which is not even important), this is my sister's favorite flower.

After a few steps, I arrived at a room. A first-class inpatient room with two beds—but only one patient.

I shifted the door of the room. There was Ashley sitting on the bed, her head turned towards the head of her orphanage, Aileen Storm, who was standing near Ashley.

The two of them looked at me as soon as I opened the door. I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Good afternoon,” I said.

“Good afternoon,” replied Aileen. “Cube space for you,” said. He wants to walk outside.

“No need, I just visited—”

“Really?” cut it. “I think there's something you want to tell him.”

I don't deny it. Aileen just smiled and walked out of the room, leaving me and Ashley behind.

I put a paper bag on the nightstand and handed her the bouquet of flowers I had brought. He accepts.

I haven't said anything. My mind is busy with words. Until finally he opened the conversation.

“You're upset, huh?”

How not? You're endangering yourself.

“Detective?”

I took a breath. “Yes. I'm upset. I'm upset that you made your own decision—which I don't even approve of. Let me not be, if the police heard it they wouldn't agree. I'm upset that you're putting yourself at risk. You're even just a civilian. You're determined to do it. Who do you think you're thinking of framing the culprit? Look, you've even got a gun, you've got a GPS and you put a cell phone in our car at the time so we can track it. But you still have that horrible thing. And I'm upset with myself for not saving you so quickly. Sorry.” My voice was low at the end of the word.

I was worried about him.

Come on, this is just my job as a cop. My job is supposed to protect civilians, right?

“You're a lot of talk, yes, Detective.”

I've spoken at length and that's the reply?

What do you expect, Juan Scott?

I breathe heavily. “Thank you and sorry. Thank you, because of you, we were able to find the culprit. Sorry, because I couldn't save you sooner.”

He pulled both ends of his lips. “I think that's the only way I can be free from my guilt towards Aisha. So, I have no regrets.”

“You okay now?” my many.

He nodded. “Do not worry.  How're you? I got word he hit your head.”

I held the back of my head. “I've been better than yesterday.”

He's nodding.

“Award?”

I'm nodding. “Because it has helped us, even harming yourself. Come.”

“I don't know.”

“‘No know’?” I raised my brow confused.

“I just ... feel it doesn't deserve it.”

“Not worth?” I said. “You've been trying to catch the culprit. You're even putting yourself at risk. You deserve it. Come.”

He smiled thinly. “Thank you, but I'll think about it later.”

Silent.

I'm throats. “Sorry, at that time I was presumptuous to embrace you at that time. This shouldn't happen between the police and ordinary citizens, should it?”

“Take it easy. I assume it was an attempt to save me.”

I scratched my nape. “You've been like my own sister.”

He was surprised, but then he smiled. “I know, I understand.”

He then brought his nose closer to the flower he was holding. Inhaling the distinctive aroma of chrysanthemum flowers.

“What's this flower?” tanyakanya.

“Crysanthemum flowers.”

“Do you know what it means?” tanyakanya.

“Honesty, truth, and faithfulness. I read it somewhere. Well, it has nothing to do with the current condition, but I want to give you that.”

He just returned with his smile again.

“I like this.”

----

“Are you not overreacting? I'm just cleaning up my stuff and going home,” I said as Harry took over my job.— tidied up my stuff that aunt brought me. Well, I stayed in the hospital for a few days. And this is the day I came home.

“Consider free service,” says Dean.

“Omong-by the way, thank you. I realize that I haven't said that,” I said.

“Cause. Who do you think we are?”

“Ya ... still, thank you it should be, right?”

“Ya, yes.” Harry replied.

“A Raven Police member turned herself in and confessed that she had ignored the citizen reports. This report culminated in a serial murder that had—”

“Hey, why is it turned off?” dean's protest was watching the news on television so solemnly that Sean turned it off.

“I'm tired of hearing it.”

“What is a cop Vivian means?” I asked to name the survivor of the serial murder. “She turned herself in?”

“Captain, did you meet him? You should have told me. I want to put my fist on his face,” complained Dean.

Sean smiled. “I've represented. Let's go.”