Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following morning, as promised Ryan dropped by Erin’s home. She was glad to see he found his drive to help Shelly find her murderer. He had a cup of coffee that was brewing in her kitchen “You’re on edge.” She commented.
He shook his head “No, just nervous. I’ve never been hypnotized before.”
“It’s not that scary, you just have to clear your mind and relax.” Erin glanced at her watch “Mia should be coming by. Come on.” She locked the door behind her and turned to see the long black limo pulling up to the driveway. Shaking her head, she turned to Ryan “We’re going in style.”
Ryan laughed as the two entered the opened door held by the driver. The ride was pleasant and Erin was reminded just how rich Darren really was. When they arrived to the hospital, all eyes turned to them. Mia was not bothered by it, but Ryan was “Next time, we’ll take a cab.” He whispered to Erin.
She picked up Bonnie, who was gripping on her mother’s hand “Sweetie, don’t grow up to be like your mommy okay?”
“That’s what daddy always tell me.” She scratched her head in confusion while Erin and Ryan stifled a laugh.
Mia raised her brows curiously “Oh really? Come on, honey, let’s go meet mommy’s friend.” She took the bundle of joy back into her arms.
They entered the hospital and signed in at the reception “Dr. Chan is on the fourth floor now, room 425.”
“Thanks,” Erin nodded and gathered her crew to the elevator.
Mia smiled at her little girl who was growing heavy in her arms “What else did daddy say?”
Ryan sighed, “You two are horrible. How could you use your own daughter to find out what the other is saying? Why don’t you do like normal couples do…talk.” Speaking of the word couple instantly reminded him.
“You okay?” Erin asked sincerely.
Mia whispered something in Bonnie’s ear as she reached up for Ryan, he pulled her in his arms with ease as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. He was taken aback by the sweet gesture “Thank you.” He smiled brightly.
“Mommy says you need a kiss.” The little darling said sweetly.
He gave her a little hug with a small laugh “Yes…yes, I did.” The elevator doors opened and they walked out together to follow the signs leading to Ethan’s office.
They rounded a corner and found Ethan getting coffee from a ready machine. Suddenly, Mia yanked them back “Wait!” She hissed. Grabbing her little girl, she set her on the ground and said a few words to her. Erin and Ryan exchanged glances, curious to know what she was doing “Okay, go!” she pushed Bonnie towards Ethan.
“What are you doing?” Erin asked.
“Shhh!” Mia pointed, “Watch him squirm.”
Ethan let out a short yawn as he mixed in his cream and sugar when he turned to find the most adorable girl standing in front of him “Hi!” he smiled. Bonnie didn’t smile, instead she waved him closer to her “What can I help you with?” she was awfully cute.
“I lost my mommy.” Her lips quivered as she blew up into tears.
“Shhh…its okay.” He pulled her closer and she cried even louder, shrieking at the top of her lungs. A few people walked by and gave him strange looks “Don’t cry…shh…” he was trying unsuccessful to keep her quiet “Please…if you stop crying, I’ll help you find your mommy.”
Bonnie stopped crying instantly “Okay.”
Ethan tilted his head sideways, something about the girl was oddly familiar. She took his hand and led him down the hallway towards Mia who stood there crossed arms and glaring sternly at him “Mia!”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know you.” She raised a brow and took back her daughter.
“She…she’s your daughter?” he asked. Erin smiled with a nod “Long time no see guys.”
“Bonnie, remember his face okay. Don’t talk to him ever. He’s not mommy’s friend.”
Erin rolled her eyes “Mia, give him a break. He probably had work to do unlike some people…”
“No, it’s my fault. I was not a good friend. I’m sorry Mia, I should have informed you the minute I decided to return to Hong Kong.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice but Mia didn’t care, she got what she wanted, an apology.
Mia flashed her wide grin “I forgive you. Bonnie, he is my friend again. Call Uncle Ethan.”
“Uncle Ethan!” the little girl obediently answered.
Erin laughed “She’s too cute to be yours.” Turning to Ethan, she pointed her at Ryan “He’s all yours.” Linking her arm through Mia’s “How about breakfast?”
“Pancake sounds great!” Mia nodded in agreement.
“I don’t think the hospital makes pancakes, Mia.”
“We’re eating here?!?” Mia exclaimed with a wrinkled nose.
Erin laughed “Girl, you are so spoiled."
Ethan smiled as he pointed Ryan to his office “Shall we start? Give me a little background.”
Ryan summarized what happened and as Ethan listened, his face grew thoughtful “What do you think?”
“I’m sorry to hear about Shelly, it’s a horrible way to die. But I think the biggest clue is the figure you saw in the kitchen. I’m going to try to help you go back to that day and see if you remember anything else.” Ethan too was determined to help.
Lying on the couch made him feel more relaxed, closing his eyes as Ethan directed “What do you want me to do?”
“Clear your mind and think only of Shelly.” Ethan instructed, “Okay, it’s a Friday afternoon, you are coming home with Erin. Dinner was being cooked, entering the double doors, you could smell the burned potatoes but that was how Shelly cooked her vegetables. Dropping the groceries, you walked towards the kitchen door. There you could hear a bustling sound of pots and moving dishes…cracking the door open, all you see is smoke but if you squint your eyes you can see a figure. A tall dark figure, what is he wearing?”
“Short sleeve black t-shirt…” Ryan answered in a monotone.
“His arms or neck…was there anything special about them?” Ethan continued in a soothing tone.
Ryan’s brows knit together as if concentrating too hard “His right arm…there were tiny scratches.”
“Where do you they came from?” Ethan asked.
“Shelly’s nails…the autopsy report came out and said she had blood on her nails.” Ryan recalled.
"What else?" Ethan questioned.
Ryan squeezed his eyes tighter "I think he had some kind of a tatoo below his neck... on the left side... no, it's the shoulder!"
“Good. Come out!” he snapped his fingers roughly causing Ryan’s head to snap up as his eyes popped open. Ethan smiled “Congratulations, you just got your first clue.”
*************
Mia and Erin ordered the food to go as they walked to the garden of the hospital where patients took walks. They could see Bonnie playing in a distance with other kids in white gurneys. She stood out with her pink bubble dress. Erin was extra quiet and if it weren’t for the fact that Mia was busy watching her kid, she would have noticed minutes before. Mia giggled when she saw her daughter trip over her feet and getting back up instantly “She’s got my quickness.”
“That’s nice.” Erin replied emotionless.
Mia turned to her friend “Erin, are you okay?”
She was thinking of Luke again “Yes, of course I am.”
“You could have fooled me.” Mia commented, “Say, how are you and Ted doing? I know since Bonnie was born, we’ve drifted apart. I haven’t made an effort to keep in touch.”
“Mia, we see each other every day at work and have dinner at each other’s home once a month. Frankly, I’m sick of seeing your face.” Erin was only teasing.
She laughed “And I thought it wasn’t obvious. You didn’t answer me.”
Erin’s smile slowly faded “Do you ever get the feeling that Darren loves you more than you love him?”
“He better! Or I’ll kick his ass!” Mia huffed angrily.
“It’s useless talking to you.” Erin muttered.
“No, tell me, please…I’ll be serious, I promise. So you think Ted loves you more?” Mia looked more concerned.
Erin nodded “I feel like for the past three years, I’ve been dragging him by a string. He’s been patient and I’ve been so selfish.”
“Honey, he just loves you that’s all.” Mia felt her pain. It was horrible to be loved and could not return it to the other person. She did for months with Darren.
“That’s why I feel horrible.” Erin sighed, her eyes wandering to the garden.
Mia patted her friend’s shoulder “Is there any reason why it’s holding you back from continuing with Ted?”
She knew Mia had to know about Luke “There is…”
“I knew it! Who is he?” Mia crossed her leg on the bench and put aside her food.
Erin laughed “Girl instinct?”
“No, girlfriend instinct.” Mia corrected, “Now spill it!” she commanded.
“Promise me you will not leak a word of this.” Erin warned.
“I promise. If not, Darren will lose all his teeth and hair.” Mia vowed. Erin rolled her eyes and Mia hastily added “And I will have to take care of him for the rest of my life.”
She was satisfied “Evil, but good. Okay…a couple of weeks ago, I ran into this guy at the market, you were there too…but you and Riley were somewhere else--”
“Yeah, yeah…get to the good stuff.” She rushed.
“His name is—”
She was cut off by Ethan’s voice “Would anyone like to claim this cute little girl?” He had Bonnie in his arms with dirt all around her lips and her fingers were blackened.
Mia groaned “Sweetie! Your pretty pink dress!” taking the girl back, she scolded her lightly “Now I have to clean you up before your father shits in his pants.”
“Mommy, what is shit?” the girl asked innocently.
Erin shook her head at her friend wondering how she would get out of it “It’s…it’s another word for poop but only adults can use it.” Mia warned with widened eyes.
“Good answer!” Ethan called out as Mia turned to give him a glare. She took Bonnie inside the hospital to clean up.
“Where’s Ryan?” Erin asked. She didn’t even know they were done with the session.
“He got so excited about the clue, he wanted me to tell you guys he’s going to the police station to see Ted.” Ethan smiled, he could sense something wrong with the girl “Was I interrupting something?”
“No.” Erin replied.
Ethan nodded “I would have believed you if you didn’t answer that quick. But if you don’t want to tell me, I’ll respect that.”
“Thank you.” She was still amazed from the way he could read her like a book. Though she wasn’t ready to tell him about Luke, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings “Sorry.”
“There’s no need for apology.” He replied sympathetically “But I want to remind you, bottling up your secrets will only lead to overfilling and eventually explosion. I advise that you tell someone. It will help.” He guaranteed “I have a surgery in five minutes. You know where to find me.”
Erin nodded “Thanks Ethan.” she watched him leave and returned to the bench.