Crossing Mia

5 - SITE VISIT

KNOCKING on the door stopped Violet from reading the medical abstract in her hands.

Emil gave the folder during the lunch break earlier. He wanted her to read it for a second opinion. He said it was one of the cases that needed immediate attention.

Today marked the third and the last day of the medical mission. Early tomorrow, she would be driving back to where she was stationed in the next couple of months.

“Good evening, detective.” She greeted the police officer when she opened the door.

She was not expecting the detective to be in her place at this time of night. She thought she was absolved when she found out that Mia had already left.

The unsmiling woman stared at her before speaking.

“Can I talk to you?”

Violet opened the door wider.

Unintentionally, the tall woman inhaled deeply after closing the door. The scent of jasmine assaulted her nose.

Her wolf yapped in her head in absolute happiness.

The detective looked around the hotel room where she was staying. Aside from the bed, there was a small table that served as a study and dining area. Two chairs were beside the table. One has the messenger bag that V used on a daily basis, while the other has the medical abstract.

The room does not have much to offer but it was a luxury she did not have in some other places she went to.

She noticed the goose bumps on the other woman’s arms.

The AC was at its lowest temperature. V was used to it. She has a high tolerance for cold.

She reached for the remote and pressed the button to change the temperature of the room.

“Dinner, detective?” She asked when she saw the pizza on the table. Two slices were gone.

“Thanks.”

“Please have a seat.”

The doctor removed the bag from the chair before she occupied the other. The medical abstract went on top of the bed.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting this morning. Two hours had passed when I remembered our conversation.” V added. “You were gone when I searched for you.”

“Something came up. I left when you went back inside the tent.”

She nodded. “I have soda. You want some?”

“Please.”

She sat again after giving the can of cold drink to the other woman. She did not bother to open it. The detective might have a trust issue.

“My shirt looks better on you.”

“Thanks. I will give it back to you in the morning.” The detective popped open the soda and had a huge gulp.

It seemed that the police officer was more thirsty than she appeared.

V stared at the woman in front of her.

Although Mia looked tired, there was nothing amiss with her pony-tailed hair. The shirt was crumpled in the middle, but otherwise she was appealing to the eyes. Not very fashionable but beautiful.

Her brown eyes darkened when her emotions were heightened. The upturned nose emphasized her cheekbone.

“You told me that I am a person of interest in the murder case of the Rivers.” V started when the empty can was placed on the table.

“Your possible alibi checked out.”

“Oh?”

“I traced where you came from before you arrived in this town. There was a CCTV in the hotel where you stayed.”

“You went there? It was a few hours' drive.”

The violet-eyed woman finally understood why the other woman looked a little dishevelled.

It will take almost two hours to be in St. Vincent. Double the time, the woman in front of her spent most of the day driving.

“I have to check all the possibilities.” Mia disclosed.

“Do you have a suspect at this time?” V asked knowing that she had nothing to do with the murder.

More gloomy than before, the detective shook her head. “You are free to leave town.”

“Thanks. I will give you my contact information in case you need anything from me.”

“Thanks. Oswald stayed in this hotel, too. He can have his house again. We’re done processing the place.”

“Yeah. He chose to stay here for a while.” The police officer nodded with understanding. “You alright?”

The detective laughed. There was no humor in it nor a slight twinge of cheer in her eyes.

“I drove my ass to the town where you were staying. I was very excited. In my mind, I was very frantic and ready to finally have the evidence to incriminate you.” Mia said softly. “When I drove back, I was shaking that I had to stop halfway. I was so relieved when the evidence showed that you’re not the murderer.”

Violet saw the disarray in the detective’s state of mind. She empathized with the woman.

“I’m confused.” She swore. “I was adamant in implicating you in this murder. You fit the description.” Mia swore again. “The Rivers were killed with a very sharp object. The killing was precise and sure.”

Dark brown eyes met V’s.

“You are skilled with knives, Dr. Woods. You have the perfect cover. I was so confident that it was you.” A crisp swear left Mia’s lips. “I was anxious when the IT was replaying the footage. I was horrified at myself. I felt f*cking grateful to see you’re f*cking ass in that hotel at the time of murder.”

Unable to blink, V’s eyes remained on the perplexed woman.

The strain of the day was taking a toll on both of them.

“Why?” Silence came between them. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I have never met you before this case. Why do I even care if you’re the perpetrator?”

Mia looked at her hands that were on her lap. She was breathing heavily.

“Who the hell are you, woman? What kind of witchcraft did you place on me?”

Instead of denying the allegations, V responded. “I could give you my bio. I could also give you a list of references that could vouch for me.”

“W-what?”

Mia was even more confused when she raised her head. Fatigue was visible on her face.

“My name is Violet Woods, and I’m a doctor by profession. I spent most of my adult and professional life on the road. I volunteered on medical missions when I started college, and it continued even after I got my license when I was twenty-four.” She uttered. “In the last four years, I have no permanent address. I stayed in hotels, tents, or barracks. Whatever is available in the place when my services are needed.”

Shock was all over the detective’s eyes. She stayed silent when V gave her the passport.

“You could check the places I went to. That document was the witness to my wandering in the last eight years.”

“W-what?”

“You can also contact Dr. Emil Lu. He was the organizer of the last medical mission I went to. However, I am currently connected with Cure-Aid International. I was with them for four months until the next two months. You can find me in that hotel until then.” The tall woman’s voice was calm and collected. Even her face reflected nothing but understanding.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“So that you will have a clear picture of me.”

“How are you connected with Oswald River?”

“I also help people who need help. I heard about what happened to Oswald. He has no one. I have made it my life's mission to help in any way I can, especially those who thought they were hopeless.”

“Just like that?”

“In my line of work, I met people in all walks of life. Many of them were the likes of Oswald. People who just wanted to be left alone and start anew, but fate messes with them big time.”

“An angel in disguise.”

The side of V’s lips lifted. “I’m no angel, detective. Far from it.”