Doctor Paul looked at the file on the table before him the third time. This time his glasses tend to lower slightly below his eyes. He knew he has just seen something he hasn't noticed before.
But how come he never discovered?
The more he looked at Duke's case file. The more the memories he had with Duke flooded his mind. And the moment he lifted his head and stared into the waiting eyes of detective James he knew he was ready to say all he knew about Duke Rexon.
"He was rushed in here." Doctor Paul began as he struggled to merge the separated memories. "It was an accident. They said it happened when he drove drunk—he had a fatal injury on his brain and then we manage to fix it, my partner Doctor Lexis and me. He has moved to London now—"
"You mean Duke drove. He was still underage at the time I suppose." James didn't hide his observation.
"Of course he was. He had no driver's license. Silly teenagers do that these days, so I wasn't surprised. There was a quarrel with the guy who drove to the party and he had to drive and then it happened—the accident. The accident was both mysterious and the same time not so fatal. But its impact on his head was disturbing." Doctor Paul looked away and then ventured. "Why do you want to know about Duke Rexon? Why not ask his father instead? I think he should be in the right position to say even better."
James knew that question will come. He adjusted his sitting position and dismisses the silence that hung above them for minutes. "His father isn't saying anything about his son. There have been violent cases of killing in Lisbon lately and our suspicion is closing up around Duke Rexon but we still can't merge the tiny lines—Doctor Paul, do you think Duke will have the tendencies to hurt others because of brain damage?"
Doctor Paul knew his question wasn't answered fully but the discussion seems to be taking another dimension already. He was always mindful about revealing his patient's cases to a third party.
But with Police now involved and Alex Rexon not talking then something must be happening and that doesn't smell well. "Duke Rexon was treated here." He began carefully. "I have this feeling there could be a relapse if and only if he never stops alcohol. And that was the only condition I suspect could bring about indiscriminate behavior and perhaps not necessarily criminal tendency or murder cases as you think—"
"No Doctor Paul we have our concerns that something is wrong somewhere and perhaps Duke may be able to help us fix it or maybe not." James' eyes are still on Doctor Paul. "He seems to be a smart kid for his age and also seems to be a high-grade student in Moleaf High—do you think his operated brain got anything to do with it?"
Doctor Paul examined Duke's case file again and then looked up. "Working on damage head is not an easy task—I have this belief that the surgery done can't make him his former self—there may be some level of noticeable over or under activities perhaps and one of these is what I think you have witnessed in his exceptional performance in school—"
"What about the other?" James was now impatient. "I mean the under-activity? Could it be that's the negative side of him we are yet to discover?"
Doctor Paul perceived that James was dragging him too far.
What does he have in his mind?
Does he think Duke wouldn't have been discharged when he did?
Or was he thinking they didn't do a perfect surgery on Duke?
As his thoughts swings, James' words screwed in again. "Do you think Duke's history of brain deformity or damage could make him a terror?"
Doctor Paul thought for a while and shuddered. "Duke walked out of the hospital alright but as I said before alcohol can cause a reversal of some brain cells and that needs medical attention—we told his father the consequence of Duke doing drugs or alcohol. So if he now starts having problems or health issues his father should be in the perfect position to ask about Duke's welfare."
James shifted his chair back and stood to his feet. "Thanks for your time, Doctor Paul—"
"Always a pleasure detective James," Doctor Paul stretched out his right hand for a handshake.
As he watched James walk out the door. He never kept thinking about what mess Duke have gotten himself into. He should have listened perhaps there would have been no suspicious reverse.
But again he knew he had succumbed to Pamela Xobed's intention and the impact it had on Duke is what he cannot tell. It was mysterious and not science-driven he remembered telling himself, but he did the biding of Pamela Xobed all the same.
He remembered how he planted a magical pin in one of the brain cells of Duke. And that he was never ready to reveal.
Since he cannot explain the scientific impart of such action and at that time, Pamela had called it an honor of history he knew doesn't matter much perhaps but now with detective James coming around. He knew there could be more to that mysterious little pin than he could imagine.
Staring into space, he knew Alex Rexon could be in trouble and even more troubles in the coming days.
"Why do most people have to teach their Kids vices rather than virtues? They suffer their children to do crime while they watch from the back burner." James blustered as he sat opposite Nathan.
"The children suffer all the ills created by the adults and soon they become a menace—I think Alex is suffering his child Duke. There must be something about that family we don't know about and the whole Lisbon is suffering for it too—what are your thoughts, Nathan?"
"Not differently James. I guess we share the same opinion but one thing is certain. Nothing is hidden forever. If Alex is hiding something or Duke hiding anything, it will be out one day not long perhaps."
James stood up and strolls to the open window and by the time he spun around. Nathan was set with his questions. "You mean Doctor Paul wasn't so direct when he spoke about Duke's medical relapse?"
"He wasn't so certain I guess. I also think I understood his thoughts perhaps when he said alcohol can cause a relapse and that to me isn't his fault if his patient after being discharged wants to play dumb. I think Alex should have some blame in this if he allows Duke to go back to alcohol. Don't you see Alex's wine shelf? He got alcohol in it and I am sure Duke will want to have a taste or more. And Alex may not have noticed because he was always away on business trips abroad so—" James stopped talking but never stopped pondering.
"What about drugs? If that boy does combine both alcohol and drug then Lisbon is on fire." Nathan assumed.
James knew trying to investigate Duke may take weeks or perhaps forever.
The death of Edison was still a mystery although there are several pointers to Duke but no concrete evidence yet.
But then how can an intelligent child in Moleaf High become a cruel child in Lisbon?
He could tell Doctor Paul was not completely truthful perhaps he was trying to protect his license.
But why did he not invite Duke over since his medical case was unique?
The more he struggled to merge his thoughts even more his thoughts evaporated.
And the moment he tried to allow his mind to work again, Nathan's voice rushed into his eardrums. "I almost forgot we got an anonymous caller. It was a female. She didn't say who she was but instead said a few things that got me wondering—"
"Who was she?" James demanded. "Was it about Duke?" He sprang out of the chair he had sat for almost 30 minutes and walked up to Nathan who kept gazing at his laptop on his leather table for minutes.
"Is she another invisible caller? Remember we got a lot more recently and—"
"No James, this one is different. She seems to know what she was saying. I think so. She said there will be another attack in Lisbon. Although she wasn't specific but told us it will be soon—"
Nathan stopped when he noticed James' angry face.
"Not what you think James—something tells me this woman knows too much but wasn't ready to say much—"
"Why didn't you make her say much, since she wanted to help?" James' anxiety grew.