When I woke up, Aime was fast asleep cradling me in his arms. After denying all this time he was now sleeping like a baby while hugging me. I quietly woke up and left to make him some breakfast. I searched long and hard on all the recipes to brew him some tasty caramel coffee along with some waffles. My breakfast was simple: Some random fruits or a vegetable salad, along with some juice. I brought the breakfast to his room and sat next to him with my laptop. I was going to fill out my admission forms first thing today.
Aime: mwhm…
Avril: Are you awake? I have made you some waffles and your favourite caramel coffee.
Aime: Hmm? What time is it?
Avril: It's 8.30.
Aime: Hmm it smells nice.
Avril: Eat up. Also, where do you think I should apply for college?
Aime: Anywhere you like. It should solely be your decision.
Avril: But what about you? Where have you applied?
Aime: Well I can go to Stanford, Harvard, or IE University in Spain. I have been accepted to these colleges
Avril: Oh my god Aime! You never told me you were good at studies huh? I have heard Stanford is the best business college there is and Harvard too. You also got accepted to the best business college in Spain. It's awesome!
Aime: Well, it still must've been easier than your college screenings.
Avril: Why are you downgrading yourself? You can't just get into IVY league colleges with JUST influence. And I don't even think you must've thought of buying your way in
Aime: Why? Cause I am an orphan?
Avril: Nooo, obviously not. But because you're so sweet and kind.
Aime: I am not that nice and naïve guy you think I am Avril.
Avril: Where are you going? I haven't finished talking to you yet. Were the waffles not good?.... You haven't even touched them….
He was acting strange, more like p*ssed at something. Was it something I did or said? I thought I should give it a rest before probing him more on the matter. After all, he got all defensive whenever it came to his past or problems.
I thought it would be best if I got into a military-affiliated medical college where no one could touch me until at least graduation and I could learn to protect myself more efficiently. There weren't such good colleges in Europe at least. So, I decided to look for them in India and I did find one. Since my entrance examination score was good enough, I chose that college as my first preference. While I still filled out my admission form for Harvard as well in case I didn't get that seat in India.
I told Aime that I would be leaving for the whole day making rounds to the hospital my parents were taken to and the police station and if I got time to their workplace as well. He only nodded in response as I left.
I reached the hospital and I enquired about them at the front desk. After which I was escorted to the Doctor's cabinet who had handled my parents' case.
Dr. Dupont: Hello Miss Duhamel, right?
Avril: Yes that's right doctor, their one only daughter.
Dr. Dupont: I am extremely sorry for what happened to your parents but by the time they arrived in the hospital, they were in a really bad condition. There was nothing more we could do to save them.
Avril: Oh yes? Well, I would like to know what exactly happened to them when you examined them and probably did some tests or screening thereafter. Since y'all had so confidently refused my aunt's- Dr. Francoise Duhamel's plea in conducting the post-mortem after their UNTIMELY and BIZZARE deaths?
Dr. Dupont: Well, you have to understand first that the documents to incinerate your parents had already been signed by your other kin- what was his name again? Yes, right Mr. Kishore Verma before Dr. Duhamel got in touch with us it was already too late. The bodies had already been incinerated.
Avril: Oh, yes the hospital's first priority was burning the bodies of the patients who had died just a few hours ago in a civil accident?
Dr. Dupont: Well, it wasn't a civil case so-
Avril: so it was a criminal case?
Dr. Dupont: Well no but-
Avril: but what doctor? If it wasn't a civil case it had to be a criminal accident. And if it was a criminal accident no matter who signed what papers shouldn't have mattered and you should have conducted the post-mortem immediately after their deaths. Well, at least I have this recorded.
Avril: But I have no desire to take you to court unless you don't feel like cooperating Dupont? First I'll need to know how bad their condition was what exactly happened after they arrived here and who had brought them to the hospital in the first place?
Dr. Dupont: Well, Mr. Duhamel had severe head and neck injuries specifically- Blunt trauma to the neck and blunt trauma as well as penetrating trauma to the head. His zone-1 of the neck had taken quite the toll and it seemed he died on the spot. He also had second-degree burns. While Mrs. Duhamel was alive but unconscious on arrival. Her death was mainly due to anoxic injuries to the brain and cerebral edema. She had also suffered from an inhalation injury.
Avril: Penetrating injuries and cerebral edema can also be caused by sharp and blunt objects respectively right?
Dr. Dupont: How do you kno-. Yes, but it is seen in several major accidents as well.
He was insane if he wanted me to believe that the same two people in the same car at the same time had died due to completely different causes. It was possible just as it could be possible for half of the car to catch fire or only half part to get mutilated or that these happen simultaneously to only two respective halves of the car.
Avril: What about their belongings?
Dr Dupont: …..They were deposited at the police station
Avril: Hah, When it was a civil case? Who was the inspector in charge of the case?
Dr. Dupont: Monsieur Gauthier.
I immediately headed to the police station next. I needed my parents' cell phones. I needed that call log. I drove as fast as I could while researching about Gauthier. He was a senior officer at the Sûreté somehow in charge of a minor car accident now.
Poste de police
Avril: May I speak to M. Gauthier.
Intercom: Hello, How may I help you?
Avril: I would like to speak to M. Gauthier.
Intercom: Do you have a prior appointment?
Avril: No.
Intercom: Then I am afraid you won't be able to meet him, mademoiselle. If there are any complaints you would like to loge against someone please head over to the next room. Thank You.
Avril: Tell him about the accident in the 10th arrondissement area. And that I have spoken to Dr. Dupont about it.
Intercom: …
Please head straight in and take the first left, the office at the end of the hallway would be the monsieur's.
…
M. Gauthier: How may I be of help to you mademoiselle?
Avril: Well, for starters I would like to have my parents' cell phones back. And know more about their case. Has it been classified as a civil or criminal case?
M. Gauthier: Well, that's not quite possible right now. since their phones have been seized for further investigation.
Avril: So, it is a criminal case then?
M. Gauthier: Well, as I said the investigation is ongoing and we will let you know when we come to a solid conclusion mademoiselle Duhamel. As far as we have come across it was an unfortunate accident caused due to over speeding and reckless driving.
Avril: I would let you know if you don't give me any further details then I would go forward with a case against the hospital as well as against the station for misconduct, misdemeanor, and violating my right to FOI.
M. Gauthier: Now, now we don't want to go through such lengths do we, mademoiselle?
(Rings a bell twice)
Here, why don't you follow my assistant, she will take you to where the cell phones are kept. As for what happened that night we will surely keep you posted when we have a breakthrough. Since you might not know but the police stations are usually swarmed with even more tedious and critical cases.
Avril: I hope it won't take long to hear from you monsieur, I'll be leaving for college soon you see.
M. Gauthier: Oh which?
Avril: Just the same old boring Harvard or Yale. Haven't quite decided on that yet.
I knew I could be walking to my own grave in this grim police station but I had to take all the chances I could. So, I followed her meekly, after all, I couldn't just come to the police station with an illegally loaded gun.
…
I was right she had brought me to one of the empty cells underground instead of a depository. She took away my cell phone pushed me in and locked the cell.
Lady: The monsieur has told you to be careful of your actions especially that pretty mouth of yours.
Avril: Tell him to be sure to let me go by 19:00 today or else my aunt and uncle would be at his gate with all the required documents for his dismissal. Also, I wonder what the headlines will look like in le journal tomorrow? "People of color abused again" "Violation to the rights of the minority in France." "Misconduct and infringement of the civil rights by the police of Paris once again". You see I don't leave the house without informing at least two of my closest people you know. One of them just happens to be the daughter of the Editor-in-chief of Le Parisien.
She stormed out of there next. What I had said was mostly a bluff. I hadn't informed anyone of where I was going today though I had scheduled a message to my aunt for 20:00 in case I found myself in trouble but it didn't mention me heading to the police station. The editor's daughter was in our class and I had her number but we weren't friends. Frankly speaking, I don't even think she would pick up my phone if I did try reaching her: forget about posting a whole d*mn article for free.
Monsieur Gauthier appeared soon after taking his sweet time but it was still 18:00. He hinted her to do something. And that was probably hit me with the nightstick.
M. Gauthier: You see child if I had my own ways I would've preferred sleeping with you instead. But since these things are out of my hands as I have been suggesting since the whole afternoon I need to do this. You just can't go around threatening everyone dear. You would meet the same end as your parents and also end up losing the ones dear to you. Trust me you haven't yet seen real misery.
Avril: Well, why don't you just tell me what happened that night then? I just need to know the facts and then I'll be on my way. No one is harmed this way.
M. Gauthier: My, My you can still speak like that after being hit so much. You do resemble your father back in his youth. That maniac was willing to do anything for your mother. That's how they ended up dead together in the end. The greatest lovers of the modern era. Hahahaha
My eyes darkened and I just had one thing on my mind to stab this woman to her death and rip off his jaw just like one of those wolves I had met. But I still needed to know whatever I could.
M. Gauthier: Well, that's enough.
I think you've learned your lesson now, right sweety? As for the details, even I don't know what the f*ck ever happened to your parents and I don't plan to ever find out for my own safety. You should do the same and just live your life in ignorance.
I just stood up and left the station there was nothing more I could do there and not anything I would gain insight on. My whole body ached and my face stung but it wasn't until I saw my face in the mirror that I realized why he had sent me out from the back doors instead of the ones I came through. My lips were bleeding and my forehead had some cuts but at least I didn't have any bruises on my face like the ones on my stomach or back. I went to a nearby dispensary and got some band-aids. After washing the blood off it didn't stand out much but I still needed the first aid. If I had put the band-aids on though, Aime would definitely have noticed and I didn't want to trouble him any further today, so I just left it like that.