Chapter 162: Reviews from a bad date.
The morning started off rather slow for both Liwu and Weijun. He was not excited to go back to his regular job, while she was on the phone with her sister Xixi, asking for details about her date. The conversation was happening via a hologram link, so she could see Xixi.
Her sister was in bed, rubbing her eyes.
So far, her sister had moaned about everything to do with the restaurant. As expected, the experience was not good for a hungry person.
"So, what did you finally eat when the puzzle was solved?" Liwu asked curiously.
Sounds of sniffling came from Xixi, that made Liwu roll her eyes.
"Some kind of potatoes layered over bacon!" Xixi exclaimed in outrage. "Can you believe it? We put in thirty five minutes of work for a portion that was conquered in two bites. I wanted duck necks, spinach, spicy noodles. I didn’t want that...whatever it was."
Liwu picked up a comb from her dressing table and worked it through her hair. On the third movement,t, it snapped. It was such a regular occurrence that it didn’t bother her anymore.
[+5 Points: Broken comb.]
Liwu raised her head and smiled. The system was back!
"Mung bean cakes," Xixi screeched, making Liwu and Weijun wince. He hurried out of the bedroom before his ears would burst. "That is what they gave us for dessert. Cross had to fake a mile when the chef came out to receive compliments, uninvited!"
Liwu burst into laughter. As she tied her hair up in a neat ponytail, she said, "I knew I would hate this place as soon as Weijun said you had to solve puzzles for food. Maybe the restaurant is some kind of experiment for someone."
Xixi went on to describe more details as Liwu finished her morning routine, picked up her food box from her mother-in-law and then drove to the precinct. By the time she arrived, Xixi was being secretive about the possibility of a shared goodnight kiss after a disastrous date.
"After dropping me off, he returned with take out, and I think I fell in love a little." Xixi declared.
An arm swung around Liwu’s shoulder. Her partner Linlin. "Who is in love?"
Liwu bumped Linlin away. "Bye Xixi, we will talk later."
Linlin smiled curiously, "Ah, so Xixi is in love. I am guessing this is about Cross. They went to Ciphers last night and it made the entertainment news. New power couple in town or city!"
As usual, Linlin chattered like a gossipy bird while Liwu listened, trying to look interested. They had barely entered through the door when Chief Abby’s voice thundered from her watch. "Detective Liwu, assemble your team. We have a got situation at the Gateway Children’s Healthcare Hospital. Multiple unexplained comas. The doctor says it’s abnormal so you guys are up."
Linlin’s brows knitted. "Comas? That sounds like a medical problem, not a crime." She spoke quickly, before Liwu could ’shush’ her.
"Did I make a request Detective Linlin?" The captain asked sternly.
Linlin froze. "No Sir. We will get on it right away."
They both held silence for ten seconds and the Linlin exhaled. "He sure knows how to turn on the ’I am your superior officer’ attitude. Where is pub Abby? The one who twisted a cherry stem with his tongue?"
Her question only made Liwu shake her head. The chief was drawing a line between friendship and rank, which was how it was supposed to be. As long as he was a good leader, they were happy to follow him. The team gathered quickly. Liwu, Linlin and He Xiao Yi left for the hospital while others remained behind to start information gathering.
In the car, Xuanji and Su Jin’s voice accompanied them, providing details on the case.
"I have sent hospital schematics to all of you, just in case you have to chase after a perpetrator." Xu Jin shared.
Su Jin’s voice overpowered Xuanji’s. "Tread carefully, the fact that we have been called in means the doctor or the parents believe this is system related. In case it is not, they won’t believe us, not as long as those children remain in a coma."
"Has the hospital had any odd happenings lately?" Xiao Yi asked.
Xuanji and Su Jin’s voices vanished, as they went to dig. Liwu sipped coffee and listened to a an audio detective novel, written by a famous author in the country. The twists and turns carried her through the journey to the hospital.
Gateway children’s hospital was near the entrance to the city, which was how it acquired its name. The walls outside were painted with lively murals and animated figures. It had a big playground outside. On the inside, it was a fortress of sterile white walls and humming machines.
The doctor, Mu Fang, was waiting for them in his office. He was a gaunt man with tired eyes. "Detectives, thank you for coming," he said, rising from his his chair. "I have seen comas before, but never like this. This is a children’s hospital so the victims are all children between the ages of six and eight. They were hospitalized for different minor issues and were only required to spend two to three days here. Suddenly, I noticed today at midnight that they would not wake up."
He led them down a corridor lined with beds. Liwu’s heart clenched. Rows of small figures lay motionless, breathing shallowly, faces peaceful, as if lost in dreams. Parents hovered nearby, distraught, whispering prayers.
He Xiao Yo scribbled furiously in his notebook. All children. Twelve in total, Same age range. Possibly, deliberate!!!!!!!!
"We have been running every test we can think of since we discovered this." The doctor told them. "So far, we have found no signs of toxins in their blood or bodies. They don’t have fevers or signs of a plague. They are just unconscious. We have also tested the hospital, from the air to the roof. We are clean, whatever caused this is not environmental."
Another doctor, a female one joined them. She looked sacred. "This is not natural. They lost consciousness at the same time and all have the same symptoms--if I can call it that. It feels orchestrated. As if someone or something is pulling them into sleep. In the old days, someone would be whispering ghosts or something supernatural. But, we live in the age of systems. When the usual science failed us, we concluded that it could be tied to that. If it’s not, we would still rather know so that we can rule it out."
Doctor Mu Fang pushed the female doctor away. "Stop trying to make it make sense Doctor Qian." He looked at Liwu. "They are trapped in their dreams."