ATONEMENT (THE BOOK) PAGE 12

Gianna sat crouched at the little space left,close to her dressing table;still wearing the pink stilleto and the black cotton dress she had worn a few days back when she had decided to confront Flora. Her hair damp from perspiration dangled at each side of her face,her eyes staring back vacantly,while her face was as pale as a sheet.The short man wearing the police uniform continued to speak quietly on his mobile phone, while two other people a man and a woman moved cautiously around the bedroom. The man was picking some items and putting them in to a transparent cellophane bag while the woman took pictures as she moved.suddenly the short man glanced towards them growling 'why is it taking forever, for the paramedics to get here,it's been tan minutes already' They both stopped for a moment he shook his head disgustedly."Sergean­t Umeh"he turned to the young man bagging the items 'go and speak to the press out there"the young man stared back bewildered. "I mean it"he continued "give them an excuse they can't come in here.trampling all over evidence"he barked. As he rushed out the short man yelled after him 'sergeant no pictures,there would be a press conference after we moved the body,one more thing" the sergeant stopped in his tracks "don't over do it". He took up the phone again "we are moving this one too to the facility it would be like a re-union from hell,the other one is there too,the goddamned thing is like a virus,maybe they caught something,both of them,he laughed at his own joke. Then he bent down towards her "yeah that doc of yours, sure got her hands full this time,I would get back to you as soon as we start the evacuation Director" Suddenly he heard her breathing her eyes fluttered open "help me"she gasped. He stared back "I will be damned,she's alive........

ATONEMENT (THE BOOK) PAGE 11

According to forensics there was no sign of a struggle,no visible marks of contentions either;but her spine and parts of the bones in her ribs were broken,there is also the situation with her skull,it's cracked' However the patient's pulse is maintained but her entire anatomy is devoid of any kind of movement,her eyes where the most intriguing they peer out hauntingly. The petite woman with the close cropped hair wore a thick rimmed spectacle,her dark jacket sitting well over the knee length flowered dress, she wore an ankle length black booth which made her look a few inches taller. She continued to nod her head at the frail looking man in a grey tweed jacket,he looked above sixty,he continued to study the sheaf of papers in his hand they both stood close to a tall green plant in a huge silver pot by the elevator,oblivious to the staff and visitors of the hospital. 'Doctor' he raised his head looking at her' such mystery' 'this is no coma I assure you sir' she responded too quickly,apparently disconcerted. 'Everything is in order I presume' he handed her the documents and started to walk off,she took a glance. 'Director' she called quickly he stopped in his tracks. 'You did not sign the authorisation section,I would require an immeadiate transfer,to enable me make a thorough research,I have everything I need at our facility' she held her breath he hesitated for a mili-second 'alright do what you deem necessary,my concern is simple;I want results in the next 72hrs' he strodded off quietly as his shinny black shoe clinked with his departure,she stared after his back.......