The Invisible Strings

7. Testimony of Pierre

Detective Côté nods thoughtfully. "Don't you think it's all related to her history of abuse?" she asks.

Pierre's pauses as he thinks. "One thing I discovered after our divorce is that she was in a mental institute for almost two years before we met," he admits. "I was totally caught off guard when I discovered this fact. I was totally blinded by her beauty and love."

"What about the accident that caused her brain injury?" detective Gagnon inquires.

"We had our divorce finalized and I was no longer in contact with her at that time," he explains quietly. "I visited her once in the hospital, and it was a pretty bad one."

Detective Gagnon's brow furrows as he ponders Pierre's responses. "Do you think she can fake her mental state or her memory loss?" he inquires with serious tone.

Pierre considers the question carefully before responding. "It could be both, detective," his voice is uncertain. "Claire has always been adept at manipulating situations to her advantage. It wouldn't surprise me if she were capable of feigning mental illness or memory loss if it served her purpose."

Detective Côté adds "And most importantly, do you think she could commit the crime?" he pressed, his tone urgent.

Pierre hesitates, his expression troubled as he weighs the possibilities. "I don't speculate on anything," he replies carefully. "I think anything is possible, but without concrete evidence, it's impossible to say for certain."

Detective Gagnon sighs heavily, a sense of frustration washing over him as he considered the complexities of the case. "Regarding her condition, she has no alibi," he explains, his tone grave. "She can't prove her whereabouts, and all the evidence points to her. We have motive, but it could be the wrong deduction."

As the conversation ended, Detective Gagnon thanked Pierre for his cooperation.

"Your statement is noted, Mr. Deschamps. Thank you for your cooperation. We'll continue to follow up on leads and gather more evidence as the investigation progresses. If you have any additional information to share, please don't hesitate to contact us."

"Anytime, Detective," Pierre replied, a note of resolve in his voice.

Detective Côté closed her notebook with a decisive snap and turns off the recording. "We appreciate your willingness to help. We'll be in touch if we need any more information."

Pierre shakes their hands with determination in his eyes. "Thank you, Detective. I'll be here if you need me.

***

Claire thrashes in her bed, her screams piercing the stillness of the night. Her sobs come in ragged bursts, raw and unrestrained. "Jacques!" she cries, her voice a desperate wail that echoes down the quiet hospital corridor.

Pham stirs on the small couch in the corner of the room, her sleep interrupted by Claire's scream. She blinks against the darkness, momentarily disoriented. The room is dim, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside, casting long shadows on the walls. Another cry from Claire slices through the air, forcing Pham fully awake.

"Claire," Pham calls softly, rising from the couch and hurries to the bedside. Claire's face is twisted in anguish, her eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down her cheeks. She clutches at the sheets, her fingers white-knuckled with the intensity of her grip.

"Claire, wake up!" Pham shakes Claire gently, her voice urgent but soothing. "It's okay, it's just a dream," she whispers, though she knows it is more than that.

Claire's eyes fly open, wild and unfocused. She looks around, her breaths coming in heaving gasps, as if she is struggling to claw her way back to reality. "Jacques," she whispers again.

Pham squeezes Claire's hand. "I'm here, Claire. You are safe."

Pham summon the nurse. The seconds stretch into eternity as she waits, and the nurse rushes in.

"What's happening?" the nurse asks, moving swiftly to check the monitors.

"I don't know," Pham replies. "She just started screaming. She was sleeping and had a nightmare."

The nurse prepares a tranquilizer and administers it to Claire, but it has no immediate effect. Claire remains full of anxiety, biting her nails, her face pale and her wrinkles pronounced. After few more checks, the nurse leaves the room.

As soon as the nurse is gone, Claire reaches out to Pham. "Can I listen to the recording, Pham?" she asks, her voice pitiful and pleading.

Pham pulls a chair close to the bed and sits, holding Claire's hand tightly. "Yes, Claire." She hands over her phone, and Claire puts it next to her ear, seeking solace in the familiar sounds.

As Claire listens, her breathing gradually steadies, and she drifts back into sleep. Pham watches her closely, finally taking her phone after Claire is fully asleep.

Pham stares at the phone in her hand, a chill running down her spine as she notices the recording still playing-a voice she doesn't recognize, whispering, "Jacques... Jacques..."

Before she can react, Claire suddenly sits up, eyes wide open, and utters, "He's here."