Chapter 23
“Hey! Don’t block the way, move aside!”
“Ah, sorry!”
Isabelle, who had been peeking inside from the doorway, stepped back with an embarrassed expression. In the old, small two-story building, dozens of people had come and gone in just thirty minutes.
Most of them had serious expressions, groaning in pain or nursing injuries.
‘With it this crowded, will I even be able to find anything? I hope I’m not making a wrong guess.’
Isabelle gathered the hem of her black dress in front of her and carefully entered the hospital. Every step she took was accompanied by cries of pain echoing from every corner.
She had thought simply that by visiting a hospital—a place where sick people gathered—she might find clues about Dr. Morus. Luckily, there was only one hospital in town, so even someone as directionally challenged as her could find it. Still, it was impossible to approach anyone for a conversation.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, someone tapped Isabelle on the shoulder. Startled, she turned around, and a familiar afterimage flashed in her gray eyes.
“Amanda?”
“…Um? Sorry, but I’m not Amanda.”
Isabelle shook her head and looked at the woman in front of her again. She did resemble Amanda, but on closer inspection, her gaze and tone were completely different.
‘Can people really look this similar?’
Before Isabelle’s question could be resolved, the woman put her hand on her waist and spoke again.
“You’ve been looking around the hospital for a while. Are you here because you’re sick?”
“No, not really.”
“Then why were you sneaking a look around our hospital?”
“Well….”
Trailing off, Isabelle’s gaze fell on the woman’s attire. Judging by her uniform, she seemed to be a nurse at the hospital.
And with her striking resemblance to Amanda, something about her seemed suspicious.
‘Maybe this will make things easier than I thought.’
Isabelle put on a friendly, gentle smile and extended her hand toward the woman.
“Nice to meet you. I’m a detective, Isabelle. I’m investigating a case and was wondering if you could spare a moment to help?”
“….”
At that moment, the woman, her eyes sharp and fixed on Isabelle’s hand, shouted in a direction.
“Guards! There’s a suspicious person here. Please kick them out!”
“W-wait? Please, just listen to me—!”
“Sorry, but we’re already overwhelmed treating our patients. If you’re not sick, you’ll need to leave.”
“W-wait a moment!”
In the end, Isabelle was dragged out of the hospital by the guards without being able to ask a single question.
Bang!
“Ouch…”
Rubbing her sore tailbone, Isabelle got up. Some of the patients glanced at her, but her stubbornness outweighed her embarrassment.
‘Did you think I’d give up that easily?’
As the sun set beyond the mountain ridge, rain began to drizzle steadily. The sound of the rain swallowed even the surrounding noises. At that moment, the door opened, and Jane stepped out of the hospital. She locked the door tightly with a key and turned back.
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder echoed around. Jane instinctively turned around and, seeing a human-shaped shadow in the flashes of lightning, screamed and crouched down.
“Eek!”
Covering her ears and trembling, Jane cautiously raised her head once the surroundings fell silent. Recognizing the figure, she jumped to her feet and shouted.
“You scared me! Why are you still here?”
Isabelle tilted her umbrella back and took a step closer.
“I thought it would be rude to ask questions while you were still on duty, so I waited. Now that you’re off work, it should be fine, right?”
“You’re really persistent. But what can I do? I don’t have time to answer your questions.”
Jane stood up, glared at Isabelle with all her might, and turned to leave.
Isabelle, seemingly unconcerned about whether Jane welcomed her, stood still and asked her question.
“Do you know Amanda?”
“….”
“Then how about Mr. Hybert?”
Thud.
The sound of splashing footsteps in the rain stopped. Jane slowly turned around, her expression shocked. She stepped forward in one stride and grabbed Isabelle by the collar.
“How do you know Hybert?! Are you his wife too?!”
“First, let go of my hand and then we can talk.”
“Answer my question first… ah!”
With a sudden scream, Jane’s grip released. Isabelle had easily twisted Jane’s wrist and, letting go, adjusted her disheveled clothes.
“I warned you to let go.”
“…W-who are you?”
Jane backed away cautiously, her eyes full of suspicion. As she retreated, Isabelle calmly approached, smiling softly.
“I already told you. I’m a detective.”
Later, at a nearby café, Isabelle observed Jane checking the business card Isabelle had given her.
At the hospital, she hadn’t noticed, but Jane looked like a very youthful, almost girlish woman in her usual state.
‘I hope she’s not a minor.’
If not, Isabelle could proceed without further questioning and forcibly send Hybert’s spirit to the afterlife.
As Isabelle nodded solemnly, Jane spoke up.
“You said you’re a private detective.”
Caught off guard, Isabelle cleared her throat nervously.
“A-yes, that’s right.”
“Specializing in ghosts?”
Jane let out a teasing laugh and tossed the business card. Isabelle raised her eyebrows at the card left on the table.
‘I noticed it from the start—she’s wary and very suspicious.’
Her personality was the complete opposite of Amanda, Hybert’s other wife.
Yet it was easy to see why Hybert had chosen her as a wife. Isabelle looked at Jane, who crossed her arms and glared at her with displeasure. Her glossy black hair and striking dark blue eyes, hard to see in the dark, reminded Isabelle of someone.
‘In terms of appearance, she really does look like Amanda.’
Whether it was coincidence or Hybert’s preference, her pale skin, hair, and eye color were almost identical.
Honestly, after hearing about Denver, Isabelle didn’t find Hybert’s tastes appealing.
‘Was he really planning to use his wives as material for Dr. Morus?’
However, without solid evidence, Isabelle temporarily pushed aside her unease and apologized to Jane.
“I apologize if I’ve been rude. But I didn’t think you’d meet me otherwise.”
“You know you’ve already been rude, right?”
“I’ll apologize for that too. I just need to ask a few questions, and I’ll make sure you leave safely.”
Jane’s expression softened slightly at Isabelle’s sincere apology, giving Isabelle an opening to ask her questions.
“You asked me earlier if I was Mr. Hybert’s wife, right? So, are you his wife?”
“Yes. Specifically, his thirtieth wife.”
