Their imposing black uniforms and their statuesque poses had a knack for making people feel uneasy.
After gently laying Lucinda on the bed, Nathan opened the door and addressed them, âNo need to keep watch at the door.
Your presence here is quite conspicuous and might startle the passersby.
Relocate to the hotelâs ground floor and stay concealed.
Please provide me with contact information for your commanding officer in case I need to give direct instructions.
â
âUnderstood, one police officer responded.
He stepped up, handed his phone number to Nathan, and departed with a group of his colleagues.
Peace returned to the corridor shortly after.
After securing the door, Nathan returned to Lucindaâs side.
Nathan gazed at the peacefully sleeping Lucinda.
Thoughts of the gunshot wound on her arm and the injury on the back of her head weighed heavily on his mind, filling him with guilt.
He perched on the bedâs edge and stayed by Lucindaâs side for two hours.
At lunchtime, Nathan ordered a selection of Light yet exquisitely prepared dishes and requested the hotelâs five-star chef to deliver them to the room.
Throughout the process, Lucinda continued to slumber, not stirring once.
Even after Nathan had arranged the dishes on the table, Lucinda remained in a profound slumber, displaying no indication of waking up.
Nathan settled on the bedâs edge again and affectionately called to Lucinda, saying, âHoney, itâs mealtime.
Iâm sure youâre hungry after the events this morning.
Lucinda?â
He tried calling Lucindaâs name twice, but there was no reply.
Nathan sensed that something was amiss and, with a trembling hand, checked Lucindaâs breath.
Thankfully, Lucindaâs breaths were even and calm.
âHoney, please wake up,â he urged gently.
Nathanâs hand brushed through the hair at the back of Lucindaâs neck, intending to lift her, but his fingers detected a slight stickiness.
A foreboding sensation washed over Nathan, causing him to retract his hand from Lucindaâs head.
Nathan directed his gaze downward to his hand and examined his fingertips.
He observed traces of blood, suggesting a possible head injury.
Lucinda had bled from the back of her head â it wasnât just a scratch.
Nathan promptly contacted the concealed police personnel in the hotel.
âLucinda is in a critical state.
Get an ambulance!â
Once the call ended, he swept Lucinda into his arms and rushed downstairs.