Future Tormentor

13

On January 8, 2021, Leo was packing his belongings to be discharged from the hospital when an older detective came to pick him up. The detective, upon seeing Leo, patted his shoulder and sighed, hesitating to share some news about Jeff, whom he noted Leo seemed close to, given their apparent lack of other friends.

Leo paused in his packing and looked up attentively as the detective revealed that Jeff had died the previous day at his home under chaotic circumstances, clutching a phone in his hand. The forensic team suggested a skull fracture from a blunt force trauma but concluded the immediate cause of death was a cardiac arrest, exacerbated by pre-existing heart conditions. It appeared Jeff had been attempting to call for help when he succumbed to his condition.

Leo was momentarily taken aback, particularly by the mention of cardiac arrest as the cause of death, which suggested Jeff was alive, albeit barely, at the time.

The detective, mistaking Leo's shock for grief over his friend's passing, offered some words of comfort before inquiring about any unusual behavior from Jeff during his last visit to the hospital or any subsequent contact.

Leo recounted the lack of anything unusual during their last meeting but expressed concern when he couldn't reach Jeff later that day, echoing the detective's findings from phone records and corroborating accounts from Leo's coworkers.

Leo expressed regret for not insisting on checking on Jeff personally, despite having briefly left the hospital. His rapid return, facilitated by the manipulation of time, was unbeknownst to others, aligning with the nurse's report of his short absence and prompt return.

The detective didn't suspect Leo's account, moving on to discuss the discovery at Jeff's home that implicated him as the suspect in a series of murders. However, without concrete proof and due to the complexity of the evidence, the detective hesitated to burden Leo further, instead advising him to focus on his recovery and not dwell on the case.

Leo, after a moment of contemplation, nodded in agreement and resumed packing, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air.