Chapter 10 - The Detectives Step Aboard
The appearance of the detectives changed the atmosphere inside the bus once again.
Conversations stopped.
Even the children became quiet.
The taller detective, a man in his late forties with graying hair, showed his badge before stepping carefully through the crowded aisle.
"I'm Detective Harris."
His younger partner nodded.
"Detective Collins."
Neither of them looked at the mother.
Neither of them seemed interested in the argument that had delayed the bus.
Their attention remained fixed on Ethan.
"Mr. Cole," Harris said calmly, "we're glad you're alive."
Ethan frowned.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
The detective crouched beside him.
"When the hospital called us this morning, they didn't report a missing patient."
"They reported a possible attempted murder."
Several passengers gasped.
The mother instinctively pulled her children closer.
Harris continued.
"Your damaged brace wasn't the only concern."
He accepted a sealed evidence bag from one of the paramedics.
Inside lay a tiny metallic fragment that had fallen from Ethan's brace when he collapsed.
"This wasn't part of the original equipment."
The nurse leaned forward.
"What is it?"
"Our forensic team believes it's a modified locking pin."
Collins unfolded several crime-scene photographs.
"The original safety pin had been removed."
"And replaced."
"With one designed to fail under pressure."
The elderly woman who had criticized Ethan earlier covered her mouth.
"So when he stood..."
Harris nodded.
"The brace was destined to collapse."
The realization swept through the bus like a cold wind.
The argument had never been the real danger.
The moment Ethan stood up, someone else's plan had been completed.
Collins looked directly at Ethan.
"Did anyone have access to your room last night?"
Ethan closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"Think carefully."
"There were nurses."
"Doctors."
"Cleaning staff."
"Visitors."
He hesitated.
"There was one man."
Harris immediately became alert.
"What man?"
"I thought he was maintenance."
"He wore hospital overalls."
"What did he do?"
"He said he needed to inspect the bed controls."
"Did he touch your brace?"
"I... I don't remember."
The detectives exchanged another glance.
"That wasn't maintenance."
Outside, another police vehicle arrived.
May you like
More officers began surrounding the bus—not because of the passengers, but because they now believed Ethan had narrowly survived a carefully planned attack.
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