Fountain of Youth

The mirror in the waiting room sat right where a patient would review their reflection. I looked at a familiar image, though the peaches and cream complexion had long gone, replaced by the ‘Aging Banana’ jaundice colouring and darkening age spots, Double chins, drooping eyelids and cats bum mouth.

‘Mirror, Mirror, why do you reflect what you see, not what should be?’

I chuckled to myself.

The rhetorical question became lost in the otherwise empty sterile pure white and steel waiting room.  I ingested a sanitizer’s alcoholic scent, bottles springing up like sacred waters on all touchpoint areas in the office. A high-end door slid back to reveal a twenty-something looking girl with flawless skin and spectacular curves. 

‘Hello there, I am Jenny, the surgeries receptionist and home care nurse.  My, my, you certainly have come to the right place. We can get you feeling ten years younger in just one visit, follow me our specialist will see you now.’

She looked me up and down;

‘You know, before I started working here, I never would have come to a place like this.  Now, look at me! I turned 59 last week.  I feel better than I felt at 25.’

Excellent, I am staring at a woman who is 12 years older and could easily be 20 years younger than me.

I entered a room that I would imagine a supermodel private surgery would look like. A tall young man with a full head of blond hair and broad shoulders sauntered in.  He turned to the receptionist

‘Thank you, Jenny, you may go now.’

Jenny gave the ken doll a frown before turning on her heel.  The ken doll nametag let me know I had found my informant, Dr James.  He went towards the door and locked it.  He ducked under his desk and flicked a switch to what I suspected was the surveillance system.

‘We don’t have long until those monitors need to be switch back on, but I know we have had five women killed after having surgery with us.  I have the surgery reports for you.  This clinic will close if you don’t figure this out!  I am just out of university. If I cannot get enough hours, I may have to go back to general surgery.’ 

His nose scrunched and his lip curled as he spoke.  I touched his arm in reassurance

‘You are doing the right thing; we are happy you contacted us.’

The younger man smiled, but his eyes reminded me of a rabbit facing off a pit bull.

‘I have copied the files, but you need to hide them, especially from Jenny.

Dr James clumsily opened a draw and yanked out a file just as a knock sounded on the door.  The paperwork flew in the air. 

‘James, James, what’s going on? Why can’t I get in.’

I jumped up, took off my shirt and unlocked the door.  As it opened, I screamed.

‘I don’t want the whole world seeing my private parts! Turn around, goddam you!’

My screech took Jenny off guard. She turned around. I grabbed the paperwork, put it in my bag, and motioned the Doctor to switch back on the surveillance. Then, slowly putting on my shirt, giving the young doctor time to regroup. 

Dr James spoke.

‘Jenny, what’s wrong?’

‘I’m sorry, doctor,’

Her tone did not portray that particular emotion, piquing my interest.

‘There are rules about the surveillance system it needs to be on to ensure everything done is done right.  Your’s is not on.’

Dr James brow furrowed. 

‘I can assure you it is switched on, Jenny.’

She huffed, then turned and headed towards the front office. Dr James sighed.  He wiped his face with a paper towel on his desk.  I smiled.

‘Now we have discussed my breast enlargement; perhaps we could look at what you can do with my face.’

I walked out of the office with the evidence I needed and a face I had not seen for some years.  What I do for the job! Jenny gave me an approving nod.  It seemed my Botox upgrade met her standards.

The stares from my colleagues as I strolled back into my office infuriated me.

‘Get on with your work!’

My partner laughed loudly.

‘Come on, Fraser, you got to see the improvement.’

I had not looked; Proud of the stress marks and double chins formed by many nights and days on the job, I did not need to look wet behind the years again. 

‘I have the files; go through them, Russell and let me know if there is anything irregular. I’ve got some work to do.’

Russell’s jaw dropped.  You have been chasing these files for months and now you are letting me have them?’

‘Yes, now get on with it.’

As I closed the door of my office, I felt the stress lift from my shoulders.  I never liked being the centre of attention.  At least the initial shock of the botox was over.  When Dr James contacted me, I felt another step closer to cracking this case.  Five women dying after visiting the Clinic concerned me greatly. I learnt something else.  Something I did not expect. On my way out, I grabbed the receptionist’s business card. Jenny Thomas, I typed her name into the system….           

Bang Bang Bang.  My head sprung off the desk by the loud knocks.  Paper stuck to my cheek, glued by drool.  Wiping it away, I checked my phone at 6.20am.   Another 24 hours in the workplace.

‘Come in’

‘God, Fraser, you still look good after pulling an all-nighter. I would keep the number of that clinic.’

The snicker sent blood to my brain too quickly; cheeks flushed; I tried to frown at him.  He laughed. ‘I like this Botox stuff! Here, have a coffee.’

The scent of the coffee soothed my dishevelled thoughts and pounding head; a calmness came over me as the warm liquid lined my stomach.

‘You’re lucky you bought coffee.  What have you got for me on Soon?’

‘We are bringing him in today; uniform has picked him up.  But he has no form for this.  He has been in the industry for 26 years and before working for the Fountain of Youth, his procedures have always shown impeccable results.’

My brow rose… At least it attempted to.

‘What’s changed then. That’s what you need to find out.  I think I will sit in.’

‘What no spying behind the scenes on this one?’

‘Go on, get on with it.’

Russell headed to the door. Hand on the handle.

‘Oh, also, Bring in Jenny Thomas, the Receptionist.’

‘Something you’re not telling me?’

‘Let's see how you go with the Doctor. I think we may need a bit more background, that's all.'

Russell walked out distracted by the impending arrest.

The two-tone Interrogation room paled every face within its space, the old-style fluorescent lights ensuring the room was no place for a hangover.  Plastic chairs offered little comfort for the copper or a criminal. Nevertheless, it's decorated to ensure cop’s work harder and criminals break quicker.

Dr Soon looked as comfortable as a mouse surrounded by wild cats in his four thousand dollar Armani suit.  His eyes dashed from one end of the room to another like a pendulum. The pulse on the side of his head beat a fast past rate.  He would be too easy to break.  I looked at Russell, the look that said this guy could not tell a lie if his life depended on it.  He isn't who we need. He looked back calmly as he picked his hand up from the table and lowered it slowly.  His signal for ‘but out! I know what I'm doing.’.

'Dr Soon please excuse us, Detective Russell.

We left the room,

‘Russell, this poor bugger won't last another minute. You and I both know he is innocent.'

'Boss, he is the only suspect we have.  If we let him go, what have we got.'

'Uniform has bought in the receptionist. I want her in there. So put this fish back.'

Reluctantly, Detective Russell released the traumatised Doctor Soon,

Seated opposite the beautiful receptionist, I felt sorrow for her.  Her dedication to perfection on the outside could not hide the darkness within her.  Her chin lifted as she spoke

'So. Teresa, is that even your real name? Your quest to better yourself is nothing more than a dig for dirt on my business,'

I smiled,

'Now Jenny, I will ask you questions. That's why you are on that side of the table. So, tell me how the fountain of youth become your business?'

'She blushed, er Well, it's my fiancés business and all this rubbish you and your colleagues are insinuating that the Fountain of Youth had anything to do with those stupid women and their deaths you are as stupid as you are aged!'

Russell's eyes popped as he watched spittle fly from the beauty.  He put his hands on the back of his head before catching my eye and smiling.  I began.

'Jenny, perhaps you are far smarter than I have originally thought.

Jenny's red cheeks faded to a mollified pink at my reply.  Her chin rose just a touch higher.

'You know Dr Soon has an impeccable record in his surgery and...

'Of course, I know, I chose him.'

'Jenny, you would let him take the heat for the fountain of youth, wouldn't you.'

'Are you mad! Why would I want to hurt this business in any way.'

'That's exactly what I wanted to know.  Your stickler for ensuring everything is perfect in a clients consultation, your easy job and great pay. So why would someone wish to jeopardise that, not to mention your engagement?

Jenny nodded, her tone far more pleasant.

'So why am I here?'

'Well, Jenny, I did some investigations.  Do you know what I found? The only two things these girls who died had in common were they all went to school with you.'

Jenny's mouth stood agape; Russell's eyes danced. I continued.

‘I dug a little deeper yesterday. I spoke with some of your classmates. 

They spoke of the toxic behaviour of five girls I crossed reference these names to their married names, and wouldn't you know it; they matched our victims.

Jenny's mouth twisted as she began to laugh.

'What rubbish! I got them back this year when we had our reunion and they saw how good I looked; they came running right into Dr Soons arms.  I made so much money out of them. I am a great nurse and ensured they received top home care after their operations. There is nothing! Nothing wrong with that.  I just charged them more than anyone else.'

I sighed, wondering why they never confessed to save time and save my ass from the plastic chair.

'You are very good, Jenny; there is just one thing you let slip.  The mandatory filming of your movements from your body cam.  Your camera system recorded all you did.'

I looked directly at her. She did not blink

'The camera footage for these five patients has disappeared.  After your display in my appointment of the importance of cameras, you got me thinking.  So I got the data recovery onto the job.'

Jennys manicured nails thumped on the table.

'They all died of natural causes! One had a stroke, two a heart attack, two respiratory failure.  There are no poisons in the autopsy.  You’re scraping the barrel, detective inspector!'

'Jenny, you injected them with air! We have the footage.  I hope you enjoyed your revenge because now your life will change forever. Welcome to five life sentences.  Detective Russell cuff her.'

Russell took out his handcuffs.

'There's no way you have that film! There's no way! I will be out of there faster than you can say unfair arrest!'

I rolled my eyes before turning my back on her.

'Russell settle her in. I'm going to sleep.'