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In The Hospital That Refused to Treat – Chapter 32, Joseph uncovers forged records and a new clue to the hidden basement.
Read part 31 here.
The Hospital That Refused to Treat – Chapter 32
Chapter 32: The Handwriting Expert
Joseph carefully photographed the torn register page before handing it back to Ganpat.
“There may not be a signature,” Ganpat said, “but the page itself could still tell us something.”
That afternoon, Joseph visited an old acquaintance, Meera Khanna, a retired forensic document examiner who had spent three decades with the state forensic laboratory.
Her apartment was lined with books, magnifying lenses and neatly labelled files.
After listening to Joseph’s account, she adjusted her spectacles and studied the photographs.
“The missing corner won’t magically reappear,” she said with a smile. “But paper often remembers more than people think.”
She placed the photographs under a powerful magnifying lamp.
After several minutes, she looked up.
“Interesting.”
Joseph leaned forward.
“What is it?”
“Whoever removed the signature pressed the pen firmly while writing. That pressure left faint impressions on the sheet beneath.”
“You can read them?”
“Not completely.”
She tilted the page under the light.
“I can make out only a few letters.”
Joseph held his breath.
“What letters?”
“‘…kar.'”
Prakash frowned.
“That could be dozens of surnames.”
“It could,” Meera agreed. “And there’s something else.”
She pointed to the date.
“The handwriting used for ‘Records Collection’ doesn’t match the rest of the register.”
“You mean it was added later?”
“Exactly.”
Someone had returned to the register after the original entry was made.
Someone who wanted the visit to appear routine.
As Joseph thanked Meera and stepped outside, his phone vibrated.
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It was an unknown number.
He answered cautiously.
A man’s voice spoke in a whisper.
“If you’re looking for the hidden basement…”
The line fell silent for a moment.
“…don’t trust the building plans.”
Before Joseph could respond, the caller disconnected.
He stared at the phone.
For the first time, someone wasn’t warning him to stop.
Someone was trying to help.
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To be continued…
