A Journalist Reveals Creativity, Sustainability and Spirituality – We reveal the unrevealed.
In The Hospital That Refused to Treat – Chapter 38, a partial number plate reveals a new clue in the City Care Hospital mystery.
Read part 37 here.
The Hospital That Refused to Treat – Chapter 38
Chapter 38: The Number Plate
Joseph enlarged the photograph until the image began to blur.
The three visible characters on the number plate remained readable.
“It’s not enough to identify the vehicle,” Prakash said.
“No,” Joseph agreed. “But it’s a beginning.”
Shalini studied the photograph again.
“Ganpat took a risk getting this.”
“A considerable one.”
Joseph immediately made two copies of the image and saved them separately.
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“No more keeping evidence in one place.”
Prakash smiled faintly. “You’re becoming suspicious in your old age.”
“I was suspicious in my young age. That’s why I survived journalism.”
The joke eased the tension briefly.
Joseph then called a former colleague who still covered the police beat. He didn’t mention the hospital or the hidden entrance. He simply asked whether a partial number plate could help identify a vehicle.
“Not without more details,” his friend replied. “Make, colour, registration series—anything could narrow it down.”
They returned to the photograph.
The vehicle was mostly hidden behind the gate. Only part of its rear section was visible.
Prakash suddenly reached for Joseph’s magnifying glass.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“There’s something on the door.”
At first, Shalini saw only a pale mark.
Then Joseph adjusted the image.
It wasn’t a scratch.
It was lettering.
Only the final word could be read clearly.
CARE
“A hospital vehicle?” Shalini asked.
“Possibly,” Joseph said. “Or an ambulance service. Nursing company. Home healthcare. There could be dozens.”
His phone rang.
Ganpat again.
This time, his voice was barely audible.
“They know someone photographed the footage.”
Joseph straightened.
“Do they know it was you?”
“Not yet.”
“Then don’t do anything else.”
Ganpat ignored the warning.
“I remembered the vehicle,” he whispered. “I’ve seen it before.”
“Where?”
A pause followed.
“At the hospital.”
Joseph looked at Shalini.
Ganpat continued.
“But it doesn’t belong to City Care.”
The line went dead.
To be continued…
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