Old Habits Die Hard

"Anything yet?" Detective Maya called out to Detective Rodriguez leaning on the door frame that led to his office. He had been standing there watching her partner be so engrossed in the pictures and clues of their latest case, a series of murders.

"I feel like this death is all connected", Rodriguez replied, taking a sip of his coffee.

Walking into his office, arms crossed but interest piqued, Maya asked, "And what could that be?" She asked.

"Look at these pictures closely. All the victims bite their nails," Rodriguez answered, handing his partner pictures of the dead victims.

Maya took a breath and burst into laughter, "Biting of nails? A regular habit with people is the connection?" She asked playfully.

Rodriguez, who by now wasn't feeling his partner's laughter, dragged the pictures off her hands. "If you had looked closely, maybe you would have noticed that the bite on the same finger, same spot, almost like something they were chewing out of habit".

"I'm sorry for laughing." Maya apologized as she pinned her hands over her lips trying to hold back the laughter. "I came to tell you that our IT guy believes the victims all visited the same wellness centre. Some Relax & Renew Center down the road."

Eyes lit, Detective Rodriguez looked over to his partner from his table. He grabbed his jacket and phone and took the last sip of his coffee. "We need to go ask them questions", he said, trying to walk out the door but was stopped by his partner.

"I already did", Maya replied, stretching herself out on the chair in her partner's office and putting her legs on his table.

"You did?" He turned to his partner. "And?" His eyes searched her soul for answers.

"Dead end. I only met this Dr Greene, a tall, thin man with glasses and a soft smile. He's a therapist and stress management specialist. He's in charge of their habit-breaking sessions. He heard of the murders, feels bad for them but doesn't look like the culprit"

Sitting back down in his chair "Does he know of their nail biting habits."

"Rodriguez, were you even listening to me at all?" Maya asked, looking at her partner.

"Of course I was".

"Fine, so if you were, you would have heard me say he's in charge of their habit breaking sessions. So he knows" Maya replied. Then she took her legs off the table and stood up. "Look, I have to run. I need to get my kids from school," she concluded and walked to the door.

"Wait?" Rodriguez called out to his partner who was almost at the door.

Maya asked, "What now?"

"Did you check for anything that seems or looks weird?" Rodriguez asked.

"Really Rodriguez?" She turned and opened the door. "I'll see you later," she said before shutting the door behind her.

Rodriguez sat in his office. Somehow he still wasn't satisfied with all his partner had told him. He still had a hunch about it and Dr Greene, although he was yet to meet him.

He stood up and picked up his jacket and phone; then he headed out of his office. He was going to see Dr Greene.

He got to Dr Greene's office and couldn't stop admiring the aesthetics of the place. "Nice office" he muttered

"Thank you. You have to make your clients look comfortable first if you want to succeed as a therapist." Dr Greene replied, all smiles. "To what do I owe this visit, Detective" he asked, keeping a serious face now.

"I believe you already know that I'm investigating a series of murders?" Rodriguez asked, leaning forward and staring deep into Dr Greene's eyes.

"Yes, and your colleague was already here. Didn't she ask me all the necessary questions or isn't she up to the task.?"

Stuttering, "No, she did; I just want to know if you noticed anything in common with your patients, like their biting of nails?"

"Come on, I'm in charge of the habit breaking sessions. Of course, I knew" Dr Greene smiled again, adjusting his glasses.

"And you didn't notice any other thing about them. Any weird patterns?" Rodriguez pressed further with questions.

Dr Greene paused; his smile faltered and he only looked at Rodriguez. Then he pulled out a wooden box from his drawer. Rodriguez could swear he had seen a similar box somewhere but couldn't tell.

"Only one had a weird way she reacted to my essential oil. It helps to calm them down when stressed. But weirdly, Emily said it worsens hers. Then, one day, she stopped coming." Dr Greene answered.

Now Rodriguez could tell where he had seen the boxes. It was on the site of every murder. He kept his cool and played along
"Emily Cooper?" Rodriguez asked, relaxing on his chair.

"Yes".

"I'm afraid she's dead. She was our latest victim, and she died last night" Rodriguez's jaw tightened.

Colour drained from Dr. Greene’s face as he removed his glasses.

Detective Rodriguez stood up and bid Dr Greene goodbye. Then he walked out of the office. He could tell the Dr was pretending and hiding something. And he was going to find out.

Outside he phoned their IT guy, "Bring me up everything you have on Dr Greene from Relax & Renew Wellness Centre ". Then he walked to his car which was parked a few miles away from the Relax & Renew Wellness Centre. Instead of moving away, he sat there overlooking the wellness centre.

Hours later, he got a text from the IT guy. Turned out years ago Dr. Greene lost his medical license because he had experimented on his patients without their knowledge and consent. He was mainly focused on behavioural modification.

"I guess old habits die hard," Rodriguez muttered. Then he saw Dr Greene walk out of the wellness centre into his car and drove off.

Quietly, Rodriguez followed him.

Dr Greene drove for hours until he stopped at an old abandoned warehouse in a remote area. He got out of his car, opened the hood of his car and pulled out a transparent bag filled with similar wooden boxes he had shown Rodriguez. Then he walked into the building.

Detective Rodriguez picked up his phone and texted his partner "Meet me at this address now. I think I got our killer" Then he got down and sneaked into the building, too. Be careful not to be spotted by anyone.

He walked into Dr Greene bent over a workbench, muttering angrily, "I spend my time to give them a solution and cure. But all I get is that my solutions are making them worse. They should have just admitted that they're too weak to let go of their old habits, not my essential oils!" He yelled in anger.

Rodriguez stood in a corner, recording all Dr Greene was saying. He needed evidence to show that truly Dr Greene was the killer.

"Now let's see what my next victim has to say about my oil," Dr Greene said wickedly. Then he gave a mean laugh.

Immediately l, Rodriguez stepped out of his hiding place. He has gotten the very evidence he needed. "Dr Greene, I need you to step away from the table and put your hands where I can see them. You're under arrest for the murder of your patients"

Startled and scared, Dr Greene raised his hands over his head "Please, Detective. They made me do it. They made it look like I didn't know what I was doing"

"So you had to kill them," Rodriguez said, moving towards Dr Greene carefully. When he was close enough, Dr Greene sprang on him pulling out a syringe from the table. But Rodriguez was faster and stronger. He quickly tackled him to the floor. "You have the right to remain silent for whatever you do or say will be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney, and if you don't have on,e, we can help you with that. Rodriguez read him his rights before handcuffing him.

A few days later, Detective Rodriguez was in his office when his partner barged in. Rodriguez looked up to see her already seated.

"Maya" he called to her, curious to know if all was well with her.

*Look I may have doubted you days back. I just thought you were getting stressed out with the case. I'm sorry for not listening to you" Maya apologised.

Rodriguez leaned back on his chair and smiled. "Just don't have old habits that refuse to die. I don't think I'll come and save you from the hands of a demented doctor" Rodriguez joked.

And they laughed.

"Look who's talking about habits. When you can't go a day with coffee," Maya replied, pointing to a cup of coffee on Rodriguez's table.

"Argh, don't worry about me. I'm sure you'll come to save me," he added.

Then they laughed again.

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