A few days later Ann is walking in the park and notices Benjamin sitting on the park bench. As he makes eye contact with her, he immediately looks to the ground. Ann wants to approach him, but after the way he treated her she is hesitant. Against her better judgment, she wants to find out what’s wrong but she decides to walk past him. As she walks by she hears Benjamin calling out.
“Ann wait,” as she turns back she sees Benjamin still staring at the ground. Thinking she had heard misheard, she turns around to walk away.
“Ann please, I need to talk to you,” she looks at him as she notices Benjamin staring at the ground, not lifting his head as he speaks.
“Ben, is everything alright?” Ann asks approaching him, concerned about his strange behaving.
“Please sit here,” Benjamin says as he pats the empty space on the bench next to him. “I need to say something, don’t reply, just listen.” Ann sits next to him slowly, unsure of what to expect.
“I am so sorry,” Benjamin says sighing. “Ever since day one I have been nothing but horrible to you and you have been nothing but be nice to me. You always looked out for me and in return, all I did was hurt you.”
“Ben,” Ann is interrupted by Benjamin.
“I am not finished,” he says still looking at the ground. “Not once did it occur to me that I was hurting you. Despite your pain being so obvious. I have been selfish.” These words Benjamin says with a heavy heart. “I should not have treated you that way. Both you and your…brother.”
Ann puts her hand on Benjamin’s shoulder and pats him three times as Benjamin lifts his head to look at her. Her comforting eyes made his eye fill with tears. The past few days Benjamin spent contemplating every word that came from Nicholas’s mouth and has decided to do what’s right. As he looks at Ann he feels at ease, knowing she forgives him, but as they start talking, he begins to feel something else he didn’t expect.
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Meanwhile, at the station, Dean and Oscar look for men in the hospital who fit the profile of the man they saw in the surveillance footage. Just then one of the other officers come in with some new information.
“What?” Oscar asks. “Where did this joker come from?”
“She was on leave, she returned today,” the officer says as a woman enters the room.
“Hello. I am Dr. Jessica Walter,” the woman says as Dean and Oscar introduce themselves. The room is tense as Oscar looks anticipatingly as the woman sits down.
“So, Dr. Walter. Can you tell us what you saw?” Oscar says as she leans back comfortably while Dean takes notes.
“Well, I saw someone in a surgical mask, a Str8 black hoodie, and black pants leaving the hospital. I had gone out for a smoke and as I was returning he walked past me,” Jessica says.
“What type of hoodie?” Oscar asks curiously.
“Str8. It’s a brand popular in Brazil. My cousin lives there and usually wears it here when visiting.”
“But how did you notice that?” Dean asks.
“The folds on the sleeves, at least at the hem of it,” she says. “It’s quite unique, it looks like pleated cuffs, but also like a ribbon spread with deck of cards.”
“What?” Oscar says softly.
“I’m a fashionista, I notice these things. In fact, this brand is known for its design, quite unique, very recognizable,” she says proudly. Oscar and Dean look at each other and thank Dr. Walter.
“The brand of the hoodie,” Dean says once Dr. Walter leaves. “Now that is something we can go on.”
“Let’s not get our hopes up,” Oscar says seriously. “If this is a common brand then.”
“It’s not,” Dean says as he looks it up immediately. “It’s not common here yet, the brand is trying to make its way into the market here.”
“But not yet,” Oscar says smiling as he reads what Dean has found. The two of them smile happy with their new facts.
That night, Nicholas meets Tom for dinner and a few drinks.
“Thank you once again,” Tom says smiling. “You really did me a solid by not publishing that.”
“You’re the one who pulled some strings,” Nicholas says smiling. “I was just following orders.”
“Yes. But if you didn’t tell me the press knew that Benjamin was a suspect in Scarlet’s murder case. I can’t imagine what would have happened,” Tom replies as Nicholas smiles. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Nicholas says smiling as they make small talk.
“So how are things with you and Ann?” Tom asks.
“All good,” Nicholas says as Tom looks at him. “What?”
“I just think you’re lucky. Moved here over a year ago, met the perfect girl next door asked her out, and now you're together. It’s such a cute story,” Tom remarks as Nicholas gives an uncomfortable smile.