The strange case of Dr Hockey & Mr Neil
By Jerry Chan
Chapter 2 - The Teacher's Doubts
That evening Mr Bettini came home to his bachelor house in sombre spirits and sat down to dinner without relish. It was his custom of a Sunday, when this meal was over, to sit close by the fire, a volume of some dry divinity on his reading-desk until the clock of the neighbouring church rang out the hour of twelve when he would go soberly and gratefully to bed.
The next day, Mr Bettini put on a greatcoat and set forth in the direction of Cavendish Square, that citadel of medicine, where his friend, Dr Hockey, had his house and received his crowding patients. The butler knew and welcome him, let the teacher sat down at the dining table. He sat alone over his wine. Dr Hockey walked out from upstairs, he was a hearty, healthy, dapper gentleman, with a shock of hair prematurely white. At the sight of Mr Bettini, he sprang up from the stair and welcome him with both hands. These two were old friends, The friendships were even older than Mr Panatic. The teacher and Doctor were old mates both at university and Secondary School, both with respect to each other.
"Hey! My dear Mr Bettini! I am glad to see you again! Oh, how long have we not seen each other?" said Dr Hockey ecstatically, reached out for a handshake.
"I think it should be 2 months since haven't seen each other." Mr Bettini reply very calmly and also reached out.
"I have an important matter, I need your advice." The Doctor sat down and scratch his hair.
"What's the problems are you facing on? I think I may not be able to make some suggestive advice." The teacher chuckled with curious.
"I think it's time to make a will," The doctor pointed his white hair and continued,"I am going to retire next week. I am old, I don't have so much time left. Can you recommend me a good lawyer?"
"Well, I know a renowned lawyer," pondered the teacher, touched his beard," But I don't agree you don't have so much time left." Mr Bettini stared at Dr Hockey with his bright and piercing eye. The doctor sighed.
"If you really decide to make a will," The teacher took out the business card from his pocket and said,"Here you are."
Mr Bettini left the house of Dr Hockey after 30 mins. He went to Sally Cafe for lunch and then went back home. He sat close by the fire, enjoyed reading until evening. While the teacher was having his dinner, he received a call from the lawyer. The teacher put down his tableware and accepted the call.
"Is it Mr Bettini?" The lawyer asked with a panicking voice.
"Yes, I am. what's happening?"
"Your friend, Dr Hockey, made a will just a few hours ago. But the will was strange and out of my knowledge. I simply can't describe!" The lawyer said quickly.
"Oh? He is my oldest friend, tell me all."
"Sure, but let me have a pant first," The lawyer stopped a few seconds and continued, "He left all his inheritance to one person only!"
"That's normal, Dr Hockey hadn't be married. He only has some friends."
"Okay then, the person who was chosen by Dr Hockey does not exist in the world!" said the lawyer loudly.
"Can you have a more detailed description of that?"
"Dr Hockey left all his inheritance to a man. However, after I have checked the population record, I couldn't find his name — you know, it is illegal to left it to an unknown person. The strangest was, if Dr Hockey disappearance or unexplained absence for any period exceeding three months, the inheritance will be left to that unknown man." The lawyer explained carefully.
"What's the man's name?"
"His name is Edward Neil, Mr Neil."
"What!" shouted the teacher
"You know him?" asked the lawyer.
"Not at all, I have been gone to his house and had a scary experience, which freaks me out!" The teacher replied and put down the phone.
In the night, the teacher was full of questions, dark bed on which he tossed to and fro, besieged by questions.
"Who is Mr Neil? Why he was unable to find on population record? Why Dr Hockey decided to left his inheritance to Edward Neil?"The teacher thought these during the night. He can't ignore his old best friend's strange things and decided to investigate those questions in the following days.
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