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18

Kiarameil Goudy

Copyright © 2013 by Kiarameil Goudy.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012920950 ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4797-4641-5 Softcover 978-1-4797-4640-8 Ebook 978-1-4797-4642-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Chapter 1 Peace of Mind

Chapter 2 The Return of Dr. Charlie Linx

Chapter 3 Competition

Chapter 4 Betrayal

Chapter 5 Murder

Chapter 6 The Cover-Up

Chapter 7 Investigations and Interrogations

Chapter 8 The Manhunt

Chapter 9 The Disappearance

Acknowledgement

I want to give thanks to my parents, Angeline Zinn and Felton Johnson, Sr. Thanks for the gift of life.

Some people become something larger than life; others settle for the norm-by that, I mean they work a nine-to-five. Well, me I’m not normal. I’m different. Always believe in yourself even when others don’t. Trust in your decisionmaking skills, and everything else will take care of itself. The world can be a lonely place even when you’re standing in a room full of people, screaming at the top of your lungs. Still nobody will hear you. Well, I figured it’s because you’re not really there; you’re on the outside looking in at what could’ve been. anything and everything that you thought about doing, and believe that you still can. Just know this: you don’t need to be the center of attention to get noticed. All you need is an opportunity, confidence, and the belief that you can do and become anything in this world that you want to be. Just don’t let the world swallow you whole.

Dedicated to everyone out there who believes in themselves and never gave up on their dreams.

Introduction

Some people become something larger than life; others settle for the norm—by that, I mean they work a nine-to-five. Well, me I’m not normal. I’m different. Always believe in yourself even when others don’t. Trust in your decisionmaking skills, and everything else will take care of itself. The world can be a lonely place even when you’re standing in a room full of people, screaming at the top of your lungs. Still nobody will hear you. Well, I figured it’s because you’re not really there; you’re on the outside looking in at what could’ve been. anything and everything that you thought about doing, and believe that you still can. Just know this: you don’t need to be the center of attention to get noticed. All you need is an opportunity, confidence, and the belief that you can do and become anything in this world that you want to be. Just don’t let the world swallow you whole.

Chapter 1

Peace of Mind

Wow! I got people coming at me from all directions. A voice yelled out, “Hey, you’re tardy again, huh!” It was my fellow intern boy. I tell ya, that guy drove me nuts. We called him Loudmouth Charlie. Every time he opened his mouth, he sounded like a parrot. I swear, sometimes I wanted to bring a box of crackers to work and shove the whole box down his throat. I’d push it so far down his throat that no doctor in the world could help him. Every time I saw this lunatic, I felt really sorry for his patients. The guy was flat-out simple-minded. Unlike Charlie, I didn’t come from money. I got to where I am because of someone’s generosity; nothing came easy for me up to this point. Working three jobs at one point to keep my tuition paid was a constant struggle. My parents were old-school, very old-fashioned, and somewhat skeptical of my sudden success. Still, I’m baffled by the generosity of a complete stranger helping me. I used to get laughed at; people talked behind my back and to my face. Being a loner is not a good place to be when you have no one to turn to, so I just kept it moving while trying to suppress all of the turmoil, anxiety, and inner demons that I dealt with on a daily basis. As the days ed by, I prayed to God every day to keep me sane. But working with fellow intern Dr. Charlie Linx, who has the brain the size of a peanut, was a real challenge in itself. This guy was a real snob to his patients. He thought that just because he came from money, he can do whatever he wanted. We interned at one of the most prestigious hospitals on the eastern seaboard. Dr. Charlie Linx and I came from two different sides of the railroad tracks. We didn’t really care to be in the same room or even breathe the same air. That’s how bad it was. I just shrugged it off. To me, he didn’t exist.

2230 Hours:

“Good morning, everyone. I’m the head physician on duty tonight. To all the interns, my name is Dr. Blythe. If any of you have any concerns, are stressed, or just need some advice, please feel free to stop by my office after your shift is over. that the patients are different from one another. No one is going to have the same illness or injuries. Please complete your patients’ charts in your assigned areas. Keep all of your notations on your patients’ charts short and to the point. I don’t need an essay written about a patient’s broken arm or sprained ankle. Just keep it short and to the point.” “Yeah, Dr. Blythe, I agree with you even though some of us don’t know how to keep it short and to the point. Right, Mikey!” yelled out Dr. Charlie Linx. Not impressed by his outburst of stupidity, Dr. Blythe turned to Dr. Charlie Linx and scolded him. “Excuse me, Dr. Charlie Linx, you may have gotten away with unwarranted outbursts in college, but I assure you—and let me be perfectly clear when I say that—there’s no room for that kind of unprofessional ignorance on my watch. Now please apologize to Dr. Mikey Eighteen right now!” Like a child scorned, Dr. Charlie Linx walked over to Dr. Mikey Eighteen and apologized to him. Finally, somebody got that blabbing idiot to shut up, Dr. Mikey Eighteen thought. He knew and felt that Dr. Charlie Linx was not sorry one bit and that he only did it to stay on Dr. Blythe’s good graces, so he halfheartedly accepted Dr. Charlie Linx’s apology. Dr. Mikey Eighteen turned his attention back to Dr. Blythe. “Now, ladies and gentlemen,” said Dr. Blythe. “Please report to your designated areas. Have a good night! Smile, be polite, and be courteous to your patients. Have a good shift.” Everyone was then dismissed from roll call, hoping to have a good shift. Dr. Mikey Eighteen left roll call in an upbeat mood until he reported to his workstation, only to find Dr. Charlie Linx was adjacent him. Pretending not to see Dr. Charlie Linx, Dr. Mikey Eighteen walked by his workstation really fast. He could feel a cold shiver down his spine. He knew Dr. Charlie Linx was staring at him as he walked by. “It’s going to be a long night,” Dr. Mikey Eighteen whispered to himself.

0030 Hours:

Time was really flying by when an elderly patient came into the emergency room to be seen. She looked like life wasn’t really that good to her. “Can I help you, ma’am?” Dr. Mikey Eighteen asked. The elderly lady went on to tell Dr. Mikey Eighteen that she had chills, vomiting, and that she was a diabetic. “Well, don’t worry, we’re going to take good care of you,” he assured her. The elderly patient also informed him of light-headedness and double vision. “Am I going to make it?” she asked Dr. Mikey Eighteen. Just as Dr. Mikey Eighteen was about to answer her, Dr. Blythe walked over to him and asked what’s her status. Dr. Mikey Eighteen responded, “It appears that she’s suffering from flu-like symptoms, blurred vision, and she’s also diabetic.” Impressed with Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s prognosis of his patient, Dr. Blythe asked him, “How do you plan to treat her?” With confidence, Dr. Mikey Eighteen said to him, “I’m going to have some blood work done, check her blood sugar, start an IV on her, rehydrate her, and keep her overnight for observation.” “Very good, Dr. Eighteen,” said Dr. Blythe, who introduced himself to the elderly patient. “Hello, ma’am, my name is Dr. Blythe, head physician on duty tonight. If you need anything or have a question, just let me know. We’re going to take good care of you. Dr. Mikey Eighteen can get hold of me if you need anything or have a question.” “Thank you so much,” replied the elderly lady. Dr. Blythe responded with a smile on his face, “No problem.” He then walked away and continued making rounds, checking on the other interns. Dr. Mikey Eighteen was very proud of himself and felt pretty good about his

shift. His night was going pretty fast. Dr. Mikey Eighteen was in a happy-golucky mood, but all of that was about to change.

0430 Hours:

As the night went on, Dr. Mikey Eighteen started to feel fatigued, so he took his break and headed to the cafeteria for lunch—and guess who he saw taking his lunch too? Yup, you guessed it—Dr. Charlie Linx! Dr. Mikey Eighteen ignored him completely, got his lunch, and paid for it. He went and found himself a place to sit and enjoyed his lunch. Before he could take a bite of his sandwich, he heard someone. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Dr. Blythe’s little pet,” said Dr. Charlie Linx to Dr. Mikey Eighteen with a look of disgust on his face. “Charlie! Just leave me alone and go back to your own table,” snapped Dr. Mikey Eighteen to Dr. Charlie Linx. “Well, who’s going to make me, Mikey? You?” he asked sarcastically. At this point, Dr. Mikey Eighteen could feel the muscles in his neck start to tense up. Looking right through Dr. Charlie Linx as if he wasn’t there, he could feel himself getting nervous. He looked around the cafeteria and saw other doctors eating, laughing, and enjoying their lunch without any intrusion on their private time, and all he wanted was the same—to be able to come to the cafeteria and have the same kind of lunch break. “You don’t belong here, Mikey. You’re out of your league. A welfare case,” Dr. Charlie Linx said to Dr. Mikey Eighteen in a deep, low demonic voice. Feeling himself about to snap, Dr. Mikey Eighteen grabbed his lunch and immediately left the cafeteria. He started having flashbacks of being picked on in kindergarten all the way through medical school. All of sudden, he took off running to the nearest stairwell, busting out. He began to make his way up the stairwells as the voices in his head began to get louder and louder.

You’ll never amount to anything. You’re worthless. Mikey got the cooties! What a loser. He then started having flashbacks of the beatings he took at the hands of other kids in grade school and college as well. Boom! was all you could hear as Dr. Mikey Eighteen made his way to the rooftop door and kicked it open, made his way out into I dark night. Dr. Mikey Eighteen slowly calmed himself down due to the cold, brisk night air swirling around. He could barely catch his breath. With his heart still pounding, he began to breathe deep to calm the voices in his head while trying to refocus his attention from the flashback beatings he had to endure. His hands were shaking so bad he couldn’t control them. He couldn’t even finish the lunch he brought. Throwing his lunch away, he centered himself. “Keep it together,” he whispered to himself, still breathing in and out slowly. Just like that, Dr. Mikey Eighteen pulled himself together, left the rooftop, and made his way down the stairwell as the voices in his head went silent. He made his way back to the emergency room the first doctor he saw was Dr. Blythe. “Oh yes, there you are! All of your patients have been medically cleared and released. You did a good job, Dr. Mikey Eighteen. Keep up the good work.” “Thank you, Dr. Blythe, sir,” he replied. “Thank you very much.” From that moment on, Dr. Mikey Eighteen vowed to never let Dr. Charlie Linx get under his skin anymore. He realized that he worked too hard and come too far to let some spoiled rich kid ruin it for him. I was born to be a doctor. This is my calling, he thought to himself. But with some people, you have to put your foot down because they just don’t get it; and sometimes, you might have to put your foot on someone’s neck for them to get the hint. As for Dr. Charlie Linx, he is playing with fire. He’s just too stupid and arrogant to see that someday, his actions will lead to his own demise. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.

Four years later . . .

Well, time has flown by quickly, and I must say that things couldn’t be better for me. Until one day, out of the blue, I saw the most beautiful angel. Her name was Dr. Lanely Guillium. She had beautiful long blonde hair, with blue eyes the color of the dark blue Caribbean Sea. I’ve never seen such a beautiful specimen of a woman in my life. She had confidence, the looks, charm, and grace. Hey, let’s face it I was stuck on stupid. My imagination went wild from taking her on an exotic vacation—just me and her, nobody else around to bother us to long, hot sweaty nights of mad, ionate love surrounded by candles with all the trimmings, exotic oils, etc. You get the picture. Dr. Mikey Eighteen was in fantasy land, to the point that he didn’t hear her calling out to him. “Excuse me, Dr. Mikey Eighteen,” she called out to him again. But this time, she snapped her fingers in front of his face. Finally snapping out of his daydreaming of him and her “Hello. Oh, I’m sorry, I kind of got mesmerized by your beauty. And I mean that with utmost respect.” She replied, “Aw… thank you, Dr. Mikey Eighteen. My name is Dr. Lanely Gullium, and tonight, we’ve been put together in teams to share and take notes on each other’s patient care. Is that okay with you?” Trying to keep his focus, “Sure, there’s—I mean—that’s not a problem,” he replied. “So tell me, Dr. Eighteen, what is your field of specialty?” “Oh, it’s general medicine for me. I’m not quite sure if I want to be tied down into one area of medicine. So I decided on general medicine. That way, I can keep my options open,”. “I’ll probably go into private practice where I can totally focus on the care of my patients, just like what I’m doing here.” Smiling at him, Dr. Langley Guillium, “I’m impressed, curious.” Dr. Mikey Eighteen asked her, “Well, what about you?” “Well, I come from a family of cardiologists, so I’m pretty much set in stone,” she replied. “My dad wants me to come and work at the family practice. I didn’t give him an answer yet. So just like you, Dr. Eighteen, I’m sort of keeping my options open in a way.”

Looking at his watch, “Well, that’s a good thing. Hey, we better hurry up and get to shift change before Dr. Blythe have us working in the morgue.” They both looked at each other and laughed. They could hear Dr. Blythe talking as they entered the shift change meeting. “Now that everybody is here, we may begin. You may have noticed that some doctors that were here before have been reassigned to different hospitals. So with that being said, let me be the first to welcome those who’ve been assigned to this hospital for the first time. My name is Dr. Blythe, and also to those of you who are returning, welcome aboard! Now tonight, everyone will be paired up into teams of two. You all should already know who your partner is. They’re posted out on the emergency room assignment board. to trust each other’s opinions. Most importantly, be polite, professional, and courteous at all times when dealing with patients and each other. Everyone is dismissed, smile and have a good night.” Dr. Mikey Eighteen and Dr. Lanely Guillium made their way to their workstation. The night went by fast as they both attended to their patients and exchanged notes. The shift went by quickly. Boy! How time flies.

0730 Hours:

Dr. Mikey Eighteen had a lot to smile about. One of the things he was happy about he got the next three days off. Feeling like winning a million bucks, he made his way to his car. In the parking garage, with a skip in his step, inhaled the fresh air as the sun came out. Dr. Mikey Eighteen couldn’t wait to get inside his car. Pulling his car keys out his pocket, he heard something. “Dr. Mikey Eighteen!” Scared senseless, he dove over his own parked car hood, landing on the ground, up against another car. His heart was racing three thousand thumps per second. Slowly rising to hood level, he saw Dr. Langely Guillium standing by his driver’s side door. In a nervous, dry, high-pitched voice, “Where did you come from?” “Oh, I’m sorry. I scared you. Are you on your way home?”

Dr. Eighteen noticed that she had on jogging clothes. Curious, he said to her, “Yeah, you did scare me pretty good, Dr. Gullium.” Still nervous, looking like a deer in headlights, Dr. Eighteen attempted to change the subject. “I see you’ve got on jogging gear. Are you on your way to the gym or something?” “No,” she replied. “I always jog inside the parking garage before and after my shift. Hey listen, Dr. Eighteen, I’m sorry I scared you. Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy you lunch the next time we work together. It’ll be my treat.” Breathing a sigh of relief, he agreed with her. Just before she took off, “Go home and get some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.” She took off, jogging inside the parking garage. Dr. Eighteen headed back around to the driver’s side of his car, unlocked the door, got inside his car, and drove off. Of course, he took her up on her offer three days later.

1630 Hours:

Back from his three days off, Dr. Mikey Eighteen felt really rejuvenated. “Welcome back, Dr. Mikey Eighteen,” said Dr. Bruce Pinkley. “Thank you,” said Dr. Eighteen. “It’s good to be back.” Now Dr. Bruce Pinkley was the total opposite of Dr. Charlie Linx. He was sort of more aggressive with his patients—in a good way. Sometimes, Dr. Bruce Pinkley can also be very unpredictable. Overall, as far as Dr. Eighteen was concerned, Dr. Bruce Pinkley seemed like an all right kind of guy. Things have gotten better for Dr. Eighteen since Dr. Charlie Linx was assigned to another hospital. Time ed by with ease for Dr. Mikey Eighteen as he worked in the emergency room on the daily and nightly grind. Helping patients was fun for him and challenging; he enjoyed every minute of it. Halfway through his shift, while Dr. Eighteen was tending to a patient, he was approached by Dr. Samantha Grea.

“Excuse me, Dr. Mikey Eighteen,” “I’m the head physician on duty tonight. If you have any questions about anything, just let me know.” Dr. Mikey Eighteen assured Dr. Samantha Grea that everything was going good. She then took off on her rounds; Dr. Eighteen continued to tend to his patients. While working on a patient, Dr. Eighteen noticed that Dr. Grea was not happy with Dr. Pinkley’s attitude and the way he was dealing with his patients. You could see the hurt and anger on Dr. Pinkley’s face and her body language. Dr. Eighteen watched as Dr. Grea turned and walked away from Dr. Pinkley. She was furious. Watching Dr. Grea from afar, Dr. Eighteen sensed that she took her job very seriously and didn’t have the patience for those who don’t perform to the best of their ability. She doesn’t say much, but when she does, every doctor and intern was nervous and somewhat scared of her. Well, Dr. Eighteen wasn’t scared. She was just a senior doctor who demanded her interns and fellow doctors to be ready to work once they punched the clock. Unlike Dr. Blythe, Dr. Grea didn’t have roll calls. When they got to work, there was a memo of some sort in their lockers about anything and everything going on. She loved chalkboards, so when you got to your work area, your assignment will be written on this huge chalkboard. On this particular night, this emergency room was very busy. While working on a patient with a broken wrist, Dr. Eighteen felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw that it was Dr. Pinkley. The guy looked like he wasn’t all there—if you know what I mean. “Hey, Dr. Pinkley. What can I do for you?” Dr. Eighteen asked. “Are you all right?” Dr. Pinkley looked at Mikey like a child scorned for doing something wrong. “Can you cover for me?” Dr. Eighteen covered for him as he took a short break. He thought to himself, We’re getting swarmed with patients, coming by ambulance or from off the streets—not to mention that the emergency waiting room is overcrowded as well. We’re short on doctors, and this guy wants to take a short break. Are you serious? Is this guy pulling my leg? Mikey thought of all these things to himself. “Sure,” Mikey replied. He then bolted out of the door. Where he went, Mikey didn’t have a clue. There was something very odd and unusual about Dr. Pinkley.

He just couldn’t figure it out. Mikey just hoped he’d get back before Dr. Grea started making her rounds. So Dr. Eighteen got back to tending to patients when he felt a sharp tap on his left shoulder. When he turned around, his heart sunk. It was Dr. Grea. She told him to take an hour break for lunch, and that she’d tend to his patients while he was gone. Two doctors came in early to help out. Dr. Eighteen was grateful about taking his lunch, but his stomach was in knots. He knew that Dr. Pinkley had taken a short break, so he kept his fingers crossed that Dr. Pinkley would be back in the emergency room and tend to patients. Dr. Eighteen was trying to enjoy his lunch in the cafeteria. He just couldn’t get the picture out of his head, threw him for a loop. Suddenly, he thought to himself, Where did Dr. Pinkley go? I just hope he’ll return to the emergency room.

0130 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen decided to try to get in some kind of nap before heading back to the emergency room when he was suddenly awakened by the alarm clock. The nap did really help him out though; it gave him some energy. He talked to himself. “Wow, that twenty-minute nap was what I needed.” Usually, Dr. Eighteen would take the elevator down to the emergency room. This time, he decided that he would take the stairs, closed the door behind him as he made his way down the stairwells. Then all of the sudden, he heard some very strange noises. Slowly looking over the side of the stairwell, he walked down, doing his best not to be seen. All he could hear were loud commotion and people struggling, as if they were wrestling, trying to get a better view of who they were. With a blank stare and a stunned look on his face—his jaw drop—he saw that it was Dr. Samantha Grea and Dr. Bruce Pinkley in a full-blown lip-lock tongue hockey session. Hoping they won’t see him, he slowly leaned back over the stairwell and quietly opened the door to the floor he was on. He made a mad dash down the hallway. As soon as Dr. Eighteen turned the corner, the elevator doors opened, he jumped

in. Talk about good timing. The elevator was somewhat packed with hospital staff. Dr. Eighteen stood near the front and didn’t make eye with anybody. Still stunned at what he just saw, he felt a tug at his right arm. Heart pounding through his chest, he tried to control his breathing. Slowly turned around to see Dr. Guillium. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey, Dr. Guillium, so nice to see you again,” he said to her in a calm, somewhat nervous voice. She laughed at him as they finally arrived at the emergency room floor. They both got off and made their way to the emergency room. The chaos that was going on earlier had somewhat calmed down. That’s when Mikey saw Dr. Pinkley he looked at him in return. This guy had the biggest smile on his face and Mikey wondered why. Keeping his cool as Dr. Pinkley approached, Mikey asked him if he was all right. He responded to Dr. Eighteen, “Yes, I am. Thank you for asking.” Leaning in to Dr. Eighteen’s right ear, he whispered, “Thanks for covering for me earlier. I’m forever in your debt. Thanks again, buddy.” Now at this point, Dr. Eighteen was confused about what he saw earlier. Who can I trust? Who would believe me? Who can I talk to? feeling that he would be the laughingstock of their locker room. He thought to himself, Who would believe me if I told them that I saw Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley engaged in a mad and ionate kiss in the stairwell? So he decided to keep it to himself. Everyone knew that Dr. Grea was a very powerful woman at the hospital. She had seniority, respect, and loyalty from all of those she worked with. I’m not in a position to make any head waves, Dr. Eighteen thought to himself. So he got back to tending to patients, as they came in for some sort of treatment. The night went by fast. When a page went out for him to report to his nurse’s station, a curious Dr. Eighteen started letting all kind of thoughts race through his head—from a family emergency to reassignment or a shift change request from another doctor. Let’s face it, he didn’t really have a clue as to why he was being paged to the nurse’s station. At this point, he was a nervous wreck. Arriving at the nurse’s station was met by Dr. Grea. “I just wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind swapping your next shift with Dr. Pinkley.” Dr. Eighteen, in a very stern and polite manner, “No, thanks.” He turned around

and headed back to his workstation. Dr. Grea yelled out to him, “Did you enjoy your lunch break?” He turned around and looked at her with a big smile on his face “Yes, I did,” and continued on to his workstation. She responded, “Good.” Once Dr. Eighteen returned to his workstation, he found Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Guillium joking and giggling like two teenagers. Curious, Dr. Eighteen walked over to the two of them to find out what was so funny. They both looked at Mikey, then at each other, and started laughing again. Standing there, dumbfounded looking at them, Dr. Eighteen thought to himself, What the hell is so funny? “Relax, Dr. Eighteen! We’re just joking with you,” said Dr. Pinkley. “I’m the one who put in the shift swap for fun. I’m just messing with you.” At first, Dr. Eighteen looked at him as though the lightbulb went out upstairs—if you know what I mean. He then looked at both Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Guillium, started laughing, said to Dr. Pinkley, “Nice one. You got me. Ha-ha!” He then turned his attention to Dr. Guillium. Dr. Eighteen asked her if he could talk to her alone. As they both walked away, Dr. Pinkley returned to tending to his patients, still smiling. “So what’s up?” Dr. Guillium asked Dr. Eighteen while still laughing. “You know, Dr. Eighteen, it’s okay to laugh once and a while. It’s good for you. It helps relieve stress. Don’t be so serious all the time. Trust me,” Letting out a deep sigh, he agreed with her. Trying his luck, he asked Dr. Guillium if she would like to hang out sometime when they have days off. She looked at him with those beautiful Caribbean blue eyes of hers and told him to let her think about it. “Sure,” he replied with a big smile on his face. Hey, let’s face it, even though Mikey was a very shy guy, he was also very handsome. And in addition, he really never had a serious girlfriend or relationship, hoping all that will change with Dr. Guillium.

0730 Hours:

Finally, it’s days off for Dr. Eighteen he decided to go to the supermarket to pick up some groceries. His cell phone rang. He looked at the caller identifier was surprised to see that it’s Dr. Guillium who was calling him, trying to contain his excitement. Nervous and anxious at the same time, he calmly answered the phone, “Hello?” “Hello, Dr. Mikey Eighteen. It’s me, Dr. Guillium. I’m calling you to take you up on that offer.” “Okay,” said Dr. Eighteen. “How about dinner?” “Sure,” Dr. Guillium responded. “How about tomorrow night?” “Great! I’ll pick you up at eight o’clock.” “That’ll be perfect,” good-bye and hung up. So overcome with joy, Dr. Eighteen started to moonwalk over into the produce section while an elderly couple smiled at him. He walked past the elderly gentleman and gave him a high-five on the way by. Continuing on his way with his shopping, was so excited about tomorrow night. He knew the perfect place he was going to take her. Tomorrow is going to be a great night for me and Dr. Guillium.

1900 Hours:

Wow, Dr. Eighteen thought to himself, this is finally happening. He picked her up and took her to his favorite restaurant. They complimented each other on their appearance and enjoyed a long conversation while eating good Italian food. Feeling comfortable with each other, they started addressing each other by their first name.

Dr. Eighteen knew it would be immature to fall for Dr. Guillium on the first date. ing that the first impression says a lot about a person, tried to downplay his true feelings, knew very well that he never had a real relationship, and didn’t want to mess this up. Found out that they have some things in common, such as movies, concerts, jazz, and basketball. Their date ended on a good note. Dr. Eighteen took Dr. Guillium home. She gave him a hug, he watched her until she got inside her home safe before he took off. Tonight was good night for Dr. Eighteen. One he’ll never forget.

2230 Hours:

Back at work from his days off, Dr. Mikey Eighteen was still excited about his date with Dr. Lanely Guillium. Seeing Dr. Blythe back on duty as the head physician was a welcoming sight for Dr. Eighteen, after witnessing Dr. Samantha Grea and Dr. Bruce Pinkley kissing in the stairwells. Dr. Eighteen put that behind him and reported to roll call. “Good evening. I just got a memo from upstairs. It’s a reminder to let all of you know that this is a professional institution and to please treat it as such. Keep your private life activities private. Conduct yourselves as professionals at all times when you are on hospital grounds. I told everyone before if you have any issues or concerns, my office door is always open. You’re dismissed. Have a good shift, everyone, to smile.” Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Dr. Eighteen thought to himself. Man, this is not good not good at all. Continued on his way to his assigned workstation with thoughts flowing through his head about what Dr. Blythe just said in roll call. He heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see that it was Dr. Bruce Pinkley who caught up with him. “Did you hear what Dr. Blythe said?” “Yes, I did,” he responded. Not really wanting to engage in any kind of conversation with Dr. Pinkley, Dr. Eighteen began to walk faster than Dr.

Pinkley who, in return, tried to keep up with him. It didn’t dawn on Dr. Eighteen that Dr. Pinkley was trying get his attention. So Dr. Eighteen stopped walking and gave Dr. Pinkley a look as if to say “why are you following me?” Dr. Eighteen could see that Dr. Pinkley was really confused and concerned. Dr. Eighteen knew why he looked that way, but he will never tell Dr. Pinkley that he knew his dirty little secret. Downplaying everything, Dr. Eighteen told Dr. Pinkley not to worry about it and that he’ll be all right. Dr. Eighteen made his way to the emergency room and started tending to his patients the night went by slowly. Trying not to think about what Dr. Blythe said during the roll call, looked around the emergency room to see everybody tending to patients. When he saw Dr. Blythe approaching him, he took a deep breath. “How’s your night going so far, Dr. Eighteen?” “So far, pretty good,” replied Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Blythe informed Dr. Eighteen that he could take his lunch. Taking him up on his offer, Dr. Eighteen headed for the cafeteria. While leaving the emergency room, Dr. Eighteen noticed Dr. Pinkley looking at him suspiciously as he ed his workstation on his way to the cafeteria. Walking down the hallway to catch the elevator to the cafeteria, he got a feeling in his gut that he was being followed. He was right soon he heard footsteps picking up the pace. Began to walk faster once at the elevator, the doors opened up, Dr. Eighteen gets into the elevator. Right before the door closes, someone put their foot between the elevator doors, and it opened back up. Dr. Pinkley stepped in to the elevator, looked at Dr. Eighteen, asked him where he was going. Not knowing what to think or do, Dr. Eighteen told him, “I’m going to lunch.” “Do you mind if I you?” said Dr. Pinkley. Dr. Eighteen agreed.

0230 Hours:

Eating lunch with Dr. Pinkley was like being interviewed by a news reporter. Dr. Eighteen knew Dr. Pinkley was a curious guy, but not this curious. He had to listen to Dr. Pinkley asking about his conversation with Dr. Blythe. Calmly, Dr. Eighteen told Dr. Pinkley to shut up and eat his lunch. Still Dr. Pinkley continued to force the issue about Dr. Blythe’s comments regarding private and professional personas. Fed up, Dr. Eighteen called him out on his suspicious motives. “I wouldn’t worry so much or take what Dr. Blythe said out of context. He was just giving us information he received from his bosses. It’s not like you’re seeing someone here at work, right?” At that moment, Dr. Eighteen noticed that Dr. Pinkley turned red in the face. “What does that supposed to mean?” said Dr. Pinkley. “It doesn’t mean anything,” replied Dr. Eighteen. “You’re making a big deal of nothing. At the rate you’re going, man, you’ll have a head full of gray hair—or even worse, a heart attack. Just relax, man, geez… let it go!” Dr. Pinkley got up from the table. “Yeah right, I’m making a big deal out of nothing.” He walked away. Dr. Eighteen breathed a sigh of relief. His cell phone rang. He looked at the caller identification, saw the number and noticed that it was his father. Thinking to himself, wondering what he wanted, answered the phone. His father told him that he was at his house, he found the spare key and let himself in. Dr. Eighteen hadn’t seen his parents in what seemed like forever. It had been four and a half years to be exact. Dr. Eighteen had mixed feelings about seeing his father. His father could be a little overbearing and aggressive. Despite knowing all these things, Dr. Eighteen was still looking forward to seeing his dad. Leaving the cafeteria, he felt that something had happened. He just hoped it was nothing bad.

0345 Hours:

Back in the emergency room tending to patients, Dr. Eighteen tried to keep his mind clear and focused on his patients. From afar, Dr. Blythe noticed Dr. Eighteen was somewhat distant. He walked over to check on him. Dr. Eighteen assured him that he was okay, but then he told Dr. Blythe about his father showing up out of the blue. Dr. Blythe asked Dr. Eighteen if he wanted to go home. He declined and continued working and tending to his patients while Dr. Blythe found a doctor fill in for Dr. Eighteen.

0430 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen arrived home to find his dad sitting in the dark with only the bathroom lights on. Turned on the lamplight next to the chair his father was sitting on. Looking at his dad brought back painful, hurtful, and some happy memories. Trying to keep his cool, sits across his father. He saw that his father was angry and hurt. Tried to give his dad reasons why he hadn’t called home much. Jumping up from the couch, Dr. Eighteen’s dad went in to a tirade. “Who do you think you are! You think you’re too good to call home from time to time?” yelled his father. “To me, you’ll always be that little chicken and coward of a son!” Not making eye with his dad, Dr. Eighteen just listened to his father’s tirade without moving a muscle. “Look at me, boy, when I’m talking to you!” was all Dr. Eighteen heard. Fed up, he decided to take a stand for himself. He yelled out, “Dad, what is your problem! I’m not a little boy anymore! I’m a grown man, this is my home you’re in. I’m a doctor. I work weird long hours. I’m sorry I should’ve called home more. Why can’t you be happy for me? I didn’t come home to get yelled at in my own home!” Turning and walking away from his father, he yelled, “Let yourself out!” He headed for the door to leave his house. His father came behind him really fast. Spinning him around, facing him and slapping Dr. Eighteen in the face, he yelled at him, “I don’t care whether you’re

a doctor or not.” While pointing at Dr. Eighteen’s house phone mounted on the kitchen wall, “You still could’ve called home. Your mom is worried about you. I don’t care if you never call me, call your mom!” Right before his dad left, he kneed Dr. Eighteen in his ribs, who fell to the floor coughing and trying to breathe. His father threw his keys in his face, stepped over him, and slammed Dr. Eighteen’s front door and left. He cried all night, not moving from where he lay. He cried out, “Please, God, help me!” fell asleep where he laid.

2230 Hours: (Next Shift)

Dr. Eighteen returned to work after the unexpected confrontation with his father at home only to find Dr. Samantha Grea was head physician on duty. He took a deep breath “God, give me strength.” The night went by when Dr. Eighteen noticed Dr. Gullium and Dr. Pinkley were being very playful and somewhat flirtatious with each other. ing what Dr. Blythe said about relationships on and off the job, paid them no mind continued to tend to his patients. He also noticed Dr. Grea watching Dr. Guilium and Dr. Pinkley as well, which puzzled Dr. Eighteen for a minute. The night wore on as patients came and went, but Dr. Eighteen let his guard down when he saw Dr. Guillium by him. He said hi to her. She acknowledged him and kept on walking. He thought to himself, Who am I kidding? Let’s face it, Dr. Lanely Guillium is a drop-dead gorgeous woman. Dr. Bruce Pinkley is only human. He did what any man would’ve done. He flirted with her. Dr. Eighteen had a reality check about his feelings for Dr. Guillium. At this point, were perplexed to know how he felt about her, but seeing her interact with Dr. Pinkley left him doubting if he had a chance of making her his girlfriend. Continuing on tending to his patients, happened to look over Dr. Gillium’s direction, noticed she was talking to Dr. Grea, and could tell the conversation wasn’t a pleasant one, just by looking at Dr. Gillium’s face and body language. She then turned her attention from Dr. Guillium to Dr. Pinkley. You could see it written all over Dr. Grea’s face. She wasn’t happy at all with either one of them, left both Dr. Guillium and Dr. Pinkley, continued on her rounds, ing by me without saying a word.

0330 Hours:

Finally going on his lunch break, Dr. Eighteen went to the cafeteria, so hungry he felt like that he could eat a whole chicken, noticed Dr. Pinkley eating lunch by himself, so Dr. Eighteen walked over to him. “What’s up, Dr. Pinkley?”. “May I sit down with you?” Without looking up, Dr. Pinkley told him, “Sure.” Cutting to the chase, Dr. Eighteen asked Dr. Pinkley about Dr. Gillium. Who gave him an earful to the point where he started to sound cocky and arrogant. “Yeah, we’re just having fun. Man, I tell you she’s something else!” bragged Dr. Pinkley. To make a point, he said Dr. Gillium’s name with sexual overtones in his voice. Dr. Eighteen just sat back in his chair, looking at Dr. Pinkley brag with disgust, kept his cool and changed the subject. “So what was up with Dr. Grea? She looked pretty mad after talking to you and Dr. Guillium.” Dr. Pinkley looked Dr. Eighteen in the eyes with a blank stare, “Your guess is as good as mine.” got up from the table, just before he left, he bent down and whispered in. Dr. Eighteen’s ear, “Take your own advice. Don’t worry about it. See you back in the emergency room.” walked off. As Dr. Pinkley was leaving the cafeteria, Dr. Gillium came in, stopped and talked to Dr. Pinkley. Dr. Eighteen noticed her giving Dr. Pinkley a folded piece of paper. He put it in his pocket and continued on his way back to the emergency room. Dr. Eighteen just sat at the table in disbelief and shook his head. You see, Dr. Pinkley was also handsome, athletic, and he had a way with the ladies. He saw that Dr. Gillium had spotted him, made her way to his table, trying to downplay what he just saw. She came up to him, “Dr. Eighteen, you know you still owe me lunch.” In a somewhat joking voice, Dr. Eighteen responded by saying, “Put it on my tab.”

She sat down and started talking to Dr. Eighteen about Dr. Grea’s attitude, calling her a midlife lonely, overachieving bitch. She went on and on about Dr. Grea giving her attitude about joking and playing around with Dr. Pinkley. Inside, Dr. Eighteen knew he made himself a promise, but wanted to stand up and yell to the top of his lungs that he saw Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley kissing in the stairwell, but didn’t. He just sat there and continued to listen to Dr. Gillium. Dr. Eighteen now saw why Dr. Blythe said what he said in the last roll call, interrupted Dr. Gillium told her that he had to get back to the emergency room. Gets up from the table and walked away. Dr. Gillium got up and walked up to him, told him that she enjoyed dinner the other night. “Me too,” he said to her continued on his way back to the emergency room.

2230 Hours:

Another day had come and gone. Dr. Blythe and Dr. Grea informed the staff about their softball s and if anybody else wanted to play, they could sign up. Now Dr. Eighteen wasn’t really into softball. Now that’s a change, Dr. Eighteen thought to himself. Never seen both Dr. Grea and Dr. Blythe work at the same time. Well, there’s a first time for everything. Dr. Blythe had more seniority, so he was the head physician on duty that night. It was going to be an interesting night! Dr. Eighteen saw Dr. Grea make a beeline for the nurses’ station. Meanwhile, Dr. Gillium was attending to her patients when Dr. Pinkley treating a high school football player in with a broken collarbone. Everyone could see that the kid was in a lot of pain; you could see the bone sticking out through his skin, was screaming at the top of his lungs. Dr. Pinkley, for no reason known to man, told the kid to suck it up. Then gave the kid a playful whack to the chest. The boy’s father went bananas. Soon after that, all hell broke loose in the emergency room. You got the kid screaming to the top of his lungs even louder. Security being paged to keep the father from getting to Dr. Pinkley. Both Dr. Blythe and Dr. Grea came to assist Dr. Pinkley, who was then pushed aside.

When the dust cleared, the father calmed down the kid was treated for his injuries. As for Dr. Pinkley, let’s just say Dr. Blythe ripped him a new one. Dr. Eighteen watched from a distance. Looking at Dr. Pinkley, he’d never seen a grown man shrink and coward; it was brutal. Bet he’d think twice about being comical and funny with his patients from now on to a certain degree. Every patient injury and illness and the level of their discomfort is different. I think Dr. Pinkley will use better judgment when dealing with his patients from now on. After that incident, Dr. Grea went out for blood. She was hard on everybody, even those who didn’t deserve it. Dr. Eighteen noticed Dr. Blythe watching Dr. Grea from the nurses’ station in his area, taking notes and shaking his head, walked away.

0230 Hours:

Time was really flying in the emergency room. When it slowed down a lot. Dr. Eighteen took the time to go and sign up for slow-pitch softball, knew he was a natural athlete, decided to give it a try. Dr. Blythe’s list was almost full. Dr. Grea only had a handful of staff signed up with her. I wonder why. Dr. Eighteen shrugged his shoulders when Dr. Blythe walked up, “Did you sign up, Mikey?” Somewhat confused, Dr. Eighteen replied, “Yes, sir, I did. I signed up on your team.” “We got a good chance this year, Dr. Eighteen, to win the championship,” said Dr. Blythe as he looked at his list, happy with the number of staff who signed up with him. Smiled at Dr. Eighteen and headed toward his office. Dr. Eighteen headed back to the emergency room.

2230 Hours:

Coming to work every night was beginning to become more exciting than the night before. Dr. Eighteen and Dr. Gillium hardly ever talk anymore. He noticed that she and Dr. Pinkley have gotten really close lately while Dr. Grea watched from a distance. You could tell she wasn’t too pleased with all of the attention Dr. Pinkley was giving Dr. Gillium.

0700 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was happy to see his shift come to an end, looked forward to getting to his bed, walked through the parking garage to his car. Once he arrived at his car, opened the door and got into his car, dropped his car keys. Bending down, he leaned over to the enger side to pick up his car keys. That’s when he heard moaning and groaning coming from the car parked next to his. Afraid to move, slowly looked up to see what was going on. His jaw dropped to the floor with his eyes about to pop out of his head—it was Dr. Lanely Guillium and Dr. Samantha Grea inside Dr. Grea’s car doing things. Well, I’ll leave it up to your imagination. Luckily for Dr. Eighteen, had dark tinted windows. Quickly grabbing his keys, he leaned forward and over toward the steering wheel, put his key into the ignition, left the parking garage. Trying to make sense of what he just saw, thought to himself, First Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley, now Dr. Guillium and Dr. Grea. What the hell is going on here! I’m always witnessing coworkers getting intimate. There’s a lot of sexually aroused doctors on my shift. I need to get home to my bed and get some sleep. Finally making it home, Dr. Eighteen checked his voice mail, jumped into his lounge wear, and went to bed.

2230 Hours:

Returning from his four-days off, Dr. Eighteen found out that they will be getting new and old doctors coming on to staff at the hospital. Trying not to worry so much about the new staff coming, Dr. Eighteen continued on with his shift—as usual, tending to patients in the emergency room. The night went by pretty fast; all of the worries he had earlier were gone, looked over to see Dr. Guillium tending to a guy who was in a head-on car collision; right across from her was Dr. Pinkley, tending to a lady with a knife wound on her neck. The night was getting pretty hectic, but it was going by pretty fast until Dr. Eighteen did a double take. At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Looking over at the nurses’ station in his area, saw Dr. Blythe talking to Dr. Charlie Linx. The first thing Dr. Eighteen figured that it had been four years since he saw Dr. Linx. Maybe he’s changed,. Continued to tend to his male patient who suffered a broken forearm from falling off a ladder at his home, was sending his patient to the cast room to be fitted for a cast when he see Dr. Blythe and Dr. Linx walking toward him. It was like time stood still—everything and everyone around was moving at a slow pace. Dr. Eighteen could feel his stomach churning, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up as they walked up to him. Took a deep breath “Well, well, well… Dr. Eighteen, so nice to see you again. Dr. Blythe here was just telling me that you’re doing a great job.” Trying to downplay his true feelings, Dr. Eighteen thanked Dr. Linx for the compliment. Still skeptical from his past dealings with Dr. Linx, didn’t trust him, watched him as he went over to Dr. Lanley Guillium and carried on a conversation with her. And that’s when Dr. Blythe informed Dr. Eighteen that Dr. Linx was coming back to the hospital, but he won’t be assigned to the emergency room. Dr. Linx will be assigned to a different floor; he’ll be on the pediatrics floor. Well, Dr. Eighteen breathed a sigh of relief, watched Dr. Linx’s every move. Dr. Eighteen knew it would be a matter of time before their paths will cross.

0330 Hours:

The emergency room was slow. Dr. Eighteen started to have thoughts of going into private practice. He enjoyed working in the emergency room, but all the drama and trysts were taking their toll on him to a certain degree. While heading

over to the nurses’ station, Dr. Guillium stopped him. “Hey, you got a minute? Can I talk to you?” Dr. Eighteen sensed that something was wrong. Then it hit him. Maybe she saw him in the parking garage the other day. Trying to play it cool, “Sure, what can I do for you?” thought to himself that it was the perfect time to take his lunch, so he asked Dr. Guillium to him, and she agreed. They made their way to the cafeteria, paid for their lunch, sat down Dr. Eighteen looked at Dr. Guillium who was playing with her food, not really eating anything. Breaking the ice, he asked her if she was okay. Deep down, he knew she really wasn’t. “I did something I really shouldn’t have, and you’re the only one I can talk to, Dr. Eighteen,” said Dr. Guillium. Not knowing what to expect, in a curious yet nervous voice, “Well, what is it?” She told him that she and Dr. Pinkley went out to dinner. One thing led to another. And he forced himself on her, began to tremble as she told Dr. Eighteen that Dr. Pinkley raped her. Sitting back in his chair stunned at a loss for words, looked around the cafeteria to see if anyone heard their conversation. Dr. Guillium had the most painful look in her eyes. It was looking into an empty soul. Dr. Eighteen told her, “You got to tell someone.” She began to tell Dr. Eighteen about Dr. Pinkley taking her out to dinner, a movie, and dancing. She told him that Dr. Pinkley asked her back to his place for a nightcap she agreed. Dr. Guillium began to cry, telling Dr. Eighteen she agreed to the nightcap because she was having so much fun. “But I told him I wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship, got very upset, his mood changed. The look in his eyes scared me. So he forced himself on me.” Listening to Dr. Guillium give as to what happened to her broke Dr. Eighteen’s heart. “Why don’t you go to the police?” She had this terrified look on her face told Mikey that Dr. Pinkley took her driver’s license and wrote down her address before giving it back to her. “He

knows where I live” was all she kept saying. “I just wanted to get out of his place. I called myself a cab and went home.” Curious, Dr. Eighteen asked her what time she left Dr. Pinkley’s place. Her response was “three o’ clock in the morning.” From that moment on, Dr. Guillium never trusted men anymore. Dr. Eighteen’s attitude toward Dr. Pinkley was strained. All Dr. Eighteen kept thinking to himself was, What is going to happen to her now that she confided in me? She just sat at the table, looking lost and confused. Trying to pull herself, took a deep breath, ate her salad. looked at Dr. Eighteen and told him he’s a real good friend. got up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria. Someway or somehow, Dr. Pinkley was going to pay for what he did to Dr. Guillium.

0350 Hours:

By now, Dr. Guillium had composed herself enough to continue treating her patients in the emergency room. As for Dr. Eighteen, he was just finishing up his lunch in the cafeteria when Dr. Pinkley spotted him, smiled and winked. Dr. Eighteen wanted so bad to go over to him and beat him unconscious, felt that he wasn’t worth it and had too much to lose to be that reckless, looked at Dr. Pinkley shook his head, got up, and walked out of the cafeteria, headed back to the emergency room. Dr. Eighteen finally arrived back at the emergency room, sat at the nurses’ station, and started working on some of his patients’ charts. The emergency room was quiet, so he took the time to finish up some if his paperwork. After finishing up his paperwork, decided to go and check on Dr. Guillium to see if she’s okay. Is shocked at what he saw—Dr. Guillium and Dr. Pinkley talking and laughing! The first thing that came to his mind was, Is Dr. Guillium crazy? Why would she be talking to this guy after what he did to her? Feeling like he was made a fool of, walked right past the two of them talking, continuing on his way back to his work area. The night went on; everybody was working and tending to his or her patients. The emergency room wasn’t really busy. They treated patients quickly and thoroughly and released them afterward. Just as Dr. Eighteen finished up with

his last patient, Dr. Pinkley came up from behind and tapped him on his left shoulder. Not happy to see him, Dr. Eighteen tried to stay professional and told Dr. Pinkley that he didn’t have time to talk and that he was too busy. Dr. Pinkley didn’t get the hint continued to follow Dr. Eighteen around, trying to find out what was wrong with him. Dr. Eighteen turned around and gave Dr. Pinkley an earful and walked out of the emergency room. He could feel his heart pounding, made his way to the elevator. Feeling trapped, he decided he needed to get away. Once at the elevator, the doors opened. Inside the elevator were Dr. Blythe, Dr. Grea, and three interns. Dr. Blythe asked Dr. Eighteen if he was okay. Trying to compose himself, Dr. Eighteen told Dr. Blythe that he was fine. Feeling uncomfortable, Dr. Eighteen got off at the next floor and waited for the next elevator. Getting impatient waiting for the elevator, Dr. Eighteen decided to take the stairs, running as fast as he could to get to the rooftop. Once he got to the rooftop, ran out into the fresh early morning air, trying to slow down his breathing by bending over at the waist. Feeling confused and lost, Dr. Eighteen tried to make sense of everything going on around him. Clutching both sides of his head with his hands, tried to control the voices in his head. Heard someone say, “What are you doing up here, sir?” Dr. Eighteen turned around to see a security officer standing there, looking at him. With a stern and confused look on his face, he replied, “Trying to get some fresh air. Do you mind?” The security officer responded, “Yes, I do mind, sir. You have no business up here. No one is allowed up here. You could hurt yourself really bad.” Trying to control his breathing and trembling at the same time from the cold, crisp morning breeze, turned around and looked at the security officer. Dr. Eighteen “Why do you think I’ll get hurt?” Pointing, the security officer “Sir, look where you’re standing.” Dr. Eighteen turned back around and realized that he was standing on the ledge of the hospital’s roof, caught his breath as he looked down and could see people below on the ground. But from that high up, they looked like small ants. Slowly, got off the ledge. Quick on his feet, Dr. Eighteen knew he had to find a way to lie his way out of this situation, said to the security officer, “Well, I couldn’t feel the morning crisp breeze, so I decided to get up on the ledge. I’m sorry it won’t

happen again.” The security officer looked at Dr. Eighteen and scratched his head, let him off with a verbal warning escorted him off the rooftop and continued on his rounds, just before the security officer got too far down the stairwells. Dr. Eighteen caught up to him and asked him not to tell anyone. The security officer agreed continued on with his rounds and radioed in that everything was okay. Once the security officer was out of sight, Dr. Eighteen sat down in the stairwell put his head on his lap and closed his eyes. Started playing everything back in his head —from witnessing Dr. Samantha Grea and Dr. Bruce Pinkley in a tongue hockey lip-lock session, Dr. Lanely Guillium and Dr. Samantha Grea’s little episode in the parking lot to Dr. Lanely Guillium accusing Dr. Bruce Pinkley of rape. Last but not the least, his issues with Dr. Charlie Linx—and the icing on the cake, an unexpected visit from his father that turned physical, began to cry softly to himself. In a low voice, “God, please just give me peace of mind.”

February 19, 2011

1430 Hours:

Chapter 2

The Return of Dr. Charlie Linx

2230 Hours:

Well, it’s back to the grind in the emergency room. I look around; everybody was in a good mood. Doctors smiling, patients laughing, me, on the other hand I haven’t had much to laugh and smile about, so I pretended to be happy even when deep down inside I’ve been shaken to my inner core. Sometimes I feel like my soul has been ripped from my flesh. I wish I could run away from all the turmoil, anxiety, and inner demons. Somehow, I’ve managed to the best of my ability to keep it all at bay. Now having to come to grips with Dr. Linx—back working here at the hospital—a part of me hoped he was sincere when he told me it was nice to see me again. I’m a true believer that anybody can change and become a better person. Let’s face it, it has been four years since I had last seen the guy. Maybe he has changed for the better, but then again maybe not. Right now I hold out on truly believing he has changed. Only time will tell, besides, I was still trying to put Dr. Gillium, Dr. Grea, and Dr. Pinkley’s ordeals behind me. While working on a patient’s chart Dr. Gillium walked up to me. “Hey, Dr. Eighteen, I just want to thank you for listening to me the other night at lunch. I really appreciate it.” “Sure, Dr. Gillium no problem, anytime you want to talk, I’ll be right here.” Now, a part of me wanted to grab her and slap some sense into her and say, “Are you serious? The guy raped you… or so you claim. On top of that, you left me and went over to Dr. Pinkley and started smiling and laughing with the guy like

nothing happened—unlike the way you described it to me. But I didn’t I kept my emotions and feelings in check.” She then sat down beside me and started working on her patients’ charts. This was just plain insane. What kind of person would accuse another human being of such a vicious crime one minute then pretends like nothing ever happened the next? I got up from the nurses’ station. I could feel her watching me as I walked away. I was heading back to check on my remaining patients only to be stopped by Dr. Pinkley. “Dr. Eighteen… just the man I wanted to see at this point.” I looked at this idiot like he was crazy. “What do you want, Dr. Pinkley? I’m kinda busy. I’ve got patients to attend to. Make it quick.” “Man, what is your problem?” he said to me as he grabbed me by my left forearm. Immediately, I snatched my arm away from him. “Don’t ever touch me or grab me again. You got that, Dr. Pinkley?” Was I upset? You bet I was! My patience was running thin. He then got into my face and stared me down. “You know what your problem is, Dr. Eighteen? You’re too high-strung. You need to get laid man,”. I backed away from him and walked around him, continuing on my way to my patients. He then began to walk behind me, still talking nonsense. Finally, I had enough I turned around looked him square in the eyes, in a low, angry voice, “Look, I don’t know what you want and I don’t care! Jesus Christ man. Can’t you see I’m working here? Now is not the time and place. You may not care about your career, but I care about mine so for the last time, get the fuck out of my face and leave me alone you piece of shit!” By this time, Dr. Blythe saw what was happening and walked over to me and Dr. Pinkley. “Is everything all right, gentlemen?” said Dr. Blythe. While still staring down Dr. Pinkley, I told Dr. Blythe that everything was all right.

“Well, Dr. Pinkley, is everything all right?” Dr. Pinkley turned to Dr. Blythe and said, “Everything is all right.” He then walked away. “Dr. Eighteen, you got a minute?” said Dr. Blythe. “I need to talk to you. Walk with me.” “Sure,” I said as we walked past the nurses’ station into his office. Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium were talking and watching me at the same time.

0230 Hours:

We arrived at Dr. Blythe’s office. “Come on in, Dr. Eighteen, please have a seat.” He then closed the door. “Dr. Eighteen” he said as he sat down behind his desk, “the reason I wanted to talk to you was to tell you you’re doing a great job here at the emergency room. I know a good doctor when I see one and you’re a very good doctor. Have you thought about going into private practice someday?” “You know Dr. Blythe as a matter of fact I was. But being here working in the emergency room, I’ve learned so much. It’s really fun and at the same time, I learn something new every night.” “That’s good, Dr. Eighteen, I’m glad to hear you say that. Now, on the other hand tell me what was that stare-down thing going on between you and Dr. Pinkley?” I thought to myself, I should come clean and tell him everything I’ve seen and heard. “Oh, Dr. Blythe, that was nothing.” “Are you sure?” These three words echoed in my head like someone standing on a mountaintop, yelling hello, only to hear the voice echoing back. “Yes, of course I’m sure,”

trying to come up with an excuse. I sat there in that chair and told the head physician, my boss, a boldface lie. “Dr. Pinkley stopped me to ask me a question. I was focusing on getting back to my patients to check on them. He caught me off guard. That’s all, sir.” “Okay, Dr. Eighteen. Very well then, keep up the good work,” “You’re free to go. I’ll talk with you later.” At that moment, before I opened the door to leave his office, I turned around and looked at him. The whole time it was tearing me up inside, everything was getting to me. Before I could think, the words came out of my mouth. “Dr. Blythe,” I said to him. “Yes,” he responded. “Can I go to lunch?” “Why, sure. You can enjoy your lunch.”

0345 Hours:

Man, I’m starved, the menu looked good as I stood in line paying for lunch, I noticed Dr. Linx was behind me. “Hey, Dr. Eighteen, can I you for lunch?” I thought, Why does he want to me for lunch? “Sure, why not?” We both paid for our lunch and sat down together. “My Dr. Eighteen first let me start by saying that I was a prick and jackass the last time we worked together four years ago.” I looked at him “Thanks, Dr. Linx, I appreciate it, that means a lot to me.” “Well you know back then I was trying to prove myself. I took out my

frustrations on you. My dad and I weren’t on good , so to speak.” “Hey, Dr. Linx, don’t worry about it,” “Me and my father have disagreements too.” He then asked me about Dr. Gillium, he went on talking to me about how beautiful she was, so on and so forth. So I said to him, “Dr. Gillium is a very good doctor and she’s nice to work with.” And I left it at that. Sitting back in his chair, Dr. Linx looked at me with his mouth wide open. “Come on Dr. Eighteen, don’t tell me you haven’t checked her out?” Now at this point, I could burst Dr. Linx’s bubble and tell him that Dr. Gillium and I have already went out to dinner. But then again, why tell him? I thought, No way, I’ll keep that to myself like everything else I’ve seen and heard around here. To distract him, I looked at my watch. “Geez, look at the time. I’ve gotta get back to the emergency room. Sorry I’ve got to go.”

0435 Hours:

I made my way back to the emergency room when Dr. Grea stepped up to me just before I entered the emergency room. “Dr. Eighteen, I’d like to have a word with you,” I was confused and looked at her like, “What is your problem, lady?” “If you have a problem with me, you can come and talk to me, okay? You don’t have to go to Dr. Blythe. I’m right here.” “Dr. Grea, why wouldn’t I come to you if I have a problem with you? What are you talking about? You’ve got me confused here,” She looked me square in the eyes “A lot of doctors don’t care for me too much. They say I’m a mean old son of a bitch, I assure you I’m not like that.” As she’s

talking to me, I can sense that she thought maybe I said something to Dr. Blythe about her which I didn’t. “Excuse me, Dr. Grea, why are you telling me these things?” She then opened the door to the emergency room area turned to me, “ Dr. Eighteen, you can talk to me also.” The door closed behind her while I was still standing there scratching my head trying to figure what just happened. So I opened the door headed to my work area, started making my rounds and checking on my patients while making notations on their charts. Then Dr. Gillium approached me. “So, Dr. Eighteen, some of us are going for a few beers after work. You wanna come with us?” Of course you know I was skeptical and suspicious “Well, who’s going?” She said to me, “Just you and I. Are you up for it?” This voice went off in my head, Don’t do it. , she already said Dr. Pinkley raped her. I looked at Dr. Gillium “No thank you, I’m working overtime. Maybe some other time, okay?” Working here at this hospital made me ask myself, Should I stay here continue working? Or maybe just go ahead into private practice—at least that way, I won’t have to deal with all of this drama.

0630 Hours:

The emergency room was as quiet as I’ve seen it in a long time. However, I couldn’t help but notice Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley getting a little too close for comfort. While sitting at the nurses’ station, Dr. Linx popped up out of the blue. “Hey, Dr. Eighteen, what’s up?” I told him, “Oh I’m just looking over some of the patients’ charts.” He then said, “What’s up with Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley over there?” I respond to him, “What do you mean?” “They look like they’re flirting, it looks weird to me that’s all.” Now I’m thinking to myself, If Dr. Linx only knew what was really going on between Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley, I wonder what would he do or say about it. Trying to downplay the whole situation, I changed the subject by trying to distract him. “So, Dr. Linx, how do you like working in pediatrics?” He then turned to me “Well I like it so far but at times it can be challenging, especially if a baby is sick. Seeing the parents helpless and praying for their baby to get better is sad at times. So I try to do everything I can to assure the parents that I’m doing everything I can to help their baby. So overall I’m having fun in pediatrics.” He then turned his attention to Dr. Grea

and Dr. Pinkley “Are you enjoying yourself down here in the emergency room?” So I told him, “Yes, of course, sometimes it gets pretty hectic down here” Now we’re both looking at Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley. All of a sudden, we saw Dr. Grea leave first and twenty minutes later, we saw Dr. Pinkley leave. I didn’t make much of it, so I continued going over my patients’ charts. “Well, Dr. Eighteen, I gotta get back up to pediatrics. I’ll talk to you later. Just like that, Dr. Linx left the emergency room. I also left the emergency room in the opposite direction that Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley headed toward. At this point, I really didn’t think much about all three doctors leaving at the same time. Still, there’s something about Dr. Linx. I just don’t completely trust this guy.

0730 Hours:

“Excuse me! Dr. Linx, wait up I need to talk to you, you gotta minute?” “Why sure, Dr. Blythe, what is it?” “I’m hearing good things about you up in pediatrics. Keep up the good work.” Now at this point, you can sense that Dr. Linx was going to start some trouble. “Um… Dr. Blythe, can I talk to you in private?” “Why, sure, let’s go to my office.” Once they arrived at Dr. Blythe’s office, they went inside. “Have a seat,” Dr. Linx. “Dr. Linx, now what is it you want to talk to me about?” “Well, sir, while in the emergency room, I noticed Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley getting a little too close for comfort.” Dr. Blythe then leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with both hands. Dr. Linx continued to tell Dr. Blythe of his suspicions of Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley. So Dr. Blythe interrupted him by saying, “Thank you, Dr. Linx, for bringing this to me. They know we have a strict code about doctors dating doctors.” Dr. Linx

continued his spilling of the beans. “Now, Dr. Blythe,” “I just want you to know what I saw. I’m not accusing them of anything. I just thought you should know, that’s all.” Dr. Blythe then said to him, “I know that, Dr. Linx but rules are rules, we all must follow them. I don’t need my staff’s judgment jeopardize their thinking or any kind of distractions when dealing with patients. Dr. Blythe looked at him with disappointment told him to leave. Dr. Linx then got up and says to Dr. Blythe, “I’m not trying to get anybody in trouble.” He then opened the door and closed it behind him. Once in the hallway, Dr. Linx walked down the hall toward the elevator with the most sinister smile on his face. Meanwhile, back at Dr. Blythe’s office he’s still sitting at his desk confused, disappointed, and angry at Dr. Grea, Dr. Pinkley, and Dr. Linx. He then got up from his desk, left his office, headed to the emergency room. By this time, Dr. Linx was waiting for the elevator when it arrived. To his surprise, saw Dr. Gillium on the elevator all by herself. He then got in it and began a conversation with Dr. Gillium. “Good morning, Dr. Gillium.” “Good morning, Dr. Linx,” she replied. “You know Dr. Gillium, I saw the strangest thing in the emergency room earlier this morning.” Somewhat curious, “What did you see?” “I saw Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley flirting with each other.” Trying to hide the shock and hurt Dr. Gillium pretended to joke. She then said to Dr. Linx, laughing, “You’re right, that is strange.” Dr. Linx started laughing just as the elevator got to his floor, turned to Dr. Gillium, “What’s even stranger is that they left together, go figure that.” He then got off the elevator. Once the elevator door closed Dr. Gillium became upset and enraged at the news from Dr. Linx

0830 Hours:

Finally Dr. Eighteen completed his overtime shift, headed to the parking garage. Once there, he could feel somebody or someone watching him, yelled out, “Is anybody there? Come on, guys, this isn’t funny.” Soon realized there’s no one there, got into his car and took off. Once he’s out of the garage, Dr. Linx came out in the darkly lit corner of the car garage, just as two security officers were walking to the parking garage doing their rounds. Dr. Linx then hid back into the

darkly lit corner, overheard one of the security officers telling the other one about Dr. Eighteen’s rooftop ledge ordeal. “Yeah man, Dr. Eighteen he’s a strange one… I personally thought he was going to jump.” The other security stopped “Damn that’s messed up!” He then said to his partner, “Man why didn’t you tell anyone?” “Dude! I promised him I wouldn’t tell… he looked really tired also.” Talking and kidding around they continued on with their rounds. Not knowing that Dr. Linx heard every word of what they said. He then came out of the darkly lit corner with a sinister grin on his face This is going to be easier than I thought. He walked over to his truck got in and took off ing the two security officers while leaving the parking garage structure. Both of the security officers laughed at his personalized license plate. “Did you see his license plate? It read mr. snob.” “Yeah,” said the other security officer, “what a jerk.”

2230 Hours:

Well back at the emergency room once again, I hoped that night would run smoothly without any drama for a change. All of these things were running through Dr. Eighteen’s head when he saw Dr. Gillium parking her car. Trying to park where Dr. Gillium couldn’t see him was all for not. She saw him ran to catch up with him. “Hey, Dr. Eighteen, we’ve got to stop meeting like this.” “Yes, I do agree with you Dr. Gillium, one hundred and ten percent.” As they both headed for the elevator, Dr. Eighteen “So Dr. Gillium, how’s the things with you and Dr. Pinkley?” “Well, there’s nothing to talk about as far as I’m concerned about Dr. Pinkley, and I… he’s old news to me.” Trying not to force her hand, Dr. Eighteen decided to go for broke. “I’m

confused Dr. Gillium… you told me the guy raped you. And yet when we had lunch at the cafeteria, you saw Dr. Pinkley… and made a beeline straight to him.” Dr. Gillium then stopped in her tracks looked at Dr. Eighteen like she wanted to punch him in the face. He then realized what he said to her turned to apologize to her. She then walked up to Dr. Eighteen very slowly in a low angry voice. “What are you trying to say Dr. Eighteen, huh?” Dr. Eighteen at this point realized that he hinted on a sensitive conversation point. “Look, Dr. Gillium, I don’t mean any harm by it, I’m just concerned, that’s all.” “Well Dr. Eighteen if you must know I’m not a liar, I’ve never lied about anything in my whole life!” She then stormed off running for the elevator, leaving Dr. Eighteen standing in the parking garage by himself, mad at himself he started talking to himself as he headed to the elevator. Why did you say anything to her about her ordeal with Dr. Pinkley? Geez . . . I’m such a freakin’ idiot. Right at that moment, Dr. Eighteen realized that he has to come to with his feelings for Dr. Gillium. In his heart, he now feels that it’s over had to face the truth that it was over. No matter what he says or do from this point on, it won’t mean anything anymore when it comes to Dr. Gillium. The parking garage elevator opened. Dr. Eighteen got in as soon as the elevator doors closed. Dr. Linx was pulling into the parking garage.

2245 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen made his way to the emergency room ready to work when all he saw was chaos everywhere. He saw Dr. Gillium and an intern trying to resuscitate an elderly gentleman while Dr. Pinkley was trying to console the gentleman’s wife. Dr. Grea was confused about a little girl’s complaints of chest pains. Dr. Blythe was assisting Dr. Gillium with the gentleman who appeared to have had a heart attack, and then I heard Dr. Grea calling me over to assist her with the little girl’s parents who were angry and upset about their daughter’s condition. While I was trying to calm the father down, the mother was yelling at Dr. Grea to do something. Out of the blue, Dr. Grea turned to the mother of the little girl and yelled at her, “I can’t help your daughter with you yelling in my ear can you, please, ma’am, back off!” Dr. Grea then turned her attention back to the

little girl who then flatlined and stopped breathing. Dr. Grea yelled out, “We got a code blue!” Starts R Dr. Grea and her team attempted to revive the little girl, the mother started yelling and crying out, “She has really bad asthma!” Right at that moment, Dr. Blythe ran over to assist Dr. Grea. Soon they got the child stabilized had her taken up to pediatrics ICU. Dr. Grea and Dr. Blythe were at the nurses’ station talking about what just happened with the little girl suddenly flatlining. You could see that they were in disagreement. First, you hear Dr. Grea saying she had a heart attack and then you hear Dr. Blythe saying she had a full-blown asthma attack. It was just plain crazy to see two doctors baffled about a little girl’s diagnosis. Meanwhile, the parents went outside to get some fresh air. Dr. Blythe walked over to me while I was wrapping a basketball player’s left ankle. Trying to downplay the disagreement I heard between him and Dr. Grea by changing the subject, “My patient here has a high ankle sprain, Dr. Blythe. Other than that, he’ll be back on the basketball court in no time.” “Where did the little girl’s parents go?” I told him that they went outside for some fresh air. Right at that moment the little girl’s father came back in. Dr. Blythe had me accompany him to tell the father the news. I can see the father was really stressed out Dr. Blythe informed the father that his daughter was stabilized and taken up to the pediatrics ICU, where more tests chest x-rays, and lab work will be done. He assured the father that they’ll do all they can for her up in the pediatrics ICU. Once Dr. Blythe was done talking to the father, turned to me and instructed me to take the parents up to pediatrics. The mother came back in, so I took both parents up to pediatrics. Her husband filled her in while we were on the elevator. Once we arrived at the pediatrics floor, Dr. Linx was waiting for me and the parents, he then took the parents of the little girl. I turned around to get back on the elevator headed back down to the emergency room. Now just in case you’re wondering how come I didn’t play a part in the gentleman’s treatment and the little girl’s treatment. In a way, I did well as far as the little girl goes her parents needed to be consoled. They needed reassurance that their little girl was going to be all right. That goes to show that being a doctor, you’re always going to play a part in a patient’s care by helping their families get through hard times.

0145 Hours:

Time for lunch, last night’s chaos got my stomach in knots. I wonder what’s on the menu tonight, thinking to myself. Once I got to the cafeteria Dr. Linx and Dr. Pinkley were in line. “Hey! Dr. Eighteen you want to us?” said Dr. Linx. “Sure why not,” I replied. I decided to get a double cheeseburger, French fries, and chocolate shake. We paid for our food sat down “Geez,” said Dr. Pinkley, “I forgot a straw for my soda.” Me being the nice guy that I am, decided to go and get some straws. Besides, I forgot to get one for myself too. While I’m getting the straws I heard both Dr. Linx and Dr. Pinkley laughing really hard. Not paying attention or giving any thought as to why or what they were laughing at until I sat down. Dr. Linx distracted me long enough just before I sat down. Dr. Pinkley stepped on a whoopie cushion just as my bottom hit the bench. Everybody in the cafeteria looked at me. I had the most stupid, clueless look on my face. For good measure they put jalapeños inside my cheeseburger and black pepper they laughed their asses off at me. I looked at the black pepper shaker on the table—it was empty. I took the lid off my chocolate shake—it was full of black pepper. They both at the same time said to me, “Gotcha!” continued laughing. Slowly I got up from the table with them and walked away. However as I was walking away, Dr. Pinkley started stepping on the whoopie cushion. Every time I took a step, he stepped on the whoopie cushion. By this time the whole cafeteria was laughing at me, so I ran out of the cafeteria as fast as I could. The whole time I was thinking to myself, Payback’s a bitch. While running down the hall to find a bathroom, I ran into Dr. Gillium. As I ed gas kept going, she put her hand over her nose. She yelled out to me, “Dr. Eighteen I think you might’ve pinched off a little something in your pants.” Not paying her any attention, I found a vacant bathroom and you know what happened next.

0230 Hours:

Back in the emergency room everything was running smoothly, patients were coming and going like clockwork, I looked over at the nurses’ station, saw that Dr. Blythe had brought us donuts. Now everyone knew that both Dr. Linx’s and Dr. Pinkley’s favorite donuts were either jelly-filled or cream-filled. So I decided it’s time for a little payback, to my surprise, there was only one nurse at the station. The others were helping patients, there were all kinds of donuts. Being careful not to get caught, I took some chocolate Èclairs, filled them with the

chocolate liquid X lax, put them all back. Talking about good timing right on cue both Dr. Linx and Dr. Pinkley came off the back emergency service elevator, headed right to the nurses’ station for the chocolate-filled stuffed Èclairs. I went back to helping patients when they both walked over to me with two chocolate cream-filled Èclairs. Still giggling, they say to me, “Dr. Eighteen, we were joking around with you earlier. Don’t take it the wrong way, we were just trying to have fun with you that’s all.” I looked up at both of them and gave them a fake smile and a fake laugh. “Yeah, you guys got me… that was a good one,” I said to them. Right after that, they both bit into the chocolate cream-filled Èclairs with chocolate liquid X lax. Dr. Linx took a big bite out of his donut “Man! Dr. Eighteen these chocolate cream-filled Èclairs are really good, aren’t they?” Dr. Pinkley was already halfway done with his. He agreed with Dr. Linx “You are absolutely correct.” They both turned around and walked off. “See you later, Dr. Eighteen,” and high-fived each other. “Yeah, see you guys later,” I replied. On the inside, I was laughing so hard, Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium also went over to the nurses’ station to grab a donut. They only liked the powdered and plain donuts. Me, I love the bear claws and apple fritters, time went by, the emergency room was like a ghost town. So I went over to the nurses’ station to finish up my paperwork on my patients when I see Dr. Pinkley make a beeline for the bathroom, but the bathroom was occupied, he then started prancing back and forth to the point that the head nurse started looking at him like he was crazy. The nurse say to him, “Dr. Pinkley are you okay sir?” Dr. Pinkley turned to the nurse with a look on his face of sure panic with his eyes big, prancing side to side. In a little girly-like voice, “No, no, no… I’m okay… really.” He then turned his attention back to the bathroom trying to wait patiently. Finally he lost it and yelled out, “Please, for the love of god, whoever is inside, please hurry up! I’m going to poop my pants!” To his demise the person didn’t answer, he kicked the door and took off running on his tippy toes to another bathroom—with his hands on his butt cheeks. The head nurse looked at me and I at her we both shrugged our shoulders and laughed. Right about now you’re probably wondering who was in the bathroom. Well, it was none other than Dr. Linx. When he came out of the bathroom the guy looked like he just came out of a steam room—he was soaked and wet from head to toe. Me, trying to downplay everything, asked Dr. Linx, “Are you all right?” And how come he wasn’t up on the pediatrics floor? His response was “Man, I gotta lay off those chocolate Ec —” Before he could finish his sentence, slammed the bathroom door shut. All you could hear him say was “Oooh… good lord.” The head nurse looked at me “Now you know why I don’t eat any cream-filled donuts of any kind” pointed at the bathroom sign light and read. Occupied, like I said earlier, payback’s a bitch.

They had diarrhea for what seemed like eternity to them in their minds. I’m pretty sure of it me getting some payback was fun but that fun would be over before I could truly savor and relish in it.

0630 Hours:

Nearing the end of my shift, I couldn’t help but get the sense that something was coming. When I got paged to the nurses’ station, at first I thought Dr. Pinkley or Dr. Linx was playing another prank on me. I get to the nurses’ station she told me it’s my father on line 2. I picked up the Phone, my father told me I have to come home it’s about my mom. “Mikey, I’m sorry son but your mom is gone son.” Confused, I asked my dad, “What do you mean she’s gone? Are you trying to tell me that you and Mom got a divorce?” “No son, your mom is dead” from that moment on, I didn’t hear anything else my dad was saying to me. It felt like time had stopped and everything around me was frozen in time. Everything went from light to dark, flashbacks play like a home movie in my head—of me as a little boy running into my mom’s arms. She picked me up and kissed me on the cheeks, toted me in her arms as we walked along the beach. I can hear the waves crash into the shore as my mom tried to put me down so that the water could touch my feet. She’d pick me up really quick and laughed with me. I need to go home . . . I gotta get outta here was all I could tell myself. “Dr. Eighteen! Dr. Eighteen! Are you all right?” Finally, I snapped back only to find myself lying on a gurney looking up at Dr. Blythe, Dr. Grea, and Dr. Gillium hearing them all ask me if I was okay. The truth of the matter I was not. Dr. Blythe looked at me “Dr. Eighteen, you ed out by the nurses’ station.” Sitting up on the side of the gurney, I ask Dr. Blythe to excuse me I’ve got a family emergency. Dr. Blythe turned to Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium ask them to give us some privacy. I then looked at Dr. Blythe with disbelief I told him that my mom has died and I needed to leave. Dr. Blythe looked at me “I’ll put in the paperwork for you. Go home son” take all the time you needed and that he was sorry for my loss. From this moment on, my whole world was turned upside down, in a blink of an eye, I’m lost.

0930 Hours:

Home seemed to be a place of hurtful and painful memories for me. I’ve always said to myself, Someday I’ll come back home and face all the painful memories of my past. Never once did I think I’d return home like this—this is it. I was standing outside my childhood home and all I could hear playing over and over in my head were the laughter of my mom’s voice me and Dad arguing about my curfew. I’ve got so many mixed emotions. With a deep breath, I got up to the front door and rang the door bell. My dad answered the door. Once inside I saw family everywhere outside, cars and trucks were parked all the way down the street. A part of me felt relieved that some family were at the house. Everyone came up to me and hugged me. I was still in the dark, I just can’t believe my mother was gone. A part of me hoped and prayed that this was a dream at any moment my mom would come out of the kitchen and give me a big hug and kiss. We’d then sit down talk and catch up. But that never happened because she’s gone, no matter how I wished for her to still be here, she’s gone. Looking around the living room, I saw my dad hugging talking with relatives. The only thing that kept running through my mind was my dad’s visit out of the blue—showing up like he did. It wasn’t a good visit, heck, I don’t know… maybe my father came to tell me about Mom’s health but didn’t have the courage to do so. Watching my dad interact with family, I could tell he was hurting. For the first time in my life I saw my dad’s vulnerability—he looked just as lost as I was, which bothered me a lot. My dad and I have a stress-filled relationship. Where do we go from there… I didn’t know. My mom was my ray of sunlight. With her ing away, I was completely in the dark.

1230 Hours:

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions for me. Today here I stand looking at my

mom’s body, she looked so peaceful. I could hear family in the background crying, others calling out her name. My father just sat and stared up at the sky I watched him close his eyes. Tears began to stream down his face, he didn’t say a word. So far me and my father have yet to say anything to each other. At that point, I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t even know how I’ll act or respond. The pastor was giving the eulogy for my mom’s funeral. Family one at a time went up and paid their last respect. It was a beautiful thing to see family and friends alike that knew my mom reflect on the good times they had with my mom. I know she’s smiling and laughing up in heaven now, as we made the journey to where my mom was going to rest in peace.

1430 Hours:

We arrived at my mom’s grave site, my heart was pounding out of my chest. Everyone placed a rose on my mom’s casket as she’s lowered into the ground. It was at that moment I dropped to the ground on both knees. With tears running down my face, I cried out, “Momma, don’t leave me.” I asked God, “Why, why my mom?” Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my dad, the first words that came out of his mouth were, “You should’ve been here son. You should’ve been here, cry all you want but she is gone.” I gathered myself together stood up looked my father in the eye, I asked him what was that supposed to mean. He looked around and saw that the family were leaving for their vehicles. Confused, I asked my dad again, “What was that supposed to mean?” My dad, in a low angry voice, got in my face “Do you know how many nights your mother sat by the phone hoping you would call home? Do you? Do you? All she ever wanted was to hear your voice from time to time. No —all you care about is yourself… now, look at you! A doctor all that medical schooling you have don’t mean shit to me. My wife, your mother, is gone and she’s never coming back!” My dad dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. Right then and there I felt like my heart was sucked from my chest by my dad. Mustering up the courage I said to my dad, “Even though I never came home you’re right, I should’ve called home more often but I was working three jobs, Dad! Three jobs! All I ever wanted was to make Mom proud of me. How

was I to know my mom would die! I had no way of knowing! You had my phone number, you should’ve brought mom with you when you came to see me, Dad. How come you didn’t bring her, tell me, I want to know.” My dad jumped to his feet and yelled at me, “because your mom was in a coma, okay that’s why I didn’t bring her, you son of a bitch!” Stepping back from my dad shocked and hurt, I began to walk away from my father. He yelled out to me, “That’s right Mikey, go ahead run away. That’s what you’re good at—running away! You have no heart! You’re more dedicated to your profession than to your own family. You’re a sell out Mikey! You hear me? You’re a sell out. Don’t come back! Nobody wants you here!” These words my dad said to me changed my life forever. I’ll never be the same, my heart was cold, my sense of well-being no longer existed. My father had shattered my heart into a thousand pieces. I needed to get out of there—and fast.

1100 Hours:

Returning home from my mother’s funeral had me all torn up inside and out emotionally. Do I still want to be a doctor? Was the question that kept popping in my head. You see, I was really doing some soul-searching at that point. Could my father be right about me not putting family first? My mother would turn over in her grave if I gave up on my ion and love for medicine. I know she’s happy for me, so I was not giving up on my love for medicine. It’s the only thing that I’m good at, bothered me to think about doing anything else other than this. My father and I were both hurting but I must stay focus on my career. Medicine is the only thing I know how to do, so onward from here on, even though people like Dr. Linx, Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley in some way shape, or form have impacted my life, these people are stepping stones to where I’m trying to get to in the medical field. However, going back to work was not going to be the same for me. I realized I must start standing up for myself even if that meant watching a few heads roll in the process.

2230 Hours:

Those two weeks off really gave me some time to reflect change and adapt to any situation I face. Coming back to work, I’ve noticed some changes, Dr. Blythe told me that Dr. Linx is now part of the emergency room medical staff full time, here we go. “Dr. Eighteen.” I heard my name being called. I turned around to see who’s calling me it’s Dr. Gillium. “Hey, Dr. Gillium,” “How are you doing?” “I was about to ask you the same thing.” “Sorry to hear about the ing away of your mother, if you need to talk about anything Dr. Eighteen let me know.” I told Dr. Gillium “Thank you so much” but I noticed Dr. Linx was watching us. I didn’t care, she then gave me a hug and walked away. Dr. Blythe walked over to me, we started conversing on my family trip home. “Dr. Eighteen, I’m giving you light duty for the next two weeks. You can assist the nurses at the nurses’ station.” Now I was looking at Dr. Blythe as he’s saying these things to me, I stopped him “Dr. Blythe, I’m very capable of doing my job, I’ll be fine, really Dr. Blythe I’m okay.” “Dr. Eighteen, I know you’re capable of doing your job. I just want you to take it slow for now, okay?” turned around and walked off, continuing on his rounds of checking on patients. Well, at this point I thought Dr. Blythe had a point, so I worked at the nurses’ station assisting them on some patients. I couldn’t help but notice Dr. Linx being really friendly to Dr. Gillium. One of the nurses told me that Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium were now dating. Here we go again, I thought to myself.

0230 Hours:

The emergency room was quiet while I was sitting at the nurses’ station making notations on the patients’ charts. Dr. Gillium came over to me, we started talking

about a patient treated for a bullet wound in the back. We both laughed when she said the guy ed gas in Dr. Blythe’s face. Up walked Dr. Linx interrupted Dr. Gillium and my conversation. “Excuse me,” Dr. Gillium “You want to go and grab some lunch?” She smiled at Dr. Linx “Sure.” She then turned to me “talk to you later, Dr. Eighteen.” Dr. Pinkley then showed up at the nurses’ station asked me what was I and Dr. Gillium laughing about. Looking at Dr. Pinkley you could tell that this guy was looking for trouble. So I played with his curiosity by telling him that we were laughing about one of her patients, before he could ask me any more questions I interrupted him. “Wow! Look at the time. Geez… Dr. Pinkley I would love to chat with you but I can’t. It’s time for me to go to lunch.” So I got up and headed to the cafeteria. When I got to the cafeteria Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium were gazing into each others’ eyes like two lovesick people. It made me sick to my stomach, I got my food to go. Once done paying for my food, Dr. Gillium walked over to me before I left the cafeteria. She told me that she would like to apologize for yelling at me in the parking garage. I told her, “Don’t worry about it left the cafeteria only to hear Dr. Linx calling out to me. “Dr. Eighteen wait up!” I just kept walking, trying to ignore Dr. Linx until he caught up with me and grabbed me by the arm. Immediately I snatched my arm away from him. “What do you want, Dr. Linx?” He stepped back from me In case you haven’t noticed Dr. Gillium and I are dating. You’ve been gone a while, I just thought I’d let you know.” Now at this point, I was thinking Who gives a rat’ ass? I don’t. “Well, good for you, Dr. Linx. I’m happy for you and Dr. Gillium.” Trying my patience, “I’m glad we understand each other I just don’t want you to get any ideas in your head about Dr. Gillium, well, you know what I mean, right Dr. Eighteen?” Fed up, got into Dr. Linx’s face “Dr. Gillium and you Dr. Linx are the last two people on this green earth that I’m thinking about. I don’t give a shit about you and Dr. Gillium dating! Now do we understand each other?” I turned around and walked away, ing Dr. Gillium on the way I looked at her and shook my head, turned the corner got on the elevator. I went to the doctors’ lounge turned on the television, and ate my lunch. To me it felt good telling Dr. Linx a thing or two that guy had a lot of nerve, he didn’t even have a clue about what he’s getting himself into with Dr. Gillium.

0345 Hours:

The emergency room was still somewhat slow, I was back at the nurses’ desk, working. “Dr. Eighteen can I talk to you? Do you have a minute?” I didn’t bother looking up. I knew it was Dr. Gillium, continuing to work “What do you need?” “I’m sorry Dr. Linx approached you the way he did, can you accept an apology from me?” Standing up from behind the nurses’ station I looked Dr. Gillium in the eyes with a smile on my face “Congratulations. I’m happy for you I hope things work out for you and Dr. Linx, you don’t need to apologize for that. Now if you’ll excuse, I’ve got work to do.” “Well thank you so much Dr. Eighteen, you’re a good friend.” At that moment, my heart was cold I didn’t care about Dr. Gillium anymore. Any feelings that I had for her were gone forever. “Dr. Eighteen please report to Dr. Blythe’s office” man, what now I went to Dr. Blythe’s office and knocked on the door. “Come on in Dr. Eighteen, have a seat I sat down in Dr. Blythe’s office, got up and shut the door. He sat down on the side of his desk. “How are you holding up?” I responded, “Dr. Blythe, so far so good.” looked at me with a glare I’ve never seen before. “Dr. Eighteen, I’ve been hearing about a lot of unprofessional behavior going on in the emergency room. Have you been seeing things go on if you have… you can tell me. Anything and everything that you tell me will not leave this office. It will be kept confidential. Do you understand what I’m saying to you, Dr. Eighteen?” “Excuse me, Dr. Blythe but why would you think I’ve seen anything sir? I haven’t. I assure you Dr. Blythe, that if and when I do see something I’ll surely come right to you and tell you.” “All right, Dr. Eighteen,” “you’re dismissed, enjoy the rest of your shift.” Once I was out in the hallway, feeling confused to myself, Somebody else saw something, but who? Who would jeopardize their career by talking? Now I have to watch my back more than ever.

0545 Hours:

Back in the emergency room, we’ve started to get busy. Dr. Grea was on now “Dr. Eighteen!” She called out to me. “I need your help immediately!” I ran over to help her. This guy came into the emergency room with a compounded fracture of both legs. This guy was in a bad shape, we treated him, the guy had the same last name as me. Nikolai Eighteen. Dr. Grea tried to ask him what happened slipped in and out of consciousness. We stabilized him transferred him up to the ICU. Dr. Grea looked at me “Do you know him, Dr. Eighteen?” Confused and puzzled I said no. Meanwhile, Dr. Pinkley was working at the nurses’ desk on his patients’ charts, I continued my rounds in the emergency room to make sure everything and everyone was taken care of. Dr. Gillium was tending to a patient, Dr. Linx was tending to another patient. By this time, Dr. Blythe had made his way to the emergency room assisting doctors and checking on patients. We were starting to get busy. Time was flying by so fast Dr. Blythe had to come over and let me know that I could go home.

0745 Hours:

I usually don’t go to our locker rooms for some reason that morning I did. While inside, I saw Dr. Pinkley looking at a photo of Dr. Gillium. “Hey, Dr. Eighteen,” “That guy that came in with those compound fractures… are you guys related?” Stopping what I was doing, I sat down on the bench across from Dr. Pinkley “I don’t know.” “Both of you guys got the same last name, Eighteen. That’s very rare do you think?” Getting up off the bench, I closed my locker. On my way out, I turned around and looked at Dr. Pinkley “I’m tired I haven’t given it a second, third, or fourth thought. Good night, Dr. Pinkley.”

2230 Hours:

Another night on the job with the same chitter-chatter; patients were coming and going. Dr. Grea was in charge tonight Dr. Blythe had the night off. The night was going smooth for me; however, I couldn’t say the same for Dr. Pinkley, you

could tell something was bothering him. I noticed he kept staring at Dr. Linx and then he’d turn his attention to Dr. Gillium’s direction. Then it hit me—he’s totally jealous of Dr. Gillium and Dr. Linx ever since they’ve been dating. A part of me wanted to go over to Dr. Pinkley and slap a piece of reality pie right into his face. Working here at the hospital in this emergency room I’ve seen more drama and heartbreak from my fellow doctors than I do the patients. Trust me I’m a survivor of Dr. Gillium I truly thought we had a chance unfortunately for me, I ended up in the friend zone, next was Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Gillium. For me the verdict is still out on whether he raped her or not, she’s over him. He didn’t even exist to her and now he looked like a rejected lovesick puppy. Finally Dr. Gillium had Dr. Linx up under her spell. Dr. Linx was a very snobbish kind of guy, you can tell he’s very possessive she can’t go anywhere without Dr. Linx. He was not to be left behind, made me wonder if Dr. Linx was aware or even care about the outcome of his position here at the emergency room. This guy was really falling for Dr. Gillium but on the other side of the chain was Dr. Pinkley. You can see it in this guy’s eyes and body language that he’s not happy being dumped by Dr. Gillium. Neither of these two doctors who fell for Dr. Gillium paid any attention to what Dr. Blythe said about dating coworkers. To me sitting at the nurses’ station working, it shocked me that the nurses knew a lot of dirt on everybody that worked there. I began to wonder if they knew anything about me. “Dr. Eighteen, can you give me a hand?” “Sure, Dr. Pinkley, what seems to be the problem?” Now I’m looking at Dr. Pinkley, I could tell that he wasn’t focused on his patients. while pointing at his patient, “this guy claims he has the flu but he doesn’t have any flu symptoms.” At this point, I was as mad as hell trying to hide my disgust with him. I told him “Dr. Pinkley the guy is vomiting, get some fluids in him.” Dr. Pinkley looked at me like an idiot “I know that.” Keeping my cool, “Then why did you call me over here?” He then took me to the side and said to me, “I need you to help me get Dr. Gillium back. I messed up with her and I want a second chance with her.” Right at that moment, my curiosity kicked in not that I cared about his desperation. I asked him why did she stop talking to him, he then told me these words. “Well, Dr. Gillium and I had a sexual encounter. She got upset with me because I turned her down for a second date.” The whole time I’m thinking to myself, Oh so that’s what happened. Still listening to him, “Hey! what can I say Dr. Eighteen, I freaked out. You know how guys are when it comes to dating. If a woman sleeps with you on the first

date you don’t call them back, she was too easy. So Dr. Eighteen can you help me or not?” Looking at my watch, I politely told Dr. Pinkley, “Hey, listen to me, don’t take this the wrong way I’m the last guy you want to talk to about getting a girl.” Walking away from Dr. Pinkley was the best thing I did that night. If my memory served me correctly, this was the same guy telling me I’ve never ever got laid. Well, now he knows how I felt about Dr. Gillium.

0230 Hours:

Dr. Grea and Dr. Linx were having a few choice words about a patient’s chart mix-up. Me, on the other hand, decided to take a bathroom break. Then I heard some struggling by the elevator near the bathroom I was using. All of a sudden, Dr. Gillium’s voice rang out, “There’s nothing to discuss with you, it’s over now. Please leave me alone.” Then there’s Dr. Pinkley’s voice. “What, you’re mad because of the second date I told you a while back in the cafeteria that I was sorry about that. Why can’t you give us a second chance?” All of a sudden there was silence, and then I heard Dr. Gillium tell Dr. Pinkley, “You and I both know that this has nothing to do with the second date.” Just like that, it went completely silent. Standing in the bathroom looking in the mirror, I thought to myself one of them was lying about what happened. Slowly opening the bathroom door, I peeked out to make sure neither Dr. Gillium or Dr. Pinkley was still outside the bathroom. To my relief, they were both gone I made my way back to the emergency room. Only Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley were tending to the patients. Neither Dr. Gillium nor Dr. Linx were in the emergency room working. One of the nurses at my work station confided in me that she had a crush on Dr. Pinkley. I looked at her with a cheesy smile on my face, “Good for you.” I got up from the nurses’ station making rounds checking on patients’ charts. Dr. Grea approached me. “Dr. Eighteen,” “I’m sorry about your loss. How are you holding up?” “Thank you, Dr. Grea, I appreciate it.” She then started asking me all kinds of questions about Dr. Pinkley in particular, a part of me wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, I don’t give a damn why don’t you go ask him yourself? But I didn’t trying to answer her questions, I told

her, “Dr. Pinkley looked all right to me.” And just as Dr. Grea and I were talking about Dr. Pinkley, he walked over to us. It was then at that moment I walked away from both Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley as they started talking.

0345 Hours:

Eating at the cafeteria for the first time since the whoopie cushion incident I felt good, there was no Dr. Gillium, Dr. Linx or Dr. Pinkley for that matter. For the first time, I finally got a chance to eat my lunch in peace. However, across the room I saw two nurses checking me out. One was giggling, the other was whispering to her partner of giggles. I just continued eating my lunch in peace, when Dr. Linx walked in and saw me, he made a beeline right for me. Well, the peace and quiet was good while it lasted, Dr. Linx sat himself down at my table “Dr. Gillium was very upset” asked me what I said to her. I was sitting across from this idiot and sized him up. “What makes you think I said anything to Dr. Gillium?” He looked at me with a puzzled yet confused look on his face “Well, did you or did you not?” Slamming my soda can on the table, I looked Dr. Linx in the eyes. Before you go around half-cocked and looney in the head, why don’t you just ask her?” “She wouldn’t tell me, I assumed that it was you.” My response to him was, “Then you assumed wrong. I didn’t say anything to her.” Dr. Linx then got up from my table, he bent down “Well, well, well… look at you Dr. Eighteen, I thought you were a good guy. But deep down inside you’re still a welfare case, and no matter how hard you try to be something better than you are, you’ll always be a charity case.” knocked my can of soda on the floor, in a low evil sinister voice, “If I do find out that you’re bothering Dr. Gillium, I’ll destroy and crush you like the piece of shit that you are.” Just before he turned around to leave, in a low voice, “Stay away from the rooftop ledges, god forbid if you should fall off.” He then stormed out of the cafeteria, at a loss for words, I sat there at the table. I could feel myself trembling. Finally I snapped chased Dr. Linx down outside of the cafeteria. He turned around at the last minute full of rage, I blacked out. When I came to Dr. Linx was unconscious, I was in handcuffs, all I hear was “What did you, Dr. Eighteen? What did you do, Dr. Eighteen?” My response was “Nothing… he slipped and fell hitting his head, I’m trying to help him.” Dr. Grea bent down and ran some smelling salt under

Dr. Linx’s nose, who came to, he asked what happened, a security officer explained to him what I said. Dr. Grea again asked Dr. Linx, “Did Dr. Eighteen try to help you?” So I yelled out to Dr. Linx while in handcuffs, “Please tell security that I was trying to help you, you slipped and fell.” Dr. Linx with a big contusion on his forehead told security, “Yes, yes, yes… Dr. Eighteen is right… I slipped and fell, he was only trying to help me.” Security took the handcuffs off me, from that moment on only, Dr. Linx and I only know what really happened and what was said led up to our little altercation.

0730 Hours:

My shift was over, my mind was wondering I kept asking myself over and over again. How did Dr. Linx find out about the rooftop ledge incident? Finally I got in my car when I saw Dr. Gillium getting off the elevator in the parking garage, headed for her car. Five minutes later, Dr. Linx with his head wrapped in head dressing was standing still holding his head. When Dr. Gillium pulled up, Dr. Linx got in her car and they took off not even three minutes later, I saw a green Range Rover pull out right after they do. My eyes got wider than row of quarters to me it looked like Dr. Pinkley driving that green range rover. Then again I thought to myself Dr. Eighteen go home and get some sleep. Then again if it was Dr. Pinkley in that green Range Rover, why is he following Dr. Gillium and Dr. Linx?

February 19, 2011

1430 Hours:

Chapter 3

Competition

Finally, I arrived home, this workweek was crazy, a part of me kept thinking about the driver in that green Range Rover. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. Who knows? I’m going to bed.

2230 Hours:

Those three days off went by fast, tonight the emergency room was pretty slow but I knew that can change in a blink of an eye. So I proceeded to help the patients that came in for treatment. Dr. Blythe finally let me start treating patients full time, the two weeks at the nurses’ station was pretty nice, but I’m happy to be back treating patients. I’ve got an elderly lady with a broken hip being prepped for surgery, off she went to surgery. I wished her a full speedy recovery, my night was running smooth until I saw Dr. Linx coming toward me. I was thinking to myself, Now what does he want? “Hey, Dr. Eighteen I just want to apologize for the way I acted the other night in the cafeteria. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Is his apology heartfelt? This was what’s running through my mind. He then extended his hand out for a handshake. Extending my hand to shake his, “Don’t worry about it, Dr. Linx. We all have those moments.” “Dr. Eighteen, I swear I’ve never seen anybody as mad as you were that night. You had the look of death in your eyes. You scared the crap out of me, besides that, you also lost your mother I should’ve been more respectful.” Shaking Dr. Linx hand, I looked him in the eyes and told him, “Man, I forgive you.” Meanwhile, Dr. Guillium and Dr. Pinkley were both at the nurses’ station but Dr. Guillium wasn’t paying Dr. Pinkley any attention. You could tell

Dr. Pinkley was very agitated by it, this guy was really obsessed with Dr. Gillium for weeks at a time. Everywhere Dr. Gillium went, Dr. Pinkley followed her, it got to the point where Dr. Linx would send Dr. Gillium a dozen roses on his days off. Dr. Pinkley would also send her two dozens of roses. Dr. Gillium never knew who sent her two dozens of roses. The card would always read from a secret irer, she just assumed that they were from Dr. Linx. Trying to be spontaneous, it tore Dr. Pinkley up inside that he couldn’t say the two dozen roses were from him. On top of that, you got Dr. Blythe and Dr. Grea competing for the loyalty of the other doctors including myself. “Dr. Eighteen, please report to the nurses’ station.” I heard my name I went over to the nurses’ station, one of the nurses told me that the orthopedic surgeon that did the surgery on the elderly lady’s hip was okay and that she’s now in recovery. Happy to hear the good news, I high-fived the nurse at the nurses’ station. Tonight was one of those nights filled with good news and bad news. I looked over in Dr. Linx’s area to tell him the good news only to see Dr. Pinkley tampering with his patients’ charts. Turning my attention back to the nurse at the nurses’ station, I asked her where was Dr. Linx. She told me that Dr. Linx was up in radiology but he’ll be back. While going back to make my rounds checking on my patients, I noticed Dr. Grea talking to one of my patients. So I went over and talked to her, “Hello, Dr. Grea, how are you tonight?” She turned around and said hello to me. We began a conversation about my patients. When she noticed Dr. Pinkley giving Dr. Gillium too much attention turning to me, “Dr. Eighteen have you noticed any changes in Dr. Pinkley’s attitude when he works with Dr. Gillium?” A part of me just wanted to be honest and said to her, “Yes, Dr. Grea, he’s in love with her and there’s nothing you can do about it.” But of course once again I lied “Dr. Grea, I really don’t know, I’ve been busy with patients.” Now, this is interesting I was thinking to myself. First, you got Dr. Pinkley stalking Dr. Gillium, second, you got Dr. Grea jealous. That Dr. Pinkley was paying too much attention to Dr. Gillium and then there’s Dr. Linx. I didn’t think he had a clue as to what was going on. Or at least he gave the impression that he didn’t know what’s going on.

0230 Hours:

In the cafeteria I was eating my lunch when Dr. Pinkley came over and sat down he then struck up a conversation with me. “Dr. Eighteen, I’m having a good shift I got a feeling that me and Dr. Gillium are going to get back together I can feel it.” Right then I was sitting there eating my lunch, looking at Dr. Pinkley rambling on and on about him and Dr. Gillium getting back together. The guy was more delusional than I thought, all I kept thinking to myself Dr. Gillium, better watch her back. Interrupting Dr. Pinkley I asked him, “How can you be so sure?” He looked at me like I was crazy “Dr. Eighteen, I’m one hundred and ten percent sure. Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium’s little fling won’t last long I’ve got a sixth sense about these things.” I was thinking to myself that Dr. Pinkley was sick that’s for sure. It’s just like being back in college when a guy sees a gal he likes, He notices that she already has a boyfriend he still hopes and prays they break up so that he could get a chance to date her. All of a sudden Dr. Pinkley’s mood changed to negative. Wondering why, I looked over at the checkout line to see both Dr. Gillium and Dr. Linx paying for their lunch. Turning back to talk to Dr. Pinkley he was gone, all I saw was the back of his white doctor’s coat leaving the cafeteria. Not paying him any more attention, I finished my lunch and headed back to the emergency room.

0315 Hours:

Back in the emergency room we were starting to get really busy. All of us were really working together as a unit for the first time in a long time. Dr. Grea was helping Dr. Gillium Dr. Pinkley was helping Dr. Linx but I could still sense some resistance from Dr. Pinkley. For that split moment, Dr. Pinkley realized his personal matters didn’t have a place in the emergency room. So he went all out to help Dr. Linx with patients coming in with gunshot wounds, stabbings, and broken bones. Well, as for me I had two nurses helping me with patients as they came in. It was a fun thing to see all of us working together. Too bad it won’t last long. Dr. Blythe began splitting our shifts where two doctors will work only light-hour shifts twice a month. This time around it was Dr. Gillium and Dr. Grea who both worked light-hour shifts. The rest of us were on call and sleepover. Continuing to work on patients, I saw that Dr. Blythe had arrived. The emergency room was once again quiet after helping more patients than I could . I looked around to see who was still here—Dr. Pinkley was still there,

Dr. Linx was still there and Dr. Blythe just got there. Dr. Gillium and Dr. Grea were both gone knowing Dr. Gillium, she’s probably doing what she does.

0745 Hours:

Dr. Gillium was jogging through the parking garage structure when she sensed someone was watching her. Began to run faster until she got to the top of the parking garage. She then stopped and turned around quickly only to see a little black kitten by the elevators. She bent down to pick up the kitten and talked to the little kitten, “How did you get up here, huh?” Putting the kitten in her backpack, began running back down into the parking garage. Out of the blue, a car sped down the ramp toward her. Dr. Gillium dove out of the way of the car as it continued down the parking garage toward the exit. Her heart was pounding out of her chest not thinking about the speeding car, immediately turned her attention to the kitten. Satisfied that the kitten was still in her backpack, decided to take the elevator down to her car. Still nervous Dr. Gillium ran to her car with the little kitten got inside and locked the doors. Trying to stop her hands from shaking, calmed herself down enough to drive. The little black kitten came out of her backpack, looked up to her and let out a soft meow.

2230 Hours:

Tonight was going by at a good pace; everything and everybody was treating their patients in a timely fashion. Getting them in and getting them out. Me on the other hand, just for a moment, I started thinking about my mother. Dr. Linx was tending to a female patient that looked just like my mother. It threw me off for a minute but I was able to regain my focus. Dr. Blythe, Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley were all at the nurses’ station working on their patients’ charts. I could see that there was something wrong with Dr. Gillium she wasn’t her happy, smiling, happy-go-lucky self. Once Dr. Linx finished with his patient, he went over to the nurses’ station where Dr. Gillium and the others were. Before Dr.

Linx could say anything to Dr. Gillium, she walked away from him. Both Dr. Blythe and Dr. Pinkley saw her walk away Dr. Pinkley had a sinister smile on his face. Dr. Linx stood at the nurses’ station trying to downplay Dr. Gillium’s walking away from him by starting a conversation with Dr. Blythe. I noticed Dr. Linx walked away from the nurses’ station and started making his rounds checking on his remaining patients. When Dr. Blythe came ever to him with patients’ charts in his hand, he talked to Dr. Linx. You could see Dr. Linx wasn’t happy about his conversation with Dr. Blythe. Dr. Linx took the patients’ charts from Dr. Blythe looking at them and pointing at something written in the charts. He then gave the patients’ charts back to Dr. Blythe and walked off very fast. While this was going on, Dr. Grea was over at the nurses’ station talking to Dr. Pinkley. I could tell that Dr. Pinkley wasn’t interested in whatever Dr. Grea was talking to him about. The emergency room was really somewhat slow on this night. When Dr. Grea walked over to me, “Dr. Eighteen it’s really slow. If you want you can take your lunch now.” I declined went over to the nurses’ station and worked on my patients’ charts. One of the nurses said to me, “Dr. Eighteen did you see Dr. Gillium earlier? She looked like she saw a ghost.” Looking at the nurse not really. I didn’t notice Dr. Gillium’s mood. The nurse then said to me, “I hope she feels better.” “Poor Dr. Linx…,” said the other nurse. Sitting at the nurses’ station, I began working on my patients’ charts when it hit me. Dr. Pinkley was writing something on Dr. Linx’s patients’ charts the other night. What was this guy up to? I felt a tap on my left shoulder it was Dr. Pinkley “Dr. Eighteen, what’s up with you and Dr. Grea?” Taken aback by his question I asked him “What was that supposed to mean?” He patted me on the shoulders and started laughing at me “Dr. Eighteen, calm question I asked him I didn’t mean anything by it.” He then turned around and walked off the nurses at the nurses’ station and I watched him walk away. One of the nurses looked at me “You know Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Pinkley is very handsome, smart, clever and also weird.” Laughing, I said to the nurse, “I agree with you on the weird part.”

0245 Hours:

On my way to the cafeteria, I saw Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Blythe go into his office.

Just before going into Dr. Blythe’s office, Dr. Pinkley looked both ways down the hallway. I got on the elevator before he could see me. When entering the cafeteria, I saw both Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium getting lunch. Dr. Linx tried to hold Dr. Gillium’s hands but she pulled away from him. Frustrated, Dr. Linx got up walked right past me and left the cafeteria. Dr. Gillium looked very scared trying my luck, I went over and talked to her. “Dr. Gillium, are you all right?” She responded to me, “I just told Dr. Linx that I feel that someone is watching me.” My reply to her was that if she knows who it might be. She told me she doesn’t have a clue or why this was happening to her. I suggested that she should go to Dr. Blythe and tell him everything. She looked up at me with those deep blue eyes of hers that won’t be necessary and that she’ll be fine. So I said to her okay walked away, and purchased my lunch. I went over and sat down by the television.

0335 Hours:

Dr. Blythe and Dr. Grea were talking to Dr. Linx, you could tell he wasn’t happy about the conversation. I was watching Dr. Blythe and Dr. Linx—they were practically at each other’s throat all night. A part of me felt that if that were me, Dr. Gillium or Dr. Pinkley, including the interns. We would’ve been sent home so fast our heads would’ve spin around three hundreds sixty degrees. You see Dr. Linx came from money and his father was a very powerful man. On that note, I’ve seen so much stuff going on right here in the emergency room. Seemed so unreal, all I kept thinking to myself was that Dr. Pinkley was working on borrowed time. Dr. Linx was the last person he should’ve messed up with and why? All because of a girl, as for myself, I’ve tried to keep myself out of trouble. Dr. Gillium finally came back from lunch and started tending to her patients. She finally looked like she’s in a better mood Dr. Grea came over to help me with an intoxicated hiker with a huge gash on his head, refusing treatment. Both Dr. Grea and I convinced him that he needed stitches. After talking to him for almost thirty minutes, he finally gave in. We gave him pain medicine stitched him up and kept him for overnight observation. I thanked Dr. Grea for helping me, she then continued on her rounds. Looking over at the nurses’ station, I saw Dr. Gillium talking to Dr. Blythe while Dr. Linx was assisting and tending to patients. My shift was almost winding down when Dr.

Pinkley came over to me to strike up a conversation. “Dr. Eighteen, that hiker guy was a handful, huh” I responded to him, “not really. I’m pretty sure when he wakes up, he won’t half the stuff he has done.” Dr. Pinkley continued rambling on about how I needed Dr. Grea to help me by saving the day. At that point, I was thinking, What is this guy’s problem? Fed up, I told him to work on his patients or his patients’ charts. I was busy working and suggested that he do the same. Dr. Pinkley then stuck his nose up in the air; just as he was about to by me, he got close enough for me to hear him whisper to me “I smell shit and you’re full of it Dr. Eighteen.” he then walked off. Man, I tell ya, Dr. Pinkley needs to get a life if you asked me, he’s in the wrong profession, and why was he so concerned about my job performance? Who died and left him in charge… what a delusional, backstabbing, stalking of Dr. Gillium prick. The guy had a lot of issues he needed to be medicated.

0730 Hours:

My shift was over, I stopped by Dr. Blythe’s office to talk to him but he wasn’t in his office well, maybe some other time I’ll talk to him. I was tired of holding in half of the things I’ve seen going on in the emergency room, cafeteria and the stairwell. Even though I don’t have any more affectionate feelings for Dr. Gillium, she was still a co-worker. Dr. Blythe and security should know what she’s going through, keeping all of this information to myself was really eating away at me. I didn’t know how much longer I can keep everything a secret. Finally I made my way to the parking garage. Once I got off on my level where my car was parked from a distance, I saw Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley talking. Thinking to myself, They’re both going to see me. Unfortunately for me, the only exit was one way in and one way out, so I got in my car. As I drove past them, they both looked at me but I kept driving. Dr. Gillium had this look on her face of fear and terror I was thinking to myself what could I do to help her and then the reality of my self-consciousness kicked in. The voice in my head was telling me to mind my own business and keep driving. As I looked in my rearview mirror, it looked like someone was hiding in the corner by the elevator. I couldn’t make out who it was I pulled out of the parking garage and headed for home. I just hoped Dr. Gillium will be all right. I knew she will.

Now at that point with Dr. Eighteen heading home, Dr. Gillium knew she had to say something to Dr. Pinkley to leave her alone. “Dr. Gillium, I’m not trying to scare you but you know I can’t stop thinking about you.” Dr. Gillium interrupted him by saying, “Dr. Pinkley, you seemed to have forgotten one thing. You raped me ?” Dr. Pinkley was shocked took two steps toward her “You, bitch… you know I didn’t rape you. You were all over me at the movies, in my car and even at my house.” Dr. Gillium was nervous but stood her ground “Even though I did these things I told you to stop that we both had too much to drink and I wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship.” Dr. Pinkley started to get angry looked at her with fury in his eyes “You’re a fuckin’ liar! You wanted it just as much as I did… why are you saying these things? Is it because I didn’t return your call!” Dr. Gillium reached for the driver door handle of her car “Dr. Pinkley, you know that’s not true. I told you no and you threw me on your bed… you threatened me. Scared me out of mind I went along with it and for you to stand here and say otherwise is bullshit.” Now while Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley were in a heated argument. Neither one of them was aware that Dr. Linx was watching them from a distance. Unfortunately, he’s too far away to hear what they’re arguing about. Back to Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley, both were very upset at this point. Dr. Pinkley tried to prevent Dr. Gillium from opening her car door. “Don’t worry Dr. Pinkley I won’t tell anybody what you did to me.” Dr. Pinkley stepped back from her in a sarcastic tone of voice, “Yeah right I’m supposed to believe you.” Dr. Gillium then got in started up her car rolled down her window Dr. Pinkley, “If I was going to report you, you’d already be in jail!” At that moment, Dr. Pinkley kneeled down beside Dr. Gillium’s car in a sinister voice, “Don’t fuck with me. In case you forgot I know where you live… just that.” He then walked away from Dr. Gillium and headed for his Range Rover. Dr. Gillium watched Dr. Pinkley disappear. She then squeezed her car steering wheel with both hands, started jerking back and forth until she began to cry. Dr. Pinkley pulled his truck around her car, stopped right in front of Dr. Gillium’s car. He then pointed his fingers at her in gun motion, pretending to take aim and pulled the trigger. He laughed and sped off down the parking garage exit. Dr. Gillium stopped crying long enough to see Dr. Pinkley use his hand to make a gun motion taking aim at her pretending to shoot her. She continued to sit in her car nervous and shaking, Finally she pulled herself together to drive off down the parking garage to the exit. Soon after she left, Dr. Linx came out hiding by the elevator. Confused and angry, What the hell is going on between Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley? He then headed to his truck and left the parking garage as well.

2230 Hours:

Those three days off were not as joyous as my other days off. Back there at the emergency room were mixed emotions I was feeling right then. I saw Dr. Blythe tending a patient Dr. Linx was over at the nurses’ station talking to one of the nurses. Me on the other hand, I sensed that something was going to happen that night but I didn’t know what it was. Trying not to think so much, I just got a young patient with a broken left forearm. While treating my patient, began to cry so I gave him a lollipop, his parents were really happy with how I took care of their son. His left forearm was put in a cast, so I joked with him and he laughed. Seeing the smile on that little guy’s face made my night. Suddenly I heard my name being called. “Dr. Eighteen, can I speak with you for a moment?” Turning around to see who was calling me, it was Dr. Linx. Thinking to myself, Here we go more drama. With a smile on my face, “Sure, Dr. Linx, what is it you want to talk to me about?” He then looked around to make sure nobody’s within earshot of us; “Dr. Pinkley has a serious attitude problem, I don’t like the guy. He’s a troublemaker, Dr. Eighteen, all I’m saying is watch your back.” Now at that point Dr. Linx wasn’t telling me anything I don’t already know about Dr. Pinkley. “Thanks for the heads up” and I really appreciate his concern for my well-being. Looking into Dr. Linx eyes, I knew he was going to go after Dr. Pinkley with everything he had. Shortly after our little conversation, Dr. Linx went about his duties taking care of patients that came into the emergency room for treatment. As the night went on, Dr. Gillium, Dr. Linx, Dr. Blythe, Dr. Grea, Dr. Pinkley, and myself were working very hard all night. All of a sudden, Dr. Linx and Dr. Pinkley had a heated disagreement on how to stitch a patient who came in the emergency room with a deep cut on the right side of her face. Dr. Blythe stepped in to resolve the situation. Both doctors pleaded their arguments to Dr. Blythe even though Dr. Pinkley was treating the patient. He went with Dr. Linx’s stitch procedure assigned Dr. Pinkley to another patient. You could tell that Dr. Pinkley didn’t like being outclassed, stepped over or having his decision rejected. You could see Dr. Linx was getting under Dr. Pinkley’s skin. He didn’t like the fact that Dr. Blythe stepped in and gave his patient to Dr. Linx. All night

long, it seemed that Dr. Linx was always one step ahead of Dr. Pinkley. At times, he came off as a little kid having a temper tantrum. Dr. Grea came over to me “Dr. Eighteen, the parents of the young boy you fitted for a cast earlier filled out a survey on you and it was all positive. Keep up the good work. She then continued on her rounds I yelled out to her, “Thanks Dr. Grea,” while looking at my watch, the emergency room wasn’t busy, I decided to go to lunch. ing the nurses’ station along the way, I see Dr. Gillium at the nurses’ station working on some of her patients’ charts. She looked up and said “Hi, Dr. Eighteen.” Of course I said hello back. While heading to the elevator for a moment I thought Man, she’s handling the Dr. Pinkley fiasco like a pro.

0315 Hours:

Today’s menu in the cafeteria wasn’t good I purchased a salad then went over to where the television was. Before I could sit down in walked Dr. Pinkley. Please don’t come over here near me, was all I kept saying to myself. He then paid for his lunch looked around but sat down near some other doctors. That was close I was thinking to myself, drama diverted or so I thought. In walked Dr. Linx at that moment, both Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Linx locked eyes—it was like watching two villains getting ready to have a showdown at dust high noon. With nothing but tumbleweeds blowing across the floor, to me it was like watching a cowboy movie. Except I didn’t have any popcorn but I did have a salad and that was good enough. All of a sudden, Dr. Pinkley got up, went over to Dr. Linx and got in his face everyone in the cafeteria including the cafeteria staff, were at a loss for words. Dr. Pinkley, under his breath in an angry voice, Dr. Linx, “That shit you pulled earlier in the emergency room won’t happen again.” Dr. Linx looked Dr. Pinkley in the eyes “Now you listen to me, you little shit and listen good I don’t like you, you’re a screwup and everybody knows it. They don’t have the guts to tell you. Well, I do.” Dr. Pinkley got agitated “Who do you think you are talking to me like that? I will destroy you, you pompous jerk. You have no idea who you’re fucking with. You better think twice, Dr. Linx!” Dr. Linx then laughed in Dr. Pinkley’s face “Your little threats don’t scare me I see right through you, you’re just a scared little boy who got his ass kicked in the emergency room by a better doctor. Save your threats for somebody who gives a damn because I don’t.” Dr. Linx then walked around Dr. Pinkley to order his

food. Dr. Pinkley looked at Dr. Linx “We’ll see about that.” He then turned around and headed back to his table to finish his lunch. Now by this time I’ve finished my salad when I got up to dump my tray, Dr. Linx paid for his food went over to Dr. Pinkley’s table “Ooh, one more thing… stay away from Dr. Gillium or you’ll be sorry… very sorry.” Dr. Pinkley with one swing of his arm, shove his food to the side and stood up. Fearing these guys were going to fight I got in between them, both of them were yelling at each other to stay away from Dr. Gillium. Trying to calm them down, I said to them, “Come on guys, knock it off. Don’t jeopardize everything you’ve both worked hard for.” They both calmed down but Dr. Pinkley stormed out of the cafeteria still upset. “Thanks, Dr. Eighteen. I tell you that guy just rubs me the wrong way. There’s something about Dr. Pinkley… he’s a weirdo. I swear he really is Dr. Eighteen.” Feeling relieved that he prevented Dr. Linx and Dr. Pinkley from a fistfight felt good. Dr. Linx, “You’re welcome,” left the cafeteria and headed back to the emergency room.

0355 Hours:

Once I got back to the emergency room, I saw Dr. Grea leave. “Dr. Eighteen,” she called out to me, “I’m going to lunch… keep up the good work.” Sitting at the nurses’ station working on my patients’ charts, I saw Dr. Gillium tending to her patients, smiling and laughing with them. On the other side, Dr. Linx was making his rounds eyeballing Dr. Gillium every chance he got until the emergency room started to get busy. Soon all the doctors and interns alike were busy. Dr. Blythe returned to the emergency room to help any way he could. We were swamped and I loved it because it kept everybody busy—which meant no one had time to stir up any trouble. Dr. Linx went over to assist Dr. Gillium with a heart attack patient, time was flying by. Dr. Grea walked over to me, we had a long conversation about medicine in general. Usually Dr. Grea would still be at lunch at that point but every doctor was needed. We had a lady come in to the emergency room with a machete lodged on top of her head. She was fully conscious the whole time she kept saying to us, “My husband is trying to kill me.” The police was there, they put her under protective police custody. All of a sudden we heard a loud boom! boo!, boom! followed by thick smoke. We hear this man screaming from the top of his lungs, “Where is she… I know she’s

here! You can’t protect her, I’m still going to kill her!” Out of the thick smoke walks a man with another machete. The police already there tried to talk some sense into the man. This man did the one thing none of us saw coming he was yelling at the police, “You can’t kill me. I’m god, you hear me, You cowards!” He lowered the machete to the floor, he charged at the officers with a large knife. Next, all you hear are gun shots fired, the man hit the floor with his eyes fixated on me. The police stepped back just enough to allow Dr. Blythe and myself to tend to him. Dr. Blythe checked for a pulse, closed the man eyes and said, “He’s dead.” My heart was beating very fast but I kept my composure. Dr. Grea put her hand on my shoulder “Dr. Eighteen, this won’t be the last time you see this kind of situation. All you can do is learn from it” she then walks away. I followed her back to my area as interns run me with a gurney to put the dead man’s body on it. Shocked a little bit soon I shook it off and got back to tending to my patients. I looked around as soon the busyness in the emergency room began. She was silent once again emergency room medicine there’s nothing like it. Making my way back to the nurses’ station one of the nurses “Dr. Eighteen, that was real brave of you, good job!” I turned to her “Thank you.” Sitting down at the nurses’ station, I do a quick survey of the emergency room. Dr. Guillium or Dr. Pinkley were nowhere to be found. All I saw were Dr. Linx and Dr. Blythe working and tending to patients. Seemed kind of odd but then again she might have gone to lunch.

0455 Hours:

Dr. Grea let herself into Dr. Blythe’s office to finish her lunch. When she overhears Dr. Guillium and Dr. Pinkley’s conversation as they’re walking down the hall right before Dr. Blythe’s office. Dr. Grea then went over to the door, putting her ear against the door, listening. Right at that moment, Dr. Guillium was walking to get away from Dr. Pinkley when he stopped her two doors down from Dr. Blythe’s office. Dr. Guillium upset “Dr. Pinkley, why can’t you leave me alone? I don’t want anything from you.” Dr. Pinkley still curious of Dr. Guillium’s feelings for him, “Why can’t you see I want to make it up to you?” “I’m sorry,” Dr. Guillium steps back from him nervous and trembling. “You raped me, you’ve made my life a living hell! Dr. Pinkley. How are you going to make it up to me? You raped me, you son-of-a-bitch!” Dr. Pinkley quickly goes

up to Dr. Guillium and puts his hand over her mouth. In a deep, low sinister voice “Shut up, shut your fuckin mouth. You came back to my place in the wee hours of the morning. What did you think? I was inviting you up to my place for a sleep-over? Stop lying to yourself, you wanted it just as much as I did.” He then takes his hand off Dr. Guillium’s mouth and steps back from her. Just before he takes off looks at her with a sinister grin on his face “You’ve got nothing on me and no one’s going to believe you,” he then walks away. Dr. Guillium stood there with tears in her eyes, trembling uncontrollably, looks down the hall in both directions, with her head down walks off to find the nearest ladies’ bathroom. Once she finds one, she locks herself inside and starts crying as she slides down the bathroom door until she’s sitting on the floor. Meanwhile, Dr. Grea who’s inside Dr. Blythe office slowly moves away from the door. With her mouth wide open eyes big, slowly sits down in one of Dr. Blythe’s chairs. Finally in a low shocked voice, Dr. Grea says to herself, “Ooh, my god.” Her mood then turns from shock to sinister saying to herself now I got you right where I want you Dr. Guillium. Getting out of the chair, she leaves Dr. Blythe’s office, locking the door behind her and headed back to the emergency room. Smiling and thinking to herself No wonder, Dr. Pinkley wouldn’t take any of my calls and advances. He was courting the emergency room whore I’ll take care of her once and for all. The nerve of her trying to accuse Dr. Pinkley of rape.

0530 Hours:

The emergency room was completely quiet, a long way from the drama from last night. “So, Dr. Eighteen, tell me… how come you’re not dating?” This nurse had a crush on Dr. Eighteen but she was the last person on earth Dr. Eighteen would ever consider dating. Dr. Eighteen looked up from his paperwork “Can you keep a secret?” She leaned on a chair and pushed herself over to Dr. Eighteen with seductive eyes. “Yes, Dr. Eighteen, you can trust me I won’t tell a soul.” Dr. Eighteen carefully looked around the emergency room to see if everybody was working. “A while back when I went to lunch…” While Dr. Eighteen was telling this nurse his story, Dr. Gillium entered the emergency room by the nurses’

station. She overheard Dr. Eighteen tell this nurse that he took the stairwell instead of the elevator when he saw Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley in a ionate liplocking kiss. The nurse sat back in her chair shocked with her hands over her mouth, looked at Dr. Eighteen and then broke her silence “Shut up! Dr. Eighteen. No way you are serious.” Dr. Eighteen then told her, “Yes, I’m serious. So to answer your question about dating, I’ve decided never to date anyone in the workplace. It could be hazardous to your health.” He then leaned over to the nurse “You’re the only one I’ve ever told this to, so please keep it between us, okay?” The nurse looked into Dr. Eighteen’s eyes “Okay, I promise, I won’t tell anyone.” Well, what Dr. Eighteen or the nurse didn’t know was that Dr. Gillium heard every single word of their conversation. Dr. Gillium went to the other side away from the nurses’ desk, being careful not to be spotted by either Dr. Eighteen or the nurse. By doing so, she ran into Dr. Grea. Dr. Gillium said excuse me to Dr. Grea and kept on walking. Dr. Linx saw Dr. Gillium stopped her to talk to her. “Are you okay? You look really tired… Can I get you a cup of coffee, tea, anything?” Dr. Gillium mustered all the strength she could and smiled at Dr. Linx. “Thank you so much but no thanks, I’m good.” She continued walking past Dr. Linx until she got back to her patients. Dr. Linx scratched his head continued on his rounds checking on his patients. Meanwhile, Dr. Pinkley was talking to Dr. Blythe who just got back from his lunch. After finishing up their rounds, both Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium ran into each other, both doctors were trying to size up each other. “So, Dr. Gillium how’s your night been going so far?” “My night is going quite lovely, Dr. Grea. Thanks for asking. And how about your night, Dr. Grea, how’s it going?” Dr. Grea saw Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Blythe “My night is beautiful.” Just before she walked away from Dr. Grea, Dr. Gillium said to her, “Good… very good.” Now at this point, Dr. Grea was confused how could Dr. Gillium go from a crying distraught woman to a happygo-lucky woman without a care in the world.

0715 Hours:

Both Dr. Gillium and Dr. Grea were on their way to the parking garage elevator when Dr. Grea started in on Dr. Gillium. “It’s a nice morning, don’t you think, Dr. Gillium?” “If you say so, Dr. Grea.”

“You know Dr. Gillium, I’ve been here at this hospital for eighteen and a half years and I’ve seen my share of your kind of female doctors.” Dr. Gillium turned to Dr. Grea with an irritated look on her face “What are you talking about ‘my kind of female doctor’?” Dr. Grea then got in Dr. Gillium’s face “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You prance around the emergency room, guys looking at you like you’re eye candy. With your perfectly tanned skin, long legs, blue eyes and that goddamn million-dollar smile of yours.” Dr. Gillium looked at Dr. Grea like she’s crazy “I can’t help the way I look and why are you so concerned about me, anyway?” Dr. Grea got upset and in her agitated voice got in Dr. Gillium’s face again “It’s bitches like you that come along, date their male co-workers, sleep with them, then dump them.” Dr. Gillium confused and angry, “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t care. Before you approach me again with some stupid no-nonsense bullshit, you better have your facts straight.” Dr. Grea laughed at Dr. Gillium “You are a joke —all beauty and no brains. What you’re doing to Dr. Pinkley is wrong and I won’t stand for it… he’s a good doctor.” Fed up with Dr. Grea’s little antics, Dr. Gillium looked her square in the face with tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know what you’ve heard or what you think you know about me, you’re not in my shoes. You have no idea what I’ve been through so save me the goddamn riot act. Bullshit! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Right before she left Dr. Grea standing by the elevator, “Stop hanging out in stairwells, it doesn’t suit you. Next time try a corner I hear they pay good money for your kind. You do taste kinda good.” Dr. Gillium then got in the elevator with four other hospital staff already inside. The doors closed Dr. Grea got angry and furiousShe’s going down. Dr. Gillium, you’ve picked the wrong doctor . . . you’re going to pay dearly. At that moment, another elevator came and Dr. Grea got inside.

2230 Hours:

The shift had started. Dr. Eighteen had his hands filled with his patients. Meanwhile, Dr. Grea stopped by the nurses’ station talking to the nurses. Dr. Grea told one nurse that she’s going on vacation with her longtime boyfriend.

She was the nurse who Dr. Eighteen confided in, she joked with Dr. Grea telling her about the conversation with Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Grea curious, “Ooh really what did you and Dr. Eighteen talk about?” “Well, Dr. Eighteen told me he saw you and Dr. Pinkley kissing in the stairwell a while back.” Dr. Grea was shocked and couldn’t believe what the nurse told her. “That’s not true, Dr. Eighteen has a wild imagination.” Dr. Grea then turned her attention from the nurse to Dr. Eighteen and headed over to him. Thinking to herself along the way, How the hell did he see us? Then it hit her like a lightning bolt, Nikolai Eighteen. Tapping Dr. Eighteen on the shoulder, Dr. Grea began striking up a conversation with him, “So, Dr. Eighteen, how’s everything going for you tonight?” Dr. Eighteen turned around to face Dr. Grea he noticed something different about her. Said to her, “My night is going pretty good so far” he then asked her how her night was going. Dr. Grea at this point started imagining how to get Dr. Eighteen fired but she snapped out of the daydream to tell Dr. Eighteen her night was okay. “Have you done a follow-up on that patient?” Pretending to be stomped for a moment, “Nikolai Eighteen.” Dr. Eighteen said to her, “No I have not.” Then he paused and looked at Dr. Grea with some concern “Why do you think I should?” “Well, don’t you think it’s a coincidence that you and that patient have the same last name?” Dr. Eighteen sensed that Dr. Grea was up to something. “Dr. Grea, there’s a lot of people in this world who happen to have the same last name and no I don’t think it’s a coincidence. And frankly, Dr. Grea, pardon my French but I don’t give a shit.” Dr. Grea then backed off the questioning of Nicholai Eighteen. “I’m sorry Dr. Eighteen, I didn’t mean to upset you that was not my intention.” Dr. Eighteen not buying what Dr. Grea said to him went along with it “Dr. Grea, why the sudden interest on patient Nicholai Eighteen? We see millions of patients every night.” Dr. Grea was trying to come up with a reason said to Dr. Eighteen, “I was fascinated by the young man’s last name because he has the same last name as one of our best doctors here in the emergency room.” She then walked away from Dr. Eighteen with a sinister boost of energy. At this point, Dr. Eighteen didn’t think any more about Dr. Grea’s interest in the patient with his last name. He continued working on his patients. Dr. Grea walked past the nurses’ station and left the emergency room. She noticed Dr. Gillium on her way out walked right past her without saying a word. The nurses at the nurses’ station stopped Dr. Gillium before she ed the nurse station. One nurse said to Dr. Gillium, “What was that all about?” Dr. Gillium, puzzled by the nurse’s question, “Your guess is as good as mine” and continued on her way to tend to her patients and made her rounds.

0145 Hours:

Dr. Grea heads up medical records to get any and all information on patient Nikolai Eighteen. Back at the emergency room, Dr. Pinkley was doing his rounds when Dr. Gillium walked past him. Under his breath, he said to himself in reference to Dr. Gillium, Slut. Dr. Eighteen just finished up his rounds and headed to the nurses’ station to finish up his paperwork on all of his patients. The nurse he confided in saw him coming, told the other nurse she’s going to lunch and left the nurses’ station abruptly. Dr. Linx arrived at the nurses’ station the same time as Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Linx pulled Dr. Eighteen to the side and says to him he’s really concerned about Dr. Gillium, she’s been acting hot and cold toward him. Now Dr. Eighteen knew why Dr. Gillium was acting the way she was toward Dr. Linx, and that was because of her ordeal with Dr. Pinkley. At the back of Dr. Eighteen’s mind, he kept hearing the promise he made to Dr. Gillium to keep her rape ordeal she suffered at the hands of Dr. Pinkley a secret but it was eating away at him on the inside. Trying to downplay everything, “If I knew what was going on with Dr. Gillium, I would tell you, Dr. Linx but I don’t have a clue.” Dr. Linx then gave Dr. Eighteen a pat on the shoulder “I know, I know. Hopefully whatever it is, she’ll snap out it,” he then left the nurses’ station and headed back to his patients. Dr. Eighteen looked over at Dr. Gillium, took a deep breath and sat down, turning his attention to his paperwork.

0330 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Linx, and Dr. Gillium were all at lunch but were not sitting together. Dr. Eighteen was watching the news when a news reporter started reporting on a billionaire’s son who went missing and the billionaire had issued a reward for his safe return. The news reporter didn’t say the name of the billionaire or his son’s name. Dr. Eighteen kept on eating his lunch when Dr. Gillium walked over to his table. “Dr. Eighteen, isn’t that kind of sad?” She was pointing at the television on the news about a billionaire’s son who was missing. “Yeah, that is really sad I hope he finds his son “Me too.” Dr. Eighteen can sense that something isn’t right with Dr. Gillium, “Is everything all right, Lanely? You

look like something is wrong. Do you want to talk about it?” “Please address me as Dr. Gillium but to answer your question, I’m all right.” “I’m sorry Dr. Gillium anytime you want to talk I’ll be here.” Dr. Linx noticed Dr. Eighteen and Dr. Gillium talking, he headed over to Dr. Eighteen’s table. “Hey, what’s up, I saw you two talking so I came over to see what’s going on?” Dr. Gillium told Dr. Linx that she and Dr. Eighteen were talking about the billionaire’s son who was missing. Up in medical records, Dr. Grea pulled Nikolai Eighteen’s medical records, then copied down all of his personal information then put everything back. Walked out of medical records with a happy smile on her face, got on the elevator and headed to her office. Back in the emergency room, Dr. Pinkley was making his rounds when he overheard the nurses talking about how Dr. Eighteen told one of them about seeing Dr Pinkley and Dr. Grea kissing in the stairwell a while back. Trying to contain his anger and rage, he kept up a happy front and continued to work on his patients.

0415 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Gillium, Dr. Linx, and Dr. Grea were all back in the emergency room tending to patients while Dr. Pinkley went to lunch still furious. Dr. Pinkley stopped at the men’s bathroom on the way to the cafeteria, took a bottle of pills out of his pocket and took five of them with some water from the face bowl. He looked at himself in the mirror and without warning punched the mirror. The glass shattered all over the floor. In the emergency room, it was starting to get busy really fast. All doctors were paged to report to the emergency room. Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium were trying to revive a young lady who flatlined. Dr. Eighteen was tending to a professional football player with a broken left tibia and fibula while Dr. Linx was tending to a high school cheerleader with a broken right forearm. Meanwhile, Dr. Pinkley heard his name paged over the intercom PA system. Panicked, checked his right fist and to his surprise, wasn’t bleeding. His skin on his fist wasn’t cut, pulled himself together. Opened the bathroom door and left the broken mirror glass on the bathroom floor, headed back to the emergency room. Once Dr. Pinkley got back to the emergency room, the first person he saw was Dr. Eighteen. For a split second, everything around Dr. Pinkley was frozen in place. He began to daydream about running up on Dr. Eighteen and punching him in the face until his face was unrecognizable but he

snapped out of it and saw all of the chaos. He jumped in and helped out any way he could. Soon, day-shift doctors started showing up to help. Dr. Blythe also came in to help time was flying fast, and everybody had their hands full. Finally, all the patients were treated, even though Dr. Grea and Dr. Gillium saved the young lady’s life, neither one of them would give each other a compliment on a job well done. It was that tensed, even a sharp, double-edged knife couldn’t cut through all of the tension going on between the two doctors.

0730 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was relieved that his shift was over got to the parking garage and into his car headed for home. While on his days off, Dr. Eighteen normally slept in, but the next morning he got up to get ready and headed to his local fitness gym. Still grieving for his mother, he worked himself into feverish pace at the fitness gym. Once he was done, he stopped by the supermarket to pick up groceries. To Dr. Eighteen’s demise, didn’t notice that he’s being followed. Paid for his grocery, got his change back put his grocery into the trunk of his car got into his car and headed home. Dr. Eighteen arrived home and took his grocery inside careful not to be spotted, the dark-colored sedan went past Dr. Eighteen’s house turned around, and parked down the street from his house. The next morning, Dr. Eighteen got up and decided to wash his car. When he went outside to pull his car into his driveway to wash it, he was shocked to find both of his tires on the enger side slashed. Upset and nervous, Dr. Eighteen looked down his street in both directions but didn’t see anybody or any other cars. Furious, he went into his house and called the police; at the same time he’s thinking to himself who would do such a thing while sitting in his living room, sipping a glass of wine and trying to calm his nerves. When he heard his doorbell ring, he walked over to his door to look through the keyhole. He saw two plainclothes officers. They called out to him that someone called for the police at this address. Dr. Eighteen opened his door and noticed two plainclothes officers, one police Cruiser and an unmarked car. Both officers asked Dr. Eighteen if they could come in. Dr. Eighteen let them in. Both of them introduced themselves as detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal. Det. Kent Ruley said to Dr. Eighteen, “We’re here about some damage done to your car.” Dr. Eighteen calmly “Yes, that is correct. I got up this morning to wash my car.

When I went out to wash it, I saw both tires on the enger side had been sliced or slashed.” Det. Jessie Skoal then asked Dr. Eighteen for his driver’s license and car registration. He complied, and they all went outside to his car to assess the damage. While Det. Jessie Skoal began taking pictures of the damage, Det. Kent Ruley began to ask Dr. Eighteen questions. “So, Dr. Eighteen, do you know of anybody who would want to slash your tires?” Dr. Eighteen, who at this point, had so many things running through his hood, told the detective no. “Are you sure, Dr. Eighteen, you don’t have a girlfriend mad at you or anything, do you?” “No, as a matter of fact, I don’t have time to date. I’m a doctor who works crazy hours.” Detective Skoal was finally done taking pictures, walked over to Dr. Eighteen, “Whoever slashed your tires like that are really mad at you.” Dr. Eighteen, trying to downplay how nervous he was, in a sarcastic way said to the detectives, “No kidding.” Det. Jessie Skoal gave Dr. Eighteen one of her cards and said to him, “Dr. Eighteen, we’ve got all the pictures we need and your statement. Please feel free to call us if anything else happens.” Dr. Eighteen took her card “I will and thanks to both of you for coming out.” Dr. Eighteen turned around, went back into his house, and called his insurance company. Outside Dr. Eighteen’s house, Det. Kent Ruley and Det. Jessie Skoal got in their unmarked police car and pulled off. “I think pretty boy broke some girl’s heart, and she didn’t take the breakup good at all.” Then they pulled off and turned the corner.

2230 Hours:

After three stress-filled days off, Dr. Eighteen was back at the emergency room tending to patients and making his rounds when he noticed Dr. Gillium and Dr. Linx at the nurses’ station talking to the nurses. Dr. Pinkley was tending to his patients doing his rounds. Trying to put the slashing of his two tires on his car behind, Dr. Eighteen started to wonder if anybody there would be foolish enough to do such a thing. “Dr. Eighteen, can I speak with you?” Looking around to see who it was, Dr. Eighteen saw it’s Dr. Grea. Hesitantly he gave in “Sure, Dr. Grea, what is it?” “I was out of line the other night. I don’t know what came over me. So I hope you’ll accept my heartfelt apology.”

Skeptical, “Sure, Dr. Grea, don’t worry about it. You’re right, though I do have an unusual last name.” “Yes, you do have an unusual last name.” She then walked off, “Have a good night.” Dr. Eighteen thought to himself, I wish she would let it go for the love of god. He then returned his attention to his patients. At the same time, he saw Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium talking. He shook his head and continued on his medical assessment of an old injury that a high school football player suffered in a game. While Dr. Grea made her way over to talk to Dr. Pinkley, “How’s your night going?” Looking around suspiciously, Dr. Pinkley said to Dr. Grea, “I’m doing all right, but can you do me a favor?” Dr. Grea looked at Dr. Pinkley with flirtatious eyes and “What kind of favor?” “Everybody knows about our little kissing ordeal in the stairwell. Thanks to Dr. Eighteen.” He then took a deep breath “Dr. Grea, it’s over between us. I don’t want to be with you, so please let’s just keep it professional from now on. God forbid if Dr. Blythe finds out.” He then walked away from her. The nurses at the nurses’ station saw Dr. Pinkley break it off with Dr. Grea. They immediately went back to work just as Dr. Grea turned around in their direction. She then went about her duties trying to keep up a positive attitude when dealing with the patients as they come in for some sort of treatment.

0130 Hours:

Dr. Grea left the emergency room and headed for her office. ing by Dr. Blythe in the hallway, she said hello to him as he ed her on his way to the emergency room. Dr. Grea went to her office, and once inside, she broke down and cried. Then suddenly it hit her. She pulled from her pocket the information she gathered on Nikolai Eighteen. She became angry and furious. In a deep, low voice “I’ll teach you not to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, you little prick.” Back in the emergency room, Dr. Blythe was at the nurses’ station checking all of the doctors’ patients’ charts. At that moment both Dr. Linx and Dr. Gillium left the emergency room heading to the cafeteria. Along the way, Dr. Linx decided to question Dr. Gillium about her relationship again with Dr. Pinkley. Dr. Gillium began to get upset “Will you please let it go. I’ve told you before, there’s no Dr. Pinkley.” Dr. Linx became agitated. “Oh, yeah? Well, how do I know that when every chance he gets, he’s always up in your face.” Dr. Gillium looked at Dr. Linx with disappointment in her eyes. “Why can’t you

believe me when I tell you that there’s nothing between me and Dr. Pinkley?” “I can’t stop people from coming up and talking to me.” Dr. Linx in a low, angry voice “I don’t give a shit who you talk to. I’ve got a problem with you talking to Dr. Pinkley, okay? The guy is nuts. I don’t trust him.” Dr. Gillium stepped back from Dr. Linx “This is not working for me, Dr. Linx. You’re too insecure for me, and right now I don’t need you questioning my every move. Good-bye.” She then got on the elevator with three other hospital staff . Dr. Linx just stood at the elevator and watched the doors close. He turned around and headed back to the emergency—angry, hurt, and rejected, saying to himself upon entering the emergency room, No woman in my life has ever said no or dumped me for that matter. Until now. She’ll be back . . . they always come back. Dr. Gillium got off the elevator, headed into the cafeteria, paid for her lunch, sat down, and began to eat alone.

0345 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Pinkley, and Dr. Blythe all headed to the cafeteria. The emergency room was slow, so they all went to grab something to eat. Once they got there, Dr. Pinkley was the first one to notice Dr. Gillium sitting by herself. Realizing that Dr. Blythe was present, he paid for his food and sat over by the television. Dr. Blythe paid for his food, went over to Dr. Gillium, and asked her if the seat was taken. She put on a fake smile “No, Dr. Blythe, have a seat.” Dr. Eighteen paid for his food and sat in the middle of the cafeteria where he could watch the television. Dr. Pinkley was sweating bullets because he didn’t know what Dr. Blythe and Dr. Gillium were talking about. Dr. Blythe said to Dr. Gillium that she’s been doing a good job in the emergency room. Dr. Gillium in return “Thank you, Dr. Blythe. I love it.” “Keep up the good work. I’m proud to have you.” Then he asked her, “Have you thought about going to work at your father’s practice?” Dr. Gillium, finally relieved that she could talk about something positive “You know, Dr. Blythe, I thought about that long and hard. So far the excitement of working here right now is where I want to be.” Dr. Blythe, smiling, “When you do decide to go and work with your dad, I’ll miss you.” Dr. Blythe’s cell phone rang. He then got up from the chair. Just before he answered the call, “Enjoy the rest of your shift.” He then answered his cell phone and left the cafeteria. Looking around the cafeteria, Dr. Gillium noticed

Dr. Pinkley giving her the evil eye. She got up and left the cafeteria. The whole time, Dr. Eighteen was eating his lunch and watching television. On the other hand, Dr. Eighteen knew that Dr. Pinkley wanted to run after Dr. Gillium so fast. The reason he didn’t was because Dr. Blythe just left Dr. Gillium and didn’t want to get caught.

0435 Hours:

Everyone was back in the emergency room working except for Dr. Grea. One of the nurses at the nurses’ desk asked Dr. Eighteen if he had seen Dr. Grea. He told the nurse no. Dr. Eighteen was just finishing up treating a patient when Dr. Linx walked over to him “Dr. Eighteen, was the food any good in the cafeteria?” He told Dr. Linx yes. In the meantime, Dr. Grea was in her office on her computer trying to find a connection between the patient Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Mikey Eighteen. Feeling hopeless and at a dead end, she got an e-mail. Dr. Grea’s eyes got big, her jaw dropped, she was speechless about the contents of the e-mail she got. She then said to herself in a shockingly nervous voice, “Oooh my god, no way!” Getting up from her desk, she locked her office and headed to the emergency room. However, Dr. Eighteen was going about his job; he then stopped by the nurses’ station to fill out his patient’s discharge papers. Time was flying by as always when he looked up and saw Dr. Grea enter the emergency room. Just for a moment he saw Dr. Grea and automatically started thinking about the patient Nikolai Eighteen. He was thinking to himself, I don’t even have anybody in my family that I know of with the name Nikolai.

0130 Hours:

Dr. Gillium was inside the parking garage, jogging and trying to get her mind off Dr. Linx’s and Dr. Pinkley’s issues. As she headed up the ramp at that moment, Dr. Grea was just getting off the elevator, heading to her car. Her head was still in a tailspin about what she found out about the patient they treated whose name

was Nikolai Eighteen. While Dr. Gillium was about to turn up the ramp, Dr. Pinkley came out of nowhere and tried to talk to her. As he grabbed her, she jerked away from him. While this was taking place, Dr. Grea got into her car, started up the ignition, and backed out of her parking spot, heading down the ramp. In the meantime, Dr. Gillium got away from Dr. Pinkley. She started running as fast as she could down the ramp. In a split second, Dr. Grea took her eyes off the ramp as she was going down. Her foot hit the gas as her car accelerated. The next thing she heard was a loud thump as Dr. Grea hit her brakes. Dr. Pinkley, seeing this, turned around and ran back up the ramp inside the parking garage and disappeared.

February 19, 2011

1430 Hours:

Chapter 4

Betrayal

Dr. Grea realized she hit something, grabbed her steering wheel in a jerking motion, rocking back and forward, screaming, “Oh no, what have I done!” Dr. Pinkley witnessed the accident, but he was trying not to be seen by Dr. Grea. He ran back inside the parking garage and disappeared. Trying to come up with an alibi, confused, and dazed from running so fast, Dr. Pinkley was in full panic mode. Right at that moment, two security officers were doing their rounds when they came up on Dr. Pinkley. They noticed that he was pacing back and forth. One of the security officers called out to him, “Excuse me, sir, are you all right?” Meanwhile, Dr. Grea got out of her car, nerves rattled. She slowly walked around to the front of her car to see what she hit. Clinching her hands together, she panicked when she saw that she hit Dr. Gillium. She started talking to herself, “What have I done? Oh my god, what have I done?” Dr. Grea then pulled Dr. Gillium’s body from under her car. Dr. Gillium was motionless as Dr. Grea was continuing to pull Dr. Gillium’s motionless body farther away from under her car “Dr. Gillium, can you hear me?” To her dismay, Dr. Grea didn’t get a response from Dr. Gillium. She then put her head on Dr. Gillium’s chest to see if she was breathing—she wasn’t. Dr. Grea started talking to herself while scared at the same time. “Geez, Dr. Gillium where did you come from? I didn’t even see you!” While Dr. Grea had her hands filled with her dilemma, Dr. Pinkley had his hands filled with two security officers. The second security officer again asked him if he was all right. At first Dr. Pinkley didn’t see the two security officers until one of them flashed his flashlight at Dr. Pinkley. Dr. Pinkley finally snapped out of the panicky pacing back and forth. He then told the security officers that he witnessed someone being hit. Both security officers looked at each other then back at Dr. Pinkley. One of the security officers immediately radioed in the accident while the other one noticed Dr. Pinkley trembling out of control. He then asked Dr. Pinkley for some kind of identification. Dr. Pinkley complied. Then all three of them headed down the parking garage and camped to

the scene of the accident. The emergency room was not busy. Dr. Eighteen was talking to the nurses at the nurses’ station when a call came in about the accident in the parking garage. Not knowing what to expect, Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Blythe, and a nurse headed to the parking garage without a moment to waste. Dr. Eighteen had all kinds of things running through his head. Trying to stay focus, he began a conversation with Dr. Blythe, “I hope everything goes smoothly.” Dr. Blythe, while running with Dr. Eighteen, “I hope you’re right, but we won’t know until we get there.” Back at the accident scene, Dr. Grea was trying desperately to revive Dr. Gillium when she saw a security patrol truck comes in. They immediately block off any entry and exit surrounding Dr. Grea. One of the security officers began helping her. All you could hear Dr. Grea say while performing R was “Come on, Dr. Gillium. Breathe. Please breathe… come on, kid.” It seemed like hours ed to Dr. Grea as she and the security officer continued R on Dr. Gillium. Finally Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Blythe, the nurse, the two security officers on foot patrol, and Dr. Pinkley all arrived at the same time to the scene of the accident. Dr. Eighteen was stunned and shocked beyond disbelief when he and Dr. Blythe, along with the nurse, found Dr. Gillium severely injured. They took over to try and revive Dr. Gillium. Dr. Grea was in shock and disbelief. She was trembling out of control. The security officer that helped her took her over to his patrol truck “I know you’re upset, but can you tell me what happened?” Looking down, she took her eye off the parking ramp she was driving down. “I was driving, and she came out of nowhere at the last minute. I tried to avoid her, but it was too late.” The security officer took her statement. He then made his way over to Dr. Pinkley and the two security officers with him. He began to question Dr. Pinkley, “Sir, can you tell me what you saw?” Dr. Pinkley tried to control his breathing and not telling the security officer that he’s responsible for her being hit. He said to the security officer, “I heard tires screeching and a loud thump. I went down to see what happened then I came back up here.” The patrol security officer wrote down Dr. Pinkley’s statement. “Thank you, sir.” He then pulled the two foot patrol security officers to the side; he also took their statements. Just before all three security officers went back over to the accident scene, all three of them noticed Dr. Pinkley was wearing an all-black jogging suit with black running shoes. They also noticed that he had scratches on his hands. Noting all of these, they all agreed not to share this information with Dr. Pinkley. Meanwhile, Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Blythe, and the nurse were finally able to stabilize Dr. Gillium. They rushed her to the operation room where she underwent emergency surgery for the severe head trauma she suffered from the accident. Dr. Grea calmed down a bit, but her heart almost fell into the pit of her stomach. When she saw Dr. Blythe, Dr. Eighteen,

and the nurse who responded to the accident, she was skeptical to see Dr. Pinkley there. What intrigued her more was Dr. Pinkley was dressed in all black even his shoes were black. She then headed back over to her car to look at how much damage was done to her car, only to look over and see the security officer move his patrol truck to let the police into the scene of the accident. Dr. Grea tried to keep her cool as the police officers approached her after parking their police car. One of the police officers stopped and started talking to the security officers. The other police officer made his way over to Dr. Grea. “How are you doing this morning?” He noticed her name on her doctor’s coat and said to Dr. Grea, “Can you tell me what happened here?” Keeping her cool, “I was leaving when she came out of nowhere. I tried to avoid her, but it all happened so fast.” The officer then walked all the way around her car and noticed burned tire marks. He then took down her car registration, insurance, and driver’s license information, “If we need any more information, we will you.” Dr. Grea said to the officer, “Thank you.” She then got on the phone to call her insurance company to report the accident who in turn called for a tow truck to come out. Dr. Grea had mixed emotions about hitting Dr. Gillium. While the police and hospital security were all together talking, Dr. Grea tried to keep her cool while all kinds of scenarios were running through her head. The one that bothered her the most was if Dr. Gillium noticed her not paying attention before she hit her. Although Dr. Gillium’s surgery was successful, she was put in an induced coma and hooked up to a breathing machine breathing for her. Dr. Gillium wasn’t even recognizable as her face was swollen and purple. Both of her legs were in casts as well as her right arm. She was placed in the ICU department.

2230 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen worked in the emergency room with a heavy heart. Trying his best to focus on his patients, he noticed Dr. Linx coming over to him. Dr. Eighteen continued to work and assess the treatment plan for an elderly lady who came into the emergency room with a broken hip and dislocated right elbow. He then told the patient that she was going to need surgery. Putting her right elbow back in place, he then ordered her some pain reliever and assured her she’s going to be okay. Then he moved on to his next patient, when he heard Dr. Linx call him. “Dr. Eighteen!” He turned around “What do you want? I’m busy… can it wait?”

Dr. Linx looked at Dr. Eighteen and sensed something was wrong “You look really tired. Do you need any help?” Dr. Eighteen turned around and said to Dr. Linx as he walked away, “No, I’m all right. Thanks for offering to help, but I got it.” But that was far from the truth. Dr. Eighteen was hurting inside. He finally realized that he has to tell Dr. Blythe everything. Knowing very well he could lose his job for not coming clean with Dr. Blythe the first time when he was asked by Dr. Blythe about anything and everything. Out of the unusual, all Dr. Eighteen kept seeing was Dr. Gillium’s lifeless body in the parking garage. Heading over to the nurses’ station, Dr. Linx said to one of the nurses, “Dr. Eighteen looks like he’s seen a ghost.” The nurse then said to Dr. Linx, “Wouldn’t you be out of sorts if you responded to the accident in the parking garage yesterday morning?” With a puzzled look on his face, “What accident in the parking garage?” “Dr. Eighteen along with Dr. Blythe and a day nurse responded to the parking garage accident and found Dr. Gillium severely injured. She was hit by Dr. Grea.” Dr. Linx, confused and hurt, sat down at the nurses’ station. Afraid, “D-did she survive?” The nurse then said to him she had an emergency surgery to relieve some of the pressure on her brain. She’s in ICU in grave condition. Dr. Linx jumped up out of the chain at the nurses’ station and left the emergency room. Only to run into Dr. Pinkley who was on his way to the emergency room. Dr. Linx noticed the scratches on Dr. Pinkley’s hands. Stopping in his tracks, Dr. Linx turned around and yelled out to Dr. Pinkley, “What happened to your hands, Dr. Pinkley?” Dr. Pinkley looked at his hands “I was playing with my cat at home. She got a little rough… you know how cats are.” Dr. Linx, still confused and upset, “I don’t have anything against cats. I’m a dog person. You should get yourself checked and get a tetanus shot if you haven’t already.” “I’ll do that,” and continued on his way to the emergency room. Dr. Linx continued on his way heading outside to get some fresh air and calmed himself down.

0145 Hours:

Dr. Blythe made his way to the emergency room to help out wherever he was needed. It was at that moment that Dr. Eighteen decided to approach Dr. Blythe and tell him everything. “Excuse me, Dr. Blythe, can I speak to you in private?” Dr. Blythe turned around and saw it’s Dr. Eighteen. “Why, sure, come with me.”

By this time, Dr. Linx was back in the emergency room tending to patients as well as Dr. Pinkley who hands had large band-aids on them. Just before leaving the emergency room with Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Blythe walked over to Dr. Pinkley “What happened to your hands?” Dr. Pinkley said to him, “I was playing with my cat at home, and she got a little aggressive.” Dr. Blythe then said to him, “When you get a chance, I need to talk you about what happened in the parking garage.” Dr. Blythe turned and walked away and left the emergency room with Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Pinkley saw them leave together, and he got nervous, but he turned to put on a brave face while tending to his patients.

0205 Hours:

Dr. Blythe and Dr. Eighteen arrived at Dr. Blythe’s office. They both went inside. Dr. Blythe sat at his “Have a seat please, now, tell me what you want to talk to me about.” Dr. Eighteen sat down in the chair in front of Dr. Blythe. He then took a deep breath while closing his eyes. Focused, he then opened his eyes, looked at Dr. Blythe, “Do you telling me that if I had anything on my mind to come to you?” Dr. Blythe, leaning back in his chair “Yes, I . Go on.” “Well, sir, I’ve seen a lot of things and heard a lot of things since working here.” Dr. Blythe, getting anxious, “Tell me, what’s bothering you?” Taking another deep breath, “Well, sir, I witnessed Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley kissing in the stairwell. Dr. Gillium also confided in me that she went on a date with Dr. Pinkley, who raped her. Also, I saw Dr. Pinkley tampering with Dr. Linx’s patients’ charts.” By now, Dr. Eighteen was a nervous wreck, and Dr. Blythe knew it. “Why are you just now telling me these things? I’ve got one of my best doctors up in ICU fighting for her life.” Dr. Eighteen started trembling “Sir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want people to lose their jobs. I was afraid that if anybody found out that I told you, nobody would talk to me or even worse try to harm me.” Dr. Blythe got up from his desk and walked around to sit in the other chair. “I understand some of what you’re telling me to a certain degree. Dr. Eighteen, I’m not saying it’s your

fault that Dr. Gillium got hurt, but at the same time I still say you should’ve told me earlier.” “There’s one more thing.” Dr. Blythe interrupted him by saying, “Oh, there’s more… are you kidding me?” Dr. Eighteen sat up at the edge of his chair and looked Dr. Blythe in the eyes “Sir, someone slashed both tires on the enger side of my car at my home, I’m afraid.” Dr. Blythe looked at Dr. Eighteen with a stunned and confused look on his face. “Thank goodness you didn’t get hurt in the process.” Dr. Eighteen then said to Dr. Blythe, “Sir, I thought I was doing the right thing by minding my own business. I do regret by not telling you sooner.” Dr. Blythe sat back in the chair. In a somber voice, “You had no way of knowing Dr. Gillium would get hurt this bad. You’re free to go back to the emergency room.” Dr. Eighteen got up and left Dr. Blythe’s office, shutting the door behind him. Dr. Blythe got up from the chair, went over to his window looking up at the stars, saying to himself, “Why didn’t I see this coming?” He then sat back down at his desk looking at his telephone. He picked up the phone and called Dr. Skip Gillium, Dr. Lanely Gillium’s father, to tell him the bad news. After calling Dr. Gillium’s father, he also called detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal.

0345 Hours:

Dr. Blythe was back in the emergency room tending to patients. When he saw Dr. Skip Gillium over at the nurses’ desk, he walked over to talk to him. “Dr. Gillium, let me be the first to say to you that I’m sorry about what happened to your daughter.” Dr. Skip Gillium looked at Dr. Blythe with hurt and confusion “Thank you, Dr. Blythe. Can you please take me up to see my daughter?” “Sure,” said Dr. Blythe. Both doctors left the emergency room and headed up to the intensive care unit. Meanwhile, Dr. Pinkley watched Dr. Blythe and Dr. Skip Gillium leave the emergency room. He walked over to Dr. Eighteen who just got done treating a patient. Dr. Pinkley yelled, “Dr. Eighteen, can I talk you?” Dr. Eighteen heard him but kept walking. Dr. Pinkley caught up to him. Dr. Eighteen stopped “What do you want? I’m busy.” “I think I just saw Dr. Gillium’s dad leaving with Dr. Blythe.” Trying to get information out of Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Pinkley pretended to be concerned about Dr. Lanely Gillium’s condition. “Man, I hope Dr. Gillium

pulls through. She’s a very good doctor.” Dr. Eighteen could tell by Dr. Pinkley’s body language and the way he was acting that he was holding back something. “Is there something you want to talk about or tell me because if you don’t have, I’m busy with patients.” Dr. Pinkley looked at Dr. Eighteen with anger and confusion “What was that supposed to mean?” “I don’t know, you tell me,” and then he walked away. Dr. Linx was watching Dr. Eighteen and Dr. Pinkley talking; he shook his head and mumbled to himself, “I hope Dr. Gillium pulls through.” He then continued to work on his patients. Up in the ICU, Dr. Blythe and Dr. Skip Gillium were at Dr. Gillium’s bedside. Dr. Blythe looked at Dr. Lanely Gillium and said, “Come on, kid, you can do it. I know you can.” He then turned to her father, “Dr. Gillium, we’re going to do everything we can to help her recover.” Dr. Skip Gillium, sitting at his daughter’s bedside with tears in his eyes, said to him, “Thank you, Dr. Blythe. Her mother couldn’t bear to come, so I came for the both of us.” Looking at his daughter, Dr. Skip Gillium started talking to her barely, “It’s Daddy, I’m here, baby. Me and your mom love you sooo much, if you can hear me. Daddy just wanted you to know that.” Standing up from her bedside, he took Dr. Blythe to the side “I want to know what happened to my daughter. She’s always been her own person ever since she was little. I offered her a position at the family practice, but she didn’t give me an answer.” Pointing at his daughter, “Now look at my precious Lanely. How can this be, Dr. Blythe? I don’t care how much money it costs me, but I won’t stop until I get justice for my little princess.” Dr. Blythe calmly said to Dr. Skip Gillium, “Once we’re done conducting a thorough investigation, we’ll make sure the guilty party or parties be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Sir, your daughter is one of my best physicians on my staff. We all want justice for her, and we’ll get it, trust me on that.”

0455 Hours:

Dr. Blythe was met by detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal on his way to his office, after taking Dr. Skip Gillium up to the ICU where his daughter was fighting for her life. “Dr. Blythe, hi, my name is Det. Kent Ruley, and this is my partner Jessie Skoal.” Both detectives show him their badges. “Oh, yes, I’ve been expecting you. Please come with me. I’m on my way to my office.” Right at that moment, Dr. Linx was just getting off the elevator on his way back to the

emergency room from his lunch break. Being careful not to be seen, Dr. Linx looked both ways down the hallway and walked toward Dr. Blythe’s office. At that moment, Dr. Blythe and the detectives were in his office. Dr. Blythe and the detectives began talking about what happened to Dr. Lanely Gillium. “One of my doctors has confided in me some things that were going on in the emergency room.” Det. Jessie Skoal said to him, “Well, can you be a little bit more specific about what this doctor told you?” “Well, the doctor told me that he saw a senior doctor and one of our one-year doctors kissing in the stairwell. He also told me that Dr. Lanely Gillium told him that she was raped by one of our other doctors when she went on a date with him.” Det. Kent Ruley and Det. Jessie Skoal were taking notes and shaking their heads at the same time. “We need the names of all the doctors.” Dr. Blythe told him, “Sure, no problem. Their names are doctors Pinkley, Grea, and Eighteen.” Both detectives looked at each other somewhat surprised. Detective Skoal said to him, “Excuse me, Dr. Blythe, but did you just say you have a doctor that works here whose name is Dr. Eighteen?” Dr. Blythe, looking somewhat puzzled, “That’s right. Dr. Mikey Eighteen.” Curious, “Is there something wrong?” “No, we were at his home a few weeks ago to investigate the vandalism that was done to his car.” Detetective Kent Ruley said to Dr. Blythe, “Yeah, we were in the area near his house when the call came in. So my partner and I also responded to the call. All I can say is somebody was really mad at him. They slashed both tires of his car—front and back on the enger side.” Dr. Blythe said to them, “He told me that also.” It was then at that moment that Dr. Blythe realized why Dr. Eighteen was hesitant about telling him the things he said. Det. Kent Ruley said to him, “We’re going to need Dr. Eighteen to tell us everything that he told you.” Dr. Blythe went into his desk and pulled out a written statement that he wrote down—everything that Dr. Eighteen told him. He said to the detectives, “Here’s his statement. I wrote them down, but he didn’t have a chance to sign it.” Both detectives were baffled. At the same time, “Why didn’t he sign it?” “I excused him. My mind was in a whirlwind. But don’t worry I’ll get him to sign it before he leaves.” Det. Jessie Skoal said to him, “That’s good, but we’re still going to need Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Grea’s statements as well.” “Sure, that’s not a problem.” Detective Ruley was looking over Dr. Blythe’s written statement he got from Dr. Eighteen “The rape part of this statement, we really can’t do much right now until Dr. Gillium gets better.” Both detectives and Dr. Blythe continued on talking about their plans for investigating the accident that landed Dr. Lanely Gillium in the ICU. When Dr. Linx overheard them talking, Dr. Blythe told both detectives at this moment, “Dr. Gillium is fighting for her life. I just hope in time that she’ll make a full recovery. Det. Kent Ruley said to him, “We hope so too.” Det. Jessie Skoal also

said, “Yeah, I agree. Her statement and cooperation will give us more detail into what happened, but all we can do right now is to pray and keep our fingers crossed.” “Oh yeah, also get a statement from Dr. Charlie Linx.” When Dr. Linx heard his name, he quickly walked away from Dr. Blythe’s door and headed back to the emergency room. Thinking to himself as to why do the detectives need to talk to him.

0625 Hours:

The emergency room had gotten busy. All of the doctors were running around tending to patients when Dr. Blythe saw Dr. Eighteen and pulled him aside and got him to sign the written statement he told him about. Dr. Eighteen signed the statement. At the same time, Dr. Pinkley was finishing wrapping his patient’s left ankle and noticed Dr. Eighteen g some paper that Dr. Blythe gave him to sign, and he got a little nervous. Without warning, three security officers come into the emergency room and went over to Dr. Blythe. Dr. Pinkley then shifted his attention to the security officers leaving with Dr. Blythe. One of the security officers made eye with Dr. Pinkley as they were leaving. Dr. Pinkley quickly started pretending like he was writing something down on the clipboard that was hanging from the foot of one of the patients bed he had already visited. He looked up only to find that Dr. Blythe and the security officers had left the emergency room. Meanwhile, Dr. Eighteen finished up tending to his last patients then headed over to the nurses’ station to finish up his notations on his patients’ charts. While Dr. Linx was still tending to his patients, he couldn’t help but notice Dr. Pinkley acting weird.

0730 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was on his way to his car in the parking garage when he saw Dr. Linx leaving the parking garage. Not thinking anything about it, he got in his car and put his key in the ignition to start it up when he heard a peck! peck! peck!

sound on his driver’s side window. It was Dr. Pinkley. Starting up his car, he barely cracked his car window “Okay, I’m really tried, what do you want!” Dr. Pinkley, trying to size him up, “Dr. Eighteen, I just want to tell you I’m sorry about last night.” Dr. Eighteen can feel and sense Dr. Pinkley was looking for something or someone. “Don’t worry about it,” and pulled off, looking back at Dr. Pinkley through his rearview mirror before heading down around and out of the parking garage on his way home.

1330 Hours:

Resting at home trying to enjoy his day off, he dozed off on his couch watching television. Ring! ring! ring! Dr. Eighteen jumped up to answer the phone. In every room of his house, he heard the phone ringing but can’t find it. Frustrated, he began to go in each and every room of his house looking under the beds and checking the closets. When all of a sudden his lights went out. Scared, he got on the floor of his guest bedroom and started to crawl out into the main hallway, turning his attention to the main closet located at the other end of his hallway. Getting up, he made a run to the hallway closet. But the faster he ran, the longer the hallway got. He was trying as hard as he could to get to the closet then finally dropping to his knees. He looked all around him where there was nothing but darkness. Suddenly, a big flash of white light came bursting through the closet doors. Boom! Boom! Boom! Dr. Eighteen felt himself falling. He screamed out, “No!” only to wake up on the floor with MTV showing on the television. Getting up off the floor, he went into his hallway guest bathroom, washed his face with cold water looked in the mirror, and said to himself, “That was a very strange dream.” Turning off the bathroom light, he went to the kitchen to got himself a beer. When his phone in the kitchen started to ring, hesitantly he finally answered the phone. Click was all Dr. Eighteen heard when he picked up the phone to answer it. Hanging up the phone, Dr. Eighteen immediately went into his hallway closet and grabbed one of his golf clubs. Slowly, he went to his front door and looked out of his peephole in the door. Quickly he opened his door and ran outside and down onto the walkway of his yard. Looking down his street in both directions, he then turned around and checked his cars to see if any damage was done to them—there was none. Dr. Eighteen went back into his house, closing the door behind him. He went over to

his couch, sat down, and put his hands on his head. Outside his house, a dark blue sedan with limousine tinted windows slowly ed his house then sped up and turned the corner to disappear into the flow of traffic.

2230 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen returned to the hospital after his three days off. Upon entering the emergency room, Dr. Blythe told him to report to the conference room. Confused, he headed for the conference room. Once he got there, Dr. Pinkley, Dr. Linx, and Dr. Grea were all present. Dr. Eighteen could tell that everybody was tensed and nervous. As soon as Dr. Eighteen sat down, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal along with Dr. Blythe walked in. Det. Kent Ruley said to them, “Good evening, lady and gentlemen. My partner and I are here tonight to take your statements about the accident. To those of you who forgot, we did tell you that if we needed some more information from you, we would all of you, so that’s why we’re here tonight. Please be patient when you hear your name called. Make your way to the conference room D. Dr. Linx, confused, said to Det. Kent Ruley, “I don’t get it why I am here about the accident, which I only heard about but didn’t witness it.” Dr. Blythe then said to Dr. Linx, “I’m the reason you’re here. Sit down and relax, Dr. Linx.” At that moment, Dr. Linx started looking around at the other doctors. He then decided to spill his beans on everybody. Fearing someone might have some dirt on him, he decided to tell everything that he knows about every doctor at that table in the conference room. Dr. Linx then told Dr. Blythe he apologizes for his outburst. Detectives Ruley and Skoal called Dr. Grea in first. Dr. Grea made her way to conference room D. Once inside, Det. Jessie Skoal said to her, “Take a seat, Dr. Grea. The last time we talked, you were at the scene of the accident. Can you tell us what is your relationship status with your fellow doctors?” Dr. Grea at this moment tried to outsmart the detectives. “I get along well with all of my colleagues. We all get along for the most part.” Detective Skoal sensed Dr. Grea wasn’t being completely honest with them. “Dr. Grea, let’s get to the heart of the matter. Did you ever at any time date Dr. Pinkley?” Dr. Grea said to her, “No, I’ve not had any kind of personal relationship with Dr. Pinkley other than professional.” Both detectives looked at each other. Detective Ruley said to her, “Are you sure, Dr. Grea?” Dr. Grea with a stern face looked at Detective Ruley “Yes, I’m sure. Are

you guys finished? If so, can I be excused?” Detective Skoal was not happy with being called a guy, in a sarcastic tone of voice, “Yes, you may be excused.” Dr. Grea got up and walked out furious and upset. Back at conference room B, all of the doctors were staring each other down. Dr. Blythe noticed the stare-downs when he picked up the ringing phone in his conference room. Detective Ruley told him to send in the next doctor. Dr. Blythe hung up the phone and instructed Dr. Charlie Linx to go to conference room D. He got up looking at both Dr. Eighteen and Dr. Pinkley before he left. Arriving at conference room D, Dr. Linx took a deep breath, opened the door, and went in. Det. Kent Ruley instructed him to have a seat. “We know that you didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Dr. Lanely Gillium. However, Detective Skoal and I thought that maybe you had something you want to tell us.” Dr. Linx sat up in his chair and said to the detectives, “You know, Dr. Pinkley is a strange apple. I know he had a serious crush on Dr. Gillium. They even dated, so he says. When I asked Dr. Lanely Gillium about it, she would get very upset and always changes the subject. Hey, I don’t know what he did to her, but she did not like the guy. Then there’s Dr. Mikey Eighteen, who’s also kind of an odd guy. Once he went up on the rooftop of the hospital and stood up on the ledge, looking down. Man, if you ask me, that’s not normal by any sketch of the imagination. Last, but not the least, is Dr. Pinkley and Dr. Grea. There are rumors floating around the emergency room that they were seen kissing in the stairwell once. And that’s all that I have or that I can think of at this moment, detectives.” Detective Skoal told Dr. Linx, “That’s good. We appreciate what you’ve told us, but one thing is missing.” Dr. Linx, curious, “Oh, yeah, Detective, what is that?” “You didn’t tell us anything about you, Dr. Linx.” He started getting cocky “Well, that’s because there isn’t anything to tell, but if something comes to my mind, you’ll be the first to know.” Detective Ruley stared Dr. Linx down “For your sake I hope so. You can leave now.” Dr. Linx got up from the table with a smirk on his face and said to them good luck and walked out. Soon after Dr. Linx left, he ed by Dr. Pinkley, who was on his way to the conference room D. Entering conference room D, the detectives told Dr. Pinkley to have a seat. Detective Ruley said to him, “Dr. Pinkley, what was your relationship status with Dr. Lanely Gillium?” Dr. Pinkley, trying to keep his cool, “She was a very nice doctor to work with. I didn’t have any problems with her.” Tired of all the games the doctors were trying to pull on them, Det. Jessie Skoal went for it. “Well, Dr. Pinkley, did you ever take Dr. Lanely Gillium out to

dinner?” Dr. Pinkley, still trying to keep his cool, “Maybe, I don’t . I date a lot of girls.” Detective Skoal in a low, angry voice “I don’t care about the other girls. Just answer the question. Did you or did you not go out to dinner with Dr. Lanely Gillium?” Dr. Pinkley looked at her with anger in his eyes “Yes, okay, we went out just once.” Detective Ruley said to him, “Well, what happened afterward?” “She went home, and I went home.” Trying to catch him off guard, Detective Skoal said, “Are you sure you guys didn’t go back to your place?” Jumping out of his chair in disgust, “This is ridiculous! I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about. All we had was dinner, that’s it! Unless you’re going to charge me with something, I’ll be at work!” He then stormed out slamming the door behind him. Both detectives knew at that moment Dr. Pinkley wasn’t telling the truth. Dr. Pinkley knew that as long as Dr. Gillium is in a coma, the detectives don’t have anything to charge him with. Dr. Mikey Eighteen entered conference room D took a seat. He then realized it’s the two detectives who came to his home. Detective Ruley said to him, “Nice to see you again, Dr. Eighteen. Now, Dr. Blythe has showed us your statement about the things you saw and heard about. In particular, you told Dr. Blythe that Dr. Lanely Gillium confided in you that she went on a date with Dr. Bruce Pinkley, in which at some point he raped her.” “That is correct. She told me in the cafeteria.” “Can you tell us the relationship between Dr. Gillium and Dr. Pinkley?” Dr. Eighteen said to them, “Well, from what I have witnessed, Dr. Pinkley kept on pursuing her, but she wasn’t having any of it. Dr. Gillium didn’t want to have anything else to do with him. He really got upset when Dr. Gillium and Dr. Linx started dating.” Both detectives said to Dr. Eighteen, “Did you ever see anything going on between Dr. Samantha Grea and Dr. Bruce Pinkley?” Dr. Eighteen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I saw them kissing in a stairwell once.” Detective Ruley then said to him, “Fair enough, but, Dr. Eighteen, can you explain to us why you were on the hospital’s rooftop standing on the ledge?” Dr. Eighteen, with his head down looking at the floor, “When the hospital emergency room was busy on my break, I would go up there for some fresh air. There was a lot of things on my mind—from losing my mother to being picked on by Dr. Charlie Linx—I just needed some place where I could go and calm down. Not once did I ever think of jumping off the top of the hospital roof. I just needed a time out.” Satisfied with Dr. Eighteen’s statement, they told him that he was excused. He then got up and left the conference room. Detective Skoal said to Detective Ruley, “Something is going on here. Why would Dr. Grea lie about Dr. Pinkley’s relationship with her?” Detective Ruley said to her, “Dr. Grea didn’t lie to us about her relationship with Dr. Pinkley. She denied that nothing ever happened.” Detective Skoal told her partner, “Whatever it is that’s going on here, we’re

going to get to the bottom of it.”

0045 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was on his way back to the emergency room. He couldn’t help but feel relieved. At some point, he knew that he had to tell everything. But at the back of his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about what happened to one of his cars. Everything was so stressful to him. Poor Dr. Eighteen, he was going through a rough time, though he was hoping things will soon get better. Just as Dr. Eighteen was walking down the hallway, he heard a lot of shouting and whispering. “Here I go again,” he mumbled to himself. Slowly walking toward the shouting and whispering, he looked around the corner to see Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley in a very heated argument. Thinking to himself, How do I get by without either of them seeing me, when all of a sudden Dr. Grea started arguing with Dr. Pinkley more intensely, “How could you tell the detectives ?” Dr. Pinkley, with anger in his voice, “What are you talking about? I didn’t tell the detectives anything, I swear.” Dr. Grea, in a slow, sweeping motion threw her hands up in the air “Well, Dr. Pinkley, if you didn’t tell them anything and I sure as hell didn’t, then who did?” Dr. Pinkley, changing the subject, “Why did you hit Dr. Gillium?” Getting furious and upset, Dr. Grea got in Dr. Pinkley’s face in a low angry voice “It was an accident. I didn’t even see her to the last minute she came out of nowhere.” Dr. Pinkley, continuing to press his luck, “How could you not see her?” Dr. Grea got suspicious of Dr. Pinkley asking her questions about Dr. Gillium, she turned the table on him. “Dr. Pinkley, why are you so concerned about me hitting Dr. Gillium, huh? Why were you in the garage at the same time, huh, can you answer that?” Dr. Pinkley then slowly backed away from Dr. Grea trying to come up with an alibi, “I was on my way to my to the truck when I heard tires screeching. Anyway, that’s not the point. You hit her, I didn’t.” He then stormed off in Dr. Eighteen’s direction. Dr. Eighteen saw him coming; he scrambled to find somewhere to hide. Running, Dr. Eighteen could hear Dr. Pinkley’s footsteps. Quickly Dr. Eighteen started to panic. Trying desperately to find a door unlocked, he pulled at the janitor closet door, and it opened. Without a second to waste, he jumped inside and locked the door when Dr. Pinkley at that moment came walking down the hallway. ing him along the way as he locked himself into the janitor’s closet, Dr. Eighteen could hear Dr. Pinkley

walking down the hallway until he couldn’t hear a sound. Suddenly the door knob was turning back and forward. Dr. Eighteen got scared, and all of a sudden the door was opened. “Excuse me, sir. I need to get some of my supplies for my crew tonight.” Dr. Eighteen had his eyes closed and opened his eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. He told the janitor that he was sorry. He came out of the janitor’s closet while looking both ways. He decided to continue on his way back to the emergency room even if it meant ing by the place where he saw Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley arguing. Thinking to himself, I just hope neither one of them saw me. Meanwhile, back in the emergency room, Dr. Pinkley, Dr. Linx, Dr. Blythe, and Dr. Grea, were all back from their meetings with the detectives. Dr. Eighteen finally made his way to the emergency room when he saw for the first time the hospital chairmen talking to Dr. Blythe and Dr. Grea. When Dr. Linx walked over to him “Can you believe it?” Dr. Eighteen confused, “Believe what?” Dr. Linx told him that the hospital medical board and chairman have decided to put Dr. Grea on istrative leave without pay. Dr. Eighteen said to him, “Man, that’s not good. I mean for Dr. Grea. She must be devastated.” Dr. Linx looked at Dr. Eighteen like he’s crazy “Are you serious? Dr. Gillium is up in the ICU because of her. She’s getting what she deserves, the bitch.” Dr. Eighteen said to Dr. Linx, “You’re absolutely right, but I think she should not be the only one on istrative leave without pay.” He then patted Dr. Linx on the back and walked away. Dr. Linx, confused and curious, followed him and stopped him just before he got to the nurses’ “Dr. Eighteen, what are you saying?” Dr. Eighteen interrupted him “Dr. Gillium is a very good doctor, and all I wish and pray is for her to get better. Only she can tell us what really happened and who is responsible.” Dr. Linx said to him, “You’re right, Dr. Eighteen. You’re absolutely right,” and walked away. Neither Dr. Eighteen nor Dr. Linx was aware that Dr. Pinkley was an earshot away from them. He heard every word that they said. It was at this moment that Dr. Pinkley realized that he had to do something.

0235 Hours:

Dr. Skip Gillium was at his daughter’s bedside watching, waiting, and hoping by some miracle his daughter would wake up. He would sing to her, read her favorite childhood books, praying she would wake up and tell him who did this to her. Inside Dr. Lanely Gillium’s mind, she’s constantly freeing herself from Dr. Pinkley’s grip on her in the garage to being hit by a car. She was trapped inside the outside world looking in, yelling at the top of her lungs. Nobody could hear her as her spirit floats around the room. Suddenly her eyes opened, then closed, then opened then closed. Dr. Skip Gillium knew all too well that in all patients who suffered any kind of brain injury, this is part of the process. Just because they open and close their eyes doesn’t mean they’re awake. However, the ICU doctors and nurses still responded to Dr. Gillium’s room to check and see if she’s made any progress. They realized that she had not. The ICU doctor took Dr. Skip Gillium out in the hallway to tell him she hadn’t progressed enough yet. Dr. Skip Gillium knew this all along, so to him it wasn’t shocking or surprising. So he went back inside his daughter’s room and sat at her bedside holding her hand. Down in the emergency room, Dr. Blythe and security walked Dr. Grea to the hospital exit. Just before she left, Dr. Blythe said to her, “I’m sorry, but this had to be done. Once the investigation is over and done with, I look forward to seeing you back here.” With a somber look on her face, Dr. Grea told Dr. Blythe, “Thank you so much. I look forward to it as well.” Security escorted her to the parking garage. Dr. Blythe headed back to the emergency room. Everyone’s abuzz back in the emergency room. Word travels fast when something happens on the job. Dr. Linx was at the nurses’ desk listening to them gossip about anything and everything. Dr. Eighteen was tending to a patient; whereas Dr. Pinkley isn’t doing too well. He tripped over a chair near one of the gurneys, turned around, and kicked the chair lightly. Dr. Linx soon noticed how Dr. Pinkley was acting ever since Dr. Grea got sent home. Dr. Linx then said to one of the staff, “What’s going on with Dr. Pinkley? He doesn’t look happy at all.” The nurse said to him, “Who knows? Dr. Pinkley is a very strange, but a real good doctor.” Jokingly, Dr. Linx said to the nurse, “Yeah, right. To me, he’s just plain strange, period. End of conversation.” Out of the blue, Dr. Pinkley went over to Dr. Eighteen, trying once again to strike up a conversation. Dr. Eighteen had just finished tending to a patient. Upon turning around to leave the patient, Dr. Pinkley was standing in his path. Dr. Eighteen walked right around him “You wanted to talk to me, right?” Dr. Pinkley turned around, started walking with Dr. Eighteen, “It doesn’t feel the same without Dr. Gillium, you know. I tried to come to work every day and try not to think about her, but I can’t help it.” Dr. Eighteen saw an opportunity to

find out what Dr. Pinkley was up to. “You know, Dr. Pinkley, we all here feel the same way. And I’m confident that she’ll make a full complete recovery. Everyone wants to know what happened to her.” Dr. Pinkley, trying to hide his anger and disgust at what Dr. Eighteen just said to him, said, “You know I feel the same way. I, for one definitely want to know what happened… I’m dying to know.” Dr. Eighteen said to him, “I’m glad we had this talk. , keep your head up. When Dr. Gillium gets back, we plan on giving her a welcome back party.” Dr. Pinkley, pretending to be happy, “I’ll be there.” He then turned around and walked back over to his area, mumbling under his breath, “Not if I can help it.”

0345 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was eating his lunch at the cafeteria, but he couldn’t stop thinking. What if Dr. Pinkley tries to kill Dr. Gillium because she knows too much? “Snap out of it,” he mumbled to himself. Dr. Pinkley isn’t crazy, or is he? Continuing to eat his lunch, Dr. Eighteen decided to watch the news. Once again he heard and watched the news as they report that a multibillionaire’s son was missing. Just like the last time, the news anchor said the multibillionaire remained to keep his or her identity a secret. He finished his lunch, got up from the table, threw away his trash, and left the cafeteria. He ran into Dr. Blythe. “Hello, Dr. Eighteen, is everything all right?” “Yes, Dr. Blythe. I’m feeling pretty good. See you back in the emergency room.” While continuing on his way to the emergency room, it hit him like a ton of bricks. He stopped in his tracks and mumbled, “Oh my god!” He took off in a sprint to the cafeteria to find Dr. Blythe. Once back at the cafeteria, Dr. Eighteen bent over at the waist to catch his breath before going inside the cafeteria. Finally, he entered the cafeteria only to find Dr. Pinkley eating lunch with Dr. Blythe. Dr. Eighteen turned around and left, hoping that Dr. Pinkley didn’t see him. He would be wrong. Dr. Pinkley did see him leave. Dr. Eighteen walked down the hall from the cafeteria and caught the elevator. Two other hospital staff were on the elevator. Dr. Eighteen breathed a sigh of relief until

someone stuck his foot in the elevator. The elevator door immediately opened, and in came Dr. Pinkley, who was looking at him with anger and resentment. The two other hospital staff were talking among themselves. Dr. Eighteen tried not to look at Dr. Pinkley; he ignored him. Once the elevator got to their floor, Dr. Eighteen ed he set the lunch break alarm on his cell phone to let him know his break was over. Just as Dr. Eighteen stepped off the elevator with Dr. Pinkley behind him, the alarm on his cell phone went off. Dr. Eighteen silenced the alarm but pretended that there was a call and started talking. Dr. Pinkley then walked right past him, bumping into him very hard. He got his coat and let himself into the emergency room. The door shut behind him. Dr. Eighteen breathed a sigh of relief.

0630 Hours:

Everyone was working hard in the emergency room when Dr. Blythe waited till the last patient was taken care of and released. “Attention! Attention, everyone! As you all know, our Dr. Lanely Gillium is fighting for her life. If anyone wants to go and visit her, please do so on your lunch break or on your day off. I’m pretty sure it’ll mean a lot to her and her family. Now here at the nurses’ desk, we have a huge get-well card. It’ll mean a lot to me and her as well if everyone would sign it. I know some of you, if not all of you, would want to write something on the card. All I ask is that you keep it a short and sincere. Thank you.” Dr. Eighteen was watching everybody go up and take turns in g Dr. Lanely Gillium’s get-well card. Watching him was Dr. Pinkley, who also went over and signed Dr. Gillium’s get-well card. Dr. Linx had also signed her card along with those of the other doctors and nurses. Dr. Eighteen then went back to tending to his patients as well as everybody else, including Dr. Pinkley.

2230 Hours:

The next night into his shift, Dr. Eighteen felt relieved. He didn’t see Dr. Pinkley

for a change. The night went smoothly; everyone was in a good mood, including Dr. Blythe. He was smiling more, interacting with patients a little bit more than he usually does. Dr. Linx was talking to the parents of one his patients; they were all smiling. So Dr. Eighteen went over to the nurses’ station to finish up his notations on some of his patients charts. The emergency room wasn’t as busy, so he took the opportunity to catch up on some of his paperwork when he overheard one of the nurses talking about Dr. Pinkley. Shocked by what he heard, he interrupted the nurses’ conversation by asking them, “Are you, ladies, sure that Dr. Pinkley said he was going to pay Dr. Gillium a visit?” One of the nurses said to him, “Yes, that is correct. He plans on taking her some flowers and a huge teddy bear. I think it’s sweet of him.” Dr. Eighteen, pretending to be happy, asked the nurse, “Wow! How do you know that?” The nurse then said to him, “While in the cafeteria, one of her friends overheard Dr. Pinkley telling Dr. Blythe.” Dr. Eighteen looked at the nurse “Oh, that is nice of him.” He then returned to his area as patients were starting to come in for treatment. Dr. Linx on the other hand was still all smiles tending to his patients. Dr. Eighteen only wished that he could be as happy as Dr. Linx and Dr. Blythe. Lost and alone in his thoughts, Dr. Eighteen continued on throughout the night, tending to his patients, trying to put on a happy, brave face. Dr. Blythe went over to Dr. Eighteen “Can I speak with you for a moment?” Dr. Eighteen followed Dr. Blythe over to a secluded part of the emergency room. “I just want you to know that what you did took a lot of heart. Maybe now with everything out in the open, things will get back to normal.” Dr. Eighteen knew in his heart things will never be normal for him. Only a part of him hoped that Dr. Blythe was right, “Thank you, Dr. Blythe, sir.” Dr. Blythe patted him on the shoulder and said to him, “Enjoy the rest of your shift, Dr. Eighteen.” He then walked away, making his rounds. Dr. Eighteen just stood there wondering if Dr. Pinkley really was sincere about bringing Dr. Lanely Gillium roses and a big teddy bear.

0245 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen headed to the elevator. He thought to himself, It’s my break I’ll go up and see Dr. Lanely Gillium. In the meantime, up in the ICU department, Dr. Skip Gillium got an emergency

call from his wife. He stepped out of his daughter’s room to take the call. The nurses instructed him to go down to the lobby and outside to take the call. Just before he left, Dr. Skip Gillium said to the nurse, “Please me if her prognosis changes.” The nurse assured him that she will; he then headed for the elevators. Once the elevator stopped at the ICU floor, Dr. Skip Gillium got on it heading down to the lobby. Getting off the elevator in the lobby, Dr. Skip Gillium was busy talking to his wife. Dr. Pinkley ed him on the way heading to the elevators with a green backpack. By this time, Dr. Eighteen was still waiting for the elevator getting impatient. Finally, one arrived. He got on it thinking he’s by himself only to turn around and see Dr. Pinkley on it. Surprised, Dr. Eighteen said to him, “I’m going up to see Dr. Gillium. I heard her father is here with her.” Now at this point, Dr. Eighteen knew and felt that Dr. Pinkley has come here to do Dr. Lanely Gillium some bodily harm because she knew too much about him. Dr. Pinkley totally ignored Dr. Eighteen as he put on a clown wig, red nose, and shades. Dr. Eighteen breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself, Maybe I got this guy all wrong. He wouldn’t dare try anything. We’ve got way too many security, police, and hospital staff. I’m tripping. Right at that moment, one floor before the ICU, Dr. Eighteen dropped to the floor of the elevator knocked out cold. The elevator stopped at the ICU floor. Dr. Pinkley got off the elevator—alone.

February 19, 2011

1430 Hours:

Chapter 5

Murder

Consumed with anger, frustration, and desperation, Dr. Pinkley disguised himself as a clown. Walking quickly past the nurses’ station in the ICU, he continued on his way until he reached Dr. Lanely Gillium’s room. The nurses called out to him to stop, but Dr. Pinkley ignored them. Once he got to where he thought she would be, she wasn’t there. Soon one of the nurses caught up with Dr. Pinkley. “Excuse me, sir, but can I help you?” Trying to come up with an excuse, “I’m a singing get-well telegram for one of the patients here in the ICU.” The nurse then said to him, “I’m sorry, sir, but you must check in with us at the desk first.” Starting to get nervous, “I wasn’t aware that you had to check in.” The nurse became somewhat suspicious “Well, who is the singing get-well telegram for?” Dr. Pinkley said to her, “I’ll come back some other time.” All of a sudden, the nurse heard the call for code blue. The nurse told Dr. Pinkley to come with her. As they made their way back to the nurses’ station, Dr. Pinkley began to panic looking for a way to escape. He soon found the guts as the nurse turned the corner of the hallway leading to the nurses’ station. Dr. Pinkley saw a stairwell made a mad dash out into the stairwell. Before the nurse realized what happened, Dr. Pinkley was gone. The nurse then rushed to the code blue stat call. In the meantime, Dr. Eighteen remained knocked out inside the elevator. The elevator continued its descent back to the lobby. Unfortunately for Dr. Eighteen, no one got on the elevator. Slowly the elevator stopped at the main lobby. A gentleman stepped into the elevator. Dr. Eighteen started to wake up. He can feel someone touching him. Slowly he awoke to a tugging at his arms. Soon he heard, “Are you all right?” Trying to stand up, Dr. Eighteen slipped and fell on his butt. The gentleman helped Dr. Eighteen to his feet “You’ve got a real nasty bump on the side of your face. You should get yourself looked at.” Dr. Eighteen was trying to what happened to him. “I’ll be all right. I’m a doctor here at the emergency room. I was on my way up to the ICU to see Dr. Gillium.” “Who, Dr. Lanely Gillium?” with a surprised look on his face. Dr. Eighteen said,

“Wow, how do you know Dr. Lanely Gillium?” “I’m her father.” Then it hit Dr. Eighteen like a lightning bolt. “Sir, we’ve got to get up to the ICU as soon as possible.” Dr. Skip Gillium, looking confused, “Why, what do you mean? What are you talking about?” Wiping the blood from the side of his face, “Sir, I’ll explain to you everything you need to know.” By this time, Dr. Pinkley in the clown disguise made his way down the final stairwell to an exit that led him to the main lobby. He tried to walk in a calm and slow manner until he came across this lady in the lobby with her son. “Mommy! Mommy!” yelled the little boy to his mother. “A clown! Look, Mom… see?” The lady and her son approached Dr. Pinkley. “I’m sorry, but my son loves clowns.” The little boy said to Dr. Pinkley, “Do you have any balloons? I want you to make me an elephant out of balloons.” Dr. Pinkley began to look around the main lobby for a way to escape. He saw three security officers run toward him. Dr. Pinkley got “Sorry, I’m all out of balloons, but I got something else for you.” In a split second Dr. Pinkley was about to pull out the gun he had on him when the three security officers ran right past him. Breathing a sigh of relief, Dr. Pinkley took his hand off the gun concealed in his coat. Still in a jerking motion, he pulled out a five-dollar bill and gave it to the little boy. Happy and surprised, the little boy said, “Geez, thanks, Mister Clown.” Walking away from the little boy and his mother, Dr. Pinkley said to him, “You’re welcome,” and disappeared out into the night air. Angry and upset, Dr. Pinkley was out to the bus stop to catch the bus. Sitting on the bus, Dr. Pinkley removed the clown nose while looking back at the hospital. Thinking to himself, Now what am I going to do? Meanwhile, Dr. Eighteen and Dr. Skip Gillium arrived at the ICU floor. Both doctors made a mad dash for Dr. Gillium’s room, only to be met by two uniformed police officers. One police officer tried to stop Dr. Skip Gillium from getting to his daughter. Dr. Eighteen explained to the other police officer he’s the patient’s dad. Dr. Skip Gillium ran past the officer who was trying to stop him and got inside his daughter’s room, breathing a sigh of relief to see his daughter hasn’t been harmed. Both police officers and Dr. Eighteen went into Dr. Gillium’s room. Dr. Skip Gillium turned to Dr. Eighteen “You’ve got something you want to tell me.” Dr. Eighteen took Dr. Skip Gillium and both police officers out into the hallway. Looking at Dr. Skip Gillium and the police officers, “I think Dr. Fanely Gillium is in danger.” Confused, Dr. Skip Gillium That’s crazy, Dr. Eighteen.” The two police officers agreed with Dr. Skip Gillium. Dr. Eighteen said to them, “Trust me, Dr. Lanely Gillium is in danger. We need to guard her more.” One of the police officers said to him, “We haven’t seen anyone come within a yard of her. We’ve been sitting here all day and all night. We haven’t seen anyone.” Dr. Skip Gillium said to Dr. Eighteen, “If you know something, then you better start talking now!” Dr.

Eighteen, in a panic and nervous voice, “I was on my way up to see Dr. Lanely Gillium when I ran into Dr. Pinkley on the elevator. He was putting on a red nose. Before I knew it, everything went black.” Dr. Skip Gillium said to Dr. Eighteen, “That doesn’t make any sense—” Dr. Eighteen interrupted Dr. Skip Gillium, “Sir, I’m trying to tell you Dr. Pinkley took your daughter out on a date, and he raped her.” With a look of shock and disbelief, Dr. Skip Gillium “Are you telling me that this man was trying to get to my daughter and raped her!” In a low hurtful voice, Dr. Eighteen said to him, “Y-yes.” One of the police officers went to the nurses’ station. Once he got there, three nurses were working. “Excuse me,” said the police officer, “Did anyone of you see a man wearing a red clown nose?” One of the nurses said to him, “Yes, as a matter of fact, he was dressed in a clown suit.” The police officer said to her, “Did he say who he was looking for?” “All he said to me was that he was a singing get-well telegram for one of the intensive care patients.” “Thank you. Oh, by the way, where did he go?” The nurse told him, “He ran out into the stairwell exit. I don’t know which way he went.” “Thank you,” said the police officer. He then returned to Dr. Skip Gillium, Dr. Eighteen, and his partner. Upset, Dr. Skip Gillium said to the police officers, “I want that guy’s head on a platter, you hear me? A platter!” Both police officers tried to calm down Dr. Skip Gillium down. Hearing all of the commotion, one of the nurses came over to Dr. Skip Gillium and calmed him down, while the police officer who checked with the nurses told him, “Sir, Dr. Eighteen was right. One of the nurses at the nurses’ station confirmed everything. We didn’t see him; the nurse said he ran out into the stairwell. Don’t worry, we’ll put out an all-points bulletin on him right now. He won’t get far.” Looking at his watch, Dr. Eighteen realized that he has to get back to the emergency room. He walked over to Dr. Skip Gillium “Sir, if you need me for anything else, I’ll be down in the emergency room. I’ve gotta get back.” Dr. Skip Gillium shook his hand and told him, “Thank you, son. Please get that bump looked at.” Dr. Eighteen said to him, “Thank you, sir.” He then headed to the elevator.

0345 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen made his way into the emergency room slowly, starting to feel light-headed again. He staggered in when one of the nurses saw him and yelled

out, “Oh my god.” She quickly grabbed a gurney, “Dr. Eighteen has been hit!” Dr. Blythe saw Dr. Eighteen and rushed over to help him. Concerned, “Oh my, what happened to you, Dr. Eighteen?” While lying down on the gurney, he looked up at Dr. Blythe “It was he…” then ed out. All of the doctors and nurses scrambled to stabilize Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Blythe, puzzled by what happened to Dr. Eighteen, headed back to his office. The nurses and even Dr. Linx were all scratching their heads about what happened to Dr. Eighteen. Things went back to normal in the emergency room. Doctors and nurses were tending to their patients. Finished with his last patient, Dr. Linx decided to go to the restroom. He saw Dr. Blythe talking to two board . One of them was very upset and yelled at Dr. Blythe, “Take care of it, you hear me? Take care of it!” He then stormed off. Dr. Blythe told the other board member, “He’ll do all he can.” The other board member yelled at him also “You better pray that Dr. Lanely Gillium pulls through. I want Dr. Pinkley on istrative leave without pay as soon as possible,” he then stormed off in Dr. Linx’s direction. Dr. Linx quickly went into the bathroom and closed the door shut. The board member walked past the bathroom talking to himself, saying, “Dr. Pinkley will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for raping Dr. Lanely Gillium if I have anything to do with it.” Dr. Linx, shocked by what he just heard, sat down on the bathroom floor in silence and disbelief. After sitting on the bathroom floor for twenty minutes, Dr. Linx lifted himself up off the bathroom floor, looked himself at the mirror, washed his hand in a fit of anger, punched a hole in the bathroom wall, swung open the bathroom door, and walked out. He headed back to the emergency room. Following him was Dr. Blythe also heading back to the emergency room. Both doctors entered the emergency room. Dr. Blythe stopped by the nurses’ station. Dr. Linx went back to tending to the patients with a heavy heart. While at the nurses’ station, Dr. Blythe was approached by two police officers. “Excuse me,” said one officer, “are you Dr. Blythe?” Looking somewhat puzzled, he said to the police officer, “Yes, I’m Dr. Blythe. How can I help you?” Both police officers and Dr. Blythe went out into the hallway. At that moment, Dr. Blythe saw detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal coming toward them. One of the police officers told Dr. Blythe that they’ve got a serious problem. “It seems that one of the doctors that work here came in disguised as a clown, trying to get to Dr. Lanely Gillium.” Dr. Blythe, at this point, was concerned “Well, can you tell me which doctor it was?” Both police officers, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal all looked at each other. Breaking their silence, Det. Kent Ruley told him, “We believe it was Dr. Bruce Pinkley, sir.” At that moment, they all headed up to the ICU.

0355 Hours:

Dr. Blythe, the detectives, and police officers arrived at Dr. Lanely Gillium’s ICU room which was guarded by two police officers. Dr. Blythe saw that Dr. Skip Gillium was very upset and was on the edge. He approached Dr. Blythe. They both went out into the hallway. In a low tone, angry-filled voice, Dr. Skip Gillium said to Dr. Blythe, “I want Dr. Bruce Pinkley brought up on charges, you hear me?” Pointing at his daughter, “Look! Look at my baby!” Dr. Blythe tried to reason with Dr. Skip Gillium, but he wasn’t hearing any part of it. Soon detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal ed them in the hallway. Det. Kent Ruley, who just got done interviewing the police officers who were protecting Dr. Lanely Gillium, said to her father, “We know this a hard time for you right now. You have to stay strong for your daughter. She needs you more now than ever.” Dr. Skip Gillium calmed down “I’m sorry… I just want justice for my daughter. She’s a good kid.” Reassuring him, Det. Kent Ruley said to him, “Trust us, we’ll get him.” Dr. Skip Gillium looked at “Good,” then walked back inside his daughter’s room and sat at her bedside. Detectives Kent Ruley, Jessie Skoal and Dr. Blythe all headed to the elevators. Det. Jessie Skoal said to Dr. Blythe, “It would be best if you put Dr. Bruce Pinkley on leave as soon as possible.” Dr. Blythe agreed with her “He lied about everything.” Det. Kent Ruley said to him, “All he’s done is given us the evidence we need.” Dr. Blythe then said to the detectives, “Good.” As they got in the elevator, “I hope Dr. Eighteen is all right. He came back from lunch bleeding from the head and face.” Both detectives looked at each other as the elevator doors closed. Once Dr. Blythe and the detectives made their way to the emergency room, to their surprise, Dr. Eighteen was conscious. Dr. Blythe and the detectives went over to talk to him noticing the big bump and black eye that Dr. Eighteen had sustained. Det. Kent Ruley said to him, “Wow, that’s a nasty combination you got there.” Dr. Eighteen, grimacing in pain, “Yeah, tell me about it.” Det. Jessie Skoal said to him, “Dr. Eighteen, I know you’re in a lot of pain, but can you tell us what happened to you?” Sitting himself upright in the bed, Dr. Eighteen “I was on my lunch break, so I decided to go up to the ICU to visit Dr. Lanely Gillium when I ran into Dr. Bruce Pinkley on the elevator. He had a red clown nose on. His demeanor was sort of calm. I told him I was going up to visit Dr. Fanely Gillium.

That’s the last thing I .” Det. Kent Ruley asked him, “Are you sure it was Dr. Bruce Pinkley you saw?” Dr. Eighteen looked at him “Yes, it was him. I’m sure of it. One hundred and ten percent sure.” Dr. Blythe said to Dr. Eighteen, “Good.” He then turned to the detectives. “Please, he needs his rest.” Both detectives agreed with Dr. Blythe and left.

0700 Hours:

Dr. Blythe called Dr. Bruce Pinkley to inform him that he was placed on istrative leave without pay while an investigation was being conducted into Dr. Lanely Gillium’s injuries. To his surprise, Dr. Blythe left the message on Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s answering machine. Concerned, Dr. Blythe had his hands full—first, with Dr. Samantha Grea, now Dr. Bruce Pinkley. He knew these decisions had to be made. Even though Dr. Grea and Dr. Blythe were good friends, he couldn’t help but wonder what was she doing. Well, Dr. Grea continued her relentless investigation into Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Mikey Eighteen, hoping to find a connection between the two. Dr. Grea was out for blood at this point. She felt like she’s got nothing to lose. Meanwhile, Dr. Bruce Pinkley was out and about doing his regular off-day routine. He wasn’t aware that he was being followed by Dr. Charlie Linx. Everywhere Dr. Pinkley went, Dr. Linx wasn’t too far behind filled with rage and anger. Dr. Linx wanted so bad to jump out of his truck to follow Dr. Pinkley inside the fitness club, walk up to him, and shoot him point-blank between the eyes, but he didn’t. He kept his distance. Fearing he was being followed himself, Dr. Linx drove off disappearing into the flow of traffic. While inside the fitness club, Dr. Pinkley decided to check his messages. Immediately after hearing Dr. Blythe’s voice mail, he sat down on the floor of the men’s locker room. Freaked out, Dr. Pinkley went out into the fitness club floor, walked over to the free weights, and began to work out like a man obsessed. Onlookers in the fitness club watched Dr. Pinkley with shock and amazement. One guy walked over to Dr. Pinkley and offered for. Dr. Pinkley looked at the guy with his eyes wide like a mad man and told the guy to walk away. He sure complied, shaking his head as he walked away from Dr. Pinkley, saying to himself that that guy is going to kill himself. Dr. Pinkley got up, grabbed his workout gym bag, stormed out of the fitness club. Sitting in his truck, Dr. Pinkley broke down. He started crying, saying to

himself, What have I done, what have I done my life is ruined. He then started up his truck and sped out of the fitness club parking lot into traffic heading home. With thoughts running through his head, he knew it was a matter of time before the police would come to his home. Right at that very moment, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal were in court trying to get Judge Riley Linx to sign a search warrant for Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s home. Concerned, Judge Riley Linx said to the detectives, “I’ll sign this search warrant, but let me be clear. I hope you’re right about this.” Stunned, Det. Jessie Skoal said to the judge, “Your Honor, we’re one hundred and ten percent right. I know this is on short notice, but we’ve got witnesses who saw Dr. Bruce Pinkley at the hospital on his day off disguised as a clown. He was trying to gain access to Dr. Lanely Gillium’s ICU room, we suspect he was out to do her bodily harm.” Judge Riley Linx, looking at the evidence presented to him by the detectives, “Fair enough.” He then signed the search warrant. Both detectives thanked Judge Riley Linx left the courtroom with the signed search warrant in hand. Det. Kent Ruley said to Det. Jessie Skoal, “Good job, partner,” as they left the courthouse heading to their unmarked police Cruiser. Meanwhile, Dr. Grea continued her investigation of Nikolai Eighteen and how he could be related to Dr. Mikey Eighteen. She hired an undercover, a shady detective who Dr. Grea decided to meet in a public place. She met with him at McDonald’s. The undercover detective filled her in on the information he found out about the possible connection between Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Mikey Eighteen. “Give me some good news,” said Dr. Grea to the undercover detective. He looked at her “I’ve got nothing right now, but I’m still working on three other leads.” Dr. Grea looked at him in disgust “That’s not acceptable! Do your job or I’ll find someone to replace you.” The undercover investigator is too to soft play hard ball you got it. “Yes, ma’am, consider the job going up a notch.” Looking at his crew, the investigator yelled to his fellow investigator, “Let’s go get some.”

Dr. Linx continued to follow Dr. Pinkley wherever Dr. Pinkley went. Dr. Linx was like his shadow. Strange enough, Dr. Pinkley somehow knew someone was following him. He first didn’t know who it was. For days and nights, these guys played auto checkers. One trying to outthink the other one. Finally tired, Dr. Linx started to call off his pursuit until Dr. Pinkley pulled into a high—rise parking structure. Suspicious and pumped up, Dr. Linx parked he wanted to see what Dr. Pinkley would do next. He made sure to parked where he couldn’t be

seen and settled in for the night.

Tuesday

0630 Hours:

Dr. Linx while in his truck was awakened by flashing red and blue strobe lights. Police officers were everywhere. The building that Dr. Bruce Pinkley was in was taped off. Confused, he stumbled out of his truck to see what’s causing all of the commotion that early in the morning. Inside Dr. Pinkley’s penthouse suite, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal found Dr. Pinkley’s half-naked body face down in his Jacuzzi while their forensic team collected evidence. Det. Jessie Skoal looked at Dr. Pinkley’s fingernails “He really put up a fight, but there are no signs of forced entry.” “I agree,” said Det. Kent Ruley then walked over to the head forensic specialist. “I want this place dusted for fingerprints and phone records. Find out if he had any roommates or visitors from three weeks ago up to now!” Det. Jessie Skoal walked over to him “There’s something odd about this young doctor’s death.” “I agree,” said Det. Kent Ruley.

1300 Hours:

Back at the hospital, Dr. Skip Gillium was still on the edge about his daughter’s safety. He walked out into the hallway, started talking to the officers, trying to get some kind of positive energy. At that moment, Dr. Skip Gillium saw Dr. Blythe heading toward him, trying to keep his composure. He made a sensitive joke at Dr. Blythe, “Hey, Dr. Blythe, wouldn’t it be nice if let’s say your wife and

my daughter were ICU roommates?” Ignoring the sensitive remark, Dr. Blythe said to Dr. Skip Gillium, “We still don’t know Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s whereabouts.” No longer able to hold off his anger inside, Dr. Skip Gillium snapped on Dr. Blythe and lunged at him full of rage, yelling, “How could you let this happen to my child, you son of a bitch? I want him found now, you hear me! Now, not tomorrow, but right now!” The police officers tried desperately to separate Dr. Skip Gillium’s choke grip on Dr. Blythe, who was struggling to free himself from Dr. Skip Gillium’s hold on his throat. Meanwhile, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal decided to go back to the hospital to talk to the security department’s supervisor. Upon entering the hospital command center, both detectives saw three dispatchers and four CCTV security officers monitoring cameras all over the hospital campus. The hospital security supervisor took the detectives to his office. Once inside, Det. Kent Ruley broke the news to the security supervisor who flopped down in his chair behind his desk with his head down with a look of disbelief on his face. Approaching the security supervisor, Det. Jessie Skoal in a soft-spoken voice “We need your help. We need the date stamp and time stamp along with live feed from Dr. Lanely Gillium’s accident. Also, any video footage of anybody in the parking garage before, during, and after Dr. Lanely Gillium’s accident in the area.” Looking up at Det. Jessie Skoal, the hospital security supervisor said, “We’ll take care of it as soon as possible.” The supervisor took both detectives to the command center. He then instructed his officers monitoring the cameras to pull up all the video recording from Dr. Lanely Gillium’s accident inside the parking garage. As detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal viewed the footage, they saw security officers during their regular rover patrol. “Freeze the tape! Stop!” yelled Det. Jessie Skoal. “Rewind the tape.” The security officer stopped the tape. Looking at her partner, Det. Kent Ruley “Did you see that? It looked like Dr. Bruce Pinkley all dressed in black, hiding.” Det. Kent Ruley instructed the security officer to zoom in for a closer look, and sure enough, it was Dr. Pinkley. “Okay, continue.” The security officer continued showing the video footage. When they saw Dr. Lanely Gillium appear and was confronted by Dr. Pinkley, everyone watched the video in shock and horror as Dr. Lanely Gillium struggled to get away from Dr. Pinkley. They watched as she flee from him and started running. Out of the blue, Dr. Samantha Grea’s car appeared. Det. Kent Ruley instructed the security to zoom in on Dr. Grea’s car. They noticed that she was distracted by something when out of the blue she hit Dr. Gillium at full force.

The detectives also saw Dr. Pinkley run back to the parking garage and disappeared. The video tape footage of the accident ended. Both detectives looked at each other and then at the hospital security supervisor, then “Thank you for your cooperation. We may be ing you again.” “Sure, if there’s anything you need, I’ll be here,” replied the hospital security supervisor. Both detectives left. Det. Jessie Skoal said to Det. Kent Ruley, “With Dr. Pinkley deceased, we need to go pay Dr. Blythe a visit.” “I totally agree.”

Meanwhile, after Dr. Eighteen was released, Dr. Blythe gave him a few days off to recover from the brutal attack he sustained at the hands of Dr. Pinkley. Heading to the parking garage, he saw detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal heading to the elevator. They didn’t see him, so he continued on his way to his vehicle. Once inside his car, he gathered himself, trying to put the key into his ignition. He fumbles his keys they fell to the floorboard. He bent over and down to pick them up when a green sedan slowly ed by him and disappeared down the ramp and out of the garage. Finally, he grabbed his keys off the floorboard, started up his car, and took off out of the parking garage, not realizing that he’s being followed from a distance by the green sedan that was inside the parking garage back at the hospital.

1530 Hours:

Dr. Mikey Eighteen finally made it home, pulling into his driveway. Feeling that he’s being followed, he looked in both directions down his street—only to see nothing. Not even one single car, only his own car parked in his driveway. He made his way inside his home; he went to the family den and turned on his television. Headed into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water to take with his pain medication. When he returned to the den, he picked up the remote and began changing channels until he came across the news. The police was baffled about the mysterious death of a medical intern found dead inside his penthouse

flat. The police were asking anyone who had seen or heard anything to please call their toll-free phone line. “Dr. Bruce Pinkley was a very good person,” said his friends and family. Natalie Snow reporting live for WBAC. Numb and shocked from watching the breaking news report on the death of Dr. Pinkley. Dr. Eighteen began to panic. He called Dr. Blythe at the hospital only to get his voice mail. Sitting on his couch rocking backward and forward, “What the hell is going on?” He got up walked over to the front window facing the street. There it was, the green sedan that’s been following him all day. Not knowing what to think of it, he went to his kitchen to make a sandwich.

2400 Hours:

Back at the hospital up on the ICU floor, both Dr. Skip and Dr. Blythe were finally separated when the nurses and the head ICU doctor on shift pushed past them into Dr. Lanely Gillium’s room. Followed by Dr. Skip Gillium and Dr. Blythe, they rushed to her bedside. Slowly, Dr. Lanely Gillium opened her eyes, looked around the room with blurred vision. She whispered, “Dad, Dad…” “I’m here, sweetie,” he replied, “I’m here.” The doctors and nurses were working on Dr. Lanely Gillium while he looked on, his eyes full of tears. After making an assessment of Dr. Lanely Gillium, the head doctor took Dr. Skip Gillium out into the hallway. “Dr. Gillium,” “your daughter is going to be all right. She’s going to need a lot of physical therapy. She’s got a long way to go, but she’ll be just fine.” Overcome with joy and happiness, Dr. Skip Gillium gave the doctor a hug. “Thank you, thank you very much,” he said to the doctor returned to his daughter’s bedside and held her hand. Out in the hallway, Dr. Blythe was talking to the ICU doctor treating Dr. Lanely Gillium when detectives Jessie Skoal and Kent Ruley came off the elevator saw Dr. Blythe talking to another doctor. The detectives approached them. “Excuse me, Dr. Blythe,” said Det. Kent Ruley. “Can we speak to you?” Baffled and confused. Dr. Blythe agreed. The other doctor told Dr. Blythe, “We’ll keep you informed on Dr. Lanely Gillium’s progress,” and walked away. Dr. Blythe and the detectives headed for the elevator. Curious, “Did you guys find out the whereabouts of Dr. Pinkley? I left him a voice mail. Normally he’d call back.”

“Well, that’s just it,” said Det. Jessie Skoal. “He won’t be returning anyone’s calls anymore.” Looking at the detective, confused, Dr. Blythe said to her, “I don’t understand.” “Well, what my partner here is trying to tell you is that we found Dr. Bruce Pinkley dead in his penthouse flat the other night.” Ring sounded the elevator doors as they opened. Dr. Blythe, still shocked to hear the news, stepped inside the elevator along with the detectives as they head down. “Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that Dr. Bruce Pinkley is dead,” said Dr. Blythe. “That is correct,” said Det. Jessie Skoal. The elevator stopped, and they get off just outside the emergency room, they headed to Dr. Blythe’s office. “This is very bad news,” said Dr. Blythe to the detectives. “That kid had promise.” “Well, Dr. Blythe, there’s more,” said Det. Kent Ruley. Arriving at Dr. Blythe’s office, he opened the door, and all three of them went inside his office. He closed the door behind them, “What do you mean ‘there’s more’?” said Dr. Blythe as all three of them sat down. “We came back to the hospital to talk with the head security supervisor,” said Det. Jessie Skoal. “We viewed the tapes from the day Dr. Lanely Gillium got hurt. She had a physical confrontation with Dr. Bruce Pinkley in the parking garage just before she got hit by Dr. Samantha Grea, who appeared to be distracted inside her vehicle.” Leaning back in his chair, Dr. Blythe took a deep breath—speechless. Det. Kent Ruley leaned forward in his chair “We’re sorry we couldn’t find Dr. Pinkley in time. His family has been notified. Now, on the other hand, you have a father up in ICU with his daughter. We’ve got to go and talk to him. If I were in your shoes, I’d put Dr. Grea on paid leave or nonpaid leave. He is going to want her head on a platter. Either way, I think he’s not going to be a happy camper.” Both detectives got up out of their chairs and headed for the door. Just as they’re about to leave, Dr. Blythe asked them, “How did you guys find out about Dr. Pinkley’s death? Who told you?” In a deep, dark voice, Det. Kent Ruley said, “That’s police business. We’ve told you all you need to know. Now, have a good night,” and closed the door behind him. He and Det. Jessie Skoal headed up to the ICU once again, this time to tell Dr. Skip Gillium the truth about what happened to his daughter. Back inside Dr. Blythe’s office, he made a phone call to his boss who in turn told him to terminate Dr. Grea.

2445 Hours:

Det. Jessie Skoal and Kent Ruley arrived back up on the ICU floor, making their way to Dr. Lanely Gillium’s room. Once there, Detective Skoal started a conversation with the police officers on duty to protect the doctor. Detective Ruley entered Dr. Lanely Gillium’s room where he found her father holding her hand while she slept. In a whispering voice, “Excuse me, can I speak to you outside in the hallway?” Still in a happy mood, Dr. Skip Gillium agreed. Before leaving his daughter’s bedside, he kissed her on the forehead and followed Detective Ruley out into the hallway where they’re accompanied by Detective Skoal. “Please tell me you’ve found him,” said Dr. Gillium “I want to press charges this guy almost killed my kid. Thank god the doctors said she’s going to be okay.” “Well, sir, we’ve found Dr. Bruce Pinkley,” said Det. Kent Ruley “but he’s dead.” Stunned and taken back by the news, Dr. Skip Gillium said to him, “Dead—what do you mean he’s dead? He got off too easy.” “Hold on, Dr. Gillium,” said Detective Ruley. “Apparently, Dr. Pinkley was waiting for your daughter in the parking garage on the day she got hurt. There was a physical confrontation between the two of them, your daughter got away from him only to get hit by a fellow co-worker, who was not paying attention when she hit her.” “Well, who is she, what’s her name?” “Her name is Dr. Samantha Grea.” “So you’re telling me she’s the reason that my daughter is lying in ICU and not Dr. Bruce Pinkley.” “Sir,” said Detective Skoal, “we’re only telling you what we’ve got and found out so far.” “Look I need to get back to my daughter,” said Dr. Gillium walked past the detectives back into his daughter’s room. Sits back down beside her holding her hand, both detectives Skoal and Ruley informed the police officers protecting Dr. Lanely Gillium to make sure no one gets inside the doctor’s room other than the family and staff. They both headed for the elevator. Time went by as Dr. Lanely Gillium began to slowly gain full consciousness as her father was still by her side. In a low whispering voice looking over at her dad, told him to go home, get some rest and check on her mom. Agreeing with her he gave her a kiss on the forehead and left, just before he left, he told the police officers guarding his daughter to keep her safe. They assured him she’s in good hands, blew his daughter a kiss and headed for the elevators.

For a moment, he started to wonder why his daughter got hit and who was Dr. Samantha Grea. As he got into the elevator at that very moment, Dr. Blythe called Dr. Grea and informed her that her services are no longer needed at the hospital. Not happy with the news slammed her phone against the wall, hanging up on Dr. Blythe. “This is not over by a long shot,” she yelled out to the top of her lungs. Meanwhile, Judge Ruley Linx was receiving death threats over the death of Dr. Bruce Pinkley. He had to hire armed bodyguards for his protection, called his son Dr. Charlie Linx, to warn him to be careful when he’s out and about town. Scared for his father’s safety, reached out to Det. Jessie Skoal and Kent Ruley, who in turn invited Dr. Linx down to the police station for a face-toface meeting about the death threats made against his father’s life. Dr. Linx was hesitant at first but agreed to meet them at the police station.

1000 Hours:

Detectives Ruley and Skoal awaited the arrival of Dr. Charlie Linx to go over their plan and answer any questions he might have for them. When they heard a knock on their door, “Come in!” yelled Detective Ruley, in walked Dr. Linx, who looked upset and shaken. “Have a seat,” said Detective Skoal, “How can we help you?” “Well, I’m concerned about my dad’s safety, he’s been getting death threats left and right ever since Dr. Pinkley was killed. Is there any way you guys can help out here?” “We’ll look into it.” Noticing Dr. Linx’s right hand has cuts on his knuckles, Detective Skoal asked, “What happened to your hand?” “Oh, I was doing some work around the house I cut my hand in the backyard but I’m all right… Well, I’ve got to get going. Please help my father and find out who’s behind the death threats.” “We’ll do what we can, we’ll let you know when we receive any leads.” Just before Dr. Linx left their office, Detective Ruley said to him, “Oh, by the

way… Do you happen to know that Dr. Grea hit Dr. Lanely Gillium in the parking garage, that’s the reason why Dr. Lanely Gillium ended up in the ICU? One more thing… how did you find out about Dr. Pinkley’s death?” Dr. Linx slowly turned facing the detectives “I saw it on the news!” He stormed out of their office. Detective Ruley looked at Detective Skoal with a big smile on his face “He didn’t seem to be too happy about that last question.” In spotted Detective Skoal said, “Why should he be?”

Still reeling with rage from being fired, Dr. Samantha Grea jumped into her car and headed to the hospital, not aware that she’s being followed. She sped through the streets, finally making her way to the hospital. For fear of being spotted parked in the guest parking lot of the hospital instead of the parking garage. She parked her car sat there, started working on her paperwork and investigation into the connection between Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Mikey Eighteen. After gathering all the paperwork together, she put them into a folder and made her way into the hospital lobby. Trying to run in her high heels across the busy drive-in drop-off area of patients. The heel on her left shoe broke, causing her to stumble into Nikolai Eighteen. The papers she was carrying flew up everywhere, falling to the ground like snow in wintertime. “Oh, geez, I’m so sorry,” Dr. Grea said to him as she was busy picking up her papers not aware that she’s talking to Nikolai Eighteen. Grabbing as much of her paperwork as she could, she took off running into the hospital. Nikolai Eighteen was just returning to the hospital for a follow-up with a bone specialist. Bent down to pick up some of the papers Dr. Grea left behind with his name on it and personal information about his private life. Was stunned beyond belief sat down on a bench in the hospital lobby, dumbfounded and speechless. When Dr. Skip Gillium walked through the lobby, called his home on his cell phone only to get the voice mail, left his wife a message. He then left the hospital and headed out to his car to go home. Eighteen was still at a loss for words. By this time, Dr. Samantha Grea on an all-out rage was on the warpath. She sought out Dr. Blythe with bad intentions and then suddenly time stopped. Everything became larger when Dr. Blythe crossed her path at the cafeteria, eyes beaming red with her teeth grinding, charged for Dr. Blythe who in return took off running. Dr. Grea was behind him and closing in fast. All of a sudden, turned into a full-grown bat with fangs and a wings spanning two football fields. Dr. Blythe ran, as she swoop down on him with her long razor-like claws. “No! No! No! God please help me!” Only to be shaken and slapped by his wife “Neil! Neil! You’re dreaming

again!” Sitting up on the side of his bed, clothes soaked in sweat from the nightmare, went into the bathroom and washed his face with cold water twice. Before looking up in the mirror to see his reflection and his wife’s reflection burst out and yelled at his wife, “For the love of god! Please don’t ever do that again!” Shocked by his outburst, his wife jumped back. In a soft, low voice, “You know that I love you and whatever it is that you’re going through, let me help you.” Realizing that he snapped at his wife, held her close to his heart and whispered to her, “Honey, I’m sorry, but what I’m going through I’ll have to deal with this on my own.” He took a shower and changed his clothes, went back to bed lying there looking up at the stars through his skylight ceiling. His wife ed him in bed “Honey, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with Dr. Eighteen telling you things, Dr Pinkley getting killed, Dr. Grea hitting Dr. Lanely Gillium, you and Dr. Gillium having a physical confrontation—all I’m saying is I’m here for you, honey, that. For better or worse. Dr. Skip Gillium did what any parent would do when their child gets hurt. Trust me, later he’ll apologize to you, just you wait and see.” Dr. Blythe turned on his side facing away from his wife “I hope to God you’re right, honey. I hope to God you’re right.”

1130 Hours:

Dr. Skip Gillium finally made it home, letting himself into the main entrance of their foyer, yelled out, “Honey, I’m home!” He then made his way to the family den. She wasn’t there, he then made his way to the kitchen, she also wasn’t there. Continuing on out to the pool and cabana areas but she wasn’t there either it hit him, he made a mad dash back inside the house, back to the foyer and up the left staircase of their grand entrance. In his mind, it felt like hours had ed, he made his way to the master’s bedroom suite and that was where Dr. Skip Gillium found his wife. He approached her with the good news about Lanely’s improved health, only to find her eyes walled back in her head with a note sitting on the bedside. Dr. Gillium closed her eyes sat beside her lifeless body, picked up the note, opened and read it: “You did this!” Dr. Gillium put the letter back on the bedside stand by his wife’s lifeless body, he went back downstairs to the family den over to his secret safe, took out his visas, ports and money. Called his girlfriend to meet him at the JFK airport at the tarmac, he

was taking her on a getaway vacation to any tropical place in the world. Drove to the airport telling the police about finding his wife’s lifeless body in their master’s suite bedroom by the time the police arrived at Dr. Skip Gillium’s estate, he was long gone. Baffled, detectives Jessie Skoal and Kent Ruley arrived at the doctors only to be filled in on everything by their fellow homicide investigators. Both detectives made their way up to the crime scene—the Gilliums’ master suite bedroom. Both noticed nothing was taken or broken in the room and no sign of forced entry or struggle. “Nothing seems out of place,” said Detective Skoal. “You’re absolutely right I agree one hundred ten percent,” replied Detective Ruley. Detective Ruley yelled out, “Did anybody Dr. Skip Gillium at the hospital?” One of the homicide detectives yelled back, “He’s the one that made the call, sir.” Detective Skoal, with white latex gloves on, went around to the bed stand by Mrs. Gillium’s dead body picked up the note and read it. “Detective Ruley!” yelled out. “You might want to come and look at this!” Heading over to Detective Skoal with a pair of purple latex gloves on, he read the note: “‘You did this!’ What is that supposed to mean?” He yelled out to one of the forensic guys to come over and dust the note for fingerprints. After the note was dusted for fingerprints, the note showed three sets of fingerprints. “We’ve got a serious problem here, don’t we?” Detective Ruley said to the forensic specialist. “You have no idea,” replied Detective Ruley. Pulling her partner to the side, “Don’t you think all of these is sort of strange?” said Detective Skoal. “Yes! The mere fact that Dr. Skip Gillium disappears,” with a concerned look on his face. “Who’s going to break the news to Dr. Lanely Gillium about her mom’s death?” “No, let’s call Mrs. Gillium’s brother and inform him so he would be the one to tell her,” said Detective Skoal and then it hit her. “Wait a minute, Dr. Skip Gillium never said anything about having a brother-in-law. We’ll get to the bottom of it and everything else once we find him. In the meantime, we’re going to call Mrs. Gillium’s brother about the death of his sister,” said Detective Ruley. After copying Mrs. Gillium’s brother’s phone number down, gave the phone Rolodex to one of the homicide detectives who put it in a plastic tag. Back at Dr. Eighteen’s place, he’s still preparing his sandwich when his house phone rang in the living room, runs to the living room to answer it. “Hello,” said Dr. Eighteen, but all he heard was a dial tone, hung up the phone. Sitting down on his sofa, confused and scared, Dr. Eighteen realized that he might be in danger if he continued to work at the hospital. Made a heartbreaking decision he decided that he’d be safer to go into private practice, knows that he still has to go

back to the hospital to turn in his resignation letter. Called Dr. Neil Blythe to inform him of his decision.

1200 Hours:

Dr. Blythe was back at the hospital making his rounds and tending to his patients. After finishing his rounds, decided to go back to his office to finish up on some paperwork. Meanwhile, Eighteen tried to compose himself down in the hospital lobby, got up and made his way to the elevators to keep his appointment with the bone specialist. While Dr. Samantha Grea found a way to sneak into one of the stairwells leading to the emergency room and Dr. Blythe’s office. Finally, Dr. Blythe made his way to his office not aware of the danger he’s in, sat down at his desk and checked his voice mail while finishing up some last-minute paperwork when he heard Dr. Eighteen’s voice mail about reg from the hospital. He sat back in his chair shocked at Dr. Eighteen’s voice mail. For a minute he was shaking his head and saying to himself, Why, Mikey . . . why now? Pulling himself together trying to regain his bearings, Dr. Blythe continued finishing up on his paperwork. When he came across Dr. Grea’s termination paperwork, taking a deep breath, signed her paperwork. All of a sudden, he heard a knock on his door. “Just a minute!” he yelled out, put Dr. Grea’s termination paperwork in an envelope. He got up went over and opened his door. He was shocked and stunned to see who was standing there.

Shortly after, Nikolai Eighteen made his way to the bone specialist clinics he checked in with the receptionist, who in return gave him paperwork to fill out while he waited to been seen. Trying his best to contain his rage and anger about the paperwork he picked up when he bumped into Dr. Grea with both his name and Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s on it. Focused on filling out the paperwork the receptionist gave him when the nurse came out into the waiting room and called a patient to the back who had an appointment to be seen before him.

1430 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was on his way to the hospital to hand in his resignation papers looked at his rearview mirror, noticed that he was being followed by a dark green sedan. So he quickly sped through a yellow caution light, leaving the dark green sedan stuck at the red light. Let out a sigh of relief “What on earth is going on?” Immediately, got on his phone called detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal told them to meet him at the hospital. He’s afraid he’s being followed. Finally, Dr. Eighteen made his way to the hospital safely and parked his car in the visitors’ parking lot. Headed to the hospital’s main lobby entrance on his way to Dr. Neil Blythe’s office to give him his resignation papers. Meanwhile, Dr. Blythe was still standing in his office doorway stunned and shocked. “Well, are you going to let me in or are you just going to stand there with that look on your face?” Finally he said, “Sure, honey come on in. What are you doing here?” His wife entered his office with a picnic basket, she put it on Dr. Blythe’s desk, he closed the door behind him and sat down behind his desk. His wife sat down in a happy mood Honey, you’ve been stressed out a lot lately, so I decided to surprise you. I’ve brought lunch for the two of us, I didn’t like how you looked when you left for work today. I came by to cheer you up happy and amazed at his wife’s good-hearted gesture came from behind his desk, walked up to her hugged and kissed her. “Thank you honey, this means a lot to me, but I’ve got to tell you something…” concerned, she and Dr. Blythe both sat down. He told her that his best emergency room intern physician Dr. Mikey Eighteen has decided to resign from the hospital. His wife said to him “Sweetheart, all you can do is wish Dr. Eighteen all the best in his career and move on. , you still have other emergency room physicians who look up to you for guidance and advice.” Dr. Blythe looked his wife in the eyes, “You’re right. I do wish him all the best, I just think that he’s a very gifted and talented doctor. Wherever he goes, he’s going to have a very positive effect on anybody he ever comes into with, he’s one of a kind, I’m pretty sure he will.” “Come on, let’s get out of here,” said Dr. Blythe to his wife who went back to his desk and grabbed the picnic basket. Just before Dr. Blythe left his office, grabbed Dr. Grea’s termination papers, he put them in an envelope. Curious, his wife pointed at the envelope in Dr. Blythe’s hands and asked, “What’s that?” He replied, “Oh, it’s some important paperwork I’ve got to drop off at the human resources.” “Oh,” said his wife. Dr. Blythe locked up his office, both he and his

wife headed for the human resources office. “After I drop this off, we can go on your planned little picnic.” “Our planned picnic,” said his wife. They looked at each other and smiled as they walked down the hallway past the emergency room heading toward the elevators. At that moment, Dr. Grea finally made her way down the stairwell to the main floor. Carefully, opened the door looking both up and down the hallway, not seeing anyone, entered the hallway mad and angry. Heading to Dr. Blythe’s office while clutching the papers she held tight to her chest, came across a women’s bathroom. Got inside and locked the door behind her, looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and took a deep breath. Trying to stop her hands from shaking while putting her paperwork down on the counter, started to organize her paperwork when she realized that some of her papers were missing. Threw all of the papers on the floor became enraged, having a temper tantrum, was being careful not to be heard. Put her hands over her mouth and screamed in a low demonic angry voice, “Damn them, damn them,” as she made her way from the bathroom continuing on her way to Dr. Blythe’s office.

After being seen by the bone specialist, Nikolai Eighteen made his way to the elevators still enraged about the paperwork. Made it just in time to catch the elevator. Once inside the elevator, saw Dr. Blythe, notice him holding hands with a female and that they both had on matching wedding rings, the elevator continued upward. Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Blythe were among the other people who were on the elevator. Three floors Dr. Blythe, his wife and two people got off the elevator before it began to descend downward to the lobby. Nikolai Eighteen began to become a little bit impatient as quickly as the elevator stopped at the lobby, Nikolai Eighteen rushed to get off. Making a beeline for the exit while Dr. Mikey Eighteen zoomed right past him, neither one making any with one another. Dr. Eighteen’s cell phone rang, he answered it. “Hello… Yes, Dr. Eighteen this is Det. Kent Ruley… I got your message.” Dr. Eighteen responded, “Yes, I called you. Listen… I’m at the hospital and I think I am being followed.” “Sit tight,” said Detective Ruley to Dr. Eighteen. “My partner and I will be there shortly.” “Okay,” said Dr. Eighteen “I’m on my way to Dr. Blythe’s office.”

“Good,” said Detective Ruley, “we’ll meet you there” Dr. Eighteen hung up and continued on his way down to Dr. Blythe’s office. Right at that moment, Dr. Blythe and his wife came out of human resources department heading for the elevators, happy and smiling. “Oh, darn it,” said Dr. Blythe. “What’s wrong?” asked his wife. “We got to go back to my office for about five minutes. Dr. Eighteen is dropping off his resignation papers.” Sighing, his wife agreed, the elevator stopped on their floor, they both got in. Inside the elevator, a very welldressed man cleared his voice Excuse me, can you tell me which floor is ICU located?” “Sure,” said Dr. Blythe “It’s two floors up. Good luck I hope your loved one gets better.” The well-dressed man replied to Dr. Blythe, “I wish that was the case.” The elevator stopped at the ICU floor and the well-dressed man exited the elevator. Dr. Blythe and his wife looked at each other and squeezed each others’ hand very tightly, as the elevator doors shut the elevator began its descent. The elevator stopped at the main lobby, getting into the elevator were Det. Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal who noticed Dr. Blythe. “Hello Dr. Blythe, we meet again,” said Det. Kent Ruley, Dr. Blythe responded, “Nice to see you again, Detective Ruley and of course Detective Skoal.” “Likewise,” responded Detective Skoal “Dr. Blythe, we’re here because Dr. Eighteen called us. Have you seen him?” “No, not yet, Detective Skoal, my wife and I are on our way down to my office to meet him, he’s bringing in his resignation papers.” Curious, Detective Ruley asked Dr. Blythe, “Do you know why he’s reg?” In response, Dr. Blythe said “I don’t have a clue, he didn’t say but I’m hoping to find out.” “Well,” said Detective Skoal “he should be at your office by now.”

1535 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen was in the emergency room at the nurses’ desk talking to the nurses when he saw Dr. Blythe with a lady—who Dr. Eighteen didn’t know was his wife—detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal. Heading for Dr. Blythe’s office, waved good-bye to the nurses, leaving the emergency room. “Hey, Dr. Blythe,”

yelled Dr. Eighteen, “please wait up.” Dr. Blythe, his wife and both detectives turned around in the direction of Dr. Eighteen. Dr. Eighteen, walked up to Dr. Blythe gave him his resignation papers. “I’m sorry, Dr. Blythe but I can’t work here anymore I don’t feel safe.” Confused, Dr. Blythe said, “Dr. Eighteen, I’m very sorry that you don’t feel safe working here anymore. Is there anything I can do to make you reconsider your decision?” Taking a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears, Dr. Eighteen looked Dr. Blythe in the eyes in a low painful voice, “No sir, I’m sorry, there’s nothing you can do for me, I think it’s best that I move on.” Concerned, Dr. Blythe asked him, “Well tell me, what do you plan to do, Dr. Eighteen? You’re a very gifted and talented doctor.” “Well, Dr. Blythe, I’ve decided to go into private practice, I’m leaning toward general medicine.” “Well good luck son, I’m going to miss you here at the emergency room.” Just as Dr. Blythe, Dr. Eighteen, his wife, detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal turned the corner to Dr. Blythe’s office they came face-to-face with Dr. Grea, who was full of rage and anger. She yelled out, “You son of a bitch! You’ve ruined my life!” Both detectives Kent Ruley and Jessie Skoal had their hand on their guns. Neither pulled their guns from their holsters as they tried to talk to Dr. Grea to calm down. Dr. Blythe, his wife and Dr. Eighteen were all speechless and scared out of their minds. “Take it easy ma’am you don’t want to do this,” said Det. Jessie Skoal. Upon hearing those words, Dr. Grea went nuts screaming and yelling at the top of her lungs at Detective Skoal. “Don’t you dare tell me to take it easy! I had everything, they ruined my life and now I’m left with nothing! Nothing! Nothing! You hear me? Nothing!” At that moment, Det. Kent Ruley motioned to Dr. Eighteen, Dr. Blythe and his wife to move behind him. Detective Ruley asked Dr. Blythe to take his wife to the emergency room along with Dr. Eighteen. They all agreed and ran for the emergency room. “Get down and slowly drop your briefcase and kick it over to us.” Looking at Detective Skoal, Dr. Grea began to laugh at her and said, “What are you afraid of, what’s inside my briefcase?” Det. Kent Ruley interrupted Dr. Grea’s laughing attack “Dr. Grea, this is not a laughing matter. I assure you it could real ugly real fast, you and I both know you don’t want that.” “How do you know what I want, huh? The answer is you don’t know, for the second time stop telling me what I want. Did you not hear what I told your partner, asshole?”

Soon reenforcements showed up while the detectives got Dr. Samantha Grea sealed and contained with no chance of escaping. Dr. Blythe, his wife and Dr. Mikey Eighteen were cleared to leave. Fearing for Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s safety Detective Ruley put two unmarked cars outside his home as well as the Blythes’ home. Once they made it to their homes safely, Dr. Eighteen had trouble sleeping once he got home. Every three hours he looked outside his bedroom window. Every time he did the unmarked cars were there at Dr. Blythe’s home, his wife had to reassure him that he did the right thing firing Dr. Grea. Even though she wasn’t too happy with the unmarked police cruiser on their property, she embraced it.

1735 Hours:

Back at the hospital, detectives Jessie Skoal, Kent Ruley and their negotiator continued to convince Dr. Grea to surrender. Five hours later, she gave in, was led out through the hospital’s main lobby entrance. Past hundreds of television cameras, reporters, fellow colleagues looked on in shock. There were also some of her colleagues who weren’t surprised calling her a control freak, a perfectionist among other things. Everyone looked as she was put in the back of a police car in handcuffs, the police car took off heading for the police station. While being driven to the police station, Dr. Samantha Grea began to plead she was innocent and that the police had no right to arrest her, vowed to sue the police department especially detectives Skoal and Ruley, including the hospital. Later on that day, Nikolai Eighteen was back at his home looking over the paperwork that Dr. Samantha Grea left behind at the hospital entrance. Walking over to his bar, poured himself a drink in a fit of rage, threw the glass against the wall and screamed out to the top of his voice. “Who in the hell do this lady think she is? She’s going to pay” punched a hole in his wall. Suddenly his phone rang, he walked over and looked at his caller ID to check the number, he let the phone continue to ring. Grabbed his coat he stormed out of his home slamming the door behind him. Finally, Dr. Grea arrived at the police station, demanded to call her lawyer but the police ignored her plea. She was locked and placed in a jail cell with two

other female inmates. One of the inmates looked at Dr. Samantha Grea from head to toe “So what’s your story? Why are you here?” Cowering into a corner, Dr. Grea screamed at the top of her lungs, “Guards! Guards! I wanna call my lawyer right now. I don’t belong in here, please.” The other female inmate inside the jail cell began to laugh at Dr. Grea “Honey, you can yell all you want, they don’t pay you any attention in here. You’re just like any other newbie talkin’ ’bout you don’t belong in here. That’s bullshit so please for the love of god, shut that hole in your face—I’m trying to sleep.” At that point Dr. Grea was overcome with fear. Sat down on her bed and put her hands in her pants pocket with her head down as tears began to run down her face. Feeling out of place, her mind began to race, thought to herself, What have I done, what have I done?

Chapter 6

The Cover-Up

0030 Hours:

Dr. Samantha Grea was finally given her phone call, used it to call her attorney. Soon after, was taken into an interview room where she sat looking around the room like a woman scorned. Time flew by as Dr. Samantha Grea waited to her it felt like years, in walked Det. Jessie Skoal who sat across the table from Dr. Grea. Trying to control her temper “What am I doing here?” Taken aback by the doctor’s question, the detective gave her a look of “how dare you ask me a question.” “Dr. Grea, if you must know, you don’t have to say anything until your attorney gets here.” Not happy with being arrested, Dr. Grea told the detective in a disdained voice that she’s very well aware of her rights. In a deep low stern voice, Detective Skoal said to her, “Then don’t say another word, I’ll be asking the questions.” Just at that moment, there was a knock on the door locked in a stare down with Dr. Grea, Detective Skoal yelled out, “Come in! Then door open in walked Dr. Grea’s attorney. The detective shifted her steely eyed—stare away from Dr. Grea and asked her attorney if he was ready to proceed. “Let’s go,” he replied. Detective Skoal started her questioning of Dr. Grea’s reasons for being at the hospital. Dr. Grea told the detective that she was there to talk to Dr. Blythe about being fired. The detective was not buying anything the doctor said, “You seemed agitated and upset, why?” “I wasn’t upset I was under a lot of stress,” replied Dr. Grea. Curious Detective Skoal can feel that the doctor wasn’t being truthful with her “Are you sure about that, Doc!” Interrupting Detective Skoal, Dr. Grea’s attorney asked the detective if his client was being charged with any sort of crime, if not let them post bail so they can be on their way. Leaning back in her chair, Detective Skoal tried to maintain her composure, paused for a minute, “Your client refused to obey a direct order from me and my partner to put down her briefcase. She was acting like a mad woman

we had to call backup, not to mention the bomb squad, seal off an entire floor! Get Dr. Blythe, his wife and Dr. Eighteen out of harm’s way all because your client refused to obey a direct order! So you tell me what should I do, just let her walk away Scott free. Dr. Grea’s attorney was not at all amused with Detective Skoal’s antics “You still haven’t answered my question. Are you going to charge my client with anything?” Can you understand that my client was upset at losing her job at that hospital? She doesn’t even have a criminal record, people don’t think straight when their upset. Both Detective Skoal and Dr. Grea’s attorney went back and forward until she interrupted the both of them, telling them that she’s been at the hospital for a very long time and medicine is all she knows. By taking that away from her, she has nothing left and apologized for her antics at the hospital, putting her head down on the table, began to cry. Detective Skoal took a deep breath, leaned back in her chair, calmed herself down. Let both Dr. Grea and her attorney know that no matter how upset you get, when a police officer gives you a direct order you must comply—no ifs ands, or buts about it. Decided to charge Dr. Grea with disorderly conduct in public place, refusing to cooperate and strongly suggested that she enroll in anger management classes as soon as possible. After getting her report back, Dr. Grea’s criminal background came back clean. Detective Skoal was looking at Dr. Grea’s attorney “Now did I answer your question?” She got up and headed for the door. Just before she left, looked at Dr. Grea told her to stay out of trouble and headed back to her and Det. Kent Ruley’s office. Still sitting in the interview, both Dr. Grea and her attorney looked at each other and at the same time said “that went well.” Dr. Grea was finally processed out her attorney posted her bail, he took her home. Meanwhile, Detective Skoal returned to her office to find her partner Det. Kent Ruley working on the list of staff at the hospital to call in for questioning. Walking over to Detective Skoal’s desk, Detective Ruley gave her a list of those he planned on interviewing. Looking over the list, Detective Ruley read out the names. “Let’s see I’ve got Dr. Blythe, Dr. Mikey Eighteen, Dr. Charlie Linx and Dr. Samantha Grea,” Curious, he asked Detective Skoal about the interview with Dr. Grea told him, “I charged and released her being that she didn’t have a criminal background.” Detective Ruley looked at her with a puzzled and somewhat confused look “Are you sure that was a good idea? The woman was an unstable wreck.” Detective Skoal assured her partner it was the only alternative that she had, “I got a feeling we’ll be crossing paths again I’m sure of it.” Detective Ruley said to her, “I hope you know what you are doing, buddy.” Looking over the names on the list, Detective Skoal looked up at her partner “Trust me on this one.”

0930 Hours:

Dr. Blythe and his wife were eating breakfast enjoying each other’s company, the phone rang, they both tried to ignore it and continued eating their breakfast. Mrs. Blythe said to him, “Are you sure you don’t want to check and see who that was? It could’ve been an important call.” “I’m enjoying breakfast with my beautiful wife. Whoever it was, I’ll call them back later, taking a bite of his pancakes, looked out of his kitchen patio door and saw two plainclothes police officers walking the grounds. He knew that they’re there for his wife and his protection stemming from the confrontation with Dr. Grea at the hospital. “Boy, I tell yah having the police here is kind of strange,” he said to his wife. She agreed with him but part of her wanted them gone. Dr. Blythe reassured his wife that the police are there for their protection, he’s not answering any phone calls and that the hospital will run well without him for a few days. Deep down inside, Dr. Blythe was terrified of what could’ve happened when he was confronted by Dr. Grea. After finishing up breakfast, he and his wife stayed home for the rest of the day. Later on in the evening, the telephone rang again this time Dr. Blythe answered it, it was Detective Ruley telling him that he wanted him to come down to the police station. Hanging up the phone, sat up in his recliner wondering what the police wanted to talk to him about. Meanwhile, Dr. Eighteen finally opened up his own private practice. With all the things he had seen and witnessed working at the hospital, he now realize that the move into the private sector was better for him. But then he had thoughts of Dr. Lanely Guillium as she was slowly making her way back, there’s Dr. Blythe his mentor, with all of the stuff going on with Dr. Samantha Grea as well as Dr. Charlie Linx. Let’s not forget the untimely death of Dr. Bruce Pinkley. All of these things were playing like a movie reel in his head, Dr. Eighteen snapped out of it to the ringing of his cell phone. He answered it. Detective Jessie Skoal informed him that he needed to come down to the police station. With thoughts running through his head about what they wanted him for, trying to figure out what to do, knew he had a lot on his plate to deal with. The next morning, Dr. Blythe arrived at the police station where he was interviewed by Det. Kent Ruley.

“So, Dr. Blythe, can you tell me the reason of Dr. Samantha Grea being terminated?” asked Detective Ruley. Dr. Blythe knew he had to tell everything. “Well, Detective, Dr. Grea was involved in an accident regarding Dr. Lanely Guillium which landed her in the intensive care wing at the hospital. The hospital board recommended that she be let go immediately. I was only following orders, she was a good doctor but the accident was too much for the board to overlook you understand?” said Dr. Blythe to Detective Ruley, who in turn told the doctor that they’ll be ing him again for a follow-up and that he was free to go for now. Dr. Blythe got up, shook the detective’s hand and walked out sweating bullets. Just before he walked out the door he turned around “I hope you guys find out what happened to Dr. Bruce Pinkley, he was a good doctor.” Walked out Detective Ruley sat down in his chair started to look over the remaining doctors on his list. Taking a deep breath, saying to himself “Don’t you worry about that, Dr. Blythe we’ll get to the bottom of it.” Took a sip of his coffee, crossed Dr. Blythe’s name off his list when Detective Skoal walked in. “Hey, I’ve just seen Dr. Blythe leaving. Did he give us any leads to follow up on?” Detective Ruley’s reply was, “Not really, so we’ve got to keep plugging away something will break sooner or later.” Dr. Blythe made his way to his car. When he saw Dr. Eighteen walk into the police station, he left. Dr. Eighteen made his way to the detective’s office, knocked on their door and walked in “You guys wanted to see me?” Now at this point Dr. Eighteen had all kinds of thoughts running through his head, he took a deep breath as they began to question him about anything and everything. Knew he saw a lot of things and heard a lot as well, a part of him wanted to tell everything but something was holding him back. “So Dr. Eighteen, tell us why you think Dr. Grea became hostile at the sight of us?” asked Detective Skoal. Trying to control his breathing in a low and nervous voice, “I don’t know” not buying it, Detective Ruley jumped up from his desk and got in Dr. Eighteen’s face. “Come on, Doc, surely you know something, Spit it out!” Dr. Eighteen looked the detective in the eyes, in a low monotone voice, “I don’t know anything.” Interrupting her partner, Detective Skoal excused Dr. Eighteen and ripped her partner. “What are you doing Kent! We need to play this one close to the vest. We don’t need to scare him off, Calm down, alright!” Detective Ruley stormed out, saw Dr. Eighteen leave shook his head. Dr. Eighteen made his way back to his car got inside, starts crying. Thinking to himself, he should’ve told them everything but how could he? Deep down inside he just wanted to be a good doctor. He didn’t believe in snitching or getting people in trouble even if it meant telling a lie. A part of him felt that all the doctors he came to grow fond of, Dr. Guillium in particular, had a lot on her plate. Looked up to Dr. Blythe, kind of like a father figure, felt it was

in his best interest not to say anything about anyone. Even though he didn’t care much for Dr. Bruce Pinkley, still didn’t deserve to die, as for Dr. Charlie Linx it’s to be continued. Dr. Eighteen composed himself enough to drive home. Speaking of Dr. Charlie Linx, he had his own problems, one of them, he was a troublemaker trying to be a good guy. But unfortunately for him, his bad outweighs his good, was called down to the police station. Detective Skoal read him the riot act, he looked at her like, she was a nobody with his snobbish attitude and demeanor. “I have someplace I have to be, how much longer is the stupid line of questioning going to continue?” ing what she told her partner, refrained from jumping across the desk beating Dr. Linx senseless. “You may leave for now.” Getting up from his chair with a skirmish grin on his face, “You’re wasting your time and taxpayers’ hard-earned money.” Just before he left, Detective Skoal said to him, “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Dr. Bruce Pinkley and you were the best of buddies huh?” Dr. Linx looked at her with disdain and surprise, shook his head and walked out. Dr. Charlie Linx left the police station nervous but also confident, began to think about what Dr. Bruce Pinkley did to Dr. Lanely Guillium. Got into his truck when his father called his cell phone, he didn’t answer the call started up his truck, left the police station angry and furious. Dr. Guillium’s uncle made his way to see her as she continued to recover from being hit by Dr. Grea in the parking garage. Every day was a struggle for her but she started to make good progress in her recovery. When her uncle walked into her room she was surprised to see him, he walked over to her and gave her a big hug. What she didn’t know was that her uncle had come to see her with a heavy heart. He can’t bring himself to tell her that her mother was found dead. Torn inside, how could he bring himself to tell her “So, kiddo, how’s everything coming? You’re looking better,” he said. Trying to smile through the pain, she thanked him for the compliment, asked him about her mother and when was she coming to see her. Fighting back the tears and pain, smiled and said to her he hadn’t heard from her. Maybe she’ll come up there that day, leaning back to rest, she smiled at her uncle “I hope so I really, really hope so.” Looked at her uncle and noticed him staring out the window asked him if he’s okay. He told her, yes he’s fine, curious, she began to pick his brain about how his sister and her father met. He told everything she wanted to hear from them meeting in college to getting married except for the truth. Changing the subject, “It’s a shame what happened to that doctor.” Curious, “Which doctor? What are you talking?” He was trying to “I saw it on the news. I think his name was Brice Pinkley, or maybe it was Bruce Pinkley. Anyway, they found him dead inside his penthouse condominium. Can you believe that?” Shocked, Dr.

Guillium was speechless. Who could’ve done such a thing, she thought to herself. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, asked her uncle to leave and that she needed to get some rest. He left.

1430 Hours:

Detectives Jessie Skoal and Kent Ruley returned to the hospital to check on Dr. Lanely Guillium’s recovery progress. Upon arriving, they found her resting. They noticed that she’d been crying, both detectives know that her mom was found dead at her estate. Neither one of them dare to tell her, thinking that her uncle had already told her the bad news. Det. Jessie Skoal went up to Dr. Guillim’s bedside and sat down beside her. “So how are you doing, Doc?” Slowly sitting up in her bed trying to put on a brave face, “I’m getting better one day at a time.” Det. Kent Ruley watched Dr. Guillium’s body language and sensed she is ready to talk about the accident. Approaching her bedside, calmly began to ask her if she ed anything about what happened to her. Dr. Guillium struggled at first with what happened to her “I only bits and pieces.” “Well, can you tell us what you ?” replied Detective Skoal. At this point, Dr. Guillium closed her eyes, saw a face coming at her but she can’t make out who it was. Getting flustered, she yelled out, “I don’t !” Calming her down, Detective Skoal asked her take a deep breath and just relax. “You said you bits and pieces, can you tell me that?” Out of the blue, it hit Dr. Guillium like a ton of bricks. “It was Dr. Bruce Pinkley who grabbed me. I was jogging inside the parking garage, I yanked away from him and I end up in here.” Feeling that the doctor was exhausted, they didn’t ask her any more questions. Somewhat satisfied with what she told them, they left her their business card. Just before the detectives were about to leave, she asked them if they talked to her father yet and told them that she knew about Dr. Pinkley untimely death. Both detectives looked at each other trying to find out who told her. “Get some sleep,” replied Detective Ruley. “We’ll call you tomorrow.” they both walked out. Dr. Guillium lay back in her bed, trying to figure out how she ended up in the intensive care unit. Suddenly she started to have flashbacks of staring into car headlights, everything faded to black.

1030 Hours:

Dr. Grea went to court about the antics she did at the hospital. Judge Sue Kempley had a reputation for being firm but fair. “Dr. Samantha Grea, it is the decision of the court that you not go anywhere near the hospital grounds. You’re to be placed on house arrest. You can only leave for anger management classes. You’ll be granted four hours a day to get these things done. You’re also being placed on five years of probation. A tether bracelet will be put on you. Every hour you have to check in with your probation officer. Does your client understand what the court expects of her?” Dr. Grea’s attorney acknowledged Judge Sue Kempley that his client does understand and will comply with any and all stipulations. The judge also reminded Dr. Grea and her attorney that if she doesn’t comply and totally commit to her anger management classes or go anywhere past the hospital or Dr. Blythe in doing, so her probation will be provoked and she will spend the rest of her time in prison. Dr. Grea Attorney assured the judge that his client will be compliant. While Dr. Grea and her attorney left the courthouse, Nikolai Eighteen hired a private investigator to watch her every move. The private investigator called Nikolai Eighteen and filled him in on her every move. Nikolai found out that she was in jail, wanted to know everything about this doctor. After all she started this big game of cat and mouse. All that played over and over in his head was the paperwork with his name Nikolai Eighteen and Dr. Mikey Eighteen. Determined to get some answers, Nikolai Eighteen knew he can’t let his cover be blown. While sitting at his computer, Nikolai Eighteen decided to find out anything and everything about this Dr. Samantha Grea no matter the price. Meanwhile, Dr. Mikey Eighteen was really enjoying practicing medicine in the private sector, one of his patients told him that she was a neighbor of the late Dr. Bruce Pinkley, and he was a playboy. Every night he had girls coming and going all the time to his penthouse condominium. At the time, it didn’t dawn on Dr. Eighteen that this lady might’ve seen something the night Dr. Pinkley was found dead inside his condominium. Treated her and sent her on her way, deep down inside he felt that was the reason he left the hospital—too much drama. The day went by like every other day at his clinic after closing his clinic, decided to stop at the grocery market to pick up a few groceries. When he ran into Dr. Charlie Linx trying to turn down another aisle before Dr. Linx spotted him, he was too late. “Dr. Eighteen!” yelled out Dr. Linx who turned his grocery cart down the

same aisle as Dr. Eighteen. “How are things in the private sector treating you these days?” At this point, Dr. Eighteen didn’t really want to be bothered especially by this guy he couldn’t trust Dr. Linx as far as he could throw him. Trying to be polite, “I’m doing pretty well I can’t complain.” Standing back looking at Dr. Eighteen, “I can see that.” Not wanting to chitchat with Dr. Linx, Dr. Eighteen walked past him, told him to have a good day. Dr. Linx rolled his eyes as Dr. Eighteen walked away, yelled out to him, “You too!” continued on with his shopping. Dr. Eighteen didn’t really care for this guy at all continued on with his shopping shrugged his shoulders, and never gave it another thought. Just as he completed his shopping and paid for his groceries, didn’t notice that Dr. Linx was sitting in the parking lot in his truck watching him. Dr. Linx sensed that Dr. Eighteen was hiding secrets but didn’t know what. watching Dr. Eighteen loading his grocery in his car. Slowly pulled out of his parking stall to leave, his cell phone rang, saw it was his father, Judge Riley Linx, who told him to come to the estate immediately. Hanging up his cell phone looking at Dr. Eighteen one more time, sped out of the shopping center, heading to his father’s estate not knowing what to expect. Back at the police station, detectives Skoal and Ruley went over their list of doctors they’ve interviewed. “You know we’ve got go to Dr. Guillium’s uncle’s house to find out if he knows the whereabouts of his brother-in-law,” said Detective Ruley. “I agree,” replied Detective Skoal while looking over the evidence from the crime scenes of Dr. Bruce Pinkley and Mrs. Guillium. They both knew that something didn’t add up, combing through every piece of evidence for some hint of a clue. Detective Ruley was becoming more and more suspicious of Dr. Linx’s alibi on the night Dr. Pinkley died. Looking at Detective Skoal, Detective Ruley said, “I can’t quite put my finger on it but it just doesn’t add up.” “What do you mean?” replied Detective Skoal. “ the first time Dr. Linx came in to the police station? He had cuts on his right knuckles. How do you suppose he got them not knowing what to think of her partner’s motives until she realized he might be on to something. While at the same time they’ve got their hands full with Dr. Guillium’s health if she’s going to press charges against Dr. Samantha Grea. Once they tell her she’s the one who hit her, the murders of Mrs. Guillium and Dr. Bruce Pinkley. They both have a hunch that Dr. Eighteen knew more than he’s telling them. With so many open ends in the cases both detectives decided to work around the clock until they get a break in the cases.

1345 Hours:

Detectives Ruley and Skoal paid Mrs. Guillium’s brother a visit, who at first was reluctant to talk to them. Inviting them inside his beautiful estate set in a country-like setting. Trying to break the ice, “Would anyone of you care for a Tom Collins?” With a big smile, both detectives declined, began to ask him if he heard anything from his brother-in-law’s whereabouts. He told them that he hadn’t seen or heard from his brother-in-law for almost three years and they hardly ever seen each other. Curious, “You don’t think he has anything to do with my sister’s death, do you?” “We don’t know that’s why we’re trying to find him and get him to come in for an interview.” Mrs. Guillium’s brother started to suspect a foul play. “If there’s any way I can do to help, just let me know, I want to know what happened to my sister.” “We appreciate your willingness to help us. Can I get your name, sir?” asked Detective Ruley. “Sure, my name is Jerry Richards,” Feeling somewhat convinced that he doesn’t know where Dr. Skip Guillium was, they left him their business card. “Make sure you call us if and when he s you,” said Detective Skoal she and Detective Ruley left. Meanwhile, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend were vacationing at the family estate in the south of , knew that he had to call his daughter finding his wife’s lifeless body in their bedroom was weighing heavy on him. Walking out onto his patio overlooking the ocean, slowly sipped on a cup of coffee while his girlfriend lay sleeping in bed. His heart got heavy deep down inside, knew he never should’ve left his daughter’s side. Especially, now when she needed him more than ever but how can he face her after everything that’s happened between him and her mom? Dr. Skip Guillium knew it’s only a matter of time, took a deep breath, went back inside where his girlfriend was got into bed with her and fell asleep. As for Dr. Lanely Guillium, she finally got removed from the intensive care unit to a regular room as the days turned to night and night turned to day. Dr. Lanely Guillium became weary and worried that her father hadn’t called her anymore or even come to see her. began to call home only to get the voicemail. Feeling anxious, her heart began to race, she knew that something is not right but she just can’t figure out what it was. Her nurse came in to give her medicine, sitting up in the bed, she took them. Suddenly her room phone rang; the nurse answered the phone for her, gave her the phone. Answering the phone,

Dr. Lanely Guillium was happy to hear her father’s voice but told him of her concerns about calling the estate no one picking up and that she continued to get the answering machine. Dr. Skip Guillium checked on his daughter, reassured her that everything is fine at home and it’s important for her to rest and get better. “When are you coming back up here to see me?” she asked her father. Quickly thinking on his feet, told her, “I’m at a cardiology convention out of town. I’ll see you when I get back.” They talked for what seemed like hours just like that, the phone call ended. Dr. Lanely Guillium sensed from the phone call with her father that he was hiding something but what was it? Thinking to herself she’s blessed to have loving, caring parents and looked forward to seeing her mother when she comes up for a visit. Soon her medicine began to make her drowsy, started to think about all of her fellow colleagues.

1830 Hours:

Dr. Charlie Linx finally made his way to his father’s estate, once he’s inside, his father began yelling at him. “Charlie, you are out of control, I’m tired of getting you out of trouble. Do you understand me, boy!” Confused, Dr. Charlie Linx looked at his father “What are you talking about?” Judge Riley Linx looked at his son, “I can’t have you going down to the police station acting like you’re better than everybody else. Well, I’m here to tell you son, you’re not! Now I don’t know why the police wanted to talk to you but whatever it is, you better clean it up because I’m not going to get you out of any more trouble.” Walking into the family den behind his father, Dr. Linx knew his father was right and knew he had to change his ways and behavior toward other people. But how can you change the way you’ve been your whole life overnight was what played over and over inside Dr. Linx’s head, as he sat across from his father sharing a scotch whiskey sour with him. Finished his drink gave his dad a hug, told his dad not to worry and that everything will be all right. Things weren’t getting any better for Dr. Samantha Grea either, Nikolai Eighteen’s private investigator filled him in on any and everything he found out about the doctor including her home address. Sitting back in his big leather La-Z-Boy recliner, smiled and congratulated his private investigator on the job he did paid him. Holding in his hand a piece of the paperwork that she dropped when they bumped into each other at the hospital staring at his name and Dr. Mikey Eighteen. In the

meantime, detectives Skoal and Ruley paid Dr. Eighteen a visit at his clinic, not knowing what they wanted, took them to his office where they sat down and talked about his private practice. Detective Skoal asked Dr. Eighteen if he’d been back to the hospital as of late, he told her no. Detective Ruley asked him if he knew or heard anything about Dr. Bruce Pinkley, working at the hospital by now Dr. Eighteen is tired of the police hounding him. He told them that he is busy with patients, has to get back to them if and when he hears anything, he’ll let them know. Detective Skoal looked at Dr. Eighteen “By cooperating, will make it a lot easier for everyone involved.” Not quite understanding what the detective meant by that, he looked at her and paused. “If you guys don’t have anything else to say or ask of me, I really have to get back to my patients.” He then excused himself, the detectives realized that he’s not going to talk they turned their attention back to Dr. Charlie Linx, who was on his way to his favorite hangout the Nu Coffeehouse was meeting a friend there. Once he arrived there, waited for his friend when he looked across the patio and saw Nikolai Eighteen sitting there surfing the Internet on his computer. Decided to walk over and talk to him. “Don’t I know you?” he said to Nikolai Eighteen, who looked up at Dr. Linx like he’s lost his mind. “Excuse me who are you?” replied Nikolai Eighteen to Dr. Linx. “You really don’t huh? I’m one of the doctors that treated you at the hospital when you came in from that motorcycle accident,” replied Dr. Linx to Nikolai Eighteen. Trying to be polite, Nikolai Eighteen told him that he’s been seen by lots of doctors and doesn’t even know who he is to please excuse himself he’d like to be left alone. Taken aback by Nikolai Eighteen’s comment, Dr. Linx pushed his luck, “You know I just can’t put my finger on it but, you look real familiar to me Nikolai Eighteen. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you in—.” Interrupting the doctor, Nikolai Eighteen got up and in his face, “Look, I don’t know who you are and neither do I care to know, I’m not that person. Now will you please leave me alone?” Sitting down, Dr. Linx realized this guy is not to be messed with, took off back to his seat, doing a double take on the way back. Nikolai Eighteen shook his head, grabbed his laptop computer and left the coffee shop.

2245 Hours:

Dr. Lanely Guillium woke up from a breathing hospital gown soaked in sweat

tried to control her breathing, started to have an uneasy feelings toward her dad deep down, she felt he’s keeping something from her. Out of the blue, the quiet night was interrupted by the single ring of Dr. Guillium’s telephone in her room, not knowing if she wanted to answer it. Let it ring two more times before picking up the receiver. “Hello? It’s me your Uncle Jerry, I have something to tell you,” Bracing for what she’s about to hear, held her breath. “I’m sorry to tell you, sweetie your mom is dead and your dad is missing, I’m so sorry Lanley dear, I didn’t tell you when I first came to see you. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” Stunned, Dr. Guillium hung up her phone, began to scream at the top of her lungs but no sound came out, tears streamed down her face. Became enraged, she threw the phone against the wall, a nurse walked in, she immediately tried to restrain her, called for help, soon help arrived. While being placed in restraints, Dr. Guillium’s voice came alive. She screamed so loud she woke up her whole wing with screaming the words “No no no. Oh my god! No, please no!” A nurse came into the doctor’s room, gave her shot to sedate her, and all went quiet. Back in the south of , Dr. Skip Guillium was enjoying himself with his girlfriend carrying on like he didn’t have a care in the world until his girlfriend told him she’s pregnant and wanted to get married. Stunned, the doctor stood back, looked at her with a blank and confused stare. “Well, I know it’s early I just thought it would be nice to be the next Mrs. Skip Guillium,” said his girlfriend. Sitting back in his poolside chair, he looked at his girlfriend. “I can’t get married, are you insane my wife is dead!” yelled Dr. Skip Guillium. “I’m still married to her.” Jumping up from her chair, “Hey, listen to me, Doc, you said we were going to do things and go places. You made me promises!” She exclaimed, “I’m pregnant with your child. Have you considered that?” Dr. Skip Guillium left the pool, headed back to the main house enraged and confused. The doctor knew he has to find a way to tell his daughter, making his way back to the house, went into the kitchen and poured himself a drink. Not being able to drink it, became enraged threw the glass up against the refrigerator glass shattering everywhere. The butler came into the kitchen to see what was causing all of the commotion, Dr. Skip Guillium looked at him the butler turned around and walked back out shaking his head.

1030 Hours:

Dr. Samantha Grea was on her way to anger management class when she ed by Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s new clinic. That’s odd, she thought to herself as she continued on her way to class, why would Dr. Eighteen leave the hospital unless he knows something. Thoughts were playing over and over inside Dr. Grea’s head, as she made her way to the meeting. Once inside, she halfheartedly participated, knowing that she couldn’t be anywhere outside too long. Deep down inside, couldn’t help herself, felt that she was wronged and wanted to get justice her way even if it meant destroying somebody else’s life. Making her way back home from her anger management class, went into the kitchen to fix herself a sandwich. Realized that she still had the paperwork on Nikolai Eighteen. Sat down at her breakfast counter contemplating her next move. Later on that day, Dr. Mikey Eighteen decided to go to the hospital to surprise Dr. Lanely Guillium with a long-overdue visit. Stopping at the gift shop, he picked up her two dozens of white carnation and the biggest teddy bear the shop owner had. Making his way up to the intensive care unit, they had to redirect him to her new floor and room. Dr. Eighteen made his way to her new room, was shocked at what he saw. Walking over to her bedside, she was unrecognizable to him. “Dr. Guillium, it’s me Dr. Eighteen” he lightly whispered to her. “Can you hear me?” He whispered to her again. Sitting down beside her, he held her hand as she lay motionless, staring up at the ceiling. Dr. Eighteen at this point was trying to figure out what’s wrong with Dr. Guillium. Pulling his hand from hers he slowly got up left her room went to the nurse’s station to try and get some answers about her condition. None of the nurses would tell him anything because he wasn’t part of the family, he was not happy he returned to her, sat back down by her side holding her hand again. Looking around for clues, “Can you hear me, Dr. Guillium, it’s me Dr. Eighteen. When was the last time your father came up? I want to thank him for helping me.” Immediately she snatched her hand away from Dr. Eighteen and turned away from him. Not knowing what to think, “Lanely, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you, that’s the last thing I wanted to do.” Leaving her big teddy bear and two dozen white carnations at the foot of her bed, he walked out and whispered to her, “I hope you get better. You’re a good doctor, the medical field will be lost without you. I hope you get well real soon.” Heading toward the elevator, Dr. Eighteen stopped took a deep breath continued to walk to the elevator. Once on the elevator, his heart got a little heavy from seeing Dr. Lanely Guillium suffering and hurting. Began to think of ways to help her get better his attitude changed he thought to himself, Dr. Grea is the reason why Dr. Guillium is in the hospital. At that moment, Dr. Grea was at home making her way to her study when there was a knock at her door. “Who is it?” she yelled out, there was no answer, upset, she stormed to her front door. Yanking the front door, she

yelled, “I said who is it!” At that moment, Dr. Grea stood in her own front door, with her mouth and eyes opened wide. “You!” she yelled as the person made his or her way inside her house, slamming the door behind them. She took off running throughout her house with the person behind her caught up with her and took her down the floor. “What do you want from me!” she yelled, with the both of them getting up from the floor, Dr. Grea took off into her living room was pushed down onto her sofa love seat. “I’ll be the one asking the questions.” Pulling the papers from his leather coat, Nikolai Eighteen threw the papers in her face. “Why are you carrying papers around with my name on it? It belongs to the hospital.” Trying to think fast on the fly, Dr. Grea said to Nikolai Eighteen, “Those are not my papers, I don’t know where you got those papers. They’re not mine I assure you of that, not amused with the doctor’s lies sits down across from her. “I don’t want to hurt you, lady, all I want is all the paperwork with my name on it.” “You don’t understand, I don’t have anything. Now will you please leave my home,” replied Dr. Grea. Jumping up from his chair, got into Dr. Grea’s face. “You’re a liar, lady! I saw you at the hospital that day, I’m the one you bumped into. You dropped papers everywhere, you stupid cow!” Showing her the papers he picked up from that day “I got these from you, now give me the rest!” Dr. Grea at that moment realized that she’s gotten in over her head, reluctantly complied with Nikolai Eighteen’s request. Picking her up off the couch with her arms behind her, she took him to where she had the paperwork, it was still in the briefcase. Nervous and trembling, she tried to open the briefcase, Nikolai Eighteen took the briefcase, knocked Dr. Grea out cold. Dragged her lifeless body to her basement, binding her legs and arms together with duct tape. Nikolai Eighteen also put duct tape and a black stocking over Dr. Grea’s head covering her face. Making his way back upstairs, turned off her electricity wiping down everything, being careful not to leave behind any finger or footprints. Just like that, Nikolai Eighteen disappeared in to the daylight without a trace.

1830 Hours:

Dr. Mikey Eighteen made his way home to finish up on some of his patients’ charts, turned on the news when a news reporter reported that an heir is missing and that the father is offering a handsome reward for his son’s safe return. Before

the father could speak, Dr. Eighteen turned the channel to cartoons settled in and worked on his patients’ charts. Meanwhile, back at the police station, detectives Skoal and Ruley got a break in the case from a source. They took a ride out to Judge Riley Linx’s estate to have a talk with him about his son’s whereabouts on the night that Dr. Bruce Pinkley died. Unfortunately, they didn’t get a chance, the judge left for his vacation, security staff at his estate told the detectives they didn’t know when he’d be back. Trying to stay calm, Detective Skoal gave them one of her cards “Make sure he gives a call when he gets back.” The detectives walked back to their unmarked unit and left the grounds. Sensing the security staff was not being truthful, the detectives decided to have a stakeout watched the flow of traffic in and out of Judge Riley Linx’s estate. The next morning they got a break, it’s Dr. Charlie Linx and a girl companion with him going in to his father’s estate being followed by two other SUVs. Not wanting to be discovered, they maintained their distance and watched every move Dr. Linx made from a distance. Being careful not to be spotted, out of the blue they got a call to respond to an emergency first. Neither one of them knew the call that they would be responding to will be that of Dr. Samantha Grea’s home. Upon arriving at Dr. Grea’s home, the police had it all taped off so no one could get in our get out. Both detectives showed their badges walked inside to find her unconscious, bloody and barely breathing. She’s rushed to a different hospital inside her home, Detective Ruley came across some papers on her floor in her family room with Nikolai Eighteen’s name on them. “Well, well, well, this has just gotten a little bit more interesting,” Walking over to her partner, Detective Skoal looked at the paperwork too “Who is this Nikolai Eighteen?” “Your guess is as good as mine,” replied Detective Ruley. “Come on let’s go pay Dr. Mikey Eighteen a visit. Maybe he’ll open up to us, I’ve got a feeling he knows more than what he’s told us so far,” replied Detective Skoal. They instructed the forensic team to comb the place top to bottom for any clues and evidence. They took off and headed to the hospital where Dr. Grea was being taken to. Back at his clinic the next day, Dr. Eighteen was paid a surprise visit by Dr. Charlie Linx. Sensing that Dr. Eighteen might explode on him “I come in peace, Dr. Eighteen.” “Please leave my clinic, I don’t want you here! Please leave!” yelled Dr. Eighteen. Turning around, Dr. Linx looked at Dr. Eighteen and walked out of his clinic, Dr. Eighteen went back to treating his patients, informing his staff that the guy who just left is never allowed on his property again. Getting into his truck, Dr. Linx noticed a dark blue sedan across the street with tinted windows. Not giving it a second thought, sped out of Dr. Eighteen’s parking lot out into traffic, furious, vowed to bring Dr. Eighteen down no matter

what. Meanwhile, back at the hospital Dr. Lanely Guillium was still coming to grips with the death of her mother. Wondering where her father could be was weighing heavy on her but deep down inside she knew she had to get better. All that played over and over in her head was her uncle telling her that her mother was dead. Who could’ve done such a thing played over and over in her head. Determined to get better, Dr. Guillium began her physical therapy working herself like a woman possessed. She was going to find out what happened to her mother no matter what, as for her father she wanted answers. Thinking of what Dr. Eighteen told her motivated her to work hard and get better.

0730 Hours:

Detectives Skoal and Ruley were looking over every statement that all the doctors gave when they came down and noticed Dr. Linx’s timeline of his whereabouts on the night of Dr. Bruce Pinkley death didn’t add up. On top of that, they’ve got their hands full with Dr. Grea being assaulted in her home Detective Skoal looked at her partner. “This just doesn’t make any sense,” she said to Detective Ruley while reading over Dr. Linx’s statement. “He stated that he was home and doing yard work was how he got the cuts on his right knuckles.” “Are you kidding me, who does yard work at night?” replied Detective Ruley. “Well, maybe he was doing yard work the next morning,” implied Detective Skoal. “Now think about this for a second, Detective Skoal, he’s a rich kid. What rich kid mows their own lawn? It’s something about that guy that rubs me the wrong way,” replied Detective Ruley. “Well, look at it this way, we’ll find out soon enough,” replied Detective Skoal, adding Dr. Grea’s name to the list. Who was in the hospital being treated for the injuries she sustained from her physical confrontation with Nikolai Eighteen. Dr. Grea knew she couldn’t tell the police about having a patient’s medical paperwork in her possession. Lying in her hospital bed, finally realized how close she came to being hurt worse than what she was or possibly being killed. Trying to find a way to tell the police what happened to her at that moment, two police officers came into her room to get her statement as to what took place at her home. She became evasive in her answers, deep down inside Dr. Grea knew she had to do something with Nikolai Eighteen out there on the loose. After giving the police her statement, one of the police officers read her statement back to her. “Let me

get this straight Dr. Grea, you’re saying someone broke into your home, robbed you, tied you up in the basement.” “That’s correct, Officer I didn’t get a good look at the person, it happened so fast,” she replied. Satisfied with her statement, the police officers gave her a phone number to call if she should anything else and left her. Feeling lost and confused, she tried to relax in her bed. Closing her eyes, Dr. Grea felt deep down inside that she was in the clear. What she didn’t know was her life was about to be turned upside down and she will not have a way to stop it.

Later on that day, Dr. Mikey Eighteen had the day off watching the news when the story broke about Dr. Grea being attacked in her home. Sitting back in his big chair, Dr. Eighteen didn’t know what to make of the story. Decided to go out and buy himself a gun for protection, all the things he’d seen working at the hospital still had his stomach in knots. All he kept thinking about was seeing Dr. Grea and Dr. Pinkley in the stairwell embraced in a mad ionate kiss. Now he’s dead and she’s in the hospital, it was as if Dr. Eighteen was starting to get paranoid. One thing he was happy about he wasn’t being followed anymore, things were getting better for Dr. Eighteen day by day but he just didn’t want to let his guard down anymore. Things were getting too suspicious for the doctor he didn’t want to be the next victim, left his house and headed to the local gun store to purchase a gun. Thinking to himself that this was the only way, full of adrenaline made his way to the gun store. Once inside, the doctor bought himself a gun, Dr. Eighteen was not a violent man but sometimes you have to take stand for him this was as good a time as any to do so. Leaving the gun shop, Dr. Eighteen saw Detective Skoal across the street eating lunch at the local bistro, she didn’t see him. He got into his car and headed for home, knowing that having a gun made him feel safe, breathed a sigh of relief. Especially after the unexpected visit from Dr. Charlie Linx showing up at his clinic unannounced gave him goose bumps just thinking about it. The police officers who interviewed Dr. Grea made their way back to the police station, filled in Detective Ruley on the statement they got from the doctor, giving him a copy of the statement. He sat back in his chair and looked over her statement “She told you guys that someone broke into her home?” “Yes, sir, she also told us that she didn’t get a good look at the person, it all happened too fast,” replied one of the officers. Detective Ruley continued to look over the doctor’s statement as the two police officers left his office. Detective Skoal came into their office, sat down at her desk began to go over some of the crime-scene paperwork.

Detective Ruley filled her in on the statement the officers got from Dr. Grea at the hospital. Both detectives decided to go back to the hospital to talk with the head of security, they went with the head security officer back to their office to review the tapes again on the day of Dr. Lanely Guillium’s accident. The head security officer informed the detectives that one of his officer’s saw a doctor up on top of the roof ledge awhile back. The detectives continued to view the videotapes when they came across the footage of Dr. Guillium and Dr. Pinkley’s physical confrontation noticed a figure in the background. Neither one of them could make out who or what it was, Detective Skoal asked the head security officer for a copy of the videotapes, he agreed. Detective Ruley asked the officer if he knew who the doctor was that was up on the roof, the head security officer informed the detective that his officer that saw the doctor was on vacation and wouldn’t be back for two weeks. Taking the tapes with them to be itted into evidence, gave the head security officer one of their business cards and left the hospital. In the meantime, Dr. Eighteen took out his gun at home pretended to take aim at targets throughout his home. With his new clinic and trying to start his life over, the doctor knew he has to stand his ground.

Chapter 7

Investigations and Interrogations

0930 Hours:

Det. Jessie Skoal came in to the office to check her voice mail started to erase some of them, got a mysterious phone call giving her a lead on the whereabouts of Dr. Charlie Linx. The night Dr. Bruce Pinkley died, she immediately went over to their file cabinets pulled out Dr. Charlie Linx’s statement. Starts to check the time he gave, sat back in her chair, “Well, I’ll be damned.” Picks up the phone, called her partner Det. Kent Ruley filled him in and said she’ll be out of the office for a while. At that moment, Detective Ruley was at Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s clinic talking to him. “So, Doc, what you’re telling me is that you really don’t have anything to say to me?” implied the detective. “Yes, that is what I’m telling you Detective,” replied Dr. Eighteen. Detective Ruley knew deep down inside that the doctor was hiding something, he was determined to find out what it was. “Look, Dr. Eighteen I’m here to find out if you heard or saw anything while you worked at the hospital. Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way, I prefer if you would just cooperate with us, things would go a whole lot smoother for everyone involved” Walking past the detective, Dr. Eighteen knew the detective was right but he didn’t want any trouble to him. Things were too hectic at the hospital, this is the reason he went into private practice. Turning around, “You can’t guarantee my safety, so let’s look at that for a moment Detective, second, I don’t want any trouble, and third, the next time we talk I’ll have my lawyer present. Now please leave my clinic!” Detective Ruley walked up to Dr. Eighteen gritting his teeth, got into his face, “Okay, if that’s the way you want, you got it!” He stormed out of Dr. Eighteen’s clinic into the parking lot jumped into his car, picked up the list of his suspects, took his left finger scanned down the list. Attached to his clipboard until he came to Dr. Eighteen’s name put a check mark by it, takes out his cell phone checked his

voice mail. While looking at the list, his eyes came across Dr. Samantha Grea’s name. Refocusing his attention to checking his voice mail heard Detective Skoal’s voice mail, saved it and took off. Dr. Samantha Grea was waiting to be medically released, noticed that the whole left side of her face was covered with a big bandage. Slowly running her hand up the left side of her face, feeling the long scar on her face, got up off her bed made her way over to the mirror. Stopping in her tracks, slowly looked into the mirror, gasped—the whole left side of her face was black and blue. Tears began to stream down her face, making her way back to the bed, sat down as the tears continued to flow, her mood changed from anger to hurt.

Twenty minutes ed, in walked a nurse to Dr. Grea’s room, giving her papers stating that she was medically discharged. Grabbing the nurse’s left arm, Dr. Grea yelled out to her “Look at my face! I can’t go out of here looking like this.” The nurse gently removed Dr. Grea’s hand from her left arm, assured her that the bruising will go down and she’ll be okay. Dr. Grea apologized to the nurse sitting on the side of her bed putting on her clothes. The nurse left the room but returned with a scarf for the doctor, who took the scarf and tied it under her chin. Wearing the scarf like a hat, she left the hospital out the back exit and disappeared into the morning light.

Later on that morning, Detective Skoal met the person at the Nu Coffeehouse to discuss the whereabouts of Dr. Charlie Linx the night Dr. Bruce Pinkley died. “Let me get this straight, Dr. Linx was with you the night Dr. Bruce Pinkley died?” she implied. “That is correct Detective Skoal, he and I were playing bridge at my place with a few friends, as a matter of fact, he spent the night at my place.” Not convinced, the detective asked her informant the time the doctor arrived. The informant replied, “He got to my place around 9:30 p.m., he was there all night I assure you.” Suddenly her cell phone rang, excused herself from her informant to take the call, when she answered the phone, a voice told her that Dr. Skip Guillium and

his girlfriend were in the south of and hung up. Writing down the information, the detective hung up her cell phone saved the number to her phone. Went back over to where she and her informant were sitting only to find the informant gone. Began looking around the coffeehouse to see if her informant was still there but her informant had left the coffeehouse. Flustered, sat down at one of the tables, called Detective Ruley to fill him in the information she got from her informant also about Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend that were in the south of . Both detectives were somewhat surprised that Dr. Skip Guillium would have a girlfriend after his wife died. Detective Skoal knew what it was like to lose a parent; her heartfelt thoughts immediately went out to Dr. Lanely Guillium who was coming along in her recovery. “Poor girl she’s not going to be a happy camper once she finds out about her father’s double life. People go through life and not know the ones they love the most for Dr. Lanely Guillium, things are not good in her world,” said Detective Skoal to Detective Ruley, who agreed with her. At that moment, Dr. Charlie Linx decided to pay Dr. Lanely Guillium a surprised visit only to find that she was in physical therapy. Decided to wait around for her to come back from physical therapy sat down and began to read a magazine. While at her physical therapy session, Dr. Guillium struggled with the standing bars sat back down in her wheelchair. “Take your time,” said her physical therapist “you’re doing great.” Looking at the physical therapist with tears in her eyes, the doctor replied, “Thank you.” Sitting for five minutes, the doctor tried to stand again gaining her composure. Grabbing the bars, pulled herself up struggling took the first step as her physical therapist was behind her with the wheelchair, encouraging her with every painful step she took. The doctor was determined to get better no matter how painful it was she wanted answers from her father and she wanted them now. After an hour of painful physical therapy, made her way back to her room to find Dr. Linx waiting to see her. Not really in the mood for any company, tolerated talking to Dr. Linx. “I see you are getting better, Dr. Guillium I just came by to see how you’re doing. You look a whole lot better,” said Dr. Linx. “Thank you, Charlie, so how are things with you lately,” Dr. Linx walked over to her beside “Well, things have been sort of crazy for me since Dr. Bruce Pinkley died, I even went by Dr. Mikey Eighteen’s new clinic.” Finally, she got into bed with the help of two nurses. Sitting up in her bed curious, asked him about Dr. Eighteen’s new clinic and how he’s doing. Dr. Linx’s attitude changed from happy to stoic. “Well, he’s doing well I better,” Looking at his watch, Dr. Linx told Dr. Guillium to keep getting better, walked out of her room. Red in the face, headed toward the elevators.

1230 Hours:

Dr. Mikey Eighteen decided to go down to the police station to confess everything only to find both detectives Skoal and Ruley out of the office. Left the police station disappointed got into his car went back to his office, knowing that he must tell everything. In order to be stress-free from all the drama he dealt with at the hospital, it’s hitting him like a ton of bricks knew this was the only way. At that moment, Detective Ruley was on his way back to the office decided to stop and pick up some takeout. Called Mrs. Guillium’s brother Jerry Richards, told him they think they knew where his brother-in-law was, he didn’t tell his brother-in-law about the girlfriend. Jerry, stunned, asked the detective why would he be in the south of . “My sister is dead. He should be here!” Trying to find out what happened to her, not knowing how to respond to the question, Detective Ruley suggested, “maybe he had a doctor’s convention or something. Let me look into things, as soon as I find out anything, I’ll give you a call the detective hung up. Hearing nothing but a dial tone, Jerry became enraged and screamed at the top of his lungs, “You son of a bitch!” In the south of at his family’s estate, Dr. Skip Guillium walked in on his girlfriend in the family den talking on the phone. Curious, “Who are you talking to at this time of the day?” Jumping, she hung up, thinking quick on her feet, told him she’s calling her mom to check on her. Not believing her, called the number back only to get a busy dial tone, slammed down the receiver. “What did I tell you? No phone calls from here I don’t want to be bothered by anybody, so far nobody knew where we were. Now they do, thanks to you.” She told him she was sorry and it’ll never happen again, walking up to him to give him a hug, he ignored her, headed out to the kitchen where breakfast was prepared by his personal chef. Walked over to the table and sat down. She followed him into the kitchen still apologizing. At this point, he completely ignored her eating breakfast, the only thing that was on Dr. Skip Guillium’s mind was how was he going talk to his daughter again. Looking up from eating his breakfast at his girlfriend who was still apologizing as if he was staring at a dead woman, “Shut

that hole in your skull or I’ll shut it for you for good!” His girlfriend looked at him like a deer in headlights. All was quiet, Dr. Skip Guillium continued eating his breakfast in silence, his girlfriend sat there quietly eating her breakfast as tears streamed down her face. Back in the States, Detective Skoal called the south of police to see if they could make with an American there by the name of Dr. Skip Guillium. She informed them that his wife had died and they needed to make with him as soon as possible. Detective Skoal knew that Dr. Skip Guillim was hiding something. Why would he run? Trying to keep things in order, refocused her attention back to Dr. Charlie Linx, met up with Detective Ruley who’s been following Dr. Linx from a distance since he saw him ed the place. He stopped for some takeout, pulling up behind her partner at Dr. Charlie Linx’s mansion, got into her partner’s car, he filled her in on his trip of following Dr. Linx all over town. Both of them sat for what seemed like days sitting outside his mansion. They didn’t see any activity, they decided to put an unmarked unit to watch Dr. Linx’s every move and report back to them. Headed back to the office, stopped at the coroner’s office to pick up the toxicology reports on both Dr. Bruce Pinkley and Mrs. Guillium. They were dumbfounded at what they saw in both toxicology reports. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” yelled out Detective Ruley. Stunned, Detective Skoal looked at her partner like he was insane. “Will you please keep your hands on the freakin’ wheel!” she yelled. Jerking the steering wheel correcting the car back to their side of the road pulling over to the curb. Detective Ruley slammed on the brakes picked up his radio, called the unmarked unit assigned to follow Dr. Linx around to give an update. They radioed back still there’s no activity from the doctor’s estate and that he hasn’t left all day.

1430 Hours:

Detectives Skoal and Ruley rushed to the courthouse, went before Judge Sue Kempley and asked for an emergency search order for Dr. Charlie Linx’s estate. Detective Ruley handed the toxicology report of Dr. Bruce Pinkley to the bailiff, telling the judge they believe that Dr. Charlie Linx might’ve had something to do with his death. Judge Sue Kempley not convinced, looked up from the toxicology report handed to her by the bailiff.

“What am I looking at is just a toxicology report.” Trying hard to plead their case getting fed up, Detective Ruley yelled out, “Your Honor, if you just take a look at the time on the report, Dr. Linx is not where he said he was, we need to search his place and see what he knows!” Judge Kempley, shocked at the detective’s outburst slammed her hammer on her gavel with one thunderous blow. Judge Kempley looked at Detective Ruley with disdain “One more outburst like that and I’ll throw you so far under the jail cell. It’ll take them years to peel you from the cell floor!” Apologizing, Detective Ruley changed his attitude, Judge Kempley gave them their emergency search order. The detectives left the courthouse radioed dispatch for additional units to meet both him and Detective Skoal at Dr. Charlie Linx’s estate. Meanwhile, two plainclothes police officers were having lunch with their dates when they overheard two girls talking about Dr. Bruce Pinkley and Dr. Charlie Linx. One of the girls was upset at Dr. Bruce Pinkley calling him a two-timing, backstabbing jerk as her friend consoled her as she cried. “Well, I met a real nice guy, he’s a gentleman, don’t cry, one day you’ll find a sweet guy like I did,” replied the girlfriend. The other girlfriend was still sobbing, “Oh yeah, well, what’s his name?” the girlfriend asked her friend. The girl started to blush “His name is Charlie Linx, he’s a doctor. Can you believe my luck?” At that moment, the plainclothes officers really didn’t pay their conversation that much attention for now. Finishing their lunch with their dates, the two plainclothes police officers walked their dates out to their cars when they saw three police units speed by. Giving their dates a kiss, they ran over to their unmarked unit when they heard over the radio for any units in the vicinity of Dr. Charlie Linx’s estate to report to the location. Both of the plainclothes officers looked at each other, went back into the restaurant, took with them the two girls inside the restaurant, brought them to Dr. Linx’s estate. Later on that day, Dr. Eighteen was out at the coffeehouse sipping on a cup of coffee reading the newspaper when a lady walked up to him. Clearing her throat standing there wearing big round black sunglasses with a scarf tied under her neck, wearing it like a hat hiding the long scar on the left side of her face. You could see some of the bruising was starting to disappear, seeing the shadow of a figure appear on his newspaper, Dr. Eighteen, not realizing he was talking to Dr. Grea. “I’m sorry, can I help you, ma’am?” Still standing and looking down at him, finally said to him in a graveled voice, “Well, well, if it isn’t Dr. Mikey Eighteen” slowly looking around the room for help, still not recognizing her “Ma’am, I don’t believe I know you?” Dr. Eighteen looking at the big scar on the left side of her face in horror. “Please, ma’am can you please get away from me?” Disgusted at the fact

Dr. Eighteen didn’t recognize her, Dr. Grea knocked over his cup of coffee and stormed out of the coffeehouse. He jumped up from the table, a staff member of the Nu Coffeehouse rushed over to his table to wipe the hot coffee off his newspaper and table. Dr. Eighteen started to chase her but Dr. Grea had already disappeared. Changed his mind, paid for his coffee and newspaper, started to get suspicious of who was following him in the past. Dr. Eighteen for the first time in his life decided to call his father to talk to him, but his father didn’t pick up the phone. Things were getting hectic all over the city that day, the police had their hands full with the same old-fashioned crimes from burglary to murder. Out at Dr. Charlie Linx’s estate, Detectives Skoal, Ruley and plainclothes police officers left the two girls in their unmarked unit. They entered his home, handing him the emergency search warrant as other units descended on his property collecting any and everything for evidence. Dr. Linx wasn’t happy at all about them being there but he didn’t have a choice other than to cooperate for now. This police station was about to have their honor, courage, to protect and serve even their reasons for wanting to become police officers in the first place tested to the limit.

1730 Hours:

Detectives Skoal, Ruley, the plainclothes officers, the two girlfriends and the officers in the unmarked car bringing Dr. Charlie Linx all made their way to the police station. Detectives Skoal, Ruley and their fellow officers put Dr. Charlie Linx into interrogation room 1, girlfriend 1 in interrogation room 2 and girlfriend 2 in interrogation room 3. They had a conference on all the evidences they gathered before heading into the interrogation rooms. Detectives Ruley and Skoal decided were going to take turns interrogating Dr. Charlie Linx, while the plainclothes officers decided that they were going to interrogate the girlfriends. In interrogation room 1, Dr. Charlie Linx sat at the table not aware that both the detectives were watching his every move in the next room behind privacy soundproofed glass. Detectives Skoal and Ruley were looking over the line of questioning they were going to ask him. When they both looked up to check on Dr. Linx, he was making lewd and vulgar gestures at the glass to him, it looked like a wall, shook their heads at the same time “Boy he’s a cocky little fellow, isn’t he?” implied Detective Skoal. “Yeah by the time this is all over, we’ll see if

he’s still cocky,” replied Detective Ruley in a deep low voice. Detective Ruley left the privacy room and made his way into interrogation room 1, closing the door behind him as he made eye with Dr. Linx, who looked at him like he’s a joke. While leaning back in his chair in a cocky voice, “I don’t have anything to say to you, cop, you’re wasting your time.” Detective Ruley walked behind the doctor sweeping the chair legs from under his chair with him hitting the floor. The detective grabbed the doctor off the floor, kicking the chair completely out the way, pulled the doctor close to him leaned forward to where they’re nose to nose and said to him “Shut up! Don’t ever lean back in my chair again!” Let the doctor go pulled out another chair so the doctor could sit down, trying regain his composure, the detective walked around the table sat down directly in front of the doctor. “Now, Dr. Linx, can you tell me where were you on the night Dr. Bruce Pinkley was murdered?” Not at all amused by the detective’s physical tactics, Dr. Linx looked in the eyes of the detective with a smirk on his face “I’m not saying anything until my lawyer gets here, cop!” Detective Ruley looked at the doctor “Why won’t you answer the question unless you’ve got something to hide. Hey, you cooperate and all of this can be over.” The doctor knew he didn’t have to say anything but he did. “Look, Detective Ruley or whatever your name is, I didn’t kill Dr. Bruce Pinkley I had nothing to do with it,” he replied. Dr. Linx, trying to push him further, the detective yelled at him, “Just give me a time, for once just give me the right time, Dr. Linx!” “I don’t know what you’re talking about time. What do you mean the right time!” yelled the doctor back at the detective. Still trying to grind the ax, the detective went for broke, pulled out the pictures of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s dead body, put them down in front of the doctor. “I believe the reason you don’t know the right time is because you’re the one who killed Dr. Bruce Pinkley. Were you jealous of him?” Looking away from the pictures, Dr. Linx still wasn’t moved by the detective’s antics, started to laugh at the detective, in a cocky voice “That’ll never stick in court. So I’m only going to say it one more time, I want to wait for my lawyer, you can beat me yell or even scream for that matter, I don’t have nothing else to say to you.” Removing the pictures of Dr. Pinkley’s dead body off the table, the detective slammed his fist on the table spilling some of his coffee, “Okay, if that’s how you want to play it, I’ve got nothing all night, nothing but time on my hands.” Putting the pictures back into the evidence folder, walked out from interrogation room 1, slamming the door behind him. While back inside, Dr. Linx sat there with a stoic look on his face,

motionless. However, one of the plainclothes officers was getting bits and pieces of information from girlfriend 1 in interrogation room 2. “I dated Dr. Bruce Pinkley, he wasn’t the nicest guy I’ve dated but I was still falling in love with him,” she replied. Plainclothes officer 1 stepped outside the interrogation room to go talk to Detectives Skoal and Ruley ed Dr. Linx’s attorney, who stopped him. The attorney was a very well-distinguish man in the law community accompanied the plainclothes officer heading to see the detectives. All three headed to interrogation room 1 observation room where inside they found the detectives going over their notes, not at all happy with the detectives. Dr. Charlie Linx’s attorney demanded that his client be released. “Your client is here under a court order,” replied Detective Ruley as he handed the attorney a copy of the court order. The attorney looked at the court order with disdain, turned his attention to his client, Dr. Linx He noticed that the doctor had a bloody nose, became enraged, yelled at the detectives. “Can either one of you explain why my client is bleeding!” Detective Skoal stood back with a stoic look on her face with her hands on her hips, “Are you accusing us of hitting your client, counsel?” “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” replied the attorney, things were starting to get heated. While Detective Skoal and Dr. Linx’s attorney were in a verbal war, plainclothes officer 1 pulled Detective Ruley to the side. “Hey, Kent, you might want to come with me,” not quite sure of what the plainclothes officer was talking about, “I’m not following you anywhere unless you’ve got something for me.” Taking a deep sigh, the plainclothes officer said to the detective, “Trust me, Kent.” Both stepped out into the hallway to get away from the shouting match inside. “This better be good,” implied Detective Ruley, the plainclothes officer informed the detective about the girl he’s been talking to in interrogation room 2, telling him that the girl dated Dr. Bruce Pinkley. Immediately they both headed to the privacy observation room 2. Once inside, they both studied the girl’s every move. “So let me get this straight, Officer, you’re telling me that this girl dated Dr. Bruce Pinkley?” asked Detective Ruley as he watched her every move. “That is correct, sir,” replied the plainclothes officer, the detective didn’t know what to make of the girl, sent the plainclothes officer back in to continue to talk to her while he watched. In interrogation room 3, girlfriend 2 was fully cooperating with plainclothes officer 2. “It’s like I’ve been telling you all along, Officer, that Dr. Charlie Linx and I had been on a few dates, he seemed like the perfect gentleman” Curious, plainclothes officer 2 began to question her about her girlfriend’s relationship with the late Dr. Bruce Pinkley. “Well, they had a lovehate relationship,” The girl went on to say, “My friend can be a little possessive but she’d never hurt anybody I’m sure of it.” At that moment, the plainclothes officer began to question the girl more about her friend’s whereabouts the night

that the doctor was murdered. “Oh, that’s easy she was with him,” the girl replied. At that Stunned the plainclothes officer stepped out of the interrogation room, headed to interrogation room 1 privacy observation room where he found Detective Skoal and Dr. Linx’s attorney no longer arguing. Sitting down and talking about the ins and outs of the case against his client. “Excuse me, Detective Skoal, can I speak with you outside?” The detective excused herself from the meeting with the attorney stepped outside into the hallway with plainclothes officer 2. Not in a very good mood at this point, Detective Skoal had little tolerance for stupidity at this point, “I’m busy dealing with this airhead of a lawyer. What do you want?” “I think we’ve got a break in the Dr. Bruce Pinkley case.” She’s somewhat stunned when he told her that the girl he’s been interviewing informed him that her girlfriend was with Dr. Bruce Pinkley on the night he died. She went back inside interrogation room 1 privacy observation room, informed Dr. Linx’s attorney to sit tight. Headed to interrogation room 3 to talk to the girl, when she made a call to the south of police.

0730 Hours:

All was calm and quiet for Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend until he was awakened to a lot of loud talking downstairs, got up put on his robe to go and find out what was going on. His butler was talking to three south of police officers, not knowing what to do, the doctor tried to stay calm as he walked down his long stairwell. “Can I help you?” asked the doctor to the police officer, who in turn told Dr. Skip Guillium that they got a call from a Detective Skoal in the States about the death of his wife. Pretending to be stunned, sat down on the bottom step of his long staircase and began to cry. His girlfriend woke up to Dr. Skip Guillium crying, immediately got out of the bed, putting on her robe and slippers, ran out into the hallway only to find three south of police officers. Dr. Skip Guillium was sitting at the bottom of the stairwell being consoled by his butler. She rushed down the stairs to also give the doctor emotional . One of the police officers became suspicious “Excuse me, madam, and who might you be?” Thinking quick on his feet before the woman

could reveal she was his girlfriend, the doctor replied, “She’s my assistant.” One of the police officers snapped at the doctor. “Excuse me, sir but I was talking to the lady now. Ma’am, can you answer the question?” The girlfriend knew she had to tell the police officers the truth. “I’m his girlfriend,” she replied. Appalled at the doctor, the three south of police officers took them both into custody for questioning. Once at the police station, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend were put in two separate rooms for questioning. Dr. Skip Guillium was being questioned by one of south of ’s most notorious detectives, who didn’t really care for anyone who lied or murdered. The detective sat down across from the doctor “Can you tell me why you are here in south of ?” Dr. Skip Guillium, trying to think quickly on his feet, said, “I’m here to check on my family’s property. I hadn’t been here in a while,” becoming infuriated with the doctor’s antics, “Sir, your wife is dead. Shouldn’t you be back in the States trying to find out what happened to her!” The doctor knew he had to find a way to get out of that police station but how? “I’m sorry, Officer, I’m just a little lost for words right now I will find out what happened to my wife I assure you.” Still not convinced that the doctor was sorry, the detective continued to pound away at the doctor, “Can you tell me why you have a girlfriend? Don’t you think that’s kind of odd?” Dr. Skip Guillium looked at the detective, didn’t know how to answer the detective’s line of questioning, the doctor dropped his head in shame. Meanwhile, his girlfriend was getting blasted by the same line of questioning from a female detective. At this point, both Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend were being put through the ringer by, the South of police department after having their pictures taken. Back in the States, Detective Ruley took a break from observing the friend of the deceased Dr. Bruce Pinkley. Running to his partner who was on her way to observe the girlfriend, informed Detective Ruley about the phone call she got from the south of police department. “The police took Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend in for questioning,” said Detective Skoal to Detective Ruley, who in turn went back to their office got on his computer, acting on gut-wrenching hunch. Runs Dr. Skip Guillium’s background check through Interpol, decided to go back to interrogation room 2 privacy observation room and continued to observe the girlfriend who dated Dr. Charlie Linx, while waiting for the results from Interpol about Dr. Skip Guillium. Back in the south of at the police station, the police knew that they couldn’t hold the doctor and his girlfriend they let them go. Just as Dr. Skip Guillium was about to leave the police station, a detective yelled out to him, “How can you live with yourself? Have you no dignity, man! Go home!” Leaving the police station with his girlfriend, suspects she told them something but what? Meanwhile, back in the States, Detectives Ruley, Skoal and both

plainclothes officers had their hands full. Detective Skoal entered interrogation room 3 privacy observation room. The detective listened and watched as the plainclothes officer 2 went back inside and continued his line of questioning of the girl who was dating Dr. Charlie Linx. Apologized to the girl about leaving so suddenly, made sure to get the most out of her, offered her a cup of coffee, the girl declined. Picking up where he left off, looking over his notes “You told me that your friend was with Dr. Bruce Pinkley the night he died correct?” The girl started to get impatient in a snarly voice, “Look, I already told you yes. Now can I go?” Out of the blue the door to the interrogation room door flew open in walked Detective Skoal, who relieved the officer took over the line of questioning. Sat down across from the girl with her notes in hand she’d been taking while observing her from the privacy observation room. In a deep and low, impatient voice, “Look I know you want to get out of here but I need to know are you sure your friend was with Dr. Bruce Pinkley on the night he died?” The girl sat back in her chair confidently “I’m positive she was there because she called me from his penthouse condominium.” The detective immediately pulled the copy of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s phone call history report. From her case file folder the detective asked the girlfriend to give her Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s phone number. The girl gave her the doctor’s number. Detective Skoal scanned down the list to see that a call from the doctor’s penthouse condominium went out at 11:30 p.m. The girlfriend of Dr. Linx at that moment was starting to feel a little uneasy with the questioning, asked for a bathroom break. Detective Skoal called a female officer in to take the girl to the bathroom. Once the girl was out of the room, Detective Skoal sat back in her chair, put her hands on the top of her head, let out a deep sigh of relief, then it hit her, if this girl she’s interrogating is dating Dr. Charlie Linx put her best friend at the scene of the crime somewhat get that arrogant and pompous Dr. Charlie Linx off the hook, or does it.

1030 Hours:

Dr. Eighteen filled with guilt went down to the police again, hoping to find the detectives there, walking down the hallway to the detective’s office, saw Dr. Linx in Interrogation room 1, walked by real fast, hoping the doctor didn’t see him, turned the corner real fast. Running into a police officer, the doctor asked him if Detectives Skoal and Ruley were in. The police officer told him yes and

directed him in the right direction. He made his way to interrogation room 3. Inside was Detective Skoal who was surprised to see the doctor, she jumped up from her chair took the doctor to their office. Still trying to digest the information from the girlfriend of Dr. Linx, took a deep breath while sitting down at her desk in a mean voice “What are you doing here? Dr. Eighteen, we’re busy.” Sensing that the detective was exhausted, offered her something for a headache. She took two pills with a glass of water, watching the detective become more relaxed, Dr. Eighteen told the detective everything. Feeling a little better, Detective Skoal’s jaw dropped and dumbfounded, looked at Dr. Eighteen in disbelief. “Wait! Wait! Slow down so you’re telling me you saw Dr. Bruce Pinkley and Dr. Samantha Grea at the hospital in a stairwell embraced in a mad ionate kiss. Also Dr. Bruce Pinkley raped Dr. Lanely Guillium when she went on a date with him” asked Detective Skoal. Feeling free like a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulders, Dr. Eighteen took a deep sigh of relief. “Yes,” he replied. Detective Skoal radioed a squad car to Dr. Samantha Grea’s home to bring her in for questioning. After making that call, the detective warned Dr. Eighteen that withholding crucial testimony in a case of this magnitude can bring disaster for all parties involved. The doctor looked at the detective “I know,” walked out of the detective’s office. The detective got up out of her chair ran after Dr. Eighteen stopped him and gave him her business card. Already swamped with work let the doctor go, made her way back to interrogation room 3 where she found the girlfriend of Dr. Charlie Linx waiting for her. Sitting back down in front of the girlfriend “Well, everything you told me seems to check out you’re free to go,” the girl gathered her things off the table, made her way out the door. Concerned about her girlfriend, turned around and asked the detective about her friend. Detective Skoal, with a mean smirk on her face in a nice nasty voice, “She’ll be fine. I’ve got your statement and just like yourself your friend will be released if everything she tells us checks out okay.” The girl bolted toward the exit without looking back disappeared into the hustle bustle of the city. The detective sat back in her recliner police chair, closed her eyes, took two deep breaths. Exhaling slowly, reopened her eyes to find plainclothes officer 2 standing there looking at her. Almost falling out of her chair, she yelled at him, “Ooh my god how long were you standing there!” The plainclothes officer, holding in his chuckles asked what happened with the girlfriend he was interrogating. Standing up, Detective Skoal told him she let her go; everything she told her checked out, walked past him and out of the office. The plainclothes officer stood there for a few minutes in the office scratching his head said to himself good and walked out of the detective’s office. Heading back to interrogation room 2 privacy observation room where his partner was still

interrogating Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s girlfriend. Seeing Detective Ruley still observing, plainclothes officer ed him, in walked Detective Skoal filled in her partner on the new evidence in the case. Detective Ruley went into interrogation room 2 and relieved plainclothes officer 1, offered the girlfriend a cup of coffee, she flat-out refused with an attitude looking around the room like a caged animal. The detective tried to put the girlfriend of the deceased Dr. Bruce Pinkley at ease; Detective Ruley gave her a cigarette, took it slowly, began to relax with every puff from the cigarette. Making his move, “So can you tell me where you were the night Dr. Bruce Pinkley died?” Sitting back in her chair, the girl looked at the detective, “I was with him” the detective began to dig away at the girl. “Tell me what happened.” Sitting back in her chair still smoking, she started to recall everything that happened. “We got into a big argument over him cheating on me with another woman I got upset and called my best friend to tell her to come and pick me up. He lunged at me to snatch the phone away from me I pushed him away from me,” the girlfriend replied. Knowing there was more to it, the detective continued to apply pressure until the girlfriend snapped. “He fell into the Jacuzzi hitting his head okay!” she yelled as she cried. “It was a mistake. we were drinking. I didn’t mean for it to happen.” The detective looked at the girl “Why didn’t you call the police or ambulance?” Wiping the tears from her eyes, “Because he wasn’t dead, he got out of the Jacuzzi to apologize to me, I got my coat and left his place,” she replied. Looking over his paperwork, “Do you the time you called your friend?” Still wiping the tears from her eyes, “I think it was around 11:25 or 11:30 p.m. I don’t really .” The detective got up from the table stepped out of the room to give the girlfriend time to herself.

1330 Hours:

Detective Skoal had her hands full with Dr. Charlie Linx and his attorney, the detective filled the doctor’s attorney in on everything pertaining to his client. The attorney at this point had grown intolerant of the detectives’ motives, demanded that his client be set free. When her partner Det. Kent Ruley walked in both detectives excused themselves from interrogation room 1 privacy observation room. Walked out into the hallway, Detective Ruley informed his partner that the girlfriend of the deceased doctor itted to him that they had a

fight the night he died but he was alive when she left. Both detectives, armed with the new development in the case, had to make a very hard decision neither one of them wanted to make in through the police doors walked Dr. Samantha Grea being escorted by two police officers. You could tell the doctor wasn’t thrilled in the least bit to be back at the police station. Detective Ruley decided that he’d go back inside to deal with Dr. Linx and his attorney. Detective Skoal motioned to the police officer’s escorting Dr. Samantha Grea to put her in interrogation room 4. Back inside interrogation room 1, Detective Ruley and Dr. Charlie Linx’s attorney sat at the table in a stare down, the doctor asked the detective if he could speak to his attorney in private. The detective excused himself, went into the privacy observation room, listening to everything the doctor told his attorney. The doctor confessed everything to his attorney, the detective walked back in, pretending that he didn’t hear anything. Sits down in front of the attorney and the doctor before the detective could start his line of questioning the attorney interrupted, “Excuse me, Detective, my client has told me that you’re trying to pin a murder on him.” The detective watched the arrogant Dr. Linx smile while his attorney tried to read him the Riot Act not having any of it. “Well, we’ve got a dead doctor on our hands and your client has not cooperated with us in the least bit.” The attorney stood his ground. “Now listen to me, Detective, my client has told me that he followed Dr. Bruce Pinkley to his home but he never left his vehicle, also told me he fell asleep in his vehicle woke to flashing police lights. Your guys had the place sealed off at 0230 hours, he left the area around that time,” replied the attorney. Disgusted with the attorney’s attitude, the detective didn’t back down, both threw insults at each other like a pitcher throwing fast balls. Fed up, Dr. Linx yelled, “I wasn’t the only one there that night. I didn’t leave my vehicle I swear, Detective. How was I to know the guy was going to die? I was mad at him yes, for dating Dr. Lanely Guillium but I didn’t kill the guy. I’m a doctor I didn’t go to the best medical school in the country to kill a fellow doctor!” His attorney, somewhat shocked at his client’s outburst advised his client to keep quiet, the doctor wouldn’t listen. He continued on about his dislike for the doctor asked to be released if he’s not going to be charged, the detective knew if he let his emotions get the best of him, things could get nasty real fast. Sat back down in his chair as did the doctor’s attorney, both of them took a deep breath at the same time. At that moment, all went silent the stare down was on, neither side gave ground or budged in their opinions and facts. Dr. Charlie Linx and his attorney sat until Detective Ruley asked the attorney to go with him. Dr. Linx was finally realizing that this could get serious this wasn’t a game panicked. Outside the detective and his attorney were talking. The detective let the attorney know that he wasn’t happy with his

client’s attitude and if he would’ve cooperated, all of this would’ve been over hours ago. Heard a loud crash of chairs being kicked around inside the interrogation room, headed back inside to find Dr. Linx fully enraged. The attorney was trying to calm his client down. The doctor was really strong, tossed his attorney like rag doll who hit his head on the table falling to the floor. Seeing the attorney fall, the detective thought twice about drawing his gun on the doctor: Instead pulled out his Taser gun warned the doctor to stop. Dr. Linx at this point was out of control from being stuck inside the interrogation room, which to him it seemed like years. Didn’t comply screamed at the top of his lungs as he ran toward the detective who lit him up with fifty thousand volts of electricity. That stopped the doctor in his tracks, falling to the ground with his face breaking his fall, ed out. The detective slowly walked over to the doctor, bent down to check to see if he still had a pulse the doctor did. Backup arrived to assist the detective and the fallen attorney, Detective Ruley knew he didn’t have a choice but deep down inside the detective was happy he broke the arrogant jerk. The detective instructed the police officers who came to help, “Put Dr. Linx in a holding cell.” Dr. Linx’s attorney sat down in the chair trying to regain his bearings, was given an ice pack for the nasty cut he sustained from hitting his head on the table where he fell. Both the attorney and the detective agreed it was best that the doctor be held one more night until he cooled down. Detective Skoal had her hands full with Dr. Samantha Grea in interrogation room 4. The detective watched the doctor from the privacy observation room, walked out and into the interrogation room. Sitting down across from the doctor, offered the doctor a cup of coffee. The doctor flat-out refused looking at the detective with disdain. “What is it this time, Detective?” Not at all amused by the doctor’s attitude, in a deep low authoritative voice, “Tell me how you know Dr. Bruce Pinkley!” The doctor, caught off guard, snapped back at the detective, “That’s none of your business.” From that moment on, things got out of control Dr. Samantha Grea, itted to the relationship with Dr. Bruce Pinkley. The detective at this point wanted to push the doctor further for more information. “Did you go by his house on the night he was killed?” “No, absolutely not,” replied the doctor. The detective took the pictures of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s dead body put the picture down on the table in front of the doctor. Walked around the table, bent down next to the doctor, in a low and angry voice “You had a relationship with this doctor. Don’t you want to know what happened to him? Look at the pictures tell me something.” Going for broke, the detective became aggressive. “Come on, Doc, you can tell me anything right now. Is there anything? Did he cheat on you, you went there in a fit of rage to get some answers? Come on, Dr. Grea, spit it out. You fell for a younger doctor who

turned out to be a womanizer and you couldn’t handle being third, fourth, hell maybe even fifth fiddle!” The detective could feel she was getting to the doctor, continued to grind away while pointing at the pictures of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s dead body. “Because you had a relationship with him, it made you a suspect unless you’ve got something to tell me different than what you’ve told me.” The doctor folded under the pressure. Began to recall her whereabouts on the night of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s death. “I went by his place around midnight on my way in to work. Once up there, I knocked on his penthouse condominium door, the door was ajar. I went inside and found Bruce hanging from his ceiling over his Jacuzzi with a rope around his neck. I ran over got a chair and a knife from his kitchen cut him down. We both fell into his Jacuzzi.” The doctor began to cry put her head down on the table. Detective Skoal looked at the pictures and noticed the black and blue scars around the deceased doctor’s neck, sat back in her chair. “So let me guess, you called the police?” Lifting her head up from the table with tears streaming down her face, “Yes, I called the police I panicked and ran out of the high-rise. Reaching into her pocket, the doctor pulled out a folded piece of paper handed it to the detective, who reads it and was shocked at the content of the letter. Left the interrogation room at that moment, her partner was back at their office she walked in handed him the note given to her by Dr. Grea. He reads it out loud,

Tell Dr. Lanely Guillium that I’m sorry for forcing myself on her. My life is ruined. I’ve hurt too many people. Maybe it’ll be better if I wasn’t here on this planet. Dr. Bruce Pinkley PS: See you on the other side.

Both detectives sat down in their chairs and stared at each other for what seemed like hours in silence.

Speaking of Dr. Lanely Guillium, she was pushing herself to get better, the doctor suspected foul play in her mother’s death. The easygoing personality and attitude was gone. She became a woman possessed wanted answers from her father. The only thing kept playing over and over in her head was, Where is my father and why isn’t he here with me when I need him most? All of these insecure and negative thoughts, the doctor used them for motivation to get to the bottom of everything no matter the price. Back at the police station the detectives were sitting at their desk when Detective Ruley received a printout from Interpol on Dr. Skip Guillium. Was shocked at what he read, “Holy shit!” Detective Skoal jumped up from her desk walked quickly over to her partner’s desk. They both read the report, he got back from the Interpol international headquarters. Detective Skoal ran back over to her desk to call the police in the south of . Not getting an answer, continued until she got the voice mail of their lead detective, left the following message: “We need for you guys to hold Dr. Skip Guillium in your custody,” her partner was on the phone with the FBI and CIA. He faxed them a copy of Dr. Skip Guillium report, detectives were shocked for the first time in their career as police officers at the same time say ooh my god! As they looked at the report they received on Dr. Skip Guillium, scrambled to get an international t special task group together to hunt Dr. Skip Guillium down to bring him back to the United States.

1600 Hours:

Detective Skoal finished up her interrogation of Dr. Samantha Grea, giving her the same warning she gave to Dr. Mikey Eighteen about withholding testimony and evidence in a crucial case of this magnitude. Warned her the ramifications could come back to haunt her down the road. Released the doctor when her partner walked in with the final reports from the coroner’s office on both Dr. Bruce Pinkley and Mrs. Skip Guillium. After getting the analysis of Dr. Bruce Pinkley’s handwritten suicide note results back from the lab, they had no choice but to rule his death a suicide. The next morning, Detective Ruley allowed Dr. Charlie Linx to post bail but told him not to leave town. Dr. Linx looked at the detective with a clueless look on his face before being walked out by his attorney who had a big Band-Aid on his head from yesterday he sustained at the hands of his client. The detectives knew the storm was about to shift in a direction neither

of them was ready for, or so they thought. Dr. Mikey Eighteen slowly changed his life around, he knew going to the police to tell them everything he saw going on at the hospital was the best decision he ever made. Not knowing what the next day will bring was beginning to feel refreshing to him. He had Dr. Lanely Guillium on his mind all the time, hoping she’s getting better. The only thing that puzzled Dr. Eighteen over and over was where was her father. He still wanted to thank him, as for Dr. Skip Guillium, his life was in turmoil dealing with the death of his wife. On top of that, his girlfriend was pregnant not to mention his dark past and double life.

Chapter 8

The Manhunt

Later on that evening, Det. Kent Ruley was finishing up briefing the special task force team on the information he received. From the south of police on the whereabouts of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend but the detective doesn’t know that the police had released the doctor and his girlfriend. The detective knew that they had to act quickly and fast to catch the doctor. At that moment, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend went back to his family’s estate, grabbed as much clothing and money they could from his safe, jumped into his Range Rover, sped out of the estate main driveway onto the streets not looking back. The doctor drove through traffic very cautiously trying not to speed as his girlfriend sat quietly not saying a word. Back in the United States, Detective Ruley and the special task force team made their way to the airport jumped on a red-eye flight to the south of . Armed with all the ammunition he needed, the detective knew he was racing against time. His partner Det. Jessie Skoal made her way to the hospital to tell Dr. Lanely Guillium about her father’s double life. Entering the doctor’s room made Detective Skoal cautious in her approach when telling the doctor the bad news. Going over to the doctor’s bedside, the detective trying to break the ice “Doctor, I see you’re almost healed up completely.” Not in a mood to talk, the doctor had the look of revenge in her eyes. “Why are you here, Detective? Shouldn’t you be out trying to find who killed my mother?” she implied. Detective Skoal knew that the doctor had a lot of anger build up inside. In a calm voice, gave the doctor a heartfelt apology for the untimely ing of her mother. Taking a deep breath, the detective told the doctor of her father’s bad past from money laundering out his medical practice to him having a girlfriend. Along with tax evasion and leaving the country is now in the South of . As Dr. Lanely Guillium sat and listened to the detective, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The detective went on to tell the doctor about her father’s alias, fed up and not wanting to hear another word, the doctor asked the detective to leave. The detective knew this was a hard time for the doctor, before leaving, the detective put Dr. Skip Guillium’s information in a

big envelope for the doctor on her serving tray. “We’ll do everything in our power to find your mother’s killer and bring the person or persons to justice,” turned and walked out of the doctor’s room. The doctor, who was still in shock, looked at the big envelope the detective left for her. Slowly she reached for the envelope. began to feel light-headed with butterflies in her stomach picked up the big envelope opened it, pouring the contents inside onto her hospital bed. The doctor picked up the five ports, opening them one by one staring at the picture of the man over and over again, not realizing that the guy she’s looking at was her father. One port he had blond hair with a mustache and blue s on, another port he had dark black hair with green lenses with no facial hair. Not being able to look at another port, she dropped them on her bed putting her hands over mouth. With a look of hurt and disbelief in her eyes, taking a deep breath she picked up another port. This one she looked at the eyes of the man she called her father they were brown, he was bald headed with a goatee was wearing eyeglasses. The name on one was Thom Morgan, another one had the name Scott Mhry and Dexter Houston. Not knowing what to make of all the ports she put them to the side, picked up the piece of paper with her father’s address on it, read it to herself. “South of huh, we’ll see about that.” From that moment on, Dr. Lanely Guillium began to question if her whole life was a lie and how could her father be coldhearted and deceitful.

0130 Hours:

Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend dressed up in disguise as they made their way through the South of heading toward Nice, . The doctor began to question his girlfriend about what she said to the police back at the police station. The girlfriend knew she was dealing with a desperate man, she tried to reassure him that she didn’t say anything to the police at the police station. He wasn’t buying it, he pulled over up on a hillside out of sight put his truck in park, in a fit of rage grabbed his girlfriend by the throat yelled at her, “Don’t play games with me. Now what did you tell them!” Gasping for air, the girlfriend tried to remove his death grip hands from around her throat, she began to kick her legs as her eyes rolled back in her head. The doctor released his girlfriend and apologized to her as she coughed and gasped for air while looking at him, “I’m pregnant with your child and you choke me. I didn’t tell the police anything

okay!” Knowing his girlfriend was pregnant with child didn’t really matter to the doctor, who was already paranoid and insecure. The doctor started up his truck headed down the hill, telling his girlfriend along the way that they had to stick together no matter what happens. Later in the morning, Det. Kent Ruley and the special task force group arrived in the South of where they were met by an investigator from the South of Interpol field office along with a detective from the south of police station. They all made their way out to unmarked police cars waiting for them. Detective Ruley and his team were filled in on information the detective had gathered in the interview of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend, which wasn’t much. Everyone knew that they had to find the guy, Detective Ruley wasn’t happy at all once the police officer told him that they let the doctor and his girlfriend go. “Are you guys serious!” yelled the detective, the French police officer tried to explain to the detective that they couldn’t hold the doctor because he didn’t commit a crime on French soil. The detective realized that the doctor could be anywhere by now, but where he pondered in the unmarked police unit as they made their way to the south of Interpol field office. Meanwhile, Dr. Eighteen decided to take some time off and go pay his father a surprise visit back in his hometown, was shocked and surprised when he got to his childhood home. Rang the doorbell, a young couple answered the door looking at Dr. Eighteen. “Can we help you, sir?” they asked. Confused trying to gather his thoughts, “I’m sorry can you tell me what happened to Mr. Mikey Eighteen Sr., the guy who stayed here?” The couple told him that the house was on the market for one year and they just brought it from their realtor. He stepped back from the couple’s front door while pointing up at his old room. “I grew up in this house,” he replied and walked away. The couple not knowing what to think of the doctor, closed their door as he walked back to his car. Dr. Eighteen was sitting in his car, trying to make sense of his father selling the family home without telling him. The doctor sat there for what seemed like hours, taking a deep breath, pulled himself together drove off thinking to himself where could his father be. The doctor didn’t know who he could turn to, did the next best thing, he called Dr. Lanely Guillium for help and advice. He knew this would be a big gamble on his part to call her with all of the stuff she’s going through. Dr. Lanely finally completed her physical therapy, used a cane temporarily until she no longer needs it. Gets back to her room to a ringing phone, limped over and picked it up, realized right away it’s Dr. Mikey Eighteen. Who checked on her told her about his father selling the house he doesn’t know where to begin to find him. Still dealing with her own family problems, tried to give Dr. Eighteen the

best advice she can told to him go to the police and see what they tell him. Both doctors at this point didn’t know what’s going on with their fathers, they became determined to find out their whereabouts. As for Dr. Lanely Guillium she hung up the phone with Dr. Eighteen, limped around to the other side of her bed sat down. Picked up the piece of paper with her father’s location in the south of , knew she had to get out of the hospital. The doctor looked down at her the floor then it hit her, it may have had something to do with her mother’s murder. But deep down inside the doctor stopped herself for thinking that way about her father. She wanted to give her father a chance to explain himself even with all the damaging information she had in her possession of her father’s double life. Was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

1130 Hours:

Dr. Charlie Linx arrived at his estate being dropped off by his lawyer, went inside his home still upset at being tased by Detective Ruley, ran up his long staircase to his huge master suite bedroom, grabbed clothes and anything he deemed useful, packed it down. Headed downstairs out to his kitchen called his butler on the intercom, advised him to call his limousine driver immediately to bring his Bentley to the main driveway. The butler did his job and called the limousine driver who brought the Bentley to the main driveway. Dr. Charlie Linx made his way out to the main driveway getting in the backseat of his Bentley while his driver loaded his luggage in the trunk. The doctor decided to get out of town for a while as things were getting too hectic for him, couldn’t stand being there another minute, yelled at his driver to hurry up. As they pulled out of the main driveway, the doctor lay back, still thinking about what Detective Ruley did to him made him. Rethink his attitude toward authority, he figured at the police station, Detective Jessie Skoal was being briefed by Detective Ruley on the whereabouts of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend from the south of . Detective Skoal listened to her partner as she sat down at her desk. “Well, did they get the voice mail I sent them?” Detective Ruley, in a disappointed low voice, “Not to my knowledge. On top of that, they let him and his girlfriend go. We don’t know where they are at this time.” With their hands full, no one realized Jerry Richards, the brother of the deceased Mrs. Skip Guillium, landed in Paris, , pretending to be on vacation. The brother

wanting answers from his brother-in-law, was very careful checked into a fivestar hotel renting out the penthouse under a fake name. Sat at the big desk with the computer, got on the Internet and began his own search of his brother-in-law. Determined, the brother of the deceased Mrs. Guilliuim was hell-bent on finding his brother-in-law. Hired some shady characters in Paris’s underworld to flush him and his girlfriend out into the open. At that moment, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend ditched his truck into Nice, , caught a train, both dressed in disguises being careful not to be seen. They sat in the last car of the train where there’s not that many engers. The conductor made his way through each car punching the engers’ tickets. Finished up his first walk through by punching Dr. Skip Guillium’s and his girlfriend’s ticket turned around, and headed back to the front car. The doctor was sitting on pins and needles, his heart was pounding through his chest. Taking a quick sip of his Scotch on the rocks, looked at his girlfriend with hurt in his eyes, “I’m truly sorry for what I did to you, please forgive me.” The girlfriend at first hesitant gave in to the doctor by embracing him in a mad ionate kiss as the train continued on to Paris, . Back in the south of , Detective Ruley, the special task force group and the Interpol investigator were beginning to make some progress in finding Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend by returning to his family’s estate. They questioned the staff of the property for hours until one of them cracked under pressure, he said to the detective they’re headed to Nice, . The detective kept pressing the staff for more information, assuming that the doctor and his girlfriend had just left, they put out an APB on the couple. Not knowing that the doctor and his girlfriend were already on a train heading to Paris, .

1000 Hours:

Finally released from the hospital, Dr. Lanely Guillium, armed with all the damaging evidence against her dad, returned home, packed her luggage, took a limousine to the airport and took a red-eye flight to the south of . The doctor’s emotions were getting to her no matter how hard she tried to think of something nice about her father, nothing came pleasant to mind. Closing her eyes, the doctor leaned back in her first-class luxury chair, taking a deep breath. The man she looked up to all of her life could be responsible for her mother’s death was what played over and over in the doctor’s mind. As she lay there

peacefully, tears ran down her face, the only positive thing that the doctor was grateful for, was the information Det. Jessie Skoal gave her to help her find her dad. The detective at that very moment was hard at work on solving the death of Mrs. Guillium, not one to give up, the detective was very determined and strongwilled. She’s not the kind of person you’d not want to run into in a darkly lit alley so to speak, she knew that finding the killer or killers would put Dr. Lanely Guillium and the brother’s mind and soul at ease. Things weren’t getting any better for Dr. Mikey Eighteen, he was at wits’ end trying to find his father. Taking Dr. Lanely Guilliums’s advice, the doctor went into the town police station hoping to get some help. The sheriff was not a nice man to talk to; he was a very impatient man to the point people didn’t deal with him too much. He was trigger-happy and quick to jump to conclusion Dr. Mikey Eighteen walked up to the sheriff’s desk where he was assisted by a deputy who was having a bad day. Taking down the doctor’s information about his father, the deputy told him, “Your father hasn’t been missing for twenty-fours, has he?” The doctor was confused and tired, had no choice but to reply, “No, sir, I don’t believe he has I just came in town to pay him a surprise visit only to find out that our family home has been sold.” The deputy advised the doctor to call his family or even go to the real estate company and ask for the agent who sold the house. The doctor left the police station feeling more confused than ever, getting flustered with the whole thing. Sat in his car leaning his head on his steering wheel, squeezing the wheel so tight with his hands until his knuckles turned white. Closing his eyes, whispering, “Dad, where are you?” Dr. Samantha Grea was also starting to have nightmares about her brutal encounter with Nikolai Eighteen, decided to go into the police station and tell Detective Skoal everything. The detective was reluctant to believe the doctor at first, then she had a change of heart, the doctor only told the detective about being attacked by Nikolai Eighteen, she didn’t tell her everything. The doctor sat there scared and frightened trying to stop her hands from shaking, the detective gave her a box of tissue to wipe the tears from her face. The detective could see the long scar down the left side of the doctor’s face as she wiped away the tears. At first, the detective didn’t realize the name, asked the doctor to repeat the attacker’s name. Still trembling and crying, the doctor replied, “Nikolai Eighteen.” The detective knew the name Nikolai Eighteen from somewhere but she couldn’t , she finished taking the doctor’s statement sent her on her way. The detective sat at her desk pondered for a few minutes refocused her attention back to working on Mrs. Skip Guillium’s murder case.

2345 Hours:

Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend arrived in Paris, , went deep underground in Paris trying not to be detected. The doctor didn’t know that his brother-in-law was also in Paris looking for him staying in disguise. The two ditched going to five-star restaurants for hole-in-the-wall bistros, his brother-inlaw hired three of Paris, , notorious hit men to find him. Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend stayed in the most dangerous part of Paris, careful every day. When they’re out, they were using cash money instead of credit cards to pay for everything. His girlfriend was starting to get restless with the same day in and day out routine. The doctor knew he had to keep her with him. Doing everything in his power to keep her happy, the doctor and his girlfriend were sitting at an outside café in their disguises when one of the hit men walked right past them. The second hit man sat around the corner from the café clueless in his car listening to the news while the third hit man was going all over town checking hotel s. The brother-in-law was growing a little impatient with not finding the doctor, sat in his penthouse suite overlooking the Eiffel Tower. His mind fell on his niece, he knew finding his brother-in-law would solve everything, decided to stay in Paris as long as it took to find his brother-in-law. A few hours later, Dr. Lanely Guillium arrived in the south of armed with the damaging information she received from Detective Skoal. The doctor was there with a heavy heart, a part of her wanted all of this to be a dream but deep down inside she knew her father had a lot of explaining to do to a lot of people. Getting into a waiting limousine, the doctor reserved for herself, gave the limousine driver the address to her father’s estate as they pulled away from the curb at the airport. Meanwhile, Detective Ruley, the special task force group and the Interpol inspector were going over the different port pictures of Dr. Skip Guillium and the pictures they took of his girlfriend. Got a mysterious phone call from a bookstore owner telling them she saw a couple that fit the description of the people they’re looking for. Curious, Detective Ruley asked the lady, “Where did you see this couple?” “Here in Paris at Le Rogue Bistro,” replied the lady. Not wasting time, the Interpol investigator immediately got on the phone with the Interpol field office in Paris, . Everyone scrambled out of the office jumping into police cars as well as unmarked cars heading to the airport en route to Paris. The south of police called the police in Paris, filled them in on Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend being possibly spotted in Paris. Using one or all three of his aliases Thom Morgan, Scott Mhry and Dexter Houston he may

be armed and considered extremely dangerous. Arriving at the south of airport, the detective, the special task force group along with the Interpol investigator ran their cars up unto the curb. As innocent bystanders leaped out of the way, jumped out of their cars and made a mad dash through the airport to the tarmac, where a private plane was waiting for them. Once they all boarded the plane, the pilot waited to get clearance from the air traffic tower, cleared two minutes later, they took off for Paris. Dr. Lanely Guillium at that moment arrived at her father’s family estate, the doctor started to get sick to her stomach. As the limousine driver made his way to the main entrance driveway. The doctor leaned forward looking at the mansion through the tinted limousine glass. Sitting in the limousine trying to stay composed, the doctor opened up the big envelope pulling out the ports. Taking a quick look at them, she immediately put them back into the envelope as her driver came around and opened the door for her to get out. The doctor was hesitant at first but she knew in her heart this was something she had to do. Still using the cane, got out of the limousine, the closer she got to the big stainless steel doors with her family’s initials on them, the further away it was. The doctor began to feel light-headed stopped, gathered her emotions, rang the big doorbell looking around for any sign of her father and his girlfriend. Not knowing what to expect, the doctor braced for the worst news imaginable, all she wanted was to hear it from her father’s lips the truth about everything. No more lies, no more deceit and pain. The doctor grew tired of waiting around, stuck a letter in one the big stainless door handles stepped back looking around the vast grounds. The place was like a ghost house, no one was there she thought, got back into her limousine and left not looking back.

0145 Hours:

Landing in Paris, Detective Ruley, the special task force group and the Interpol investigator were picked up by an agent of the Paris Interpol field office and the Paris police. They left the airport in a caravan, weaving in and out of traffic heading into Paris, the detective and his team knew this could be the break they were looking for. The Interpol investigator, along with the agent was anxious as well, they wanted this guy and his girlfriend out of the country before the doctor cause trouble there. Right at that moment, the doctor and his girlfriend were sleeping in their motel when they woke up to flashing lights outside their

bedroom. Grabbed his girlfriend by the hand, picking up his clothes off the floor, ran into the bathroom. Scrambling to put his clothes on, told her to put on her clothes, Opens up the bathroom window, jumped out with his girlfriend following him. Ran down the dark alley into the night, the police were going door to door, checking every single occupant in each room. One police officer knocked on the door where the doctor and his girlfriend were in, they were not getting an answer. Motions to the motel manager to open the door, the manager complied, a French police officer and his partner entered the room only to find it completely empty. The doctor and his girlfriend ran down the darkly lit streets until they made their way to an underground train station sitting down trying to catch their breaths. The doctor was not aware that they’re being followed by one of the hit men that his brother-in-law hired to hunt him down. The hit man noticed them when they came running down the stairs looking back over their shoulder. Not certain, the hit man kept his distance, as the train pulled into their station, all three boarded the train. Back at the motel, Detective Ruley, the special task force group, the Interpol investigator and an agent. Along with French police escort, arrived after hearing over the police scanner of a possible sighting of the doctor and his girlfriend only to come up empty. They decided to head to the bookstore to talk to the owner about what she saw. The detective was growing tired really fast of all the running in circles, he pulled his team to the side for a quick plan and scheme should the bookstore owner’s information check out. They made their way to the bookstore along with the Interpol investigator and agent as well as the French police. Walked inside to find a young woman working at the cash , the detective and a French police officer walked up to her showing their badges along with the pictures of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend. They asked her if she was the one who made the phone call about the couple in the photos, she told them yes but that was a day and a half ago. Gave them the address of Le Rogue’s Bistro, left their business cards headed to the restaurant, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend got off the underground train at midtown Paris. With hit man 3 hot on their tracks, he was being careful to keep his distance, called the brother-in-law and informed him of the couple he’s following. Jerry sat up on the side of the bed, asking for a description of the couple, the hit man told him the man was wearing black pants, white gym shoes, green skull cap and brown bomber jacket. The lady was wearing blue jeans, white turtle neck, white gym shoes, a black hat and blue jean jacket. The brother advised the hit man to keep following them. At this point, he knew he was taking a chance and decided to stay under the radar.

0730 Hours:

Dr. Lanely Guillium awoke in her hotel suite to the news turned up the television, was shocked when a news reporter showed the pictures of her father and his girlfriend with the label Fugitive next to their name. Sat there looking at their mugs on the television, full of mixed emotions, the doctor threw the remote across the room in a fit of rage. When she heard the news reporter broadcast them being possibly sighted in Paris, the doctor picked up the phone in her room, requesting for limousine service to the airport, scrambling to pack her clothes, put the big envelope in her backpack. Once packed, the doctor went down to the lobby, checked out, as her limo pulled up into the hotel’s driveway. The bellhop put her luggage in the trunk of the limo, she tipped him, got in and headed to the airport. Meanwhile, back in Paris Detective Ruley, the special task force group, the Interpol investigator and the agent, along with the French police, made their way to Le Rogue Bistro. Got out of their cars and headed inside to talk to the owner who was a very eccentric man, the detective looked around the bistro at all the patrons inside enjoying their breakfast laughing and talking. Made gesturing signals to some of the special task force group with the wave of his hands, to check the bistro patrons inside and outside seating areas. Turned his attention to the owner showed him his badge along with the pictures of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend. While at the same time, questioned him about them coming to his restaurant. The owner replied, “I have so many patrons come here day in and day out. It’s impossible for me to .” The French police officer looked at the restaurant owner as if he was not being truthful. “You must know something, thesee are very dangerous people. We need you to think hard. Look at the pictures again, sir.” The restaurant owner, not too pleased with having the police in his place of business, picked up the photos and looked at them trying hard to if they did come to his establishment before or even at all. He shook his head “No, I’m sorry, I have so many people come in here all the time. I’m sorry but I can’t help you.” Detective Ruley and his team stormed out of the restaurant went outside for a breath of fresh air. The Interpol investigator and the agent followed the detective outside, all agreed that this doctor and his girlfriend were hiding. The French police officers made their way outside as well and told the detective to be patient it’s only a matter of time before they could catch up to them. The detective tried to remain calm in a deep

strained voice, “You guys don’t get it. We’re running out of time. They could be anywhere by now.” The detective didn’t know how right he would be, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend were starting to sense that they were being followed. Ditched hit man 3 by deciding to pay cash for a rental car. The doctor was also feeling somewhat cocky, decided to use his Dexter Houston alias around Paris. He didn’t trust staying at motels anymore, decided to rent small apartments in the most dangerous neighborhoods. The girlfriend knew she didn’t have a chance at leaving the doctor even though she had numerous opportunities to leave him. Hit man 2 spotted the happy couple coming out of a corner market with groceries in hand. A part of the hit man wanted to get a better look at them but decided at the last minute not to. He sat patiently in his car from a distance, reached over to the enger seat and picked up the photo of Dr. Skip Guillium given to him by the brother-in-law. Looked at it when he heard a car start up, dropping the photo back on the enger seat, slowly pulled his car to the corner intersection to see Dr. Skip Guillium getting in the enger side as his girlfriend took off. The hit man was careful to keep his distance so they couldn’t see him.

1030 Hours:

Dr. Lanely Guillium arrived in Paris, checked into the same hotel as her uncle, not knowing he was staying there. The doctor was an emotional wreck, seeing her father’s face plastered on television as a fugitive didn’t sit well at all. Knew she had to find her father before the police did, Paris is a big city and trying to find her father is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The doctor just couldn’t understand why her father did all of these things, sitting at the desk in her hotel room, took out all of the damaging information given to her by Det. Jessie Skoal. Hours ed as the doctor looked through all the papers, took a break and decided to go out for a bite to eat, made her way to the elevator heading down to the lobby. Getting off, she went over to the concierge asking for the best restaurants near the hotel who recommended that she try the hotel’s restaurant. The doctor took the concierge’s advice headed to the hotel’s restaurant. At that moment, her Uncle Jerry was going to the restaurant himself spotted his niece, headed back to his penthouse suite. Hoping she didn’t see him, Dr. Lanely Guillium’s mind was someplace else, her uncle could’ve sat right

across from her at the same dinner table, it wouldn’t have mattered. She was hurt, confused and angry her uncle was the last person she was thinking about. Not knowing where her father was weighed heavy on her heart. Even though she was mad at him, he was still her father, ordered herself a salad was all she could stomach. Trying to eat, her mind raced about where her father could be, knew she had to do something but what could she do? Going to the police was out of the question. Especially with all the damaging information she had on her father, she didn’t want to have a hand in capturing her father. All she wanted was to find him first. With her mother dead, the doctor wanted her father to come clean and turn himself in, as for the girlfriend, the doctor didn’t care about her whatsoever.

1330 Hours:

Still being followed by hit man 2, Dr. Skip Guillium’s girlfriend ran a red light got pulled over by a motorcycle, police officer gave them a verbal warning and let them go. The doctor became furious with his girlfriend yelled at her to pull over. Still angry, got out of the car walked around to the driver side, snatched open the door, she got out walked around to the enger side and got in. The doctor was so mad at his girlfriend that he didn’t even know he was being watched by hit man 2 from a distance. Watch watching the doctor take off his hat, exposing his blonde-colored hair, pounding his fists on the roof of the car. As he got into the car, slammed the door and sped off, the hit man took a quick glance at the picture the brother-in-law gave him, while trying to keep up with a mad man driving like a lunatic weaving in and out of traffic. The doctor, still mad yelling at his girlfriend, abruptly stopped everything—the yelling and speeding—realized he could get pulled over again and get caught. Slowed down and obeyed the speed limits while taking a deep breath, his girlfriend looked at him and apologized. He accepted the apology. He looked up in his rearview mirror and realized he’s taken off his green skull cap. Panicked, looking down on the floor board, rubbing his body up and down, including running his fingers through his hair. He yelled out, “Shit!” His girlfriend gave it to him, she caught it when he took it off and threw it at her in his fit of rage. He quickly tried to put it back on his head when he was rear-ended by hit man 2. You see at that moment, Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend were lucky for all the wrong reasons. The hit man opened up his car door with a stun gun and two pairs of handcuffs, the

picture he got from the brother-in-law was a positive match. Dr. Skip Guillium was a natural blonde, taking off the green skull cap could’ve sealed his fate. At that very moment, Detective Ruley, the special task force group, the Interpol investigator, the agent along with the French police were eating lunch. At the Le Flic Café on the patio the street—exact location where the hit man decided to rear-end them. Witnessing the car accident, the detective and his team looked up in horror. Dr. Skip Guillium opened the car door leaned out with a cut on his forehead from the impact of the hit. The green skull cap landed on the dashboard with his blonde hair exposed, got out of the car, Detective Ruley got a good look at Dr. Skip Guillium For a moment, he froze in his stance, from his good fortune he realized it’s Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend. He yelled out to his team, “There he is get him!” The doctor saw the hit man coming at him to do him bodily harm when he heard, “Stop! Police!” The doctor looked over and saw the police running toward them jumped back in the car now, the chase was on. The doctor began his man lunatic driving as Detective Ruley, the special task force group, the Interpol investigator and agent along with the French police were all chasing him. The doctor was a desperate man weaving in and out of traffic, knocking open car doors off while ing them like dominoes, going against traffic to, driving up on sidewalks as innocent bystanders dove or leaped out of harm’s way. The police stayed with him at every turn, the doctor was determined to get away at any cost; his girlfriend held on for dear life yelling at the doctor to slow down. He had a brief reality check, he let his mind drift on his daughter, pumped up on pure adrenaline, the doctor was going for it, he was a desperate man and wasn’t about to get caught. As for Dr. Lanely Guillium, her world was about to be turned upside down, sitting in the restaurant, the television’s newsbreak with emergency live coverage of the high-speed chase. Eating her salad, the doctor didn’t even bother to look up at the television. Soon every patron in the restaurant stopped eating and watched the live high-speed chase. The doctor looked up at the television to find a television helicopter right on top of the chase. Not knowing what to make of the live coverage, she snubbed it off. Until the news helicopter televised a live zoom shot inside the vehicle at the driver, the doctor’s heart almost stopped when she realized the man the police were chasing was her father. The doctor jumped up from her table sent salad lettuce, baby tomatoes and salad dressing flying everywhere, ran out of the restaurant. Fearing the worst, the doctor was making a mad dash for the Turn Style lobby doors when she bumped into her uncle talking to the three hit men he hired to find her father in the lobby. Shocked and stunned, the doctor stood back from her uncle and the three hit men, not knowing what to think. Looked at him and shook her head. “What are you doing here in Paris?” The

uncle was trying to come up with an excuse, “I’m here on vacation, Lanely.” Not listening to another word, she bolted through the Turn Style lobby doors outside. Running down the street, noticed a rental car station ran inside, rented a car and took off after her father. Who at that moment was still darting in and out of traffic until they ended up down by the Seine River. The doctor and his girlfriend had no choice but to come to a complete stop. The bridge was packed with cars, with Detective Ruley, the special task force group, the Interpol investigator and the agent accompanied by the French police after them. The doctor and his girlfriend left the car running on feet, the detective and police followed suit. Desperate, the doctor and his girlfriend jumped into the Seine River disappearing, by the time the detective and everybody else got to the bridge, the doctor and his girlfriend were long gone. The French police immediately called for search and rescue boats to search the Seine River. The detective was uncontrollably mad, not knowing what his next move was going to be. Soon after, Dr. Lanely Guillium arrived at the Seine River, she was listening to the car chase via radio in her car, was devastated to find the police, police boats with police officers in scuba gears and helicopters. Couldn’t take it anymore ran back to her car, got in and took off, the doctor had to pull over, began to cry her eyes out. With her heart heavy and broken, the doctor was at a loss for words. Nothing will ever be the same.

0930 Hours:

Back in the United States, Detective Skoal continued to work on Mrs. Guillium’s murder case, decided to take a break noticed the complaint that Dr. Samantha Grea filed on her desk against Nikolai Eighteen. Quickly, ran over to her desk googled Nikolai Eighteen, was shocked to find out that Nikolai Eighteen is the missing heir to a sixty-five-billion-dollar fortune. The detective sat back in her chair trying to figure out if Dr. Mikey Eighteen and Nikolai Eighteen are related, got up from her desk and headed out for breakfast when she was stopped by Dr. Charlie Linx’s girlfriend. “I need your help, Officer, my boyfriend is missing. Can you help me?” asked the girlfriend. Detective Skoal could see the lady was concerned “Who is your boyfriend?” “His name is Dr. Charlie Linx. He hasn’t returned any of my phone calls. I even called his father but he doesn’t even know where he is,” replied the girl. The detective took the girlfriend inside an

empty office, closed the door, “Go home and give him some time. He’ll call you eventually.” The girlfriend opened the door and walked out, she walked out of the office in tears and left the police station. As for Detective Skoal, decided against breakfast, went back to her office, started her investigation into Nikolai Eighteen’s life, who was nowhere to be found. Suddenly her desk phone rang, she picked it up, it’s her partner Det. Kent Ruley calling her from his Paris, hotel room saying the following words to her, “We’ve lost him, Jessie. He and his girlfriend they jumped into the Seine River. No bodies were recovered.” Detective Skoal could hear it in her partner’s voice that he really wanted to bring this guy in. Trying to change the subject, Detective Skoal filled him in on Dr. Samantha Grea and Nikolai Eighteen incident. Curious, Detective Ruley decided to pick his partner’s brain. “Who is Nikolai Eighteen?” he asked. “He’s Dr. Samantha Grea’s attacker and he’s also a rich kid,” she replied.

Chapter 9

The Disappearance

Five years had ed since Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend jumped in from the Seine River in Paris, . Det. Kent Ruley and his special task force group returned to the United States four years earlier. Made a pact with the Interpol investigator and agent assigned to them that one day they’ll bring Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend to justice. Even if it meant recovering them dead or alive, Dr. Mikey Eighteen continued to search for his father only to come up empty still. Trying to practice medicine was something he enjoyed, but not knowing where his father could’ve disappeared turned his stomach into knots. The sheriff in his hometown didn’t have much luck finding Dr. Eighteen’s father either. The doctor filed a missing person report twenty-four hours later when he was back home five years ago to pay his father a surprise visit. Only to find out that he was the one who got the surprise of his life. Hurt and confused, the doctor refused to give up searching for his father. Deep down he knew he would see his father again someday.

1000 Hours:

Dr. Lanely Guillium tried to get back to normal life as soon as possible since the disappearance of her father five years ago. The doctor felt deep down inside that her father is a man on the run. Someday, he’ll give himself up the doctor felt would be the most sensible thing to do. Times were hard for her as she continued to visit her mom’s grave looking for clues and answers. Dr. Guillium continued to watch the news, hoping and praying to see her father’s face on television one more time. Later on that day, back at the police station, the detectives continued to follow up leads of possible sightings of Dr. Skip Guillium and his girlfriend in

Greece to Spain and all over Europe. Interpol still continued to check into leads of the doctor and his girlfriend only to come up empty. No one knew the whereabouts of Dr. Charlie Linx, who also seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth. His father, a powerful judge, feels powerless and concerned about his son’s well-being, filed a missing person report. Hoped and prayed that someday, his son will come back home, time will tell. Everyone who’s missing will either come back home or turn themselves in and face justice. Dr. Mikey Eighteen visited his mother’s grave in his hometown more often now since his father’s disappearance. He was asking her for guidance and most of all for forgiveness, every chance he got. Made the long trip home to ensure that her tombstone was clean, that there’s fresh red long-stemmed roses, her favorite flower, in a tall stainless steel vase. Dr. Mikey Eighteen started to question everything he worked so hard for. Was it worth it? Losing his mother was more than he could bear. He knew his father was a man set in his ways and was hard to deal with, but he’s still his father was what kept Dr. Mikey Eighteen going. From his pocket, he pulled out a letter that his mother wrote to him his senior year in high school. He read it with tears streaming down his face.

Sometimes you’ve got to take the good with the bad—nobody’s perfect. And we can’t choose our path. Sometimes our path chooses us. These are the things that make and break us. Knowing and not knowing, always expect the unexpected. Life is a beautiful journey. Enjoy it and make the most of it. You’re destined for great things, my son.

Love, Ma Ma Eighteen

He folded the letter, put it back into his pocket, wiped the tears from his face and walked off to the sunset.