"Mark! How are you?" I ask
'Ugh, just when I was about to reach my car'
"I'm good" he says looking at me weirdly.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" I ask after a couple of seconds of silence.
"Um, yes... Actually, I've been looking around for you for the past two weeks."
"Oh, is it?" I ask playing dumb.
I know he's been looking for me. Kelly told me that he'd come by the reception about 3 days ago asking for me.
I just tried to avoid crossing paths with him and I had managed to do so for two weeks.
'But I guess today is my lucky day. Yippee!' I thought bitterly
"Yes..." he says through gritted teeth.
"Listen, Mark. I have to go. Can we talk about whatever it is you want to talk about tomorrow?"
"Oh, where is this place that you have to hurry to?"
"Um, my mom called me, and told me that my... that my, um dad had collapsed at work. So I need to hurry home."
"Are you lying, Doctor Anderson? Just like how you lied about there being a fight on the third floor?"
I stare at him shocked and fake a hurt look while placing a hand over my chest.
"Wha- what? No! I wasn't lying! Maybe you just missed the fight-"
"Or maybe you were lying." He cuts me off in a calm voice.
"I wasn't lying! Why would you even think that?"
"When I got to the third floor everything was fine, no signs of a fight or-"
"You know what, Mark? I don't have time to stand here and listen to you accuse me of making up something that I know for a fact happened. Did you ever think that maybe you got there when the fight had ended, or maybe that you got off on the wrong floor?"
I watch as he opens and closes his mouth and looks down, almost as if he's embarrassed.
"Exactly, I'm deeply hurt that you'd think I would lie to you or lie about something as serious as that... But if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be" I say and turn around and walk away.
Like a boss
~~~~~~~
The next day when I went back to work, I was shocked to see an officer standing outside my office while talking to the same nurse from yesterday.
"Oh, officer there she is" she said as soon as she saw me approaching, while pointing her finger in my direction.
I stupidly look behind me, hoping she's pointing at someone behind me, but see no one else in the hallway, except for me, the police officer and the nurse.
My eyes widen as I realise what this could be about.
"Um, hi" I greet them when I get close to them.
"Doctor, this is Detective Johnson. And he wanted to ask you a few questions." Vivian, the nurse, explains.
"Okay, you can step into my office" I say to the officer.
"I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you or causing you any trouble."
Detective Johnson says
"Oh no, its alright... You can take a seat."
"Thank you."
"So what is this about?" I ask nervously.
"Don't worry, you're not in trouble. Yet. I just have a few questions to ask about Chantel Grant."
"I don't know who that is, officer." I say now confused.
"Detective" he corrects me.
"Oh, sorry. Offi- I mean Detective."
"A tip of we got, told us she was here yesterday and the nurse also confirmed that and told us she met up with you..."
He takes out a folded picture from his pocket and shows it to me.
"This is her."
"Oh, I remember her."
The picture was of the same girl that showed up yesterday asking about Alexander, but in this picture she looked happier.
"You do? So what was she doing here?" He asks taking out his notebook.
"She just came in here and asked me about a patient of mine that was discharged recently... Why, is she in trouble or something?"
"Miss Grant was found dead on the riverbank, 5 kilometres from this hospital last night. Her body was battered and bruised, barely recognisable"
"Oh my gosh" I say shocked.
"So is there anything else you're not telling me?"
"No, I swear... Although I did notice a bruise on her left eye which she tried to cover with make-up. It still looked new and she seemed scared when she left my office."
"Is that all you recall, Doctor?" He asks
"Yes, that's all"
He stands up and gets ready to leave.
"Well, if you remember anything else or if you find out anything that could've led to her death, just give me a call." He says and hands me a card with his number.
"I'll do so, Detective."
"Enjoy the rest of your day" he holds out his hand for me to shake.
"Um, you too" I say and shake his hand.
A few minutes after he left, Bianca comes rushing in.
"Oh my gosh, girl. I heard that the police were here. Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"What? No!"
"Because if you are, I know a friend, that knows a friend, who knows the friend's friend. And he can help get out the country. I'm talking about a fake ID and a new passport, even... Money" she rambles.
"Listen to me, Bee" I say while placing both my hands on her shoulders and shake her a bit.
'Maybe that will move her brain back into its rightful position' I think to myself
"I'm not in trouble." I say slowly, trying to make her understand.
She swats my hands from her shoulders and folds her arms in front of her chest.
"Then what was he doing here?"
"He was just asking me a few questions about if I knew what happened to a girl that was found dead last night."
"Oh, Chantel Grant?"
"Yeah. How did you-"
"It was all over the news and on today's newspaper. Its sad what happened to her"
"Yeah" I say distractedly
"Why did he come asking you questions? I swear to God, El. If you murdered her, I'll-"
"What will you do?"
"I'll- I'll... I'll probably help you run away like I said-"
"You know a friend that knows a friend blah blah blah. I heard you. You don't have to worry about helping me run away. I didn't kill her"
"Ugh, damn it!" She yells out causing me to jump and stare at her weirdly.
"Why so mad, Bee?"
"Ugh, I just wanted to do something dangerous. Its been on my bucket list for 3 years now..."
"O... Kay. Remind me why I'm friends with you?"
She places her hand over her heart in mock hurt.
"You make me sad" she says and pouts.
"Well, I'm sorry, Bee" I say
"Wow. I can hear, smell and feel your sarcasm... You never answered my question though."
"Chantel had come in my office yesterday to ask a few questions."
"Oh... That's it?"
"Yeah, what else were you expecting?"
"I don't know. But definitely something else than that."
"Wow" is all I can say.
"So what are you doing for lunch?"
"I don't know, I'll probably go home and check on you know who."
"Or you and I could go have lunch at the café across the street. Please El, it'll be on me" she says giving me her famous puppy eyes
'Why would she use that against me. She knows I'd kill for those eyes'
"Ugh, fine. You know I can't resist free food."
"Yay, so I'll meet you there in 4 hours, okay?"
"Yeah. Cool" I say giving her a thumbs up.
4 hours later, I'm seated in 'Cup of Everything' the café across the street from the hospital, with Bee.
We've already ordered our meal 2 minutes ago and are waiting for it to arrive. Meanwhile we're sipping on coffee as we wait.
"So?"
"So?"
"How are you and Jason?"
A blush forms on her cheeks and she pushes a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"We're good. Like better. We've been talking you know. Communication is key in a relationship."
"Yeah..."
"How are you and Alexander?"
She whispers
"What?"
"Oh come on. I know you like him. I see the way you look at him"
"Yeah, I look at him the same way a doctor would, when checking up on a patient."
"Keep telling yourself that"
"I don't like him. How could I like a man that's been unconscious for two nearly three months and haven't talked to?"
"I don't know... You tell me"
Before I can say anything back, a waiter arrives with our food.
"Is this all you'll be having" he asks
"Yes, thank you" Bianca and I say at the same time.
The waiter walks away and we begin eating.
"Will you be my maid of honour?" Bianca suddenly blurts out and that's how ladies and gentlemen, I ended up choking on a French fry in front of everyone.
A few moments after calming down and coughing out the fry from my throat, I drink a glass of water that was brought to me by the same waiter.
"Don't worry guys she's okay. I'm a doctor! I know!" Bianca screams to everyone in the café
"Shh, Bee."
"Geez, El. I knew you would be ecstatic when I asked you about being my maid of honour. But I didn't think you'd almost die." Bianca jokes
I just glare at her and finish the rest of my water.
"You don't just ask a question like that out of nowhere, Bee. You don't ask a question like that at all. I thought I was already the maid of honour when Jason proposed."
"Oh thank goodness. I thought you were gonna reject my offer."
"Listen, Bee..." I say and grab her hand "I am honoured to be your maid of honour. You didn't even have to ask... I had already staked my claim on that title when you said yes to him"
"Uh, sorry. When you said yes."
"Oh, yeah. I did say yes. But it ain't my fault you went all frozen and was breaking the poor guy's heart and confidence with your silence."
"I was, wasn't I"
"Yes. Oh my gosh, he turned so sad when you didn't say anything. He almost looked like a dog that lost its bone." I say and begin laughing, and soon she joins me.
"I'm happy for you, Bee" I say after our laughter had died down.
"Thank you." She whispers, tears forming in her eyes.
"You're gon' make me cry" she says while waving her hands to her eyes to stop her tears from falling.
"Oh no, don't cry. Wouldn't want you to ruin your make-up"
"Yeah. My expensive makeup. I paid a lot of money to get this." She says motioning to her face "Even had to sell a couple of your shoes for all this." She continued
"What?!"