Chapter 86: Making a deal with the devil
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A steady hum of the machine echoed in the background as she made her last round at the maternity ward. So far, the day has been a bit uneventful. Except for a pregnant patient who had a false alarm, nothing much happened.
"Vitals are stable. The test results seemed normal." She thoroughly reviewed the patient’s chart, ensuring that the patient was out of critical condition. "Based on her records, she is 25 years old and 38 weeks pregnant."
After physically examining the patient, she made several notes in her chart before turning to the resident doctors behind her.
"So, what do you think is the best course of action in this case?" She asked, gazing at each pair of ambitious eyes, eager to take the spotlight.
The patient was a comatose pregnant woman who was involved in a multiple-vehicle accident. A few days ago, she had been admitted semi-unconscious. But due to head injuries, she finally succumbed to a vegetative state.
Initial tests indicated that the likelihood she might wake up was very small. But her family was hopeful that by some miracle she would recover.
But as a doctor, she could only rely on science, not miracles. From the way she saw it, if they were to save the mother and child, the patient might have to undergo a complicated operation and a C-section.
"Dr. Bennett, would that endanger the mother?" One of the new residents asked.
Sadly, it was the risk. There was a chance of the mother dying on the table. But under the circumstances, they didn’t actually have a choice.
"The patient’s family had been informed. Now, it is their decision." Unfortunately, it was a choice between the lesser of two evils.
Save the child, but kill the mother. Or kill them both.
It was really not much of a choice.
Staring at the unconscious pregnant mother, she could not help but go back to six years ago. Replaying the scene of that night, she remembered delivering a six-pound baby boy.
Although there had been some complications because the mother was also in a car accident, she recalled that she had safely delivered that baby boy.
Now, what happened? How did the boy who was declared dead six years ago turn out to be still alive today? Who was behind the switching of babies? Why?
"Study her case. Whoever could come up with a good plan will be part of this case." She told her students before dismissing everybody.
Eventually, she walked toward the records office, wanting to dig up some more information about Sophia’s case. Unfortunately, since her file was from six years ago, it was still not a part of the computerized system.
At the moment, she had to go through the long line of tall shelves and boxes and boxes of dusted old files in the hospital’s basement.
Blog!
Her eyes widened as she heard a commotion in the far end of the room. But as she stretched her neck, she had not seen anyone else.
"Is there anyone there?" She finally asked, wondering if another hospital staff member was looking for an old record.
Although people seldom came to this section of the hospital, it was still a restricted area. Only authorized personnel usually had access to the room.
But silence was the only response she got. Dismissing the noise as nothing, she proceeded to check the shelf and box number to easily locate the file she was searching for.
As she walked further into the massive room, she heard it again. It was faint this time, but there was definitely movement behind one of the shelves.
It sounded as if someone was also going through the boxes, looking for something, as the noise increased as she got closer.
Of course, it was only natural for another person to want their old medical records, but she could not shake off the feeling that something felt oddly strange.
"Who’s there?" She hollered, her voice a little shaken as she looked at the marker on the shelves. Now, she just needed the box.
Then, she gasped as soon as her eyes landed on a man who was busily rummaging through several boxes. On the floor, three open boxes and folders were scattered on the cemented floor.
From the look of things, it appeared as if he had been here for some time, noticing the stock of piles he had already set aside.
"You?" She pointed at him, surprised to see a familiar face staring back at her. "What are you doing here?" Questioning the man’s presence in a restricted area.
As far as she knew, he was not authorized to be there. But for some reason, he had gained access to the room.
Instead of answering, he put aside the files in his hand and stood up. Then, he crossed the distance between them in just a few large strides.
Suddenly, she found herself trapped between his wide chest and the shelf behind her.
"You’re not supposed to be here, Mr. Franco." She continued, suspicious, at the same time, threatened by his looming presence.
Unfortunately, he was much larger than her petite size. Undoubtedly, he was far stronger than her slim body. Furthermore, he belonged to one of the most powerful Mafia organizations.
Offending him could mean her life.
"Mr. Franco? What happened to Jacob?" His eyebrow rose in inquiry. "And here I thought we were already friends, Dr. Bennett, or should I call you, Ashley?"
Thankfully, Jacob didn’t apply force or try to touch her. He just made his presence felt by invading her space.
She knew she should move and leave, but her body failed her. Instead, she stood immobile under his scrutiny.
"Sharing a meal doesn’t make us friends." She quickly said, which only made him smile, looking as if he had been more entertained than offended.
In a split second, she regretted confronting him. She should have left when she still had the chance. But now, it was too late.
"And what is the good doctor doing in a place like this?" He probed, as his eyes studied her as if she were under a microscope.
Just like that, she felt like the tables had been turned. It felt like she was the one who was supposed to be there.
Instantly, her body trembled as her mind wished for the ground to swallow her whole.
This man was dangerous. There was no doubt about that.
But what concerned her was not the fear of getting hurt by this man. For some reason, she believed he wouldn’t harm her.
But it was something else.
It was the way her body seemed to react to his presence. Physiologically, it should be normal. After all, he was a physically attractive man.
However, it was more than that. She believed there was something else. But she quickly shoved the feeling aside, afraid to explore it deeper.
"I asked you first." Finally, she stood her ground, swallowing her fear as she stood straight, refusing to give him the satisfaction of intimidating her. "This is a restricted area. How did you get access?"
But she guessed a man like him could effortlessly get anywhere if he wanted to. With his power and connection, obtaining entry to this place would have been easy-peasy.
"Easy!" Jacob put on a smug smile on his face as he continued to hover over her. "I put in a request. Then, it was granted." He made it sound as if he had done it legally.
Nonetheless, she doubted it. This room contained confidential patients’ records. Even courts didn’t easily grant access to them unless it was for official court cases.
From what she knew of this guy, he was neither a lawyer nor a law-abiding citizen.
"What are you even looking for?" Finally, she squirmed her way out of his trap and stepped away from him.
Eventually, her eyes landed on the boxes on the floor. Immediately, her eyes widened when she noticed one of the boxes’ numbers. It was the box she was after.
It meant Jacob was onto something.
"A clue?" He finally answered. "An answer?" This time, he unhurriedly followed her until he stood just a couple of feet behind her.
"Maybe you can help me." He suddenly whispered near her ear, letting his breath tickle the skin on the side of her neck.
A shiver automatically crawled down her spine, believing that his eyes were boring at the back of her neck. But she kept herself steady, rejecting his efforts to unnerve her.
"Help you with what?" She acted as if she were clueless about what he was looking for. But deep in her mind, she knew exactly what his motives were.
"I think we both know why I’m here. So, I’ll cut to the chase." This time, he moved past her and went directly to the piles on the floor. "These are all Sophia’s files. I need to know everything you know about her case."
To her surprise, he didn’t even bother to sugarcoat his intentions. Instead, he went straight to the point.
Stunned. She just stared at him for a few seconds.
But as she thought about it, maybe it would be better if she just cooperated with him. As long as she controlled the narrative and kept Amelia’s name out of the picture, perhaps he could help in her search for Sophia’s child.
But could she trust him?
She doubted, believing this was like making a deal with the devil.
Would she live to regret it?
Probably.
Still, did she have a choice?
"Fine, but I will need something from you, too."
