Chapter five

Anderson's POV

I woke up this morning to sounds from my phone. At first I thought it was my alarm but one glance at my clock proved otherwise. Wondering who could be calling this time of the day, for it was only 04:00 AM. I stretched my hand to retrieve the phone from my bedside table.

I hissed when I saw Dr Sofia displayed on the screen and decided against answering the call. When the phone finally stopped ringing, I discovered that she left me some messages.

“Good morning, Anderson.” Read one of the messages.

“Today is our big day, do not oversleep and don't be late.” Read another.

“We are counting on you.” Read yet another.

I hissed as I swiped through the other messages.

It is Stuart's supposed surgery today. I know that quite alright but what is the fuss about?

I won't be performing an actual surgery after all. Dr Sofia's plan had been more dangerous than I feared.

I reluctantly climbed out of bed, after observing a few minutes of rest, during which I considered more than a hundred ways to get out of this. Even though I had woken up one hour earlier than usual, going back to bed was no option for me. So I dragged myself to every part of my house, slowly getting prepared and hating myself for what I am about to do.

********

“Good morning, Dr Anderson.” Greeted some visitors and staff as I made my way to Dr Sofia's office as directed in one of her messages. I had unintentionally opened the message when I made to delete it and my eyes had caught up with a particular phrase “Very Important," which had prompted me to carefully read the content of the message so as not to miss anything.

“Dr Anderson.” I heard an unfamiliar voice call faintly, bringing me back to reality. One glance at the direction of the voice revealed an old lady, with unsteady movement, walking towards me.

With a slight lift of my eyebrow, and a nod, I motioned her over.

“How are you doing today?” I asked, wondering why she was at the hospital this early.

“The sick boy's surgery is today, so I heard. I hope it is successful.” She stated, putting the storms in my mind to rest just as it started.

“I can only do my best.” I replied, wondering within me if there was anyone within the walls of the hospital who doesn't know about Stuart.

I continued my journey towards Dr Sofia's office, after the old lady bid me farewell and continued her journey towards the hospital's gate.

Once I got to Dr Sofia's office, I knocked slightly on the door, taking note of her secretary's absence.

“Come in Anderson. The door is open.” Her voice and tone portraying her expectancy.

Once I stepped into the office, I gushed at the personality who is currently being hosted by Dr Sofia. It is no other person than Mr Crawford, the CEO of MEDCORP Int'l! It was a huge surprise for me who had only seen him on TV, given how much I admire him.

“This is Anderson. He is in charge of Stuart's case.” Dr Sofia introduced me.

“I have heard a lot about you.” Mr Crawford said, offering me a handshake which I cheerfully received.

“It warms my heart to see young medical practitioners who are experts in the field. Should Sofia offend you anytime, I have a spot for you at MEDCORP.” Mr Crawford joked.

“I won't forget that sir.” I replied, faking a smile while Dr Sofia, in turns, rolled her eyes at Mr Crawford then at me.

“Here are the drugs. Just do as we planned.” Dr Sofia instructed, while I looked on in distress. The presence of Mr Crawford made me uncomfortable. Sofia, as if sensing my distress said, “Anderson dear, Crawford is the brain behind the whole mission.” Dr Sofia informed me while I tried to be oblivious to the feeling of disappointment which had suddenly crept into me. With a smile, I nodded at the piece of information I just received. My own role model, a crook - I guess no one is a saint after all.

Faking a smile, I handed to Dr Sofia, a file containing two different agreements on Stuart's surgery. One of the agreements stated that Stuart was to undergo a brain surgery and this was signed by Kate and William Johnson at the space provided. The other agreement stated the actual surgery Stuart is to undergo, and was signed by Mr William alone in the spaces provided for himself and his wife.

“Thanks, Anderson, I almost forgot about this.” Dr Sofia replied, putting the file away in the privacy of her locker after a quick glance to ascertain the accuracy of both documents.

Just as I stood up to exit the office, she warned in a stern voice.

“Don't screw this up.”

I headed towards the operating room, where Stuart has been moved to.

On getting there, it was empty except for Stuart, who laid on the bed, unconscious. Since it was a few hours to the scheduled time for the surgery, the absence of both nurses was no big deal.

Without wasting time, I arrayed the drugs before me and ran through the instructions I was given. The brown coloured 20ml bottles with a white cap contained potassium chloride which was effective in slowing the heart beat to a stop. The green 20ml bottles with an equally green cap contained empagliflozin, which was to function as a resuscitating drug should anything go wrong. Three 5ml bottles of the same shape and color containing Zeta Inhibitory Peptide (ZIP) laid inbetween the others.

The first administration of ZIP to Stuart had been futile. This time, he would be overdosed, as Dr Sofia had sternly instructed.

Placing these bottles in a transparent plastic bag, I kept the bag in the last of the cabinets beside the bed. After a second thought, I turned the key in the cabinet and retained it in my pocket.

The door opened just then, ushering in both nurses who were taken aback to see me. With a single nod and a slight lift of my eyebrows, I acknowledged their muffled greetings.

They started work immediately, conscious of their late arrival even though they weren't late. While one of the nurses arrayed and sterilized the various instruments to be used for the surgery, the other nurse cleaned Stuart's body in readiness for the surgery. A short glance at my wristwatch showed that it was now less than forty minutes to the scheduled surgical procedure.

Hurriedly, I stepped out of the ward as it is the hospital's policy, to brief Stuart's parents for the final time all that the surgery entails.

I scoffed inwardly once I caught sight of a concerned William, comforting his panic-stricken wife in the waiting room.

“Dr Anderson.” Mrs Johnson called, once I got close enough.

“Good morning ma'am.” I greeted in reply.

“How is it going? Is he responding at all?” She asked with so much anticipation.

“The surgery is yet to commence. I only needed to fill you in on the proceedings of the surgery". I explained, wondering why she looked disapprovingly at me.

“Is there any information different from the ones contained in my copy of the agreement?” She asked.

“There's nothing new. It is the hospital's policy to briefly remind every signee what every surgery entails.”

“There's no need for all of that.” Mrs Johnson replied. "I went through every written word on the agreement more than twice". She added, bidding me towards the exit. At the door, her voice called out to me pleadingly, “Please do your best.”

Back inside the operating room, I met both nurses frantically trying to get the last cabinet open. The same cabinet whose keys I could hear dangling in my pocket with every step I took. With a feigned cough, I caught their attention and turning to one of them, I said, "Go get me Stuart's document from my office. It should be on my desk but if not, just search for it.” I instructed even though I knew she would never find it. And to the other nurse I said, “The senior doctor sent for you.” It was a tactic I used in discharging the nurses as earlier planned by Dr Sofia.