From the Edge
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"Now, Peter, let's see just how much pain you're really in."
Doctor Randell examined Peter's vital signs. Despite his best efforts, it seemed that his patient, even though he appeared to be healing, was becoming just what the doctor ordered. For a brief moment, Doctor Randell had a pang of guilt and almost called the whole business off. But seeing the face of Peter Caine and remembering what he did caused him to change his mind. 'I'm doing this for Tommy,' he said to himself, then proceeded to finish the examination. Doctor Randell assisted Peter to sit up and had him bend toward the left so his right backside was exposed.
"Let's just take a look at the lower wound."
Doctor Randell carefully removed the bandage covering his stitches. The area was bruised but the incision looked like it was holding and even fusing back together. 'That's rather quick,' he thought. 'I've never seen someone heal so fast.' Doctor Randell also noticed that the small area he left open for draining was blocked with a thick yellow fluid. A possible infection was setting in and the wound would need to be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. "That's looking good," Doctor Randell stated and replaced the bandage with a clean dressing. He then examined the wound in the chest area and also pronounced that as doing well. He then went over to the medication station and wrote the numbers down in Peter's chart.
"Oh, nurse, the patient's IV bag is almost empty could you bring another one?"
"Yes, Doctor."
As soon as the nurse left, Dr. Randell adjusted the settings one more time on the automatic drip system for Peter's medication. After this last adjustment, in a few hours, the medication will be removed. The patient at that time would no longer need it. After he had completed his adjustments, the nurse came back with a fresh IV bag and proceeded to hook it up to the system. Doctor Randell noticed she gave the monitor a quick glance. He was relieved that as far as she was concerned, the nurse believed that nothing was amiss with the amount of medication the patient was receiving. The Doctor smiled to himself as he realized that the IV bag that was just hooked up would be nearly empty in less than an hour. That much medication in Peter Caine's system was certain to produce the results that Doctor Randell was searching for.
"Doc, I feel very strange."
"You don't need to worry about it. It's only the medication. It will pass. Just relax and let the medication do its job."
Doctor Randell watched as Peter Caine slowly drifted in and out of consciousness, the medication doing its work faster than he had expected. 'Inform Mrs. Blaisdell she can return," he stated to the nurse. After the nurse left, he turned back to his patient and smiled. 'Perhaps this was for the best. Goodbye, Peter Caine.'
At that moment, the old Chinese and another younger man burst into Peter Caine's room. Both rushed to the young man's bedside and shoved the Doctor aside. They quickly pulled out the IV tubes from Peter's arms.
"What do you think you're doing?" demanded Doctor Randell. 'You have no right."
The ancient looking Chinese stood in front of the Doctor raising his right hand, he pointed one raised bony finger and stared directly into the taller man's eyes, challenging him. Not a single word was spoken during the exchange. As the two men were squaring off, the younger of the two picked up Peter Caine from his hospital bed and carried him out the door to a waiting wheel chair.
"I'm going to call security," the Doctor threatened. "You just can't walk in here . . ."
After Peter was taken from the room, the old man reached up, placed one hand between the Doctor's shoulder and neck while the other was brought up to the man's forehead. He quickly guided the taller man to the bed as he collapsed into sleep. Certain that the Doctor would not wake for a few hours, the old man retreated leaving everyone to question how a patient could vanish without a trace with a physician present. It would also become clear that the patient had also vanished from the hospital without a single witness.
End of Part 9
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2001.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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