by L Jan Eira
*****
Three years later
July 8
10:30 AM
Jack and his medical team, consisting of three medical students, two medical interns and one cardiology fellow were making rounds. Of the six, two were women and all were new at Newton Memorial Hospital. July 1 was their first day. They entered Room 615 to see a patient. Jack, now a staff-attending electrophysiologist, had been informed of the patient’s status. Jack gestured for the others to enter. He went in last.
On arrival in the room, a beautiful woman was visiting the patient. They were talking joyfully, although the conversation came to a halt when the group entered.
“Can we talk outside, doctors?” After exiting the room, she continued: “What is the patient’s condition?” asked the attractive lady looking at Rod Elmer, a medical student.
“Well,” stuttered the student, hesitantly. “He is doing a little bit better. His heart rhythm is better controlled and—”
“You know you have beautiful eyes,” interrupted Jack looking intently at the attractive young woman.
“Why, thank you,” she whispered shyly. She looked at Jack for a short spell and then looked at the ground bashfully.
“Yes, I was saying the heart rhythm—” continued the student who was interrupted again in mid-sentence.
“No, I’m not kidding. I believe you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” persisted Jack, rudely disrupting the conversation between the two.
“Thank you,” said the woman reservedly, blushing.
“Would you go out to dinner and a movie with me? Tonight?” persevered Jack.
The others were flabbergasted and unsure of what to think or say.
“I appreciate the offer,” whispered the beautiful woman, “but I’m married.” She lifted up her left hand, showing her wedding ring for all to see.
“So am I. Look,” Jack showed the group his wedding band. “It’s okay. We’re both married, right?” asked Jack. With this, Jack approached the woman and dipped her backward with a passionate kiss. After a long and awkward moment, the couple got up.
“Guys, this is my wife, Claire. She’s a cardiac psychologist here at the hospital. Let’s be aware of our patient’s emotions and see if some of them need support. Claire can help them and their families, if needed. Claire, say hey to my new group.”
Claire looked up from the ground momentarily to wave to all with a forced smile. Her face was blushed, a clear demonstration of her embarrassment, having participated in this eccentric scene.
“Do we have to do this every time? You know he makes me do this. I swear. It’s not my idea,” she explained, apologetically.
“This is my way of making sure my students and trainees never forget the clinical pearls I teach them. Will any of you ever forget this moment?” he asked of the group. All nodded no.
“Okay, let’s finish rounds. Want to do lunch?” he asked Claire.
“Sure, you’re buying. And, not just for me. For all of them. Deal?”
“Deal.”
*****
6:30 PM
Jack and Claire had moved into a gorgeous home on Bell Road, the neighborhood behind Newton Memorial Hospital, not far from where Jack was first temporarily placed under arrest.
A beautifully manicured backyard served as a soccer pitch for Jack, his two-year-old son, Nick, and Trinity, his three-year-old dog, a Vizsla the couple purchased immediately after the incidents at the hospital. Despite multiple tries, Jack remained unable to turn on the alarm system he purchased that fateful day. From then on, Trinity would serve as the warning method for strangers or unwanted trespassers. Of course, the new home had a working sophisticated alarm system, which the Norris’ were yet to turn on. Trinity was all the forewarning and protection they required.
“Jack, come quickly,” yelled Claire from the kitchen door to the backyard.
“What is it? We’re in the middle of a soccer match.” Jack picked Nick up lovingly, helping him kick a goal.
“And he scores. The crowd goes wild,” yelled Jack running to the house, Nick in his arms and Trinity running behind.
They entered the home. The HD-TV image was on pause. Claire had the remote in her hand.
“You won’t believe this. Are you ready? You’d better sit down for this one,” she commanded. Jack sat down, Nick in his lap and Trinity at his side.
“Look at what CNN just reported. I got it on TiVO. She pushed play and sat down next to Jack.
The headline read: “Terrorist group steals materials from North Korea to assemble a WMD then self-destroys.”
The international reporter described an incident, where days ago, a yet unknown terrorist faction was able to enter the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center facility, in the Pyongan Province of North Korea and abduct uranium and plutonium. An unnamed CIA source claimed intelligence had demonstrated the terrorists desired to assemble a nuclear weapon of mass destruction to be aimed at the United States. For reasons that remain unexplained, the group’s headquarter in Afghanistan was discovered earlier today when massive gunfire was heard. All the terrorists in the group were found dead. The insurgents appeared to have annihilated each other, without cause or outside interference. The nuclear materials were recovered undamaged. An international investigation into this incident was ongoing.
Several retired military and CIA distinguished men then took turns telling the world that they had never seen anything like this, and that they had no idea as to what could have caused this incident.
Jack winked at Claire.
“A covert operation, huh? Looks like the CIA’s got the Rat Poison,” postulated Claire. “Hope they put it to good use.”
“They will. I have no doubt they will,” said Jack with a grin on his face.
A few hours later, the baby was asleep. The dinner dishes were washed and put away. The beautiful sunny day had been replaced by a calm dark evening. All was calm. All seemed right.
*****
Right outside the house, a dark sedan drives by slowly. Calculating. Scheming. The car stops for a few seconds in front of the mailbox bearing the Norris family’s address. Then continues. The car and its passenger remain unnoticed. And it disappears into the night.
*****
Author’s Note:
If you enjoyed this book, consider reading part two, SECONDS FROM REVENGE, a stand-alone continuation, also available at www.amazon.com/author/janeirabooks.
STILL, is a medical murder mystery by this author involving a fast-paced novel with a very strong ending. It is a must read!