Chapter 3 Duke Collins
2356 Words
Scarlett
"No, this isn't right Josie!" My golden haired aunt admonished her ten year older sister. "Don't you know how to pack?"
I chuckled as I stood on the doorway, enjoying my coffee over the sisterly banter.
"Yes, I do know Jo," My mom retorted. "That's why I don't end up with five bags for a week-long holiday!"
"Ouch," I giggled, unable to help myself and both the sisters turned to face me.
"There you are!" Aunt Jo sighed with relief. "Would you knock some sense into your mother, darling?"
I smiled and grimaced at the same time. Mom's bedroom was a mess. The wardrobe, completely ransacked, shoes lying on the bed...no wonder Mom was so stressed. She was a neat freak and my aunt Joelene like in every other matter was exact opposite.
I stared at her and marveled at how fit she was( which was understandable given she was a prime time anchor for BBC) , petite and elegant and smoking hot. In her dolphin shorts and Super Girl graphic tee she looked anything but my aunt but then she was ten years younger than her sister so.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Ask your mother," She scowled, tossing her shiny blonde ponytail behind her back.
"She wants me to go shopping. Apparently, all these," She pointed towards the mess in her room. "Is not good enough,"
"Duh!" Jo rolled her eyes. "You don't have any beach wear here as far as I can see. And what's this Greta Garbo outfit here?"
I spit out my coffee unable to control my hysterical laughter at that comment.
Oh damn! My aunt was savage!
"I am so sorry," I muttered, trying to keep a straight face. "Why don't you go shopping,Mom? How about a wardrobe makeover?"
"Not you too," Mom muttered, looking horrified. "Plus, we have a 7:30 flight and I haven't packed yet!"
"Oh, come on sissy!" Aunt Jo smiled, throwing her arm over mom's shoulder. "What am I here for. Leave it to me,"
"Fine," Mom rolled her eyes. "Let's go,"
"Okay great!" I exclaimed. "I am gonna leave now. Call me when you board...,"
"And call you when I we reach there and keep calling you...yeah yeah...," My aunt smiled, giving me a hug.
"I was gonna say enjoy but yeah that works too," I laughed. "Enjoy yourselves. Send me pictures,"
"Just see how my **'s gonna shot up!" Aunt Jo grinned.
"Take care sweetheart," Mom said, ignoring her sister and hugging me. "Don't forget to eat please. And be safe,"
"Mom," I stared at her with my most serious expression. "I am a twenty five year old adult, okay? I will be fine. Stop worrying and remember the main aim of this trip...have fun, okay?"
"Okay," She smiled. "I will,"
"Great," I smiled. "Alright, see ya in a week's time!"
"See ya, munchkin!" Aunt Jo added and I rolled my eyes at her.
---------------------------------------------
"Mommy off to beach?" Josh asked,looking tired. He was going home from his night shift and if it wasn't for me he wouldn't wait another second in this hospital.
"Not until evening," I answered, grabbing my scrubs.
"Are you sure, you can manage on your own?" He asked.
"What am I eight?" I rolled my eyes. "Go home. Get some rest, you look horrible,"
"I know, I feel beat," He muttered. "See ya, tomorrow?"
"Yep," I smiled. "See ya!"
Josh gave me a lazy hug and then disappeared down the corridor. I put on my scrub and took one last sip of my decaf before starting my routine rounds.
"Morning doc!" Cindy smiled, carrying her clipboard as usual. She was my assistant and a trainee, always eager to learn. "Ready to meet your patients?"
"As I ever will be," I smiled. "Let's go,"
Seeing people getting better and to know that you have something to do with that was hands down the most gratifying feeling ever. Going around and meeting my patients was the best thing of my entire day. To see them smile, their eyes gleaming with hope...there was nothing that could be better than that.
"So we have two new patients today," Cindy stared at her clipboard. "Rebecca Sterling and Duke Collins,"
"Duke Collins?" I muttered. "Isn't he the guy who had those bullet wounds?"
"Yep, that's him," She nodded, frowning.
"What?" I demanded.
"There's something suspicious about that guy," She answered.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Let's go and check on him first," She answered. "He's in one of those extra luxury rooms,"
"Suite," I answered. "Let's go,"
When I entered his suite, Duke Collins was sitting up staring at the flat screen. There was another guy with him and he stared at me speculatively as I entered.
"Hi, I am your doctor," I said. "I need to a routine check-up so if you will wait outside?"
The guy eyed Duke and then me and then nodded, exiting the room without any word. I eyed the guy and realized that despite his condition he looked well recovered.
"Duke Collins, " I said, giving him a smile.
The guy in front of me had a sharp face, the type you see in Hugo Boss and Rolex advertisement in those glossy magazines. He appraised me with his sinister brown eyes and then nodded slightly.
"Are you sure, you're Duke Collins?" I joked.
"My mom's Italian," He replied looking amused and I realised his thick Italian accent. Definitely not a native.
"Makes sense," I smiled. "So, Duke how are you feeling?"
"Good," He nodded.
"Well, given your injuries, I must say you have recovered well," I announced, eyeing his reports.
"You saved my life,didn't you?" He asked. "Dr...?"
"Scarlett. Scarlett Williams," I answered. "Apparently, that's my job, Mr. Collins,"
"Thank you," He said.
"Your welcome," I smiled. "Pardon me I don't mean to intervene , Mr. Collins but why would someone do something like that to you?"
He stared at me, his face impassive and then shrugged as if whatever happened to him was as ordinary as brushing his teeth.
"Comes with the territory," He replied. "I am businessman," He added, registering my lost expression.
"I see," I muttered. "Anyway, you look good enough. Get some rest, I will say. And please don't stress yourself or your stitches for the matter,"
"How soon can I be discharged?" He asked.
"Umm, by tomorrow I guess," I answered. "Is there any problem here?"
"No," He shook his head. "I just want to go home,"
"Well. you have to be here for today at least. I will come check on you again during my evening rounds," I answered. "Take care, Mr. Collins,"
"Thank you, doctor," He said as I was by the door. He had this deep and husky voice which was equally appealing and scary.
"You're welcome, Mr. Collins," I smiled at him.
He didn't smile but nodded and stared at me with his predator-like eyes before looking away.
"You're right, he looks a bit scary," I whispered to Cindy. "And...er sinister,"
"Probably because he's glaringly good looking for our average eyes," She replied. "What is this about Italian guys? or British for the matter,"
"Focus," I laughed. "You can day-dream all you like later,"
"But here's the thing," Cindy said, going all-serious. "Yesterday, there was a shootout a few blocks away from Waldorf-Astoria and all the way to the millennium,"
"And your point is?" I demanded.
"My point is that this Gucci guy who calls himself Duke Collins also came by half an hour so after all this happened. He got wounds that no normal person gets no matter how big a businessman he is," Cindy pointed. "Unless, he has been in something big, like that shootout?"
I stared at her and then burst out laughing. That was some story, if anything. Cindy should be credited for that!
"Are you sure you want to be a doctor rather than trying a hand at writing?" I snickered. "You will do great,"
"Fine," Cindy scowled. "Don't believe me,"
"Alright, Nancy Drew, you can do your sleuthing later," I smiled. "Let's play doctor for now,"
"Why don't you believe me?" Cindy urged.
"Because sweetheart if something like this was up, then this place would have been crammed by top level officers by now," I said, checking off patients from Cindy's clipboard that she was too preoccupied to care about.
"Exactly," Cindy exclaimed. "Hence, the pseudonym Duke Collins! I mean from what angle does he look Duke Collins? Shouldn't he be Antonio or Mario or Leonardo?"
"Look, " I muttered, putting my arms on her shoulder. "Even if what you are assuming is true, this is none of our business, okay? If anything we should steer way clear from stuff like this. We are doctors not FBI. Our job is saving people's life, regardless of what they do or who they are. So just leave it all to cops and focus on your work, okay"
"Fine," Cindy grumbled.
"Good girl," I smiled. "I'll buy you lunch for that!"
The day dragged, busy as usual and soon it was time to go home but before that I decided to go check on Duke as I promised. As I headed towards his room, I pondered over what Cindy said earlier. Could it be true? Could this guy be involved in something wrong and was hiding under the faux name of Duke Collins? I rolled my eyes at my wayward thought. Stupid. Plain stupid.
"Good evening, Mr..." I paused as I stared around the empty room. There was no one there. No Duke Collins, nothing.
I frowned and headed to the reception where they kept all records. How could he just leave? Just like that?
"Hi, Lydia," I smiled at receptionist. "Do you know anything about a patient name Duke Collins, suite 235?"
"Duke Collins," She frowned. "Let me check, "
"Thanks," I nodded and waited as she punched some keys on the keyboard.
"Yes, Duke Collins," She nodded. "He discharged about an hour ago,"
"Discharged?" I frowned. "Who discharged him? I was his doctor. He' was not supposed to leave without my permission, "
"I don't know but I remember his brother was exceedingly insistent," She replied maki.ng a face
"Okay, thanks," I muttered. What was that about? And who the hell signed his discharge form?
I headed to my office to grab my stuff feeling a little bewildered. Why would someone be so eager to leave without even caring to heal properly?....Unless
"Oh,shut it!" I muttered to myself.
"Off to home?" Cindy demanded, peeping in.
"Yep," I nodded, dodging the Duke Collins incident. "What about you?"
"Me too," She nodded. "I guess, I will see you tomorrow then?"
"Nope," I replied, as we headed out. "I am on break tomorrow,"
"Ah, much needed," She grinned.
"You don't say," I rolled my eyes and then both of us burst out into laughter. "Oh f**k!"
"What?" Cindy demanded.
I pointed to the blonde hair guy with an infant in his arms talking to Lydia, his back to us. Today was a bad day, I decided.
"I think I have to take the back entrance," I muttered.
"Why?" She frowned. "Who's he?"
"Jared. Ex. Bad breakup," I summarised.
"Whoa, could you be anymore precise?" She teased.
"Yeah, laugh all you like," I muttered.
"Why did you break-up?" She asked.
"Douchebag, insecure and bad kisser," I answered.
"Ooh, that ought to do it," She laughed. "What's with the baby?"
"He got married two years back," I answered. "Money beats bad kissing's ass,"
"Pathetic," Cindy laughed.
"I know," I nodded. "Alright, I am gonna take the back entrance, see ya,"
"Goodnight," She laughed again and I scowled at her. Stupid kid.
I walked out of the back entrance and hugged myself as cold air hit me. It ought to be the coldest night of this summer. I scowled at myself, now I had to go all the way around to the parking. Thanks to douche bag, Jared Harris.
Shutting the door behind me, I started a steady jog towards the parking. The night was damp and silent with nothing but the chirping of crickets to be heard. So when a bone chilling scream pierced through the silence of the night, I couldn't stop myself from heading towards the direction of the noise which was behind the old abandoned warehouse just in front of the hospital back entrance.
Every bone in my body wanted to run from there but the doctor in me could only think of one thing- what if the person was hurt? I needed to help him.
"Please, let me go!" A voice begged. It was laced with fear which made me increase my pace.
"Sta 'zitto," Another voice said menacingly and I realised he has an accent. Just like Duke Collins. Italian!
I had no idea how I was going to help that person but I had to. I jogged silently towards the warehouse and pressed my back against it's cold damp wall. From my hiding, I peeked out and a low gasp escaped my mouth. Sitting on his knees was a guy, his hands tied behind his back. Surrounding him stood four to five men in a sharply cut suit with the one in front of him holding a revolver to his head. The guy on the floor was badly wounded and he kept wobbling a little.
"Please, just please let me go!" He begged again. "I won't tell anybody anything, I swear,"
"Unfortunately," The guy with the revolver sneered. "We can't have witness, Nate. Goodbye mate,"
Before I could do anything, a resounding noise echoed through the air and Nate fell on the floor in a heap, blood pooling around him like a small river.
"Nooo!" I almost screamed with shock and almost in unison all the men-in-black turned towards me, their expression filled with surprise.
I quickly realised I have said it out loud! Shit...Shit!
"Prendila!" The guy with the revolver cried and even though I had no idea what it meant, I concluded it was not something good.
Without wasting a moment, I took off full speed towards the hospital. If only I could reach there, a matter of five minutes I can call the cops.
"Ouch!" I cried, my feet staggered and my vision went blurry out of nowhere.
What was happening?
I turned and through my blurred vision saw the guy with the revolver scowling at me. I blinked until my sight was clear and then gasped.
"You!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Writer
