The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 9 - FLASH DRIVE

After the police left, Reina hurriedly went to their break room to tend her wounds but stopped when a strong hand pulled her through one of the empty Operating Rooms.

“Seriously, Thorn? It’s just a small cut. I don’t need to be operated.” Reina retorted, but Ryther firmly pushed her back.

“Shut up and strip,” Ryther said firmly and took what he needed. Reina frowned.

“What?”

“Strip.” He said again without any hesitation. “Don’t put any malice. I’m a doctor just like you who saw many different bodies, so faster. You are slowly losing blood. Can’t you feel that?” Ryther seethed, but Reina did not move.

“I can do it myself.” She answered firmly and motioned to step down from the operating room table, but Ryther pushed her down and pushed a button under the table, then metal cuffs cuffed Reina’s hand and feet. “What the- Ryther!”

“If you’re thick-headed, I’m stone-headed!” His voice raised, and he clicked another button, then the door locked. He pressed another one and the window of the observation room closed. “Want me to take off that uniform, or you’ll take it off yourself?” He asked again with a warning tone. “Or do you want me to put anesthesia for you to put you to sleep? I always observe you do that to our patients, so I can do it to you now if I want to.”

Reina hissed. Ryther’s decision is firm, and no one can break that. Not even Mr. A.

“Argh! Seriously?!” She exclaimed and rolled her eyes in distress. “Take these metal cuffs then. How can I strip off with this?” She murmured. “I will, okay?” She retorted upon seeing Ryther’s gloomy face. Fully showing that he does not trust her. Ryther sighed deeply before pressing the button, and the metal cuffs were unlocked, and his eye brown raised, making Reina hesitate.

“Turn around then.” She said.

“I’m no longer a child.” Ryther rolled his eyes but turned around somehow.

“That’s the point, stupid. You’re no longer a child.” Reina snapped back and quickly removed her upper scrub. She groaned silently when she felt her shoulder stung. The bullets were still inside her flesh. After she managed to remove her upper scrub, she used it as a cover to her upper body. “All set now.”

Only then did Ryther turn towards her. Reina felt uncomfortable, but Ryther was calm. Both of them were doctors for six years now, so Ryther was used to these scenarios.

“Want some anesthesia?” He asked jokingly.

“No need,” Reina answered without looking at Ryther. “Do what you always do. I still have a lot of stuff to do – ahh!” She groaned and crumpled her fist when Ryther started to take the bullet out of her shoulder. “Warn me first, will you?!” She exclaimed in pain.

“You said you don’t want anesthesia, so why would I need to warn you?” Ryther retorted, and Reina silently groaned as Ryther took the bullet out. Sweats formed on Reina’s forehead because of pain. Her lips bled because of her strong bite.

“You should have asked for anesthesia,” Ryther said as he closed Reina’s wound.

“It’s just a small wound,” Reina answered with a low voice, panting. Ryther frowned.

“No one gets four wound staples for just a small wound.” He retorted and finally covered her wound. But he stopped when Reina put her head on his shoulder. He clenched his jaw for he could imagine how much she was hurt. “If you don’t want this, then don’t be reckless,” Ryther grumbled and set his things aside.

“Such a nagger.” Reina whispered and rubbed her head on his shoulder, but Ryther took her head and cupped her cheeks.

“Hey, hey, your sweat.” He said jokingly.

“Psh. Shut up.” Reina retorted and rolled her eyes. “Thanks.” She blurted out sheepishly and tried to wear her upper scrub but winced because of the pain on her shoulder. Ryther, who saw her reaction, hissed and took her upper scrub. “H-Hey-“

“Just wear it.” He ordered and slid Reina’s scrub through her head, and Reina wore it like a little girl. After Reina successfully wore her upper scrub, Ryther slid something into her pocket. “Take this.” He said and fixed everything, then left her flabbergasted.

Hearing the door open, Reina came back to her senses and fished for her pocket.

“What’s this?” She asked and took the small thing. Her eyes then widened in disbelief. It was the flash drive.

***

The room was dark, and her tapping on the keyboard echoed throughout the whole room. Reina held her head as her eyes focused on the two screens present in front of her. One screen was for the flash drive containing the information gathered about the finger-cutting psycho for the past ten years, and the other screen showed Carter’s personal information.

“Aside from the height and foot size, I cannot seem to connect anything,” Reina murmured. “Mr. A, can I ask for more details and a background check for Carter?”

“You are an agent of the SIA. You can do that yourself. Don’t give me any more jobs; I have enough.” Mr. A answered on the other line. Reina frowned when she heard him munch something.

“Psh. You hold strong connections in the Police Department compared to me, okay? So please, I need it as soon as possible.” Reina retorted and turned the two monitors off. Though Reina cannot see it, she can fully imagine Mr. A’s grumpy face on the other line.

“Seriously? You little brat. How can you order me something this urgent?” Mr. A snapback, but Reina only chuckled.

“Yes, yes, I am the little brat. Thanks in advance, old man. Bye!” She said playfully and hung the phone. Reina turned on the lights and looked at her pure white wall where printed pictures were. The biggest picture there was Natalie’s and beside her are the possible suspects. Red arrows and different colors pins were also there. Reina took her dart pin, and in the split of the second, it flew on the second-largest picture behind Natalie. It was Carter.

~ If you want something, you need to do something. ~