Chapter 3

Jon's POV:

I could not sleep. What was it with Karen today? I had never seen her like that. I had to hang up because I did not want to argue. I had only called to tell her to tell her I would be meeting with some executives and wanted her to be there.

As always, I had expected her to call me back and apologize but she did not. Perhaps, she was waiting for me to call her first. That I will not do.

She must be so pissed right now for she would have already called. Believe me when I say I wanted to call her but I had to protect my dignity and pride at all costs. I could not show her that I was moved by the events of today.

Working as a Market Research Analyst was not something that allowed you the luxury of time. I was hoping she understood me and what I stood for. I did not have to work. My parents would make sure I was very comfortable but I was a man, one who loved to make his own money.

Besides, I was working so hard so she and the family we were planning to have would not be found lacking.

I woke up to several missed calls. Who would be calling so early? A terrible way to begin the day, with calls and then this terrible headache.

It was an unknown caller. Just as I tossed the phone aside, it rang again.

"Mr. Jon?" The caller asked, sounding all professional. Could be a client. I get calls like this all the time.

"Yes, you have him."

"When last did you see Miss Wilson?"

"Who's this? What is this about?"

"Oh, forgive my manners. I am a detective and I am calling from the station. One Nurse Meghan had reached out to me last night saying Miss Wilson had gone out to get some food and never returned. Security cameras showed she left the premises. I had dismissed it but Nurse Meghan had called back this morning insisting Miss Wilson would never leave without saying goodbye and she says her number has been disconnected since then. I'm calling to confirm if perhaps she is with you or if you know of her whereabouts so I can convince the nurse that this is all just a misunderstanding," he finished.

"Detective, let it go," I said smiling. I did not know our little argument had vexed her so much.

"She's fine. We had a little quarrel yesterday but it's fine. She has another shift tonight, I'm sure she'll show up."

"I hope so. Not to worry you, but something feels odd about the video from the security cameras," he added.

"What do you mean?" I asked, becoming alert.

"Ah, it's nothing. Just an instinct, I'm sure she's fine," he said and we ended with pleasantries.

Karen's POV:

All I could do was cry. Memories of the Italian's fingers across his neck only made it worse. I imagined him giving them the signal to do the same with me.

He led me back quietly to the uncompleted building and we were met by the others who only looked at me and laughed.

I wondered what was funny until I heard one of them say, "She did fall for it" and I understood why the door had been left open.

I should have followed and listened to my guts, I thought. I had never felt so foolish in my entire life.

I was led to another room on the other side of the building. This was more filled with furniture and looked habitable. By the right, I could see a group of young men, perhaps in their twenties, with dreads and tattoos. Each looked like he wanted to be a wannabe favorite rapper of his.

They were too busy working on their computers to notice us walk in. I could see they were finding it hard to decipher the program. This was something I could easily do but now was not the time for that.

A gentle pat on my shoulder had me letting out a squeal. I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not notice when the Italian had walked up behind me.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the smart doctor who thought she could ditch me. What do I do to her now?"

"Please, spare my life. Let me go and I promise no one will hear about this or you. I would pretend this never happened."

"That is not how it works. You see, that's one thing you should learn about me. I hate people who try to double-cross me. The only thing I can do for you is to make sure you die a painless death but first, I have something to show you."

Using his hands, he gestured to the guys by the door. And using a wheelchair, a man covered in what I presumed to be his blood was rolled in.

I remembered what he said earlier. He wanted me to watch this man die a slow, painful death. As a medical practitioner, I was familiar with losing patients all the time.

The issue here was a matter of morality and ethics. I did my best to make sure patients had a peaceful death and if not, should die of natural causes. I could not be the one to end and in the most inhumane way.

"Why do you have that face?" He asked this time, directing the question to me in his thick Italian accent.

"I hear you guys now kill your patients. You do not resuscitate because the patient says to not and you take off life support. After all, relatives say so when your sole job is to save a life. So you see, we are similar in different ways."

Turning to the man in the wheelchair he asked, "Why don't you just tell me? I can get the intel elsewhere. No need for you to die with it."

"Please, spare my life. You've tortured me enough."

With clenched jaws and tense muscles, I wondered what the Italian was planning as he walked toward me.

"Doctor, I think he's right. We have tortured him enough. Let's help him stop the misery," he said. And with that, he went to my back, stretched out my arms towards the man, and placed the gun in my hands aiding me from behind.

"Shoot him and who knows, I might just spare your life if you take his. A life for a life."

I was beginning to lose vision. My sight became blurred and my head was spinning, almost as if I could collapse anytime.

"Do it, it's as easy as taking the life support off a patient," he said chuckling. He seemed to love where this was going.

Before I could think of my choices, helping me with his hands, he, or rather, I pulled the trigger. I missed it. I had slightly shifted my fingers before the trigger was pulled.

"Let's try this again," he said. And this time, he made sure his fingers were the ones on the trigger.

I do not know what happened next. All I heard was the sound of the gun going off. Then, there was total blackness.