The Secret Patient
Page 24
“Good morning, how are you feeling?”
“I’ve been worse. Are you impressed?”
“Very. Pretty good mobility for a man who was a vegetable!”
“Ha-ha yeah that’s a fair statement. Although getting here myself might be my achievement of the day. I’ve looked through some of the documents here, wow it seems full on. But I bet you’ve got something better to tell me.”
“Actually yes, with the information that Frank gathered we made a breakthrough last night. Have you seen Frank?”
“He had to go out, said you would fill me in.”
“Ok, that’s fine. Well there’s no easy way to put this. As much as they are despicable people abusing their power of you, they had a legitimate reason to keep you there.”
“Oh really? This will be good.”
“Nathan, you’re the cure to cancer.”
“What? Hang on, you’re not laughing. Are you serious?”
“Yes, all the information is on the USB stick we retrieved. They were using your blood to cure cancer patients. And they were filling you with chemo and other drugs to keep you weak and compliant.”
“Those bastards. I can’t believe it. They must have found something back when I went for that first blood test. So when I came back in, they were ready for me. The whole thing is so cold and premeditated. I just can’t believe it,” Nathan said. He looked like he wanted to stand up and start pacing, but he was stuck in his seat.
“I know, I still can’t believe it. But everything adds up. I don’t think the government was involved, I think it was restricted to the hospital. We don’t know how widespread the information was, probably only a few key doctors really knew.”
“What about the nurses? Robin?”
“Not sure, apart from asking them. It’s possible that they knew, but unlikely. They were probably told very little.”
“Wow, so what is it about me?”
“Something in your blood. Your white blood cells can identify and neutralise cancerous cells without the need for any other treatments.”
“So that’s why they were always after my blood, and even took more when I destroyed the samples.”
“Yeah, they’re treating someone at the moment. We would need a doctor we can trust to go through the information in more detail, to determine exactly what they were doing, and what their end goal was.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot to process. But I think you are alright health wise. We should get you checked out, but it’s safe to say they kept you in hospital for their own purposes, not your wellbeing.”
“So what happens now? This is a huge story. Is my life over? Are you going to out me?” Nathan said quietly. The responsibility of his situation was starting to dawn on him. Yes he had been held against his will, by people without honour. But he had been saving lives while he was there. By running away, he was preventing people from receiving lifesaving treatment. He looked at Elizabeth, not sure how she was going to respond.
“I understand what you are thinking right now. But I want to make something clear. This started out as a story that I wanted to break, for various reasons. None of which are important now. And you know what, it’s satisfying as hell to have gotten you out and busted this story open. But now that we are here, it’s your story. It’s your life,” Elizabeth said. Nathan nodded and thought it over. He had a few big decisions to make.
“But I do have one request, for a friend of mine,” Elizabeth said, a smile creeping onto her face.
Epilogue
Elizabeth was nervous, as she closed the car door and started walking. She checked the address again, and it was definitely the right place. It was an old red brick set of apartments, that looked around forty to fifty years old. She walked down the driveway and opened the glass doors into the main entrance. The smell of mothballs greeted her, and she carefully ascended the staircase, marvelling at the faded blue carpet. After one flight of stairs she stopped and looked at the apartments. There it was, number seven. She paused, and then knocked twice.
“Coming,” a voice said and within moments she could hear the door opening. She didn’t know what to expect, and found herself holding her breath.
“Elizabeth! So good to see you, please come in,” Dean said.
“You too Dean, it’s been too long,” Elizabeth said and stepped inside. The apartment was small, the kitchen, dining and lounge area were in front of her, with a door off to the right that she assumed led to the bedroom and bathroom.
“Cute place,” she said.
“Thanks, yeah it’s enough for me. Lucky I have it, you know,” Dean said.
“You look good. In fact you look better than I have ever seen you.”
“Not bad for an old bloke eh?” Dean said and made a face at her. Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, I’m fine for now,” Elizabeth said. She followed Dean and sat down on the couch next to him.
“Sorry I haven’t been in touch, we thought it best if we laid low for a while,” she said.
“Oh that’s fine. I got your message, and everything happened so quickly. I was so surprised, that I almost argued when they came to move me to another hospital. But I figured you were up to something so I played it cool.”
“Just as well!”
“Yeah, trust me to almost ruin things. I know I don’t need to say this, but thank you. You saved my life.”
“Don’t thank me, thank Nathan.”
“That’s an incredible story, one that I’ll take to my grave don’t you worry. How’s he taking it?”
“Well, given the circumstances, I’m not pushing him for any answers, but I think he’s had enough time to make his decision.”
“Well, he’s done so much for me already. I feel like a new man. It’s a strange thing, death. It changes you. You have to change your thinking, start to accept the things that you never could. But here I am, I feel like I cheated. Every day I wake up and just breathe in the life around me and I feel like dancing,” Dean said. Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile.
“I can totally see that.”
“Ha-ha, I know huh? So what else is happening, fill me in.”
“Well Dr Malberg and Dr Sterling, the head of research, quietly resigned. I think they wanted to get ahead of any potential scandals. Frank had a word with Albert, the head of Egyptian Antiquities. The evidence we got was unlawfully obtained so he can’t be prosecuted, but I think Frank scared the hell out of him. But truth the told, I think the guy is just happy that his daughter is alright.”
“What about those goons that were following you around?”
“Turns out they were hired by Albert to protect his investment. I’m kind of glad they weren’t affiliated with the government, although Frank reckons Don is a former operative of some kind.”
“He’s probably right. But what about you?”
“I’m alright, but I don’t know what’s next. Even after the dust settled I couldn’t go back to the newspaper. And that’s pretty much all I’ve done, so I’m at a loss as to what to do with myself.”
“You’ve got the whole world at your feet, take your time.”
“I already have, but you’re right. No need to rush things just yet. I’ll figure it out.”
“Of course you will, you’re a smart one. You cracked this case, just like I knew you would.”
“Hey thanks for pulling me back in. I was in a bad place, and ready to give it all away. But you stopped me in my tracks.”
“I don’t know why you’re thanking me, I just told you what you needed to hear. And after all you have done for me, I don’t think you’ll never need to thank me for anything!”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind. What are you doing with your newfound time?”
“Enjoying it, not putting labels on things. Like you I have the world at my feet.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Hey, did you still want me to write your story?”
>
“Nah that was going to be a swan song. I’ll make a story worth writing about, and may even tell it myself,” Dean said. He had a determined look in his eye.
“I can’t argue with that,” Elizabeth said, then looked at her watch.
“Hey can you pass me the remote?” she asked. Dean handed it over. Elizabeth turned on the television and changed the channel.
“Don’t want to miss your favourite show?”
“Trust me, you don’t want to miss this,” Elizabeth said. A reporter in a red dress and long brown hair sat behind a standard news desk, and started talking into the camera.
“We have with us today a man who has been through an extraordinary ordeal. One so extreme, that we can’t show his face or broadcast his voice. He was confined to a hospital bed for months against his will, never told why he was being held and was isolated from other patients. His own family didn’t even know where he was and thought him dead. He is here today to share his incredible story, one that even I have not fully heard. We are referring to him as Patient CM. So, Patient CM in your own words can you please tell us why they held you captive in a hospital bed,” the reporter said, before pausing. The camera cut to a darkened room, with the silhouette of a man sitting in a chair. He seemed to be looking directly into the camera. Finally he spoke.
“I am the cure for cancer.”
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About the Author
Vaughan W. Smith, born 31 May 1982, is a novelist, gaming enthusiast, engineer and photographer from Sydney, Australia. He wrote his debut novel, "Idle Thoughts", between 2008-2011.
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For Dad.
Copyright © 2016 by Vaughan W. Smith
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ISBN: 978-0-9874694-5-8
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