Chapter 3 —
“Could you tell us again what the situation was when the patient first arrived?”
“Yes. I was on night duty at the time. The patient arrived around 3 a.m. And less than 10 minutes after entering the trauma bay, she was taken straight into surgery.”
“What was her condition?”
The detective began jotting notes quickly in a small notebook.
“She was unconscious, and the bleeding was severe. Her blood pressure was dropping rapidly.”
“And the person who accompanied her?”
“I… don’t really know. From what I saw, the only people who entered the trauma bay with her looked like bodyguards. They didn’t seem like family.”
The detective’s eyes flashed sharply.
“So the patient couldn’t have said anything about the shooter, since she was unconscious the whole time.”
“That’s correct.”
“Do you know anything about Mr. Jonathan Harrington? Have you ever spoken with him in the hospital? What’s your relationship with him?”
Suji shook her head vehemently.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
For a while, the detective continued firing persistent questions. But all Suji really knew was the patient’s medical condition—not the details the detectives wanted. She couldn’t answer most of their questions.
“Everything you said today will be recorded. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“No, thank you. I hope the suspect is arrested soon.”
Suji bowed politely to them.
Later, as she finished rounds and rested in the lounge, her fellow interns bustled in together.
“Suji, do you know the hospital is in chaos right now?”
“What chaos?”
“It’s all over the news. About the VIP gunshot patient.”
“What? There’s news already?”
“What do you mean ‘already’?”
“Well… a gunshot patient was brought into the trauma bay early this morning. A VIP.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me? You should’ve told me immediately!”
Fim moved closer with gleaming interest, as if she’d found a juicy piece of gossip.
“It wasn’t something to talk about openly. It isn’t good news.”
But now that there were articles… was this okay?
Professor Crowell’s face came to mind—how strict he’d been about confidentiality. Did something she told the detectives get leaked? But that didn’t make sense; the detectives already knew more than she expected.
A strange anxiety dried her throat.
“What happened, anyway? Random shooting? Revenge? Why would someone get shot out of nowhere?”
“I don’t know that part.”
“How can you not know?”
“No one told me.”
Fim and Liam exchanged confused looks. At that moment, Suji’s pager vibrated. A message from Professor Crowell.
“I’ve gotta go see Professor Crowell.”
“Okay, go ahead. See you later.”
Suji headed straight toward his office.
Knock, knock.
Standing outside his door, Suji waited nervously. Soon, Professor Crowell’s voice told her to enter.
But the office wasn’t empty.
Jonathan Harrington was there too.
Wearing an immaculate, expensive-looking suit, he radiated an intimidating pressure.
“Sit.”
Professor Crowell’s expression was grim—deeply displeased.
“Hello.”
Suji bowed to both men. Neither returned the greeting.
An uncomfortable tension hung in the air. She sat down carefully.
Professor Crowell placed an electronic tablet on the table—almost slamming it down.
“Did you tell the police everything from start to finish?”
“Pardon?”
“You didn’t read the article?”
“No, not yet. I only heard one came out.”
Professor Crowell clicked his tongue, and Jonathan openly frowned.
“So you already forgot what I said this morning!”
His voice boomed so loudly that Suji shrank back instinctively.
“I… You said you had reported it to the police. And when the police ask about the patient, I thought answering was my duty as a medical professional. Did I do something wrong?”
“You did! You absolutely did! What did I say? That this patient isn’t like the others. I told you clearly—right here, this morning! And you even said you understood!”
“But the police asked—”
“Enough! Still!”
His voice exploded again.
“Do you realize how much trouble you’ve caused Mr. Harrington because of your actions? Look! The articles are saying he’s the patient’s guardian!”
“….”
Suji was bewildered.
Did she say that? It didn’t seem like it. The detectives already knew far more than she had told them.
While Suji mentally retraced everything, Professor Crowell continued relentlessly.
“Mr. Harrington doesn’t want even the smallest rumor spreading. And now look—people are already speculating because an employee of a law firm got shot. Do you think this kind of news is pleasant to him? To anyone?”
“….”
“He trusted our hospital, and yet you leaked everything in just one day. Expect disciplinary action.”
“But professor… I wasn’t the one who contacted the police, and I didn’t—”
“Don’t try to escape with cheap lies.”
“I’m telling the truth—”
Suji stopped talking.
Because someone knocked—and the door opened.
“It’s me.”
Lucas stepped inside.
All three in the room turned toward him in shock.
“I’m the one who called the police. I’m the one who shared information. And I’m the one who handed over the shell casing.”
“What?”
Jonathan’s face contorted instantly. Suji could see his composure cracking.
“A gunshot victim came into the hospital. Reporting it is the obvious thing to do.”
“Lucas—no, Dr. Harrington.”
Jonathan forced a strained smile, trying to suppress his anger.
“You should’ve realized we avoided the ambulance to keep things quiet. To keep everything from leaking.”
“Well, that’s your position. Mine is different.”
“Lucas!”
Jonathan finally lost control and exploded in fury.
“I knew you always had to do the opposite of what I say, but did you really have to go this far?”
“Are you threatening me?”
Lucas asked calmly, unaffected.
“I don’t care what you do outside, Father. But don’t force me to break the law. And don’t drag my junior into it either.”
“Lucas!”
Jonathan shot up from his seat. The tension between the two men tightened like a blade. Suji’s heart shrank painfully.
“We need to catch the culprit. Someone nearly died. Strange… coming from someone who prides himself on upholding the law.”
“…”
Jonathan glared at Lucas, teeth clenched.
“Come on, Dr. Park.”
“…Me?”
“Let’s go.”
Lucas gestured to her. Sensing the moment, Suji bowed to both older men and followed him.
Once outside the office, Lucas let out a long breath. He had tried not to lose his temper, but seeing Suji trembling in fear made something boil inside him.
Why were her shoulders so slumped?
Why was her voice shaking like that?
Why did she look like she might cry at any second?
“Come with me, Dr. Park.”
“Yes, sir.”
Suji followed obediently.
Lucas headed into the emergency stairwell. The two stood facing each other. He looked down at Suji, who was still breathing shakily, unable to calm her nerves.
