Chapter 11: A conspiracy against the doctor? Completely useless, that's alright...
Just as Allen was on the verge of a breakdown, preparing to embark on the grand path of 'pulling out a gun and shooting everyone → going to Metropolis to find Luthor and join the Illuminati → joining the lab to research the Reach and develop alien weapons → transforming Earth into his own,' Andy Miller nudged his arm:
"See, I told you REBOA was a better option. Maybe 'Squid' will agree to donate his lower limb to the hospital! If that's the case, I'll apply to let you practice suturing with his leg. You can also try that pressure cooker for autologous bone deactivation and reimplantation!"
Allen: "..."
He looked at his fingers; they didn't tremble or twitch—they were hands capable of holding a scalpel steadily.
The pain and trembling he had just experienced seemed to be his imagination.
However, when it came to the pressure cooker used to boil patients' bones, he was actually quite hungry.
The news on his phone continued to play, Dick's face was magnified, and Allen felt he missed cereal even more.
The sight of the penniless and powerless police officer being pushed out to face the media only strengthened Allen's resolve to make Dick resign and come home with him to be his housekeeper.
He would give Dick a better life instead of keeping him here as a scapegoat for the police department.
The optimistic doctor Andy peeked through the video Daniel handed to Allen, then patted Allen's arm and softly comforted him, "It's okay, it's okay. The officers at the Brudhaven Police Department are very resilient; they can handle this little public relations crisis—they'll say that's the situation, and we don't know what the rest is. Your breakfast buddy, dinner buddy, and personal driver just need to keep quiet, and it'll all be over."
Edward, the other doctor who had just been operating with Allen, peeked over from the other side and shoved Daniel, the owner of the phone, aside.
The two doctors sandwiched Allen in the middle, and the three of them lowered their heads and hunched over, staring at the small phone screen, looking just like elementary school students secretly reading comics under the table behind the teacher's back.
Emergency responder Daniel tried to squeeze himself into the doctors' inner circle, but he was unsuccessful.
Edward calmly commented, "I remember last time they accidentally detonated a cake bomb sent to their chief, which blew up the roof of the police station... The public was even more furious then, taking to the streets to protest and demand the chief's resignation. Unfortunately, the more infamous someone is, the more secure their position becomes. I remember you and Dick are quite close, right? You could comfort him; once he's become a household name, he'll be a successful future Chief Brudhaven!"
Allen: "...Dick probably doesn't need it; he's an idealistic cop." Unlike the average cop.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” Dr. Miller shook his head regretfully. “I bet 911 and the fire department bought a lot of traffic behind this news—they’ve always been at odds with the police. I remember Officer Grayson once fought with them over a cat in a tree… Don’t look at me like that, the nurses told me. They have a little group that idolizes Officer Grayson, and photos of him rescuing cats sell for the most. Don’t underestimate the nurses’ gossip! I don’t know how many interesting little secrets I’ve heard from them.”
Thank you, your gossip skills are no worse than theirs.
Allen's lips twitched.
“I’ll tell you a little secret, but don’t tell anyone else.” Dr. Edward, the gossip queen, winked at Allen. “They also have a little group about you, secretly posting your photos every day. Right now, your solo photos are priced the same as those of the idol-like police officer Grayson. Don’t worry, they won’t release the photos… The nurses are under a lot of pressure, they need to relax too. And you know, there are quite a few people in the hospital who have their eyes on you, we’ve all placed bets on who you’ll go to dinner with first… Aren’t you really considering going on a date after work?”
Dr. Miller, the gossip queen: "Elina from the pathology department and Dr. Mark from the cardiology department were both asking me for your contact information the other day. They really hinted at it to you several times, but you didn't notice even once. Honestly, Elina is a very lovely girl, have you considered her? I personally strongly advise against choosing Mark, he just broke up with Elina only a week ago!"
Allen stared at him expressionlessly.
Miller: "Don't look at me like that, I'm not being sexist! I just... okay, I bet Elena, a whopping 50 dollars! Please, Allen, you won't let me lose it all, right?"
Allen was at a loss for words. He had no experience dealing with this kind of topic, and could only awkwardly reply, "...Could you change the subject to one I can participate in?"
So the three attending physicians and one paramedic began whispering in front of everyone how long it would take for the 'squid' to die.
Fortunately, the hospital and the police were focused on today's medical disputes and criminal cases, and no one paid attention to the few junior doctors.
Apart from Mrs. Johnson, who just gave Allen a strange smile.
“She’s still secretly watching you!” Andy had obviously noticed the strange behavior of ‘Squid’s’ wife. He thought for half a minute, then solemnly reminded Allen, “Compared to ‘Squid’s’ widow, I sincerely suggest you choose Elina, or even Mark! Don’t go and raise ‘Squid’s’ child!”
“That woman is no simpleton.” Dr. Edward patted Allen’s shoulder sympathetically. “Be careful. What if she tries to take advantage of you? Otherwise, just accept her offer. It won’t be a loss… Remember to ask for as much as you can. Why didn’t she take a liking to me?”
"Oh, why don't you ask the mirror about that?"
Allen pushed aside the two gossipy individuals on his left and right: "...Change the subject!!"
"Oh, oh, oh, where were we? How much longer can the 'squid' last, right?"
Dr. Miller pondered for five seconds and said there were at least 36 hours left.
The Google paramedics looked left and right, then irrationally decided to do whatever Dr. Osborn said. All three then turned their gazes to Allen, their intense attention completely extinguishing any remaining emotions Allen was on the verge of exploding.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and thought for three seconds: "35.5 hours."
"...Where did you get that half hour?!" Andy retorted. "You're not the Grim Reaper."
“If he’s not dead in 35.5 hours, I’ll pull the plug.” Allen was completely committed to the gamble and was very confident. “Trust me, I won’t make a mistake.”
"Oh, then Dr. Osborn is definitely going to win!" This was Daniel, who blindly worshipped Alan. "Sorry, Dr. Miller, Dr. Osborn and I are on the same side!"
“Then I’ll go with Dr. Allen, the rising star with his strong methods and amazing aura!” another surgeon said with a chuckle. “We Hawaiians tend to believe in the rookie aura! Aloha!”
"If you lose, give me your pen!" Allen patted his empty chest pocket, his eyes fixed intently on the pen in Andy Miller's shirt pocket, uttering words that could ignite the greatest fighting spirit in a surgeon.
Andy: "..." Don't even think about it. Do you know what a surgeon's pen is? It's our weapon, a trophy that's always being stolen, and the white moonlight that we can never find when signing a death notice!
This is far more important than the squid's life and the widow's!
Therefore, you really can't have too high expectations for the senior doctors in the ER at Brodhaven, because they see far too many people who are completely out of their element.
There have been other families like Mrs. Johnson's who have been unreasonable and insisted on going to court, and they are not the only wealthy and powerful people in Brudhaven.
In the eyes of Dr. Miller and others, today's scene was just a normal doctor-patient conflict, not even escalating to the point where the patient's family came to bomb the doctor. It was nothing.
Without a spirit of adventure, resilience, and a relaxed mindset, one cannot stay here for long.
Mrs. Johnson, who had just been licking her lips in a rather perverted manner in an attempt to attract Allen's attention, gradually began to break down when no one paid attention to her.
She decided to stop pretending and stood up, trying to provoke Allen again: "Dr. Osborn! Did you hear what I just said?"
Under Ms. Goodman's glare, Allen reluctantly admitted, "I didn't hear you. Is there something you need?"
It's a wonder the woman across from me wasn't driven mad by Allen.
She thought to herself, all the information she had prepared about Alan Osborn beforehand, including his psychological profile, and the plan she and her lawyer had rehearsed beforehand—"to confront Dr. Osborn directly → attract his attention → lead Alan Osborn step by step into their trap"—had been completely ignored by him!
Although she didn't understand why the authorities were so determined to relentlessly target Alan Osborne, a lowly doctor from Hell's Kitchen, and ruin his career.
However, they underestimated Alan Osborn.
This terrifying man cannot be defeated by them with a few words; they underestimated him!
Allen had no idea what the other person was trying to say after all that fuss, so he asked impatiently, "Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving."
It was dismissed very lightly, with utter disdain.
After saying that, he stood up and tried to leave.
The woman opposite shouted, "I can withdraw the lawsuit!"
Ms. Goodman and the BPD staff were immediately impressed.
They thought there would be at least a few more of these pointless meetings, and they might even end up in court, dragging it out for at least six months before finally reaching an agreement.
It's not that they're afraid of this, it's just that everyone wants to avoid trouble.
The "squid" incident has caused quite a stir, with the public generally believing he's a good person, and some even spontaneously sending flowers to the hospital. The more the authorities claim the truth hasn't been uncovered, the more the public believes the government is covering it up. The mayor just called, demanding the hospital and police department do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this incident, and it's rumored that even the state attorney general is monitoring the case.
If "Squid" Fitch Johnson is indeed dead, he will likely be confirmed as a good guy, bringing the recent turmoil to a close and no one will mention it again. Johnson's men and wife can then legitimately retain their current businesses, and perhaps even further.
Only when 'Squid' stands in court to accept trial and personally confesses to his crimes can the law be respected and the truth restored. If he really dies, the reputation of the Port Buenos Aires police will be ruined, even though their reputation is already so bad that it doesn't matter if they die a little more.
This is especially true for hospitals. Allen and Dick are facing similar situations now. Once they are taken to court, regardless of the truth, their careers will be put on hold in the short term.
Public pressure will be exerted on Allen, Ms. Goodman, and the hospital's investors.
It's not impossible that the hospital would choose to fire Allen for the sake of its reputation, since Allen was just an intern and the hospital's management wouldn't side with him.
The woman smiled at Allen and said, "I can drop the charges, provided that Officer Leo donates his liver to my husband! That way he can live, right?"
Theoretically, that's true. Furthermore, the liver is an immune-preferential organ, so transplantation is possible as long as the blood transfusion principles are met. It just so happens that Officer Leo and Fitch Johnson have the same blood type.
“If I may remind you,” Ms. Goodman said, her face turning cold, “Mr. Johnson is currently serving his sentence, and according to regulations, he is not receiving organ donations.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com