Dr. Thorne had barely hung up the phone with Emily Rosen when it rang. The sound startled him, and the taste of copper hit his tongue when he read the name on the phone.
Paralyzed
VIII: Absolute Hell
Daniel Jakobs.
“What does he want?” But deep down, he knew.
He picked up the phone. “Daniel?” he said. “What’s going on?”
Silence came from the other end.
“Daniel? Hello?”
“Come to my office.”
Click. The dial tone sounded through the earpiece.
Dr. Thorne was taken aback, and he put the phone down. Then he smiled when he realized Coordinator Jakobs was about to step into his trap.
He left his office with a spring in his step. If he were a whistler, he would whistle the happiest tune he knew. But he walked in silence.
He ran through a dozen different ways this conversation could go down. And in all of his models, he saved his revelation from HR until the most impactful moment. He was crafting a TV drama for himself to live. Even in his imaginary talks, he could hardly wait to bring out his bazooka.
He reached the elevators and pressed the up button.
Dr. Thorne prepared his mind while the elevator took him to the next floor.
He got out of the elevator and saw a young Japanese man in a black suit walking toward him. The man held a briefcase with his right hand. He thought it was strange—hardly ever see the Japanese around.
As Dr. Thorne walked toward the man, he could’ve sworn he was staring at him from behind his dark shades. Who wears sunglasses inside?
They passed each other, and Dr. Thorne saw a circular tattoo on the man’s right hand: a snaking dragon surrounding something he could only describe as an advanced hexagon. Creepy.
He was relieved the Asian did nothing and continued walking toward the elevators.
Dr. Thorne walked down the hall until he came to Daniel Jakobs’ office. The door was closed, so he knocked. He thought he heard muttering from behind the door.
“Come in.” It was Jakobs’ voice.
He opened the door and was greeted with the view of another Japanese man in a black suit and shades—this one very tall and muscular—standing next to Coordinator Jakobs, who was sitting in his chair. He’s a member of Yakushi.
He got a terrible feeling in his gut. I messed with the wrong man. They’re here for my head. They’ve already heard what I’ve done.
“Sit down, Dr. Thorne,” Coordinator Jakobs said, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk.
“I’ve been in your office too many times now,” Dr. Thorne said as he sat. He nervously chuckled. “You couldn’t just say what needs saying over the phone?”
“No.”
Dr. Thorne looked into the shades of the Asian standing next to Daniel. He tried to figure out what the man was thinking, though he came up with nothing.
Coordinator Jakobs put his hands on the desk. “I’ve got good news for you, Dr. Thorne.”
“Good news?”
“Yes.”
Dr. Thorne looked Daniel in the eyes, then he looked back at the looming man. Back to Daniel. “The suspense is killing me.” He immediately thought it was a poor choice of words.
Coordinator Jakobs looked up at the large Asian.
The man nodded.
He looked back at Dr. Thorne. “It seems a large donation is to be made out to the hospital.”
The statement confused Dr. Thorne. How is that good for me?
“On the condition that you continue your work here.”
Dr. Thorne pulled his head back. The news shocked him.
The large man put a hand on Coordinator Jakobs’ shoulder.
“And,” he said, raising his hand and leaning forward. “And unhindered.”
Dr. Thorne smirked. “What’s this all about?”
The Asian spoke. “Mr. Kutsuki was very grateful for your services, and he wanted to reward your… diligence.”
“Congratulations, Dr. Thorne,” Coordinator Jakobs said in a droning tone. “You’ll be your own coordinator now. No one above you. No accountability.” He raised his hands in the air. “A free agent.”
“This is all a joke, right?” Dr. Thorne said, smiling. “I had a bombshell from HR to reveal.”
Coordinator Jakobs chuckled. “Well you don’t need that now,” he said. “It seems like a grand prank, but your care of Mr. Kutsuki was so good that he wanted to ensure your ascension.” He laughed. “You must’ve given that old Jap the blowjob of his life!” He laughed harder. “Who did I piss on in my past life to get stuck dealing with you? But I suppose that’s all over now—you’re free, and I’m free.” He gave a toothy smile.
The large man was clearly disturbed by Coordinator Jakobs’ statements.
Coordinator Jakobs looked up at the man beside him. His face went pale. He looked back at Dr. Thorne. “That would be all.” He stood, brushed his pants with both hands, and extended his right hand to Dr. Thorne.
He leaned forward and shook Daniel’s hand.
“Again, Congratulations.”
Dr. Thorne nodded. He still couldn’t believe what was happening. And the handshake went on for longer than he intended.
Coordinator Jakobs pulled his hand away.
Dr. Thorne stood. “So I can go now?”
He nodded frantically. Nerves showing on his face. “You can go now.”
Dr. Thorne opened the door and stepped out.
His head was still reeling after he left Coordinator Jakobs’ office. He couldn’t imagine Mr. Kutsuki pledging any money, let alone enough to make these demands, after he had forced the man to feel every knick and gouge of his operation.
This city’s gone mad. An ex-Yakushi member offering money to keep my ass in a cushy job.
None of it made sense to Dr. Thorne. And he was now on his way to make some sense of it. He hit the elevator button to go up—he would see Mr. Kutsuki face-to-face and demand an explanation.
Dr. Thorne waited and waited in the elevator. It seemed to him to be taking twice as long to reach his desired floor. But the doors finally opened, and he got out and marched his way to Mr. Kutsuki’s room.
He reached the room, and he felt something wrong before he actually saw it. It was like a rush of electricity running up and down his body.
It was one of the strangest feelings he had experienced.
He looked into the room through the window. He couldn’t believe what he saw.
Above the bed hovered a naked Mr. Kutsuki. He had crossed his legs, and he distorted his fingers to make them into strange symbols.
Dr. Thorne could see the crimson slash all the way down the man’s back—a zigzag of sutures the only things keeping the wound from opening.
Mr. Kutsuki’s head turned to face Dr. Thorne, and he could see the man’s eyes were… larger than usual. His pupils were slitted like a reptile’s.
Dr. Thorne nearly lost his balance at the sight. And at that moment, he decided he’d rather not talk with Mr. Kutsuki.
“Enjoy the promotion, Dr. Thorne.”
Somehow Mr. Kutsuki’s low, guttural voice reached his ears.
“Punishment comes with guns and swords,” Mr. Kutsuki said. “And we have plans for you.”
Dr. Thorne ran from that room for the second time that day, and he heard a low chuckle from that room as he left. I’ve pissed on the wrong man, he thought. I’m screwed.
He stopped halfway between the room with the creepy floating man and the elevators. “My Red Angel will protect me,” he said with no thought of the nurses, doctors, and patients around him.
And he walked toward the elevators.
“I just need to find him.”
He smirked. His Red Angel had found him once—why couldn’t he find his Red Angel?