Chapter 3 - Investigation at the clinic
1402 Words
Chapter 3 - Investigation at the clinicJust then he remembered Sultan so he went looking for him. Sultan was waiting patiently lying by the door of the clinic.
“Sultan, come on. You have work to do. You must look for Alexis.”
Sultan got up, yawned and stretched before coming to Peter.
Woof-woof? Sultan barked questioningly.
“Search Sultan! Search!” Peter asked him. How could he have lost the child? What had he done to lose him?
Peter allowed the dog to come in to the office right before the accusing eyes of the next patient. Sultan went up to place where they had been and barked loudly. He did not like that place. It reminded him of the time they took him to the vet.
“Sultan, quit being lazy and search for Alexis.”
Sultan headed for the door through which they had disappeared and went up to a second door that was closed. He lifted up his leg to lower the handle. The door opened allowing Peter and Sultan to go in to a room that was also empty. Where could they be? Peter opened the only door that was there and found himself face to face with his brother.
The worried look on his face alarmed him. He knew Peter well enough to know something was wrong.
“What are you still doing here? The doctor left ages ago.”
“What have you done with Alexis? I know it was you!”
“Alexis?” he asked confused. “No, I haven’t seen him.”
“Don’t lie. Of course you’ve seen him, you kidnapped him!”
“You lost him? I’m sure he’s around here. Have you looked in the bathroom?”
“No.”
“Well, let’s go look. Come, we’ll go together.”
Peter followed his brother with a doubtful expression all the way to the bathroom. The Debt Collector opened the door and asked Peter to go in first. The bathroom light was off. Peter flipped the switch and the light bulb that was hanging from the ceiling lit up the small room.
Sultan barked several times, his nose had taken him to the emergency door.
“Let’s go Peter! Right now it’s not time to pee,” The Debt Collector told Peter when he saw him unbuttoning his pants.
“Let me go pee. I have to seize the moment.”
“You’re so childish.”
Peter buttoned up his pants and washed his hands. “Don’t you want to pee too? You should take advantage.”
Meanwhile Sultan kept barking nonstop. What were those dumb humans waiting for?
Peter came out of the bathroom and exclaimed, “Let’s go! Sultan is barking.”
Sultan saw both humans appear. It’s about time!
The Debt Collector opened the door that led to a few steps and another door at the end that opened to the street. Sultan went without hesitation to the second door and waited until someone opened it for him by standing off to the side and giving off a short bark.
“He could not have gone out into the street!” exclaimed Peter distraught. “He knows he should not go out alone.”
“The question is, did he go out on his own, or was he forced?”
“Forced? Who’s going to force him? You! You, I knew it was you!
“How could it be me? I’m here helping you. Don’t be silly little brother.”
“You sent someone. You even have minions in hell.
“It’s true. It could have worked out that way, very well thought out Peter.
Woof-woof, woof-woof, barked Sultan angry. Why did humans love to waste so much time?
The Debt Collector opened the door and went outside followed by Peter and Sultan. The Debt Collector’s car was parked close by. The three ran towards it. Seconds later The Debt Collector was starting the engine.
“Alexis went out after the doctor,” remembered Peter, “who has left me with a hole, and Vivian said he was the best in town.”
“Explain that Peter, what happened? Where did the doctor go?”
“I don’t know. There was an explosion. Did you not hear it? And suddenly I was alone.”
“You’re not explaining this right. Think about how what you’re saying could help us find Alexis. Tell me everything that happened at the clinic.”
“We went in, Alexis was very happy. The nurse was at the counter and then she picked up the phone.”
“That’s not necessary,” The Debt Collector started to say but then he went on, “just continue, what else?”
“The nurse said that we could go in but I couldn’t take a step, I noticed Alexis tugging on me but I didn’t want to go in.”
“Your son is a saint for putting up with you. What else happened after you stopped being silly?”
“I inhaled then exhaled…., inhaled then exhaled, “ Peter repeated as many times as he had done it at the doctor’s office.”
“If you keep going at that pace it’ll be nighttime before you’re finished. Hurry up!”
“After he checked Alexis he demanded I sit in the chair and then he insisted I had a bad tooth that he had to fill.”
“Was it true?”
“No, but he threatened me with having a sadistic doctor pull it. After a while there was an explosion.”
“An explosion? What explosion?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t hear it! It was really loud even though it seemed far away. Boom!”
“I felt a sort of thundering. It seemed to me more like fireworks rather than an explosion. But now that you mention it I think you’re right.”
“Well, then the doctor asked the nurse to take Alexis to the other room and then I heard a chair move, as if someone was getting up. Then I heard a door open and footsteps,” remembered Peter, “and after that, silence.”
“But did Alexis go into the other room or not? Because I think you said he went looking for the doctor.”
“That was after. Alexis went to look for the doctor and I –“ The sound of his cell phone interrupted him. “It’s Vivian! What do I tell her?”
“The truth, she’s your wife and Alexis’ mother.”
“I can’t tell her the truth. She’ll be furious.”
“And with reason, don’t you think?”
“I can’t tell her. You better tell her. She won’t get mad at you.”
“That cross is not mine to bear,” answered The Debt Collector and with that he grabbed the phone, answered it and said, “Hello Vivian, here’s your husband”, and handed the phone to Peter.
“Hello Vivian, what do you need?”
“Peter, you left Alexis’ insurance card at home.”
“Huh? What?” Peter answered caught off guard.
“The receptionist didn’t ask you for it?”
“No, we went straight into the examining room.”
“She’ll probably ask you for it on our way out. How’s Alexis?”
“He’s fine. You know, I think I’ll send The Debt Collector home to get the card. He came with us here,” he told her while The Debt Collector gave him a disapproving look.
“Good idea. Franz will open the door for him”
“Is there anything else you want to tell me? No?” and he hung up before giving her a chance to say anything else.
“I gained some time. While you go get the card Sultan and I will keep looking for Alexis.”
“Do you know where to look for him? Do you have a plan?”
“No, but someone must have seen him. I have a picture of him in my phone,” he said showing it to him.
“Just one? What a great dad! I have pictures of Alexis too, like the good uncle I am.
“My parents only had one son, me. After so many years I thought that was clear.”
“Is that so? Are you sure? Your mother has always treated me well.”
“My mother treats everyone well. She was a foster mom. Did you know that?
“Do you think this is the right time to address this issue? Don’t you have something more important to do?”
“You’re right! Go to the house, Sultan and I will wait for you here.”
The Debt Collector hesitated for a moment, it was better to let Peter feel in charge and just play along. He double parked the car and told Peter, “Get out, I’ll come right back.”
Peter got out of the car followed by a reluctant Sultan. The car went around the corner.
“Now what Sultan?”
Woof-woof, responded the dog. He had lost the scent four blocks ago.
“Woof? I don’t understand that woof. I don’t speak dog. What are you trying to say Sultan?”
Woof-woof, he barked again and laid his whole length along the street.
“Sultan! Now is neither the time nor the place to take a nap!” Sultan closed his eyes. He was not about to move until The Debt Collector came back. He was not up to going around in circles.
“Get up Sultan! I know you’re old but Alexis needs us,” said Peter.
Woof-woof, answered Sultan bounding up at the sound of Alexis’ name.
- Writer
