Unknown POV
Without a second thought, Dr Anderson barged into the office, eyes squinted more in anger than in disappointment.
"The fuck, Anderson." Dr Sofia cussed angrily, once she noticed Anderson's forced entry into her office.
"You could have knocked." She added in a milder tone.
"Is it true?" Dr Anderson asked, cutting through formalities.
"I can explain, Anderson," Sofia replied, moving closer to Anderson who kept drawing back.
"Explain what? Sofia." Dr Anderson asked, shaking his head in disappointment. "There is nothing to explain, Sofia. Absolutely nothing." Dr Anderson added.
"I only borrowed it, I planned to give it back to you." Dr Sofia explained while Anderson looked on in confusion.
"You planned to give what back? Anderson asked.
"The money, of course, your money." Dr Sofia replied, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
"How much is it altogether?" Dr Anderson asked, playing along. His confrontation had been on William's murder, but Sofia seemed to be pricked by her conscience.
"Altogether, it's seven hundred thousand dollars." Dr Sofia announced with an air of indifference. She had suddenly realized herself, and her position in all of this.
"Well, that is not why I am here, Sofia. I find it impossible to believe that you ordered William to be killed." Dr Anderson angrily said, not hiding how disappointed he felt.
"Did you order the kill?" Dr Anderson asked, when Dr Sofia made no attempt to rebuff his allegations. He sincerely hoped for an objection from Dr Sofia, but none came.
Still with an air of indifference about her, Dr Sofia took her seat on a rocking chair, glaring at Anderson, as if daring him to ask any more questions.
"What happened to you? You just killed a man and his wife after killing their child. Don't you have a heart? How do you sleep at night?" Anderson replied.
"You would address me properly, Anderson. The last time I checked, I am still the senior doctor of this hospital plus... " She lowered her voice and blurted out.
"I own you."
The look on Anderson's face showed just how disgusted he felt but Dr Sofia didn't give a fuck.
After some time, during which both Anderson and Sofia had shared an uncomfortable silence, Dr Sofia's voice reverberated in the office, without sparing Anderson a glance.
"Get the fuck out of my office."
Once in the hallway, Dr. Anderson rid himself of the mixed feelings of anger and helplessness, and put on a cheerful look instead, smiling at every nurse and patient who greeted him.
When he got close to his office, he ran into Mr Crawford, who was strolling down towards Dr Sofia's office.
"Good morning, Mr Crawford." Dr Anderson greeted, cheerfully.
"Anderson, how do you do?" Mr Crawford replied with equal cheerfulness, stretching his hand for a handshake. Each man had suppressed their actual feeling without the other noticing.
Mr. Crawford continued his journey to Dr. Sofia's office, while Dr. Anderson slid into his office to catch his breath.
*************
"Did you order the kill of William and his wife?" Mr Crawford screamed at Sofia who trembled in fear.
"This is unbelievable. You had him cheated, and now killed, using my name. You really are a bitch."
"Crawford, they were becoming a threat to the entire mission. Dr Sofia explained, trying to get close.
"Don't you dare come close to me? It is you who is becoming a threat to the entire mission, Sofia. It is you." Crawford declared and stormed out of the office, leaving a now sweaty and panic-stricken Sofia to wallow in her office.
***********
The gentle knock on Dr Anderson's door pulled him out of his pensive state. Certain that it was Dr Sofia who knocked, Anderson soon delved back into his thoughts, ignoring the knock.
"Anderson, could you open up?" A voice called from outside the door. It sounded nothing like Sofia's. It was gentler and masculine.
"Dr Anderson. " The voice called again, this time a little firmer.
With long strides, Dr Anderson went across the office to get the door.
At first, he couldn't believe that the person who had been knocking on his door, and calling on him was Mr Crawford.
"Mr Crawford." Dr Anderson called, trying without success to hide his disinterestedness.
"Can I come in?" Mr Crawford requested, pushing his way through Dr Anderson's office.
Resignedly, Dr Anderson shut the door and offered a seat to his supposed guest.
"I'm not staying for long, I only stopped by to give you this." Mr. Crawford informed, stretching a business card to Anderson, who received it cautiously.
"I have always wanted to have a private talk with you, Anderson. Let's make it happen. Call me by 07: 00 PM tonight." Mr Crawford in his polite manner said to Anderson, heading for the door.
"We could have the conversation right here, and right now.
"Dr Anderson suggested. He hated the thought of presenting himself to be slaughtered. He decided moments ago to make a run from the whole situation. Like him, William had been a partner and was killed. He feared what would happen to him if he didn't run away.
"Well, if that is okay by you." Mr Crawford replied, heading back.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Dr Anderson asked, straight to the point.
"I want you fully on my team, but first I need your help to bring down Sofia." Mr Crawford said, with all seriousness.
At first, Anderson couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't tell if Mr Crawford was serious, or if he was simply testing him.
"I am not sure I understand you clearly." Dr Anderson replied, his voice quivering.
"Relax, Anderson. It's gonna be untraceable. " Mr Crawford assured, but Anderson looked doubtful still.
"Mr Crawford, I don't think I'm the right person for the job," Anderson replied, Dr Sofia's threats replaying in his head.
"You are the perfect man for the job." Mr Crawford said, persuasively.
"Dr Sofia has something on me. If it gets out, I will lose my license." Dr Anderson announced, his face down in embarrassment.
Mr Crawford's amused laughter forced Anderson to lift his head the next moment. He was visibly angry at Mr Crawford's guts to treat a serious issue so unseriously.
"Is it about your supposed misconduct with a patient some few years ago?" Mr Crawford asked, suddenly serious.
"Yes, it is," Anderson replied, cussing under his breath. He hated the fact that Mr Crawford knew his dirty little secret. A secret he thought was safe with Dr Sofia alone.
"Do you want to know what happened that day?" Mr Crawford asked, rising to his feet.
"Yes, I want to know," Anderson replied, rising as well.
"Then don't fail to show up tonight." Mr Crawford replied, heading for the door.
"You only asked me to call." Dr Anderson pointed out, prompting Crawford to stop in his tracks.
"Yeah, I will communicate the venue to you when you call." With that, he stepped out of the office, leaving Dr. Anderson to decide whether to run away or to go with his guts and join forces with Mr. Crawford to bring Dr Sofia down.
"Fuck!" Dr Anderson cussed, roughly rubbing his hair just as Mr Crawford left his office. He knew Dr Sofia was not one to be trusted, but he couldn't tell if trusting Mr Crawford is a good idea.