Chapter 2

Chief Miller and twenty staff members reached OR 3.

"Is the thief inside?" the Chief asked, hand on his holster. I pointed at the door.

"I heard furniture moving and heavy breathing. There are multiple people in there."

"Secure the exit!" the Deputy Director ordered.

"Get in there now!"

Two guards slammed their shoulders against the door.

The lock snapped.

The door flew open.

Julian stumbled out, his white coat haphazard.

His hair was messy, and his face was flushed.

"What is this?" he shouted. "I was taking a nap!"

The crowd snickered.

Visible hickeys covered his neck.

His shirt was misbuttoned. "

One hell of a nap," a resident laughed. "You've got bite marks on your throat."

Julian grabbed my arm, his grip tightening.

"Sophie, stop this drama," he hissed. "Tell them to leave. I'll explain at home."

I wrenched my arm away.

"Explain what? The hickeys? Or the intern?"

The elevator doors dinged. Julian’s parents, Martha and Silas, rushed out.

"Sophie said you collapsed!" Martha cried, patting Julian’s face.

She turned on me.

"What is wrong with you? You nearly gave us a heart attack!"

"She’s stressed," Silas added dismissively.

"Pregnancy hormones mess with a woman's head."

Julian tried to regain his composure.

"Everyone, please. My wife hasn't been herself. There’s no thief. Go back to your stations."

The crowd didn't move.

Then, my father, Director Miller, walked into the wing.

The crowd parted for him. He looked at the guards, then at Julian.

"What is going on in my surgical wing?" he boomed.

"It’s a misunderstanding," Julian stammered. "Sophie got confused."

"Dad," I said, my voice was cold. "Julian says he was sleeping. But the room is a mess and equipment is missing. As Director, you should verify the safety of the OR."

My father turned to Julian.

"Step aside. If the room is empty, you have nothing to fear."

"It’s a sterile environment!" Julian’s legs started to shake. "You can’t let a mob in!"

"Move," my father commanded.

I shoved Julian aside and kicked the door wide open.

The surgical bed was stripped, sheets balled up in the corner.

Empty probe cover packets littered the floor.

"Do you usually sleep with your belt unbuckled, Julian?" I asked.

The crowd poured in. "Look at the floor," a nurse said, pointing at discarded, damp gauze.

"That’s disgusting."

Julian scrambled to block the corner.

"That’s waste from the previous surgery! Sophie, stop! You’re embarrassing yourself!"

I walked toward the stainless steel sterile supply cabinet.

Julian lunged for me.

"Stay away! Those are imported instruments! If you break the seal, it’s hundreds of thousands in damages! You’ll be fired!"

"I’ll take the hit," I said.

My father stepped forward.

"Let her go, Julian. I’ll cover the damage. Open it, Sophie."

Julian’s hands dropped.

Martha shrieked from the doorway, "Sophie, don't be a fool! You’re ruining his career!"

I grabbed a heavy metal IV stand and swung it.

The glass shattered.

I ripped the doors open. It was empty.

Julian exhaled, his arrogance returning instantly.

"Are you satisfied?" he barked at my father.

"She’s had a psychotic break! She destroyed half a million dollars of equipment! She’s unfit for duty!"

Martha rushed over.

"You monster! Look what you’ve done to his reputation!"

"I told you, she’s lost her mind," Silas shook his head.

"Julian, we’re taking you home. You shouldn't deal with this crazy woman."

Even my father looked shaken.

"Sophie... what were you thinking?"

Julian smirked at me.

He thought he had won.

But I noticed his eyes darting toward the Biohazard Compactor.

He was standing in front of it, blocking the view.

The machine was humming, its power light glowing green.

"The cabinet was a diversion," I whispered. Julian’s smirk faltered.

I walked toward the compactor.

"Stay away from that!" Julian yelled, his voice high-pitched.

"That machine is dangerous!"

I turned to my father.

"Dad, Julian says the janitors haven't cleaned up yet. Let’s be helpful. Let’s run a cycle."

I reached for the green START button.

"NO!" Julian screamed.

He tackled me, trying to pull my hand away.

"Julian! Get off her!"

My father roared, hauling Julian back by his collar.

Martha and Silas rushed forward, trying to pull Julian away from the fight.

"It’s just a machine!" Silas grunted, shoving Julian aside to show off his own authority.

"Here, I’ll do it! Let’s get this trash compacted so we can all go home!"

Julian let out a terrified howl.

"DAD, STOP!"

Silas slammed his thumb down on the START button and hit the High-Pressure Override. The machine groaned. The heavy hydraulic plates began to slide.

A blood-curdling scream erupted from inside the steel belly of the machine.

"HELP! STOP THE MACHINE!"