Chapter 3: The Good Doktor
Click!
The sound echoed through the polished white walls.
There was a cabinet in one corner and a neatly arranged bookshelf in the other.
A sleek black desk sat at its center, holding a computer, a few organized documents, and a black-and-red mug that released gentle wisps of steam.
Behind the desk was a woman in a pristine white lab coat, her blond hair pulled into a bun.
She rested comfortably in her swivel chair, one leg crossed over the other as she browsed through a grid of profiles; men in orange jumpsuits.
Her smooth, manicured hand drifted over her mouse. Sections of profiles appeared one after the other, each dismissed with a single click as she glanced over them.
Then she opened the Death Row section.
A new section appeared with fewer profiles that did not cover half the screen. Her eyes scanned the images until she stopped on one. An image of a blond haired man who looked to be in his twenties.
Click!
The inmate’s profile filled the screen. The woman’s expression remained neutral, but as she read through, her crimson eyes widened.
A slow smile played on her lips as she read the inmate’s name.
[Nathan Ledger]
She finished the remnants of the yellow liquid in her mug, uncrossed her legs and stood up.
Her printer spat out the contents of the inmate’s profile and she left the office.
—
The smell of bleach greeted Nathan as the guards led him to the medical wing. His chains announced his presence before he stepped in. A few inmates looked up.
The room was spacious. Guards were stationed at every entry, exit and corner. White walls with blue outlines were the primary aesthetic and fluorescent bulbs provided illumination.
The guards shoved him into a chair among several others. Nathan recognized a couple of them from the bus.
More inmates joined them. A man at the desk called their names one after the other. They followed a nurse into one of the examination rooms.
"Theodore Lennyworth,"
A chair rustled behind Nathan and a man stood up. White streaks ran through his dark hair, and a neat mustache framed his mouth. Tattoo bands circled both arms, stark against his fair skin.
Like Nathan, he had chains on his hands and legs which made noises as he walked to the desk.
In a few moments, he disappeared through the examination door with two guards and a nurse.
"Man I hope I get examined by a female nurse," a voice behind Nathan spoke.
"It’s a big hairy man for you," another inmate responded.
"Better that than the doctor. I don’t want her examining me."
"Her? Why? Is she ugly?"
"Far from it, it’s just...she’s scary."
The clacking of heels against the tiled floor echoed down the hallway, caused their discussions to cease.
A few moments later, a woman carrying a red-black mug and a clipboard appeared. She wore a black leather skirt and a red top that shared the same colour as her eyes.
Her lab coat was draped over her shoulders, highlighting her curves and figure.
She walked into the middle of the room, each step intent and deliberate.
Her crimson eyes peered through her glasses as she scanned the room until they rested on Nathan.
"You there," she said, pointing at Nathan.
"Yes?"
"Come with me," she said and walked back without bothering to check if he followed.
Nathan stood up with a bit of forceful support from the guards. As he left the waiting room, he could hear the voices of the inmates he had sat with. He caught some whispers from them.
"Damn, Is that the doctor?"
"Yes but who is that guy? I’ve never seen him here."
"He’s a fish. We came on the same bus."
"Damn. Poor bastard."
Their voices faded away, the further Nathan was from the waiting room. He kept his eyes ahead, watching the doctor as she walked in front of them.
He couldn’t figure out why she singled him out.
The doctor stopped at a door with the tag ’Dr Veronica Von Richterstein’.
She motioned for Nathan to come inside and stopped the guards when they tried to follow.
"You two can wait outside."
The guards gave hesitant looks at each other.
"Ma’am, protocol says at least one guard is to be present during an examination. He is a criminal on death row."
The woman turned to look at the guard through her glasses as if he had insulted her. "I am well aware of protocol but like I said. Wait outside. Unless you two have a problem with that?"
There was a faint glow in her eyes which made the guards step back.
They both nodded and stood at the entrance. The Doctor closed the door, locking it in place. She motioned for Nathan to take a seat.