The Good Doctor

Dischronometria

"Are you a patient here?" Schneeplestein asked.

"Uh... Yes!" said the man, "My name is Jim... Jim Anchor."

"Doctor Henrich Von Schneeplestein," the doctor replied.

"You're a doctor?" Jim asked.

"Yes! I have ze coat and my stethoscope! Vat else would I be?"

"Of course!" Jim replied, "Sorry..."

Jim lifted a hand to shake. The doctor was leary about him, unsure that he was actually a patient, but he shook the man's hand anyway. The man's eyes were constantly shifting, glancing around to see whatever it was he was obviously looking for. Schneeplestein suspected he might have been one of the psych ward patients if he was indeed admitted to the hospital.

"Jim Anchor, hmm?" Schneeplestein asked. "Vell, Jim, zis wing is off limits! Didn't you know? It is being reconstructed! Patients should not be here!"

"Ah, yes, of course," said Jim, "I just wanted to go for a walk and I must have gotten turned around."

"You must have very bad eyesight if you did not see ze sign!" Schneeplestein replied, pointing to the sign

"Retinal Detachment," was Jim's response. Then he deflected by saying, "Hey, could I perhaps talk to you about this place? I get nervous in hospitals and such, but it makes me feel better when I can talk to a doctor about the history. Redemption seems like such a nice hospital."

"Ah yes, it is very nice indeed!" said the doctor as he began down the hall. "Come, come. Let us go back to your room! Vich room would zat be?"

"Um... Room 203."

"Ah! West wing!"

Jim followed along eagerly, a big smile on his face as he walked along with the good doctor. Their pace was casual as Schneeplestein lead the way towards the west wing and continued.

"Ve have been established for nearly two-hundred years now! Ve are not very large, but ve have ze latest technology and equipment. I would not worry about zis place. Your health is in good hands here."

"That's good to know," said Jim, "How long have you been working here?"

"Ah, well, I've been working here for..."

The good doctor fell silent. Jim watched him scratch at his chin, confusion lingering in his eyes. Schneeplestein tried to think back to his earliest time there, but he found he could not quite recall. When did he start there?

"Excuse me!" came an angry call.

The doctor was pulled from his reminiscing to see a nurse -Nurse Betham to be exact- and a few orderlies coming down the hall towards them at a pace that suggested they were on a mission.

"Sir, you are not allowed in here!" the nurse said to Jim.

Jim remained completely calm, and pulled out a lanyard to show some credentials as he explained who he was: "My name is Jim Anchor from WJIM Channel 4 news. I'm the host..."

"You are way out of line," Betham insisted. "I've seen your ass out here plenty of times, stirring up trouble with patients and staff! If you're not careful, you'll be locked up! You need to-"

"Look, lady," said Jim, to which Betham looked like she was about to pound him in the face, "Two people came through this hospital, and then promptly disappeared! Neither have been found! And what better place than a hospital for murder!"

As if on cue, the building shook with a rumble of thunder. Schneeplestein's heart raced. What murders? The only people who had "disappeared" from the hospital was...

"Sarah left," Schneeplestein said.

His voice was soft, but the tone cut through the tension. Betham, Jim, and the two orderlies who had nearly grabbed Jim, all stopped and looked to Doctor Schneeplestein.

"I already told the police: She left, and that damned accountant went with her! Zey abandoned me, and took ze children! And I will never forgive them!" Schneeplestein's fists were clenched so tightly they throbbed. It took all his willpower to stay as calm as he was.

"Jim," Schneeplestein continued, "I highly suggest you leave zis place, and do not return unless your life depends on it."

Jim looked as if he meant to say something more, but the lights in the hospital flickered, which sent a chill down Jim's spine as thunder rolled across the building for a second time.

The orderlies moved in to take Jim away. Without a word, Jim turned, and allowed the orderlies to do their job without incident. Schneeplestein watched the man go, and did not relax until the man was beyond the doors.

"Baby, you better go home," said Betham to Schneeplestein. "You had a long day."

"I need to finish my shift..." Schneeplestein protested with half a heart.

"I think it will be alright if you go home early," said Betham.

Schneeplestein took a deep breath, and sighed, and said, "Please let Nurse Malki and the others know that I have left?"

"I will, sugar," said Betham. "You take care of yourself. And don't forget your medication, okay?"

Doctor Schneeplestein pulled the stethoscope from his neck, and the cap from his head. He made his way down the hall towards the exit quietly, the weight of the day's shift apparent on his shoulders.

"That poor man," said Betham as he wandered out, "Doesn't even know what day it is."