Sighted

Chapter 21: First Meeting

Alex

Almost 2 Weeks Ago

     I go to take a sip of my coffee but end up slurping air. Only three hours into my shift and already needing another cup. I save the report I'm working on and make sure to log out of the hospital's database, before standing up from my desk to head upstairs. I'm the only one in the office tonight. There are three other examiners in my department, but I have the night shift this month.

     All the doors have electronic locks installed and I make sure to swipe my card and enter my pin to lock up the morgue when I leave. The elevator requires an ID and pin to come down from the main level, but nothing going up.

     I take my time getting some coffee, enjoying the unusual peace and quiet this evening. Never a good omen in a hospital. I know a lot of my colleagues here, but since becoming Chief Medical Examiner, I haven't had much time to socialize.

     Not that I socialized that much anyway, mostly just medical conferences or the random night out with co-workers. These past few years, I've been so busy with work that I've been out of touch with most of my friends from university, aside from occasionally crossing paths due to work.

       My mother is forever exasperated at me for working too hard. She's always threatening me with blind dates, too. When was the last time I dated? Probably back in medical school. I haven't had an actual girlfriend since I was pre-med, that's for sure. I have my work, both here and the free clinic, and my mother. I make sure to tell her, with her as my best friend, I don't need anyone else.

     After getting a refill, I make my way back downstairs. The door to the security office near the elevators is open, and there's a small commotion going on in there. Looks like the cameras are down again. Stepping into the elevator, I swipe my card, but the light doesn't flash. Pushing the buttons on the keypad don't seem to work ether. I hit the basement button and it lights up before the doors close. That's odd.

     After reaching the office again, its obviously disturbed. The door to the temperature-controlled room is open. It could be that a body was brought in while I was upstairs but any staff should know to keep the door closed and locked.

     I deposit my coffee on my desk before seeing who came in. I push the door open wider to step through and am unprepared to see two strangers fiddling with one of the cooler doors. Both of these men are huge, taller than my six-foot frame, and dressed in dark clothing.

      The taller one is messing with the lock and it seems like he's arguing with the more muscular one. For a second, a shiver goes down my spine and my instincts scream to back out of the room, before they notice me. Unfortunately, I know that there are several deceased currently in storage, and my mouth overrides my intuition.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

      Both men turn to look at me, surprised. I expect them to look guilty or nervous, but they almost look...smug? They exchange a glance between them before the taller one smirks at me.

"You two need to leave," I continue, hoping that they'll realize they've been caught and will just go. "I'll have to call security." I start to turn to go but faster than I would have though possible the tall man is in front of me.

      Pain shoots up my back and panic hits me when his hand grabs my neck, slamming me against the door frame. I go up on the tips of my toes to avoid being choked completely, futilely grabbing at the fingers squeezing my windpipe.

"I don't think so," my assailant sneers. "You're already here, this will be easier with you."

      The grip on me loosens, but I only have time to gasp in a full breath of air before being thrown further into the room. My backside hits the hard floor painfully. As the tall man approaches me again, I react, scooting backwards until coming up into the wall. Too late, I realize I was being herded.