The Case Puzzle

Chapter 8

"I'm Dr Alex Sullivan, as you can see," the man said, gesturing to his name on his white coat.

"Oh, okay. Nice to meet you."

"I apologise for Dr Martinez's words. I've been here for only a few months but I am already used to Dr Martinez's uhh, how should I put it?"

"Barbaric manners? Rudeness? Arrogance?" I offered.

"Yeah, that," Dr Sullivan said, chuckling. "He's mostly like this concerning things he doesn't care about. Meaning everything besides his job."

"You could maybe advise him on changing his attitude. It's not professionalism if that's what he calls it."

"Oh, I don't think a newbie can advise a senior about this and he is a bit intimidating." He let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck.

"I'd volunteer to do it nicely. Though he does seem cold and mysterious, don't you think so?"

"Well yeah, he likes to be lonely and doesn't speak that much to anyone. He does have the mysterious, dark vibe," Dr Sullivan said.

"Like how dark? So dark that he could do something bad or illegal?" I asked, probing deeper.

"Yes, he could," he said seriously and then laughed at my facial expression, "I'm joking. He cares too much about his job to do anything that will make him lose his job."

"Okay, if that's what you say," I nodded slowly.

"You must have had to put up with him during your case investigation? Has it gone well though?" he inquired.

"Unfortunately, the case is no longer mine. I don't know how it's going," I said with a sigh. Though I'm likely to be sticking my nose in that business again very soon.

"Oh really? Who has it been transferred to?" he asked surprised.

"Uhm well, to another organisation I believe," I said, trying not to reveal anything. I hesitated since the IOF usually do not reveal much to the public so they may not like me doing so.

"Oh, I hope they resolve the case soon then. It could damage Wellsworth's reputation it goes on longer," he said and I nodded in agreement.

"By the way, is your head okay?"

I looked at him puzzled. Then he pointed to the medical gauze that was still wrapped around my head.

"That? It's okay now, just some slight headaches surfacing now and then," I replied, touching the bandage over the gauze. I'm used to it now so I sometimes forget it is on my head.

"If I may ask, how did it happen?"

"I slipped in the forest. I am quite clumsy," I answered.

"Oh, you shouldn't be going into forests in the first place. Such walks or runs do not always end nicely for some people," he advised seriously.

"Agreed. It won't happen again."

Just then, the phone that was in Dr Sullivan's hand started ringing. Both of us glanced down.

"I need to take this call. It was nice talking to you. Maybe we'll meet again another day and have a chat again," he said apologetically and walked away, taking the call.

I shrugged to myself. Well, he was nice. We could talk again some other time. It was good to create contacts in other fields as well. They could always come into use.

"Is it not finished yet?" I asked as I walked into the administrative office. I was sure a lot of time had passed by.

"Almost done. I just finished printing the papers along with a few others. So it took some time gathering and separating each. There you go," the man said, handing me the papers along with the file I gave him. Thanking him, I walked back to the parking lot.