Chapter 6: Returning To The Hospital

Xavier glanced at the big screen, and his eyes widened. Finnley had thought it more thoroughly.  It even lined up with the method used by the national medical expert. "All right, the exam is over." Xavier drew a long breath, looked at Finnley, and said in a steady, resolute tone. "It may bend the usual procedure, but you passed." The other four examiners, the timekeeper, and the supervisor jolted awake and whipped their heads toward the chief examiner in shock. The unspoken rule had just been shattered. The moment those two medications appeared, the other examiners had guessed Xavier would break precedent and let Finnley pass.  What none of them expected was that he would announce it in front of everyone. It was plainly not in line with exam protocol. The supervisor had just started to rise. Xavier turned to him at once and said crisply, "I know exactly what I'm doing." "When an exam includes an advanced medical test, the chief examiner has sole authority to decide. I'll take the responsibility for announcing the result on the spot." The supervisor froze halfway to standing. "There's no rule against announcing the result on the spot. If the higher-ups have objections, they can check the surveillance footage. I believe they'll agree with my conclusion." Xavier finished, then looked back at Finnley and said warmly, "Congratulations." "You're the first in ten years to lose your medical license and win it back." "I don't care why you lost it before. Once you walk out of this exam hall, I hope you use your skills well." "Thank you." Finnley smiled with satisfaction. He had finally broken the unspoken rule.  With his medical license, he could practice openly, heal people, establish a reputation, and rapidly strengthen his constitution and training.  Most of all, he could begin his revenge against Khester Pharmaceuticals. "The exam is over. Please leave the room." Finnley thanked them again, turned, and headed out. A voice carried from behind him.  "Your score will be entered into the system shortly. After you leave the exam hall, you can go straight to the Health Bureau to get your medical license issued." … "Number 39, please proceed to Counter 1." Holding ticket number 39, Finnley walked to Counter 1 in the Health Bureau service center. "Finnley Greenwood?" He had barely reached the counter when a startled voice sounded. Finnley looked over. Not far away, a man who had been heading for the exit halted and stared at him in disbelief.  It was the Health Bureau member who had sent him the payment notice the previous day. Raymond came over, looked Finnley up and down, let out a mocking laugh, and said, "Are you here to pay your fine? Looks like you made money selling fake drugs." "No." Finnley pulled documents from his pocket and flashed a dazzling smile at Raymond.  "I'm here to get my medical license issued." The grin on Raymond's face slowly stiffened. His eyes dropped to the documents in Finnley's hand. They were precisely the documents one needed to apply for a medical license. "You passed this morning's assessment?" Raymond lifted his head slowly, staring at Finnley in disbelief. Finnley didn't answer. He handed the documents to the clerk behind the counter. "Hello. I'm applying to have my medical license printed." "Of course. One moment." The clerk took the papers and pulled up an exam results page on the computer. Raymond leaned over the counter, stretched his neck, and peered at the screen. The photo was Finnley's. Below, the exam results clearly read: "Passed." How could that be? Raymond's eyes went wide. Since doctors with revoked licenses were allowed to retake the exam, not one had passed in ten years.  Finnley had just broken the unspoken rule. The result had been granted on the spot. "Next, I should head to the hospital to see the patient cited in the evidence as having serious health problems." Finnley accepted the license from the clerk, slipped it into his pocket, and left. Raymond stood rooted to the floor, dazed and stunned. … At two in the afternoon, the sun scorched the streets. The outpatient building of Musmeynia Hospital of Traditional Medicine... An elderly patient, clad in a hospital gown, shuffled past, leaning on an IV pole.  A nurse hurried a gurney by, brushing shoulders with worried family.  An ambulance siren wailed in the distance, growing closer. Finnley stopped on the steps.  He looked at the patients with a flicker of sympathy, then lifted his eyes to the familiar building. Two years earlier, he had been a popular doctor in the hospital. Now, he was merely a man newly released after serving his sentence. Fate had turned the tables, merciless as ever. Finnley went to the second floor, the traditional internal medicine outpatient floor. Past the corridor packed with waiting patients, he reached the innermost room that had once been his clinic. The nameplate had changed. "Clinic Six, Attending Physician, Apollo, specializes in hemorrhoids." Finnley hadn't expected the doctor who used to trail after him for tips to have parlayed the unique prescription Finnley gave him for hemorrhoids. Finnley pushed open the door. The first thing that met his eye was four walls lined with gratitude banners edged in gold. "My backside's back to normal!" "Superb skill, hemorrhoids gone for good." "This banner carries our thanks. Your compassion shines even in proctology." Apollo had once said he envied Finnley's clinic, which was full of banners. "Finnley? You're out of prison?" A high, delighted voice rang through the clinic. With that one line, everyone inside and outside the room turned to look. The name rang a bell. A young doctor from the traditional medicine hospital had caused a stir for making and selling fake meds two years ago. People looked Finnley up and down, their eyes full of contempt. "You got out and didn't tell me ahead of time? I would have taken time to pick you up myself." Apollo strode up in his white coat, riding a wave of pride, and pulled Finnley into a tight hug. Finnley didn't move. He let Apollo embrace him and smiled.  "Pick me up to serve me a court summons?" "What summons? What are you talking about?" Apollo released him and laughed.  "You're out now. Tonight I'll call up our friends and set a table to welcome you back." Was Apollo playing dumb? Finnley's smile turned wry.  He leaned in and said, "According to the court's latest evidence, the malpractice report has your signature on it." "You knew the witness was my patient. You knew he took my medication two years ago. Now that his condition worsened, you blamed it on me." Finnley gestured to the wall of banners.  "You betrayed my kindness." The expression on Apollo's face froze, panic twitching beneath. Wasn't the malpractice report only disclosed to the defendant when the trial started? How did Finnley know he had signed the report? Apollo's expression flickered hard, then settled into a forced smile.  "I had no choice. The hospital director forced me into it." "The director offered you to work in Skoeland Traditional Medical Hospital and provided a million-dollar fund for research." Finnley's smile brimmed with scorn. The panic in Apollo's eyes grew plainly visible. He had never imagined Finnley would know something that secret.  When they had discussed terms, only Khester Pharmaceuticals, the hospital director, and Apollo had been in the room.  How could Finnley know? Apollo's face shifted again. The panic ebbed, and a chilly indifference took its place. "I don't understand a word you're saying." "If you came to catch up, we can set a time when I'm free. If you're here for treatment, go register first and stop blocking the patients." "If you're here to make trouble, I'll call security right now." The patients behind Finnley, who had been watching the show, started shouting their support. "Yeah, stop blocking us! If you want treatment, register and queue. If you don't, get out! I'm waiting to see the doctor." "Stop getting in the way!" As he watched, Apollo felt a surge of smug satisfaction. He had been a nobody two years ago, but could now summon a chorus of patient support.  Finnley, who had once been celebrated, was being treated like a stray dog. "Why is it so noisy?" A clear, poised voice cut through the chaos. The familiar voice made Finnley's heart skip a beat. He turned. Through the crush of bodies, a tall female doctor walked in. She had delicate, refined features and luminous skin. Her white coat skimmed her figure, lending her an air of poise and warmth. It was Isabelle. Two years ago, she had been his blind date. Leonard, the hospital director, had set them up. Finnley and Isabelle had been in an ambiguous relationship for a while.