Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law
Chapter 199: A Killer

Chapter 199: A Killer

The hospital smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee. But Benjamin did not pay much attention to any of it, his phone clutched in his hand as he walked towards the reception with a smile on his face.

No one who saw him would have been able to judge his intentions.

"I’m here to see Adam Collins. I am his friend," he said to the nurse at the front desk who gave him a suspicious look. That was to be expected because of the murder attempt but he kept his face straight.

Within a moment, she shook her head with an unimpressed look at him," Mr. Collins’ is in critical care. No visitors."

Benjamin’s fingers tapped lightly on the counter and gave her a worried look, "Is there a doctor I could speak with? I just need a few minutes. It’s important. His old grandfather is worried about him, and he cannot come here."

The nurse frowned. "Sir, if you’re not family—"

"I understand," he cut in with a placating smile. "I’m not family. I’m a concerned... associate. I won’t ask to go in, just let me speak to the doctor. Please. I’ll pass on whatever information the doctor has..."

Ben gave her the most desperate look he could think of and breathed a sigh of relief as the nurse nodded, "Fine. Dr. Reed is on duty. I’ll check if he’s available."

A few minutes later, a wiry doctor walked out and approached Ben," Mr Harris? You wanted to speak to me?

"Yes," Benjamin said, "About Adam Collins. I understand he’s in critical condition and was attacked..." With that, Ben had Dr Reed lead him away into a small room.

"Mr. Harris, the patient is stable but still unconscious. We’re monitoring him closely. If he makes it through the next 48 hours without complications and the swelling in his brain comes down, the prognosis looks good."

Benjamin gave a slow nod and then looked at the doctor quietly," Can there be a change? As in, what complications can arise in the next 48 hours?"

Dr. Reed frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what would it take for that prognosis to change? For the swelling to not go down?"

There was silence. A beat. Then two.

But then, Dr. Reed stiffened. "I’m not sure I follow."

Benjamin leaned forward and continued to talk as if they were discussing the weather, "I think you do. We both know how these things go. A missed dose. A little too much sedation. Maybe someone forgets to check a monitor in time."

Dr Reed stiffened at that. "Mr. Harris. I will pretend that I do not know what you are talking about. And if you do not want me to go to the police, then I suggest you leave now."

Benjamin exhaled slowly and pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and held it up. "Before you throw me out, maybe you want to take a look at this."

Dr. Rashid glanced at it and paled.

Benjamin smiled coldly. "Yeah. That’s you. Your name. Your signature. Your little side gig prescribing anxiety meds for under-the-table patients who don’t want them showing up on insurance records."

"You-you don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Oh, but I do." Benjamin stepped closer, and continued in a low voice, "I know about the fake prescriptions. The cash payments. You really should’ve used a different email. But lucky for you, I’m not here to ruin your life. I’m here under duress because if I don’t do this, someone else will kill my family. So, I have no choice but to make you an offer."

Dr. Reed was shaking now. It could be seenfrom the clipboard that was now trembling in his hand. "This is insane."

"No," Benjamin said softly, "what’s insane is letting Adam Collins wake up and talk. You have no idea what that man is capable of. He’s not simple patient. If he wakes up, people get hurt."

"I can’t... I’m not a killer- prescribing anti anxiety drugs is not harmful... but this..."

"I’m not asking you to kill him," Benjamin snapped. "I’m asking you to delay the inevitable. Keep him under. A sedative drip, a monitored coma—whatever you call it in your profession. Just... don’t let him wake up. Not yet."

"You want me to medically induce a coma without reason?"

Benjamin nodded, "Do you really think anyone’s going to ask questions? The man’s already unconscious. One wrong adjustment and it looks like a reaction to trauma. You’ve got enough wiggle room to make it look clean. Once he is declared in a coma, it is as good as dead. I will make his grandfather ask for a mercy death and that would absolve you of everything."

Dr. Reed remained silent. What this man was asking was against everything he believed and what he had been taught. He’d started to prescribe those medicines to take of the loans on his head... but this... If he did this, he would forever be a killer...

"I...if anyone finds out..."

"No one will," Benjamin cut in. "Because if you play this right, I’ll make sure no one ever sees that file. But if you refuse..." He smiled again as he threatened, "Let’s just say the hospital board, your license, and the DEA might be very interested in your extracurriculars."

The doctor looked like he might vomit.

"I’ll pay," Benjamin added, as if sweetening the poison. "A bonus. Think of it as compensation for your time. You get to keep your life, your job, your secrets—and you save me from a very, very inconvenient problem."

Dr. Reed sat down heavily on the edge of the desk, head in his hands.

"I didn’t become a doctor to—"

"Spare me the moral crisis," Benjamin snapped. "This isn’t about your career dreams. This is about survival. Mine. Yours. Maybe even Adam’s, in a way. You don’t have to hurt him. Just keep him... quiet. Long enough to fix a few loose ends."

A tense silence filled the room. Then finally, the doctor looked up.

"How long?"

Benjamin smiled. "A week. That’s all I need. Just make sure he doesn’t wake up before then."

Dr. Reed stared at him. Then slowly he gave a nod.

"I’ll... I’ll handle it."

"Good man." Benjamin straightened and moved towards the door, "You’ll get your bonus tonight. In cash. And remember—this conversation never happened."