Chapter Two: Doubt

Watching the waveform on the monitor gradually return to normal, Kong Ning finally felt relieved. Although nights as busy as this one were rare, the deaths of three patients in succession left him with a sense of helplessness. Now, after a tense rescue effort with two colleagues, he had managed to save a familiar female patient, which brought him some comfort.

Returning to the duty room, Kong Ning carefully began writing the medical records. Halfway through, he suddenly recalled the cluster of injection marks on the inside of Zhen Qian’s left forearm. Hesitating for a moment, he stood up and went back to the emergency room to check again. After exchanging a few words with the nurse on duty, he returned to the duty room and recorded: “Patient’s left arm bears seven old and new needle marks from injections.”

At that moment, a police officer with a hawk-like nose and deep-set eyes entered the duty room, smiling slightly as he tossed Kong Ning a Yuxi cigarette and asked, “You’re Dr. Kong, aren’t you? I’m Chen Junhua, chief of the Lakeside Police Station. Sorry to bother you.”

“Thank you, but I don’t smoke.”

Kong Ning placed the cigarette on the edge of the desk, invited Chen Junhua to sit, and said amicably, “My name is Kong Ning. The patient has been stabilized, but I can’t guarantee she’s completely out of danger yet. She’ll need close observation.”

Chen Junhua asked solemnly, “Do you think the patient will fully regain consciousness?”

“That can only be determined tomorrow, after we get the test results,” Kong Ning replied, then added, “Professor Kong, who works at our hospital, is an expert in both traditional and Western medicine. Earlier this year, his paper on drug overdose and treatment methods caused quite a stir in the medical community. In the past half-year, he’s successfully handled several similar cases. Once he’s on duty tomorrow, I’ll ask him to consult. If there are no complications, I think the patient will regain consciousness, but a complete cure will be difficult.”

Chen Junhua stood up to thank Kong Ning, “Thank you, Dr. Kong. We police don’t really have much experience in these matters. Haha. Well, Officer Liu will stay behind to guard the area. I have many things to attend to, so I’ll head back now. If anything comes up, contact me anytime—here’s my card.”

“No problem.”

Kong Ning took the card from Chen Junhua and placed it on the desk, politely seeing him out. Chen Junhua approached his slender subordinate, turned and smiled, giving Kong Ning a nod to indicate he should remain, then quickly led the officer out the emergency room doors, seemingly instructing him on precautionary measures.

Seeing this, Kong Ning ceased his farewells and returned to the emergency room, checking the patient’s eyelids once more and consulting the nurse about her blood pressure and pulse. Satisfied, he returned to his duty room, feeling a wave of fatigue. After stretching his arms and legs, he lay down to rest for a moment.

Just as Kong Ning drifted into sleep, the duty nurse, Xiao Yun, burst into the room shouting, “Dr. Kong, hurry to the emergency room! The patient’s blood pressure has plummeted, she’s convulsing, suddenly bradycardic, arrhythmic—it looks like she’s about to die!”

Kong Ning sprang awake and rushed to the emergency room. The monitor showed dangerous readings; he quickly pulled out a small flashlight and checked the patient’s pupils—now pinpricked and unresponsive, her lips purple and dry, breathing labored—she was in critical condition.

Kong Ning immediately instructed Xiao Yun and the arriving nurse, “Quick, IV push naloxone hydrochloride, 0.8 to 2 milligrams every fifteen minutes. Suction airway mucus, intubate for ventilation, and prepare five percent sodium bicarbonate solution.”

Half an hour later, the patient’s heart stopped, and all attempts at resuscitation proved futile. Severe inflammation in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, along with acute pulmonary edema and respiratory failure, ended in death. Kong Ning wiped the sweat from his brow, deeply dejected—he couldn’t fathom how a patient who had been recovering three hours prior could deteriorate so suddenly and die.

Dragging heavy feet, Kong Ning left the emergency room, waking Officer Liu, who was sleeping soundly. “Officer Liu, the patient’s condition worsened. She’s died despite our efforts.”

Officer Liu stared in disbelief, “How could that happen? May I go in and have a look?”

“Of course.”

Kong Ning led Officer Liu into the emergency room. Liu studied the deceased’s face, then felt for her carotid pulse, before stepping back and shaking his head regretfully. “I didn’t expect this. Thought she’d pull through. Thank you for your efforts, Dr. Kong. I suggest the body be kept in the hospital morgue for now—I’ll report to my superiors immediately.”

After seeing Officer Liu off, Kong Ning returned to the emergency room, where the two nurses were methodically packing away the oxygen tubes and shutting off equipment. Kong Ning stepped forward, carefully regarding the woman who had been the subject of many men’s dreams in Yongcheng. Now, the bluish lips and thin cheeks couldn’t diminish her beauty; her straight, delicate Yao nose and slightly sunken eyes, framed by pale skin and crescent-shaped brows, lent her face a strange cold allure and enchanting glamour. To retain such beauty even in death was rare, and Kong Ning, shaking his head, felt a deep sense of regret.

Kong Ning lifted the white sheet over her chest, gently covering her face. Just as he was about to put away her slightly open left arm, he noticed a small anomaly that made his heart tighten.

He bent down to examine closely: the new needle mark was offset, with a residue of blood scab at the lower end. There were no traces of iodine disinfection around the site, suggesting a very unprofessional injection. Surprised, Kong Ning closed his eyes to recall, then opened them and counted again, confirming there was indeed one more needle mark than before.

He thought for a moment, then asked Xiao Yun nearby, “Xiao Yun, did you ever inject into the left forearm vein?”

“No! We saw there were no marks on her right arm, so all injections were done there. The right side is easier anyway,” Xiao Yun replied, approaching Kong Ning. “Is something wrong, Dr. Kong?”

Kong Ning shook his head, examined both arms again, then asked gravely, “Who was watching her after I left?”

“It was me,” Xiao Yun answered, slightly puzzled.

“Did you leave during those three hours?” Kong Ning tried to sound gentle.

Xiao Yun, surprised, replied, “Yes, I went to the bathroom once, but only for five or six minutes. The policeman was asleep on the bench at the door. Nothing happened, right? Dr. Kong, don’t scare me.”

Kong Ning forced a smile, “Of course not, I’m just a bit surprised, that’s all. It’s nothing for you all. It’s already past three—let’s leave the body here for now. Just fill out the duty log carefully. There might be more emergencies soon, so let’s stay alert.”

Returning to his duty room, Kong Ning reviewed the entire episode, growing increasingly uneasy. Unconsciously, he picked up the card with the police emblem and dialed the number on his phone.

Ring—ring—ring—ring...

He waited, but no response. Dialed again, still nothing. Just as he was about to give up, Chen Junhua’s slightly hoarse voice came through, with a background of laughter and singing.

“Damn, who is it?”

Kong Ning paused, but replied, “Chief Chen? This is Kong Ning, duty doctor at the affiliated hospital. I need to report something…”

“Which Kong Ning are you? So late… Oh, sorry, sorry, my memory’s awful. Dr. Kong, right? Haha, it’s noisy here, please wait a moment.”

Chen Junhua pushed away a tall woman leaning on his shoulder, stood up, and strode past a crowd of flamboyant men and women into the KTV’s luxury suite bathroom, shutting the door and speaking loudly, “Haha, sorry, I’m entertaining friends from out of town. What is it, Dr. Kong?”

Kong Ning frowned, “Zhen Qian is dead. Officer Liu should have reported to you.”

“Yes, he did, right away… Haha, is that all, Dr. Kong? I know, I’ll take care of it tomorrow, thanks. If there’s nothing else—” Chen Junhua was about to hang up when Kong Ning’s urgent voice stopped him, making him freeze mid-step.

“Wait! I’ve discovered something unusual and wanted to report it to you immediately,” Kong Ning said seriously.

“What’s unusual?” Chen Junhua’s tone became stern.

“It’s like this: when the deceased was first brought in, I examined her left forearm vein and found seven old and new needle marks, which I recorded in the medical file. But after failed resuscitation, I was surprised to find an additional, fresh mark. I asked the duty nurse, and she said they never injected into the left arm. So I think this is suspicious and wanted to report it to you,” Kong Ning explained patiently.

“I see... Dr. Kong, does anyone else know?”

“No, I thought about it and called you right away.”

“Good, good! You did the right thing. You must keep this confidential—this is an order! Dr. Kong, please don’t turn off your phone. I’ll report to my superiors and contact you anytime. Remember: keep it secret and keep your phone on. I’ll be there soon!”

“All right, I’ll wait for you.”

“Thank you! Remember, don’t tell anyone else.”

After hearing Kong Ning’s affirmation, Chen Junhua closed his Motorola flip phone with relief, finally lowering his numb foot, his balding head beaded with sweat.