At exactly five o'clock in the afternoon, Colin saw his last patient out. He was surprised that no one else was waiting. At the hospital where he used to work, people were constantly streaming in. Well, that was the reality of an emergency room in a big city.
"Is that it for today?" he asked, just to be sure.
"Of course," Stacy replied cheerfully. Her red curls pinned up in a ponytail waved. "If there's no epidemic, it's even quieter than today. But we haven't had a doctor for a while, so a lot of patients were eagerly waiting for you, doctor. We have quite a few tomorrow as well, but after that, things should slow down."
"That's… a pleasant surprise," he admitted, genuinely pleased. So far, the work hadn't been particularly challenging, and people treated him very well. They really seemed happy to have a doctor in town. There was something especially satisfying about knowing he was truly needed.
"You must be tired after your first day. You're not used to this kind of work rhythm yet."
"Not this kind, no," he agreed. "But…" Well, there was nothing else to say. He just smiled. When was the last time he had a free afternoon? "Since we're done with patients, I think I'll take a walk and explore the town a bit."
"Great idea! Our town might seem boring… Okay, it is a bit boring, but we do have some really beautiful spots."
"I'm planning to find them. What about you, Stacy? Aren't you heading home?"
"I'm waiting for my boyfriend. He'll drive me home."
"Oh, right. Brad Lipski has your car. Sorry, that's because of me…"
"Not at all," she shook her head, still smiling warmly. "I don't live far, so it's not a problem for me, and Brad needs the car more. He has a bigger family, and he started a job at the boatyard today—that's in another part of town. A lot of us try to help him however we can."
Colin's heart skipped a beat.
"Because of the girls?" he asked.
Stacy nodded.
"Brad left our town and became a professional race car driver, but when misfortune struck his brother's family, he sacrificed everything he had and came back to take care of his nieces. He's doing his best to provide them with a stable home, and most people in town appreciate that. Besides, he's a good guy. A really decent one."
"Lipski was... a professional driver?" Colin asked, surprised. "A race car driver?"
Why did that surprise him, he asked himself. There was something about the man—a certain vibe—that could easily place him on a racetrack, where the scent of burning rubber and gasoline mixed with adrenaline and a hint of danger.
Well, after all, he had already heard something about it. I guess he just forgot, or didn't really take it seriously.
"He even won a few Grand Prix," Stacy boasted. "He was the pride of our town..."
"But he quit because of his family?"
Stacy sighed with clear regret.
"Unfortunately. But doesn't that make him an incredible man?"
"Yeah, I guess it does," Colin admitted reluctantly. He was definitely impressed, but he didn't feel like discussing it with a coworker he had just met. So he quickly made an excuse and left the clinic.
So Brad Lipski had been a race car driver. That would explain why he had reacted so boldly behind the wheel yesterday, ramming into the bus. He must have had incredible reflexes and nerves of steel to maintain control in such a dangerous situation. That was, well… impressive.
As he walked down Long Street, Colin couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the day before. While he had just stood there watching, Lipski had prevented a speeding bus from hitting that boy and then helped with resuscitation without hesitation…
Colin clenched his teeth. Death was a natural part of the job. He had learned that in the ER. Sometimes, people arrived too late, or their condition was simply too severe. Even when doctors gave it their all, they were still just human—not supernatural beings with magical powers. Modern medicine couldn't fix everything, though it was a miracle compared to what it had been a century ago, or even just a decade ago. But it still wasn't enough. That's why doctors lost patients and had to live with it. They had to… get used to it. At least to some degree.
He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the creeping melancholy. He had done everything in his power. He hadn't given up until the paramedics had taken over the resuscitation, even though deep down, he had known it was already too late. He couldn't save that man.
But Brad Lipski had saved the boy standing in front of the speeding bus—and probably several passengers as well. Damn, that was impressive.
No, no, no! Colin did not like where his thoughts were going. He didn't need to complicate his life any further. Hadn't complications already led to his exile to this backwater town? He should have learned his lesson by now.
The weather was beautiful, though the sun had begun to sink, and the air had cooled a bit. The town, or at least what he had seen of it so far, hadn't particularly charmed him. Maybe it was because there wasn't much to see along the main street, or maybe he had been too preoccupied with his thoughts. Either way, he figured it was time to head back. However, he didn't want to take the same route. So, keeping a general sense of direction, he turned onto another street and ended up near a supermarket where—
What the hell? A sale?
He hated sales. They created unnecessary crowds, and right now, there was one in front of him. Well, maybe not a full-on "crowd," but a lot of people had gathered outside the supermarket, discussing something with interest. But why weren't they going inside? And judging by their expressions, this wasn't excitement over a good deal—it was tension, uncertainty, and… fear?
"Should we call the police?" That was the first thing he clearly heard.
"No, leave it. You'll get him into trouble."
"He's going to end up in trouble anyway. You know how he is."
"And you wouldn't be the same?"
The conversation was between an older couple, probably married. Off to the side, Colin caught snippets of another hushed exchange.
"What's going on here?" a young woman asked. "Are they going to fight?"
"I'd punch him myself," her companion muttered through clenched teeth. "He thinks the whole town belongs to him."
"And it doesn't?"
"Not all of it!"
The air was thick with adrenaline and tension. Colin felt like he should walk away, not get involved in matters that didn't concern him. But curiosity got the better of him. Gently, he nudged his way through the onlookers and saw Brad Lipski staring coldly into another man's eyes. His hands were lowered, but his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. It seemed like it would take only the slightest movement—one loud sound—and Lipski would lunge at the guy with his fists, ready to beat him to death.
Brad Lipski looked even more terrifying than he had last night at the bar…