Chapter Five: The Prisoner's Disappearance
Alderson looked into Owen's eyes. It was clear Owen had no idea who he was. Although Alderson couldn't pinpoint what was different about his appearance, this Dr. Owen wasn't wearing glasses.
"Which hospital are you from, and what's your full name?"
Owen smiled calmly, unfazed by Alderson's tone.
"Emergency Department, St. Martin's Hospital. Owen Lee."
Alderson wouldn't give up, pointing to his own forehead.
"Did you treat my wound?"
Owen shrugged slightly.
"Though this is my second trip here, I don't recall tending to your injury. Would you like me to take another look?"
Alderson snatched Owen's badge and examined it carefully before ignoring him. Turning from side to side, his mind raced: Who had dressed his wound earlier? If it wasn't Owen, then who was it? Could it have been an inmate? If so, had a prisoner escaped?
The chaos in the prison—the deaths and injuries—paled in comparison to the shock of a possible escapee. Rage surged through him; he slammed the badge violently to the ground.
"Find out who was sent away—all the inmates, those dead and those returned to their cells. Who's missing? Pull the surveillance footage, now!"
Hearing Alderson's furious roar, every guard knew trouble had struck. No one dared delay; they scattered at once to investigate.
Fifteen minutes later.
A guard, clutching a badge, hurried back to Alderson, panic written across his face.
"Warden, we found this in the kitchen locker room. We've checked everyone and discovered that inmate number 142857 from Section B seems to be missing. There's no record of him leaving, and he's not in his cell."
Alderson seized the guard's collar, eyes bloodshot, struggling to control his trembling.
"I want this person's details. Don't just tell me his number—am I supposed to look for someone with a number?"
The guard quickly raised his laptop, terrified. He had never seen Alderson like this. When Alderson loosened his grip, he hastily explained:
"It's here, I've already pulled his file. His name is Zoe Zhou, Chinese name Zhou Yi. He used to be an attending physician in the emergency department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was convicted of second-degree murder after a patient died due to his mistake."
Alderson narrowed his eyes; instantly, he remembered who this man was. He recalled Zhou Yi—a bearded man with hair down to his shoulders, who would look nothing like this even with a mask. He also remembered instructions from a certain important figure.
But now was not the time to overthink. He released the guard and, thinking aloud, issued instructions.
"Check which ambulance he was on. What's the license plate? Which squad car followed? Which hospital did they go to? I want every detail of his route, quickly!"
The guard tapped away on his laptop, evidently connected to the prison's surveillance system. A screenshot appeared on the screen.
There was the ambulance's license plate. Alderson glanced at his phone—it was 17:59—and immediately dialed a number.
"Daniel, I'm sending you a photo—it's the plate of an ambulance. Use your radio to find out where the vehicle is now. Have the officers following it detain the doctor aboard!"
A pause came from the other end.
"What happened?"
"I'll explain in detail later. An inmate disguised himself as a doctor and escaped. I must catch him, or neither you nor I will escape blame!"
Daniel was stunned but didn't hang up. He grabbed his radio and shouted:
"Attention, everyone! Check your ambulances—whose plate is ABC-5920?"
Static crackled. Just as Alderson was losing hope, a voice came through the radio.
"Mr. Daniel, I'm escorting ambulance ABC-5920. Is there a problem?"
"Where are you right now?"
The officer seemed confused, but answered quickly.
"We've just arrived at Midtown Medical College Hospital. The doctors have been in the OR for over half an hour. We're waiting outside the emergency surgery room for the inmate's operation."
Daniel held the phone tightly and asked,
"Alderson, what should we do? Lock down the hospital?"
Alderson narrowed his eyes. Someone who could escape right under his nose was no ordinary person. Locking down the hospital might not be wise, but there was no other option.
"Lock the operating room—no one in or out. Send more officers to secure the hospital. Daniel, dispatch men now. I'll send you the escapee's information soon. This man has a unique background; we'll discuss details in person.
Also, I want the news to broadcast it, so he can't leave Midtown. I'm heading over now. You must help me!"
Daniel sighed.
"Enough talk. I understand. If we don't catch him, we're both implicated. I'm taking men over now."
Daniel's car sped toward Midtown Medical College Hospital. With sirens wailing, Daniel grabbed the radio and barked orders.
"You two, keep an eye on the operating room. Absolutely no one can enter or leave. I'm on my way with backup."
He deliberately spoke for Alderson's benefit, then hung up.
...
Alderson pocketed his phone, turned, and glanced at the police and prison guards who had come to assist. Clearly, from his recent conversation, they had caught on; everyone stared at Alderson in silence.
"No more words. An inmate disguised as a doctor has escaped. Get in the cars, we're heading to Midtown Medical College Hospital to apprehend him.
Specific plans will be laid out in transit. The fugitive's photo will be sent as well. Four to a car, let's go. Arthur, contact the news director at the TV station."
With these instructions, the officers grabbed their weapons, climbed into the vehicles, and sped toward the hospital, sirens blaring.
...
17:18
The sky was overcast.
Inside Midtown Medical College Hospital.
Zhou Yi pressed the patient's wound, pushing the gurney alongside the medical staff into the emergency operating room. During this process, he noticed the two police officers standing outside the OR, waiting.
At that moment, Zhou Yi was caught in a dilemma. If he entered and participated in the surgery, he'd surely be asked his name—and he knew many people here. If he left, the two officers would become suspicious. Zhou Yi paused; the paramedic who had come with him turned to look.
"Dr. Owen, why aren't you coming?"
Zhou Yi pressed his hand to his abdomen, his body slowly slumping. A slight pressure caused blood to seep from the wound where he had just removed the chip. Zhou Yi glanced at his hand, and the paramedic's eyes widened.
Just as he was about to call for help, Zhou Yi clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't—it's just a scratch from moving the stretcher in the prison. Let them focus on the surgery; I'll find a treatment room and take care of it myself. The patient is critically ill; we can't distract them. Could you help me over there?"
The paramedic nodded, moving to support Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi brushed at his clothes. After all the lifting and tending to the wounded, his white coat and the green scrubs underneath were filthy.
"Is there somewhere here I could change? I really don't want to return to my hospital dressed like this—it's a bit embarrassing."
The paramedic smiled, clearly very familiar with the place. Even if he wasn't staff, he often brought patients here.
"Come on, I'll get you some clothes. Change, and then we'll find a treatment room."
Zhou Yi smiled. Most operating rooms had attached showers; it would be ideal to freshen up here.
As he was thinking this,
The paramedic returned, carrying a bag containing a set of operating room scrubs. Zhou Yi stood up and glanced toward the OR entrance—he could still see the ambulance.
"Just tell me where the treatment room is; I'll handle things myself. The prison may need me back a couple more times before everything is wrapped up. For now, I can't go."
The paramedic nodded, glancing at the blood on Zhou Yi's abdomen. The amount of blood made it clear the injury was serious, and leaving the emergency area was unrealistic.
"Don't worry; no need to leave the OR. There's a small room here with all the necessary equipment. I'll head to the prison now, but if you need to leave, let me know.
If it's too much, I can ask those two officers to help escort you—is that all right?"