I turned out the hallway and waiting area lights and locked the practice door behind me.
Mary and Melanie left about ten minutes ago. Flu season always left me exhausted at the end of
the day - it was days like that which always made me consider bringing in another physician.
The door to the parking ramp opened automatically, and I walked through to the garage.
“Hello, Doctor Johnson,” the voice declared behind me. It didn't sound like Oleg.
I swung around to find a bald headed, portly guy, about 5''10' standing just behind me.
“What's this about?” I asked, looking around the garage to find it practically empty.
“We are your new boss here concerning the Zyptorin information,” the man said firmly.
“Oleg and his partner have been removed from their position and my partner and I have taken
over.”
“So, you know where I live?” I asked, trying to figure out how these guys managed to
take out the Czechs. The irony of me meeting in person my fictional „other criminal network' that
I laid out for Oleg and his pony tail partner was staring right at me.
“Of course, doctor. We know about Susan, Tom, Stanley and the two grandmothers,” the
man said proudly.
“So, how do we do this?” I asked.
“Don't play coy with us doctor,” the bald man said, sticking his finger into my chest.
“You will have information about the Zyptorin trial in about two months and we want that
information.”
“Okay, can I go now?”
“Sure, run along.”
Timothy Gilbert
Damage Control
277
As I drove off toward the exit ramp, I saw the man standing where we talked and it
looked like he was talking on a cell phone. He didn't seem happy.
I didn't know what to make of all of this. Did I no longer need to go ahead with my crime
scene and disappearance plan? Surely, these guys played by the standard blackmail rules and they
would leave my family alone if I give them the inside information.
Timothy Gilbert
Damage Control
278
Tuesday, January 7th
5:35pm