Song~ Secrets by OneRepublic

  ***

  I park my car several blocks down the street from my dad's office. The alarm I have set on my watch beeps several times to alert me that it is now 5:30pm on the dot. My dad is still at the office which I had learned this morning in a brief note which only consisted of the three words; I'm working late. I pause outside of the front entrance. What am I going to find out? This question had been nagging me all day. I couldn't eat and I had been restless all day during school.

    I swing open the door and walk in. The vacant waiting room smells like air freshener and hand sanitizer. The strong scent attacks my nose which scrunches up in disgust. There is a wooden desk near the front where a tall women dressed in black is seated. The rest of the room is filled with chairs and a magazine stand. My dad's secretary looks up and smiles warmly at me. She reminds me of a runway model because she's tall and slim with well defined features. She looks like she's only slightly older than me. Early 20's probably.

    "Ms. Harris, I was unaware of your company tonight," she says with a sense of professionalism. She pushes back in her chair to look at me better. "How may I be of assistance?"

    "I don't need help, Adrianna. I'm just here to see my dad. I know the way to his office," I respond with an equally bright smile. She nods once and turns back to her computer. I pause. "Actually can you tell me what room he's in?"

"I just remembered your father is in a very important business meeting. You can wait here until he's done though," she says sweetly while gesturing to the empty seats. She spins in her swivel chair back to her computer. The sound of her perfectly manicured fingers pounding against the plastic keyboard is all I hear.

I take an empty chair near the magazine rack. Now what do I do? The answer to that question comes in a matter of seconds. My phone vibrates in my pocket. Once I have it firmly in my hand a new blocked number displays on my screen. I unlock my phone and read the text.

Like the lady said; daddy's in a meeting. That's exactly why you're here. Sneak in without getting caught and you'll find out daddy's little secret.

She can see me. Whoever sent this can see me. My eyes sweep around the room. No one is here beside from the secretary. Could my stalker have an accomplice? I approach the secretary stealthily to see if she has her phone. She remains at the computer. She sees me out of the corner of her eye and sends a questioning look at me that says what-do-you-think-you're-doing.

"Sorry just checking to see if you had the time," I lie. She points at the clock above her head. I spin on my heels and decide to leave the conversation at that and not annoy her further. I walk to the window to see a desolate street.

How am I supposed to sneak in with the lady at the front watching me like a hawk? My first plan of action is to just casually walk in. I only make it a few steps when Adrianna calls me back.

"Hey! It hasn't changed in the 2 minutes that you've been in here. He's still in his meeting," Adrianna says rudely. All the positivity and good vibes I was getting from her before disappearing.  I decide to play the dumb oblivious girl.

"Oops. Silly me. I thought this was the way to the washroom," I reply while smiling sheepishly. Honestly if this girl has a brain under all that hair she'd know that I'm lying. I've been in here more times than I can count and she's seen me here all those times.

"The bathroom is down the other hall on the left along with all the checkup rooms. Down that hall is the meeting room," she explains with an annoyed expression. Once again she turns back to her computer monitor. I flip her off and stand there deep in thought.

There goes my first plan. Maybe if I throw a stick she'll run after it that way I can sneak in. A smile forms on my face.

  A second plan dawns on me. I mull it over. I have nothing better and I can't think of anything else, so I decide to use this one.

  "I need to use the restroom," I repeat as politely as I can. She mutters something I can't catch. Internally I resist the urge to lunge at her and take out all my anger by biting my lip. I spin on my heels and walk in the direction of the hallway. I only take a few steps to the left just enough so that my body is hidden behind the wall and from view.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I count before I sneak to the edge of the wall. I pop my head to the side and glance at the secretary. She maintains her stick straight posture at her desk. I wait until her back is turned to me, so I can make a dash to the other side of the hall. Once my window of opportunity is open I sprint to the other side. Breathlessly, I check to make sure I'm not caught. The coast is clear.

I straighten out my jean jacket and tiptoe down the hall careful to not draw attention to myself. I should be a spy! I push this thought aside. Right now I'm on a mission. Cue the dramatic music.

A voice echoes through the hall which captures my attention. I follow it and automatically stop in front of a metal door. The sign beside it reads conference room 1. The door is ajar.

  To the front of the room is a large whiteboard that takes up the entire wall. In the center of the room is a large oval shaped table with a dozen black swivel chairs outlining it. My dad sits at the head of the desk while another man in a tailored suit sits beside him. The rest of the chairs are unoccupied. I tune my ears in to their conversation.

  "I'm glad you could make it this evening. I hope your flight was pleasant," my dad says. The man to the right of my dad raises his hand.

  "Cut the pleasantries, James. I want to know the real reason you called me here on such a short notice," the man states in a thick Southern accent. He quickly adds, "Although I can already guess as to why you called me."

  With a sigh my dad continues. "I have some issues, Henry. I have a patient and I wrote down all the symptoms I've noticed and gathered from this patient. It goes above my knowledge of common illnesses and I can't figure out what the cause is. I've searched up on the internet what to do and what the possibilities are, but the symptoms match a few. I was hoping you could identify it and tell me what to do."

  He places a clipboard in front of Henry. He flips through several pages staring at each one intensely. From where I'm standing I can see my dads messy handwriting and a couple pictures together.

  "This fits the definition of tuberculosis. Call back the patient and prescribe him with isoniazid tablets."

  "Thank you. Would it be an inconvenience if you stayed a while longer? So you can be sure that it's tuberculosis? I can't have my reputation as best doctor in this town being ruined in case you accidentally misdiagnose this patient. It will only be a couple days at the most. We have the cover set up from last time."

  "Very well. I can examine them personally to double check. I owe you a favor anyways. I can make you a list for future reference if you wish. Of the symptoms and their prescriptions."

Wait. My dad is a doctor. He should know what to do and be able to diagnose his patients. And now he's mentioning a cover up? Again? What's going on? This must be why she told me to come here. I need more information.

  I lean in slightly to bring my ear closer to the door. I lean in a little to far and lose my balance. The door swings open exposing me. I stand frozen in my place as both of them turn to address me. I had one job. Not to get caught. Why am I such a klutz?

"What are you doing here? I made it very clear I was working late."

"Looking for the bathroom?" I grimace. I knew it wasn't going to work on him. He of all people would know I'm lying. But it's not like could tell him the real reason. "Oh yeah sorry about this. Some anonymous person has been stalking us and using me. They told me they had a secret about us and if I don't follow their rules exactly they'll punish me. What's that? Why didn't I tell you sooner? Again they could hurt you or me." I can't risk getting someone hurt because of me. Who knows what this psychopath is capable of. And part of this was because I was curious as to what he was hiding from me. I had to find out on my own. My dad gives me a look of anger mixed with disappointment.

It suddenly dawns on me that the text I received earlier said not to get caught. Does that include now? Will I be punished now? I bring my hand to my mouth and bite my nails. This was a nervous habit of mine.

My dad turns to Henry with a fake smile on his face. "Thank you for coming tonight Mr. Crosby. I appreciate your input. I will contact you if I require any further assistance. Until then may I suggest you stay at a nearby hotel?"

"Thank you Dr. Harris. I will see you soon. I will be at the Blossom Inn if you need me."

"What was that about?" My dad shouts angrily once Henry is out of ear shot. I lower my fingers from my mouth.

"I don't know. You tell me. You're a doctor you should know how to cure someone. Why did you have him doing it for you?"

   "Oh no. This isn't about me young lady. This is about you sneaking in and eavesdropping like a child on a private conversation!"

  "The door was open slightly. If it was as important as you say it was then you would have shut the door completely."

  He runs a hand through his hair. The silence between us is deafening. I know he isn't going to explain himself willingly, so I'm going to pry it out of him. Obviously this secret is big enough for the stalker to use against me. I need to know what it is.

  "So. Are you going to tell me why you needed him here to double check the patient, which you should be able to do, or am I going to have to snoop some more?"

  He turns his head away from me. This is the first time I've ever seen my dad look ashamed. Gently I place my hand on his arm encouraging him to explain himself. The suspense is killing me.

  I need answers.

  He looks back at me. Fatigue and shame is evident in his face.

  "I...I haven't been honest with you. What I have to say isn't easy..."

  "Okay I can handle it." I don't know if I'm being honest or lying when I say the last part.

  "I never completed medical school. I don't have my diploma and I'm not licensed. I had that made just so I could make decent money for us. I used Henry to check the patients and pretend I did it."