A Doctor

Phil Coulson and Melinda May finally arrived at the traffic monitoring center. George Stacy greeted them with a grim expression. "I've already received the report. Jerry died horribly. The two of you bear considerable responsibility for this."

"Yes, Chief Stacy, we do bear some responsibility. But he really was involved. You acknowledge that, don't you?" Phil Coulson countered.

"Yes, he was involved. So what now?" George Stacy meant to ask what they should do next.

"First, let's see whether our people and Mr. Tony Stark have picked up the trail. Also, I hope the New York Police can move to detain Roy first, while contacting the Los Angeles police to detain Jack." Phil Coulson said. Their real target was the technology. It would be best to arrest the other two suspects as well; one of them was bound to lead them to the technician or team behind it.

Roy was still in the hospital. His son had just arrived after school. "Dad, will Mom get better?"

"She will. This hospital has a new doctor. I heard his skills are quite impressive, though he seems very young. Once your mother's test results come out, he'll tell us when the surgery can be performed." Roy patted his son on the shoulder. "And don't worry about things here. Study hard and get into a prestigious school. This is your chance to change your fate, understand?"

"I understand!"

At that moment, the ward door opened, and a young doctor entered with CT scans in hand. "The results are out. The tumor hasn't grown or spread yet, and her condition is very good. I'm confident I can remove it completely. If you follow through with treatment and recovery afterward, it won't recur for at least fifteen years."

"Really?" Roy asked in disbelief.

"Of course. I may be young, but my skills are recognized here. Please trust my judgment, sir." The young doctor was brimming with confidence.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Stephen Strange, I didn't mean it that way. We'd heard all about your abilities, which is why we came here." Roy hurriedly apologized.

"Very well. Prepare for surgery. The fees you've paid are enough to cover the operation, but postoperative recovery will require a substantial amount of money as well. That won't be a problem, will it?" Dr. Stephen Strange reminded them. Judging from the father and son's clothing, they did not look wealthy.

"Of course it won't be a problem. My friend and I have just made a great deal of money through our investment company. We have enough to cover the medical expenses. Please treat her without holding back and arrange my wife's surgery as soon as possible. She's suffered for far too long."

"Very well. Someone will come today to conduct her preoperative examination and preparations. I'll operate on her tomorrow. The success rate is high, so you can rest assured." With that, Stephen Strange left the room.

After closing the door, Stephen Strange smiled. "Another successful operation!" He had every confidence in himself. His ability to learn was exceptionally strong, but he was too proud, and his interpersonal relationships were a complete mess. Only a female doctor who had joined at the same time got along reasonably well with him because of work, but he did not care about such things.

The NYPD was highly efficient. While Stephen Strange was happily standing outside the ward, the officers had already strode up to him. "Doctor, please step aside."

Stephen Strange looked at them suspiciously. "What is this about? There's a brain tumor patient inside, and she's scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Your presence could easily affect her condition. I must be responsible for my patient." Rather than moving aside, the young doctor shifted to block the ward door. He would not allow anything that might affect his surgery to happen.

"There is a suspect in a major case inside. We need to take him away." The officers frowned, but they had no intention of forcing their way in. First, there was a critically ill patient inside. Second, this was a private hospital with an excellent reputation.

"Arrest warrant." Stephen Strange held out his hand directly.

"Sorry, he is only a suspect for now. We need him to cooperate with our investigation. That is every citizen's duty."

"So Mr. Roy inside is not required to cooperate with you, then? Please step back. I'll ask him to come out and hear his opinion. Besides, his wife is undergoing major surgery tomorrow. I don't think he'll cooperate with you. Step back, and do not make any excessive moves. If the patient is affected in any way, the hospital will bear no responsibility."

"Fine." The officer leading the team waved his hand and led his people back some distance, though they still maintained an encirclement around the ward door.

Stephen Strange knocked on the door, but did not enter directly. Instead, he blocked the doorway with his body and opened only a narrow crack. "Roy, there are some documents that need your signature. Could you come to my office for a moment?"

"Of course. Son, watch your mother." Roy stood up and left his son to look after his mother before coming out. The first thing he saw was a group of police officers, and his heart stopped for a second. But he had changed. He calmly turned and gently closed the door. "Doctor, what's going on?" Although Roy remained calm, he still looked like his old self on the surface—somewhat timid, as if he did not even dare speak loudly.

"These officers would like you to return with them to assist with an investigation. Would you be willing to cooperate?" Stephen Strange spoke before the officers could, emphasizing the words "assist with an investigation."

"Oh, assist with an investigation? I'm sorry, officers, but my wife is having surgery tomorrow. I won't leave her at a time like this. Of course, if it isn't urgent, I can cooperate with your investigation after the surgery. I know it's a citizen's duty, but I can't leave my wife right now."

The officers looked unhappy. This doctor was far too irritating. Their usual method was to overwhelm suspects with their presence from the moment they arrived, but what presence did they have left now? Still, they had their own approach. "Mr. Roy, this is a major case, and you are a suspect. Please come back with us to assist with the investigation so you can clear yourself as soon as possible."

"Sorry, what case are you talking about?" Roy asked.

"The Bear Stearns Wall Street Bank robbery. You seem to have become quite wealthy lately, wealthy enough to place your wife in this hospital. Don't you need to explain that?"

"Heh, I think there's been some misunderstanding. Why can't I use money earned doing business with a friend to treat my wife? We established Ghost Investment Company in the Cayman Islands. There are records there. We made several million dollars, and all that money is documented. You can investigate it. Isn't that simple? I make money, and you say I robbed a bank? Then why don't you investigate why the bank has refused to pay us compensation? Is this what American police are like?" Roy grew agitated, his voice gradually rising.

Stephen Strange hurriedly stopped him. "Mr. Roy, don't get worked up. Don't let your wife hear you. It would affect her greatly."

"Thank you, Doctor. You're the only good person here." Roy began to cry. These were his genuine emotions. He had once been timid and cowardly, but now he could risk his life for his wife. Then he looked at the officers. "If you have evidence, arrest me. If you don't, leave. If anything happens to my wife because of you, I won't let you get away with it."