Chapter 30: The Argument
Arthur could hear the frustration in the young nurse's voice when she said, "Madam, I would like to help you, I really do. I also don't want you to cry like this over and over again every night but just like what I told you before, if you just lift up the covering of that bundle in your arms so I can take a look at your baby, then perhaps I can diagnose what is wrong with him."
It sounded like the woman in the red dress was a repeat offender. Based on what the nurse said, the mother came back every night to beg for someone to save her baby. Now he had some inkling why the young woman treated the mother the way she did. If she had to deal with this every night, then it was little wonder that her mental state was more than a bit taut.
Then, Arthur gave it some more thought. What would compel a grown woman to come create a scene like this night after night? It was either really deep grief or she was batshit crazy. However, it did not feel like the woman in the red dress was putting on a show, Arthur really did feel her distress and grief.
If that was the case, it did not explain her argument with the nurse. The young nurse made a fairly acceptable request. She wanted to take a look at the mother's baby so she could provide a correct diagnosis, that wasn't too much to ask for.
Of course, Arthur realized the nurse's intention probably wasn't that noble. She most likely wanted to make sure the baby was a real thing to confirm that the woman wasn't trying to scam her. As uncouth as it sounded for a woman to fake a child's death for the sake of scamming some medicine, it was not entirely impossible.
In fact, Arthur also started to share the nurse's suspicion after he took into account how still the bundle in the woman's arms had remained throughout this whole process. It did not move or make any noise to suggest that it was a living thing. Furthermore, the pills cost one thousand dollars a pack, Arthur had seen people commit much worse offense for much less.
Arthur pitied the mother but the claim by the young nurse awakened his sense of rationality. He shouldn't let his judgement be blinded by feelings. Arthur decided to hold his opinion and judgement at least until he saw what the woman decided to do in response to the nurse's request.
"Please, you have to save my baby." The woman completely ignored the nurse's request and continued to wail about her misfortune.
"Madam, I've already told you. If you only let me take a look at the baby, then I'll give him the medical attention he needs if his condition is that serious. Why do you insist on hiding him away from me?" The nurse tried to be sensible even though Arthur could see that her patience was fraying. His opinion of the young woman was slowly turning after he realized the woman in the red dress could be a scam artist. He was impressed that the nurse managed to hold it together for so long considering she had already dealt with the "mother" night after night before this. Arthur could not say he would be equally patient if placed in the nurse's shoes.
"No, you don't understand. You have to help my baby. My poor baby..." The woman cried in desperation. Arthur was impressed by the woman's acting skill if she was really a scam artist. From the heartbreak and despair in her voice, if the nurse did not point out the anomaly in her behavior, he would have believed the woman was a grieving mother without a doubt.
If she really wanted her baby to be saved, she only needed to give the young nurse a peek of him. Was the request that difficult to do? Objectively speaking, it really was not. Therefore, Arthur could not really blame the young woman for what she did next even though he did consider it to be quite rude.
"No, Madam, I don't think you understand. We pledge our service to help people but that is only if they deserve the help. As I've said before, this is not a charity. If you want the medicine, then it costs one thousand dollars a pack." The nurse yawned when she finished. It sounded like she was very tired.
"You have to save my baby. Help me save my baby." The woman chose to ignore the nurse, it was as if she was talking to herself.
The nurse finally lost her patience. She yanked the wooden panel close and her last words were, "Thank you for your business."
When the window closed, the woman flinched as if physically slapped. Slowly but surely, her wails petered down to sobbing before eventually returning to the silent weeping that Arthur saw her doing when he arrived at the clinic.
The woman paid Arthur zero attention before her altercation with the nurse and she saw no reason to change that. She hugged the bundle in her arms tighter to her chest and slowly walked towards the steel door.
Arthur sat where he was and watched the woman surreptitiously out of the corner of his eyes. Even until now, he could not tell for sure whether the woman was being fake or not. She seemed to be in genuine despair over the child but the other details simply refused to add up.
The door opened and closed. The place became eerily quiet now that the woman's weeping had stopped.
Sitting in the grey room, Arthur realized a problem. If the woman in the red dress forced the nurse to get holed up inside the dispensary, then how was he going to move his assignment forward? Force his way through the wooden door and head upstairs or stay put until the nurse returned?
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