The next day Jade and Debra started at the hospital. They wanted to know more about how a kidney might be removed. Cuttleson, though a small town, had a dialysis unit and, very occasionally, did kidney transplants, though the surgeons were brought in from outside. They thought the local doctor might be able to give them some idea about how illegal transplants took place.
Dr John Nazir looked too young to be a proper surgeon. Jade placed him in his early thirties at most. Despite his youth, he looked exhausted when he sat down with them in the hospital cafeteria.
“I’ve only got thirty minutes. I hope you don’t mind if I eat while we talk,” he asked. Even when we’re fully staffed we’re understaffed, and today two doctors are out.”
“No, that’s fine,” Jade said. She watched him quickly join the food queue. He came back with a large coffee and two doughnuts.
Debra laughed. “I would have thought a doctor would eat better than that.”
Dr Nazir looked down at his doughnuts guiltily. “I like doughnuts and I’m tired. The thought of eating a salad makes me want to cry.”
Jade could spot a man after her own heart. “I hear you, brother.”
They both laughed. Jade attempted to ignore Dr Nazir’s gorgeous smile.
“So, what do you think? Could there be people paying others for organs around here?” Debra asked.
“Who knows? South Africa’s a place many people from overseas come to for transplants, since it’s cheaper here. It’s probable that an illegal industry could grow around that. So your coroner said it was a professional job?”
“Yes,” Debra said. “It looked to have been done in a sterile place, because there was no infection.”
“But why, if you’re going to then kill the guy?” the doctor asked.
“Who knows? Maybe killing him was not the original plan. Maybe the guy was going to spill the beans on the operation,” Debra suggested. “That could explain the suffocation too. Otherwise why not just kill him on the operating table?”
“Lots of questions. I suppose that’s your job, to find the answers.” The doctor smiled at Jade. “But if this is an organ smuggling operation, it could never happen in a hospital. We have strict regulations and a well-established paper trail for every transplant. I’ve heard that sometimes these sorts of people do the operations in hotel rooms.”
“That sounds awful,” Debra said.
“Yes.” Dr Nazir looked at his watch. “Listen, I’m sorry but I’ve got to go. You can phone me if you have other questions.” He shoved the last bit of doughnut in his mouth, washed it down with a swig of coffee and left. He handed Jade his card. “Call me if you need anything.”
***
Tell us: Did you know that there really is an international crime network dealing in transplant organs? They seek out and pay poor people as donors.