ital. Helena was here on business, a private consultation to appraise the jewelry Sterling was considering for a charity auction. The hospital had provided her

ed Sterling was pale, her hand pressed against her

erling gasped. "They gave me

ings that didn't add up-discrepancies in ledgers, anomalies in financial statements. Sterling's pallor,

one an EKG?"

head. "They said my

But she was qualified to ask questions. She pulled

ars ago at a Columbia alumni event-Zoe was a cardiology fellow, sharp and no-nonsen

into the hall

ient. Something feels off-chest pressure, pallor, left

for a cardiac workup. Now. If they push back, tell t

k to the nurses' station. She

rdiac status. I have a colleague-Dr. Miller, on

ena added, "Ms. Sterling is a major donor to this hospital's new wing. I

their a

diagnosis was viral myocarditis-inflammation of the heart muscle, potentially life-threatening. The attending physician admi

ble. She grabbed Helena's ha

oman whispered. "You're wa

s hand. "My private gala next week. You need yo

he invitation. Don

rang. It w

n speaker as she packed her a

ou're having a tantrum. Saturday is the family dinner

ing. She took a sip

it, Evelyn. Harrison and

nned silence on

how many girls would kil

it," Helena s

hung

urged through her. She

s parked at the main entrance. He was standing there

ked pa

ited through the ambulance

. A text from an

e Hotel. 9

screen. C. Collis?

he get h

d the phone over, placing it screen-down on her lap. The lack o

nt in Brooklyn. She slept fitfully, dream

ithout responding. She had no intention