rm

e felt. Heavy, thick blan

The ceiling was white. The

g on the pole next to the bed. She saw B

nson? Can y

. Her throat was r

car stuck on the curb. You were unconscious. Your core temperature was droppi

was alive. She wasn't sure if

d... did he co

Stevenson hasn't been here. But he did call the nurses' station.

tter laugh that hurt

d up a chair. She sat down, looking nervous.

spered. "I was on duty the d

oward her. The fog in her

enda said, wringing her hands. "But I

verley said,

Aiden... it was way too low. Dr. Caldwell, the surgeon, he argued with the hos

leaning forward, ignori

ears in her eyes. "They wanted him conscious enough to... I don't know

the stomach. Aiden, awake. Aiden, in pain.

," Beverley repeated,

told you," Brenda begged, s

ed out of

r her, and she gripped the side of the bed to steady herself. She swung her legs over the side. The nurse had thoughtfully placed her

but she pushed past him. "I'm leaving.

ent parking garage. She needed to find

ed her car-the front end was crumpled, evidence of the crash. A tow t

toward it when s

I told you

erick walked out from between two parked cars. Her s

wearing. It looked serious, but as she gestured, the edge of it slipped, revealing perfectl

her car. He ran over and threw

this. She pulled out her phone to call a

r. He threw himself onto the groun

ping the boy up into her arms. "Oh my god! B

ching his knee. There

h mock terror, but underneath the act, there was a sm

tantly. It was a setup.

ed by the thump of a cane-echoed

a sling, his injured leg forcing him into a prono

gh on the ground. He saw Beverle