dead. Simon Va

tening to the empty silence. Her arm dropped to her side, heavy and useless. All the

, her eyes wide with desperate hope. "Wh

mother that her son-in-law, their supposed sav

her head, her lips mo

ried, her voice rising to a frantic pitch. She grabbed Averie's arms, her grip tight and punishing. "What good was

ned to stare. Their faces were

al." She then turned her professional, impatient gaze on Averie. "Ms. Fletcher, Dr. Rosen is waiting. The surgical deposi

entence. A clinical, polite way of saying they w

cruelty, the staring eyes of strangers-it all p

blurring into streaks of white. She reached out for the wall to steady herself, but her fi

heard Nurse Esposito shout, "We need

r mind was the sound of Jarett's voice on the phone,

inal blow. Then, ev

ll of disinfectant pulled

alcove, an IV drip attached to the back of her hand. For a moment, sh

ped, sitting bolt up

Eleanor Finch, was sitting in a plastic chair be

t are you d

worried," Eleanor said, taking

oice frantic. "The money, Ellie? Did so

ll the answer Averie needed. Her heart, which she thought couldn'