TZPATRI

e was a death knell in

d to answer. "Hello?" My vo

from St. Mary's Hospital." The voice on

heart pounding. "My grandm

Fitzpatrick, your grandmother is not doing well. She suffered acute h

pped. "Is she...

nction is extremely fragile. She must undergo bypass s

... as soon

is fifty thousand dollars. Please come to the hospital to handl

and dollars

ountains, crushing t

nto the floor. The tears finally ca

poor. I hated Ethan for his betrayal,

er's life hanging in the balanc

the man lying comatose in a hospital bed

s, Miss Fitzpatrick." His

ty, my principles-they were worthless wh

d ran to the kitchen, digging fr

s, pizza crusts, and food wrappers,

icky filth that coated my fingers and

tract. They were wrinkled and stained with coffee

, and spread them on the table li

ains, but I saw that at the bottom, where the signatures went, Alistair Beaum

hands still shaking, an

nce before som

line. He didn't sound surprised at all. "You've made y

lid down my cheek. My voice was eerily calm. "I agre

me

. My grandmother needs

ay, "Done. Alfred will pick you up in half an hour. We'll go to