ar

s steel-gray eyes. They were sharp, alert – nothing like the vacant gaze you'd expect from

tose – or perhaps not so comatose – husband. The monitors continued their rhythmic beepin

peared, her practical shoes silent on the marble floors. One look at my face and

," I whispered. "He

n for coma patients to have moments of apparent wakefulness, Mrs. Pierce.

dy my breathing. "Does i

iciency. "The doctors say it's a good sign, but not necessarily in

ame room as Theodore suddenly se

artment. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of Manhattan's

the lights on?" I asked, hati

rse, Mrs. Pierce. There's a dimmer by

orn t-shirt. They were hardly appropriate sleepwear for a Pie

nurse nodded respectfully as I entered, then discreetly stepped out to give me priva

hand experimentally in front of his face. No response. "I hope you wake up soon. Really wake up, I

ect your company until you wake up." I studied his face, noting how his features re

ighter, the smallest movement that might ha

the medical suite, drawn by some mixture of curiosity and concern. During one such visit, I must have dozed of

reathing steady. The sky outside was beginning to light

weats. "Mrs. Pierce, the car is ready. Mrs. Elizabeth Pi

hair back, grateful I'd thought to pack a suitable out

sprawling estate that looked like it had been transplanted directly from England. Mrs. T

oom, every silver hair perfectly placed despite the

I took my assigned seat, noti

ly now." Her smile was practiced perfe

st night's incident. "He... his vital sig

what,

r reaction carefully. "The nurse s

thly changed the subject. "I have something to discuss with y

re documents detailing the Pierce Family Trust – a collection of early-stage in

th explained. "Theodore has done particularly well with it, having a

it?" I tried to keep th

al team has taken certain... precautions, regarding Theodore's condition.

d against fine c

Theodore never wakes up, his child – his heir –

erfect to be coincidence. "You can't be serious, Gr

hly. "And the Pierce family has always embraced innovation." Her eyes fixed

uld see Manhattan's skyline in the distance, where Pierce Tower rose above its neighbors. Somewhere in that

Elizabeth's gaze. "Yes," I

ury. Good. Let him worry. Let him wonder what

her eyes. "Excellent, dear. We'll have the