d. The high-pitched, rapid be

ass-walled room. They pushed a heavy defibrillat

his forehead. He gripped a hot cup of coffee so hard the cardboard crushe

y walked out. His green scrubs were soaked in Hank'

between the aorta and the heart wall. It's one millimeter away from a fatal ruptur

Her legs gave out. She collapsed onto the plas

ir, there is a rumor on the dark web. An underground surgeon who ha

apels of his suit. "Find him! Pay

the penthouse suite of a

bank of monitors. She watched the live security fe

She was a slim, efficient woman with short-cropped sil

st sent an emergency ping through the encr

old, cruel smile. She nodded

The center monitor sw

lter that displayed only a rotating, black medical cross. S

illed the screen. "Chiron! Please, name your

ophone. She spoke exactly

said, her voice flat. "Wired immediately

k. "Done. I'll have my CF

and. "There is on

d hard, sweat beading on hi

ly hold a press conference. You will announce the total severing of all b

.. that's impossible. We have billions tied up in joint

ckle through the modulator. She reached out and

een wen

ared at his blank phone in horror. "

nurse screamed. "H

s shirt, shaking him violently. "Do it! Give

h the glass. He ground his teeth togeth

d on the screen again, Theod

itter account and every major financial news netwo

roup's stock price plummeted, wiping out hu

a luxury spa

mpagne. She glanced at the flat-screen TV mounted

champagne flute at the television. The glass shattered