Victoria frowned.
“A doctor?”
“Technically, yes.
An exceptional one.”
“Was?”
“He left medicine eleven years ago.”
“Why?”
Another silence.
“Lauren.”
“I’m reading sealed-case references and archived reports. There was an incident involving an experimental emergency transport system.”
Victoria felt something cold move through her chest.
“Whose system?”
Lauren didn’t answer immediately.
She didn’t need to.
Victoria already knew.
“Hale Dynamics,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
Victoria stared at the wall.
“What happened?”
“Patient died during transport. There were allegations of equipment malfunction. Carter reported the equipment.”
“And?”
“The company disputed his account.”
Victoria swallowed.
“Who was the patient?”
Lauren’s voice softened.
“His wife.”
Victoria stopped breathing.
For a moment the monitor beside her accelerated.
A nurse looked through the glass.
