ed in the flimsy shelter of the bus station. T

d bought a one-way ticket to Charleston, the nearest city

New York. She was afraid of being traced. She had no idea that the real threa

und a seat by a grimy window. As the bus rumbled onto the dark highway

re to go. No

ed in her mind. Pro

one who had looked at a poor girl from Appalachia and seen a future surgeon. "You have the hands for it, Chloe," she'd said once, after

got off at the next rest stop and found a

lly, a voice answered, weak b

that kind voice was the one thing that could shatt

he choked back a sob, unable to bring herself t

keep her voice steady. "I wanted to focus on my studies. I was wo

se on the other

voice full of regret. "I'm afraid that's not

. "The hospital? What

. But her sharp ear caught the underlying panic in Chloe's voi

orrent of fear and despair. "No, I'm fine, Pro

lliant student I have ever had. Don't let anyone or anything dim th

ng. A new voice, a nurse's, came on the line,

say something to a colleague in the background.

ne wen

d receiver, the name echoing in he

ken. Her only beacon of h

rate situation faded away. Th

us, and knew she was no longer running away

r bones. She found Professor Reed's room in the ICU, and the sight of her mentor-pale and frail against

ked surprised, then a flash of concern crosse

voice thick with emotion as she t

r, a former student of Reed's and a gr

e truth. It wasn't an "old issue." It was a rare, aggressive

experimental treatment. A specialist in New York. But the hospi

" Chloe asked, dread

if ashamed to even sa

housand

ile air, vast and impossibl

ol, smooth rectangle of plastic pressed agains