Contracted Hearts

man. It's a mix of copper, antisept

nd times. It usually didn't bother her an

ashing!" the resident ye

a dead calm she didn't feel. "Pu

ights. Elena's gloved fingers worked inside the open che

e-pale, slack, oxygen

ge William

ard the pop. A single gunshot. She had turned the corner and seen the Judg

had looked right at her, his eye

her operating table. Someone

flatli

hundred," Elena c

d. The monitor beeped, a sl

up. Get him to the ICU. I want a polic

pping off her gloves.

out, grabbing her wrist with terrifying, bruising strength. H

quez," h

Your Honor, yo

closer. "They know you saw,"

The nurses rushed him away, leaving Elena st

know y

rs into the scrub room. She washed her hands mechanically, th

o call her foster mother, Karen, just to hear a norma

room. The overhead light flickered, castin

on lock, pulled the hand

caught in h

of her coat, was a clean, white envelop

ribs, Elena picked it up. Inside

ure of her in her kitchen this morning, making coffe

r. Written in thick, blac

ONCE. WE'LL F

ying to her mouth to stifle a scream.

had never seen before-tucked

nd demanding. She stared at it. She should run

ling fingers brushing the

ale voice said. It wasn't a que

is?" Elena

ely devoid of emotion. "Leave the locker room. Take the stairwell down to the ba

nding anger. "I'm not going anywhere

g an octave. "And I can't protect you as a client, Doctor

like a physical blow. "Your *wife*?

d, completely ignoring her outburst. "I'd s

small, frosted window at t

just pulled up. The driver's side door opened, and a m

she could see the outlin

Doctor. Fight me on the phone, or survive th

ne wen

eavy metal door of the stairwell with her shoulder, taking the s

dock. The rain was pouring down, soaking her scrubs in

s already there, stepping out from

he deafening crack of a gunshot

*