I

  The steady beeping of the ventilator echoed through the hospital room.

  I sat on a small wooden chair beside Susan’s unconscious body.

  The only comforting thought was that she was still alive.

  I had spent the last three—maybe four—days like this. Doing nothing. Unable to do anything. Just watching over her.

  Catching the killer?

  It didn’t matter anymore.

  The doctor interrupted my thoughts.

  “Mr. Freeman,” he greeted me politely, though not coldly.

  “Is there news?” I shot up from my seat, even though we’d repeated this scene several times already.

  “First, the good part. Miss Susan will be woken from the induced coma within the next hour.”

  I sat back down. Relief hit me so hard I almost felt dizzy.

  For the first time in days, I could breathe properly.

  “Now the less fortunate part,” he continued. “You’ll need to leave the hospital by midnight.”

  I stood again.

  “What do you mean? I have insurance. She served in the force. How is this possible?”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Please let me finish. Your insurance only covers direct life-threatening conditions. That phase has passed. I agree with you—but I have no authority here.”

  Helplessness returned instantly.

  “There is also the matter of her condition,” the doctor added. “She has nerve damage. It’s not fatal, but it will significantly affect her daily functioning. Rehabilitation through routine activities will be crucial.”

  “That’s all I can do?”

  “That is both little… and everything.”

  He paused.

  “I’ll leave you now. You have a visitor.”

  Morgan stood at the door.

  II

  “What are you doing here?” I growled.

  He ignored the question.

  “The mafia leader was killed while attempting to flee. Her head—”

  “I asked what you’re doing here!”

  He sighed.

  “I wanted to see Susan. And talk to you.”

  “I don’t want to talk.”

  “I understand your anger, but the corporation—”

  “You understand my anger?!” I grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall. “If you did, you wouldn’t have sent her into enemy territory! You turned the city center into a battlefield!”

  “The corporation stepped into the case,” he replied calmly. “There’s a mole above us. The operation was forced by pressure from higher up.”

  “And now what?!” I snapped. “The mole is still there. You have nothing. The corporation is meddling. My sister is barely alive!”

  “This case is different.”

  That was it.

  I threw him out of the room. People in the hallway jumped up.

  He stood, straightened himself, and said quietly:

  “Call me later. We’re not done.”

  I was about to charge after him—

  “Charlie… what are you doing?”

  Susan’s voice.

  She was awake.

  III

  “Couldn’t you have taken a taxi?” she asked while I carried her home.

  “It wasn’t far. And you’re not that heavy.”

  “Did you think maybe it’s uncomfortable for me?”

  I smirked.

  At home, I placed her gently on the couch and searched the closet.

  “Do you remember where we put those bullets? From the last incident?”

  “You threw them into the storage shed. Said we wouldn’t need them anymore.”

  I ran outside, dug through piles of junk, and found what I was looking for.

  When I came back, she was on the floor.

  “What are you doing?!”

  “I wanted to try walking.”

  I helped her back up.

  “Hey,” I whispered, holding her gently. “We said we’d take care of each other.”

  “I don’t want to be a burden.”

  “You’re not. You never were.”

  She fell asleep quickly.

  And just when things felt quiet—

  Someone started pounding on the door.