PART 2: The tallest man was the first to look at me.
—Are you awake?
—Who are you?
None of them answered.
That was enough for me to step in front of the door.
—You won’t see my patient without authorization.
The shortest man almost smiled.
Then, the door to Toby’s room number nine opened behind me.
My patient was standing there, wearing a hospital gown and holding onto the IV pole.
The men froze.
So did I.
—Mr. Romano —he whispered.
Something changed on his face.
It wasn’t recognition.
It was fear.
I turned to him.
—Toby?
He covered it up.
—It’s none of your business.
—How much?
—Luca.
—How much?
I told him.
The next morning, Toby’s school called.
They had paid the full tuition.
I rushed into Luca’s room. —You didn’t have the right.
He seemed genuinely confused.
—I was trying to help.
—You don’t buy people just because they’re kind to you.
His expression fell.
Then he said in a low voice:
—Apparently, that’s how everyone works in my life.
I immediately regretted getting angry.
Before I could apologize, his brother arrived.
This time without guards.
Just a man who looked almost exactly like Luca.
He left a sealed police report on the bed.
—The crash wasn’t an accident.
Luca was left motionless.
His brother looked at me.
—Someone cut the brake cable.
Then he added the detail that made my blood run cold:
—And the last person seen near Luca’s car was wearing a hospital uniform.
…
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