The test results came back quickly.
1/6
19:16
19.16
Chapter 2
“The patient has a severe heart condition and advanced renal failure,” the doctor announced grimly. “She needs surgery immediately!”
A dead silence fell over Ryan’s friends. They stood awkwardly in the hallway as Colby was wheeled into the ER, glancing at each other, no one daring to speak. The aggressive bravado they’d shown when they were helping Ryan pressure me was completely gone. They had all known Colby was faking it.
One of them, a guy they called Chunk, who was always draped over Ryan’s shoulder, tried to sneak a cigaret- te. Another friend slapped it out of his hand. “Not in the hospital, man. Ryan will lose it if he sees you.”
Chunk grumbled, stuffing the cigarette back in his pocket. “Who even knows if her sickness is real or not? Just the other day she was telling us she’d marry Ryan as soon as she got the kidney.”
Just as he finished speaking, I emerged from the stairwell at the end of the hall.
After escaping the apartment, I had never left the hospital. Ryan would assume I’d run as far as possible. He would never think to look for me right under his nose.
The moment he saw me, he looked like a wild animal. He lunged, grabbing my arm. “Ruby! Where the hell have you been? Colby is dying in there, and you’re hiding?”
His grip was like a vice. I tried to shake him off but couldn’t, so I just stared at him with a cold smile. “Hidi- ng? I’m not hiding. I’ve been here the whole time. Haven’t you ever heard the safest place is right in the heart of the danger? Did you really think I’d be so predictable?”
“Cut the crap!” he snarled, dragging me toward the ER. “Colby needs a kidney! Your report says you’re a mat-
- You’re doing this!”
I stumbled, then deliberately dug my heels in. “So eager to save Colby? What about you? Weren’t you the one with tears in your eyes a few days ago, begging me to save your life? What happened, did your terminal illne- ss just magically disappear?”
He faltered, a flash of panic in his eyes, but he quickly recovered. “That was an act! I was never sick! It was all to get you to donate to Colby! She’s the one who really has a kidney disease. She can’t wait!”
His friends shifted uncomfortably. A few even took a step back.
I stared at him. “An act? Fine,” I said slowly. “Do you remember the doctor from yesterday? The one who got stabbed? The one whose white coat was soaked in blood? They said his eyes were still open when they carr
ied him away.”
Ryan’s face went white. His grip on my arm loosened.
“Remember now?” I leaned in closer, my voice low but carrying enough for everyone to hear. “Or did you forget what he said? ‘I swear on my professional oath, if I faked this report, may I drop dead on the spot. Not five minutes later, he was dead. What a coincidence, right?”
