Second Cut

he office tu

e twisted w

to handle it himself, using it as his first high-s

irector Thompson to

e, "it's just a routine aortic di

ked straight to me, exten

is demeanor-ice-col

d him t

en notes, lingering briefly on t

dable, deep as a vo

es

say more. "Dr. Sutton, she just returned to work. She's r

t heard, pointing to my an

the echocardiogram showing aortic root dilation strongly suggest cystic medial necrosis in the aortic wall. Standard surgical

countless nights in my past life, repla

ed, the offic

red at me wi

ke it could come from a doctor who'd b

om disdain to shock, then to

ity breaking through the usual fro

ed it to Kyson. "Follow her recommendations. Reassess the p

ned and left, cri

le, his face alternating between red

eyes burning as if he

aze without

just the

ed me, I'd take