Chapter 4

The hallway went quiet for a moment.

Miranda glared at me, and Denise's smile froze on her face.

"Cecily, what's that supposed to mean?" Denise's voice chilled. "I'm just trying to help, and you're doubting me?"

"Doubting you about what?" I cocked my head. "Did I say anything?"

Denise was at a loss for words.

I went on, "Dr. Wilkins, you work in neurology. My husband was brought in through the ER after a car accident. So why were you the one to sign the death certificate?"

Denise's face fell. "I... I just happened to be passing by. The ER was swamped, so I stepped in to confirm it."

I nodded. "Oh. So when you confirmed it, was my husband still breathing?"

Her pupils shrank slightly.

"What are you talking about?" Miranda snapped, her temper flaring. "Denise was just trying to help! If you keep running your mouth, I'll shut you up myself!"

"Please, calm down," Denise said, holding Miranda back. She turned to me, lowering her voice. "Cecily, I know you're upset, but you can't say things like that. I signed the death certificate. Everything was done by the book. If you don't believe me, go ahead and check."

I said with a smile, "I never said I didn't believe you. Actually, since you're so eager to help, how about you help me out with something else?"

I took out my phone and dialed a number right in front of them.

I said, "Hello, is this the organ donation center? Yes, I called yesterday to ask about it. I'm sure. My husband always said he wanted to donate his organs. He's still at the hospital, just passed away, so could you please come as soon as possible?"

After the person on the other end replied, I nodded. "Alright. I'll be waiting for you."

After hanging up, I looked up to find two pale faces staring back at me.

"What... what did you just say?" Miranda's voice was shaking. "You want to donate Andrew's organs?"

"Miranda, didn't you say Andrew was already dead?" I said, looking as innocent as possible. "Since he's gone, donating his organs to help others is the right thing to do. Andrew was always so kind. He'd totally agree."

"You're full of shit!" Miranda lunged at me and slapped me hard across the face. "If you lay a finger on my son, I'll fight you to the death!"

The slap hit me dead-on, and half my face went numb.

But I didn't flinch. I didn't even move.

The cop yanked Miranda's arm. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

"How am I supposed to calm down? She's about to carve up my son and steal his organs." Miranda screamed, totally losing her mind. "Let me go. I'm gonna kill this bitch!"

She kept cursing and lunged at me, her nails nearly raking my face. Two cops grabbed her, but she kept kicking. One of her shoes even went flying.

"Let me go! Do you even know who she is? She's a murderer! She killed my son, and now she wants to tear him apart!" Miranda howled.

Miranda's screams echoed down the hallway, and a few nurses poked their heads out of the staff room to see what was going on.

Denise was standing there, her face pale as a sheet. She looked like she wanted to say something, but her lips were trembling, and she couldn't get a word out.

"Ma'am, if you keep this up, we're gonna have to use force!" the officer warned.

Miranda wasn't having it. She lunged forward, actually trying to bite the officer's hand.

"Cuff her!" the lead officer barked, motioning with his hand.

There was a sharp click as the cuffs locked in place.

Miranda froze for a second, then started screeching like a cat whose tail just got stepped on. "What right do you have to arrest me? I'm the victim here! My son is dead, and instead of going after the murderer, you're arresting me? Is there any law left in this place?"

The two cops grabbed her, one on each side, dragging her toward the elevator as she fought them every step of the way. She kept kicking her feet wildly and cursing nonstop.

"Cecily, you bring nothing but bad luck. May you never know peace. You killed my son, and now you want to tear him apart. I will never let you off, even as a ghost!" Miranda howled.

Her voice grew fainter and fainter, finally disappearing as the elevator doors closed.

The hallway finally fell silent.

Those muscleheads had bolted as soon as the cops called for backup, and the nurses who'd been gawking at the scene retreated back to the staff room.

Denise was still standing there, clutching the hem of her white coat so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She looked at me, her lips moving like she wanted to say something.

But I didn't give her the chance.

"Dr. Wilkins," I said, rubbing my stinging cheek with a smile. "My mother-in-law's a bit emotional right now, so please don't take it to heart. About the organ donation, I'll need your cooperation with the paperwork.

"Since you were the one who signed the death certificate, your signature is required to make it all official."

Denise's face kept changing, reflecting her complicated emotions.

"Cecily... you... you're not actually going to..." Denise stammered.