Chapter 5 - THE THREAT NO SISTER COULD IGNORE
I photographed the note before touching it.
Then I called Detective Sloan.
Mateo stayed on the phone until officers arrived.
The hallway was empty when police searched it.
Whoever had delivered the threat was gone.
That night, I slept in a hotel arranged through the victim-witness assistance process.
Mateo offered to pay.
I refused.
He didn't argue.
That surprised me.
The next morning, I met Lily's transplant coordinator.
Her name was Dr. Rachel Bennett.
She had been part of Lily's care team for two years.
I showed her the note.
Her expression hardened.
“Harley, listen carefully.”
I nodded.
“Lily's transplant eligibility is determined by medical criteria and established allocation procedures. A private billing contractor cannot simply decide whether she receives a heart.”
I exhaled shakily.
“But could they interfere with her care?”
“Any suspected interference needs to be investigated immediately.”
She contacted hospital compliance and security.
The hospital began reviewing Calder's involvement in Lily's records and services.
I sat beside Lily that afternoon.
She looked at my face.
“You're scared.”
I tried to smile.
“I'm always scared.”
“More than usual.”
I looked down.
She took my hand.
“Harley.”
I swallowed.
“What?”
“You can't keep trying to save me by destroying yourself.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Don't.”
“It's true.”
I shook my head.
“I promised Mom I'd look after you.”
Lily's expression softened.
“Mom also wanted you to have a life.”
I couldn't answer.
Our mother had died when Lily was thirteen.
Our father had left years earlier.
From that moment, I'd become sister, parent, accountant, driver, advocate, and emergency contact.
I loved Lily more than anything.
But sometimes love felt like carrying a house on my back.
That evening, Mateo visited.
He brought two containers of soup.
Lily grinned.
“Pie guy!”
He smiled.
“Hello, trouble.”
She looked between us.
“Are you dating my sister?”
I nearly dropped the soup.
“Lily!”
Mateo raised an eyebrow.
“Not currently.”
Lily nodded thoughtfully.
“Interesting wording.”
I wanted to disappear.
Mateo laughed.
Later, in the hallway, he looked at me.
“She's remarkable.”
I smiled sadly.
“She is.”
He hesitated.
“So are you.”
I looked away.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?”
“Say things like that when I'm already exhausted.”
He smiled faintly.
“Fair enough.”
For the first time in days, I laughed.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And went completely still.
“What happened?” I asked.
May you like
Mateo looked at me.
“Calder's chief financial officer has disappeared.”
