Chapter 3 - THE MISSING SEVENTEEN MINUTES
Gabriel survived the emergency operation.
Barely.
The surgeons drained the infected collection and removed a small metallic fragment from the affected area.
The fragment was preserved for analysis.
Dr. Reed explained that it might be retained surgical material, but its origin couldn't be established without the original operative records.
Gabriel remained in intensive care.
His fever began responding to treatment.
But the neurological damage was uncertain.
Luca stood beside the ICU window.
“Will he walk again?”
Dr. Reed answered carefully.
“It's too early to know. His recovery will depend on how long the spinal cord was compressed and how he responds to treatment.”
Luca nodded.
Then looked at me.
“What's your name?”
I stared.
“You hired me without knowing my name?”
He looked embarrassed.
“The agency handled everything.”
I folded my arms.
“Emily Carter.”
He nodded.
“Emily.”
Then he said something unexpected.
“Thank you.”
I looked through the glass.
Gabriel lay motionless beneath the monitors.
“Don't thank me yet.”
That evening, Luca obtained the records from the private surgical center.
The documents were incomplete.
The first procedure was listed.
The second incision wasn't.
And the anesthesia record contained a seventeen-minute gap.
No explanation.
No documented procedure.
No surgeon's note.
I looked at Luca.
“Someone left seventeen minutes out of the medical record.”
His face hardened.
“Why?”
May you like
I looked toward Gabriel.
“That's what we need to find out.”
