Bianca wore white to the hearing. Of course she did. I wore navy scrubs. Not because I had been cleared to work. Because I wanted Harborview's board to remember what I had been before someone put cash and stolen medication in my locker. A nurse. Not a headline.

Roman sat in

The driver reached back at the next red light.

"Phone."

I held it for one second too long. His expression told me not to test him.

I put the phone in his hand.

The screen was still lit. My message to Roman showed one word beneath it. Delivered. Good.

The driver powered

The buyer did not react to Cole's last sentence.

That frightened me more than anger would have. He only looked at the black recorder on the table. Then at me.

"Roman DeLuca values the child that much?"

Cole answered before I could.

"He will."

I kept my face still.