In 3 years.
I was hunched over my desk in my office at St. Aurelius Medical Center, my eyes strained from reviewing the medical records of patients who had developed unexplained complications following surgery. Three weeks had passed since these incidents began, and each time I revisited the files, a heavy weight lingered in my chest.
I know my work—I have devoted all my time and effort to being a good cardiothoracic surgeon. Every incision, every suture, every decision I make is for my patients' lives. So when I heard a knock on the door and saw the man in a suit, there was a strange familiarity about him I couldn't place—until he spoke.
"Dr. Megan Alzie Mandatore De la Sombra?" he asked, and his voice brought back memories of high school. "I'm Roverth Corringan. Private investigator. I want to speak with you about several patients who died after you performed their surgeries."
Roverth. A name I hadn't heard in years—since he left for Europe. A cold chill washed over me. "I will not speak with you if this is how you intend to begin," I stated firmly, setting down the paper in my hand. "I cared for each of my patients with my whole heart. If you're searching for a crime, you may have the wrong person."
"I'm not saying you're guilty, doctor," he replied, placing a folder on my desk. "But the evidence I've gathered—discrepant lab results, suddenly changed appointments—suggests something unusual is happening inside this hospital." In his tone, I still heard the brave boy who'd been my partner at the Science Fair so long ago.
"You have no idea how hard our work is here!" I exclaimed, feeling tears welling in my eyes. "We face life and death every single day! Sometimes, even when you do everything right, there are things we can't control!"
Roverth stood his ground, his gaze steady. "I know how hard you work," he said, his voice softer now. "That's why I'm here—because I know you wouldn't make that many mistakes. So if it's not you, it's someone else. And your patients have a right to know the truth."
I paused. I looked at him—and in his eyes, I saw again the person who'd told me "you won't be alone" back when we lost a competition. "You don't understand," I whispered. "Too many people could get hurt—my colleagues, their families, even us."
"And what if we do get hurt?" he asked, stepping slightly closer. "Far more lives might be lost if you don't act now."
I'd played it safe for years, but now I was looking at an old friend who was willing to risk everything. "Fine," I conceded, picking up a sheet of paper and writing down details of the first patients. "But if anyone gets hurt because of you, I will not forgive you."
"I understand, doctor," he replied, offering a small smile. "And one more thing—you won't be alone. Like before." Then he picked up another folder and said: "I have more files—I'll set this up on your board later, just like in high school when we studied complicated lessons."
I glanced at the small board in the corner of my office—empty now, but I could already picture the red strings and photos I knew he'd put there. He took out a flash drive and handed it to me. "There's more here—recorded conversations. I'm just saying… maybe give yourself a chance to see what's really happening."
I stared at the flash drive, then at him. I knew something was off—moments when I'd felt other doctors were hiding something. But I was scared—yet as I looked at Roverth, I heard the voices of the patients who hadn't survived.
"Okay," I said, inserting the flash drive into my computer. "I need to review all of this first."
"Take your time," he said. "While you do that, I'll set up the board. When you're done, we'll look at it together." Before he turned to the door, he added: "Be careful, Megan. Sometimes, the threat comes from the people you least expect."
After he left, I was alone with the papers and the flash drive. I began to open the files, and I knew there was no turning back. The search for justice had begun—and I knew, deep down, that this wasn't just about solving cases. It was about us—about how the beat of one heart could become the strength of another. This is the beginning of the Pulse of Evidence.