“More certain?” Kettleman parroted.

Damn. She paused at the door, looking back.

“Yes, more certain. You have a preliminary diagnosis, now you need to see an oncologist.”

She turned to leave.

“Am I going to die?”

Hand on the door handle, she paused for a long moment. “Talk to your oncologist.”

She wavered. Then opened the door.

“Do you like your job, Karen?” Kettleman asked, low and cold, using her first name intentionally. He needed the angry bitch back. “Then you better close that damn door and sit your ass down.”

She froze in the doorway, weighing options. Stepping back, she closed the door in front her and turned to face him. “Excuse me?”

“Lady, I can pick up this phone and—”

“And do what? Call your attorney? Sue me because you have cancer? Sue me because I didn’t tell the police you’d been shot before?”

“That happened nearly twenty years ago and had nothing to do with—”

“It wasn’t in your chart. You’ve also had your appendix removed, and that wasn’t in your chart either.”

“None of that is relevant to what happened the other—”

“Right,” she scoffed. “Go on then. Pick up the phone, call your little attorney. And I’ll make a call, too.”

Despite himself, Kettleman chuckled. Had to admit, she was pretty sharp. And ballsy, calling his bluff like that.

“Ok fine,” he said. “It’s a Mexican standoff. Neither one of us wants the other to pull the trigger. So how ‘bout you just sit down for a moment. I won’t bite, promise.”

“What do you want?” she demanded.

“Just talk to me for a minute. Without my phone, without my laptop, I don’t have access to the internet. You’re my only source of information right now. I’m going to be laying here all night, staring at the ceiling. Come on, Karen, please.”

This time the use of her first name was intended to humanize, not disrespect.

“I’m a trauma surgeon, not an oncologist. I’m not even your primary, I should never have come in here,” she admitted.

“My lips are sealed, I promise,” he assured. “I won’t tell a soul.”

She sighed. “It’s too late. You already know, so tomorrow morning when Dr. Patel comes—”