hours later, Dr. Shah appeared.
The surgery had gone well.
They had removed the tumor.
There were no immediate complications.
Sophie was in recovery.
Linda began to cry openly then. I stood very still, afraid that if I moved, I might collapse.
Dr. Shah continued explaining next steps, pathology, monitoring, medication, recovery. I heard it all through a haze of relief so fierce it almost hurt.
Sophie was alive.
She was alive.
When we were finally allowed to see her, she was groggy and pale, surrounded by soft machine sounds. Linda went in first.
I waited outside the room, staring at the floor.
After several minutes, Linda opened the door.
“She’s asking for you.”
Inside, Sophie’s eyes fluttered open when I approached.
“Hey,” I whispered.
Her lips moved.
I leaned closer.
“What?”
“Detective name,” she murmured.
I frowned, confused.
Then I realized.
She was referring to the book.
I let
