**County Clinic — 11:08 AM**
The room smelled of antiseptic and lemon soap.
Emerie checked a child's throat with practiced calm. “You're doing great," she said gently.
The boy smiled. His mother mouthed thank you.
Outside, snow flurried past the windows.
Emerie's cough started again as she closed the file.
Sharp. Deep. Metallic at the edges.
She excused herself.
In the staff bathroom, she wiped blood from her lips.
**She stared at it in the sink.**
No surprise.
Just confirmation.
**Maroni Compound — Same Day**
Albert read the anonymous tip three times.
> “If you want answers, go to St. Lawrence General. Oncology Department. File #EK-0924."
He didn't hesitate.
No guards. No backup.
Just silence in his car as the city passed, gray and shivering.
**St. Lawrence General —
