“Open your eyes for me," the nurse said.
“They've been open," Hazel answered.
“Humor me."
Hazel blinked. “Humored."
Alexander stood where a wall stands. Quinn sat with a clipboard like a shield. Maya guarded crackers as if they were state secrets.
The doctor slid the penlight away. “You won the chloroform lottery," he said. “Fluids, rest, and no moral dilemmas for forty-eight hours."
“Can I negotiate twenty-four?" Hazel asked.
“Thirty-six," Quinn countered without looking up. “Doctor, write 'physician-prescribed compliance.' She respects prescriptions."
The doctor smirked. “You have good people."
“I hired them," Hazel said. “Out of greed."
Maya waggled the crackers. “Eat. Then we gossip."
“We don't gossip," Quinn said.
“We debrief politely," Maya amended.
The curtain whisked.
