The Phoenix Diamond

Chapter 4 Removing My Corneas

"What is the meaning of this?" the detective said. "Don't touch her."

"She's my patient, and she has the right to ask," the nurse replied. Her fingers shook against the bandage. Liam stepped closer. "Stop this ridiculous theater, Jade."

"Please," I told the nurse. "This matters."

She unwound the sterile gauze one layer at a time. Bandage rustled against bandage while my monitor continued to beep. When the last pad lifted, cool hospital air touched the surgical dressings around my eyelids.

A woman gasped. I could not tell whether it was Chloe or Mom.

I opened my eyes onto the same darkness. Around me, several people sucked in breath, and one pair of shoes scraped backward.

"My God," the detective said.

Dr. Evans pushed through the people at the door. "What is going on? My patient needs rest." He reached my bed, saw that the gauze had been removed, and moved between me and the detective.

"Detective, I performed a full bilateral keratectomy on Miss Vance at 20:00 last night. Both corneas were completely removed due to critical retinal detachment. She has zero light perception and has remained without sight since the operation."

The detective's notebook stopped scratching. Chloe shifted close enough to Liam that their sleeves rubbed together.

I turned toward the place where Chloe had been speaking.

"How did I enter a ten-digit security code, Chloe? How did I pass a retinal scan without corneas?"

I gave her time to answer, then continued. "The micro-laser requires accuracy to 0.01 millimeters. You called my precision terrifying. Tell the detective how I made that cut without seeing light or shadow."

Chloe made a small choking noise and tried to speak twice. The detective shifted his weight toward her. "Ms. Adams, I need an answer."

Liam rushed in. "The system must have delayed the logs. Her keycard swipe happened before surgery. It's a technical glitch."

My surgery and Dr. Evans's time stamp proved I had not been in the workshop during the destruction. Liam could still claim that an unknown intruder had used Chloe's story and his altered logs, so we needed evidence showing who had touched the equipment.

I had brought it with me.

My lawyer's briefcase clicked nearby. I turned toward it. "Mr. Davies?"

"Yes, Miss Vance."

For the first time since waking, I smiled.

"Digital logs can be altered. Physical traces are harder to erase. Please show the detective our second exhibit."