“He can be discharged tomorrow morning at eight o’clock, as long as his pain stays under control,” the doctor said.

“I’ll be here at seven thirty to do the discharge paperwork,” I said.

Dr.

Aris nodded slowly and stepped out into the quiet corridor, closing the door until only a thin strip of hall light showed.

Toby closed his eyes, his breathing slowing as the pain medicine took hold, his small fingers resting flat on the white hospital sheet.

I stayed by his bed until six fifteen, watching his chest rise and fall, before leaving him in the floor nurse’s care.

Twenty minutes later, I walked back through the side entrance of State Precinct 4 and followed the blue line painted on the floor down to the forensic tech suite.