“I’ll run this to admin and prep the room,” Fairbank said, and tucked the clipboard under his arm and left.

Brady squeezed my shoulder.

“I’ll go call Dad again, he’s a mess.

Stay here, don’t tire her out, she’s sedated.” And the moment his footsteps rounded the corner, my tears stopped, the tremor left my hands, and I turned and walked the other way.

Chapter 8 — The Metadata

I slipped into a concrete stairwell and let the fire door boom shut behind me, and I scrolled to a name I hadn’t called in two years.

Dr.