“Otherwise the merchant will post the final settlement within forty-eight hours.”

“Leave it pending for the time being,” I said.

“I’ll deal with it myself.”

I hung up the receiver and stood in the quiet phone nook for a long moment.

Down the corridor, the automatic doors slid apart as a delivery driver carried a box of fresh flowers to the front desk.

My stomach felt empty, but my hands stayed steady as I slipped my phone back into my tote bag.

By one forty-five the hospital cafeteria was almost deserted except for two staff members wiping down the steam tables.