“Could be,” I said, steering him back toward the yellow floor line that led to room 4B.

By six twenty-two the transport gurney was locked in place in the outer hallway, right in front of the double doors to the surgical suite.

Dr.

Frank Vance pulled off his white paper surgical cap and held it in both hands against his navy scrub top.

A deep red line from the cap’s band ran straight across his forehead, and his gray hair was pressed flat on both sides.

“The pre-op valve scans look perfectly clean, Nora,” Dr.