“Who is it?” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady.

“It is Nurse Gable, ma’am,” a voice replied from the hallway. “I have Mr. Thornton’s late-night medication.”

I looked at the IV bag dripping slowly into the tube connected to Ethan’s arm.

This was the dose.

The dose that would keep him asleep through the board meeting, or worse, ensure he never woke up at all.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and walked over to unlock the door.

Nurse Gable stood in the doorway, holding a small metal tray with a pre-filled syringe.

Her eyes were neutral, but there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn’t been there earlier in the day.

“I can take care of him tonight, nurse,” I said, blocking the doorway. “He seems very peaceful.”

“I have strict orders from Dr. Harrison, Mrs. Thornton,” she said, her voice polite but firm as she tried to step past me. “This must be administered at exactly midnight.”

I stood my ground, my hand gripping the edge of the doorframe.

“I would like to speak to Dr. Harrison before you give him anything else,” I said.