Liam’s phone was buzzing, the screen lighting up with a call from the hospital’s chief of staff.

He pressed the phone to his ear.

“Dr. Vance,” Liam said. “I mean, Dr. Miller.”

He listened for a moment, his face tightening.

His jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle twitching.

“On what grounds?” Liam asked, his voice strained.

The voice on the other end was loud enough for me to hear a metallic murmur, though I couldn’t make out the words.

“I have been the chief physician here for six years,” Liam said into the phone.

“This is administrative bullying.”

He ended the call without saying goodbye and stared at the screen.

“What is it?” I asked.

“My medical license,” Liam said, his voice hollow.

“The state board just issued an emergency suspension.”

“Why?”

“They claim I misappropriated restricted narcotics from the pharmacy,” Liam said.

“It’s a lie, of course. But the order came directly from the state capital.”

“Vance,” I whispered. “He’s stripping away your protection.”

“It gets worse,” Liam said, looking at his screen.