...

Robert's face twitched. "I didn't peg you for this kind of monster!"

The livestream viewers panicked. They'd been rubbernecking, but now they were in the crossfire.

[Jesus! I've got a shift tomorrow. What are these samples? Am I at risk?]

[Officers, do something! Or I'm leaving this city.]

[The scariest part? You can't tell who is infected. Could be your friends, your family, anyone.]

Anthony barked at the hospital staff, "Just give her the list! She can't do squat with it!"

They hesitated, bound by orders from above.

"Fifteen minutes left." I checked the timer, sauntering toward the hostages. "Or should I start cutting again?"

Just then, an anonymous message popped up.

[I've got the transplant list from the past five days.]

I leaned in. "Who is on it? DM it to me. I won't leak it."

[I'll post it publicly, but you gotta kill someone first.]

My eyes widened. "I'm not your hitman."

[It's someone you know. Head Nurse Linda Roper, right behind you.]

I spun around and found Linda curled in the corner. Gagged, she shook her head like a trapped animal.

I stepped closer, the scalpel raised. "Fine, but how do I know your list is real?"

[I'll send two names first.]

A table hit my inbox. Every entry was detailed and looked legit.

I grabbed Linda by the collar, slammed her to the floor, and pressed the blade to her throat.

Anthony, staring at the screen, nearly had a coronary. "No, don't do this! Even if her kidneys were transplanted, what's your plan? Rip them out? We've got a donor. Surgery can happen now."

I didn't believe his words for a second. "You think I'm gullible? Donors don't just fall from the sky."

"It's true. I'll give her my kidney," he said quickly. "I checked. Our blood types match, and the HLA compatibility is high."

I froze. High HLA compatibility meant low rejection risk. He'd done his research.

"I'll donate," he added, sounding sincere. "I'm a police officer. My word is my bond."

My eyes stung, tears threatening to spill. I glanced at the steel door, wavering.

Then my phone buzzed. I answered the call, and my blood ran cold.