Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 47

Oliver was hamming it up, putting on airs as usual, when something suddenly clicked in his mind. His face snapped from playful to dead serious. 

“Boss, there’s actually a huge gig. You were busy sketching a few days ago, so I didn’t bring it up, and honestly, it almost slipped my mind,” Oliver admitted. 

“What kind of gig?” Edwina asked. 

Oliver leaned in, his tone all business. “Someone dropped a bounty on Vine Network to save a person. The location is right here in Grindel City!” 

He said mysteriously, “If you pull it off, the reward’s 600 million dollars.” 

“600 million dollars?” Edwina repeated, her eyes widening. 

She thought, “That is a lot of money!’ 

Edwina raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “Whose life is worth that much? I bet a ton of people have already signed up.” 

Oliver said, “The client’s identity is a total mystery. They’re keeping it under wraps. But my gut says it’s someone connected to the top brass. 

“Vine Network’s stats show eight doctors have already tried, and none of them could pull it off.” 

Edwina’s voice was steady. “How many days has it been?” 

“It’s the fifth day. No idea if the patient’s still hanging in there. Boss, you want to give it a shot?” Oliver asked. 

Edwina replied with a casual nod, “Yeah. Sign me up.” 

With a payout that big, Edwina wasn’t about to let it slip by. Money like that wouldn’t come around every day. 

Oliver logged into Vine Network, looking a little awkward. “Boss, there are nine doctors ahead of you. You’ll have to wait until they’ve all had their shot.” 

Edwina frowned, her slender fingers tapping the sign–up page. “By the time they’re done, the patient will be long gone. 

“I’m a doctor, not the Grim Reaper. I can’t bring back the dead. 

“So what do we do now?” Oliver asked, genuinely stumped. 

Edwina rubbed her temples, her tone patient. “What website is this?” 

“Vine Network.” 

“Who owns Vine Network?” Edwina pressed. 

“Your… Wait a sec!” Oliver’s eyes went wide as it hit him. He could just hop into the backend and bump Edwina straight to the top of the queue. 

The client on Vine Network sent over the exact address right away. Oliver jumped at the chance to drive Edwina there. 

The car pulled up in front of a quiet compound tucked away from the main streets. Edwina gave her Vine Network code, got verified, checked in at the entrance and stepped inside. 

Chapter 47 

“Boss, good luck! I’ll be waiting outside for you,” Oliver called out. 

4 65 vouchers 

Edwina glanced at the guide, cutting straight to the chase. “What’s the patient’s gender, age, medical history, recent meds, and hospital CT scans? Just hand them over so I can take a look.” 

The butler, Baxter Guzman, had been swamped these past few days with all sorts of so–called miracle workers from Vine Network, but not a single one could get Randolph Duncan to wake up. 

Now, seeing the doctor was just a young woman barely in her twenties, his doubts only grew stronger. 

Still, since she’d signed up on Vine Network and passed the screening, he couldn’t really turn her away. 

Baxter replied, “Save those questions for when you see Mr. Duncan. 

“There’s already a doctor inside, so keep your voice down when you go in. Don’t disturb him.” 

Conrad Chavez was a renowned expert from the College of Pharmacy. Baxter had personally invited him for this case. 

If even Conrad couldn’t pull it off, Baxter figured the rest of these so–called miracle doctors didn’t stand a chance. 

Edwina could tell Baxter didn’t think much of her, but she wasn’t about to argue. She was there for the money, not to get into a fight. 

She was led into the spacious main hall of the compound, where an old–fashioned wooden daybed sat in the center. On it lay a middle–aged man, looking incredibly frail, probably in his forties or fifties. 

His eyes were tightly shut, his lips completely drained of color, and his body seemed almost stiff, clearly the result of being unconscious for far too long. 

A man in a white coat was holding a silver needle, about to insert it into the space between the patient’s eyebrows. 

But just as he was about to do it, Edwina barked, “Stop!” 

Edwina stepped right in, not bothering with formalities. 

“If you stick that needle in, you’ll finish him off,” she warned. 

Baxter let out a startled yelp, his face going pale. ‘How did this brat just barge in? If she ticks off Conrad, Mr. Duncan’s as good as dead, he thought. 

Conrad’s hand froze, his face darkening. He turned around, chin held high, looked Edwina up and down with open contempt, clearly unimpressed. 

His voice was full of authority and arrogance. “Who are you?” 

Edwina wasn’t interested in introductions at all. She just repeated firmly, “You can’t stick that needle in.” 

Baxter stepped in between them. “Professor Chavez, go ahead and finish up. She’s here to treat Mr. Duncan as well, but she’ll wait her turn. 

“Hurry up and get out. Little girl, you clearly have no idea how things work around here!” 

Baxter scolded Edwina while trying to hustle her out the door. 

But Edwina just stood her ground, refusing to move. 

She kept her cool, sounding totally unfazed. “His circulation is already sluggish, and he’s struggling to breathe. 

“Acupuncture at that place might help him a little, but it only affects a small area. If you go ahead with that needle, you’ll just 

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boost blood flow around that area. You won’t help with the general situation.” Edwina lowered her voice, enunciating every word. 

“With his health so out of balance, are you trying to kill him?” she added. 

“What are you talking about?” Baxter blurted out, his nerves fraying. 

Conrad was a big shot. Baxter had bent over backwards to get him there. There was no way Baxter was letting Edwina mess things up. 

Conrad’s face grew even grimmer, his expression downright menacing. 

This kid is barely out of her teens. She hasn’t even gotten close to the patient, and she’s already nailed his symptoms,” Conrad thought. 

Conrad let out a cold laugh, still gripping the silver needle. “What do you know? You think just because you’ve read a few textbooks, you’re better than my thirty years in the operating room? 

“In medicine, experience is everything. If I can’t save him, you’re not even qualified to touch him. Once I hit that point, it’ll get his blood moving through the other points. 

“Stop worrying about things you don’t understand. 

“Baxter, get her out of here. Otherwise, I’m out, and Mr. Duncan can fend for himself.” 

Baxter nodded quickly, waving for the security guards to roughly push Edwina out. 

“Get lost! We don’t need you here,” Baxter barked, his tone full of disdain. 

Edwina grabbed the guard’s hand and, with barely any effort, sent them all sprawling to the floor. “None of you are even qualified to touch me,” she said coolly. 

Baxter was about to blow his top and call in more backup, but a voice suddenly cut him off. “Stand down!” 

A clear male voice echoed through the room, getting closer with every word. 

The guy who walked in stood tall, not the tough–guy type, but with refined features and a hint of gentleness. 

He was the kind of man who’d turn heads wherever he went. 

“Mr. Duncan, what brings you here?” Baxter’s whole demeanor shifted the moment he saw Glenn Duncan, instantly turning respectful. 

Glenn’s gaze landed on Edwina. “I saw your name on the sign–in sheet at the door and rushed in to see for myself. I can’t believe it’s really you!” 

Edwina glanced at him, then looked away, totally uninterested. “Who are you?” 

“I…” Glenn started, but was momentarily at a loss for words. 

Edwina’s question made Glenn chuckle. 

He leaned in a little, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air. Edwina immediately stepped back. “Just say what you want from there. Don’t come any closer.” 

Glenn said while raising his hands in mock surrender, a sly grin on his lips, “Alright. I saw you at the mall that day when you went after Desmond Cole. He shouted your name, and I caught it.”