She sped toward town, knuckles white on the wheel, every tremor from the backseat dragging her eyes to the rear-view. The dispatcher patched her to Dr. Evan Hallett, who spoke in calm fragments—“small clinic, yes, bring it straight here, keep it warm.” His control steadied her shaking breaths, but dread thickened.
Tires screeched as she skidded into the gravel lot behind the one-story clinic. Tessa leapt out, carrier clutched to her chest, and banged on the glass door with an elbow. A receptionist spotted the black-slick bundle, paled, and jabbed an emergency buzzer that flooded the hallway with alarms.