Chapter 8 - The Devil's Bargain
The audacity of her demand sucked all the air out of the room.
The police detective scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You're out of your mind, lady," the detective growled.
"You are facing twenty years for child abuse and attempted murder."
"We don't negotiate with criminals, especially not ones who hurt kids."
Megan shrugged, entirely unbothered by his threat.
"That's fine," she said smoothly, leaning back in her chair.
"Then Ethan dies, and you can charge me with manslaughter."
"But my lawyer says I can plead temporary insanity due to stress."
"I might serve five years in a minimum-security facility."
"But your son, Jason? He'll be in the ground forever."
I felt my vision go completely black at the edges.
I lunged across the table, grabbing the collar of her orange jumpsuit and slamming her against the wall.
"I will kill you myself!" I screamed, shaking her violently.
Two officers immediately tackled me, dragging me off her and pinning me to the floor.
"Jason, calm down!" the detective yelled, keeping his knee on my back.
"If you assault her, I have to lock you up, and you won't be here for your boy."
I stopped fighting, laying my cheek against the cold tile floor and sobbing uncontrollably.
She had won.
She held all the cards, and she knew it.
Dr. Evans looked sick to his stomach, but his duty was to his patient.
"Detective," the doctor said quietly.
"The boy's kidneys are starting to fail now."
"We have less than an hour before the damage is completely irreversible."
The detective looked at me, then looked at Megan's smug, triumphant face.
He pulled out his phone and stepped out into the hallway to call the District Attorney.
Ten agonizing minutes later, he walked back in, holding a piece of official department letterhead.
"The DA agreed," the detective said, spitting the words out like poison.
"Full immunity from prosecution regarding the poisoning of Ethan Davis."
"In exchange, you donate the liver tissue immediately."
Megan smiled, a wide, terrifying grin of pure victory.
She took the pen from the detective's hand and leaned over the table.
"See, Jason?" she mocked, locking eyes with me as she signed the paper.
"I always win."
She threw the pen on the table and stood up, holding out her hands for the cuffs to be removed.
"Prep my room, Doctor," she ordered like a queen commanding a peasant.
Suddenly, the consultation room door swung open.
My father, Arthur, stood in the doorway, panting heavily, holding a thick medical file.
"Stop the deal," my father commanded, his voice ringing with absolute authority.
Megan rolled her eyes.
"Too late, old man," she sneered, holding up the signed immunity agreement.
"I'm the only match."
Arthur ignored her entirely, walking straight over to Dr. Evans and handing him the file.
May you like
"Check the national bone marrow and organ registry again," Arthur instructed.
"Under the name Matthew Davis."
