The drive to the hospital felt like it flew by, taking half the time it usually would.


    When Patrick stepped out of the car, his legs were so shaky he could barely stand. One of Grady''s guys, noticing Patrick''s wobbly state and worried about Miss Mira''s safety, mumbled a quick apology. Without another word, he hoisted Patrick up by the cor and carried him forward like he weighed nothing.


    Dangling in mid-air, Patrick was left speechless. "..."


    He couldn''t help but wonder if ze''sparison of Mira''s family to the infamous Emmitt gang was spot on.


    Before long, Grady''s man reached the emergency room and finally set Patrick down.


    Feeling a bit awkward, Patrick steadied himself and immediately made his way to the nurse at the front desk. "Excuse me, a student who was rescued from drowning was just brought in. How is she doing? Is she still being treated?"


    The nurse looked at him a bit perplexed. "We haven''t had any drowning cases today. Are you sure you''re at the right hospital?"


    "That''s impossible. She was definitely brought here," Patrick insisted, knowing he had double-checked before leaving the school.


    "I''ve been on duty all day, and there really hasn''t been any drowning case brought in," the nurse reiterated, even flipping open the logbook for Patrick to see.


    Patrick peered at the logbook, bewildered. "How can that be?"


    Meanwhile, Grady''s man, looking even more serious than during the ride, stepped outside to call Grady.


    Caught up in his discussion with the nurse, Patrick didn''t notice the group of people emerging from the corridor''s other end.


    Mirabe, in conversation with a police officer, spotted Patrick. After a quick chat in French with the officer, she walked over to him.


    "Hey, friend," Mirabe called out.


    Patrick, his face flushed with embarrassment, heard Mirabe''s voice and thought he was imagining things.


    When Mirabe finally reached him, it dawned on him that she was really there. Apart from her wet hair and clothes, she seemed perfectly fine.


    Patrick''s nerves finally unwound. "Mira, I was so worried... I''m just d you''re okay."


    "Sorry for the scare," Mirabe said, her tone apologetic. She had


    thought the whole ordeal would be


    over in a few minutes, but it didn''t go


    as


    moothly as nned.


    Patrick shook his head, noticing her drenched clothes. He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "How did you end up in the water?"


    After asking, he found it odd since the nurse had just said no ambnce had brought in a drowning victim. What had actually happened with Mira?


    Mirabe lowered her gaze for a moment and checked the time. "It''s a long story: You should head back to school. I need to go to the police station to give a statement. I might not make it to the afternoono conference. Could you let Robert know and excuse me?"


    The police officer was waiting nearby.


    Patrick realized things were moreplicated than they seemed and that she preferred him not to get


    involved. After a brief silence bet


    ??:


    ed any


    said, "Alright, Mira. If you need help, even if it means raising a fuss, we''ll make sure you get justice."


    Mirabe felt a warmth in her heart and nodded. "Thank you, my friend."


    Patrick gave her shoulder a light pat. "I''ll be heading out, then."


    "Okay."


    As Patrick stepped outside the emergency room, he saw the guy who had driven him there, busy on the phone.


    He paused, intending to inform him that Mira was fine.


    But after taking just a couple of steps, he overheard snippets like "grab the gear" and "take him down," which made Patrick stop in his tracks, confused. "What...?"