Ryan shoved her aside . " I've used these machines all over Europe ! The principles are the same ! What does a nurse know ? " " The previous parameters must have been set wrong ! They don't meet the latest international standards ! " He forced a system reboot and tried to directly modify the core operating parameters . I " George , oh my God ! The ECMO is smoking ! " Following Ryan's ham - fisted attempt , the main console let out a piercing screech . The screen flashed violently and went black . A foul smell of burnt plastic filled the ICU . The multi - million dollar lifeline was dead . Two critical patients : one's golden hour for treatment squandered , leaving him knocking on death's door . The other's last chance for survival gone , his EKG about to flatline . The sounds of families crying and screaming , mixed with the piercing wail of the monitors , turned the entire cardiothoracic unit into a scene from a nightmare . The hospital president's face went white . He looked like he was about to faint . With a trembling hand , he called the ECMO manufa- cturer's technical support line in Germany . The German engineer on the other end , in heavily accented English , regretfully informed him that their nearest technician was in Europe . It would take at least two days for them to fly over . A suffocating despair settled over the room . Just as the president was about to hang up , the engineer added one more thing . " Perhaps you could contact the team of Professor Langdon , who helped us with the initial on - site calibration . I recall he had a brilliant protégé ... a young doctor with the last name Cole . I believe he works at your hospital . " Chapter 1 The president's hand froze in mid - air . He whipped his head around , his eyes locking onto Dr. Matthews . The color drained from Matthews ' face , leaving it a ghastly , corpselike white . He knew better than anyone . C The brilliant protégé of Dr. Langdon , the nation's foremost authority in cardiopulmonary medicine ... That doctor named Cole ... Was me . The man he had personally destroyed , now sitting on a train , on vacation . 11.57 1157 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 2 The atmosphere in the president's office was so thick with tension you could cut it with a scalpel . I heard later that he'd smashed his favorite antique tea set against the wall . Dr. Matthews and his nephew Ryan stood there like scolded children , heads bowed , not daring to utter a single word . " Who was it that promised me this Ryan was a once - in - a - generation talent ? " " And who was it that forced out our hospital's real cornerstone just to make room for him ? " " Well , congratulations ! You've burned the whole hospital to the ground ! Now , who is going to put out the fire ? " ? I could practically hear the president's roars through the phone . Finally , my phone rang again . This time , it was the president's private number . " Dr. Cole , it's Bill Adams . " His voice was weary , stripped of its usual corporate tone . It sounded more like a plea . " I imagine you've heard about the situation at the hospital . " " George , we've invested a lot in you . You built your career here . " " This incident has already reached the city health commission . The pressure is immense . " " I'm asking you ... to think of the bigger picture . To come back and fix this . " " I'm begging you , George . As a friend . " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!