Page 86 of Girl Lost
Dr. Forest’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I assure you, Mr. Sinclair, our results speak for themselves. Perhaps you’d like a tour of our facilities? Seeing is believing, after all.”
Luna squeezed Corbin’s hand. This was their chance.
“We’d love that,” Luna said. “Wouldn’t we, darling?”
Corbin nodded, plastering on an eager smile. “Absolutely.”
“Good job,” Blade said in his ear. “Find something we can work with.”
As they stood to follow Dr. Forest out of the room, Summer fellinto step beside them. “I hope you don’t mind if I tag along,” she said. “I never get tired of seeing the labs.”
“Not at all,” Corbin replied, studying the young woman’s profile. “So, Summer, what are your plans after this internship? Medical school, I assume?”
Summer’s face lit up. “Well, undergrad at Harvard. I’ve graduated high school early, and thanks to my dual credit classes, I have my associate’s degree already. I’m starting college in January. My goal is to become a surgeon, but...” Her expression faltered. “My parents aren’t thrilled about it. They’d rather I follow in their footsteps.”
“And what do your parents do?” Luna prodded.
“Mostly, they invest in businesses,” Summer said.
Dr. Forest led them through a series of high-tech laboratories. Corbin tried to take in every detail, noting the layout, the security measures, the comings and goings of staff. But his attention kept drifting back to Summer and their conversation. She was intelligent and compassionate and had a presence that resonated deeply with him. What could his life have been like if he’d had her passion, drive, and resources at that age?
“And here,” Dr. Forest announced, pausing before a set of heavy double doors, “is where the real magic happens. Our bioprinting lab.”
He swiped his badge, and the doors slid open with a soft hiss. The lab beyond was a marvel of modern technology. Banks of computers lined the walls, their screens displaying complex 3D models of human organs. In the center of the room stood several futuristic-looking machines. The bioprinters, Corbin assumed.
“This is incredible,” Luna breathed, her eyes wide with genuine amazement.
Dr. Forest beamed with pride. “These printers are capable of creating intricate organ scaffolds down to the cellular level. We then seed them with stem cells harvested from the patient, allowing the organ to grow and develop naturally.”
As Dr. Forest launched into a more detailed explanation, Corbin noticed Summer hanging back, a shadowed expression on her face.
He sidled up to her. “Everything all right?”
Summer startled slightly, then forced a smile. “Oh yes. It’s just ... sometimes I wonder about the ethics of all this,” she whispered.
His pulse quickened. “What do you mean?”
“Ask him how quickly you can get an organ,” Summer said, keeping her voice low.
Corbin nodded. “This all sounds incredible, Doctor. But how soon could I receive one of these bioprinted organs?”
“Mr. Sinclair, I’m afraid I can’t offer you a fully bioprinted organ just yet. We’re close, but not quite there in terms of full functionality and long-term viability.”
Luna squeezed Corbin’s hand, her eyes reflecting disappointment.
“However,” Dr. Forest continued, “what we can do is begin the process of building your custom organ scaffold. This way, if a traditional transplant doesn’t become available in time, you’ll have another option waiting in the wings. It’s not a guarantee, but it could be a lifeline.”
Corbin nodded, processing the information. Then, with a glance at Luna, he asked, “Is there any way to ... to move up on the donor list? Money is not an issue for us.”
Dr. Forest’s eyebrows raised. A fleeting look passed over his face before he schooled his features. “Mr. Sinclair, while I appreciate your situation, I’m afraid the transplant list is not something that can be circumvented with money. It’s based on medical need and compatibility.”
He paused, then added, “However, there are sometimes ... alternative channels that can be explored for patients in dire circumstances. We could discuss those options in more detail at a later time.”
Before Corbin could respond, Dr. Sheridan appeared at the lab entrance. “Dr. Forest, you’re needed urgently in OR 3.”
Dr. Forest’s expression tightened. “I see. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, I apologize, but I’m afraid I’ll have to cut our tour short. A rather delicate procedure requires my attention.”
“Of course,” Luna said. “We understand completely.” As they turned to leave, Luna veered slightly, grazing Dr. Sheridan in a fleeting collision. Her fingers moved. There, then gone. Too fast for untrained eyes. She offered the doctor a quick, apologetic smile.
