All Chapters of Two Hours to Save a National Hero: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Officer, please! You cannot open this container!" I yelled, clutching the cooler to my chest with one hand while thrusting the emergency transit pass toward the police officer with the other."Look! This is emergency clearance certificate for organ transport issued by the Department of Health. It has the official seal!"There is a donor heart inside, kept at a constant 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's exposed to the air for more than three minutes, the cardiac cells will die. There's no reversing it!"The lead officer took the permit and flipped it over a couple of times. His expression softened.He was just about to let me through when my brother-in-law Edward Austin's shrill voice rang out again. "It's fake! The permit is a fake!"He turned right around to face the crowd of onlookers in the waiting area. "Everyone, look at this guy! He's using a doctor's disguise to smuggle drugs!"There's no heart in that box! It's meth! Meth disguised as medical cargo! I'm his brother-in-la

The interrogator's expression softened a fraction.He was just about to say something when the click-clack of leather shoes echoed from outside the door.Edward pushed his way into the room, taking a sip from a cup of coffee he'd bought from a vending machine."Oh, look at that. Calling in help already?"He strolled over to my side. As he leaned down and glanced at the phone screen, he scoffed. "Officers, don't let them fool you. This Carissa woman is his secret lover. They've been in this organ-trafficking ring together for years."My sister already gathered all the evidence on this. She was planning to report it to the disciplinary committee tomorrow. The only reason he was in such a rush to run today was to get this shipment out before everything hit the fan."On the screen, Carissa's face turned red with fury. "That is an absolute lie! What the hell is going on over there? Who is this guy?"Edward tilted his head toward the camera. "I'm his brother-in-law, and I represent th

Edward continued, "Sara told me if you wouldn't listen to reason, we'd have to do it the hard way. You're suspended, and your reputation is completely trashed. That apartment is useless to you now."Just sign the papers, transfer the deed over to my name, and I'll withdraw the report. I'll even help you clear your name online. If you don't…"He flashed his phone. On the screen was a screenshot from his earlier live stream, capturing me kneeling on the floor, my face covered in dirt and tears."If you don't sign, these pictures go straight into your hospital's group chats. When that happens, you won't just be banned from surgery. Public backlash alone will drown you alive."I clenched my fists so hard that my fingernails dug deep into my palms.So that was it.From the very beginning, Edward never cared about reporting drugs. His target was never the cooler. It was the apartment I had spent ten years of my salary saving up for.In his eyes, that 72-year-old man and the heart that

That was the trace of preservation fluid and blood left behind when the heart rolled out.The moisture was almost completely gone, leaving a dark stain."That mark," I said, pointing at the floor, "is the last remaining trace of that heart."It was vibrant and alive. It was still pulsing inside that fluid. But you ruined it with a single kick. It's gone, and Professor Ellis is dead."Edward stared at the puddle for a couple of seconds before looking away. "Ha! You're the one who didn't hold onto it properly. How is that my fault?"The general didn't waste any more breath on him. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Ma'am, the suspect is secured. The heart… It's completely ruined."Silence fell over the other end of the line. The silence stretched on, dragging out the seconds.Then, an old, choked-up voice came through the speaker. "Michael's… gone?"The general closed his eyes. "Yes, ma'am. 15 minutes ago."Muffled sobbing echoed from the phone.A long moment passed.

"It would've been enough," Azaria whispered, repeating herself. "It would've been enough."Edward stood there, a red handprint forming on his cheek. He opened his mouth to speak, but Azaria didn't give him the chance.She turned away, sat back down in her chair, and reached her hand beneath the white sheet again. "Kaeden.""Yes, ma'am.""Handle this through the military tribunal. Let them sentence him exactly as the law prescribes. Don't go easy on him just because he claims it was a misunderstanding."Kaeden snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"This finally broke whatever courage Edward had left. His legs gave out, and he slammed onto his knees. The impact echoed through the room."Ma'am, I was wrong! I'm so sorry! I didn't know he was a professor! If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to do this in a million years! I was just trying to scare my brother-in-law to get an apartment! I really didn't mean to kill anyone!"He was a crying, sobbing mess, banging his head