DEACON "Deacon! Just the man I was hoping to see." I turned in mid-stride, my professional smile already in place as I extended my hand. "Raul! Great to see you. What brings you to my neck of the woods?" Raul Zamora gripped my hand and shook it firmly. "I had a check-up downstairs, and I thought as long as I was at the hospital, I'd come over and say hello. Maybe see how things are going on our shiny new wing." Checking up on me, I thought, but my expression didn't change. It wouldn't be a good idea for me to piss off the vice president of the board of directors. The hospital's governing team had been supportive of my project from the beginning of my tenure here, but I was well aware that I'd tested the board's tolerance when I'd abruptly left the country for a year. I was doing eve