In this gripping chapter of Blades of Glass, Rudy Stankowitz takes listeners deep into the heart of tension and unease, following Officer Grady Reynolds as he navigates a hospital trauma room where life and death hang in the balance. As Grady stands outside the trauma room, he is struck by a strange feeling of apprehension—something far more unsettling than the cold sterile environment of the hospital. With his mind swirling, he can't shake the feeling that he's somehow connected to the impending tragedy unfolding within the walls.

Inside, the medical team races against time to save a woman who has been gravely injured, and Grady’s focus shifts momentarily from the patient to the arrival of Detective Jack Rhodes, a former acquaintance whose swagger and cocky demeanor immediately rub Grady the wrong way. Their tense reunion is filled with simmering animosity and history, as the two men share a begrudging acknowledgment of their paths diverging over the years. Grady’s cool, collected demeanor contrasts sharply with Rhodes’ self-absorbed arrogance, setting the stage for an inevitable clash of personalities.

As the drama intensifies inside the trauma room, the woman—identified as Amy—fights for her life, and Grady begins to sense an eerie connection to the victim, despite not fully understanding why. This chapter explores themes of life, death, and the lingering impact of past choices, as Grady contemplates his complicated relationship with both the woman in peril and his old friend-turned-rival, Detective Rhodes.

The stakes climb higher as the medical team struggles to stabilize Amy, and in a desperate bid to save her, they begin using the defibrillator in a frantic attempt to restart her heart. The tension in the room is palpable, amplified by Grady’s own internal turmoil as he feels helpless and haunted by an uncanny sense of déjà vu.

As the medical professionals work tirelessly to save Amy’s life, the weight of the moment is not lost on Grady. His focus sharpens as he watches, torn between the personal and professional sides of his existence. When Amy's heart miraculously starts beating again, Grady is left with more questions than answers, unsure of why this moment feels like a turning point—both for him and for the woman fighting to survive.

In this podcast reading, Rudy Stankowitz expertly builds suspense, capturing the raw emotion of the characters as they confront life-altering choices. The chapter leaves listeners on edge, hinting at deeper connections and secrets that will unfold in the chapters to come.