Jim paused, and then asked, "Is she still alive?”

In a subdued voice, Waylen replied, "Yes, she's still in the hospital. I'll do my best to cooperate. My wife? No... She acted bravely in the name of justice. Let's try to keep her out of this.”

Upon ending the call, Waylen entered a separate cold storage room.

Inside, ten bags of fresh blood awaited, their significance not lost on him.

Quietly contemplating, he reached for one of the bags.