Chapter 5 - The Doctor Who Changed His Story
Evelyn survived.
The emergency room physician called it a medication interaction.
Adrian called it attempted murder.
He stood beside his mother's hospital bed while she slept, watching the heart monitor rise and fall.
Celeste had arrived twenty minutes after the ambulance.
She cried.
She held Evelyn's hand.
She told nurses that Adrian's mother sometimes confused her medications.
Then Adrian asked her to leave.
Celeste stared at him.
"What?"
"I said leave."
"Adrian, I'm worried about her too."
"No."
Her eyes hardened.
"Don't do this here."
"Do what?"
"Punish me because your mother made another accusation."
Adrian stepped closer.
"This isn't about an accusation."
"Then what?"
He wanted to tell her about the pills.
He wanted to tell her about Roman's ring.
Instead he said one sentence.
"I know you lied about the night my father died."
Celeste became very still.
Then a nurse entered.
The moment broke.
Celeste picked up her purse.
"When you calm down, call me."
She left.
Adrian watched her disappear down the corridor.
Mara had placed three of Evelyn's tablets in a sealed plastic bag.
Adrian sent them to a private laboratory.
He also called Dr. Mercer.
The physician arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight.
He entered Evelyn's room carrying the confidence of a man accustomed to being trusted.
"Adrian."
"Doctor."
"I heard what happened."
"I'm sure."
Mercer glanced toward Evelyn.
"Your mother has been fragile."
"What exactly are you treating her for?"
"Age-related cognitive impairment."
"What tests confirmed that?"
Mercer paused.
"Multiple evaluations."
"Show me."
"They're in her medical file."
"I checked."
Adrian stepped closer.
"There are no neurological scans. No standardized memory assessments. No specialist referral."
Mercer's expression tightened.
"I've known your family for twenty years."
"That wasn't my question."
"Adrian, I understand you're upset."
"What medication did you prescribe Tuesday?"
"Her normal regimen."
"Clonazepam?"
"Yes."
"At that dosage?"
Mercer frowned.
"What dosage?"
Adrian showed him the photograph.
Mercer's face changed.
"I didn't prescribe that."
Adrian almost laughed.
"Your name is on the bottle."
"Then the pharmacy made an error."
"What about rivastigmine?"
"I prescribed a low dose."
"This isn't low."
Mercer took the phone.
"This label has been altered."
Adrian studied him.
"By whom?"
"I don't know."
"Celeste handles the medication."
Mercer looked toward the door.
That was when Adrian knew.
The doctor was afraid.
"How long have you known?"
Mercer lowered his voice.
"Known what?"
"Stop lying."
"I am not."
Adrian grabbed the front of his coat.
"Someone has been drugging my mother until she looks insane."
Mercer pulled away.
"Lower your voice."
"Tell me."
"Not here."
Adrian released him.
"Then where?"
Mercer looked toward Evelyn.
"Parking garage. Five minutes."
He left.
Adrian waited seven.
Then followed.
Mercer's car was on level three.
Adrian found him standing beside it.
"Talk."
The doctor rubbed his forehead.
"After Thomas died, Celeste asked me to help Evelyn sleep."
"Asked?"
"She said Evelyn was hallucinating."
"So you prescribed sedatives."
"Small doses."
"And later?"
"Celeste began requesting refills early."
"You allowed it?"
"I refused."
"What happened?"
Mercer looked ashamed.
"She showed me photographs."
"Of what?"
"My daughter."
Adrian frowned.
"She lives in Chicago."
"Celeste knew where."
"What was the threat?"
"That people associated with her could reach my family."
Adrian stared.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
Mercer reached into his jacket.
"But you might believe this."
He handed Adrian a flash drive.
"What is it?"
"Thomas came to me two weeks before he died."
Adrian's pulse quickened.
"He asked for blood tests."
"Why?"
"He thought someone had been giving him something."
Adrian stopped breathing.
"What?"
"Digitalis."
A drug capable of affecting the heart.
"Did you find it?"
"Yes."
Adrian's voice came out quietly.
"In my father's blood?"
"Small amounts."
"Why isn't that in the autopsy?"
"Because I never sent the results."
Adrian's fury exploded.
"You buried evidence."
"I was afraid."
"Of Celeste?"
Mercer shook his head.
"No."
"Then who?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"Thomas received a call while he was in my office."
Mercer's face had gone pale.
"He put it on speaker."
"What did the person say?"
"One sentence."
Mercer looked directly at Adrian.
"He said, 'You already lost one brother. Don't make me take your son too.'"
Adrian felt the air leave his lungs.
"Was it Roman?"
"I never heard Roman's voice."
"Did Dad recognize it?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because after the call ended, Thomas said his name."
Adrian waited.
Mercer whispered.
"Roman."
Adrian looked at the flash drive.
"What's on this?"
"Thomas's blood results."
"Anything else?"
"A recording he asked me to keep."
"Recording of what?"
"His instructions if he died."
Adrian inserted the drive into his phone using an adapter.
One audio file appeared.
THOMAS VALE FINAL.
Adrian pressed play.
His father's voice filled the empty parking garage.
"If you're hearing this, then I failed."
Adrian closed his eyes.
Thomas continued.
"Do not trust the official cause of my death."
A pause.
"And do not trust Celeste Rowan."
Adrian's heartbeat pounded.
"But understand this clearly."
Thomas breathed heavily.
"Celeste is not the person you should fear most."
The recording crackled.
"Roman is alive."
Adrian opened his eyes.
May you like
Then Thomas said something that made even Dr. Mercer step backward.
"And he has been inside Vale House for months."
