Chapter 7 - THE PATIENT WITHOUT A NAME
Daniel arrived at Northstar Care the following morning.
The facility stood behind iron gates at the edge of a forest. It looked more like an expensive country hotel than a medical residence.
A receptionist asked for the patient’s name.
“I don’t have it.”
“Then I cannot help you.”
“My mother has sent this facility $50,000 every year for twenty-eight years.”
The receptionist’s polite expression vanished.
“I will call the director.”
Dr. Adrian Cole appeared ten minutes later.
He wore a dark suit instead of medical clothing.
“Daniel, this is unexpected.”
“So was learning you helped drug my mother.”
Cole glanced toward the receptionist.
“Let’s speak privately.”
They entered an office overlooking the gardens.
Daniel remained standing.
“Who has my mother been paying for?”
“Patient confidentiality prevents me from answering.”
“Then explain the forged prescription.”
Cole’s face stayed calm.
“I did not forge anything.”
“The label used Marcus Vale’s name.”
“That may have been a pharmacy error.”
“Marcus is not a doctor.”
“I’m aware.”
Daniel placed his phone on the desk.
“I have blood tests. I have the pills. I have your messages approving dosage changes without an examination.”
Cole sat down.
“What do you want?”
“The patient’s name.”
“I cannot provide it.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Was it my father?”
Cole’s eyes moved toward the closed office door.
That was enough.
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
“My father is alive.”
“I did not say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Cole stood.
“Leave.”
“Take me to him.”
“There is no one here you are authorized to see.”
“Then I’ll return with the police.”
“You should think carefully before doing that.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It is advice. Your family has survived because certain facts remained private.”
“My mother has paid you for twenty-eight years.”
“Your mother paid for care.”
“For whom?”
Cole walked to the window.
“Some patients are protected under court orders.”
“Show me the order.”
“No.”
Daniel picked up his phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
Cole turned.
“If you involve them, Evelyn will be arrested.”
Daniel stopped.
“For what?”
“For the attempted murder of Jonathan Mercer.”
Silence filled the office.
Cole continued.
“The accident report was altered. Your mother was intoxicated. She drove the vehicle into the lake after an argument. Jonathan survived the crash but suffered severe injuries.”
“You are lying.”
“Ask her why she has paid for his treatment.”
“Why was I told he died?”
“Because your grandfather arranged it. A scandal would have destroyed the company. Jonathan was moved here under another name.”
Daniel’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“Let me see him.”
“I cannot.”
“You just said he is here.”
“I said nothing of the kind.”
Cole pressed a button beneath the desk.
Two security guards entered.
Daniel did not resist as they escorted him outside.
At the gate, his phone rang.
Evelyn’s nurse was calling.
“Mr. Mercer, your mother is gone.”
Daniel stopped walking.
“What?”
“She was resting when I checked fifteen minutes ago. The back door is open. Her coat is missing.”
“Call the police.”
“I already did.”
Daniel opened his truck.
Another message arrived from an unknown number.
A video file.
He played it.
Evelyn was sitting in the passenger seat of a moving car. She looked frightened but unharmed.
Vanessa was driving.
She glanced at the camera.
“Daniel, listen carefully. Your mother is with me because Marcus is coming for her. Do not trust Dr. Cole. Do not call the police. Bring the brass key to the house.”
The video ended.
A second message appeared.
Not the Mercer house.
The house where we first met.
May you like
Daniel knew exactly what she meant.
Saint Catherine’s Home, the abandoned foster residence where Vanessa claimed to have grown up.
