Chapter 4 - Teresa’s Medicine Cabinet
Teresa denied everything.
“I take medication for blood pressure.”
Detective Cole placed photographs on the table.
Teresa looked away.
The interview room was smaller than the hospital consultation room and deliberately uncomfortable.
Arthur sat beside his wife.
Clara sat opposite them.
Serena was being questioned separately.
Cole tapped the first photograph.
“This bottle was found in Serena Hale’s apartment.”
Teresa glanced at it.
“Yes, that’s mine.”
“How did it get there?”
“I don’t know.”
“It was filled eleven days ago.”
“So?”
“It contains hydrochlorothiazide.”
Teresa crossed her arms.
“I take that.”
“The pharmacy dispensed ninety tablets.”
“Yes.”
“The bottle contained nineteen.”
Arthur interrupted.
“Are you accusing my wife?”
“I’m asking questions.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Then ask better ones.”
Cole ignored him.
“Mrs. Vance, did you give Serena Hale your medication?”
“No.”
“Did Julian have access to it?”
“No.”
“Who collects your prescriptions?”
Teresa hesitated.
“Sometimes my driver.”
“Anyone else?”
Silence.
Clara watched her mother-in-law.
“Serena,” she said.
Teresa glared.
“She helps with family errands.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
Cole looked toward Clara.
“How often?”
“I don’t know.”
Teresa answered quickly.
“Occasionally.”
Clara remembered.
Serena knew Teresa’s dermatologist.
Serena had arranged Arthur’s annual cardiology appointment.
Serena picked up Julian’s dry cleaning.
Serena booked Vance family flights.
She was not merely Julian’s project manager.
She had inserted herself into the family’s infrastructure.
Clara looked at Arthur.
“When did you start giving Serena access to personal family accounts?”
Arthur scoffed.
“She works for us.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“This is none of your concern.”
“Julian almost died.”
“Julian is my son.”
“And he’s my husband.”
Teresa snapped.
“Then maybe you should have acted like a wife before following him to another woman’s apartment.”
Clara’s gaze settled on her.
“What exactly did you think Julian was doing there?”
Teresa froze.
Arthur turned to her.
Cole noticed.
“What did you think he was doing there, Mrs. Vance?”
Teresa stood.
“We’re done.”
Cole did not stop her.
Neither did Clara.
Outside, Arthur grabbed Teresa by the elbow and whispered something furious.
Clara watched through the glass.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
You were right not to sign.
Clara stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
If they had operated, he would have died.
A third.
And you would have been blamed.
Clara looked around the corridor.
Nobody nearby was holding a phone.
She typed:
Who are you?
May you like
The answer came immediately.
Ask what happened to Dr. Malcolm Reeve.
