Chapter 13 - The Doctor's Bargain.
Hale refused to speak with Marissa in the room.
Marissa refused to leave.
Daniel almost enjoyed the stalemate.
Then Hale asked for an attorney.
That ended the conversation.
He left the forged file behind.
Marissa documented it.
Before leaving, she told Daniel something he had desperately needed to hear.
"I see stressed adults."
She glanced toward the nursery.
"I also see two children who appear safe, attached, and well cared for."
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
The relief was enormous.
"But I will continue the review."
"I understand."
When the door closed, Elise leaned against the wall.
"You handled that well."
Daniel gave her a tired look.
"I wanted to throw him through the elevator."
"I know."
"Was it obvious?"
"Only to anyone with eyes."
For the first time that day, he smiled.
It disappeared when Samuel called.
Hale had contacted him.
He wanted immunity from a civil lawsuit in exchange for records.
Daniel paced the office.
"What records?"
"Original treatment notes, payment instructions, and communications with Evelyn."
Daniel stopped.
"What did she ask him to do?"
"He will not say until an agreement is signed."
Daniel looked through the glass nursery door.
Elise sat on the rug with both girls.
One yellow glove rested on her knee.
The twins were stacking cups.
He hated the idea of bargaining with a man who had frightened Rebecca.
But he hated ignorance more.
"Set the meeting."
That evening, Hale arrived at Samuel's office with an attorney and a metal document case.
He spoke for nearly an hour.
Evelyn had first hired him to monitor Rebecca after the twins were born.
She believed Rebecca planned to separate Daniel from the family company.
Hale increased Rebecca's sedating medication without proper consent.
When Rebecca stopped taking it, Evelyn asked whether something similar could be placed among her vitamins.
Daniel's hands curled into fists.
Hale looked down.
"I refused at first."
"At first?"
Hale swallowed.
"Then I supplied tablets."
Daniel stood.
Samuel touched his arm.
Daniel remained standing.
"Did you intend to hurt her?"
"No."
"You drugged her."
"I was told it was temporary."
"By my mother."
"Yes."
The room felt airless.
Hale opened the metal case.
Inside were printed emails.
One message from Evelyn read:
She must appear unreliable before Daniel questions the trust changes.
Daniel read it twice.
His vision blurred.
Rebecca had not imagined a conspiracy.
She had been living inside one.
Then Hale slid forward one final page.
"This is why Evelyn is panicking."
It was a toxicology order dated the morning after Rebecca's crash.
Daniel frowned.
"She was already dead."
"Yes."
"Then what was tested?"
Hale looked at him.
"Not Rebecca."
A cold sensation crawled down Daniel's back.
Hale tapped the patient number.
"This sample came from Elise Navarro."
Daniel stared.
"Why?"
"Because Elise was in the crash too."
Hale's voice dropped.
"And her blood showed the same sedative."
Daniel's face went white.
If Elise had been drugged too, then her loss of control behind the wheel might not have been an accident at all.
He reached for his phone.
Elise did not answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then the apartment security system sent one alert.
May you like
NURSERY WINDOW SENSOR OPEN.
Daniel ran before Samuel could say his name.
