Chapter 11 - THE PILLS
Alexander felt fear for the first time that night.
Real fear.
Not anger.
Not betrayal.
Fear.
“How often?”
Sofia looked confused by the question.
“Whenever you travel.”
Alexander’s eyes closed for half a second.
“What does she tell you they’re for?”
“My anxiety.”
“Did a doctor prescribe them?”
Sofia looked at Veronica.
“She said yes.”
Alexander handed the authorization to David.
“Find the doctor.”
David studied the signature.
“This name is almost illegible.”
Marcus photographed it.
Veronica spoke quickly.
“They’re mild sleep aids.”
Alexander turned toward her.
“You gave medication to my daughter without telling me?”
“She couldn’t sleep.”
“Because you were locking her in rooms!”
“I was not—”
Rosa came downstairs.
She heard enough.
“I found Sofia asleep at the kitchen table twice.”
Alexander looked at her.
“What?”
“I thought she was exhausted.”
Sofia whispered, “I don’t remember that.”
Alexander’s face tightened.
The officers called for medical personnel.
Veronica protested.
“She’s fine.”
Alexander looked at her.
“You don’t get to decide that anymore.”
An ambulance arrived.
Sofia didn’t want to go.
Alexander went with her.
At the hospital, doctors ran tests.
He sat beside the bed while she picked at the sleeve of his jacket.
“You can keep it,” he said.
“What?”
“The jacket.”
She looked down.
“It’s expensive.”
“So are you.”
She almost smiled.
Then her face changed.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“If Mom was here, would she be mad at you?”
Alexander swallowed.
“For not knowing?”
Sofia nodded.
“Probably.”
She stared at him.
He gave a tired smile.
“Your mother could be terrifying when she was right.”
That made Sofia laugh softly.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh all night.
Then he took her hand.
“She would also tell me to fix it.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Alexander looked at her.
“First, I start listening.”
A doctor entered.
Dr. Patel.
He pulled Alexander aside.
“The preliminary screen found a sedating antihistamine and another compound we want to confirm.”
“Dangerous?”
“At the detected amount, we’re not seeing acute toxicity.”
Alexander exhaled.
“But regular use in a child without appropriate medical oversight is concerning.”
“Could it make her confused?”
“Yes.”
“Sleep heavily?”
“Yes.”
“Forget things?”
“Possibly.”
Alexander looked through the glass at Sofia.
His stomach twisted.
David called.
“I found the physician name.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Raymond Cole.”
Alexander frowned.
“I don’t know him.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“He lost his license two years ago.”
Alexander went quiet.
David continued.
“And there’s more.”
“Of course there is.”
“Cole is Vincent Hale’s uncle.”
Alexander leaned against the wall.
“What do we know?”
“We know enough that the police are very interested.”
“Where is Veronica?”
“At the house, still being interviewed.”
“Has she been arrested?”
“Not yet.”
Alexander rubbed his eyes.
Then David’s voice became careful.
“Alexander, Marcus recovered one more audio file.”
“What’s on it?”
“A conversation between Veronica and Vincent.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Tell me.”
David hesitated.
“They’re arguing about Sofia.”
“About what?”
“Vincent says the plan is getting dangerous.”
Alexander’s hand tightened around the phone.
“What plan?”
May you like
David answered:
“Making everyone believe Sofia is emotionally unstable.”
