Chapter 18 - The Doctor’s Secret
Dr. Patel was brought into questioning before sunrise.
She looked stunned when Laura showed her the letter.
“I never met Emily’s father.”
“Jason says you are the second witness.”
“He is lying.”
“Why would he name you?”
“I don’t know.”
Laura placed another document on the table.
It was an employment record.
Before medical school, Dr. Patel had worked as a research assistant.
At Carter Medical Holdings.
Twenty-one years earlier.
She stared at the paper.
“I was there for six months.”
“Did you know Emily’s father?”
“No.”
“Did you know Margaret?”
Dr. Patel’s face changed.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“How?”
“She supervised a private research program.”
“What kind of program?”
Dr. Patel looked at me.
“Immune-response compounds.”
The same type of substance found in my tea.
The room became silent.
“She knew exactly what she was giving me.”
Dr. Patel lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you recognize it?”
“The compound was never approved.”
“It existed under an internal code.”
“I had not seen it in two decades.”
“But you worked on it.”
“I catalogued samples.”
“Did my father discover the program?”
“Yes.”
Laura leaned forward.
“What was illegal about it?”
“They tested compounds without proper reporting.”
“On whom?”
Dr. Patel’s voice dropped.
“Employees.”
I felt sick.
“Without consent?”
“Some did not know.”
“Did anyone die?”
“One man.”
“Who?”
“A warehouse supervisor.”
“What happened?”
“His immune system failed.”
“The company called it an unrelated illness.”
“And my father found the records.”
“Yes.”
“Did Margaret know he had them?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell him?”
Dr. Patel began crying.
“I copied the internal reports.”
“You were the witness.”
“I gave them to your father.”
“Then why did you never tell me?”
“Because Margaret found me after his death.”
“What did she do?”
“She threatened my family.”
Another person.
Another silence purchased with fear.
“You became my doctor by accident?” I asked.
Dr. Patel looked devastated.
“No.”
“What does that mean?”
“When I saw your name on the referral, I recognized it.”
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I wanted to protect you.”
“You watched me get sicker.”
“I did not know Jason was using the compound.”
“You had my blood tests.”
“The symptoms looked autoimmune.”
“You never considered the connection?”
“Not until recently.”
I stood.
“You all had pieces.”
“Robert had pieces.”
“Sophie had pieces.”
“Daniel had pieces.”
“You had pieces.”
“And every one of you stayed silent until I nearly died.”
No one answered.
The prosecutor used Dr. Patel’s testimony to expand the case.
The old company research records connected Margaret to the compound.
Jason’s purchase history showed he had obtained a modern version through an overseas supplier.
The evidence became overwhelming.
Then the defense made its move.
Jason’s attorney announced that Jason would testify against Margaret.
In exchange, he wanted a reduced sentence.
Margaret heard the news from jail.
She demanded a meeting with me.
I refused.
She demanded again.
I refused again.
Then she sent a message through her attorney.
Jason did not choose Emily.
I did.
I agreed to the meeting.
Margaret sat behind thick glass.
Her face was pale.
But her eyes remained sharp.
“You arranged our marriage?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To find the files.”
“Why Jason?”
“Because you trusted him.”
“I did not know him.”
“You knew exactly what we wanted you to know.”
She smiled faintly.
“The first meeting.”
“The coffee shop.”
“The spilled drink.”
“The apology.”
“All arranged.”
My memories collapsed one by one.
“What happens now?” Margaret asked.
“You go to prison.”
“No.”
“What happens when Jason tells them I forced him?”
“He still carried the pills.”
“He will cry.”
“He will say I controlled him.”
“He will say he was afraid.”
“And people always forgive frightened sons.”
I leaned closer to the glass.
“Not this time.”
Margaret smiled again.
Then she whispered:
“You still haven’t asked who increased the insurance policy.”
“Jason did.”
“No.”
May you like
She shook her head.
“You did.”
