Chapter 7: The Person Who Changed the Dose
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Dr. Harris was still breathing into the phone.
I could hear traffic in the background and what sounded like a door closing.
"Say that again," I demanded.
"The person who changed Emily's medication at the hospital wasn't Vanessa.""
"Then who was it?""
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"You're going to tell me right now.""
"Marcus, please. I made a terrible mistake, but I'm trying to correct it.""
I gripped the edge of the kitchen counter.
"You helped someone interfere with my wife's treatment. You accepted money. You stood beside her while she was dying. And now you're telling me you want to correct a mistake?""
"I know.""
"Who changed the dose?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered, "Someone from your family.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Maya was sitting on the couch, watching me.
"Daddy?""
I forced myself to breathe normally.
"It's okay, sweetheart.""
"Was that the doctor?""
I nodded.
"Is he going to make Mommy better?""
The question nearly broke me.
I sat beside her and gently took her hand.
"No, baby. But he might help us understand what happened.""
She nodded.
Then she leaned against my shoulder.
I waited until she was asleep before calling Rebecca.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Dr. Harris just called me.""
"What did he say?""
I repeated the conversation.
Rebecca went silent.
Finally, she said, "Don't call him back.""
"Why?""
"Because if he's involved in something serious, he may be trying to protect himself. We need to handle this properly.""
"He said someone in my family changed Emily's medication.""
"Did he identify the person?""
"No.""
"Then we don't guess. We preserve the call details and get him to make a formal statement through the appropriate channels.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Rebecca, what if he disappears?""
"Then we'll document everything and involve the authorities. Don't try to investigate this alone.""
She was right.
But I couldn't shake one thought.
Someone in my family.
My family was small.
Daniel.
My mother, Margaret.
And me.
I had never imagined any of them could have been involved.
The next morning, I met Dr. Harris at a quiet café near his medical office.
Rebecca insisted on coming.
She sat at a table several feet away while I waited for him.
He arrived wearing a navy suit and carrying no medical bag.
His hands shook when he sat down.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
"Start talking.""
He looked toward Rebecca.
"Is she your attorney?""
"Yes.""
He nodded.
Then he placed a thick envelope on the table.
"I've kept copies of the original medication records.""
I didn't touch it.
"Why?""
"Because I knew the records had been altered.""
My stomach tightened.
"By whom?""
Dr. Harris rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa arranged for Emily's medication to be changed at home. She told me Emily was becoming difficult to manage and needed additional support.""
"Did you authorize that?""
"I approved some adjustments.""
"Without Emily's consent?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
I felt my hands curl into fists.
"Why?""
"Vanessa told me she was acting on your instructions.""
I stared at him.
"She said I wanted it?""
"She showed me a letter.""
The forged letter.
I felt sick.
"Did you believe her?""
"At the time, yes.""
"Then why did you continue after Emily questioned the medication?""
He swallowed.
"Because Vanessa had photographs of financial records that connected me to unauthorized payments. She threatened to report me for financial misconduct and make sure I lost my license.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"That does not explain the hospital incident.""
Dr. Harris nodded.
"No. It doesn't.""
He opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of medication administration records, handwritten notes, and a printed hospital access report.
He pointed to one entry.
"On the night Emily died, her medication was administered at 9:47 p.m.""
I looked at the time.
That was five minutes after Maya's recorded visit.
"Who administered it?""
"A nurse signed the chart.""
"Then what does my family have to do with this?""
Dr. Harris hesitated.
"At 9:42 p.m., someone entered the medication preparation area using an authorized access code.""
"Who?""
He slid another page toward me.
The access log contained a name.
I read it once.
Then again.
*DANIEL CARTER.*
My brother.
I stared at the paper.
"That's impossible.""
Dr. Harris looked uncomfortable.
"His access was recorded.""
"Daniel isn't a doctor.""
"He was listed as an approved visitor that evening.""
"Why would he have access to medication?""
"He shouldn't have.""
Rebecca picked up the document.
"Are you certain this record is authentic?""
"Yes.""
I stood abruptly.
"You're telling me my brother entered the medication area and changed my wife's treatment?""
"I'm telling you his access code was used.""
"That's not the same thing!""
Dr. Harris lowered his eyes.
"No. It isn't.""
I walked to the window.
Daniel had been the person who helped me through Emily's funeral.
He had held my daughter when she couldn't stop crying.
He had sat beside me through the worst nights of my life.
He was my brother.
I turned around.
"Did you see him?""
Dr. Harris hesitated.
Then nodded.
"I saw him leaving the corridor.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Vanessa told me he was handling a private family matter.""
"What private matter?""
Dr. Harris looked at Rebecca.
Then back at me.
"I don't know.""
I picked up the envelope.
"You're going to provide all of this to the authorities.""
He nodded.
"I will.""
As I walked toward the door, he called after me.
"Marcus.""
I stopped.
He looked exhausted.
"There's something else you should know.""
"What?""
"Daniel wasn't the only person who entered that room.""
He pulled another document from his briefcase.
The second name was printed beneath the first.
I stared at it.
*MARGARET CARTER.*
My mother.
I drove straight to Daniel's house.
He opened the door wearing a gray sweatshirt.
"Marcus? What's wrong?""
I held up the access report.
"Explain this.""
His expression changed.
He looked at the document.
Then he looked at me.
"Where did you get that?""
"From Dr. Harris.""
Daniel stepped aside.
"Come in.""
I didn't move.
"Did you enter Emily's medication room the night she died?""
He closed his eyes.
May you like
And that was when I knew.
He had been hiding something.
