Chapter 10: The Dead Doctor's Signature
The pounding on the front door grew louder.
"Marcus Carter! Open this door immediately!""
I stared at the medical report in my hands.
Dr. Richard Hale had been dead for less than twenty-four hours.
Yet his signature appeared on a prescription issued yesterday.
My father was leaning against the staircase, struggling to breathe.
Emily rushed toward him.
"Dad!""
He tried to answer, but his knees buckled.
I caught him before he hit the floor.
"Stay with me.""
His breathing sounded wet and uneven.
Emily grabbed the medical report.
"He's been taking these pills for months. Eleanor told him they were heart medication.""
I looked at the prescription.
There was a list of medications, dosages, and a pharmacy address.
"Which one is dangerous?""
Emily pointed to the final medication.
"That one. I saw it in the facility records. It's not meant for someone with his condition.""
I pulled out my phone and called emergency services.
Then the front door shook.
"Police! Open up!""
Emily looked toward the hallway.
"Marcus, if they find me, Eleanor will take me back.""
"Nobody is taking you anywhere.""
My father grabbed my sleeve.
"Son...""
I leaned closer.
"Don't talk.""
He forced the words out.
"There's a passage... behind the clock.""
I looked at the grandfather clock.
"Where does it lead?""
"To the old servants' entrance.""
Another crash came from the front door.
Emily helped me lift him.
We moved the clock away from the wall and discovered a narrow wooden panel.
Behind it was a dark passage.
I helped my father inside.
Emily followed.
Before I entered, I heard the front door break.
Boots thundered across the entrance hall.
"Search every room!""
A man's voice shouted.
I pulled the panel closed.
We crawled through the narrow passage until we reached a small cellar.
My father was sweating heavily.
Emily knelt beside him.
"His medication," she whispered.
"We need to get it out of his system.""
"How?""
"Hospital. Immediately.""
A siren sounded outside.
The emergency crew had arrived.
I found the cellar exit and opened it.
We emerged into the garden behind the mansion.
Two paramedics were approaching through the side gate.
I waved them over.
"My father needs help!""
They rushed toward us.
One examined his breathing while the other prepared an oxygen mask.
"Sir, what medication has he taken?""
I handed over the report.
The paramedic studied it.
"Who prescribed this?""
"Dr. Richard Hale.""
He looked at the document again.
"That can't be right.""
"Why?""
"Because Dr. Hale was found dead yesterday. His medical license was suspended months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"Then who signed this?""
The paramedic pointed to a small code beneath the signature.
"Electronic authorization. We can trace the issuing account.""
Before he could explain, a police officer approached.
"Mr. Carter?""
I turned.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a navy uniform.
"Detective Collins," he introduced himself.
"We need you to come with us.""
"For what?""
"Assault, unlawful entry, and interference with a medical investigation.""
I stared at him.
"You're arresting me?""
He glanced at Emily.
"And we need to speak to that woman.""
Emily moved behind me.
"Don't let them take her.""
Collins smiled.
"Nobody is taking anyone.""
Then he removed a photograph from his pocket.
It showed Emily standing outside a pharmacy.
The same photograph from the anonymous messages.
"Miss Carter, you've been reported missing. Your mother has been looking for you.""
Emily went pale.
"She's not my mother.""
Collins looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, step away from her.""
I refused.
He reached for his handcuffs.
Then a voice came from behind him.
"Detective Collins, I wouldn't do that.""
A woman approached through the garden gate.
She wore a dark suit and carried a leather briefcase.
"Special Agent Rebecca Morgan. Federal Bureau of Investigation.""
Collins stiffened.
Morgan showed him her identification.
"Detective, you're interfering with a federal investigation.""
He frowned.
"That's impossible.""
"Not anymore.""
She handed him a document.
"Dr. Richard Hale's death is being investigated as a homicide. We have reason to believe several medical records were falsified, including the records of James Carter.""
Collins looked uncomfortable.
"These matters are under local jurisdiction.""
"Not when interstate financial transfers and identity fraud are involved.""
Morgan turned toward me.
"Mr. Carter, I need you to come with me.""
I looked at my father.
The paramedics were preparing to move him.
"Can you protect my family?""
She studied my face.
"I can try. But I need the truth.""
I showed her the cassette recorder.
"Then you'd better listen to this.""
She took it.
As she examined the device, her expression changed.
"Where did you find this?""
"In my grandfather's clock.""
She looked toward the mansion.
"Does Eleanor know you have it?""
Before I could answer, Collins' radio crackled.
A voice came through.
"Detective, we have a situation.""
Collins lifted the radio.
"Go ahead.""
"There's been a shooting at the county medical examiner's office.""
My blood ran cold.
Morgan took the radio.
"Who was shot?""
A pause.
Then the voice answered.
"Dr. Hale's body has disappeared.""
Everyone went silent.
Morgan looked at the medical report.
May you like
Then at me.
"Mr. Carter, I think your dead doctor isn't as dead as we believed.""
