Chapter 13: The Medicine That Was Never Prescribed
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at the photograph of Victor Lang standing outside Grandpa's hospital room.
The date was the night before he died.
And beneath it were the words Grandpa had written himself.
If I die, investigate the medication.
“Mr. Bennett,” I whispered, “what does that mean?””
He carefully placed the photograph inside a folder.
“It means we need to find out exactly what medication your grandfather received during his final hospitalization.””
My father stood up.
“No.””
Everyone turned toward him.
Richard looked pale.
“Please don't do this.””
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
“Don't do what?””
“Turn this into a murder investigation.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Why are you so frightened?””
“Because my father was old. He was sick. He had heart problems. He was going to die eventually.””
I felt something tighten inside my chest.
“You don't know that.””
Richard looked at me.
“Maya, I loved your grandfather.””
“Then why are you trying to stop us from finding out what happened?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Mr. Bennett stood.
“Richard, nobody is accusing you of anything. But if Harold left instructions about his medication, we have a responsibility to investigate.””
My father rubbed his face.
“I know.””
“Then you'll cooperate?””
He nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
But I noticed he never looked at the photograph again.
The following morning, Elizabeth and Mr. Bennett contacted the hospital where Grandpa had died.
They requested his complete medication records, including the names of the doctors who authorized each prescription.
The hospital initially refused to release everything without the appropriate legal documentation.
Mr. Bennett handled that.
By lunchtime, he had received a preliminary report.
He read it twice.
Then he called us into his office.
“There is something unusual.””
Margaret leaned forward.
“What?””
“Harold was prescribed a medication for his heart condition. However, the medication administered on his final evening was not listed on his regular treatment schedule.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What medication?””
He turned the paper toward us.
“An additional sedative.””
Daniel frowned.
“Was it prescribed by his doctor?””
“That is what we're trying to establish.””
Elizabeth pointed to the administration record.
“Who signed this?””
Mr. Bennett read the name.
“Dr. Samuel Price.””
Margaret shook her head.
“That doctor never treated Harold.””
“Are you certain?””
“I visited Harold almost every day during his final week. His physician was Dr. Coleman.””
Elizabeth immediately picked up her phone.
“I'll contact the hospital.””
I looked at the paper.
There was another name beneath the doctor's signature.
The person who had authorized the administration.
Diane Collins.
I couldn't breathe.
“She signed it?””
Mr. Bennett nodded.
“She was listed as an authorized family contact.””
My father stared at the document.
“Diane told me she was only bringing him his medication.””
I turned toward him.
“When?””
“The night before he died.””
“Did you see her give it to him?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“No.””
“Did you ask what it was?””
“No.””
I stepped away from him.
Again.
Another moment when he had trusted Diane instead of asking questions.
Another moment when Grandpa had been left alone.
That afternoon, a hospital administrator contacted Elizabeth.
The name Dr. Samuel Price had been entered into the system using credentials belonging to a physician who had left the hospital months earlier.
The medication record had been altered.
But there was more.
Security footage from the hospital corridor showed Diane entering Grandpa's room shortly before the medication was administered.
She left carrying a small paper bag.
The footage also showed another person waiting near the nurses' station.
Victor Lang.
Mr. Bennett immediately contacted the authorities.
Diane was not at her house when investigators arrived.
Neither was Victor.
But the hospital footage gave them something they hadn't had before.
A timeline.
And it placed both of them at the hospital on the night Grandpa died.
That evening, Richard came to see me.
I was sitting in the living room at Grandpa's house, looking through his old photographs.
He sat across from me.
“I need to tell you something.””
I didn't look up.
“Another secret?””
He flinched.
“Yes.””
I closed the album.
“What is it?””
He took a deep breath.
“The night your grandfather died, Diane called me.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me he had become confused and was refusing his medication. She said the nurses were struggling to calm him down.””
I stared at him.
“And?””
“She asked me to sign a form authorizing her to make medical decisions if he became unable to communicate.””
My hands went cold.
“Did you sign it?””
Richard nodded.
“When?””
“The afternoon before he died.””
I stood.
“You gave her permission?””
“I thought I was helping him.””
“You gave her permission to decide what medicine he received?””
“I didn't know she would do anything wrong!””
I shook my head.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?””
He looked at me.
“What?””
“You keep saying you didn't know. You didn't know about the money. You didn't know about the records.
You didn't know about the agreement. You didn't know about Grandpa's medication.””
My voice broke.
“But you never tried to find out.””
He stood slowly.
“Maya—”
“No.””
I backed away.
“You keep telling me you're sorry, but every time someone gives you a choice, you choose not to ask questions.””
Tears ran down my face.
“Grandpa was the only person who always asked if I was okay.””
Richard covered his mouth.
“I know.””
“He would never have signed something without reading it.””
My father looked down.
“I know.””
I turned away.
He didn't follow me.
At nine that night, Elizabeth called.
“We found Diane.””
My heart jumped.
“Where?””
“She has been located at a hotel outside town. Investigators are questioning her.””
“Did she admit anything?””
“No. But Victor Lang is still missing.””
I looked toward the study.
“What's going to happen?””
“We're going to keep working.””
Then Elizabeth paused.
“Maya, there's something else.””
“What?””
“The hospital found a second version of the medication record.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does it say?””
“The additional sedative was never entered into the official treatment log. Someone added it later.””
“Who?””
“We don't know yet.””
I heard papers moving on her end.
“But the record includes a digital access history.””
“And?””
“The account used to alter it belonged to a hospital administrator.””
“Who?””
Elizabeth hesitated.
“Your father.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“Richard's account was used to access the medical file.””
I looked toward the hallway.
My father was standing there.
He had heard everything.
His face was completely white.
“Maya,” he whispered.
I lowered the phone.
“Dad?””
He shook his head.
“I didn't do it.””
Elizabeth's voice came through the speaker.
“Richard, you need to come to my office immediately.””
He looked at me.
“I swear I didn't change that record.””
I wanted to believe him.
But before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
One message.
Your father didn't change the medication record.
May you like
A second message appeared.
He changed the time of death.
