Chapter 4: The Medicine That Was Never Prescribed
I stared at the white envelope in Sophie's hand.
For six years, I had trusted this woman with everything.
My money. My home. My future.
And now she was standing beside my bed, offering me medication supposedly prescribed by a doctor who had been dead for six months.
"What's wrong, darling?"" Sophie asked.
I looked at the envelope again.
"Nothing. I'm just surprised Dr. Harrison is still calling.""
Her smile didn't disappear.
But something behind her eyes shifted.
"What do you mean?""
I leaned back against the pillows.
"I thought he had retired.""
Sophie lowered the envelope.
"Well, he hasn't. He's still consulting privately.""
A lie.
An effortless one.
I had attended Dr. Harrison's funeral. I remembered standing beside his widow beneath the gray November sky. I remembered the small wooden coffin and the photograph of him smiling beside his grandchildren.
Sophie had attended that funeral with me.
She knew he was dead.
"Interesting," I said.
She placed the envelope on the bedside table.
"You're supposed to take one tablet before sleeping.""
"What's it for?""
"Your nerves. The doctor said it would help you rest.""
I reached for it.
Sophie watched my fingers.
Then I stopped.
"Could you bring me some water first?""
"Of course.""
She walked toward the bathroom.
The moment the door closed, I photographed the envelope and sent the image to Thomas.
*Find out what's inside. Don't let Sophie know.*
Then I placed the envelope beneath my pillow.
Sophie returned with a glass.
"Here you go.""
"Thank you.""
She sat on the edge of the bed.
For a moment, she looked almost like the woman I had married.
She gently brushed a strand of hair away from my forehead.
"Alexander, I know things have been difficult between us.""
I said nothing.
"I've made mistakes. I know that.""
Her fingers moved toward my cheek.
"But I never stopped loving you.""
I looked at her hand.
"Then why did you push me into the ocean?""
Her hand froze.
The silence stretched.
Then she sighed.
"I told you. I panicked.""
"At the sight of your husband?""
"You were making my life impossible!""
Her voice cracked.
She immediately looked toward the bedroom door.
Then she lowered her tone.
"Do you know what it's like living with someone who can't even stand up without help? Someone who needs assistance getting dressed, eating, bathing?""
I watched her carefully.
"Was that so unbearable?""
She looked away.
"You don't understand.""
"No, Sophie. I don't think I do.""
She stood abruptly.
"Get some sleep.""
She reached for the envelope.
I moved my hand over it.
"Leave it.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"You need to take your medication.""
"I'll take it in the morning.""
"The doctor said tonight.""
"And I said tomorrow.""
For several seconds, we stared at each other.
Then she forced a smile.
"All right, darling.""
She leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"Good night.""
When the door closed, I immediately called Thomas.
He answered almost instantly.
"Tell me you didn't take anything.""
"I didn't.""
"Good. I ran the photograph through a preliminary identification system. The tablets aren't identifiable from the envelope, but I found something else.""
"What?""
"The prescription number.""
I frowned.
"What about it?""
"It belongs to a pharmacy in Connecticut. The prescription was issued under a different patient's name.""
"Whose?""
"Your brother's.""
I sat up.
"Daniel?""
"Yes. And there's something else. The prescription was filled three days ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"Can you identify the medication?""
"I'm having a pharmacist verify it. Don't touch those tablets.""
I looked at the envelope.
"Thomas, Sophie knows I haven't taken them.""
"Then don't give her a reason to suspect you know what's inside.""
A floorboard creaked outside my bedroom.
I lowered my voice.
"Someone's coming.""
"Lock the door.""
I ended the call.
A second later, the handle turned.
"Alexander?""
Daniel.
I pushed the envelope deeper beneath my pillow.
"Come in.""
My brother entered carrying a glass of whiskey.
He looked at the bedside table.
"Still awake?""
"Apparently.""
He placed the glass down.
"Thought you might want something stronger than water.""
"That's considerate.""
Daniel pulled a chair beside the bed.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked at me.
"How are you feeling?""
"Better than I was this afternoon.""
He nodded.
"Good.""
His eyes moved toward the envelope.
"What's that?""
"Medication.""
"Sophie brought it?""
"Yes.""
He gave a small smile.
"She's trying.""
I studied him.
"Daniel, do you remember Dr. Harrison?""
His expression changed.
"Of course.""
"When was the last time you spoke to him?""
Daniel took a sip of whiskey.
"Why?""
"Just curious.""
"I don't remember. A while ago.""
"He died six months ago.""
Daniel's glass stopped halfway to his mouth.
For a fraction of a second, his eyes betrayed him.
Then he laughed.
"Right. Of course. I forgot.""
"Did you?""
He placed the glass down.
"You're exhausted, brother. You should sleep.""
I watched him stand.
Before he reached the door, I asked one final question.
"Daniel, if I died tonight, would you miss me?""
He turned.
His expression softened.
"Don't talk like that.""
"Why?""
"Because you're my brother.""
He walked out.
I waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Then I removed the envelope from beneath my pillow and looked at the handwriting.
The letters were neat.
Deliberate.
And beneath my name, almost hidden by the fold, was a small handwritten instruction.
*Increase dosage if patient remains conscious.*
My hands went cold.
This wasn't ordinary medication.
Someone had prepared a contingency.
At 2:17 a.m., Thomas sent another message.
*Do not take those tablets. The pharmacist has identified the medication. We need to talk immediately.*
Then another message arrived.
*Alexander, the prescription wasn't written for Daniel. It was written for you. Daniel's name was only used to collect it.*
I stared at the screen.
A final message appeared.
*The substance is a powerful sedative. Combined with your prescribed medication, it could cause life-threatening respiratory depression.*
I looked toward the closed bedroom door.
Then I heard a faint click.
Someone was turning the lock from the outside.
And a familiar female voice whispered through the wood.
"Did he take it?""
Daniel answered.
"No.""
May you like
Sophie sighed.
"Then we have a problem.""
