Chapter 10 - The Doctor Who Knew Too Much
Dr. Warren had treated me since I was seventeen.
He knew every scar on my chest.
Every medication.
Every fear.
When investigators questioned him, he denied wrongdoing.
Then they showed him Victor's calendar.
His face changed.
The truth emerged slowly.
Victor had paid Warren for information.
Not to harm me physically.
To exaggerate my limitations.
Victor wanted medical language strong enough to support the competency petition.
Warren claimed he never intended anyone to die.
Maybe that was true.
It didn't excuse what he had done.
“You told my parents I couldn't live alone.”
He stared at the table.
“Yes.”
“You told them stress could kill me.”
“It could.”
“You told them I couldn't manage major financial responsibilities.”
Silence.
“That wasn't medically true, was it?”
“No.”
I thought I would scream.
Instead, I felt strangely calm.
Victor had built my prison one concerned sentence at a time.
Claire shouldn't travel.
Claire shouldn't be alone.
Claire shouldn't handle stress.
Claire shouldn't inherit responsibility.
All those warnings had sounded like love.
Some had been manipulation.
Dr. Warren surrendered his records.
Those records exposed payments from a consulting company linked to Victor.
And they revealed another surprise.
My father had discovered the arrangement.
Three weeks before his death, Dad had confronted Warren.
He had also scheduled an appointment with a new cardiologist for me.
My parents hadn't been trying to keep me weak.
They had realized their mistake.
They had been trying to free me.
They simply ran out of time.
When I returned home weeks later, I entered my father's study alone.
The chessboard remained where he had left it.
I touched the black king.
For years, Dad had always beaten me.
Except once.
I was fourteen.
I had trapped his king against the corner.
He stared at the board, smiled, and said:
“Never confuse looking trapped with being helpless.”
I hadn't understood.
Now I did.
The criminal case moved toward trial.
Victor faced murder conspiracy charges and financial crimes.
Marcus faced related charges.
Dr. Warren lost his medical privileges pending proceedings and faced criminal investigation.
Raymond Pike became a cooperating witness.
Caleb Marsh agreed to testify.
And then Victor's attorney delivered a message.
Victor wanted to see me.
Alone.
He claimed he had information about my mother.
Brooks told me not to go.
I went anyway.
Not alone.
A camera would be recording.
Victor had underestimated recording devices once.
May you like
I wondered whether he would do it twice.
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