Chapter 3 - The Doctor Who Knew Too Much
Dr. Vale recovered quickly.
Too quickly.
“What’s that?”
Maxwell covered the photograph with his hand.
“None of your concern.”
Vale smiled.
“Everything involving your recovery is my concern.”
“Not anymore.”
The room changed.
Celia remained near the door.
Adrian appeared behind her.
Martha suddenly felt surrounded.
Vale placed his medical case on the table.
“We should begin.”
“No.”
“Maxwell—”
“I said no.”
Vale’s smile thinned.
“Then perhaps we should discuss your medication.”
Martha watched Maxwell.
He didn’t blink.
“What about it?”
“Your spasms may worsen without treatment.”
Martha’s attention sharpened.
“What medication?”
Vale looked at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You said spasms. What are you giving him?”
“You’re the housekeeper.”
“I asked a question.”
Vale laughed softly.
Maxwell didn’t.
“Answer her.”
Vale listed three medications.
Martha recognized two.
The third bothered her.
She had seen it used years earlier.
“Why that dosage?”
Vale closed his case.
“I don’t discuss medical treatment with domestic staff.”
“You will today,” Maxwell said.
Vale stared at him.
Then at Martha.
Finally he said, “It reduces involuntary muscle activity.”
“It can also cause profound weakness,” Martha replied.
Vale’s expression changed.
Just enough.
Martha continued.
“Especially at that dosage.”
Celia stepped forward.
“This is inappropriate.”
Maxwell looked at Martha.
“How profound?”
“Enough to make someone with returning function believe they were weaker than they really were.”
Silence.
Vale laughed.
“That’s an irresponsible interpretation.”
“Then show me his chart.”
“No.”
“Show Maxwell.”
“The records are at the clinic.”
Maxwell leaned back.
“Interesting.”
Vale picked up his case.
“We’ll reschedule when you’re prepared to behave rationally.”
He left.
Celia followed.
Adrian remained.
The moment the door shut, Maxwell looked at him.
“Search Vale’s car.”
Adrian didn’t move.
“Can’t.”
Maxwell’s eyes hardened.
“Why?”
“Because he didn’t drive here.”
“How did he arrive?”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“Julian brought him.”
As if summoned by his name, Maxwell’s younger brother appeared in the doorway.
Julian Rourke was everything Maxwell wasn’t.
Polished.
Smiling.
Effortlessly charming.
“Family meeting?”
Maxwell’s face became stone.
Julian kissed Martha’s hand theatrically.
“You must be the new housekeeper.”
“Martha.”
“I know.”
That frightened her.
Julian looked at Maxwell.
“You look tense.”
“Why did you bring Vale?”
“He asked.”
“You know I don’t want him here.”
Julian shrugged.
“You’ve been difficult lately.”
Martha saw Maxwell’s hand curl around the wheelchair armrest.
Julian noticed too.
Something passed between the brothers.
Then Julian smiled.
“Careful, Max. Stress is terrible for recovery.”
He left.
Martha waited until his footsteps disappeared.
“He knows.”
Maxwell looked at her.
“Maybe.”
“He looked at your hand.”
“Everyone looks at my hands.”
“No. He looked when you tightened your fingers.”
Adrian closed the door.
“I agree with her.”
Maxwell seemed surprised.
Adrian continued.
“I’ve been tracking Julian for six weeks.”
“You’ve been what?”
“Because somebody has been accessing the security system using his credentials.”
Maxwell’s expression darkened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure it was him.”
Martha looked between them.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian explained.
Someone had been deleting small sections of surveillance footage.
Never enough to attract attention.
Five minutes here.
Eight minutes there.
Always around Maxwell’s therapy sessions.
“Can you recover them?”
“Some.”
“Do it.”
That evening, they met in the security room.
Adrian restored one deleted clip.
The video showed Maxwell’s private rehabilitation room.
Dr. Vale stood beside the therapy table.
Maxwell lay unconscious.
Julian entered.
There was no audio.
Vale handed Julian a syringe.
Julian examined it.
Then Celia walked into frame.
Martha covered her mouth.
All three stood around Maxwell.
Vale injected something into Maxwell’s IV.
The recording ended.
Maxwell stared at the blank screen.
His face showed no emotion.
That frightened Martha more than rage would have.
“My brother.”
Adrian said nothing.
Maxwell whispered, “My own brother.”
Then the monitors in the security room suddenly went black.
Every screen.
Every camera.
The lights went out.
Emergency power clicked on.
A red warning appeared:
SYSTEM OVERRIDE.
Adrian reached for his weapon.
Martha heard footsteps running outside.
Then smoke began pouring under the door.
May you like
Someone had locked them inside.
