Chapter 6 - The Story the Doctor Sold
The guards were not villains in black masks. One was a young man with a wedding ring and a lunch stain on his sleeve. Maya addressed him directly. "If your supervisor asks you to move an injured patient without consent, write down what happened. You might need that record one day."
His eyes flicked toward Price. Then he moved away from the door, giving them room.
Julian grabbed the desk to steady himself. "Where is he?"
"At North Ridge," Price said. "He asked me to protect you."
Maya felt the old familiar pull of a good lie. It gave just enough truth to make everything around it seem possible.
"Protect him by lying about his injury?" she asked.
Price's mouth tightened. "You don't understand the threats."
"Then explain them."
He claimed Victor had uncovered a fraud ring inside the family business. After the crash, someone promised to kill Julian if Victor came forward. Price said heavy medication was necessary because Julian had recurring seizures and dangerous autonomic symptoms.
"And the forged progress notes?" Maya asked.
"They aren't forged."
"Then why is Vivian signing notes that say she examined his legs?"
Price glanced at the papers. Wrong answer.
Julian called his phone's camera on and set it on the desk, recording in plain sight. "Tell me whether my father knows what you've done."
"He knows enough," Price said.
"That's not an answer."
A security alarm chirped in the hallway. Price looked almost relieved.
"There's a reason Vivian is watching you," he said. "She's not the one making the final decisions."
Two hospital guards came into view. Maya stepped between them and the door.
"Mr. Whitmore wants an independent doctor and legal counsel," she told them. "No one is taking him anywhere alone."
Price took one step backward.
"Tell your father," he said, "the greenhouse is no longer safe."
Then he fled through the side stairwell.
Julian tried to follow, but his left knee buckled. Maya caught him before his head struck the cabinet.
He was conscious, furious, and pale as paper.
May you like
His phone lit up with an incoming video call.
VICTOR WHITMORE.
