Chapter 12 - The Death Nobody Questioned
The investigation into Robert Carter's death reopened the next morning.
Daniel did not sleep.
Neither did Emily.
Lily slept between them in a private hospital room after doctors confirmed she was unharmed.
Daniel watched his daughter's chest rise and fall.
"I should've questioned Dad's death," he said.
Emily turned toward him.
"You were grieving."
"He called me. He warned me. I dismissed it because I trusted them more than I trusted the possibility that my own family was lying."
Emily took his hand.
"You can't change that night. You can change what happens now."
The coroner's office reviewed preserved samples from Robert's autopsy.
Hours later, Ruiz called.
"There were abnormal electrolyte levels noted in the original report. They were attributed to cardiac failure. With what we know now, the pathologist is reexamining whether excessive potassium could have contributed."
Daniel went silent.
"Could someone have killed him?"
"We don't know yet."
That afternoon, Vanessa's attorney requested a meeting.
Vanessa wanted to cooperate.
Ruiz warned Daniel not to expect honesty.
In the interview room, Vanessa looked smaller without the expensive dress and perfect hair.
But her eyes were the same.
Cold. Calculating.
"Mom took Lily?" she asked.
Daniel did not answer.
Vanessa swallowed.
"I didn't know she'd do that."
Emily spoke through the glass from the observation room. "Ask her about Robert."
Ruiz did.
Vanessa's hands began to shake.
"I never touched Dad's medicine."
Ruiz leaned forward.
"I didn't ask whether you did."
Vanessa froze.
Daniel closed his eyes.
There it was.
A mistake.
Ruiz kept his voice calm.
"Who touched his medicine?"
Vanessa looked toward the camera in the corner as if she knew Daniel was watching.
Then she whispered, "Graham."
Ruiz asked, "Why?"
Vanessa started crying.
"Dad was going to expose everything. Graham said we only needed time. He said he could make Dad sick enough to postpone the audit."
Daniel pressed one hand against the glass.
Vanessa continued.
"I didn't know he would die."
Ruiz's expression did not change.
"And your mother?"
Vanessa lowered her head.
"She knew after."
Daniel stepped away from the window.
Emily followed him.
Then Ruiz opened the interview-room door.
"Daniel, there's something else."
He held up a printed arrest bulletin.
May you like
Graham Weller had disappeared.
And his car had been found abandoned at the airport.
