Chapter 15 - The Last Dose
Arthur slammed the rehabilitation door behind him.
Dominic hit it with his shoulder.
Locked.
Vincent limped up behind him. "Back up."
He fired one round into the lock housing, then kicked the door open.
The room was empty.
At least it looked empty.
Therapy bands hung from wall hooks. A treadmill sat silent beneath fluorescent lights. Cabinets lined the back wall.
Dominic heard glass clink.
Behind the privacy curtain.
Arthur stepped out holding a syringe.
Vincent raised his weapon.
"Drop it."
Arthur smiled.
"Do you even know what's in this?"
Mercer appeared in the doorway and froze.
His face went white.
"Put that down."
Dominic looked at him. "What is it?"
"Concentrated sedative. Used before minor procedures."
Arthur held the syringe near his own wrist, not Dominic.
"One injection, and I become the victim. Another scandal. Another investigation. Another year of your life wasted proving what happened."
Dominic stared at him.
"You think I care what story you tell after tonight?"
"You always cared about control."
"No. You did."
Arthur's smile disappeared.
Dominic stepped closer.
"That's why you couldn't wait. You had the board filing, the forged declaration, the council pressure. You had me limping and drugged. You were winning."
Arthur's hand tightened around the syringe.
"Then a maid's child touched one strap."
Something ugly flashed in his eyes.
"A stupid little girl."
Dominic hit him.
Not with the cane.
With his fist.
Arthur crashed into the therapy table. The syringe skittered across the floor.
Vincent kicked it away.
Arthur came up swinging.
He was older but not weak. His shoulder caught Dominic in the chest and drove him backward.
Dominic's injured leg buckled.
He hit the floor hard.
Pain exploded from his knee.
Arthur grabbed the cane.
For one second, Dominic saw the metal tip rise over him.
Then Clare's voice came from the doorway.
"STOP!"
Arthur looked.
Clare stood there holding Ellie's wooden latch board in both hands.
She threw it.
Arthur flinched as the board struck his shoulder.
Vincent tackled him from the side.
They hit the floor.
The cane slid away.
Dominic rolled onto one elbow, breathing hard.
Arthur was pinned.
Mercer grabbed the syringe with a towel.
Clare rushed to Dominic.
"Are you hurt?"
"Yes."
She blinked.
"That was refreshingly honest."
Then Dominic saw something under the overturned therapy table.
A small black case taped to the underside.
He pointed.
Vincent pulled it free.
Inside were prefilled syringes, copied prescription labels, and a tiny digital recorder.
Vincent pressed play.
Arthur's voice filled the room.
"Keep him foggy through the vote. After that, nobody cares if he improves."
Another voice answered.
Dean Rusk.
"And the kid?"
Arthur replied without hesitation.
"If she becomes a problem, remove the problem."
Clare went completely still.
May you like
Dominic looked at Arthur.
This time, there would be no argument about proof.
