CHAPTER 10 – THE LAST VIDEO
Mom was already in custody.
So what did she know?
Ortiz searched her recorded jail calls.
Most were with attorneys.
One wasn't.
Mom had called a prepaid number the night before Marcus was attacked.
The call lasted forty-three seconds.
She said only one sentence.
“He still has the insurance.”
The number belonged to a burner phone.
But police traced its last location.
St. Matthew's Medical Center.
The same hospital where Dad died.
Investigators reopened everything.
Medication logs.
Employee records.
Security reports.
Seven staff members had been working that night.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Dr. Samuel Price.
Dad's attending physician.
Price had signed the death certificate.
Price had also approved Marcus's medication access.
And four years later, Price was the doctor scheduled to conduct Daniel's final institutional evaluation.
I stared at Ortiz.
“The same doctor?”
“Yes.”
Mom hadn't simply manipulated Daniel's evaluation.
She had arranged the evaluator.
Police went to Price's house.
Empty.
His passport was gone.
So was his car.
A nationwide alert went out.
Meanwhile Marcus regained consciousness.
He agreed to cooperate fully.
Maybe fear finally beat loyalty.
He told police where the missing video was.
A safe-deposit box.
Dad appeared on screen.
He looked exhausted.
“If this recording is being watched, I need whoever sees it to understand something.”
He held up a prescription bottle.
“My wife has been replacing my heart medication.”
Then he held up another photograph.
Marcus.
And Dr. Price.
Together.
“My wife is having an affair with Marcus Vane.”
I looked at Daniel.
He looked away.
Dad continued.
“But Marcus isn't acting alone.”
Then Dad named Price.
He explained that Price had been approving fraudulent prescriptions.
Changing records.
Covering medication discrepancies.
Dad had discovered a scheme involving elderly and vulnerable patients.
Money stolen.
Insurance claims manipulated.
Medication diverted.
Mom had learned about it through Marcus.
Then joined them.
Dad planned to report everyone.
He died three days later.
The video ended with Dad looking directly into the camera.
“If something happens to me, Daniel is not confused.”
A pause.
“He notices everything.”
Daniel started crying.
Dad's final words filled the room.
“Believe him.”
Ortiz's phone rang.
She answered.
Her face changed.
“What?”
She listened.
Then looked at me.
“Price's car was found.”
“Where?”
“Outside Daniel's hospital.”
Daniel went pale.
May you like
Because Price hadn't run away.
He had come back for my brother.
