Chapter 4 - The Drug With No Name
By sunrise, Victor had three facts he could not explain.
First, his right foot had moved.
Second, Elena Marquez had discovered an unlisted drug in his blood.
Third, Simon Cross had lied about knowing her.
Leah sent the patch to an independent lab under a false name.
“No hospital network,” she said. “No Hale Foundation lab. Nobody Simon can call.”
Victor almost asked why she sounded so certain Simon had influence.
Then his phone rang.
His nephew, Grant Hale.
Grant was forty-one, polished, patient, and the executive vice president of Hale Meridian, Victor’s shipping and logistics empire. Since Victor’s paralysis, Grant had handled more and more of the company.
“Uncle Vic, Simon says you threw him out.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“He called you quickly.”
“He’s worried.”
“About me?”
“Of course.”
Victor looked at Eli, asleep in a chair with Rosie on his chest.
“Come by at noon.”
Grant arrived at eleven forty-five.
He brought coffee, sympathy, and exactly the amount of concern Victor once found reassuring.
Then he saw the children.
His smile disappeared.
“Who are they?”
“Guests.”
Grant’s gaze lingered on Eli.
The boy woke and stared back.
Neither spoke.
Victor noticed Grant’s right hand tighten around the coffee tray.
Later, while Marcus showed Grant out, Nora approached Victor.
She had Elena’s bent hospital badge in one hand.
“My mom had a notebook.”
Victor leaned forward. “Where?”
“Gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Eli hid it after she died.”
From across the room, Eli snapped awake.
“Nora.”
She ignored him.
“Mom said if anything happened, the red notebook went to the man in the chair.”
Victor’s chest tightened.
“Me?”
Nora nodded.
Eli stood so quickly Rosie woke.
“We can’t go back.”
Victor looked at him.
“Back where?”
Eli’s eyes filled with fear.
“To the apartment.”
Then Marcus came in holding his phone.
“The SUV from the cafe is registered to a shell company.”
Victor waited.
May you like
Marcus’s expression turned grim.
“The company is controlled by Grant Hale.”
