Chapter 6 - THE DOCTOR WHO NEVER SAW THEM

Deputy Collins contacted the county fraud unit.

Detective Lena Ortiz arrived at the hospital just after 1 a.m.

She was direct, tired, and unimpressed by wealth.

“You own Miller Freight Logistics?”

“Yes.”

“Then you understand records.”

“I live in them.”

“Good. I need everything.”

Shawn gave her bank statements, transfer confirmations, texts with Brenda, and copies of the property documents.

Ortiz examined the dementia diagnosis.

“Dr. Mercer lost his license last year.”

“For what?”

“Fraudulent disability evaluations.”

Shawn looked at his father.

Don muttered, “That sounds about right.”

Ortiz continued. “He signed evaluations for people he never examined. Mostly guardianship cases.”

“Who paid him?” Shawn asked.

“That’s what we’re going to find out.”

At 2:17 a.m., Mark was released pending investigation.

No arrest yet.

Not enough evidence tying him directly to confinement.

Brenda was also allowed to leave after giving a statement.

Shawn hated it.

Ortiz did not.

“People make mistakes when they think they’re safe.”

Before she left, she gave him one instruction.

“Do not confront them alone.”

At 3 a.m., Shawn sat beside his father’s hospital bed.

Don looked toward the window.

“You know what hurts most?”

Shawn expected him to say Brenda.

Instead, Don said, “We thought you stopped sending the money because you stopped caring.”

Shawn closed his eyes.

“I should have called more.”

“You should have come home.”

The words were not cruel.

That made them worse.

“I know.”

Don reached over and squeezed his hand.

“You’re here now.”

Shawn nodded.

Then his phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

A photograph appeared.

It showed Brenda standing beside a storage unit.

Mark was loading boxes into a truck.

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