Chapter 8 - The Pills That Never Went Missing
Daniel kept his anxiety medication locked in his bathroom cabinet.
He counted the bottle.
Twelve pills remained.
The recovered bottle had the same pharmacy label.
Same prescription number.
Different fill date.
Susan called the pharmacy.
There had been a second pickup.
“Who?” Daniel asked.
The pharmacist checked.
“Authorized family pickup.”
“I never authorized anyone.”
The signature looked like his.
Another forgery.
Rachel had collected medication in his name.
Then thrown the empty bottle where it could be “discovered.”
Unstable father.
Medication misuse.
Drinking.
Anger.
Danger.
Tessa Moreno updated the child services file.
Police opened a separate investigation into identity fraud.
Rachel’s lawyer issued a statement denying wrongdoing.
Then Rachel called Dad.
Not Daniel.
Their father, Walter Carter.
Walter arrived that night.
Seventy-two.
Retired firefighter.
He looked at Daniel.
Daniel placed Noah’s notebook on the table.
“Read.”
Walter did.
“Is this his handwriting?”
“Yes.”
Walter looked at Noah.
“Did you write this?”
Noah nodded.
Walter’s eyes filled.
Then Daniel showed him the forged note.
The custody folder.
The camera footage.
The prescription evidence.
Walter sat down.
Daniel looked at him.
“What?”
“So did I.”
Walter shook his head.
“No. I pushed it.”
Daniel had forgotten.
At first, he had resisted.
He worried Rachel’s temper was too sharp.
Walter had said, She loves those kids.
Daniel listened.
Walter covered his face.
“I thought I was helping.”
Daniel understood the guilt.
He had his own.
Then Walter said, “She asked me for something last month.”
“What?”
Daniel went still.
“Why?”
“I didn’t.”
Walter stared at him.
“What would she need Laura’s death certificate for?”
Susan answered.
Then Daniel remembered one line in the hidden folder.
Surviving parent impairment.
Deceased mother verified.
May you like
Rachel had not been preparing for a possibility.
She had been preparing a case.
