Chapter 2 - The Doctor Who Was Already Waiting
The stranger wore a dark overcoat and carried a leather medical bag.
"Dr. Warren Wren," he announced. "I've been consulting on Evelyn's cognitive decline."
"You've never examined my mother with my permission," Adrian said.
"Your fiancée was concerned."
"Then she should have called me."
Celeste stepped around the broken glass. "Adrian, don't turn this into a scene."
"Someone already did."
Naomi stayed between Wren and the bed. She knew how easily money could drown out truth.
"Mrs. Vale was clear when I arrived," she said. "Celeste was forcing her to sign. She hurt her."
"You dropped a tray and frightened a sick woman," Celeste said.
"I dropped it because you grabbed her."
Wren reached for Evelyn's wrist. She recoiled.
Adrian noticed. He took out his phone and called the hospital where his mother's longtime physician practiced.
"Dr. Singh? My mother's frightened. There's an unlabeled medication in her room. I need an independent examination. Now."
Celeste's jaw tightened.
"You don't trust me?"
"I trust Mom when she says she's scared."
Celeste glanced at Marcus, the security guard at the door.
"Remove Naomi," she ordered. "She's stealing documents."
"Marcus works for the estate," Adrian said. "He takes instructions from me. Nobody leaves until we know what happened."
Naomi's heart was pounding, but she forced herself to speak slowly.
"The document has a witness line. I saw it before she covered it."
Adrian turned the paper over.
There, beneath Evelyn's signature, someone had written: Naomi Carter, witness.
It was a careful imitation of Naomi's handwriting.
"I did not sign that," she said.
Celeste lifted one shoulder. "Maybe you don't remember."
"I remember every day I've worked here."
Dr. Wren moved toward the door.
"I have another appointment," he muttered.
Marcus blocked his path.
Outside, a car pulled up the drive. Adrian's own doctor had arrived with an emergency response team.
Before anyone could speak, Evelyn's hand slipped off the blanket. She was suddenly too drowsy to hold up her head.
May you like
Naomi caught her.
"Adrian," she said, "she wasn't like this twenty minutes ago."
