Chapter 3 - Nothing on Her Prescription List
The ambulance left with Evelyn awake but barely able to answer questions. Naomi rode beside her. Adrian followed in his own car. Celeste was told to remain at the estate for the police.
At the hospital, Dr. Priya Singh checked Evelyn's records twice.
"Something in her system appears to be causing unusual sedation," she said. "I didn't prescribe it. We're identifying the substance, and I want every medication bottle collected."
"Could she have taken it by mistake?" Adrian asked.
"Possibly. That's why we investigate rather than guess."
Evelyn stirred.
"I didn't take anything myself," she whispered.
Adrian crouched beside the bed. "Mom, why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried."
The words hit him harder than an accusation.
Naomi remembered Celeste answering Evelyn's calls for her. She had mistaken a plan for selfishness.
Detective Imani Brooks arrived to document the wrist injury and the allegation of forced medication. She asked each person to speak separately.
"Did you see the contents of the bottle?" Brooks asked Naomi.
"No. I saw the torn label. I photographed it before Celeste touched the nightstand."
"Send the original photograph, not a screenshot."
Adrian waited outside until the interview ended.
"I should have listened when Mom stopped coming downstairs," he said.
"She told you Celeste made her tired," Naomi replied.
"I thought she meant wedding planning."
"You thought what was easiest."
He didn't argue.
That evening, Marcus called from the house.
"Sir, the upstairs hallway cameras were disabled during the incident. Somebody used an administrator code."
"Who has that code?"
"You, me, and Ms. Celeste."
Adrian closed his eyes.
Then Brooks stepped out of Evelyn's room holding the document in a clear evidence sleeve.
"Mr. Vale," she said, "I need to ask you something about your signature."
He stared at the bottom of the page.
May you like
His name was there too.
And he hadn't signed it.
