Chapter 11 - THE DOCTOR WHO NEVER DIED
Victor Hale was alive.
Ortiz found him in less than twenty-four hours once they searched aliases instead of death records.
He had been living in Arizona under the name Victor Hall.
A small house.
Cash purchases.
No social media.
No medical license.
Federal agents detained him at a gas station.
Julia watched the interview by video link.
Hale looked older than his photograph.
But she knew the voice.
It had told her eleven years earlier, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Mercer. We lost him.”
Julia’s hands shook.
Ortiz asked the first question.
“Did Thomas Mercer die at St. Catherine’s?”
Hale stared at the table.
“No.”
Julia stopped breathing.
“Did you falsify his death?”
“Yes.”
“Who ordered it?”
Hale closed his eyes.
“Evelyn Mercer.”
“And Grant Mercer?”
“He knew by morning.”
Julia stood up.
“By morning?”
Hale looked toward the monitor.
He saw her.
His face collapsed.
“Julia.”
“Do not say my name.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You handed my baby to strangers.”
Hale looked down.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Evelyn threatened my family.”
Julia’s voice went cold.
“And you chose mine instead.”
He cried after that.
Julia felt nothing for him.
Ortiz asked about Diane.
Hale explained that Diane Cole had worked as a private pediatric nurse.
She was paid to raise Thomas under rotating identities until Grant could permanently move trust control offshore.
But Daniel discovered a billing trail six years later.
“He came to me,” Hale said.
Julia leaned forward.
“What did you tell him?”
“The truth.”
“Then why did he die two days later?”
Hale’s face changed.
“I didn’t kill him.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
Julia slammed her palm on the table.
“You know something.”
Hale looked terrified.
“Daniel recorded me.”
“Where is the recording?”
“He hid it with the blue ledger.”
“Where?”
Hale shook his head.
“He said only one person would understand the place.”
“Who?”
May you like
Hale looked directly at Julia.
“You.”
