Chapter 1 - THE FIRST QUESTION
Ethan Hale did not sleep that night.
The white tablet sat inside a sealed evidence bag on the desk beside his
bed. It looked harmless. That was the part he couldn’t stop thinking
about. A small, ordinary thing that could fit beneath a fingernail had
become more frightening than the crash that had put him in a wheelchair.
At 7:15 the next morning, Naomi Chen arrived with Dr. Priya Nair, a
neurologist who had never treated Ethan and had no connection to Sophia
Lane.
Naomi shut the bedroom door.
“Before we do anything,” she said, “I want to be clear. Nobody in this
house is to change your medication based on a suspicion. Dr. Nair will
review everything and coordinate any safe changes.”
Ethan nodded. “I understand.”
Dr. Nair examined him, reviewed his hospital records, and asked about
the tremors, fatigue, and sudden decline that had begun weeks after his
accident.
“Your original injury was serious,” she explained, “but the records
showed signs that you were making progress. What concerns me is the
pattern afterward. Some of your symptoms could be consistent with an
additional medication effect. We need proper testing before drawing a
conclusion.”
Naomi placed the sealed pill on the table.
“This was found by a child who says she saw Sophia transfer pills
between bottles.”
Dr. Nair studied the label and the tablet without making a guess.
“I’ll send this to an independent laboratory. I also want a complete
review of the medication containers, pharmacy records, and everything
you’ve taken since the accident.”
Ethan looked at Naomi. “And Sophia?”
“She doesn’t know we’re doing this.”
“Not yet.”
A knock interrupted them.
Sophia entered carrying a breakfast tray. Her pale hair was tied back,
and she wore the soft blue sweater Ethan had given her after their first
Christmas together.
“Good morning, darling.” She stopped when she saw Naomi. “I didn’t know
we had a meeting.”
“We’re reviewing my care,” Ethan said.
Sophia’s smile remained in place, but her eyes moved to the table.
“Of course. Is something wrong?”
“I’m asking for an independent review.”
Her expression changed for less than a second.
“Ethan, sweetheart, we’ve been through this. Your doctors have explained
that recovery isn’t linear.”
“Then an independent doctor should have no trouble confirming that.”
Sophia set the tray down.
“I’m only trying to protect you.”
“I know,” he replied.
But the words felt different now.
After she left, Naomi leaned closer.
“Your board meeting is in six days. The temporary incapacity provision
is on the agenda.”
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
The provision had been written years earlier. If two physicians
certified that he could not perform his duties, the board could appoint
an interim executive. Sophia had been nominated as his personal
representative, while Adrian Voss, the company’s chief operating
officer, would control day-to-day decisions.
Ethan had trusted Adrian for eleven years.
He had trusted Sophia with his life.
“Freeze every change to my voting arrangements,” he said.
Naomi nodded. “I’ll issue a formal notice.”
“And get Maya and her grandfather somewhere safe. No one should question
that child because she told the truth.”
Naomi’s expression softened. “Already arranged.”
Ethan looked through the window toward the garden. A small yellow
raincoat hung from a hook near the greenhouse entrance.
For six months, he had believed his body was betraying him.
May you like
Now he had a more frightening possibility to consider.
Someone had been helping it fail.
