Chapter 12 - The Missing Prescription
Harold took digoxin for his heart.
Too much could cause nausea, confusion, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.
The prescription bottle visible in Monica’s handbag did not prove she poisoned him.
But it gave investigators something specific to examine.
Harold’s pharmacy records showed an irregular refill.
Seven days before his death, someone collected a thirty-day supply.
Harold already had more than two weeks remaining.
The pickup signature read H. Bennett.
Security video from the pharmacy showed Monica.
She wore sunglasses and a baseball cap.
But facial comparison, vehicle records, and timestamped parking data made the identification strong.
Andrew stared at the image.
“She picked up my father’s heart medication.”
Detective Chen nodded.
“Using his authorization information.”
“How did she have it?”
“David had copies of medical powers and insurance documents from estate planning.”
David denied giving Monica permission to obtain medication.
Monica refused to answer questions.
Investigators searched her apartment again.
This time they removed a false bottom from a jewelry case.
Inside were two handwritten notes.
One listed symptoms of digoxin toxicity.
The other contained dosage calculations.
Andrew sat silently while prosecutors explained.
“This materially changes the Harold Bennett investigation.”
“Can you prove she gave it to him?”
“Not yet.”
Harold had been cremated.
No blood samples remained.
But his hospital had retained a serum sample from routine bloodwork performed ten days before death.
That sample showed normal therapeutic digoxin levels.
It could not show what happened later.
Then Harold’s housekeeper, Martha Lewis, remembered something.
“Mr. Bennett complained his pills looked different.”
“When?” Chen asked.
“The day before he died.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him to call the pharmacy.”
“Did he?”
“I don’t know.”
Martha began crying.
“He said someone had moved things in his bathroom.”
Andrew closed his eyes.
Monica had access to the Bennett estate because she was his fiancée.
Nobody questioned her.
Martha continued.
“Mr. Bennett asked me whether Monica had been upstairs.”
“Had she?”
“Yes.”
Andrew felt rage rising.
The final piece came from a smart pill dispenser Harold briefly used after his doctor complained about missed doses.
Cloud records survived.
The dispenser logged normal use until three days before Harold’s death.
Then the device registered an unexplained manual override.
Twenty-four tablets were removed at once.
User authentication came from an administrative account.
David Rosen’s estate-management login.
David finally broke.
He claimed Monica asked him to override the dispenser because Harold was traveling.
“I did not know she intended to take the pills.”
“Why would she need twenty-four?”
“I didn’t ask.”
Prosecutor Jenna Park stared at him.
“That may be the most useful sentence you’ve given us.”
David looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because your entire defense is that you repeatedly helped people commit crimes as long as you avoided asking what they intended.”
Andrew watched through the glass.
For the first time, David looked afraid.
Monica was charged with Harold Bennett’s murder.
The announcement detonated publicly.
The woman accused of trying to kill her infant son was now accused of murdering the family patriarch.
Reporters surrounded Bennett Maritime.
Stock prices fell.
The board held an emergency session.
One director demanded Andrew step down.
“Every part of this scandal surrounds your family.”
Andrew did not argue.
Cynthia Moore looked at him.
“What are you proposing?”
“A temporary leave.”
Rachel stared from the back of the room.
Andrew continued.
“Independent management should handle operations while these investigations continue.”
Victor, joining remotely under supervision, laughed bitterly.
“Congratulations. Monica finally got what she wanted.”
Andrew looked at him.
“No.”
Victor stopped.
“She wanted control. I’m giving up control.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“No.”
Andrew placed a document on the table.
“I’m transferring my voting authority temporarily to an independent fiduciary until the criminal cases are resolved.”
Victor’s expression changed.
“You can’t.”
“I can.”
“If you do that, our family loses direct control.”
“Yes.”
“Our father would never—”
“Our father built a company, not a monarchy.”
Silence.
That was the first true break between the Bennett brothers.
Victor stared at him.
“You’d throw away our legacy.”
Andrew replied, “Lucas is my legacy.”
He signed.
Forty-six percent of voting authority moved temporarily out of Andrew’s personal control.
Victor’s thirty-nine percent remained restricted because of the fraud investigation.
For the first time in generations, no Bennett directly controlled Bennett Maritime.
Andrew walked out of headquarters without security.
Rachel followed.
“You meant it.”
“Yes.”
“How does it feel?”
“Terrible.”
She almost smiled.
“That’s probably healthy.”
His phone rang.
Prosecutor Jenna Park.
“We have Monica’s jail calls.”
Andrew stopped.
“To Claire?”
“No.”
“To Victor.”
Andrew stared.
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“There are six calls.”
His stomach tightened.
Victor claimed he had nothing to do with Lucas’s attempted murder.
Now Monica had been calling him from jail.
And one call contained a sentence that could destroy that claim completely.
May you like
Monica said:
“You told me the boy was the only thing standing between us and everything.”
