Chapter 10 - The Doctor’s Account
Daniel wanted to confront Dr. Malcolm Voss immediately.
Helen stopped him.
“If you accuse a physician of causing deaths without evidence, you will destroy your credibility.”
“Six million dollars went through an account connected to him.”
“Connected does not mean paid to him personally.”
“So we investigate.”
“That,” Helen said, “is different.”
A forensic accountant traced H-7.
The transfers had not gone directly to Voss.
They went to a medical-investment partnership in which Voss owned twelve percent.
The partnership purchased distressed medical properties.
Owen Price had invested Mercer Coastal funds without board authorization.
At first, Daniel felt almost disappointed.
Then the accountant continued.
“One property was sold fourteen months ago.”
“To whom?”
“A development affiliate.”
“Whose?”
She turned her screen.
Halcyon Development.
The company now attempting to buy Blue Heron Marina.
The network tightened.
Owen.
Grant.
Celeste.
Halcyon.
And Voss’s partnership.
Daniel met Dr. Voss in his attorney’s office.
The physician was seventy-one and looked exhausted.
“I did not harm your wife.”
Daniel said nothing.
Voss leaned forward.
“Nora had an aortic dissection. Catastrophic. Sudden.”
“I know what killed her.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Because Owen Price moved company money into your investment group.”
Voss’s face tightened.
“I learned that afterward.”
“You took the money.”
“My partners did.”
“Did August know?”
“Yes.”
Daniel froze.
“When?”
“About two weeks before he died.”
Helen asked, “Did you discuss it with him?”
“He confronted me.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That Owen had described Mercer Coastal as a participating investor.”
“He lied?”
“Yes.”
Daniel studied him.
“Why didn’t you report it?”
Voss looked ashamed.
“Because returning the capital would have collapsed the partnership.”
“So you protected yourself.”
“Yes.”
“And August?”
“He threatened to expose everything.”
Daniel’s anger sharpened.
“Then he died.”
Voss stood.
“I treated your father for twelve years. Do not imply—”
“I’m not implying anything yet.”
Voss sat again.
Daniel asked the question that mattered.
“Did Celeste know?”
Voss hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She came to see me after August confronted me.”
“When?”
“Two days before his death.”
Daniel’s hands closed into fists.
“What did she want?”
“She asked whether stress could worsen his condition.”
Helen stopped writing.
Daniel stared.
“What exactly did you say?”
“That stress could elevate cardiovascular risk in anyone with his history.”
“And then?”
“She asked whether he was medically competent to continue making major financial decisions.”
The room became silent.
“Why?”
“She claimed he was confused.”
August had not been confused.
He had been uncovering theft.
Voss continued.
“I refused to declare him incompetent.”
“What happened next?”
“She became angry.”
“Did Owen contact you?”
“After August died.”
“What did he say?”
Voss looked at Daniel.
“He told me I should remember how much Mercer money was invested with my partners before I discussed private family conversations.”
Blackmail.
Not murder.
But another witness had been silenced.
Daniel asked about Nora.
Voss rubbed his forehead.
“Nora called me the night before her emergency.”
“Why?”
“She said she had found evidence involving the investment partnership and wanted me to tell you everything.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Daniel stood.
“My wife died without knowing whether you would tell the truth.”
“I know.”
Daniel had to leave the room before anger overpowered him.
Outside, Lily was waiting with Marcus.
She had been drawing.
“Dad?”
He forced himself to soften.
“Yes?”
“I made something.”
She held up a picture of the garden.
Oscar.
The bench.
The drain.
The camera.
Above Celeste, Lily had drawn a black cloud.
Above Daniel, a yellow sun.
But Daniel noticed something else.
A small figure on the balcony.
“Who is that?”
Lily looked at the drawing.
“The man.”
“What man?”
“The man who was there before Aunt Celeste hit the bowl.”
Marcus knelt.
“Lily, was somebody on the balcony?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know him?”
“No.”
“What did he look like?”
“He had the camera bag.”
Marcus and Daniel exchanged a glance.
Evan Kroll, the missing security installer.
“Did Aunt Celeste talk to him?”
Lily nodded.
“She said, ‘Is it off?’”
Daniel’s pulse jumped.
“What did he say?”
Lily thought carefully.
“He said, ‘It should be.’”
The failed camera-disabling command.
Celeste had staged the confrontation knowing Kroll was supposed to erase the evidence.
Daniel’s relief at a new witness lasted only seconds.
Marcus received a call from police.
Evan Kroll had been located.
He had hired an attorney.
And he was prepared to cooperate.
For immunity consideration, Kroll had offered investigators something far larger than the camera logs.
A complete copy of Celeste’s private message archive.
May you like
Including messages she believed had been permanently deleted.
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