Chương 10
It hurt.
It was wonderful.
Dr. Patel came closer.
“Don't force it.”
I tried anyway.
A sound came out.
Not a word.
Barely more than breath.
Daniel's eyes filled instantly.
“That's him.”
Rachel said, “Who else would it be?”
Daniel wiped his face and laughed at the same time.
“Shut up.”
My throat moved again.
This time the sound had shape.
“Uh.”
Everyone stared at me.
Dr. Patel said, “Good.”
I hated the word now because everybody used it for microscopic victories.
Good finger.
Good foot.
Good throat.
Still, I pushed again.
“M.”
The consonant died before becoming anything else.
Daniel leaned so close that Rachel nudged him backward.
“What are you trying to say?”
My throat tightened.
“M.”
“Mason?”
Once.
Daniel's face hardened immediately.
Rachel said, “Don't make him work that hard.”
Dr. Patel nodded.
“Save your voice.”
I wanted to say coffee.
I wanted to say Olivia.
I wanted to say check the house.
Instead I moved my finger.
Ortiz returned before I could decide how to communicate any of it.
He closed the door behind him.
Daniel stood.
“Well?”
Ortiz looked at me first.
“The black case contained medical supplies.”
Nobody spoke.
“Some ordinary.”
He paused.
“Some less ordinary.”
Dr. Patel's posture changed.
“What exactly?”
“I'm not going to inventory evidence in front of everyone.”
“I am treating the victim of a suspected poisoning.”
Ortiz considered that.
“Several syringes.”
Dr. Patel said, “Used?”
“Some.”
“Labeled?”
“Not all.”
Karen asked, “Medications?”
“Vials.”
“What kind?”
“I'm not naming them until they're properly identified.”
Daniel threw his hands up.
“You just said they were medical.”
“Because they are plainly medical packaging.”
“Did Mason admit it was his?”
“No.”
“He threw it away.”
“He says he discarded old work supplies because he panicked when he heard Ethan had survived.”
Daniel stared at him.
“That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.”
Ortiz said, “It is not my job to grade his explanation.”
“It should be.”
“He also says he came to the hospital because Olivia called him.”
My heart monitor accelerated.
Ortiz looked at the screen, then at me.
“Did you know they were in regular contact?”
Twice.
Daniel said, “Define regular.”
Ortiz ignored him.
“He says Olivia has been worried about Ethan's health for weeks and contacted him frequently because of Ethan's weakness.”
Dr. Patel frowned.
“That could be legitimate if he was treating him.”
“Could be.”
“Did he say why he'd sent Ethan a message about her?”
Daniel turned sharply.
Ortiz nodded toward him.
“I asked.”
“And?”
“He denied sending it.”
Daniel stood very still.
“He said I made it up?”
“He said he didn't remember it.”
“That means he thinks I'm stupid.”
“Possibly.”
Daniel looked insulted again.
Ortiz continued.
“Then he asked for an attorney.”
Daniel gave a humorless smile.
“At least one smart decision today.”
Kline said, “That is not evidence of guilt.”
“I know.”
“You say things like a lawyer.”
“I own restaurants.”
“Restaurant equipment.”
“Same emotional damage.”
Karen rubbed her temple.
“Can we stay focused?”
Ortiz turned back to me.
“Ethan, I need to ask something about your home.”
Once.
“Is there a security system?”
Once.
“Exterior cameras?”
Once.
“Interior?”
Twice.
“Doorbell camera?”
Once.
“Cloud storage?”
Once.
“Do you control the account?”
Once.
“Does Olivia have access?”
Once.
That was the problem.
We both did.
Ortiz asked, “Could she delete footage?”
Once.
“Would deletion be recoverable?”
I did not know.
I gave no response.
He nodded.
“Unknown.”
Daniel said, “I know the installer.”
Everyone looked at him.
“What?”
He shrugged.
“I recommended the company.”
Ortiz asked, “Do you have account access?”
“No.”
“Then you don't know anything useful yet.”
Daniel scowled.
“They keep backups.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I asked when mine got stolen.”
“Your camera got stolen?”
“The camera itself.”
Rachel looked at him.
“That feels personal.”
“It did.”
Ortiz was already taking out his phone.
“What company?”
Daniel gave him the name.
Ortiz stepped aside to make a call.
My mind raced through the morning.
If the doorbell camera captured Olivia leaving after I collapsed, maybe it showed Mason arriving.
Maybe it showed an ambulance.
Maybe it showed who moved through the house afterward.
Maybe the important thing was not who came in but who did not.
The police would have to get access legally.
That took time.
Time gave Olivia space.
I tried to vocalize again.
“Ho.”
Rachel looked at me.
“Don't push.”
“Ho.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Home?”
Once.
Ortiz turned from his call.
“What about home?”
I moved my finger urgently.
Daniel understood first.
“He wants you to check the house.”
Once.
Ortiz said, “We will.”
I moved again.
“Evidence?” he asked.
Once.
“Something specific?”
I tried to say mug.
My lips barely moved.
“M.”
Ortiz said, “Mason?”
Twice.
“Meds?”
Twice.
Daniel stared at my mouth.
“Mug?”
Once.
The room sharpened.
Ortiz said, “The coffee mug?”
Once.
“Still at the house?”
I did not know.
Nothing.
“Was it the cup you drank from this morning?”
Once.
“Where were you?”
“Balcony?” Daniel asked.
Once.
Ortiz said, “Do you know whether police or paramedics collected it?”
Twice.
Dr. Patel asked, “Was the coffee container brought with him?”
Rachel shook her head.
“Not listed.”
Ortiz was already moving.
Karen said, “Can they?”
“I'm contacting the officer assigned to the case.”
He looked at me.
“If Olivia gets there first, she may destroy it.”
My finger moved once.
Ortiz's expression did not change.
“But we can't assume she will.”
Daniel said, “She already tried to cremate him.”
Ortiz looked at him.
“According to what?”
The room went quiet.
My entire mind snapped toward that problem.
I had heard Olivia and Mason.
But nobody else had.
No recording.
No witness.
No proof.
I had been trapped inside a closed coffin while they discussed the plan.
My testimony might matter later.
Right now, I could barely make vowels.
Daniel said, “Ethan heard them.”
Ortiz looked at me.
“Did you?”
Once.
“While you were in the coffin?”
May you like
Once.
“Did you hear your wife speak with Mason Reed?”
