“I told you to keep your mouth shut,” he said, and without another word, he climbed into his car and drove away.
Lisa knew she was supposed to cry, but she couldn’t. Her chest ached. She wondered if she was dying, and for a fleeting moment, the possibility didn’t seem entirely unpleasant. There was nothing she could do to explain herself to her father. He would never believe her, no matter how much she protested her innocence.
She sat on the ground for a long time while her mind wandered over the catastrophe. Eventually, the music inside the house stopped. The guests were getting ready to leave. Lisa got up, found her mother’s car in the driveway, and waited beside it until her mother arrived. Veronica was nowhere to be seen. Lisa guessed she was with Stephen. She knew Richard would take care of them, so she didn’t worry.
Her mother was still crying, and they drove back to the house without speaking. Lisa went into Veronica’s room and locked the door. She pulled off her dress and left it lying in a wrinkled heap on the carpet. It was only after she had changed into her pajamas and crawled under the covers that she began to sob.
She didn’t stop until she was too exhausted to continue. Lying there with her face buried against the pillow, she realized her problems were even bigger than she had thought. She hadn’t revealed her father’s secret, and neither had Sabrina, if her mother’s decision to let her stay was any indication. Someone else knew what her father had done and had used the information to intentionally harm her family.
She thought about Graham, but there was no way he could have found out, unless he had been spying on her family for months, and that was ridiculous. It was too complicated. The only certainty that remained in her life was the knowledge that nothing would ever be the same. Her father was gone, and she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. To her surprise, she missed him terribly.
Chapter 11
Lisa’s father drove to the hospital and sat in his car in the parking lot, fighting the despair that threatened to overwhelm him. Lisa had betrayed him, and her mother had rejected him. He couldn’t blame anyone except himself, but he had never felt such pain before. It gnawed him from the inside, and the tension in his body coiled itself into a lump that settled in his throat. He couldn’t get the image of Lisa’s anguished face out of his mind. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her when he had pushed her away.
The accusations of Lisa’s mother echoed in his head. She hadn’t even given him a chance to explain. The finality of her rejection broke his heart. He felt so guilty that he almost wished he could be locked up for his crimes, but he knew a confession alone wouldn’t be sufficient to convict him. He had covered his tracks too well; the evidence had been reduced to ashes.
The only thing he could do to make himself feel better was to distract himself. Sabrina couldn’t be allowed to die. If he failed to save her, the loss of his family would be meaningless. He decided to review the notes he had taken during Richard’s description of Peterson’s research. He climbed out of his car, but before he could enter the laboratory, his cell phone rang. It was Richard.
“Andrew, where are you?” he said.
“I’m at work,” said Lisa’s father.
“That’s a relief,” said Richard. “When you disappeared, I suspected the worst. Since you’re okay, let’s get one thing straight: I don’t appreciate being stranded at Hamilton Estate, especially when my grandchildren are involved. Not only was it incredibly awkward, but it was also expensive. Do you have any idea how much it costs to hire a taxi in this dysfunctional town?”
“I’ll reimburse you,” said Lisa’s father.
“Forget it,” said Richard. “That’s not why I called. I had an unfortunate conversation with Graham at the reception, and he knows an awful lot about Sabrina. He pretended Molly told him, but she’s too scatterbrained.”
“Richard, I’m not in the mood to deal with this right now,” said Lisa’s father. “We can talk about it tomorrow.”
“What happened?” said Richard.
“Ask Nora,” said Lisa’s father. As he spoke her name, he had to exert all his strength to force his voice to remain calm. “She’ll tell you all the gruesome details. I’m sure she would be more than happy to drag my name through the dirt, and heaven knows it would serve me right. She hates me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“She said you killed her mother,” said Richard. “I assumed she was drunk, but it looks like I was wrong. Andrew, I’m sure you did your best, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do. You shouldn’t have been asked to make clinical decisions for a member of your own family. It’s too difficult. I can’t imagine how you must have felt when the old lady died, but I know it wasn’t your fault.”
“But it was,” said Lisa’s father. “I did it on purpose.”
He was too overwhelmed with misery to explain himself.
“No,” said Richard, after a long pause. “You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.”
“I can’t,” said Lisa’s father. “It’s destroying me.”
“This is insane,” said Richard. “I didn’t think you were capable of something like this. You must have had a good reason. You can tell me. I promise I won’t judge you. I get it. Life is complicated. Sometimes it’s easier to take matters into your own hands. I used to feel the same way about Peterson.”
“Stop,” said Lisa’s father. “There’s a world of difference between us. I’m too messed up. The things I’ve done are unforgiveable. I can’t believe I made such a stupid decision. I had a beautiful life, Richard, but I threw it away. It’s gone.”
“It’s not gone,” said Richard. “Not yet. You need to talk to someone who can help you deal with this situation, because it’s not going to go away on its own. Come back to the house. You shouldn’t be wandering around by yourself while Graham is on the loose. It’s not safe.”
“I’m not worried about Graham,” said Lisa’s father. “It’s fine.”
As he spoke, a thrill of apprehension came over him. Before he could figure out what was wrong, a blinding flash lit up the windows of the laboratory, and a thunderous explosion knocked him off his feet. He landed on the gritty concrete and lay there in a daze while rubble rained down around him. Smoke filled the air. He didn’t know if he was alive or dead. His cell phone lay on the ground beside him. He picked it up, but he could barely speak.
“The whole place just blew up right in front of me,” he whispered.
“Andrew!” shouted Richard. “Are you all right?”
Lisa’s father could barely hear Richard. Everything was spinning. He closed his eyes. “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe I’m finally getting what I deserve.”
“Andrew, I’m coming,” said Richard. “Just let me warn Agnes, and I’ll be on my way.”
Lisa’s father almost wished the explosion had finished him off. Emergency personnel arrived, and despite his protests, he was taken into the hospital and brought to the trauma bay. After a thorough examination to make sure he wasn’t in any immediate danger, he was left on a stretcher in the corner. It wasn’t long before the curtain was flung aside, and he looked up into Richard’s panicked face. He didn’t know how Richard had gotten there so quickly, but he was grateful.
“If you hadn’t called me, I’d probably be dead right now,” he said.
“You can thank me later,” said Richard, pulling up a chair. “When you left Hamilton Estate, did you tell anyone where you were going?”
“No,” said Lisa’s father. “I didn’t even have a definite plan in mind. I just started driving and found myself here. I can’t believe this is happening. Who would want to kill me?”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” said Richard.
“Nora?” said Lisa’s father.
“Of course not,” said Richard. “Don’t be ridiculous. Peterson is behind this. I’d stake my life on it. He recognized your potential and tried to recruit you, but when you rejected Graham’s offer, he decided to eliminate you instead.”
“There’s something you don’t know,” said Lisa’s father.
Richard frowned.
“What did you do?” he said.
“It’s bad,” said Lisa’s father. “You’ll never forgive me. I told Graham about Sabrina. I told him everything.”
Richard got up and turned away.
“I’m sorry,” said Lisa’s father. “I didn’t know what else to do. Sabrina was suffering, Nora was accusing me of being incompetent, and I needed more information. Graham has a whole team researching the drug. I thought—”
“You didn’t think at all,” said Richard.
“Yes, I did,” said Lisa’s father. “How am I supposed to make good decisions without any guidance? Blind faith isn’t something that comes easily to me, especially when someone’s life is in my hands. I’m a doctor. I make decisions based on evidence.”
“Then why did you agree to take on this project?” said Richard.
“Because Sabrina blackmailed me,” said Lisa’s father. “For some insane reason, I thought I could confide in her when I was losing my mind after everything went wrong with Nora’s mother. She threatened to tell Nora. I couldn’t allow that to happen, so I gave in. It doesn’t matter. The truth is out. She can’t manipulate me anymore. Your family can finally go home and let her die in peace. I’m done.”
“I only wish it were that simple,” said Richard. “Peterson won’t let you go that easily.”
His words infuriated Lisa’s father.
“Forget Peterson,” he said. “I have more important things to worry about right now.”
“A temporary luxury,” said Richard, shaking his head. “Enjoy the calm before the storm. I’m going to go back to the house to make sure our patient is still alive. Heaven help us if anything happens to her now. Graham will hold us personally responsible if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants, and Peterson will have no mercy. Trust me, I know him well enough to be absolutely sure.”
He walked away, leaving Lisa’s father in a pitiable state of anxiety.
∞∞∞
Josh couldn’t sleep. Sophie’s conversation with Owen played on a continuous loop in his mind. Stephen’s gentle snoring only made him more restless. For a while, he thought he heard sirens in the distance, but they eventually faded. He wondered if Graham and Sophie and Owen had already dispatched their victim.
He finally dozed off, but it wasn’t long before something startled him. He awoke to see his father leaning over him.
“Josh, your mom wants to see you,” said his father.
“Is she okay?” said Josh. He forgot about Graham and Sophie and Owen. He wasn’t ready for his mother to die. He forced himself to remain calm, but the struggle must have revealed itself on his face, if the sympathy in his father’s eyes was any indication.
“She’s not feeling very well, but she’s stable for the moment,” said his father. “If that ever changes, I’ll tell you right away.” He hesitated. “I should probably warn you—she looks a lot different, but she’s still the same person inside.”
They went into the sickroom, and a skeleton with ragged blond hair and sunken blue eyes regarded Josh from beneath a pile of blankets. It had only been a few weeks since he had last seen her, but she was unrecognizable. He stood there in disbelief, but the irritation in her eyes convinced him she was real.
“Sit down,” she said.
Agnes gave him a chair.
“Mom, you’re so skinny,” said Josh. “I guess the drug isn’t working.”
“Not yet, but it will,” she said, dismissing Josh’s father with a wave of her hand. When he was gone, she gazed at Josh until he felt himself disintegrating.
“You know how much I love you,” she said, and despite the gentleness of her words, her voice remained harsh. Josh knew her anger wasn’t directed toward him, but he still felt like he was in trouble. He nodded, fearing what she would say next.
“I would never do anything to hurt you,” she said.
“I know, Mom,” said Josh.
“I was dreaming about you,” she said. Her gaze shifted away from his face and came to rest in the emptiness behind him. Josh glanced over his shoulder, but nothing was there. He was only mildly relieved. His mother seemed to be in a trance.
“I was dead,” she said. “So was your dad. Your siblings were gone. You were alone, sitting there with your head in your hands and no one to comfort you. It broke my heart to see you like that.”
“Mom, it was just your mind playing tricks on you,” said Josh.
“No, it was a vision of the future,” she said. Her eyes returned to his face. “There’s no reason to be afraid. It’s not going to destroy you. I saw the perfect solution in a flash of clarity. I don’t know how to describe it. It was woven together with your life like the words of a poem.”
Josh glanced at Agnes to see if she shared his conviction that his mother had finally lost her mind, but she ignored him.
“I don’t even like poetry,” he said.
“Josh, listen to me,” said his mother. “I don’t know if it was instinct or fate, but it was real. I could feel it in my heart. I think you know what I mean, but you’ve been ignoring it because you don’t want to make things more complicated.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Josh.
“I’m talking about you and Lisa, of course,” she said in exasperation. “That girl is going to save your life.”
“Mom, are you feeling all right?” said Josh.
“I’m still in possession of my mental faculties, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she said. “I don’t appreciate the implication. I know what I’m talking about, Josh. It’s time for you to face the truth.”
“But Lisa hates me,” said Josh.
“That’s not how I see it,” said his mother.
“Are you serious?” said Josh. His frustration got the better of him. “You lectured me about being nice to her the last time we talked because you realized she was being hostile. Don’t you remember?”
“Watch your tone,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” said Josh. “I’m not trying to be rude, but Lisa has made no effort to hide her contempt for me. She’s neurotic. I don’t care if she’s attractive. I don’t like her.”
“So you admit she’s attractive?” said his mother.
“Yes, but what difference does it make?” said Josh. “She has an ugly personality.”
“Teenage girls are complicated creatures,” said his mother. “Maybe you should get to know her better before you judge her so harshly.”
“You don’t understand,” said Josh.
His mother’s eyes blazed. With a violent burst of energy, she flung the blankets back so he could see the full extent of her emaciation. Josh had never witnessed a human body in such a pitiable state before, and he drew back in horror.
“Look at me!” she said, pulling up her sleeves. Bruises covered her arms, painting her flesh with a gruesome rainbow of colors. From his brief perusal of Richard’s notebook, Josh knew the drug was responsible. He couldn’t decide which he hated more: the cancer that had started the whole thing or the drug that had reduced his mother to her current state. She reached out and seized his arm.
“Do you have any idea how much I’ve suffered for you?” she said. “I’m not doing this for myself. I wish I could stop fighting, but I can’t. Oh, Josh, you have no idea how much I regret the way I’ve treated you! There were so many times when I could have nurtured you or supported you or loved you, but I didn’t. I thought if I made you strong enough, I wouldn’t have to worry about you, but I was wrong. When I look at you, I still see an innocent child. I’m not at peace. I can’t let you go—not until I find someone else to take care of you.”
“Mom, I can take care of myself,” said Josh.
She removed her hand from his arm. The anger in her eyes was replaced by confusion. Josh had never seen her looking more helpless before. She knotted the blanket in her fingers as if she wanted to tear i
t into pieces. Her voice shook.
“Imagine being in pain every day, needles stabbing into your skin and poison flowing throughout your body,” she said. “Why won’t you grant me one dying wish?”
“I can’t pretend to have feelings for Lisa,” said Josh.
“Is that your final decision?” she said.
“Yes,” said Josh. “It is.”
His mother collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. Agnes pushed Josh out of the way. He returned to his room, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. In truth, he didn’t have as negative an opinion of Lisa as he had expressed to his mother, and he wondered if he could have been more diplomatic. Exhaustion finally overwhelmed him. Not knowing what else to do, he lay down, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
∞∞∞
Lisa’s father was discharged from the hospital the next morning. After reserving a room at a nearby hotel, he went to the house to see Sabrina. She was gloomy and withdrawn. The confrontation with Josh had depleted her strength.
Lisa’s father returned to the hotel with a heavy heart. Sabrina was running out of time. If he didn’t figure out how to remedy the situation, she would die very soon. It wasn’t until he locked the door and turned around that he noticed Graham sitting in a chair near the window, cradling a cup of coffee in his hands. He smiled at Lisa’s father with gentle amusement and gestured toward the other chair. Lisa’s father sat down, feeling certain his legs would give out if he attempted to stay on his feet.
“How did you get in?” he said.
“The receptionist was very helpful,” said Graham. “When you arrived, I was thinking about writing a complimentary review about this place. People who work in the hospitality industry are greatly underappreciated. It’s admirable for you to give them your business when you have a perfectly good house to live in, but I’m afraid you have me to thank for that.”
“How so?” said Lisa’s father.
“I’m terrible at keeping secrets,” said Graham, taking a contemplative sip of coffee. “You must have known it was me. Let me congratulate you, Andrew. You accomplished a feat most men only dream about when you murdered your mother-in-law.”
The Patient from Silvertree: Book One in the Silvertree Series Page 14