Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT LAURA LEFT
Daniel confronted both of them separately.
Michael denied being in Laura’s car.
Then Daniel showed him the image.
Michael exhaled.
“Fine.”
“What happened?”
“We drove her to a clinic.”
“What clinic?”
“Private psychiatric facility.”
“Where?”
Michael said nothing.
“Your wife has been missing for two months and you never told police you drove her somewhere?”
“She left the clinic.”
“Name it.”
Michael looked toward the observation window.
“My attorney.”
Daniel waited.
Later, with Steven present, Michael gave the name.
Pine Ridge Wellness.
The facility had closed six weeks earlier.
Records were incomplete.
But one admission existed.
Laura Carter.
Voluntary admission.
Signed.
Daniel stared at the signature.
“You said she ran from home.”
Michael answered:
“She left the clinic without telling us.”
“Why lie?”
“Because if people knew she was hospitalized, she’d lose trust control.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“So you lied to protect her finances?”
“To protect the girls’ money.”
“Same thing?”
“No.”
Michael leaned forward.
“You think I’m stupid enough to poison Olivia while Laura is already building a case against me?”
Daniel said nothing.
Michael continued.
“You’re looking at the wrong timeline.”
“What does that mean?”
“The medicine started before Laura disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Who had access then?”
“Both of you.”
“And my mother.”
Daniel watched him.
Michael’s voice dropped.
“Eleanor was the one who told us about the disability clause.”
That fit.
Too well.
Daniel asked:
“Why would she want the medical reserve unlocked?”
Michael smiled without humor.
“Because the trust owes her money.”
“What?”
Eleanor had personally loaned Robert Carter’s estate $2.2 million years earlier to keep a family business afloat.
Repayment was restricted until certain trust conditions were met.
A medical reserve activation would permit accelerated reimbursement of management expenses.
Eleanor had a financial motive.
Daniel confronted her.
She did not deny the loan.
She denied harming Olivia.
“Money does not make every person a murderer.”
“No one said murder.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Not yet.”
Daniel realized she was right.
He was letting suspicion outrun proof.
Then a lab technician called.
Trace residue from the syringe matched the medication in Olivia’s system.
But there was another compound.
A harmless flavoring agent commonly used in pediatric liquid medicine.
The adult medication Michael was prescribed did not contain it.
Someone had transferred the medicine into a child-friendly preparation.
That required planning.
Daniel asked who in the Carter family had pharmaceutical experience.
The answer came back:
Laura Carter.
Former pharmacy technician.
Daniel sat in silence.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
A woman whispered:
“Officer Reed?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Laura.”
Daniel stood.
“Where are you?”
A pause.
Then:
“Don’t tell Michael.”
May you like
Another pause.
“And whatever Eleanor says, do not let her take my daughters.”
