Chapter 6 - DANIEL'S DEFENSE
Daniel’s attorneys requested an interview.
Emily did not attend.
Hale later showed her the recording.
Daniel looked older but still polished and cold.
He denied planning Liam’s treatment.
“Dr. Rowan presented the intervention as compassionate use.”
Celia’s lawyer disputed that.
Daniel said:
“I was a terrified father.”
Then prosecutors showed him the emails.
We need the study clean until Friday.
Daniel answered:
“That referred to Halcyon’s formal study records, not Liam.”
Then:
If this goes bad, nobody can connect it to Halcyon.
“That referred to reputational contamination from Celia’s independent decision.”
Smart.
Ugly.
But possible.
Then Hale asked:
“Why tell Emily her genes killed Liam?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
For the first time, silence lasted too long.
Finally:
“I believed the genetic explanation.”
Hale played the recording.
After tonight, Emily will blame herself forever.
Daniel went pale.
His lawyer immediately stopped the interview.
Emily watched the screen.
“Where did that recording come from?”
Hale answered:
“Celia.”
She had recorded Daniel secretly after realizing he might abandon her if the cover story failed.
Another compromised witness.
Another useful piece of evidence.
Then Daniel’s lawyers attacked Celia.
They produced messages showing she had repeatedly pushed Halcyon to restart the paused protocol.
Celia:
We are losing infants while lawyers debate.
Another:
If the board won’t approve compassionate exceptions, I’ll make the clinical decision myself.
That mattered.
Celia was not merely Daniel’s instrument.
She had her own arrogance.
Then a message from Daniel:
Do not improvise with my son.
Emily stared.
“What date?”
Six hours before Liam deteriorated.
For the first time, evidence helped Daniel.
Hale said:
“This is why we keep investigating.”
Then came another message, after Liam worsened.
Celia:
I used HVP-17.
Daniel:
Jesus Christ.
Celia:
He was crashing.
Daniel:
You just destroyed everything.
Emily read it slowly.
Daniel may not have authorized the actual administration.
But what came next was clearer.
Daniel:
No record. No Halcyon. Use the metabolic explanation.
There.
Whatever happened before the intervention, Daniel joined the conspiracy afterward.
Then Bell entered.
“Celia’s lawyer just turned over a financial document.”
Halcyon had paid Dr. Rowan a private consulting bonus three weeks after Liam died.
Amount:
$180,000.
Emily looked at Hale.
“So she got paid.”
May you like
Hale nodded.
The doctor who confessed was also someone who had profited from silence.
