Chapter 6 - THE GHOST PATIENTS
Naomi called them ghost patients.
Not officially.
Officially the files were “identity-substituted clinical encounters.”
Madison preferred ghost patients.
At least the phrase admitted something had died.
The first batch of recovered St. Catherine records showed dozens of
cases where the person treated did not match the identity on the chart.
Different ages. Different blood types. Different photographs.
Same insured names.
Some belonged to Parker executives. Some to family members. Some to
retired employees.
Madison’s name appeared repeatedly.
“Why use insured identities?” she asked.
Naomi answered.
“Originally, probably reimbursement.”
“Originally?”
“Some of these date back thirty years.”
David looked at Madison.
She saw the question in his face.
Her grandfather.
The system may have existed before Richard. Before Jonathan. Before
either of them had real power.
Naomi continued.
“Early cases appear connected to uninsured workers and families.
Expensive treatment was billed under policies that would pay.”
Madison frowned.
“So the beginning may have been charity fraud.”
“That’s one way to say it.”
“People were helped.”
“Yes.”
David said, “That’s why it survived.”
Madison looked at him.
“Because some good came from it.”
“Yes.”
Naomi nodded.
“Bad systems survive longer when they can point to someone they saved.”
Then the records changed.
Years later: experimental procedures. Unapproved drugs. Family
governance notes. Psychiatric flags. Guardian recommendations.
The system became more useful as more people learned it existed.
Madison looked at her own psychiatric file again.
“If my father was involved in the early years, he may have thought he
was protecting people.”
Naomi said, “Possible.”
“And Richard?”
“Unknown.”
David said nothing.
Madison looked at him.
“You think Richard did it.”
“I think his office appears in later continuity communications.”
“Not the same thing.”
“No.”
Good.
He was learning.
Then Naomi placed David’s February admission file on the table.
Patient: MADISON PARKER.
Actual patient: unknown male.
The intake photograph had been removed.
Medication: sedative. antipsychotic. sleep agent.
David stared at the page.
“I never took antipsychotics.”
Naomi said, “They documented that you did.”
Madison felt sick.
“What was the diagnosis?”
“Acute psychotic episode.”
Under her name.
If anyone later pulled Madison Parker’s record, they would see it.
A fresh severe psychiatric admission six months before her thirty-fifth
birthday.
The timing was perfect.
Madison looked at David.
“They used your body to update my fake history.”
He nodded.
That was worse than wearing her name.
His suffering had been converted into evidence against her.
Naomi turned the page.
Emergency contact: Richard Parker.
Madison stared.
“Call him.”
Naomi did.
Richard answered from New York.
Madison took the phone.
“Uncle Richard.”
“Maddie?”
“Why are you listed as emergency contact on a psychiatric admission that
never happened to me?”
Silence.
Then Richard said:
“Where are you?”
Not an answer.
Madison smiled coldly.
“Goodnight.”
She hung up.
David looked at her.
“That was satisfying.”
“Do not enjoy my family collapse.”
“I’ll try.”
Naomi’s phone buzzed.
She read a message.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
“We found Lauren Pierce.”
David stood too fast.
“Alive?”
Naomi looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
A pause.
“Inside St. Catherine.”
Madison felt the room tighten.
May you like
Lauren had not been hiding from the hospital.
She was working inside it again.
