Chapter 2 - THE DEAD HUSBAND
Detective Nora Bell arrived an hour later.
She watched the footage twice.
Then asked Arthur:
“Did your wife normally handle your medication?”
“Sometimes.”
“How often?”
“More since the heart diagnosis.”
“Do you know Martin Vale?”
“No.”
“Have you ever met him?”
“Not knowingly.”
Bell asked Russell to explain.
Twenty-three years earlier, Martin ran a neighborhood pharmacy.
Several elderly customers were involved in trust or guardianship disputes.
Regulators discovered altered dispensing logs, missing inventory, and records that did not match physician instructions.
No patient death was directly tied to Martin.
No poisoning conviction.
But the pattern was serious enough that Martin surrendered his license.
Arthur looked at Russell.
“You were involved?”
“Financial side.”
“And you never told me Elaine was married to him?”
“I didn’t know until today that your Elaine was his Elaine.”
Bell asked:
“Did she tell you he was dead?”
“Yes.”
“Any reason she would hide that he’s alive?”
Arthur laughed without humor.
“Apparently several.”
Bell advised him not to return home alone.
Arthur did anyway.
But not unplanned.
Bell positioned officers nearby.
Russell waited in his own vehicle.
Arthur entered the kitchen.
Elaine stood by the counter.
She smiled.
“You’re late.”
“Russell needed help.”
“With what?”
Arthur looked at the pill organizer.
“Nothing important.”
Elaine opened Tuesday’s compartment.
Removed one pill.
Held it out.
“Take it.”
Arthur stared at her palm.
“My doctor told me to stop that medication.”
Her smile tightened.
“No, he didn’t.”
“Yes.”
“Arthur, you’re confused again.”
That phrase.
Again.
Then Martin stepped out of the hallway.
Arthur turned slowly.
“So the dead husband is alive.”
Elaine froze.
Martin reached toward the organizer.
Arthur grabbed the evidence bag Bell had given him and slammed it onto the table.
“Don’t touch it.”
Martin’s face hardened.
Red and blue light flooded the kitchen.
Pounding at the door.
“Police! Step away from the medication!”
Elaine clenched the pill in her fist.
The door opened.
Bell entered with two officers.
“Open your hand.”
Elaine looked at Martin.
May you like
For the first time, sweetness disappeared from her face.
And Arthur saw calculation underneath.
