Chapter 2 - THE PILL BOTTLE WITH TWO LABELS
The ambulance came anyway.
For Nora.
And, after Grant took one look at Frank’s gray skin and oxygen saturation, for Frank too.
Evelyn tried to stop the paramedics from taking him.
“He’s under private care.”
One paramedic looked at her.
“He’s hypoxic.”
“He has chronic disease.”
“He’s still going.”
Frank did not argue.
That alone told Grant something.
At the hospital, Nora’s wound was cleaned and closed.
No major vascular injury.
No fracture.
Painful, humiliating, frightening.
But survivable.
Frank’s evaluation was more alarming.
His oxygen level remained unstable.
His heart rate was unusually low.
His blood pressure fluctuated.
Then the emergency physician asked for his medication list.
Evelyn produced a leather organizer from her purse.
Frank whispered:
“Not that one.”
Everyone looked at him.
His hand shook as he pointed toward his coat.
Inside the pocket was an amber prescription bottle.
Grant handed it to the physician.
The label said:
Metoprolol 25 mg.
But beneath that label was another.
Half torn.
Older.
Different dosage.
100 mg.
The pills inside were inconsistent in color and scoring.
The physician frowned.
“These aren’t all the same medication.”
Evelyn spoke too quickly.
“The pharmacy makes mistakes.”
Grant looked at her.
“Maybe.”
She glared at him.
Frank stared at the blanket.
Nora, from the next bay, heard everything through the partially open curtain.
Then Frank whispered:
May you like
“She changes them.”
Nora’s entire body went cold.
