Chapter 17: The Second Signature Chapter 17: The Second Signature
Arthur's smile widened.
“Tell him
Arthur's smile widened.
“Tell him who signed the second order, Samuel.””
who signed the second order, Samuel.””
Dr. Reed looked as if the words had physicallyDr. Reed looked as if the words had physically struck him.
Harris tightened his grip on the doctor's arm.
“Who signed it?””
Reed swallowed.
“Richard.””
Derek closed his eyes.
Arthur struck him.
Harris tightened his grip on the doctor's arm.
“Who signed it?””
Reed swallowed.
“Richard.””
Derek closed his eyes.
Arthur gave a small, satisfied nod.
“Of course. My son was always better at paperwork.””
Harris gave a small, satisfied nod.
“Of course. My son was always better at paperwork.””
Harris turned toward him.
“Explain what you mean by a second order.””
Reed looked at the sealed envelope.
“Arthur arranged the original plan. He wanted Rachel's financial records turned toward him.
“Explain what you mean by a second order.””
Reed looked at the sealed envelope.
“Arthur arranged the original plan. He wanted Rachel's financial records and the trust documents. But he didn't personally arrange the medication. Richard did that.””
“Richard and the trust documents. But he didn't personally arrange the medication. Richard did that.””
“Richard supplied the drugs?””
“Yes. He used his pharmacy connections to obtain medication under false prescriptions. Some of it was never intended for Rachel's supplied the drugs?””
“Yes. He used his pharmacy connections to obtain medication under false prescriptions. Some of it was never intended for Rachel's treatment.””
“And Derek administered it?””
Reed nodded.
“Richard prepared the schedule. Derek gave her the medication. treatment.””
“And Derek administered it?””
Reed nodded.
“Richard prepared the schedule. Derek gave her the medication. I altered the medical records afterward.””
Derek suddenly shouted.
“I didn't know it would kill her!””
Reed I altered the medical records afterward.””
Derek suddenly shouted.
“I didn't know it would kill her!””
Reed stared at him.
“You knew she was allergic to it.””
“I thought she would get worse. I didn't think—”
stared at him.
“You knew she was allergic to it.””
“I thought she would get worse. I didn't think—”
“You watched her struggle to breathe.””
Derek's face twisted.
“Richard said it“You watched her struggle to breathe.””
Derek's face twisted.
“Richard said it would look like a complication.””
Harris raised a hand.
“Enough. Nobody speaks until we've secured the evidence.””
An officer opened the envelope.
Inside was would look like a complication.””
Harris raised a hand.
“Enough. Nobody speaks until we've secured the evidence.””
An officer opened the envelope.
Inside was a collection of documents, several handwritten pages, and a small digital storage device.
The first page was a copy a collection of documents, several handwritten pages, and a small digital storage device.
The first page was a copy of an order for medication that had never been prescribed by Rachel's treating physician.
The second contained a handwritten note from Richard.
*Use the stronger dose. We cannot wait of an order for medication that had never been prescribed by Rachel's treating physician.
The second contained a handwritten note from Richard.
Use the stronger dose. We cannot wait.
Below it was a signature.
Richard Mitchell.
Harris photographed the document.
“Is this authentic?””
Reed nodded.*
Below it was a signature.
Richard Mitchell.
Harris photographed the document.
“Is this authentic?””
Reed nodded.
“I saw Richard write it.””
“Why didn't you report him?””
“Because he had evidence of.
“I saw Richard write it.””
“Why didn't you report him?””
“Because he had evidence of my own crimes. He knew about the prescriptions I'd falsified years earlier. He threatened to destroy my career and make sure I went to prison.””
Harris looked at him my own crimes. He knew about the prescriptions I'd falsified years earlier. He threatened to destroy my career and make sure I went to prison.””
Harris looked at him.
“You chose to help murder a woman rather than face an investigation into your own conduct.””
Reed lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The answer hung in.
“You chose to help murder a woman rather than face an investigation into your own conduct.””
Reed lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The answer hung in the room.
Martin stepped forward.
“Was Rachel conscious when they gave her the final medication?””
Reed the room.
Martin stepped forward.
“Was Rachel conscious when they gave her the final medication?””
Reed's eyes filled.
“She knew something was wrong. She begged them to stop.””
's eyes filled.
“She knew something was wrong. She begged them to stop.””
Martin turned away.
Hank, standing behindMartin turned away.
Hank, standing behind the officers, clenched his jaw.
“Did she know she was dying?””
Reed hesitated.
“She knew she might not survive the night.””
June wasn't the officers, clenched his jaw.
“Did she know she was dying?””
Reed hesitated.
“She knew she might not survive the night.””
June wasn't there to hear it.
Hank was grateful for that.
He imagined her sitting beside Eli, trying to explain why his mother wasn't coming home.
Harris examined the remaining documents.
“What's on the storage device?””
Reed pointed toward the digital evidence technician.
“Rachel's original there to hear it.
Hank was grateful for that.
He imagined her sitting beside Eli, trying to explain why his mother wasn't coming home.
Harris examined the remaining documents.
“What's on the storage device?””
Reed pointed toward the digital evidence technician.
“Rachel's original financial ledger. And a recording.””
“What recording?””
“Arthur speaking with Richard. They financial ledger. And a recording.””
“What recording?””
“Arthur speaking with Richard. They discussed the plan before Rachel died.””
Arthur's expression changed.
“You don't have that.””
Reed discussed the plan before Rachel died.””
Arthur's expression changed.
“You don't have that.””
Reed looked at him.
“I kept a copy.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“You were paid to destroy it.””
“I was paid to destroy looked at him.
“I kept a copy.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“You were paid to destroy it.””
“I was paid to destroy the original.””
Harris took the device.
“Where is Richard now?””
Nobody answered.
Derek looked toward Arthur the original.””
Harris took the device.
“Where is Richard now?””
Nobody answered.
Derek looked toward Arthur.
“Tell them.””
Arthur gave him a contemptuous stare.
“You're in no position to make demands.””
Derek's voice cracked.
“You told Richard to leave me behind.
“Tell them.””
Arthur gave him a contemptuous stare.
“You're in no position to make demands.””
Derek's voice cracked.
“You told Richard to leave me behind. You told him to take the money and let me go to prison.””
Arthur said nothing.
Derek turned toward Harris.
“. You told him to take the money and let me go to prison.””
Arthur said nothing.
Derek turned toward Harris.
“Richard was supposed to meet us here. He was supposed to bring the other key.””
“What key?””
“The second key to the storage unit.””
HRichard was supposed to meet us here. He was supposed to bring the other key.””
“What key?””
“The second key to the storage unit.””
Harris looked at the metal key Victoria had given him.
“This one?””
Derek shook his headarris looked at the metal key Victoria had given him.
“This one?””
Derek shook his head.
“No. That key opens the cabinet. The second key opens the lockbox inside it.””
Harris glanced at the cabinet.
An officer searched the.
“No. That key opens the cabinet. The second key opens the lockbox inside it.””
Harris glanced at the cabinet.
An officer searched the shelves and found a narrow steel compartment hidden beneath the bottom panel.
It had a double-key lock.
Arthur shelves and found a narrow steel compartment hidden beneath the bottom panel.
It had a double-key lock.
Arthur stared at it.
“You won't find anything useful.””
Harris looked at him.
“Then you won't mind if we open it.””
Arthur stared at it.
“You won't find anything useful.””
Harris looked at him.
“Then you won't mind if we open it.””
Arthur's silence was answer enough.
The detective called for a forensic locksmith.
While they's silence was answer enough.
The detective called for a forensic locksmith.
While they waited, he questioned Derek.
“Where was Richard supposed to meet you?””
“The depot.””
“Why isn't he here?””
Derek looked down.
“Because he knew we were waited, he questioned Derek.
“Where was Richard supposed to meet you?””
“The depot.””
“Why isn't he here?””
Derek looked down.
“Because he knew we were coming.””
Harris's radio crackled.
An officer at the entrance reported that a vehicle had been spotted leaving the property before coming.””
Harris's radio crackled.
An officer at the entrance reported that a vehicle had been spotted leaving the property before the perimeter was established.
A witness had identified the driver.
Richard Mitchell.
Harris immediately issued an alert.
“Get the perimeter was established.
A witness had identified the driver.
Richard Mitchell.
Harris immediately issued an alert.
“Get his description to every unit. He is wanted for questioning in connection with the attempted murder of Dr. Reed, financial fraud, and Rachel Mitchell's death.””
Derek suddenly his description to every unit. He is wanted for questioning in connection with the attempted murder of Dr. Reed, financial fraud, and Rachel Mitchell's death.””
Derek suddenly laughed.
Nobody found it funny.
“He won't run far,” he said.
“Why?””
“ laughed.
Nobody found it funny.
“He won't run far,” he said.
“Why?””
“Because he doesn't have the money.””
Harris looked at him.
“Where is it?””
Derek's laugh faded.
“AskBecause he doesn't have the money.””
Harris looked at him.
“Where is it?””
Derek's laugh faded.
“Ask Arthur.””
The old man turned slowly.
“You stupid boy.””
Derek looked at his father.
“You told us Arthur.””
The old man turned slowly.
“You stupid boy.””
Derek looked at his father.
“You told us the accounts were safe. You told us the trust would unlock the accounts were safe. You told us the trust would unlock everything.””
Arthur's face became rigid.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“I know you moved the money before Rachel died.””
Harris stepped between them.
“Where did he move it?””
everything.””
Arthur's face became rigid.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“I know you moved the money before Rachel died.””
Harris stepped between them.
“Where did he move it?””
Derek looked at the detective.
“Into an account controlled by someone who doesn't exist.””
Martin frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Derek looked at the detective.
“Into an account controlled by someone who doesn't exist.””
Martin frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Arthur created a false identity years ago. He used it to hold the offshore accounts. The identity was supposed to die with him.””
Harris glanced at Arthur.
“Whose identity?””
Derek gave a bitter smile.
“His own.””
The locksmithArthur created a false identity years ago. He used it to hold the offshore accounts. The identity was supposed to die with him.””
Harris glanced at Arthur.
“Whose identity?””
Derek gave a bitter smile.
“His own.””
The locksmith arrived.
After several minutes, the steel compartment opened.
Inside was a thick ledger, a passport arrived.
After several minutes, the steel compartment opened.
Inside was a thick ledger, a passport, and a small black notebook.
The passport bore Arthur's photograph.
But the name was different.
*Thomas Hale.*
The date of, and a small black notebook.
The passport bore Arthur's photograph.
But the name was different.
*Thomas Hale.*
The date of issue was less than two years old.
Martin picked up the ledger.
“Detective, these are transfers.””
Harris examined the pages.
Millions of dollars had moved through a chain of shell companies. Some accounts were connected to Derek issue was less than two years old.
Martin picked up the ledger.
“Detective, these are transfers.””
Harris examined the pages.
Millions of dollars had moved through a chain of shell companies. Some accounts were connected to Derek's repair shop. Others were connected to Richard's pharmacy.
The final entries were dated three days before Rachel's death.
One transfer stood's repair shop. Others were connected to Richard's pharmacy.
The final entries were dated three days before Rachel's death.
One transfer stood out.
A payment of $250,000 to a company registered under Vanessa Cole's name.
Harris frowned.
“Vanessa said she tried out.
A payment of $250,000 to a company registered under Vanessa Cole's name.
Harris frowned.
“Vanessa said she tried to get out of the scheme.””
Derek looked at the entry.
“She didn't receive that money.””
“Then who did?””
“Richard.””
to get out of the scheme.””
Derek looked at the entry.
“She didn't receive that money.””
“Then who did?””
“Richard.””
Martin turned another page.
A handwritten notation appeared beside the transfer.
*Advance against custodyMartin turned another page.
A handwritten notation appeared beside the transfer.
Advance against custody arrangement.
Harris stared.
“Custody arrangement?””
Derek nodded.
“Richard planned to obtain Eli's guardianship. He thought if arrangement.*
Harris stared.
“Custody arrangement?””
Derek nodded.
“Richard planned to obtain Eli's guardianship. He thought if he controlled the boy, he could control the trust.””
Martin's face hardened.
“He was never going to get custody.””
“That's what Rachel he controlled the boy, he could control the trust.””
Martin's face hardened.
“He was never going to get custody.””
“That's what Rachel believed.””
Derek looked down.
“She thought June would protect him.””
Hank stepped closer believed.””
Derek looked down.
“She thought June would protect him.””
Hank stepped closer.
“Then why did you keep him locked in that trailer?””
Derek's face crumpled.
“I was told he was safer there.
“Then why did you keep him locked in that trailer?””
Derek's face crumpled.
“I was told he was safer there.””
Hank's voice was low.
“By whom?””
Derek didn't answer.
Arthur did.
“By me.””
Derek looked at his.””
Hank's voice was low.
“By whom?””
Derek didn't answer.
Arthur did.
“By me.””
Derek looked at his father.
“You said it was temporary.””
Arthur shrugged.
“The boy was a problem. He was evidence of Rachel's refusal father.
“You said it was temporary.””
Arthur shrugged.
“The boy was a problem. He was evidence of Rachel's refusal to cooperate. Keeping him away from June prevented her from asking questions.””
Hank took one step forward.
An officer immediately raised his hand.
“Stay to cooperate. Keeping him away from June prevented her from asking questions.””
Hank took one step forward.
An officer immediately raised his hand.
“Stay back.””
Hank stopped.
But his eyes never left Arthur.
The detective closed the ledger.
“You back.””
Hank stopped.
But his eyes never left Arthur.
The detective closed the ledger.
“You're both going to answer for this.””
Arthur looked at him with contempt.
“You think a few papers will bring're both going to answer for this.””
Arthur looked at him with contempt.
“You think a few papers will bring down the Mitchell family?””
Harris leaned closer.
“No. I think the truth will.””
His phone rang down the Mitchell family?””
Harris leaned closer.
“No. I think the truth will.””
His phone rang.
He answered.
“Go ahead.””
A voice came through.
“We found Richard's car.””
“Where?””
“Abandoned outside the private.
He answered.
“Go ahead.””
A voice came through.
“We found Richard's car.””
“Where?””
“Abandoned outside the private medical facility Victoria identified.””
Harris looked at Reed.
“Is that where you were taken?””
Reed medical facility Victoria identified.””
Harris looked at Reed.
“Is that where you were taken?””
Reed nodded.
“Yes.””
“Is anyone else there?””
A pause.
Then the officer answered.
“We found a room with nodded.
“Yes.””
“Is anyone else there?””
A pause.
Then the officer answered.
“We found a room with medical equipment. And a patient file.””
Harris frowned.
“Whose file?””
The officer read medical equipment. And a patient file.””
Harris frowned.
“Whose file?””
The officer read the name.
“Rachel Mitchell.””
Martin went pale.
“That's impossible. She died fourteen months ago.””
Harris looked toward the storage compartment.
“ the name.
“Rachel Mitchell.””
Martin went pale.
“That's impossible. She died fourteen months ago.””
Harris looked toward the storage compartment.
“Not according to this file.””
The officer continued.
“There's a recent photograph attached. The date is from last week.””
And then he said something that made HarrisNot according to this file.””
The officer continued.
“There's a recent photograph attached. The date is from last week.””
May you like
And then he said something that made Harris stop breathing for a moment.
“The patient is listed as alive.””
