Chapter 4: The Man With the Medical Bag
For three seconds, nobody moved.
The man standing beside Derek's truck looked perfectly ordinary. He wore a white button-down shirt, dark trousers, and polished shoes. His hair was neatly combed, and a brown leather medical bag hung from his right hand.
He looked like someone you'd trust to examine your child.
But Eli was trembling so violently that June could feel his teeth chattering against her shoulder.
“That's him,” Eli whispered again.
“That's the man who came to our house.””
Detective Harris stepped in front of the boy.
“Stay with your grandmother.””
Hank moved toward the porch.
“Detective, you want me to keep Derek away from the house?””
“Absolutely. But don't touch anyone unless there's an immediate threat.””
Hank gave a short nod.
Outside, Derek was already walking toward them.
His brother followed.
“What's going on here?”” Derek demanded.
Detective Harris approached him.
“Mr. Mitchell, I need you to remain where you are.””
Derek spread his hands.
“I'm here to collect my son.””
“Your son is currently being protected while we investigate allegations of neglect and possible criminal conduct.””
Derek laughed.
“That's ridiculous. He's my child.””
Hank stood near the steps.
“Funny how you remember that when there are police officers around.””
Derek pointed at him.
“You again.””
“Me again.””
“You think you're some kind of hero?””
“No. I think hungry children should get pancakes.””
Derek stepped closer.
His brother caught his arm.
“Not here,” the man said quietly.
Hank noticed something.
The brother wasn't looking at the police.
He was looking at Eli through the open doorway.
And when their eyes met, the man's expression changed.
It wasn't surprise.
It was recognition.
Eli immediately hid behind June.
Detective Harris noticed.
“Sir, what's your name?””
“Richard Mitchell.””
“Occupation?””
“Pharmacist.””
“Do you know the child?””
Richard adjusted the handle of his medical bag.
“Of course. He's my nephew.””
“Have you ever provided medication to his mother?””
Richard hesitated.
“I'm not sure what you're asking.””
“Did you provide medication to Rachel Mitchell?””
“I helped the family when she was sick.””
“Were you her treating physician?””
“No.””
“Then why did you bring medication to her home?””
Richard's eyes flickered toward Derek.
Derek interrupted.
“My brother was helping us. Rachel was very ill. We were doing everything we could.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“Then you shouldn't have a problem answering a few questions.””
Richard shifted his weight.
“I'd prefer to speak with my attorney.””
“That's your right.””
Hank folded his arms.
Richard glanced at him.
“You people have no idea what you're getting involved in.””
Hank smiled without humor.
“That's usually what people say when they're worried someone might find out.””
A police officer approached Richard and requested permission to inspect the medical bag.
Richard refused.
The detective didn't argue. Instead, he instructed the officer to document the bag and verify whether any search warrant or other lawful basis existed for an inspection.
Derek began pacing.
“This is harassment!””
Detective Harris remained calm.
“Mr. Mitchell, lower your voice.””
“You're letting some biker invent stories about my family!””
“No. Your son is telling us things that require investigation.””
Derek's face darkened.
Then he looked directly at June.
“You've always hated me.””
June stepped forward.
“I loved you because Rachel loved you. I gave you every opportunity to be a good father.””
“And now you're destroying my life!””
“No, Derek. You did that yourself.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Richard leaned toward his brother.
“We need to leave.””
Derek shook his head.
“I'm not leaving without Eli.””
The detective stepped between them.
“You're not taking him anywhere tonight.””
Derek's voice dropped.
“You can't keep my son from me.””
“Watch me follow the proper legal process.””
Inside the house, Eli suddenly tugged at Hank's leather vest.
“Mr. Hank?””
Hank crouched.
“What's wrong, buddy?””
“Can I tell you something?””
“Always.””
Eli looked toward the window.
“Uncle Richard used to bring Mom little bottles. Dad said they were vitamins.””
Hank kept his voice gentle.
“Did your mother take them?””
“Sometimes. But after she got sick, she stopped.””
“Why?””
“Because one night she spit the medicine into the sink. She told me it tasted wrong.””
Hank felt his stomach tighten.
“Did you see what happened afterward?””
Eli nodded.
“Dad got angry. He said Mom was making everything difficult.””
June covered her mouth.
The detective overheard and immediately returned.
“Eli, I need you to remember something. You aren't responsible for what happened to your mother. Nothing you tell us is going to get you in trouble.””
The boy nodded.
Then he whispered:
“Mom said she had to record Uncle Richard.””
Detective Harris crouched.
“Did she?””
“I think so.””
“Where?””
Eli looked toward the basement door.
“Maybe in the black phone.””
The detective stood and spoke to the officers.
They needed to locate the device and preserve it as evidence.
June took a shaky breath.
“It's behind the washing machine.””
Hank looked at her.
“Let's find it.””
The detective shook his head.
“Not yet. We need to document the scene and make sure nobody contaminates possible evidence.””
He assigned an officer to secure the basement.
Meanwhile, another officer approached Derek.
“Mr. Mitchell, we'd like you to accompany us for questioning.””
Derek's expression changed.
“Am I under arrest?””
“Not at this moment.””
Richard suddenly stepped backward.
Then he did something nobody expected.
He dropped the medical bag.
Several small bottles rolled across the pavement.
One shattered.
A sharp chemical smell drifted through the air.
The officers immediately ordered everyone to step away.
Richard looked at the broken bottle.
Then he looked at Derek.
And for the first time, the brothers appeared genuinely afraid.
Because written on the label was a name June recognized.
Rachel Mitchell.
May you like
And beneath it was a date.
A date three weeks after her daughter had supposedly died.
