Chapter 5: The Prescription That Shouldn't Exist
The bottle was sealed inside an evidence container before anyone could touch it.
Detective Harris stood beside the patrol car, reading the label through the plastic.
June watched him.
“What's the date?””
He looked up.
“November seventeenth.””
June shook her head.
“Rachel died October twenty-sixth.””
Nobody spoke.
Hank looked toward Richard.
“Care to explain that?””
Richard's face had become almost gray.
“It's probably an administrative error.””
Detective Harris raised an eyebrow.
“An administrative error?””
“Yes. Pharmacies make mistakes.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why a prescription was issued under the name of a deceased woman.””
Richard swallowed.
“I don't know anything about that.””
Derek stepped forward.
“That's enough. My brother has done nothing wrong.””
The detective looked at him.
“You seem remarkably certain.””
“Because I know him.””
“Do you know why he was carrying several prescription bottles bearing your wife's name?””
Derek opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Hank noticed that he kept glancing toward the medical bag.
There was something else inside.
Something Richard didn't want the police to find.
Detective Harris instructed an officer to photograph the bag and document its contents under the appropriate evidence procedures.
Richard immediately protested.
“You can't search my property without a warrant!””
“We're securing the scene and preserving what has already been exposed. Any further search will follow the required legal process.””
Richard shook his head.
“This is unbelievable.””
Hank leaned against the porch railing.
“No. What's unbelievable is a dead woman's prescription showing up in your bag.””
Inside, June sat beside Eli.
The boy was eating a sandwich that Carla, the diner waitress, had brought over.
He took small bites, as if he still expected someone to snatch the food away.
June watched him carefully.
“Would you like another one?””
Eli shook his head.
“Can I save half?””
June's eyes filled.
“Of course.””
“For later?””
“You don't have to save food anymore, sweetheart.””
Eli looked uncertain.
“Promise?””
June took his little hand.
“I promise.””
Hank heard the exchange from the doorway.
He turned away.
He had spent years convincing himself that being strong meant never showing emotion.
But that afternoon, watching a nine-year-old boy hide half a sandwich because he was afraid of going hungry again, he felt his throat tighten.
A few minutes later, Detective Harris entered.
“Mrs. Mitchell, we found the basement door.””
June stood immediately.
“Did you find the phone?””
“Not yet. We're documenting the area.””
Eli climbed down from his chair.
“I can show them.””
June hesitated.
The detective shook his head gently.
“We don't need him going down there right now.””
Eli looked disappointed.
“Mom told me exactly where it was.””
Hank crouched beside him.
“Then we'll make sure they look carefully.””
The detective returned to the basement with two officers.
Hank stayed upstairs.
Through the open doorway, he could hear the sound of footsteps and the scraping of equipment.
Then a voice called out.
“Detective?””
“What is it?””
“We found a loose panel.””
A few seconds later, Detective Harris appeared at the top of the stairs holding a small black device inside an evidence bag.
June gasped.
“Rachel's phone.””
Eli nodded.
“That's it!””
The device looked old, with a cracked screen and a faded protective case.
The detective examined it.
“Do you know whether it has a passcode?””
Eli nodded.
“Mom used my birthday.””
June covered her mouth.
The detective didn't unlock it immediately.
Instead, he arranged for the phone to be handled by a digital forensics specialist.
“Whatever is on this device could be important. We need to preserve it properly.””
Hank nodded.
“Can we at least know whether the recording exists?””
“Not until it's examined.””
Eli looked at the phone.
“Mom said it would tell the truth.””
Detective Harris crouched.
“We're going to find out.””
Outside, an officer called for the detective.
Richard was attempting to leave.
He had moved toward his car while Derek was speaking with another officer.
The detective stepped outside.
“Mr. Mitchell, I asked you to remain here.””
Richard stopped.
“I've cooperated enough.””
“You haven't answered several questions.””
“I have a business to run.””
Derek looked at his brother.
“Richard, stay calm.””
Richard snapped.
“Don't tell me to stay calm!””
The outburst surprised everyone.
Derek stared at him.
Richard ran a hand through his hair.
“You said the boy wouldn't remember anything.””
The street went silent.
Derek's face changed.
“Shut up.””
Richard looked toward the officers.
“I mean, he was very young.””
Detective Harris moved closer.
“What exactly did you mean by that?””
Richard didn't answer.
Hank stepped off the porch.
“Sounds like somebody's having trouble keeping his story straight.””
Derek suddenly turned toward him.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?””
Hank looked at the boy visible through the window.
“No. Not even a little.””
Richard was escorted back toward the patrol cars for further questioning.
Derek remained beside his truck.
He looked exhausted now, but not remorseful.
Then he turned toward June.
“Can we talk?””
June didn't move.
“There's nothing left to say.””
“Rachel was my wife.””
“And Eli is your son.””
Derek's jaw tightened.
“I made mistakes.””
June stared at him.
“Mistakes? You locked a child in a trailer.””
“I was overwhelmed!””
“You lied about where he was living.””
“I was protecting him!””
“From what? His grandmother?””
Derek lowered his voice.
“You don't understand what Rachel was doing.””
June stepped closer.
“Then explain it.””
Derek looked at the officers.
Then he whispered:
“She wasn't supposed to find the records.””
June felt cold all over.
“What records?””
Derek looked down.
“The financial records. She was going to destroy everything.””
Hank approached.
“What does that have to do with her death?””
Derek looked up sharply.
“I didn't kill my wife!””
Nobody had accused him of that.
Not yet.
Detective Harris heard the statement and immediately turned.
“Mr. Mitchell, nobody asked you that question.””
Derek's face went blank.
He looked at Richard.
His brother stared at the ground.
For the first time, Hank understood that these two men were not simply protecting the same secret.
They were protecting themselves from each other.
A phone rang.
It belonged to Detective Harris.
He answered, listened, and then turned toward June.
“Mrs. Mitchell, our digital specialist has examined the device enough to identify a recording.””
June gripped the doorframe.
“Of Rachel?””
“Yes.””
“What does it say?””
The detective hesitated.
“It's a conversation between your daughter and a man she identifies as Richard.””
Richard immediately raised his head.
“That recording is fake.””
Detective Harris ignored him.
“There is also another voice in the background.””
June's stomach tightened.
“Whose?””
The detective looked at Derek.
“Your son may be able to identify it.””
Eli appeared in the doorway.
He was holding the half-eaten sandwich.
Hank knelt beside him.
“Buddy, the police found something your mother recorded.””
Eli looked frightened.
“Can I hear it?””
The detective nodded.
“We'll arrange that with the specialist and make sure you have support.””
Then he added something that made June's heart stop.
“Before the recording ended, Rachel mentioned a second person.””
“Who?””
Detective Harris glanced at the notes.
“Someone named Dr. Samuel Reed.””
June frowned.
“I've never heard that name.””
Richard suddenly began shouting.
“That's impossible! He wasn't supposed to be involved!””
The detective turned slowly.
“Who wasn't supposed to be involved, Mr. Mitchell?””
Richard's mouth opened.
But no words came out.
May you like
And Derek, standing beside the truck, whispered:
“Richard, you just buried us both.””
