Chapter 7: The Doctor Who Knew Everything
“Turn it off.””
Officer Brooks's voice cut through the room.
The technician immediately stopped the recording.
Danielle stood frozen beside Lily's desk.
“Dr. Reed?”” she whispered.
“That can't be right.””
I looked at her.
“You recognize his voice?””
“Of course I do. He's been Lily's doctor for five years.””
Dr. Samuel Reed had treated our daughter through countless childhood illnesses. He had examined her after school accidents, prescribed antibiotics, and reassured us whenever Danielle worried about a fever.
He had attended Lily's sixth birthday party.
He'd even given her a little doctor's kit as a present.
And now his voice was on a recording with my mother, discussing something they didn't want our daughter to discover.
Officer Brooks turned toward the technician.
“Can you identify the original recording date and verify whether the file has been edited?””
The technician nodded.
“We'll preserve the device and conduct a forensic examination.””
I looked at Officer Brooks.
“I want to know why our doctor was speaking to my mother about keeping secrets from my daughter.””
“So do I,” he replied.
Danielle picked up Lily's stuffed rabbit.
“Call him.””
Officer Brooks shook his head.
“Not yet. We need to handle this carefully.””
But Danielle was already shaking.
“He examined her. He knew what medication she was taking. If he knew someone was giving her something else, he should have stopped it!””
Officer Brooks asked us to sit down.
“We're going to request his prescription records, communications with Patricia Williams, and the complete medical file. Until then, nobody should contact him.””
I wanted to argue.
Instead, I stared at the recorder.
My daughter had known something was wrong.
She had tried to tell us.
And every adult who should have protected her had failed her.
The next morning, Officer Brooks called.
“Mr. Williams, we have Dr. Reed at the station.””
I arrived within twenty minutes.
Dr. Reed sat across from Officer Brooks in a gray suit.
His hair was neatly combed, and his expensive watch rested beside a folder.
When he saw me, he stood.
“Marcus. I'm terribly sorry about Lily.””
I didn't shake his hand.
“Why were you talking to my mother?””
He glanced at Officer Brooks.
“I assume you've heard the recording.””
“Yes.””
He sighed.
“Your mother was concerned about Lily's anxiety.””
“My daughter was eight years old.””
“I understand.””
“Then explain why you were discussing secrets with her.””
Dr. Reed opened his folder.
“Patricia contacted me several weeks ago. She said Lily had been experiencing sleep disturbances and emotional distress.””
“Did Danielle know?””
“She was not the person who contacted me.””
“That wasn't my question.””
He looked uncomfortable.
“No. Danielle wasn't aware of those conversations.””
Officer Brooks leaned forward.
“Did you prescribe medication to Patricia Williams for Lily?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize Patricia to administer any medication to the child?””
“Absolutely not.””
“Did you know she was doing it?””
Dr. Reed hesitated.
That hesitation told me more than his answer.
“I became aware that Patricia had been giving Lily an over-the-counter calming preparation.””
“What preparation?”” Officer Brooks asked.
“I don't recall the exact product.””
I slammed my palm against the table.
“Stop pretending you don't remember! My daughter is dead!””
Officer Brooks raised a hand.
“Mr. Williams.””
Dr. Reed adjusted his glasses.
“Patricia told me she was using a mild supplement. I advised her to stop until we could review it.””
“When?””
“Approximately two weeks before Lily's hospitalization.””
“Did you tell Danielle?””
“No.””
“Did you document it?””
He looked down.
Officer Brooks opened another file.
“We reviewed your records. There's no documentation of that conversation.””
Dr. Reed rubbed his forehead.
“It was an informal telephone discussion.””
“About an eight-year-old receiving medication without parental consent?””
He didn't answer.
Then Officer Brooks placed a photograph of the amber bottle on the table.
“Do you recognize this?””
Dr. Reed's face changed.
“Yes.””
“What's inside?””
“A prescription medication.””
“Whose prescription?””
He swallowed.
“Mine.””
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
“You gave my mother your medication?””
“No. I did not give it to her.””
“Then why was it in her handbag?””
“I don't know.””
Officer Brooks placed another document in front of him.
“Your pharmacy records show that a bottle containing this medication was dispensed to you shortly before Patricia began visiting your home more frequently.””
Dr. Reed looked increasingly uncomfortable.
“It's a medication I take for a medical condition.””
“Did you lose a bottle?””
He nodded slowly.
“Several tablets went missing from my office.””
“When?””
“About a month ago.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Did you report it?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“I thought I'd misplaced them.””
Officer Brooks closed the folder.
“Dr. Reed, did you ever tell Patricia that this medication could be used to make Lily sleep?””
The doctor stared at the table.
Finally, he whispered, “I explained the medication's effects when she asked me about sleep disturbances.””
I stood.
“You explained how to sedate my daughter?””
“I never intended—”
“Don't finish that sentence!””
Officer Brooks motioned for me to sit.
Dr. Reed looked at me.
“Marcus, your mother said you and Danielle were having serious marital problems. She claimed Lily was becoming difficult to manage.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“So you decided to help her?””
“I thought I was advising a concerned grandmother.””
“By discussing prescription medication?””
He didn't respond.
Officer Brooks stood.
“We'll need your cooperation with the investigation. You are not free to leave until we've completed the next stage of questioning.””
Dr. Reed looked frightened.
Then he said something unexpected.
“There's another person you need to speak to.””
“Who?”” I asked.
He hesitated.
“Your mother's attorney.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Patricia didn't just ask me about Lily's medication. She asked whether a medical condition could affect a child's inheritance.””
My stomach dropped.
“What inheritance?””
Dr. Reed looked directly at me.
“Lily's trust.””
I stared at him.
My daughter had a small inheritance from my late grandfather, worth approximately $180,000.
Danielle and I had established a trust for her when she was born.
My mother had always complained that the money was inaccessible until Lily turned twenty-one.
Officer Brooks immediately took notes.
“Did Patricia discuss changing the beneficiary?””
Dr. Reed nodded.
“She asked whether the trust could be redirected if Lily died before reaching adulthood.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
And suddenly, the photograph of Lily's medication wasn't the only thing I wanted to understand.
May you like
Because my mother hadn't merely been trying to keep me away from home.
She had been asking questions about what would happen if my daughter never came home at all.
