Chapter 5

"My mom was hospitalized because doctors saw warning signs of a heart attack. She hadn't even had one yet.

"The mortality rate for cases like hers is extremely low. So why did I spend $180,000 just for her to get worse?"

Even then, Dr. Harding played innocent.

She looked helpless. "Mr. Carter, didn't you just accept our offer? Are you making this up because you think you can bully us into paying you more?"

My chest heaved.

Somehow, I found the strength to grab her by the collar and yank her up.

"You didn't just overcharge us. You gave her the wrong medication!

"My mom died because of what you gave her!"

Everyone's eyes widened.

Dr. Harding waved her hands frantically. "You can't just accuse us like that! Hospitals save lives. Why would we ever do something like that?"

I took a breath, pulled out the records from my mom's final day, and slapped them against her face.

"Digitalis can be dangerous for heart attack patients. Your hospital gave her digitalis that morning, and half an hour later, she was dead! Open your damn eyes and look!"

Dr. Harding finally went silent.

The Health Department investigators looked just as shocked as they went through the records again.

"It wasn't just her final day. She was also given a small dose three days before she died."

My whole body shook.

I slapped Dr. Harding across the face.

"This is murder! I'm calling the police!"

Just then, the office door flew open.

George and Dr. Reed stood outside.

George stormed over and knocked my hand away from Dr. Harding.

"Daniel, how long are you gonna keep pretending?

"You bribed her attending physician to kill your mom. He already confessed. You planned the whole thing yourself, so stop acting like some devoted son!"

My temples throbbed. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

George glanced at Dr. Reed.

Dr. Reed immediately pulled out an envelope stuffed with cash.

"I admit it. Mr. Carter gave me this bribe the day his mother was admitted.

"He said he didn't care how much he spent because he just wanted to look like a devoted son. He also said he couldn't inherit her estate until she died.

"I was wrong. I let greed get the better of me. But Mr. Carter, you were the one who said you'd spent enough and wanted me to hurry up and find a way to kill her.

"So why are you now..."

I stared at him in disbelief.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught George and Dr. Harding exchanging a look, faint smiles tugging at their mouths.

They were in on this together.

George and Dr. Harding had teamed up against me.

And the friend I'd trusted for over twenty years had stabbed me in the back.

Something inside me snapped.

I went ice-cold.

"They have a 'witness' and planted evidence!"

But even to me, the denial sounded weak.

The Health Department investigators I'd brought were starting to doubt me.

"Mr. Carter, so you're the one at fault, and now you're blaming everyone else."

George looked at me in disappointment. "Daniel, why can't you just admit what you did? We may be friends, but I'm not gonna stand by while you try to shake down the hospital!

"Your mom treated you so well, and you had her killed. Now she's barely been laid to rest, and you're already trying to cash in on her death.

"Aren't you scared she'll come back to haunt you?"