Chapter 16 - The Other Families
Federal agents contacted the eleven other families in Vale’s files.
Patterns emerged.
An elderly widower was declared incompetent after his daughter reported confusion. Vale’s evaluation led to guardianship. His home was sold below market value to a company linked to Dererick.
A business owner was hospitalized after her husband produced videos of her appearing intoxicated. Her blood later showed the same sedative.
A retired teacher died during a supposed accidental fall after refusing to change her will.
Not every case involved Dererick.
But Vale’s medical authority connected them.
Anna met several survivors privately.
They recognized the same phrases.
“Lack of insight.”
“Possible self-harm risk.”
“Unreliable memory.”
Medical language had been weaponized against them.
One survivor, Margaret Ellis, told Anna:
“They made every protest sound like proof.”
Anna understood.
The more she resisted, the more unstable she appeared.
The scheme depended on victims being isolated from anyone willing to believe them.
Anna decided to testify publicly.
Rebecca warned her that Dererick’s defense would attack her credibility.
“They will play edited recordings,” she said.
“They’ll discuss your medical records.”
“They created the records.”
“I know. The jury must understand that.”
Anna prepared for months.
She reviewed every date.
Every cup of tea.
Every morning she woke confused.
Every signature she did not remember making.
Meanwhile, Dererick and Vale turned against each other.
Vale claimed Dererick increased Evelyn’s dose without permission.
Dererick claimed Vale guaranteed the drug could not kill her.
Both statements established knowledge.
Melissa accepted a plea agreement on fraud, evidence tampering, and failure to seek emergency aid.
She agreed to testify against both men.
Her sentence would depend on cooperation and restitution.
Before signing, she asked Anna to attend.
Anna declined.
Melissa had to accept responsibility without using Anna’s presence as comfort.
May you like
That was the first boundary Anna set without guilt.
It would not be the last.
