Chapter 6 - The Doctor’s Role
Anna unlocked her second phone and searched the name Marcus Vale.
The psychiatrist had evaluated her twice.
Both appointments had been arranged by Dererick.
Vale asked questions about memory loss, hallucinations, and self-destructive thoughts.
Anna denied all three.
His written report claimed she displayed “inconsistent awareness” and “possible medication dependence.”
Anna had challenged the report.
Vale told her trauma could prevent patients from recognizing their own symptoms.
Now she understood.
He had not evaluated her.
He had created a record.
Dererick’s phone vibrated again.
Dr. Vale was calling.
Anna held out her hand.
“Answer it on speaker.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll answer.”
She moved toward him.
Dererick pulled the phone away.
Melissa spoke through the door.
“Dererick, answer him. He’ll panic.”
Anna looked toward her sister.
“What does he expect to hear?”
Melissa did not respond.
Anna suddenly pressed the call button on her own phone and dialed Vale’s office number.
A night service answered.
“This is Anna Harper. I need to confirm whether Dr. Vale prescribed a sedative for me.”
The operator checked.
“No prescription is listed under your name.”
Dererick’s face tightened.
Anna continued.
“Has he prescribed anything to Dererick Cole?”
“We cannot disclose another patient’s information.”
“Thank you.”
She ended the call.
The tea was not prescribed to Anna.
Vale had supplied medication through Dererick.
The black bag contained a numbered bottle to hide its source.
Anna turned toward the miniature camera.
“How many nights did you record me?”
Dererick said nothing.
“Ten?”
No answer.
“Twenty?”
His eyes shifted toward the closet.
Anna noticed.
The open closet looked unchanged, but one floorboard near the back sat slightly higher than the others.
She had seen Dererick kneeling there weeks earlier.
He claimed he dropped a cuff link.
Anna backed toward the closet without taking her eyes off him.
“What’s under the floor?”
Dererick stepped forward.
“Nothing.”
Melissa called through the door.
“The drives.”
Dererick closed his eyes.
Melissa had betrayed him accidentally.
Anna lowered herself and pulled at the loose floorboard.
Beneath it was a small metal case.
Inside were fourteen labeled USB drives.
May you like
Each one carried a date.
The earliest date was two weeks before Evelyn died.
