Chapter 7
Patricia returned to testify before the grand jury.
She brought a copy of the medication scan log she had kept because fear had made her careful.
Margaret’s visitor card had been used near restricted medication storage the night Elena declined.
Daniel stared at the page for a long time.
“I did that,” he said.
“No,” I said quietly. “Margaret did.”
“I gave her the card.”
“Yes.”
Both things were true.
He had to live with both.
Margaret requested a meeting with Daniel.
Detective Harris wanted him to wear a wire.
He agreed.
I listened from behind glass.
Margaret looked smaller in the interview room.
No pearls.
No makeup.
But her eyes were the same.
“My son,” she said.
Daniel picked up the phone.
“Don’t call me that like love means ownership.”
Her face tightened.
“That woman has ruined you.”
“Clara saved Leo.”
“She stole him.”
“He is not property.”
“He is Elena’s child.”
“For once, we agree.”
Margaret leaned forward.
“Elena was going to take him away from us.”
Daniel’s face went still.
“From us?”
“She was weak. Emotional. Ungrateful. I gave her everything.”
“You took everything.”
Margaret’s hand shook around the phone.
“I did what I had to do.”
Detective Harris leaned forward beside me.
Daniel whispered, “What did you do?”
Margaret’s eyes filled with rage.
“I did not mean for her to die that fast.”
The room stopped.
My body went numb.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Margaret realized too late.
“No. That is not what I meant.”
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But it was recorded.
This time, her own voice had locked the door behind her.
