Chapter 12 - Marcus Makes a Deal

I did not want to see Marcus.

Detective Harper convinced me for one reason.

Daniel.

Marcus claimed he knew where Dr. Clay was going.

He also claimed Daniel was still in danger.

We met inside a secured hospital room.

Marcus was handcuffed to the bed.

His face looked gray.

For months, I had imagined him as powerful.

Now he looked ordinary.

That made him more disturbing.

Ordinary men could do monstrous things.

He smiled weakly when I entered.

“Emily.”

“Don’t say my name like you know me.”

His smile disappeared.

“Fair.”

Harper stood behind me.

Marcus looked toward her.

“I want federal protection.”

“You are charged with murder.”

“I want a deal.”

“You’re not in a strong negotiating position.”

Marcus looked at me.

“I can give you seven bodies.”

I felt sick.

Harper remained expressionless.

“And Clay?”

“Clay isn’t the top.”

That was the first time anyone had suggested someone else existed above them.

Marcus continued.

“Northbridge wasn’t Clay’s idea.”

“Whose was it?”

He swallowed.

“Evelyn Price.”

Mom had mentioned Evelyn.

The mysterious person who supposedly held Marcus’s insurance file.

I had assumed she was a friend.

She wasn’t.

According to Marcus, Evelyn was the administrator of a private elder-care network.

She identified wealthy, isolated patients.

Clay declared them impaired.

Shaw handled guardianship.

Marcus handled medication when someone became difficult.

“What about my father?”

Marcus looked away.

“Your father found one of Evelyn’s spreadsheets.”

“And you killed him.”

“I was told to scare him.”

“You poisoned him.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened.

“He wasn’t supposed to die that night.”

The rage inside me became almost physical.

“You expect that to matter?”

“No.”

For once, he sounded sincere.

Then he said something worse.

“Rebecca didn’t know the dose.”

I stared at him.

“She knew you were drugging him.”

“Yes.”

“She helped hide evidence.”

“Yes.”

“She helped destroy Daniel.”

“Yes.”

“But?”

Marcus looked toward the ceiling.

“She didn’t know I planned to kill Tom.”

A selfish part of me wanted Mom to have known everything.

It would make hatred simpler.

Marcus took that simplicity away.

Then Harper asked about Daniel.

Marcus hesitated.

“Evelyn knows Daniel has recordings.”

“How?”

“Clay told her before he disappeared.”

“Where is Clay?”

Marcus closed his eyes.

“Probably dead.”

Harper stepped closer.

“Where is Evelyn?”

Marcus looked at me.

“You already met her.”

My skin went cold.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes.”

“When?”

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He smiled without humor.

“At your father’s funeral.”