Chapter 16 - The Last Hour

Nobody wanted Daniel to watch.

He insisted.

We viewed the recording in a federal evidence room.

Dad lay in the hospital bed.

He looked exhausted.

At 1:46 a.m., Marcus entered.

The timestamp matched the hallway footage.

Marcus checked the corridor.

Then closed the door.

Dad opened his eyes.

“You’re late.”

Marcus froze.

“You’re awake.”

“I stopped taking what Rebecca gives me.”

Marcus stared at him.

Dad continued.

“I know about Price.”

Marcus moved closer.

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know about Clay.”

Silence.

“Shaw.”

More silence.

“Seven patients.”

Marcus’s expression changed.

Dad smiled weakly.

“That got your attention.”

Marcus reached toward the IV.

Dad said.

“If I die tonight, everything goes out.”

Marcus stopped.

“You’re bluffing.”

“Try me.”

Then the door opened.

Mom entered.

She looked terrified.

“Tom, stop.”

Dad looked at her.

Even through the screen, I could see heartbreak in his face.

“You brought him here.”

“I can fix this.”

“You have been poisoning me.”

“No.”

Marcus interrupted.

“Rebecca.”

Mom turned.

“Not tonight.”

Marcus ignored her.

He removed a syringe.

Mom grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?”

Dad reached for the call button.

Marcus pushed Mom aside.

The next seconds happened quickly.

Marcus injected the IV.

Dad pressed the call button.

Marcus ripped the cable from the wall.

Mom screamed.

“You said you were only going to calm him down.”

Dad began struggling to breathe.

Mom rushed toward him.

Marcus held her back.

“Too late.”

“Call someone.”

“No.”

“He’s dying.”

“That solves the problem.”

Mom slapped Marcus.

For one second, I almost felt relief.

Then she made her choice.

She did not call for help.

She did not run into the hallway.

She did not scream for a nurse.

Instead, when Marcus told her they had to leave, she left.

Dad remained alone.

For almost three minutes, he fought for breath.

Then a nurse entered.

By then, it was too late.

Daniel covered his face.

I stared at Mom’s image disappearing through the door.

She had not injected the poison.

But she had watched our father die.

She had chosen herself.

The video gave prosecutors the murder case they needed.

But there was one more detail.

At the end of the recording, before Marcus entered, Dad had looked directly toward the hidden camera.

He whispered something.

The audio was weak.

Technicians enhanced it.

Dad said:

“Emily, if this reaches you, protect Daniel.”

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Then he paused.

“And don’t trust Samuel.”