Holloway met his gaze."Strategic withholding of critical medications, or dangerous drug interactions caused by incorrect timing of doses, are two possibilities."
The phrase moved through Cadie slowly.Strategic withholdingwas not a mistake or an oversight.It was a deliberate choice, with knowledge of what the consequences would be.
"Why wasn't that caught?"she asked.
Holloway turned to her with the same directness she had used with Barrett, as though the question was not only reasonable but expected."Celia Ann's symptoms could be attributed to disease progression," she said."The death certificate lists natural heart failure as cause of death."
Cadie absorbed this.She understood the logic of it in a clinical sense.An elderly woman with a documented cardiac history had passed away.Usually, that wouldn't prompt a deeper examination.Someone had apparently counted on no one suspecting deliberate intent.
Cadie had to deal with the harsh realization of what had been done and how carefully it had been concealed."How do we prove otherwise?"
Holloway did not soften her answer to make it easier to receive."The only way to get physical proof would be exhumation of the body to run specific toxicology tests."
Cadie didn't flinch.She'd promised herself that she would hear the forensic expert's opinions without falling apart.She stayed true to that commitment, despite the image of her aunt's grave that came to mind with unwelcome clarity.
Barrett turned to her."But we already have a timeline of your aunt's decline," he said, "and we know who administered her medications.Plus, pharmacy records show irregularities in refills."
Cadie looked at him, finding the steadiness in his expression reassuring.
Holloway had been watching the exchange."In my professional opinion," she said, "you have grounds to request a formal investigation.I'll send my report to the police."
For a beat, the room quieted.Outside the window, Cadie could hear the faint sound of traffic moving along the street below, the ordinary world continuing at its ordinary pace, entirely indifferent to what had just been said inside the office.
Then Barrett thanked Dr.Holloway.He shook her hand again, and Cadie did the same.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Ms.Ladd," Holloway said."I hope you get the answers you're looking for."
Cadie followed Barrett out of the office.After she got into the car and slid into the passenger seat, she pulled the door shut.Barrett got in on the driver's side.
Before he could start the engine, Cadie said, "We're talking about murder."
Not a question.She had known it before she said it.
Barrett opened his arms, and she leaned against him.He held her as though she were someone worth protecting and someone worth staying for in equal measure.She pressed her face against his shoulder.
"I'll get Sullivan to label the investigation as a suspicious death," he said.
Cadie pulled back and looked into his eyes.
Barrett started the engine."Let's get out of here."
Her aunt had known something was wrong, so had written her thoughts in the journals.She'd left those behind for Cadie—and she was going to make sure it mattered.
Chapter 14
Barrett started the engine but didn't pull away from the curb.He sent a text to Mark Sullivan:Meeting with Holloway is done.She's sending her report.Recommend we proceed to investigate suspicious circumstances.
Cadie was quiet beside him, looking through the windshield at the street.He could sense the weight of the morning pressing on her.
His phone buzzed with Sullivan's reply:I'll set that up.
Barrett slid the phone into his jacket pocket.Sullivan was reliable and would handle his end.There was nothing more that Barrett could do right then.
"Sullivan is going to take it from here for now," he said."Once he has Holloway's report he'll proceed, but there's nothing else for us to do today."
Barrett sat with his hands on the steering wheel and thought about what else he wanted to say.He had spent most of his adult life making decisions under pressure, in combat zones and dangerous situations where hesitation could cost lives.He had trained himself to act without overthinking, to trust his instincts and move forward.
But when it came to Cadie, it wasn't so easy.
