Chapter 6 - What Robert KnewRobert had been holding the bottle before he collapsed.
That changed everything.
Eleanor slowly reconstructed the night.
Robert and Victoria argued.
Victoria left.
Robert entered Eleanor's room.
He was furious.
He showed her the medication bottle.
Then he said:
“She switched them.”
Richard listened carefully.
“Who switched them?”
Eleanor couldn't say.
Or wouldn't.
Emily asked:
“Was he talking about Victoria?”
Eleanor shook her head.
Richard froze.
“Someone else?”
Yes.
“Who?”
Eleanor became distressed.
Her blood pressure rose.
Emily stopped the questioning.
Later, Richard searched his father's study again.
Inside a locked desk compartment he found photographs.
Victoria.
Not intimate photographs.
Surveillance.
Victoria meeting a man outside a Beverly Hills restaurant.
Victoria entering a private office.
Victoria arguing with someone inside a parking garage.
Richard recognized the man.
Dr. Alan Pierce.
Robert's cardiologist.
Richard immediately contacted him.
Pierce initially denied anything improper.
Then Richard showed the photographs.
Pierce sighed.
“Victoria came to see me.”
“Why?”
“She was worried about Robert.”
“About what?”
“His medication.”
Richard froze.
“She believed someone was tampering with it.”
“Who?”
“She wouldn't say.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before he died.”
Richard's assumptions shifted again.
If Victoria had been planning to harm Robert, why warn his doctor?
Pierce continued:
“She brought me tablets.”
“What did you find?”
“They weren't Robert's prescription.”
“What were they?”
“Eleanor's sedatives.”
Richard felt cold.
“So someone had already switched the pills.”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell Dad?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“He said he'd handle it privately.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Robert had known.
Then why continue taking medication?
Pierce answered.
“He stopped.”
“What?”
“I replaced everything personally.”
Richard stared.
“Then how did sedatives get into his bloodstream?”
Pierce's face darkened.
“I don't know.”
Richard returned to Eleanor.
“Mom, Dad knew his pills had been switched.”
She nodded.
“Did you?”
Yes.
“Did Victoria?”
Eleanor hesitated.
Then nodded.
Richard stared.
All three knew.
“Then who didn't?”
Eleanor's eyes moved toward the door.
Emily entered carrying water.
Eleanor immediately looked frightened.
Richard noticed.
Emily noticed too.
“Mrs. Coleman?”
Eleanor pointed.
Her hand trembled.
Emily froze.
Richard stood.
“Mom?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Her…”
Emily went pale.
Richard felt a horrifying echo of the bedroom accusation.
But this time he didn't move.
He didn't shout.
He didn't touch anyone.
He asked:
“What about Emily?”
Eleanor struggled.
“Father…”
Richard leaned closer.
“Dad?”
Eleanor pointed at Emily again.
Emily stared.
“I don't understand.”
Then Eleanor forced out:
“Knew… her.”
Richard looked at Emily.
“What does she mean?”
Emily's face changed.
Richard saw it.
“You knew my father before you worked here.”
May you like
Emily looked down.
“Yes.”
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