Chapter 6 - SIX EPISODES
Hospital laboratories do not normally store every blood sample forever.
Three of mine remained because Adrian had ordered specialized testing during earlier episodes.
The samples were archived at an independent reference laboratory.
Two showed the same uncommon metabolic marker.
One did not.
The marker suggested exposure to a medication class that could accelerate heart rate and complicate my underlying arrhythmia.
Not proof of intentional administration.
Not yet identified precisely.
But I had never been prescribed anything in that class.
“Could it be contamination?” I asked.
“Possible,” Adrian said. “Repeated appearance makes that less likely.”
“Could food cause it?”
“Not typically.”
“Supplements?”
“Some could affect screening. Confirmatory mass spectrometry helps distinguish that.”
No simple answer.
I began reconstructing every episode.
The first severe one occurred at Arthur’s winter fundraiser.
Victor brought me tea.
Second at a board dinner.
Voss gave me “electrolyte water.”
Third at home after Vanessa—no Vanessa existed here; I caught myself mixing names from gossip articles about other scandals. In my real life, Victor’s assistant was Elise Ward—delivered a wellness packet from the foundation.
Fourth after Christmas dinner.
Fifth at the anniversary party.
Sixth at the gala.
My normal episodes before that felt different.
Shorter.
Less violent.
Adrian asked permission to compare heart-monitor data.
The induced episodes—if induced—showed higher rates and longer duration.
Still not enough to declare causation.
Detective Hayes interviewed catering staff.
At three events, Blackwood Foundation staff handled my drinks specifically because Victor told servers:
Mrs. Blackwood has special hydration requirements.
I had never requested that.
One former server remembered a small silver bottle near the tray.
Another remembered Voss checking glasses before service.
No preserved samples.
The pattern grew.
Arthur’s attorneys demanded investigators stop “criminalizing hospitality.”
The phrase made Rachel laugh once.
Then the trust audit found something unrelated to medicine.
NorthStar Medical Logistics—the company Arthur wanted Blackwood Meridian to buy—was carrying far more debt than public materials indicated.
Why did Arthur want it?
Strategic expansion, he said.
Blackwood Meridian already owned hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic networks.
NorthStar handled medical distribution and specialty pharmacy logistics.
Acquisition would complete vertical integration.
Rachel brought in forensic accountant Julia Chen.
Julia reviewed public filings and trust-level materials.
“NorthStar owes a lot to a private lender.”
“Who?”
“A vehicle called Ashbourne Credit.”
“Connected to Arthur?”
“Not publicly.”
“Victor?”
“Still tracing.”
The incapacity motive could be financial.
The medical pattern could be separate.
I needed to stop making everything one conspiracy because emotionally it fit.
That night I admitted something to Adrian.
“I skipped medication twice.”
“When?”
“Months ago. After Victor said it was making me weak.”
“Did you tell me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want another lecture.”
He nodded.
“That matters.”
My poor adherence gave Victor a real fact to distort.
I hated it.
Adrian did not rescue me from the discomfort.
“Your missed doses may have increased risk during some episodes. That does not explain an unprescribed substance.”
Two truths.
Then Detective Hayes called.
They recovered the medication case from the fireplace enough to identify one blister pack.
The pills inside were not the medication Adrian prescribed.
May you like
They were look-alikes.
My emergency case had already been substituted before Victor burned it.
