Chapter 4 - The Man Behind the Prescription
Marta was crying.
Arthur searched her before allowing her near Gideon.
“I didn't poison you,” she said.
Gideon remained silent.
“I helped Dominic disappear.”
That confession changed everything.
Two years earlier, Dominic had discovered someone inside Gideon’s organization was stealing millions and selling information to rival crews.
He believed exposing the traitor openly would get both brothers killed.
So Dominic staged his death.
Marta had helped.
“Why didn't he tell me?” Gideon asked.
“Because he didn't know whether you were part of it.”
The words hurt more than Gideon showed.
Norah saw it anyway.
Marta explained that Dominic had recently discovered the traitor’s network extended into Gideon’s medical staff.
He had returned secretly to warn him.
But before he could make contact, Gideon became ill.
“Then why disappear?” Arthur demanded.
“Because somebody found me.”
Marta produced a flash drive.
Dominic had given it to her.
It contained financial transfers linking a shell corporation to the private medical service managing Gideon’s prescriptions.
Elias examined the names.
One stood out.
Dr. Mercer.
Another was unfamiliar.
Caleb Voss.
Arthur knew it.
Gideon's former security chief.
The dead man's authorization key belonged to Voss.
Except Voss wasn't dead.
He had been imprisoned.
Arthur called the prison.
Caleb Voss had been released seven months earlier.
Nobody had informed Gideon.
The following morning, Elias received a message from Mercer.
I can prove who changed the prescriptions.
A location followed.
Gideon refused to let Arthur go alone.
Norah expected to remain behind.
Instead Gideon looked at her.
“You're coming.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone else in this room has lied to me at least once.”
Arthur flinched.
Norah noticed.
So did Gideon.
They drove to an abandoned medical office outside the city.
Mercer was waiting.
Terrified.
He admitted signing the first dosage increase.
He believed Gideon's worsening condition required it.
But subsequent alterations had been forged.
“Who forged them?”
Mercer opened his mouth.
A laser dot appeared on his chest.
Arthur shouted.
Everyone dropped.
A shot shattered the window.
Mercer survived.
Barely.
As Arthur’s men searched the surrounding buildings, Norah crawled toward the physician.
Mercer grabbed her wrist.
“Voss isn't the one.”
“Then who?”
Mercer's lips trembled.
“The person controlling this has been beside Gideon since childhood.”
Norah looked toward Arthur.
Mercer followed her eyes.
Then shook his head.
“No.”
His breathing became ragged.
“Not Arthur.”
Norah leaned closer.
Mercer whispered one name.
May you like
Before she could react, the lights in the abandoned clinic went out.
And Gideon disappeared.
