Chapter 15 - The Doctor in Noah’s Room
Logan had never authorized a private doctor to visit Noah at night.
Vanessa had.
Security logs revealed Dr. Samuel Crane had entered Mercer House eleven times during the previous six months.
Always after Logan was traveling.
Always through the service entrance.
Marcus had never seen him because Vanessa personally cleared the visits.
Logan felt sick.
Rachel obtained Crane’s medical records for Noah.
They were unofficial.
No insurance claims.
No standard pediatric notes.
Only handwritten observations.
SUBJECT DISPLAYS INCREASING VERBAL WITHDRAWAL.
SUBJECT RESPONDS TO FEAR CONDITIONING.
CONTINUE ISOLATION PROTOCOL.
Marina pushed the papers away.
“He experimented on our child.”
Rachel remained careful.
“We don’t know exactly what he did.”
“We know enough.”
Logan stood at the window.
Noah had not stopped speaking because of developmental delay.
Somebody had been deliberately reinforcing his fear.
Vanessa had complained constantly that Noah was “difficult.”
The truth was worse.
She needed him quiet.
A talking child might eventually repeat things he had seen.
The hidden room.
Harrison.
Dr. Crane.
Perhaps even Elena.
Noah had been too young to explain it.
So Vanessa made silence feel safer than speech.
Marcus entered quickly.
“We found Crane.”
Everyone stood.
“Where?”
Logan asked.
“Airport.”
“He booked a flight to Argentina under another name.”
Police detained him before boarding.
Crane asked for immunity almost immediately.
He had no loyalty to Vanessa.
No loyalty to Adrian.
Only fear.
He admitted treating Elena after Harrison brought her to a warehouse following the bridge incident.
Elena had been conscious.
Confused.
Injured.
But alive.
Vanessa wanted Crane to declare her incompetent.
Adrian wanted her hidden.
Harrison wanted his involvement erased.
Crane wanted money.
Then something happened nobody expected.
Elena escaped.
“She made it onto the highway.”
Crane explained.
“A delivery truck hit her.”
“That was the accident that destroyed her memory.”
Marina understood.
The bridge had not caused her facial injuries.
The second crash had.
Crane followed the ambulance to the hospital.
Then altered her identity.
“Why Marina Ellis?”
Rachel asked.
Crane stared at the table.
“That wasn’t my choice.”
“Whose was it?”
Crane swallowed.
“A woman called me.”
“What woman?”
“She knew Elena.”
“She told me to give her a new name and keep her away from the Mercers.”
Logan frowned.
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
Crane shook his head.
“Vanessa wanted her dead.”
“This woman wanted her alive.”
“Who?”
Crane looked toward the observation glass.
“Margaret Mercer.”
May you like
Logan nearly stopped breathing.
Margaret Mercer was his mother.
