“What happened?” said Richard.
“Ask Nora,” said Lisa’s father. As he spoke her name, he had to exert all his strength to force his voice to remain calm. “She’ll tell you all the gruesome details. I’m sure she would be more than happy to drag my name through the dirt, and heaven knows it would serve me right. She hates me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“She said you killed her mother,” said Richard. “I assumed she was drunk, but it looks like I was wrong. Andrew, I’m sure you did your best, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do. You shouldn’t have been asked to make clinical decisions for a member of your own family. It’s too difficult. I can’t imagine how you must have felt when the old lady died, but I know it wasn’t your fault.”
“But it was,” said Lisa’s father. “I did it on purpose.”
He was too overwhelmed with misery to explain himself.
“No,” said Richard, after a long pause. “You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.”
“I can’t,” said Lisa’s father. “It’s destroying me.”
“This is insane,” said Richard. “I didn’t think you were capable of something like this. You must have had a good reason. You can tell me. I promise I won’t judge you. I get it. Life is complicated. Sometimes it’s easier to take matters into your own hands. I used to feel the same way about Peterson.”
“Stop,” said Lisa’s father. “There’s a world of difference between us. I’m too messed up. The things I’ve done are unforgiveable. I can’t believe I made such a stupid decision. I had a beautiful life, Richard, but I threw it away. It’s gone.”
“It’s not gone,” said Richard. “Not yet. You need to talk to someone who can help you deal with this situation, because it’s not going to go away on its own. Come back to the house. You shouldn’t be wandering around by yourself while Graham is on the loose. It’s not safe.”
“I’m not worried about Graham,” said Lisa’s father. “It’s fine.”
As he spoke, a thrill of apprehension came over him. Before he could figure out what was wrong, a blinding flash lit up the windows of the laboratory, and a thunderous explosion knocked him off his feet. He landed on the gritty concrete and lay there in a daze while rubble rained down around him. Smoke filled the air. He didn’t know if he was alive or dead. His cell phone lay on the ground beside him. He picked it up, but he could barely speak.
“The whole place just blew up right in front of me,” he whispered.
“Andrew!” shouted Richard. “Are you all right?”
Lisa’s father could barely hear Richard. Everything was spinning. He closed his eyes. “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe I’m finally getting what I deserve.”
“Andrew, I’m coming,” said Richard. “Just let me warn Agnes, and I’ll be on my way.”
Lisa’s father almost wished the explosion had finished him off. Emergency personnel arrived, and despite his protests, he was taken into the hospital and brought to the trauma bay. After a thorough examination to make sure he wasn’t in any immediate danger, he was left on a stretcher in the corner. It wasn’t long before the curtain was flung aside, and he looked up into Richard’s panicked face. He didn’t know how Richard had gotten there so quickly, but he was grateful.
“If you hadn’t called me, I’d probably be dead right now,” he said.
“You can thank me later,” said Richard, pulling up a chair. “When you left Hamilton Estate, did you tell anyone where you were going?”
“No,” said Lisa’s father. “I didn’t even have a definite plan in mind. I just started driving and found myself here. I can’t believe this is happening. Who would want to kill me?”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” said Richard.
“Nora?” said Lisa’s father.
“Of course not,” said Richard. “Don’t be ridiculous. Peterson is behind this. I’d stake my life on it. He recognized your potential and tried to recruit you, but when you rejected Graham’s offer, he decided to eliminate you instead.”
“There’s something you don’t know,” said Lisa’s father.
Richard frowned.
“What did you do?” he said.
“It’s bad,” said Lisa’s father. “You’ll never forgive me. I told Graham about Sabrina. I told him everything.”
Richard got up and turned away.
“I’m sorry,” said Lisa’s father. “I didn’t know what else to do. Sabrina was suffering, Nora was accusing me of being incompetent, and I needed more information. Graham has a whole team researching the drug. I thought—”
“You didn’t think at all,” said Richard.
“Yes, I did,” said Lisa’s father. “How am I supposed to make good decisions without any guidance? Blind faith isn’t something that comes easily to me, especially when someone’s life is in my hands. I’m a doctor. I make decisions based on evidence.”
“Then why did you agree to take on this project?” said Richard.
“Because Sabrina blackmailed me,” said Lisa’s father. “For some insane reason, I thought I could confide in her when I was losing my mind after everything went wrong with Nora’s mother. She threatened to tell Nora. I couldn’t allow that to happen, so I gave in. It doesn’t matter. The truth is out. She can’t manipulate me anymore. Your family can finally go home and let her die in peace. I’m done.”
“I only wish it were that simple,” said Richard. “Peterson won’t let you go that easily.”
His words infuriated Lisa’s father.
“Forget Peterson,” he said. “I have more important things to worry about right now.”
“A temporary luxury,” said Richard, shaking his head. “Enjoy the calm before the storm. I’m going to go back to the house to make sure our patient is still alive. Heaven help us if anything happens to her now. Graham will hold us personally responsible if he doesn’t get exactly what he wants, and Peterson will have no mercy. Trust me, I know him well enough to be absolutely sure.”
He walked away, leaving Lisa’s father in a pitiable
