Chapter 4 - The Hidden Transfer Line
Detective Keene was calm in the way only dangerous women tend to be. She took my statement first, then Dr. Bennett’s, then requested the pharmacy transfer records. Daniel’s hospital credentials opened half the system, but not fast enough to let him clean anything up once administration froze his access. An hour later, a pharmacy auditor arrived carrying printed logs and a face the color of paper. “There’s more than one irregularity,” he said. “This wasn’t a single reroute.” The room went quiet. He laid the records on the counter and pointed to a line item buried in the transfer history. Lily’s name had not been transferred to Vanessa Cole at all. It had been reassigned under a second patient identifier attached to a satellite infusion site across town. Dr. Bennett frowned. “That’s not Vanessa’s chart.”
Vanessa leaned forward before anyone could stop her. “Let me see.” Her voice broke halfway through the sentence. Then she looked up at Daniel, and whatever was left of their alliance died right there in the corridor. “Daniel,” she said, almost choking on the words, “that dose wasn’t for me.” He told her to be quiet. She didn’t. “You told me you were trying to help me because my insurance delayed approval. You said you found replacement stock.” Detective Keene stepped closer. “Ms. Cole, are you saying you never received this medication?” Vanessa shook her head, tears flooding her eyes now for real, not performance. “No. He gave me samples once. Different packaging. He said he had connections.” Daniel tried to interrupt, but the officer moved between him and the rest of us. Suddenly his story had cracked open in a new direction. He had not stolen from Lily for love. He had stolen from Lily for something uglier, bigger, and far more profitable.
