Chapter 10: The Thread Garrett Pulled
Garrett called the next morning at eight forty-five.
"I found the link," he said.
He came to the hospital an hour later.
Patricia joined by phone.
Daniel sat beside me with his hand on mine and didn't let go once.
"Sylvia Marsh," Garrett said.
"The woman you mentioned — your mother's friend.
Her late husband, Dr.
Raymond Marsh, trained under Alan Mercer twenty-six years ago.
They stayed in contact.
When Raymond died, Sylvia inherited his address book." He set a photograph on the bedside table.
A phone record, highlighted in yellow.
"Your mother called Sylvia Marsh eleven weeks ago.
The call lasted forty-two minutes.
Three days later, Sylvia Marsh called a number registered to a business called Meridian Wellness Consulting."
"Mercer," Daniel said.
"Mercer," Garrett confirmed.
"Meridian is his current operating name.
We've been watching it.
The call from Sylvia Marsh is on record.
And—" He set down a second document.
"A payment.
Eight days after that call.
Wire transfer from an account in your mother's name to a private account that traces back through two shells to Meridian Wellness."
The room was quiet.
"How much?" Patricia asked through the phone.
"Four thousand dollars," Garrett said.
"Described in the transfer notes as a consultation fee."
I looked at the document.
My mother's name.
Her account number.
The date — ten weeks ago.
I had been sitting in her kitchen ten weeks ago.
I had drunk tea she made me and thanked her for it.
"What happens now?" Daniel asked.
"This morning, I submitted the evidence package to the DA's office.
The bloodwork, the lab results from the tin, the phone records, the payment trace, the video, and Kayla's testimony." Garrett looked at me.
"They've agreed to move forward.
Arrest warrants are being prepared for your mother and your sister."
"Both of them?" I said.
"Your mother for criminal poisoning and conspiracy.
Your sister for felony assault on a pregnant woman, and — based on her visit to Kayla's home — witness tampering." He paused.
"It's possible your father will also face charges related to his attempt to take the recording at the scene.
That's still being evaluated."
I sat with that.
My mother.
My sister.
My father.
The three people who had stood in my parents' garden two days ago while I lay on the grass waiting for my daughter to move.
"When?" Daniel asked.
"Today.
This afternoon."
Patricia's voice came through the phone.
"Rachel, I want you to hear this clearly.
You did not cause this.
You responded to it.
Everything that happens today is a consequence of choices they made — not choices you made."
I nodded, though she couldn't see me.
"There's one more thing," Garrett said.
He looked slightly uncomfortable for the first time since I'd met him.
"Your mother — when we spoke to her this morning as part of the process — she asked to send a message to you."
I looked at him.
"She said to tell you that she did what she did to protect the family.
That you would understand someday." He paused.
"I'm telling you because I said I would.
I don't expect you to respond to it."
I thought about that for a moment.
*She did what she did to protect the family.*
I looked down at my stomach.
At Lily, who was moving now — small, steady movements, nothing like the stillness of two days ago.
"Tell me when it's done," I said.
Garrett nodded and stood.
At the door, he stopped.
"The nurse from yesterday — the one who brought the tea.
She's been interviewed.
She didn't know what she was carrying.
Your mother told her it was a family tradition." He looked at me steadily.
"She's cooperating fully."
He left.
Daniel pressed his forehead against the side of mine.
May you like
He didn't say anything.
He just stayed there, very still, while the morning light came through the window and Lily moved again, slow and certain, as if she already knew the worst was over.
