“You are confused, Emily.”
“No,” Emily said.
Her voice shook, but she did not look away.
“He was outside the guest house.
He heard me screaming.”
A hospital clerk appeared at the doorway holding a transparent property bag.
Inside it was a cream-colored envelope, crushed and stained near one corner.
“This was found inside the lining of Mrs.
Prescott’s dress,” the clerk said.
“The physician asked that it be secured with her personal effects.”
Emily’s hand tightened around Victoria’s.
“I hid it when Ethan came back into the room.”
Detective Ortiz accepted the bag.
“What is it?”
“A copy of the statement they wanted me to sign.
And a note from their lawyer.”
Margaret’s voice sharpened.
“That document is privileged.”
“It was given to me,” Emily said.
“They said I could not leave until I signed it.”
Ortiz examined the envelope without opening it.
“We will obtain the appropriate authorization before reviewing anything that may raise privilege issues.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“Detective, you are making a serious mistake.
My family has supported this city for decades.”
Ortiz met her gaze.
“Then your family should understand how investigations work.”
Victoria finally released Emily’s hand long enough to remove the cream-colored folder Margaret had placed on the bedside table.
She held it by the edges and offered it to the detective.
“This was presented to my daughter in this room,” Victoria said.
“It describes her as unstable and addicted to medication.
Her husband told her to sign it.”
Ethan scoffed.
“I encouraged my wife to acknowledge a mental health crisis.”
The attending physician, Dr.
Shah, stepped forward.
“She has no signs of intoxication,” he said.
“Her toxicology screen is negative.
Her injuries are consistent with forceful restraint and impact.
They are not consistent with a simple fall.”
The nurse beside him added quietly, “Mrs.
Prescott repeatedly asked us not to let her husband enter.
His mother insisted the family had authority to make decisions for her.”
Margaret looked at the nurse as though memorizing her face.
Victoria noticed.
“So did Detective Ortiz.
“Mrs.
Prescott,” the detective said, “do not threaten or intimidate hospital staff.”
“I said nothing.”
“You did not need to.”
The detectives separated everyone.
Brandon was escorted to a consultation room with an officer outside the door.
Ethan was taken to the opposite end of the corridor.
Margaret demanded an attorney, then demanded the hospital’s chief executive, then demanded that every recording device be turned off.
None of her demands changed the procedure.
