Chapter 9 - Caleb’s Sister
Mia’s surgery succeeded.
Caleb entered Arthur’s room at 6:30 a.m. crying.
“She's okay.”
Arthur smiled.
“Good.”
Caleb sat down.
For once, exhaustion looked like relief.
“She asked about you.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“She knows some stubborn rich guy paid the part insurance wouldn’t.”
Arthur laughed.
“That sounds accurate.”
Then Caleb became serious.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Your wife offered me money.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
“For what?”
“To tell her what you and the lawyer discuss.”
Arthur felt no surprise.
Only confirmation.
“What did you say?”
“No.”
“Did you report it?”
“To hospital compliance.”
Good.
Caleb continued.
“She said it wasn’t spying.”
“She called it protecting her husband.”
Arthur looked down.
Vanessa was getting reckless.
“What exactly did she ask?”
“Whether you changed your will.”
“Whether you mentioned Julian.”
“Whether doctors think you’re improving.”
There it was.
Three fears.
Money.
Lover.
Time.
Ross documented Caleb’s statement.
Vanessa had now attempted to purchase confidential information from hospital staff.
Potentially another problem.
Caleb looked uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to be part of destroying her.”
Arthur studied him.
“You think that’s what we’re doing?”
“I think you enjoy watching her make mistakes.”
Arthur became quiet.
Caleb was right.
Not entirely.
Enough.
Arthur looked toward the window.
“I did.”
“Past tense?”
“I’m trying.”
Caleb nodded.
“Good.”
Arthur smiled.
“You’re very judgmental for someone whose sister I just helped.”
Caleb laughed.
“You said there were no conditions.”
“Fair.”
That afternoon, Arthur told Margaret:
“No more bait.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You finally agree with me?”
“Yes.”
“We have enough.”
“Maybe.”
“But I don’t want my recovery built around provoking Vanessa.”
Margaret nodded.
“That’s smarter.”
Arthur looked toward the hospital door.
“What happens now?”
“We let existing evidence mature.”
“Financial review.”
“Lab findings.”
“Prosecutors.”
“And you?”
Arthur asked.
“What about me?”
“You recover.”
For months, Arthur had been surrounded by people planning what happened after he died.
He realized he had almost joined them.
May you like
Now someone had finally said the obvious.
Live first.
