Chapter 10: The Hidden Condition
Dr. Harrow arrived just after nine.
She didn’t waste time on pleasantries.
“That order you filed?” she said to Adrian as she removed her coat. “It may have saved his life.”
Adrian didn’t react outwardly—but something inside him tightened.
“Explain.”
She glanced briefly toward the hallway before lowering her voice.
“I wasn’t just monitoring cognitive recovery,” she said. “I was tracking inconsistencies.”
“What kind?”
“Neurological responses that didn’t match his diagnosis.”
Adrian frowned slightly. “You’re saying—?”
“I’m saying,” she interrupted, “his decline isn’t progressing naturally.”
Silence.
Then:
“Medication,” Adrian said.
Dr. Harrow nodded once.
“That was my concern.”
Graham stepped closer. “Do you have proof?”
“Not yet,” she said. “Because I was denied consistent access.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“What would the medication do?” he asked.
“Subtle suppression,” she said. “Confusion. Fatigue. Reduced resistance.”
“Control,” Graham added.
Dr. Harrow met his eyes. “Yes.”
The word settled heavily.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
“Can you confirm it now?”
“If I examine him tonight,” she said, “and if I have access to his full prescription records.”
“You’ll have both,” Adrian said.
From the hallway—
A faint sound.
Movement.
All three of them turned.
The door to Harold’s room was open.
May you like
And Celeste was standing there.
Listening.
