Tears clogged Peyton’s throat. “I hope so.” She mentally debated how much to share. Jo had been her best friend, ever since she’d moved to Golden Gardens. “Jo, I called Agent Maverick because someone threatened me.”
“What?”
She quickly explained about the threat after Mrs. Inman’s death. “That’s the reason I moved Mama to Golden Gardens. I was afraid for her.”
“Oh my God, Peyton. I had no idea,” Joanna said softly. “You should have told me.”
“There’s more. Agent Maverick exhumed Gloria Inman’s body, and the ME performed another autopsy. According to him, Gloria had opioids in her system and received two shots of epinephrine.”
“That doesn’t sound right.”
“It’s not. Mr. Inman claims his wife didn’t take opioids and I didn’t give her a double dose of the epinephrine or any morphine. But someone is trying to make it look like I did.”
Joanna gasped. “Who would do such a thing?”
“I don’t know for sure. But Agent Maverick is questioning two men who are persons of interest. A med tech and a PA.”
“I don’t understand,” Joanna said.
“Neither do I,” Peyton said. “But Dr. Butler could be involved. Whatever is going on, there definitely was some kind of cover-up with Mrs. Inman’s death, and the agent believes that case is related to the hospital fire, that it was set to destroy evidence of wrongdoing.”
“This is hard to believe,” Joanna said. “Dr. Butler seems so conscientious. And I know you are.”
“I’m scared, Jo.” Peyton gulped back a sob.
“It’s going to be okay, Pey. But I’m so sorry you got caught up in this. No wonder you didn’t want your mother left alone for a minute.”
Emotions churned inside Peyton, and she willed her mother to pull through.
Every minute she remained unconscious intensified her worry that she might not wake up at all.
* * *
JACOB ESCORTED AN irate Brantley to a holding cell. They could hold him for twenty-four hours without charging him, and they intended to do so. A night in jail might persuade him to open up. If the man was addicted to opioids himself, he would be getting antsy for a fix. It also would give them time to search his house and car.
In light of the autopsy results on Gloria Inman, Jacob escorted Barry Inman back into the interrogation room. Inman looked more rested than he had when they’d first brought him in. Living off the grid had its drawbacks. Here he’d been given three hot meals and a bed to sleep in.
It probably felt like a hotel compared to how he’d lived the last five years.
“Well, Mr. Inman,” Liam said as Jacob closed the door. “We need to have another chat.”
Inman rocked back in the chair. “I hope you’re going to tell me I’m being released. That you know what happened to my wife, and that you arrested the real person who set that fire.”
“Actually, we know a little more about what happened to your wife, but no, we’re not ready to release you just yet,” Liam said.
Inman’s eyes turned feral. “Cut to the chase then.”
Jacob dropped a folder with a copy of the ME’s findings on the table. “We have the results of your wife’s autopsy.”
Inman went still, the legs of the chair hitting the floor with a thud. “Then you know I was telling the truth. That the hospital made a mistake.”
Liam chewed the inside of his cheek as he scrutinized Inman’s reaction. “There was a mistake, yes. But we’re not sure of the source.”
Inman exhaled noisily. “Stop beating around the bush. What caused my wife’s death?”
“Cause of death was cardiac arrest,” Liam said. “But there were oddities in the tox report. According to the hospital staff, you did not disclose the fact that your wife was addicted to opioids when you brought her to the ER.”
The color drained from Inman’s face. “What are you talking about? My wife didn’t do drugs. And she certainly wasn’t an addict.”
The ME checked her medical history for injuries or chronic pain. But he wanted to hear Inman’s response. “Did your wife suffer any injuries lately or in the past few years?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“How about chronic back pain?” Liam asked.
“No.” Inman lurched up and slapped his hands on the table. “This is crazy. My wife was not an addict.”
Liam glanced at Jacob, and he shrugged. “I hate to tell you this, but the autopsy proves long-term abuse. Perhaps she hid it from you.”
Inman shook his head in denial. “I can’t believe this. Gloria was doing drugs...”
“She either took or was given morphine shortly before her