with Mrs. Weiss. And that was three. Director Jameson had also been there. “Did anyone else visit Mrs. Weiss other than Peyton or the three staff members on our approved list?”
“Just Peyton’s friend Joanna. She was here late last night and early this morning.”
“Listen to me,” Liam said, his gut knotting. “Do not let anyone, including Joanna or Director Jameson in to see Mrs. Weiss. Do you understand?”
“Yes, and I can assure you that we’ll monitor her medication extremely closely.”
“Did Peyton answer the page?” Liam asked.
“No, and I tried her cell, but it rolled straight to voice mail.”
Liam thanked her, then relayed the latest to Jacob, and pressed Bennett’s number. He didn’t like where his thoughts were headed. “See what you can find on Peyton’s friend Joanna. She works at Golden Gardens.”
“Give me a minute. I’ll text you with my findings.”
Liam hung up, then turned to Jacob. “Drop me at the hospital and I’ll look for Peyton. Go ahead and pick up Director Jameson.”
“Got it.” Jacob flipped on his siren and sped toward the hospital.
Bennett’s text came through: Joanna Horton looks clean. Worked at Whistler at time of Gloria Inman’s death and the fire. One son, fourteen, has severe mental and physical disabilities. Lives in a group home that’s expensive.
Meaning she could have been motivated by money.
Bennett: Found a photograph of her and Director Jameson on social media at a fund-raiser. Appears they’re an item.
Then they could be working together.
Liam sent a return text. Peyton may be missing. Ping her phone for me and let me know her location.
On it.
Jacob reached the hospital and pulled in front of the ER entrance. “When you bring Jameson in, ask him about his relationship with Joanna. She might be involved in this.”
“Copy that.”
Liam jumped out and paced in front of the hospital. A minute later, Bennett sent another text.
Tracked her phone to a place in the hills. GPS coordinates following.
Cold fear swept over Liam, and he jogged toward his car. Why the hell had she gone off alone? She’d promised she’d stay put until he returned.
What if the killer had her?
* * *
“YOU HIT MY CAR and ran me off the road,” Peyton said.
Joanna shook her head. “No, that was Herbert. He had to protect the operation.”
“What operation? A pill mill?” Peyton asked.
“It’s more than that,” Val cut in. “They’re stealing people’s life insurance policies, promising to give free care to the seniors at the Gardens in exchange for becoming the beneficiary. They did it at another center before.”
Peyton stared at her sister in shock. “How do you know this?”
“I heard them talking about it,” Val said. “That’s why I came to see Mama and you. I wanted to warn you. Make sure they didn’t do that to Mama.”
Peyton’s head spun with the implications.
Val pulled at her arm. “I’m clean now, Peyton. It’s only been nine months, but I’m working at it this time. When I saw what they were doing, I knew I had to tell you. But I knew you wouldn’t talk to me if I was high.”
The night Val had come to her—she hadn’t attacked her. Hadn’t been high.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you that night,” Val said. “I was just trying to stop you from running away from me so you’d listen.”
Peyton’s chest squeezed with emotions. Her sister had gotten clean. She sounded more like her old self. Had she found her again only to lose her?
Peyton pulled Val close as she looked up at Joanna. “Why, Jo? I thought you cared about the patients. About me. How did you get involved in drugs and cheating people out of their money? And murder?”
Anger darted through Joanna’s eyes. “Those people couldn’t afford the healthcare they needed. We helped them and gave them free care.”
“Until you killed them,” Peyton cried.
“They were old, in pain. I didn’t want to see them suffer.”
“Gloria Inman wasn’t old or on her deathbed,” Peyton said.
“She was a drug addict,” Joanna pointed out. “She lied to her family and stole to pay for drugs.”
“Because you kept her addicted,” Peyton cried. “How could you, Jo?”
“It just got out of hand,” Joanna said. “At first it was just the pills. I needed the money to take care of my son. He’s disabled, you know that. And his father ran off and left us.”
“If you’d told me you needed money, I would have tried to help,” Peyton cried.
“You couldn’t. Don’t you see? The care he needs is astronomical.” Joanna’s voice cracked. “And by then I was already in too deep.”