Chapter 7 - The Doctor Who Never Had an Appointment
Sloane didn't open the apartment door.
Instead, she called her actual obstetrician.
Dr. Melissa Hart answered after the nurse transferred the call.
“Mrs. Calder? Is something wrong?”
“Did you send Dr. Nathaniel Price to collect me?”
A pause.
“No.”
Sloane closed her eyes.
“Are you certain?”
“Absolutely. Dr. Price works in hospital administration. He isn't part of your prenatal care team.”
Sloane thanked her and ended the call.
Harper was already calling building security.
Within minutes, Dr. Price had been asked to leave.
He didn't protest.
That frightened Sloane more than an argument would have.
She sent Rafe a message.
Someone tried to get me into a car by claiming you ordered an emergency medical appointment. I refused. I'm safe.
Rafe called immediately.
She answered.
“I'm okay.”
“What happened?”
She explained.
Rafe listened without interrupting.
Then he said, “Thank you for telling me.”
Sloane sat down.
“Can you find out who sent him?”
“Yes. I'll pass the information to investigators.”
“Rafe?”
“I'm here.”
“Don't do anything reckless.”
A long silence.
Then he answered, “I won't.”
She wanted to believe him.
An hour later, Malik arrived at Arthur & Bell, a private law office where Sloane and Harper had gone to meet her attorney.
He remained outside until Sloane agreed to speak with him.
“Mr. Calder asked me to give you this.”
He handed her a sealed envelope.
Inside was a notarized document.
Rafe had removed himself as the sole administrator of the family security arrangements connected to Sloane.
Future protection decisions would require her approval unless there was an immediate emergency.
Beneath it was a handwritten note.
I should have trusted you to know what you need.
Sloane read it twice.
Then carefully folded the paper.
Malik looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Calder, may I say something?”
She nodded.
“I've worked for your husband for nine years. He can be stubborn enough to argue with gravity.”
Despite everything, she smiled.
Malik continued.
“But I've never seen him so frightened of losing something he can't buy back.”
Sloane looked down.
“I'm not something he owns, Malik.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“I think he's finally learning that.”
That night, federal investigators interviewed Dr. Price.
At first, he claimed he'd gone to Harper's building out of concern.
Then they showed him a wire transfer.
One hundred thousand dollars.
Paid into an account linked to his consulting business.
Dr. Price changed his story.
Grant Kesler had instructed him to bring Sloane to a private clinic.
“Why?” an investigator asked.
Dr. Price stared at the table.
“Kesler wanted access to her medical records.”
“For what purpose?”
“I don't know.”
The investigator slid another document forward.
A draft power-of-attorney form.
Sloane Calder's name appeared at the top.
Dr. Price began sweating.
Finally, he whispered, “He wanted her to sign it while she was sedated.”
The investigator leaned forward.
“Why?”
May you like
Dr. Price's answer revealed the real plan.
“Because once he controlled her signature, he could transfer everything Rafe Calder had placed in his daughter's trust.”
