“The dosage you prescribed will keep her confused enough for the next six months.”

“And after that?” Dr. Haynes asked.

“After that, she will be permanently institutionalized,” Jared said.

He capped the pen with a sharp click.

“The court will grant me full conservatorship based on these files.”

I stared at the screen, my fingers pressing hard into the edge of the desk.

The wood bit into my skin, but I barely felt it.

On the screen, Jared slid the paper across the desk to the doctor.

“Sign it, Richard,” Jared said.

“The second installment of your consultation fee is already in your offshore account.”

Dr. Haynes hesitated for a single second.

Then he reached into his breast pocket, pulled out his own pen, and signed the document.

I pressed the pause button.

My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.

The image of the two men remained frozen on the screen, their conspiracy locked in digital pixels.

I grabbed a USB flash drive from my sewing basket and plugged it into the laptop.

My hands shook so badly it took three attempts to guide the plastic drive into the slot.