Page 20 of If She Remembered
"Dr.Chen," Kate said, "is there anything else you can tell me about either patient that might help us understand what happened to them?Any family members they mentioned, any other stressors in their lives, anything that seemed unusual during your sessions?"
Dr.Chen thought for a moment."Mr.Rodriguez only ever mentioned being concerned about his daughter because of the abuse she was suffering at the hands of her husband.But that’s all.”
"Did either patient mention feeling threatened or worried about their safety?"Kate asked.
"Not directly," Dr.Chen said."Their anxieties were focused on family dynamics and financial concerns, not personal safety issues."
Kate felt the line of questioning coming to an end already, and she also felt that Dr.Cassandra Chen would likely be released quite soon.
Kate spent another twenty minutes reviewing Dr.Chen's treatment notes and asking follow-up questions about her patients' mental states and medication compliance.The more she talked with the psychiatrist, the more convinced she became that they were missing something important about these deaths.As the interview wound down, Kate found herself thinking about the physical evidence from both crime scenes.The medication bottles found at each victim's home contained Lorazepam prescribed by Dr.Chen, but they hadn't tested the individual pills to confirm that they actually contained what the labels claimed.
"Dr.Chen," Kate said suddenly, "when you prescribed the Lorazepam to both patients, did you give them any specific instructions about storage or handling of the medication?"
"No.It’s… well, it’s pretty standard.They’re basic medicines and require no special handling or storge.Why do you ask?"
“Just curious.”This was true, but it was also leading to another potential avenue of investigation.“I wonder… did either patient mention having trouble with their medication?Any side effects that seemed unusual or more severe than expected?"
Dr.Chen shook her head."No, nothing like that.Both patients reported that the medication was helping with their anxiety symptoms, in fact.Mr.Rodriguez had commented on it just two days ago, actually."
Morrison looked at her watch."Agent Wise, my client has been more than cooperative.Unless you have additional evidence that directly implicates her in these deaths, I think this interview should conclude."
Kate nodded, but her mind was already moving in a new direction."Just one more question.Dr.Chen, do you handle your own prescription fulfillment, or do you send prescriptions to specific pharmacies?"
"I send electronic prescriptions directly to whatever pharmacy the patient prefers," Dr.Chen said."It's all done through a secure online system."
“Thank you,” Kate said, getting to her feet.And even as she prepared to leave, she realized what her next step needed to be.The investigation had focused on Dr.Chen as the source of the potentially lethal medication, but they hadn't verified that the pills found at each crime scene actually contained what they were supposed to contain.
"Thank you for your time, Dr.Chen," Kate said, standing up from the table."I may have additional questions as our investigation continues."
"Agent Wise," Dr.Chen said urgently, "I hope you'll keep an open mind about this case.I truly believe you're looking in the wrong direction."
Kate thought so, too.In fact, seconds after leaving the room, Kate immediately called the forensics lab.If her suspicions were correct, testing the individual pills found in the medication bottles at both crime scenes might reveal something that could change the entire direction of their investigation.It wouldn't necessarily clear Dr.Chen of suspicion, but it could be a step in the right direction of what Kate believed should be an ongoing investigation.And based on her instincts about this case, she had a feeling it was going to prove much stranger than she or DeMarco had initially expected.
And for the time being, while she waited, she figured she should have another look at the most recent crime scene.With a grieving daughter, the ME, and the coroner's assistant, it had been a little crowded.She figured she may as well head over to have another look to see if she missed anything.This was turning out to be one of those cases where even the smallest of things could get overlooked, resulting in more unanswered questions… and more deaths.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kate stood outside the Rodriguez home for the second time in less twelve hours, this time alone and with a different purpose.The crime scene tape still fluttered in the afternoon breeze, and the house had that abandoned quality that came with being temporarily sealed off from normal life.She signed in with the officer stationed outside and slipped on latex gloves before entering through the front door.
The interior felt different now, quieter somehow, without the bustle of investigators and the emotional weight of Maria's grief.Kate moved slowly through the house where Thomas Rodriguez had died, taking her time to notice details that might have been overlooked in the initial rush to process the scene.
She started with the kitchen, which adjoined the living room.The space was small, but well-organized, with clean countertops and dishes neatly arranged in open cabinets.A coffee maker sat on the counter next to a toaster that looked like it had been purchased in the 1990s.The refrigerator hummed quietly in the corner, its surface covered with a collection of magnets, grocery lists, and family photos.
Kate examined each item methodically.There were pictures of Maria's children at various ages, school photos with gap-toothed smiles, and formal portraits in their Sunday best.A shopping list written in careful handwriting included items like "milk, bread, cereal," and "vitamins for Dad."A magnetic calendar showed doctors' appointments and school events written in different colored pens.
She moved closer to the refrigerator, studying each magnet and piece of paper with the careful attention she'd learned to apply to crime scenes over her decades with the FBI.Most of the items were exactly what she'd expect to find in any family kitchen: takeout menus, emergency phone numbers, a child's drawing of a house with stick figures standing in front of it.
Then her eye caught something that made her pause.Tucked behind a grocery coupon and partially obscured by a magnet shaped like a sunflower was a business card.Kate carefully moved the other items aside to get a better look.
The card was white with simple black lettering:"Michael Torres - Handyman Services."Below the name was a phone number and a brief list of services: "Plumbing, Electrical, Home Repairs, Senior Discounts Available."
Kate pulled out her phone and took a photo of the card, making sure to capture both the front and back.The back was blank except for some handwritten notes in pencil: "Fixed bathroom sink - $75" and what looked like a date from three weeks ago.It could very well be nothing, but in a case like this, where there was suspicion of medication tampering, it was good to have a record of anyone and everyone who had come in and out of the house in the recent past.
Kate continued her methodical search of the kitchen, opening drawers and cabinets to get a sense of how the household functioned.The drawers were organized but not obsessively so, with the kind of practical arrangement that suggested someone who knew where everything was and didn't waste time on unnecessary tidiness.She moved on to examine the rest of the kitchen more carefully, checking the windowsills, the areas behind appliances, and the corners where dust and debris might accumulate, along with overlooked evidence.
The spice rack next to the stove held the usual collection of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and other common seasonings.But Kate noticed that several of the containers looked like they hadn't been used in a while, with dust around their bases and faded labels.Thomas Rodriguez had been a widower living with limited cooking needs, so the extensive spice collection probably dated back to when his wife was alive.
Moving into the dining room, Kate examined the hutch that displayed dishes and family mementos.The top shelf held what appeared to be wedding china, carefully arranged and probably used only for special occasions.Lower shelves contained everyday dishes and a collection of coffee mugs that suggested Thomas had been a regular coffee drinker.
