The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 33

Under Charley's gaze, Lavinia felt a pang of guilt.

His eyes lingered on her face for a few seconds before shifting to the medicine box in her hands.

"You got the drug?" he asked gently.

Lavinia looked up and smiled faintly. "I was just about to take it to Dr. Roland to discuss the next steps in the treatment."

"I'll go with you," Charley said.

On the way to the doctor's office, Lavinia asked, "Charley, what brings you to the hospital?"

"A friend of mine was discharged today. I helped him with the paperwork and thought I'd drop by to see Latham."

He paused.

"I just happened to hear that your husband is acting as the lead pallbearer for Sigrid's father?"

Lavinia froze, forcing a stiff smile. "Yeah, they're old family friends. Mr. Sloan didn't have a son, so they needed a male figure to lead the procession."

She had been entirely in the dark about it and was just spinning lies to match Corinne's words.

"Maybe I've been abroad too long and forgot the customs here," Charley said, sounding genuinely inquisitive. "But when a family has no sons, shouldn't the son-in-law take on that role?"

Her heart sank.

She tightened her grip on her phone, looked up, and smiled at him.

"It couldn't be helped. Sigrid isn't married, so Garnett is stepping in as a family friend."

Charley smiled slightly. "Your husband is certainly generous with his time."

The elevator arrived. Lavinia breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped inside, only to hear him say from behind:

"Your uncle is so severely ill. Has Mr. Harper ever come to visit him?"

Lavinia couldn't keep up the act anymore. She lowered her eyes.

He stepped into the elevator and stood beside her.

"Are you going to ask me not to tell Saul again?"

"It's best if you don't," Lavinia murmured, her head bowed. "Saul and he don't get along."

"I know." Charley reached out and pressed the floor button.

"It's wrong. This isn't the P-Drug." Lavinia set the box down, looking utterly defeated. "This is a drug from the phase three clinical control group. It's manufactured by the same company, but it's not the P-Drug."

"What?" Dr. Roland was equally shocked. He picked up the box and inspected it over and over.

"I need to make a phone call." Lavinia clutched her phone and dashed out of the office.

She hurried to the end of the hallway, pulled out her phone, and dialed Garnett's number with trembling fingers.

It rang. Waiting for an answer.

If Charley hadn't pointed it out, they would have administered the wrong medication.

Given her uncle's current fragile state, he wouldn't have been able to withstand the consequences of the wrong drug. It would have killed him instantly.

The phone rang for a long time before it finally connected. Muffled funereal music drifted through the background.

Lavinia's voice trembled slightly, turning icy cold. "Garnett, I pray that one day, when you're lying on a hospital bed waiting for a life-saving cure, you aren't given the wrong medication."

Without waiting for his response, she hung up.

The glass window at the end of the corridor reflected her despairing face.