Chapter 11 - The Doctor Who Signed the Death Certificate
Jonathan Price had been the royal family's physician for twenty-two years.
He had treated Alexander's childhood injuries.
Prescribed medication for Margaret's migraines.
And stood at Edward's bedside on the night the king died.
Alexander had trusted him.
That trust ended when Price looked at the medical records and showed no surprise.
“You knew what my father left behind,” Alexander said.
Price folded his hands.
“I suspected.”
“Did you alter his medication?”
The doctor's expression remained calm.
“Your father had a complicated cardiac history.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Price glanced at Margaret.
She looked away.
Alexander stepped forward.
“Answer me.”
“I administered medication under authorized instructions.”
“From whom?”
“The royal medical office.”
“Controlled by Harrow?”
Price said nothing.
Gabriel quietly moved toward the evidence case.
One of the guards shifted.
Alexander noticed.
“Everyone stays where they are.”
Price sighed.
“Your Highness, this doesn't have to become unpleasant.”
“My father is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Isabelle lost eleven years.”
Price lowered his eyes.
“An unfortunate situation.”
Alexander stared.
“Unfortunate?”
Price looked almost irritated.
“People make difficult decisions when institutions are at risk.”
Alexander moved closer.
“You're talking about people as though they're accounting figures.”
Price's gaze hardened.
“Your father understood the sacrifices required to maintain a monarchy.”
“My father spent his final years trying to undo them.”
“And look what happened to him.”
The room fell silent.
Price seemed to realize what he'd said.
Too late.
Alexander held his gaze.
“Was that a threat?”
Price said nothing.
Gabriel stepped closer to the door.
“Your Highness, we should leave.”
Alexander nodded.
But Margaret suddenly moved between the guards and her son.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She looked directly at Price.
“Not again.”
The doctor's expression changed.
“Margaret.”
She straightened.
“You will not touch my son.”
Price sighed.
“You've become emotional.”
“I've become tired.”
Margaret looked toward Alexander.
“I spent eleven years telling myself there would be a better time to speak.”
Her voice shook.
“There wasn't.”
Price stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I strongly advise—”
“Be quiet.”
The command was soft.
But it stopped him.
Margaret turned toward the guards.
“Captain.”
The senior officer looked at her.
“Your Majesty?”
“Detain Dr. Price.”
The officer hesitated.
Price laughed.
“You have no authority to order that.”
Margaret met his eyes.
“Then consider this an instruction to preserve evidence until the police arrive.”
The captain looked toward Alexander.
Alexander nodded.
“Do it.”
Two guards approached Price.
He stepped backward.
“This is a mistake.”
Margaret watched him.
“So was trusting you.”
Price tried to reach for his phone.
One guard stopped him.
Gabriel immediately secured the device.
The physician's calm expression vanished.
“You don't understand what Harrow has arranged.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“Then explain it.”
Price looked from one face to another.
Finally, he spoke.
“Harrow isn't trying to take the throne.”
Alexander frowned.
“What?”
“He's trying to remove the throne from the people who can expose him.”
Gabriel went still.
Price continued.
“Tomorrow's constitutional hearing isn't merely about your fitness to rule.”
Alexander felt something cold settle in his stomach.
“What else?”
“Harrow intends to present emergency legislation transferring royal foundation assets into a new public trust.”
Gabriel stared.
“The Foundation Reorganization Act.”
Price nodded.
Alexander frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Gabriel answered.
“It would place the foundation's assets under a board appointed by Harrow's allies.”
“Assets?”
“Buildings, land, investment accounts, and medical facilities.”
Alexander looked at the open documents.
The diverted money.
The private companies.
The hidden patients.
Harrow wasn't only covering up the past.
He was preparing to take permanent control of the financial operation.
Alexander turned toward Price.
“Why tell us?”
The doctor swallowed.
“Because Harrow promised immunity.”
Alexander waited.
“And?”
“He informed me this morning that I would be named as the sole person responsible for Edward's medication.”
Margaret stared.
Price's voice shook for the first time.
“He's going to sacrifice everyone who helped him.”
Alexander looked toward Gabriel.
“Can the hearing be stopped?”
“Not easily.”
“Then we attend.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“With what?”
Alexander lifted the black case.
“With this.”
“And Isabelle?”
Alexander looked toward the doorway.
He thought of her fragile strength.
Of Henry's small hand in his.
Of the years they'd lost.
“They don't go near the palace again unless they choose to.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“Alexander.”
He turned.
She looked ashamed.
“I can testify.”
He stared.
“You'll admit what you did?”
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“Everything I know.”
Alexander held her gaze.
For the first time that night, he saw no queen.
No ruler.
Just a frightened woman facing the consequences of the choices she'd made.
He nodded once.
“Then you will.”
But before anyone could speak again, Gabriel's phone rang.
It was Judge Mercer.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What happened?”
Alexander stepped closer.
Gabriel looked toward him.
“There's been an attack on the safe house.”
Alexander felt the room disappear around him.
“Isabelle?”
Gabriel listened.
Then closed his eyes.
“Henry?”
A pause.
Finally, Gabriel lowered the phone.
“Ruth and Sarah are safe.”
Alexander grabbed his arm.
“And my family?”
Gabriel looked devastated.
“They took Isabelle.”
Alexander stared.
“And Henry?”
May you like
Gabriel swallowed.
“He followed them.”
